CARTRIDGE FOR INSERTION IN A BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINE, METHOD FOR OPERATING SUCH A CARTRIDGE

Description

State of the art

[0001] The invention relates to a cartridge for insertion into a beverage preparation machine and a method for operating a cartridge for insertion into a beverage preparation machine.

[0002] Cartridges for insertion into a beverage preparation machine are known from the prior art. For example, the document WO 2017 / 121 802 A1 discloses the production of beverages using cartridges pre-portioned with a beverage substance. The production of beverages using such systems is extremely convenient for the user, as they only have to insert a cartridge into the beverage preparation machine and initiate a start-up procedure. The beverage preparation machine, also referred to as a dispenser, then fully automatically prepares the beverage, i.e., in particular, the beverage substance is mixed with a predetermined amount of liquid, in particular cold, carbonated water, and then dispensed into a drinking vessel. This makes beverages much easier, faster, and less effort for the user to produce.The user can choose from a variety of different cartridges so that he can produce different drinks according to his taste.

[0003] The cartridge comprises a cartridge body for insertion into the beverage preparation machine and for beverage production, which is connected to a cartridge lid. The beverage substance for producing the beverage is arranged in the cartridge body, and the cartridge lid serves as an interface for coupling to the beverage preparation machine, allowing the beverage substance to be brought into contact with water, mixed with it, or dissolved in it, for example.

[0004] When preparing beverages, it's not uncommon to have to prepare several drinks in quick succession. These can be several identical or different ready-to-drink beverages, for example, to serve a group of people. However, it's also common for a ready-to-drink beverage to be a mixed drink, which requires several drinks to be prepared one after the other and then combined to create the mixed drink. It has been shown that changing the cartridge prolongs the preparation of several drinks, resulting in an unsatisfactory preparation experience for the user.

[0005] The document US 2019 / 284036 A1 discloses a cartridge for a beverage preparation machine. Disclosure of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention was therefore to provide a cartridge for insertion into a beverage preparation machine that meets the requirements for a rapid succession of beverage preparations without long pauses between beverage preparations. In particular, it should enable the dispensing of several beverages in succession or the combination of several beverages into a mixed drink without changing the cartridge.

[0007] The dispensing is achieved with a cartridge according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 13.

[0008] The statements relating to this subject matter of the present invention also apply equally to the other subject matters of the present invention and vice versa.

[0009] The present invention relates to a cartridge for insertion into a beverage preparation machine, in particular for insertion into a dispenser. Such a cartridge typically comprises a cartridge body with a chamber in which a beverage substance for preparing a beverage is arranged. Furthermore, the cartridge comprises a cartridge lid. The cartridge lid serves as an interface to the beverage preparation machine and provides a mixing chamber into which the beverage substance is transferred from the chamber by means of a cartridge emptying unit. To prepare the beverage, the beverage substance transferred into the mixing chamber is mixed with a liquid supplied from the beverage preparation machine through a fluid supply to the mixing chamber.

[0010] The cartridge lid has a connecting area for connecting to the cartridge body, whereby the cartridge lid can be inserted with the cartridge body into a beverage preparation machine. The cartridge lid is preferably cap-shaped and has a large, free opening on the side facing the cartridge body. Preferably, the cartridge lid is connected to the cartridge body, in particular to a cartridge neck, before use. This connection is particularly preferably reversible or irreversible, for example, via a snap and / or screw cap.

[0011] The cartridge body is preferably clipped to the cartridge lid. The cartridge body and the cartridge lid preferably have interlocking retaining elements. It is conceivable for the cartridge lid to have a groove and for the cartridge body to have a flange engaging in the groove. However, it is also conceivable for the cartridge lid to have the flange and the cartridge body to have the groove. It is further conceivable for the cartridge lid to have a locking lug arranged along the longitudinal axis that engages in a receptacle of the cartridge body and is locked therein. It is conceivable for the cartridge lid and the cartridge body to be rotatably mounted relative to one another on the groove and the flange and / or on the locking lug and the receptacle.

[0012] The cartridge lid is preferably designed to be placed on a cartridge holder, in particular one with a balcony-like design, of the beverage preparation machine. Balcony-like preferably means that the cartridge holder protrudes laterally from a housing of the beverage preparation machine and has a substantially horizontal extension. To allow the cartridge to be inserted into the cartridge holder, the cartridge holder preferably has a recess, in particular a centered one. The cartridge can then be inserted into this recess, particularly preferably from above with the cartridge lid first. Most preferably, the cartridge, in particular the cartridge lid, is reversibly lockable in the cartridge holder.

[0013] The cartridge lid has a mixing chamber that can be brought into fluid communication with the chambers, and a fluid inlet opening into the mixing chamber for introducing liquid into the mixing chamber. This mixing chamber is preferably a free volume in the cartridge lid and particularly preferably borders seamlessly on the cartridge body. The fluid inlet is preferably a fluid inlet opening, in particular in a lateral wall of the cartridge lid, so that the liquid is particularly preferably introduced into the mixing chamber substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal axis.

[0014] The cartridge lid has a cartridge unloading device for at least partially transferring the beverage substance from one or more chambers into the mixing chamber. Furthermore, the cartridge lid preferably has a beverage outlet for discharging a beverage from the mixing chamber, in particular directly, into a beverage container. The cartridge unloading device can preferably be activated in a targeted manner so that the beverage substance is not accidentally transferred into the mixing chamber. Particularly preferably, the cartridge lid is provided such that it can be mounted on the cartridge body and is then arranged in the beverage preparation machine with the cartridge lid facing downwards such that the mixed beverage is transferred from the cartridge lid into the beverage container, in particular by gravity.

[0015] According to the invention, the cartridge body and the cartridge lid are designed to be rotatable relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of the cartridge body. Rotating the cartridge body and cartridge lid relative to one another causes the arrangement of the chambers of the cartridge body to rotate relative to the cartridge emptying unit of the cartridge lid. As a result, the cartridge according to the invention enables the beverage substance to be fed from different chambers to the mixing chamber, depending on the rotational position. If different beverage substances are arranged in each of the chambers, a mixed beverage can be prepared, for example, by mixing the beverage substance from a first chamber with the liquid, then rotating and mixing the beverage substance from a second chamber with the liquid, without having to change the cartridge.If identical beverage substances are arranged in the chambers, identical beverages can be prepared one after the other by mixing the beverage substance from the first chamber with the liquid, then twisting and mixing the beverage substance from the second chamber with the liquid in quick succession. The cartridge lid, with its mixing chamber, fluid supply, and cartridge emptying unit, is thus reused multiple times. In addition to being easy to use and significantly increasing the speed of preparing multiple beverages or a mixed drink, significantly less waste is generated.

[0016] Preferably, the cartridge lid is made entirely or partially of a plastic material, in particular by an injection molding and / or blow molding process. According to a preferred embodiment, the beverage outlet is substantially channel-shaped, in particular elongated, and / or the fluid supply is a fluid supply opening designed to establish a fluid connection with a fluid line of the beverage preparation machine. Particularly preferably, the beverage outlet extends substantially along the longitudinal axis of the cartridge when the cartridge body and cartridge lid are connected.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the cartridge emptying unit is designed such that it transfers the beverage substance from precisely one chamber into the mixing chamber, wherein this chamber can be selected by a relative rotational movement of the cartridge body relative to the cartridge lid. This results in the advantageous technical effect that the beverage substance is always supplied to the mixing chamber from only one chamber. An unwanted overdosage of the beverage substance is thus avoided. The rotation for selecting the chamber from which the beverage substance is supplied to the mixing chamber enables ergonomic and convenient operation, which corresponds to a natural sequence when selecting available alternatives, for example using a rotary-push selector switch.The rotation of the cartridge body makes a technically simple construction possible, thus enabling a robust and cost-effective cartridge with maximum comfort.

[0018] According to a further preferred embodiment, the cartridge body has an outer wall, in particular one in the shape of a cylinder jacket, and the plurality of chambers are separated from one another by inner walls that run in a star shape from the longitudinal axis of the cartridge body radially outwards to the outer wall. This advantageously enables optimal use of the available volume for the chambers for arranging the beverage substance. The star-shaped arrangement of the inner walls allows, with an eccentrically arranged cartridge emptying unit, a simple change of the chamber selected for transferring the beverage substance by rotation about the longitudinal axis. It is conceivable that the outer wall is made entirely or partially from a plastic material. It is also conceivable that the inner walls are made from a plastic material.It is conceivable that the inner walls and / or the outer walls are manufactured using an injection molding and / or blow molding process. However, it is also conceivable that the outer wall and / or the inner walls are made entirely or at least partially of a metal, preferably aluminum. It is also conceivable that the outer wall and / or the inner walls are made entirely or at least partially of coated paper or cardboard.

[0019] According to a further preferred embodiment, a base side of the cartridge body facing the cartridge lid is closed with a sealing element, wherein the sealing element is preferably a sealing film, which is particularly preferably materially attached to an edge region or a flange of the cartridge body. This advantageously ensures that the beverage substance is held in the chambers until it is fed to the mixing chamber for beverage preparation. The sealing element preferably closes the cartridge body in an airtight manner. It is preferably provided that the sealing element is sealed to the edge region or the flange of the cartridge body or is welded or glued to the edge region or the flange of the cartridge body. It is conceivable that the sealing film is a plastic film or a metal foil, for example an aluminum foil.

[0020] According to a further preferred embodiment, the sealing element extends over a plurality of chambers and in particular completely over the base of the cartridge body and is integrally connected to edge regions of the inner walls. This advantageously improves the stability of the sealing element and reliably separates the chambers from one another. Separating the chambers ensures that the beverage substances in the chambers do not mix and that no beverage substance passes from a chamber filled with the beverage substance into an already emptied chamber, thus preventing leakage of a partially emptied cartridge body. Preferably, the sealing element is sealed to the edge regions of the inner walls or welded or glued to the edge regions of the inner walls.

[0021] According to a further preferred embodiment, the cartridge emptying unit comprises an opening means for opening the sealing element in the region of a chamber. This advantageously opens the sealing means in the region of a selected chamber to transfer the beverage substance into the mixing chamber, thus ensuring that no beverage substance is transferred from a non-selected chamber into the mixing chamber. This prevents unintentional mixing of beverage substances from different chambers in the mixing chamber. The chambers in the region of which the sealing means is not opened remain closed, so that no beverage substance can escape from them. The cartridge unloading device can preferably be activated in a targeted manner, so that no beverage substance is accidentally transferred into the mixing chamber.

[0022] According to a further preferred embodiment, the opening means comprises a perforation needle which is displaceable between a retracted position, in which it is spaced from the sealing element, and an advanced position in which it pierces the sealing element. This enables a targeted and small-area opening of the sealing element. By opening by piercing the sealing element with the perforation needle, a single chamber can be opened in a very targeted manner. In the retracted position, it is ensured that no chamber is opened unintentionally. In the advanced position, the perforation needle can serve to hold the pierced opening in the sealing element open and to feed the beverage substance into the mixing chamber. It is conceivable that the perforation needle is made at least partially from a metal.It is also conceivable that the perforation needle is made at least partially of a plastic.

[0023] Preferably, the cartridge lid comprises a mandrel guide within which the perforation needle is displaceably mounted, particularly in a direction toward the chamber. Preferably, the perforation needle is further configured to be moved from the retracted position to the advanced position by an actuator element of the beverage preparation machine.

[0024] According to a further preferred embodiment, the perforation needle has a compressed air channel for introducing compressed air into the respective chamber in the advanced position. This advantageously makes it possible for the beverage substance to be expelled from the chamber by introducing compressed air into the chamber for transfer to the mixing chamber. During preparation, the compressed air is preferably supplied essentially simultaneously with the liquid, so that the liquid and beverage substance enter the mixing chamber at the same time and mix there. The person skilled in the art will understand that, depending on the design, a slight time offset may also be present in order to achieve complete mixing in the mixing chamber.The compressed air, particularly in conjunction with gravity, pushes the beverage substance out of the chamber and prevents a negative pressure from developing in the chamber, which could prevent the chamber from being completely emptied. For this purpose, the cartridge unloading device preferably comprises a compressed air connection and a compressed air line extending from the compressed air connection to the compressed air channel, with the compressed air channel opening into the chamber when the perforation needle is in the advanced position. Preferably, the compressed air connection is designed for connection to a compressed air supply of the beverage preparation machine.

[0025] According to a further preferred embodiment, the perforation needle has a transfer channel for transferring beverage substance from the respective chamber into the mixing chamber in the advanced position. This enables the beverage substance to flow out of the chamber in a particularly simple and reliable manner. The perforation needle preferably has several transfer channels for transferring beverage substance from the respective chamber into the mixing chamber in the advanced position. Alternatively or additionally, the perforation needle has at least one, preferably several, indentations and / or protrusions on its outer circumference, which are provided as an outflow for the beverage substance. The quantity and size of the indentations and / or protrusions preferably depend on the viscosity of the substrate.

[0026] According to a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that the compressed air channel and / or the transfer channel are designed as a groove open on one side on an outer surface of the perforation needle or as a tubular line within the perforation needle. A groove open on one side on the outer surface is a particularly inexpensive way of providing a transfer channel or a compressed air channel. It is particularly preferably provided that the compressed air channel is designed as a tubular line within the perforation needle and that the transfer channel is designed as a groove open on one side on the outer surface of the perforation needle. This advantageously brings about sufficient spatial separation between the compressed air exiting from the compressed air channel and the beverage substance entering the transfer channel.In particular, this ensures that the compressed air is guided precisely into the chamber, while the typically at least slightly viscous beverage substance is transferred into the mixing chamber with a reduced risk of adhesion to the channel walls of a tubular channel and thus more easily.

[0027] The outer wall of the perforation needle is therefore preferably provided with at least one side channel as a transfer channel for guiding the beverage substance towards the mixing chamber. In particular, the beverage substance can flow past the sealing element towards the mixing chamber through the transfer channel formed laterally on the perforation needle. Preferably, a plurality of side channels are formed as transfer channels on the perforation needle. The transfer channels are each in particular designed in the form of a groove open on one side. It is conceivable that the cross-section of the transfer channels and / or the number of transfer channels are adapted to the viscosity of the beverage substance, so that the transfer channels control or limit the flow of the beverage substance towards the mixing chamber.At a high viscosity, several transfer channels or transfer channels with a larger cross-section are used, while at a lower viscosity, fewer transfer channels or transfer channels with a smaller cross-section are provided. The person skilled in the art will understand that this means in particular that a suitable cartridge lid is provided for each beverage substance and thus for different types of cartridge bodies. The perforation needle is the only movable element of the cartridge lid and the cartridge lid is thus robustly constructed and easy to manufacture. Preferably, a fluid connection between the compressed air connection and the compressed air channel only exists in the advanced position. In particular, in the retracted position, no compressed air can escape from the compressed air channel. This ensures in a particularly advantageous manner that only in the advanced position, ieWhen the sealing element is punctured, compressed air escapes from the compressed air duct.

[0028] According to a further preferred embodiment, a ratchet mechanism is formed between the cartridge body and the cartridge lid, which ratchet mechanism defines locking positions in which the opening means is arranged centrally below a chamber. This advantageously ensures that after rotation of the cartridge body relative to the cartridge lid, the relative position of the cartridge body to the cartridge lid is such that when preparing a beverage, the beverage substance is transferred from exactly one chamber into the mixing chamber. The position centrally located below the chamber, in which the opening means is in a locking position, further ensures optimal and almost complete supply of the beverage substance to the mixing chamber, in particular optimal and complete expulsion of the beverage substance by the compressed air.It is conceivable that the ratchet mechanism only allows rotation about the longitudinal axis of the cartridge body relative to the cartridge lid in one direction of rotation. This advantageously ensures that after a first beverage preparation with the beverage substance from a first chamber and a second beverage preparation from a second chamber for a subsequent beverage preparation, the first chamber, emptied by the first beverage preparation, is not accidentally positioned above the opening means again. It is conceivable that the ratchet mechanism has a pawl which engages in a toothed locking rail. It is conceivable that the pawl engages in an engagement position between the teeth of the locking rail and that the engagement position defines the locking position. It is conceivable that the pawl is pretensioned to engage in the engagement position.For example, it is conceivable that the latch and preferably the locking rail are made of plastic. It is conceivable that the teeth of the locking rail have a slight pitch on a first side and a steep pitch on a second side. This advantageously results in different levels of force being required to rotate in different directions, thus preventing or at least impeding rotation back to an already emptied chamber.

[0029] According to a further preferred embodiment, a locking mechanism is formed between the cartridge body and the cartridge lid, which locking mechanism can be adjusted between a locked position, in which the relative rotational movement of the cartridge body relative to the cartridge lid is blocked, and a released position, in which the relative rotational movement of the cartridge body relative to the cartridge lid is released. This advantageously prevents unintentional rotation of the cartridge body relative to the cartridge lid. It is conceivable that, in order to transfer the cartridge from the locked position to the released position, the cartridge body is moved relative to the cartridge lid along the longitudinal axis, preferably that the cartridge body and cartridge lid are pulled apart or pressed together slightly.It is also conceivable, however, that the cartridge body or the cartridge lid is pressed laterally to transfer the cartridge from the locked position to the release position. It is conceivable that the locking mechanism comprises a first locking element arranged on the cartridge body and a second locking element arranged on the cartridge lid. It is conceivable that the first locking element and the second locking element are connected to one another in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner in the locked position, and that the locking elements are spaced apart from one another in the release position, so that there is no form-fitting or force-fitting connection between the locking elements.

[0030] A further subject of the present invention is a method for operating a cartridge according to the invention with the following method steps: a. Rotating the cartridge body relative to the cartridge lid until the cartridge emptying unit is aligned with a desired chamber in a first process step; b. Opening the chamber by means of the cartridge emptying unit in a second process step; c. Transferring the substance arranged in the chamber into the mixing chamber by means of the cartridge emptying unit in a third process step; and d. Supplying a liquid into the mixing chamber by means of the fluid supply in the third process step.

[0031] The method according to the invention advantageously enables a cartridge chamber to be selected for beverage preparation by rotating the cartridge body relative to the cartridge lid. Replacing the cartridge to select a chamber is not necessary, which significantly reduces the time required to prepare a beverage when the cartridge is already in place. The method according to the invention is more convenient, particularly when preparing a sequence of beverages, than comparable prior art methods in which no chamber of a plurality of chambers is selected by rotation.

[0032] The statements relating to this subject matter of the present invention also apply equally to the other subject matters of the present invention and vice versa.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment, in a fourth method step, the cartridge body is rotated again relative to the cartridge lid until the cartridge emptying unit is aligned with a further chamber, and the second and third method steps are repeated with the further chamber. The rotational movement in the fourth step allows a further beverage preparation in the fourth step after the beverage preparation in the third step, without having to change the cartridge or the cartridge body. This advantageously enables a rapid sequence of beverage preparations, for example when entertaining guests. If the chambers of the cartridge are filled with different beverage substances, a mixed beverage can be prepared in a simple, quick and convenient manner, in which the beverage from the beverage preparation from the fourth step is added to the beverage from the beverage preparation from the third step.

[0034] According to a preferred embodiment, in the second method step, a sealing element closing the chamber is perforated by moving a perforation needle from a retracted position to an advanced position. This advantageously ensures that the beverage substance only exits the chamber when the beverage is prepared. The perforation of the sealing element with the perforation needle further ensures that only the chamber intended for beverage preparation is emptied. Unintentional mixing of beverage substances is thus excluded. It is conceivable that the perforation needle is moved from the retracted position to the advanced position by an actuator element of the beverage preparation machine.It is conceivable for this purpose that the actuator element has at least one projection which engages in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner in a lower end of the perforation needle and displaces the latter in the direction of the chamber within a mandrel guide upon activation of the actuator element in such a way that the perforation needle pierces the sealing element.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that in the third method step, compressed air is passed through a compressed air channel of the perforation needle into the chamber and beverage substance is passed through a transfer channel of the perforation needle from the chamber into the mixing chamber.

[0036] This advantageously makes it possible for the beverage substance to be expelled from the chamber by introducing compressed air into the chamber for transfer to the mixing chamber. During preparation, the compressed air is preferably supplied essentially simultaneously with the liquid, so that the liquid and beverage substance enter the mixing chamber at the same time and mix there. Those skilled in the art will understand that, depending on the design, there may also be a slight time offset in order to achieve complete mixing in the mixing chamber. The compressed air, in particular together with gravity, forces the beverage substance out of the chamber and prevents a negative pressure from developing in the chamber, which could prevent the chamber from being completely emptied.For this purpose, it is preferably provided that the cartridge unloading device comprises a compressed air connection and a compressed air line extending from the compressed air connection to the compressed air channel, wherein the compressed air channel opens into the chamber when the perforation needle is in the advanced position. It is preferably provided that the compressed air connection is designed for connection to a compressed air supply of the beverage preparation machine.

[0037] According to a preferred embodiment, in an intermediate step performed after the third method step and before the fourth method step, the perforation needle is displaced from the advanced position to the retracted position. This advantageously facilitates rotation in the fourth step. In the retracted position, the perforation needle is not in contact with the cartridge body, so that the rotation of the cartridge body and cartridge lid relative to one another is not impeded by the perforation needle. It is conceivable that the displacement of the perforation needle from the advanced position to the retracted position is effected by the actuator element of the beverage preparation machine. Character description

[0038] In the following, the invention is described with reference to Figures 1 and 2These explanations are merely exemplary and do not limit the general concept of the invention. The explanations apply equally to the cartridge according to the invention and the method according to the invention. In particular, identical elements are designated alike. Figure 1 (a) - (c) shows a cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and an individual cartridge body of a cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention from different viewing angles. Figure 2 (a) - (c) shows a cartridge lid cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention from different viewing angles.

[0039] In Figure 1 (a)A cartridge 1 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspective. The cartridge 1 has a cartridge body 3 with a plurality of chambers 4 and a cartridge lid 2. A beverage substance for preparing a beverage in a beverage preparation machine (not shown) is arranged in each of the chambers 4. The same beverage substance can be arranged in each of the chambers 4. However, it is also conceivable for a first beverage substance to be arranged in one chamber 4.1 and a second beverage substance to be arranged in another chamber 4.2.

[0040] The cartridge 1 and in particular the outer wall 5 of the cartridge body 3 can have essentially any shape, for example, a round or square cross-section, and dimensions, in particular length and diameter, within a wide possible range. The cartridge body 3 must only be designed in such a way that it can be connected to the cartridge cap 2 of the cartridge 1.

[0041] The chambers 4 are formed by inner walls 7, which are preferably made of a plastic, which are arranged in a star shape from a center of the cartridge body 3 arranged on a longitudinal axis L of the cartridge body 3 to an outer wall 5 of the cartridge body 3. The inner walls 7 thus divide the cartridge body 3 into pie-shaped chambers 4. A cartridge body 3 with eight equally sized chambers 4 is shown. However, any other number greater than one is also conceivable. It is also conceivable that the chambers 4 have different sizes.

[0042] The outer wall 7 of the cartridge body 3 is preferably cylindrical and at least partially made of a plastic material and / or a metal.

[0043] The cartridge body 3 is arranged on a cartridge lid 2. The cartridge lid 2 has a beverage outlet 6 and serves as an interface to the beverage preparation machine.

[0044] The cartridge lid 2 and the cartridge body 3 are rotatable relative to each other about the longitudinal axis L (shown by arrows).

[0045] In Figure 1 (b) The cartridge body 3 is shown viewed from above. To illustrate the technical effect of rotation around the longitudinal axis (here orthogonal to the plane of the paper), a cartridge emptying unit 20 of the cartridge lid is shown, which is actually hidden by the cartridge body 3 when viewed from above. The cartridge emptying unit 20 serves to remove the beverage substance from a chamber 4 for preparing a beverage with the beverage substance.

[0046] The cartridge emptying unit 20 is centrally located beneath a chamber 4, 4.1. In this position, the cartridge emptying unit 20 can remove the beverage substance from the chamber 4, 4.1 and feed it into a beverage preparation. If the cartridge body 3 and the cartridge lid are rotated relative to each other about the longitudinal axis L (represented by the dashed arrow), the position of the cartridge emptying unit 20 relative to the cartridge body 3 also changes.

[0047] The cartridge 1 has a locking mechanism (not shown for clarity) between the cartridge body 3 and the cartridge lid 2, which defines locking positions in which the cartridge emptying unit 20 is arranged centrally below a chamber 4. In the position shown, a beverage can be prepared using the beverage substance from the chamber 4, 4.1. If another beverage is to be prepared, the cartridge body 3 does not need to be removed. By rotating it about the longitudinal axis L, the cartridge body 3 is arranged such that the locking mechanism engages in a locking position and the cartridge emptying unit 20 is arranged centrally below another chamber 4.2.

[0048] To prevent unwanted rotation of the cartridge body 3 relative to the cartridge lid 2, the cartridge 1 has a locking mechanism (not shown). The locking mechanism can be moved from a locked position, in which rotation is prevented, to a released position, in which rotation is permitted, and back again. To this end, it is conceivable that, to move the locking mechanism from the locked position to the released position, the cartridge body 3 is pressed onto the cartridge lid 2, the cartridge body 3 is pulled away from the cartridge lid 2, or the cartridge body 3 is pressed in laterally.

[0049] In Figure 1 (c)The cartridge body 3 is shown in perspective, looking at a base side facing the cartridge lid 2. To ensure that the beverage substance is securely stored in the chambers 4 until the beverage is prepared, a sealing element 19, preferably in the form of a sealing film, for example made of a plastic material or a metal, is provided on the base side of the cartridge body 3. The sealing element 19 extends completely over the base side and covers all chambers 4 of the cartridge body 3. For this purpose, it is firmly attached to the cartridge body 3 at an edge region, in particular at the end of the outer wall 5 facing the base side, for example by welding or sealing.In order to separate the chambers 4 from one another and to prevent the beverage substance from passing from one chamber 4 into another chamber 4, the sealing element 19 is further fastened in a materially bonded manner to the ends of the inner walls 7 facing the base side, for example by welding or sealing.

[0050] The sealing element 19 seals the chambers in a particularly fluid-tight manner, i.e., fluid- and airtight. The chambers serve as a reservoir for a, preferably liquid, beverage substance. Those skilled in the art will understand that instead of a beverage substance, a food substance, particularly a liquid one, such as baby food, porridge, soup, or medical products such as high-calorie food, can also be used. The decisive factor is that the (beverage) substance is intended to be mixed with a liquid, particularly water.

[0051] In Figure 2 (a)a perspective view of the cartridge lid 2 of a cartridge according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown

[0052] In particular, the shape of the cartridge cover 2, which is only an example here, can be seen. This has at its upper end, which corresponds to the lower end according to the illustrations in the Figures 1 (a) and 2 (b) corresponds, a wall-like rectangular edge region within which the beverage outlet 6, a gas outlet 16, and an actuator receptacle 9 are arranged on a perforation needle 8. The cartridge lid 2 is preferably made of a plastic material.

[0053] Except for this area, the cartridge lid 2 essentially has a dome shape, ie it is basically rounded at its end opposite the opening.

[0054] Furthermore, in Figure 2 (a)A jet-shaping element 18 is shown in the beverage outlet 6, which here has a ribbed and cross-shaped design. The length of the beverage outlet 6, its cross-section, and the jet-shaping element 15 together serve to shape and / or direct the emerging beverage jet.

[0055] In Figure 2 (b) a schematic cross section of a cartridge lid 2 of a cartridge 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0056] The cartridge lid 2 is open towards the cartridge body 3, in particular towards the sealing means 19. At the opposite end, the cartridge lid 2 has at least two openings. One opening is the beverage outlet 6, through which the finished, mixed beverage can exit and is preferably transferred directly into a beverage container such as a cup, a mug or a glass. The beverage outlet 6 is preferably designed like a channel, i.e. it comprises lateral walls and a longitudinal extension. The length of the beverage outlet 6 is selected in particular such that a directed and homogeneous beverage jet is produced. For this purpose, the beverage outlet particularly preferably also comprises a jet shaping element 18, for example a cross, which is arranged in the lower region and is designed to shape the jet as desired.

[0057] A fluid inlet 15 is provided in a side wall of the cartridge lid 2, which is designed here as a hole, in particular with a conical border. This fluid inlet 15 interacts with a coupling element (not shown) in the beverage preparation machine, through which a liquid, in particular chilled and / or carbonated water, is introduced into the cartridge lid 2 through the fluid inlet 15.

[0058] The free volume of the cartridge lid 2 serves as a mixing chamber 14 in which the beverage substance is mixed with the inflowing liquid and thus forms the desired beverage before it exits through the beverage outlet 6.

[0059] As can be seen from the illustration, an upper opening of the beverage outlet 6 is located above a lower region of the mixing chamber 15 so that a length sufficient for jet shaping is achieved. To ensure that the beverage produced in the mixing chamber 14 can nevertheless be completely discharged from the cartridge receptacle 1 and, in particular, to prevent dripping when the cartridge system is removed from the beverage preparation machine as well as a remaining, unusable dead volume, the cartridge receptacle 1 further has a residue outlet 21, which is provided in particular at the lowest point of the mixing chamber (in the orientation as it exists in the arrangement mounted in the beverage preparation machine). Particularly preferably, the residue outlet 21 is provided adjacent to the beverage outlet 6 and / or is at least partially part of the beverage outlet 6.Here, for example, the beverage outlet 6 is provided such that it has a substantially circular cross-section, although a small region of the cross-section in a region of the circumference is designed as a residue outlet 21. In particular, the upper inlet surface of the residue outlet 21 is arranged lower than the upper inlet surface of the beverage outlet 6. This also means that the length and cross-sectional area of ​​the residue outlet 21 are significantly smaller than the length and cross-sectional area of ​​the beverage outlet 6, since the residue outlet 21 is only provided for discharging a relatively small residual volume.

[0060] To transfer the beverage substance from chamber 4 to the mixing chamber 14, the cartridge lid 2 has a cartridge unloading device 20. The cartridge lid 2 has a compressed air connection 13 below the fluid supply 15, which here also has a conical border to interact with a compressed air supply of the beverage preparation machine, so that compressed air can be introduced into the cartridge lid 2. Preferably, a machine-side coupling element comprises both a compressed air line and a liquid line, so that the coupling element can be coupled to both openings, the fluid supply 15 and the compressed air connection 13, in particular simultaneously. The compressed air is directed from the compressed air connection 13 toward a mandrel guide 17.This is designed here as an opening that positively accommodates a perforation needle 8 such that it can be longitudinally displaced between a retracted position and an advanced position. The mandrel guide 17 and the perforation needle 8 are part of the cartridge unloading device 20.

[0061] The perforation needle 8 is provided such that it interacts with an actuator element (not shown) of the beverage preparation machine, so that the perforation needle 8 can be moved from its retracted position into the advanced position. In the advanced position, the perforation needle 8 perforates the sealing element 19, so that the beverage substance can flow through the sealing film 19 into the mixing chamber 14, in particular via at least one transfer channel 10 arranged on the outer circumference of the perforation needle 8 in the form of a groove-shaped channel.Since a negative pressure would or could arise in the chamber 4 when the beverage substance is transferred therefrom, the perforation needle 8 has an internal tubular compressed air channel 11 which opens into the tip of the perforation needle 8. The perforation needle 8 and in particular the compressed air line 12 are designed such that the compressed air channel 11 is in fluid communication with the compressed air connection 13 only in the advanced position. This ensures that compressed air is not accidentally introduced into the mixing chamber 14. The compressed air is introduced into the chamber 4 during the preparation of the beverage and replaces the volume released by the outflow of the beverage substance into the mixing chamber 14 and expels the beverage substance.

[0062] It is conceivable that the beverage preparation machine controls the compressed air supply in such a way that towards the end of the beverage preparation, a residual volume of the beverage substance, the liquid and / or the beverage is expelled from the cartridge 1 via the residue outlet 21.

[0063] As a rule, a certain volume of gas, in particular carbon dioxide, is nevertheless released in the mixing chamber. This gas could, for example, escape into the environment through the beverage outlet 6 and, in doing so, disrupt the beverage stream. This could result, for example, in an intermittent stream, splashes, or bubbles. This is undesirable. Therefore, the cartridge lid 2 has a gas outlet 16, which is designed, in particular, separately from the beverage outlet 6. Separate here means, in particular, that liquid and / or gas cannot pass from the beverage outlet 6 into the gas outlet 16 and vice versa, downstream of the mixing chamber 14. There are therefore no holes or fluid connections between the two preferably channel-like outlets.To ensure that no liquid, i.e. neither the introduced liquid nor the beverage substance or the finished beverage, escapes via the gas outlet 16, but rather the beverage is discharged primarily via the beverage outlet 6 and secondarily via the smaller, residue outlet 21, an upper inlet surface of the gas outlet 16, as shown here, is arranged higher than the upper inlet surface of the beverage outlet 6.

[0064] The gas outlet 16 is provided essentially centrally in the cartridge receptacle 1, but can also be arranged, for example, in an edge area. However, the arrangement shown here is advantageous, since it is desirable for the liquid and the beverage substance to travel the longest possible distance between the fluid supply 15 and the beverage outlet 6 for complete mixing, thus advantageously making the central area between the mandrel guide 17 and the beverage outlet 6 available.

[0065] The perforation needle preferably has a tip and an obliquely arranged surface that assists in perforating the sealing element 19. The compressed air channel 10 preferably opens into the aforementioned surface and in particular centrally in the perforation needle 8.

[0066] At its lower end, the perforation needle 8 has an actuator receptacle 9, an area designed here as a recess, into which the actuator element of the beverage preparation machine engages to transfer the perforation needle 8 from the retracted position to the advanced position. This area is preferably designed to taper upwards, i.e., toward the tip of the perforation needle 8, at least in sections, in order to enable easy centering of the actuator element, thereby preventing the perforation needle 8 from jamming in the mandrel guide 17 and resulting possible damage to the cartridge 1 and / or the beverage preparation machine.

[0067] In the present case, the lower end region of the cartridge lid 2 is provided at an angle, but this is primarily an aesthetic decision; for example, a substantially horizontally arranged end region would also be possible, which is aligned in particular parallel to the opening plane defined by the connecting region and in particular the upper circumferential edge.

[0068] Here, the gas outlet 16 and the beverage outlet 6 have a substantially circular cross-section, with a small area being excluded in the case of the beverage outlet 6, which is occupied by the residue outlet 21. However, one skilled in the art will understand that other cross-sections, for example, oval or polygonal cross-sections, are also possible in principle.

[0069] In Figure 2 (c)A top view of the cartridge lid 2 is shown from the direction of the sealing element 19 of the cartridge body 3. This embodiment essentially corresponds to the previously explained embodiments, so the relevant explanations are also relevant here. It can be seen in particular that the cartridge lid 2 has a substantially circular cross-section, with a flattened portion in the area of ​​the fluid supply 15 and the compressed air connection 13 to enable easier coupling to the beverage preparation machine.

[0070] The mandrel guide 17, the gas outlet 16, the beverage outlet 6 and / or the residue outlet 21 are preferably formed in one piece.

[0071] The groove-shaped transfer channels 10 and the compressed air channel 11 of the perforation needle 8 of the cartridge emptying unit 20 can be clearly seen here.

[0072] Finally, from the presentation in Figure 2 (c)It can be seen that in particular the residue outlet 21, the beverage outlet 6, the gas outlet 16, the mandrel guide 17 and the fluid supply 15 as well as the compressed air connection 13 are essentially located on an imaginary axis which runs from left to right in the picture, and that the mixing chamber 14 is provided largely on both sides of this axis. List of reference symbols

[0073] 1 Cartridge 2 Cartridge lid 3 Cartridge body 4, 4.1 Chamber 4.2 Additional chamber 5 Outer wall 6 Beverage outlet 7 Inner wall 8 Perforation needle 9 Actuator holder 10 Transfer channel 11 Compressed air channel 12 Compressed air line 13 Compressed air connection 14 Mixing chamber 15 Fluid supply 16 Gas outlet 17 Mandrel guide 18 Jet shaping element 19 Sealing element 20 Cartridge emptying unit Longitudinal axis

Claims

1. Cartridge (1) for inserting into a beverage-preparing machine, having a cartridge body (3) and a cartridge lid (2) connected to the cartridge body (3), wherein the cartridge body (3) has a plurality of chambers (4) filled with a beverage substance, wherein the cartridge lid (2) has a cartridge emptying unit (20), a mixing chamber (14), and a fluid infeed (15) that opens into the mixing chamber (14), wherein the cartridge emptying unit (20) is provided for transferring the beverage substance from one of the chambers (4) into the mixing chamber (14), and wherein the mixing chamber (14) is provided for producing a beverage by mixing the beverage substance transferred from the one chamber (4) into the mixing chamber (14) with a liquid fed into the mixing chamber (14) by the fluid infeed (15), characterized in that the cartridge body (3) and the cartridge lid (2) are configured so as to be rotatable relative to one another about a longitudinal axis (L) of the cartridge body (3).

2. Cartridge (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the cartridge emptying unit (20) is configured in such a manner that the latter transfers the beverage substance from exactly one chamber (4) into the mixing chamber (14), wherein this chamber (4) is selectable by a relative rotating movement of the cartridge body (3) in relation to the cartridge lid (2).

3. Cartridge (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cartridge body (3) has an in particular barrel-shaped external wall (5), and the plurality of chambers (4) are mutually separated by internal walls (7) running in a star-shaped manner from the longitudinal axis (L) of the cartridge body (3) radially outward to the external wall (5).

4. Cartridge (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a base side of the cartridge body (3) that faces the cartridge lid (2) is closed by a sealing element (19), wherein the sealing element (19) preferably is a sealing film / foil which is particularly preferably fastened in a materially integral manner to a peripheral region or a flange of the cartridge body (3).

5. Cartridge (1) according to Claim 4, wherein the sealing element (19) extends across a plurality of chambers (4), and in particular completely across the base side of the cartridge body (3), and is connected in a materially integral manner to peripheral regions of the internal walls (7).

6. Cartridge (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cartridge emptying unit (20) has an opening means for opening the sealing element in the region of a chamber (4).

7. Cartridge (1) according to Claim 6, wherein the opening means comprises a perforation needle (8) which is displaceable between a retracted position in which said perforation needle (8) is spaced apart from the sealing element (19), and a deployed position in which said perforation needle (8) pierces the sealing element (19) .

8. Cartridge (1) according to Claim 7, wherein the perforation needle (8) has a compressed air duct (11) for directing compressed air into the respective chamber (4) in the deployed position.

9. Cartridge (1) according to one of Claims 7 or 8, wherein the perforation needle (8) has a transfer duct (10) for transferring the beverage substance from the respective chamber (4) into the mixing chamber (14) in the deployed position.

10. Cartridge (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a ratchet mechanism that defines latching positions in which the opening means is in each case disposed centrally below a chamber (4) is configured between the cartridge body (3) and the cartridge lid (3).

11. Cartridge (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a blocking mechanism, which is adjustable between a blocking position in which the relative rotating movement of the cartridge body (3) in relation to the cartridge lid (2) is blocked, and a releasing position in which the relative rotating movement of the cartridge body (3) in relation to the cartridge lid (2) is released, is configured between the cartridge body (3) and the cartridge lid (2).

12. Method for operating a cartridge (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following method steps: a. rotating the cartridge body (3) relative to the cartridge lid (2) until the cartridge emptying unit (20) is co-aligned with a desired chamber (4, 4.1) in a first method step; b. opening the chamber (4, 4.1) by means of the cartridge emptying unit (20) in a second method step; c. transferring the beverage substance disposed in the chamber (4, 4.1) into the mixing chamber (14) by means of the cartridge emptying unit (20) in a third method step; and d. feeding a liquid into the mixing chamber (14) by means of the fluid infeed (15) in the third method step.

13. Method according to Claim 12, wherein, in a fourth method step, the cartridge body (3) is again rotated relative to the cartridge lid (2) until the cartridge emptying unit (20) is co-aligned with a further chamber (4.2), and repeating the second and the third method step with the further chamber (4.2).

14. Method according to one of Claims 12 or 13, wherein, in the second method step, a sealing element closing the chamber (4, 4.1) is perforated in that a perforation needle (8) is displaced from a retracted position into a deployed position.

15. Method according to one of Claims 12 to 14, wherein, in the third method step, compressed air is directed through a compressed air duct (11) of the perforation needle (8) into the chamber (4, 4.1), and the beverage substance is directed through a transfer duct (10) of the perforation needle (8) from the chamber (4, 4.1) into the mixing chamber (14).