Cartridge for providing liquid product, system for providing liquid product, and method of using the system

Abstract

To provide an improved cartridge for providing a beverage product by dispensing base liquid and a liquid formulation component in flows parallel to each other.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a one-time use or disposable cartridge. The cartridge is provided with a capsule in a form of a sealed storage part. The storage part is defined by a capsule body that enables use of a multi-layered material. Accordingly, the cartridge, more specifically, the capsule body of the cartridge may have a barrier characteristic corresponding to a formulation component held in the storage part. In the cartridge, the cartridge is configured to provide the capsule, more specifically, the sealed storage part for holding the formulation component. The capsule has a barrier characteristic corresponding to a specific base formulation component held in the storage part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cartridge for providing a liquid product and to a method for providing such a cartridge. [Background technology]

[0002] Cartridges for providing liquid products are known, for example from US Pat. No. 5,629,499, which discloses a disposable cartridge filled with a portion of a liquid formulation ingredient to be combined with a base liquid to prepare a liquid product, in particular a beverage concentrate to be combined with carbonated water to prepare a beverage.

[0003] The cartridge is provided with a dispensing passageway having an outlet opening positioned adjacent to the central conduit outlet for dispensing the base liquid. The cartridge is capable of dispensing the liquid formulation component and the base liquid in parallel streams. Actual mixing of the liquid formulation component and the base liquid occurs only after both have been dispensed.

[0004] The cartridge is specifically adapted to be made by injection molding, which allows for a simple and fast production process. A drawback of injection-molded cartridges is that the barrier properties of injection-molded plastics are not optimal for all food products. Also, injection molding technology is difficult to combine with providing products with multi-layer materials, i.e., products with walls comprising multiple layers of different materials. Therefore, the injection molding process is not optimal for providing cartridges with reservoirs with a barrier product dedicated to the ingredients held in the reservoirs.

[0005] A cartridge for preparing coffee is known from US Pat. No. 5,699,999. The cartridge comprises a cartridge body defining a reservoir and a top seal sealing an entrance to the reservoir. Coffee powder is packaged in the reservoir in an aroma-locking manner and protected from moisture. The top seal is perforated to allow water to enter the reservoir. The bottom of the capsule is pierced by an external perforation device to allow the coffee to be poured out of the reservoir.

[0006] The capsule body can be produced by deep drawing a laminate material, thus making it possible to provide the cartridge with dedicated barrier properties for the product held in the capsule. However, the cartridge is of simple design, i.e., it does not comprise a dispensing passage or conduit for guiding the flow of liquid, but only a simple outflow opening. Furthermore, an external piercing device is required to open the reservoir. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2016081480 Brochure [Patent Document 2] US Patent Application Publication No. 2010064899 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative cartridge for providing a liquid product, in particular a cartridge for providing a beverage product by dispensing a base liquid and a liquid ingredient in parallel flows. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved cartridge, i.e., a cartridge in which one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages are completely eliminated or occur to a significantly reduced extent. In particular, it is an object of a first aspect of the present invention to provide a cartridge comprising a multi-layer capsule body, i.e., a capsule body comprising a wall with multiple layers of different materials, for holding the liquid ingredient. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One or more of the above mentioned objects are achieved by providing a cartridge according to claim 1.

[0010] A cartridge for providing a liquid product according to the present invention comprises: - a beverage concentrate to be combined with water, e.g., carbonated water, to prepare a beverage, comprising a sealed capsule filled with a portion of a liquid formulation ingredient to be combined with a base liquid to prepare a liquid product, the sealed capsule comprising: - a preferably thermoformed capsule body with a bottom and a top, the capsule body comprising an outer peripheral wall, an inner peripheral wall and a bottom wall, the walls defining an annular reservoir therebetween; wherein the wall of the capsule body preferably comprises multiple layers of different materials, the materials having different barrier properties; wherein the inner and outer peripheral walls at the upper end are provided with inner and outer sealing surfaces, respectively, the sealing surfaces defining a reservoir access opening therebetween; wherein the inner peripheral wall forms a pillar having an internal cavity extending between an upper opening at a top of the pillar, preferably surrounded by an inner sealing surface, and a bottom opening at a bottom end of the pillar; wherein the bottom wall of the capsule body is provided with at least one reservoir outlet in the form of an opening or a perforable bottom area; an upper seal, e.g., an upper sealing membrane, sealed to the inner and outer sealing surfaces and covering the reservoir, the upper seal sealing an access opening to the reservoir; The cartridge comprises: - further comprising a nozzle for guiding a flow of the base liquid through at least a part of the cavity and for dispensing the base liquid at the bottom side of the capsule, the nozzle comprising: - a nozzle body having a conduit extending between an inlet opening at a top end of the nozzle and an outlet opening at a bottom end of the nozzle, the nozzle being received in a cavity in the post; The nozzle is movable relative to the outer peripheral wall of the capsule body from a raised passive position to a lowered dispensing position.

[0011] In accordance with the claimed invention, the cartridge comprises a capsule body having an outer wall, an inner wall, and a bottom wall, the capsule body defining a tubular reservoir between said walls. As such, the capsule body is of simple shape.

[0012] The inner wall of the capsule body forms a post, and the capsule is configured such that the upper end of the post can be pressed downward against the outer wall of the capsule, and the cartridge is configured such that this movement of the upper end of the post opens the capsule, more specifically, removes the seal and / or pierces the bottom region.

[0013] A capsule body with a simple shape allows the capsule wall to be provided as a multi-layer material, thus allowing for a capsule body with improved barrier properties at a low cost.

[0014] The simple shape of the capsule body allows for barriers to be added, for example by laminating a foil material with improved barrier properties to the capsule body, or materials can be applied using spraying to improve the barrier properties of the capsule body.

[0015] Furthermore, the simple shape of the capsule body lends itself to being produced using thermoforming, which allows for the use of laminated materials and therefore provides a capsule body with improved barrier properties at low cost.

[0016] As such, the cartridge comprises a capsule in the form of a sealed reservoir for holding a formulation component. The reservoir, more particularly the capsule body, is configured with multiple layers of different materials to enable barrier properties compatible with the specific base formulation component held in the reservoir. For example, a sheet comprising a layer of polyethylene and a layer of polypropylene can be used to provide a double-layered wall for the capsule body using thermoforming. The multi-layered wall is combined with a seal that seals the reservoir opening and, optionally, a seal that seals the reservoir outlet for a capsule for containing a liquid formulation component, and the capsule shields the liquid formulation component from the environment and prevents or at least reduces the migration of the formulation component from the reservoir.

[0017] The capsule body has a central post with an upper end that can be pushed downward to open the capsule. Downward movement of the upper end of the post pulls the outlet opening and the bottom seal away from each other or causes the bottom perforator to pierce the pierceable area at the outlet opening.

[0018] Thus, a simple pushing action opens the capsule and allows access to the liquid formulation ingredients, so the capsule does not require an external piercing device to open it.

[0019] The cartridges according to the claimed invention are preferably single use or disposable cartridges, i.e. the contents of the cartridge are used to provide a single beverage, and after being emptied the cartridge is to be discarded by the user.

[0020] The cartridge is configured to comprise limited amounts of different materials to allow recycling of the materials after use of the cartridge. It is proposed that the design of the cartridge allows for a capsule body with barrier properties with respect to the liquid formulation ingredients stored in the capsule reservoir, while still allowing recycling of the cartridge, and in particular the capsule body of the cartridge.

[0021] In an embodiment, the pillar is a crushable pillar, i.e., the inner peripheral wall is configured to buckle when the top end of the pillar is pressed downwards towards the bottom end of the pillar, the wall of the pillar being provided with a buckling portion, e.g., an annular shaped with a triangular area belly that facilitates localized crushing of the pillar.

[0022] In such an embodiment, a movable nozzle or a movable bottom perforator is provided to pull the bottom seal away from the outflow opening or to perforate the bottom wall to provide the outflow opening.

[0023] Because the post is a crushable post, only a portion of the capsule body needs to be moved to open the capsule, and therefore the remaining portion of the capsule body can be of a more rigid design, which provides a shock-resistant capsule body.

[0024] In an alternative embodiment, the post is a movable post, i.e., the bottom wall has an annular flexible bottom portion around the post that allows the post to be moved downwardly relative to the outer perimeter wall from an initial position to a lower operating position.

[0025] In such an embodiment, a bottom seal is provided inside the reservoir, the bottom seal having an inner end that seals the outlet opening and an outer end that is fixed in place against the outer perimeter wall, and moving the upper end of the post relative to the perimeter wall moves the inner section of the bottom wall that includes the outlet opening downward relative to the perimeter wall, thereby initiating peeling of the bottom seal away from the outlet opening.

[0026] The present invention further provides a cartridge with a fixed post, the fixed post being provided with a nozzle that can be moved relative to the post from a raised passive position to a lowered dispensing position. In such a cartridge, the nozzle can be pushed downward to open the capsule. The downward movement of the nozzle pulls the bottom seal away from the outlet opening at the bottom of the capsule body.

[0027] According to the claimed invention, the capsule comprises an inner wall and an outer wall, i.e., an inner peripheral wall and an outer peripheral wall, and a bottom wall extending between the bottom end of the inner peripheral wall and the bottom end of the outer peripheral wall. The inner peripheral wall forms a pillar. The upper end of the inner peripheral wall and the upper end of the outer peripheral wall form a sealing surface for attaching a top seal to the capsule body.

[0028] Depressing the top of the post also pushes the nozzle downward.

[0029] In embodiments, the post is a crushable post, i.e., the inner peripheral wall is configured to buckle when the top end of the post is pressed downwards towards the bottom end of the post. In embodiments, the cartridge is configured to cooperate with a dispensing device, in particular a feed piercer for dispensing water of the dispensing device. In such embodiments, the feed piercer can engage the top end of the post and at the same time partially pierce the channel of the post.

[0030] In an alternative embodiment, the post is a movable post, i.e., the bottom wall has an annular flexible bottom portion around the post that allows the post to be moved downwardly relative to the outer perimeter wall from an initial position to a lower operating position.

[0031] The one or more outflow openings or perforable areas for forming the outflow openings are preferably provided in the inner peripheral wall, or in particular at least spaced apart from the outer wall, when the bottom wall is a flexible wall that allows the posts to move relative to the outer wall.

[0032] In further embodiments, the post is configured to both buckle and move in its entirety, in such embodiments, pushing downward on the top end of the post can first cause the post to buckle and move downward, while the bottom end of the post remains stationary relative to the outer wall of the capsule, subsequently causing the bottom of the post to also move downward.

[0033] In an embodiment, the upper end of the post either immediately engages with the upper end of the nozzle, or engages with the upper end of the nozzle after being moved an initial distance, so that the upper end and nozzle move downward together.

[0034] In alternative embodiments, the nozzle is fixed to the bottom wall of the capsule or to the bottom part of the post, in such embodiments the post is a movable post.

[0035] A nozzle is provided to combine the flow of water dispensed through the capsule with the flow of ingredients released from the reservoir. Furthermore, by providing a nozzle, water can be dispensed through the nozzle without the delivery piercer coming into contact with the ingredients. Therefore, there is no need to clean the nozzle. Also, there is no risk of cross-contamination between different capsules, i.e., mixing of ingredients from one cartridge with ingredients from a previously used cartridge.

[0036] The nozzle includes a central passageway for directing the flow of water. Preferably, the cartridge is configured to dispense the ingredients from the reservoirs along the outside of the conduit so that the ingredients and water are dispensed in parallel streams down the nozzle.

[0037] The nozzle is received in the post and is movable relative to the perimeter wall.

[0038] In an embodiment, the nozzle is fixed to the post and moves with a portion of the post relative to the peripheral wall, for example, in an embodiment, the post is a collapsible post and the nozzle is coupled to the top end of the post.

[0039] In an alternative embodiment, the post is a movable post, i.e., fixed with a flexible bottom and therefore can be moved in its entirety relative to the outer wall. In such an embodiment, the nozzle can be fixed to the bottom end of the post or to the bottom wall of the capsule.

[0040] In an alternative embodiment, the nozzle is movable within the channel of the post, i.e., movable relative to the post. In such an embodiment, the nozzle is positioned and supported on the post by, for example, a bottom seal.

[0041] At its upper end, the nozzle is configured to receive a stream of water dispensed by a feed piercer or the like. In embodiments, the nozzle is configured to be coupled with a feed piercer when the feed piercer is inserted into the post. In alternative embodiments, the nozzle is configured to receive a stream of water without the nozzle being coupled with a feed piercer. In such embodiments, the nozzle may have a funnel-shaped upper end for receiving the stream of water.

[0042] In an embodiment, the nozzle is provided with an internal guide plane that extends perpendicular to the inner surface of the nozzle's channel and parallel to the flow of water dispensed by the nozzle in order to dispense the water flow with minimal turbulence. The flow thus combines with the parallel flow of the liquid formulation ingredients, and the water better contains CO2. Preferably, the plane intersects the channel and intersects at the center of the channel. In an embodiment, two intersecting guide planes are provided, so that in a cross-sectional view of the channel, the planes form an X shape.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the cartridge is provided with a guide member disposed below the bottom of the capsule body and configured to receive the liquid ingredient dispensed from the reservoir and to guide the liquid ingredient towards the nozzle, and more particularly towards the flow of base liquid such as water dispensed from the nozzle, for dispensing the flow of liquid ingredient parallel to, and preferably adjacent to, the flow of water dispensed through the nozzle.

[0044] In an embodiment, the nozzle comprises a flange and a bottom seal which together act as guide members for guiding the liquid formulation ingredients.

[0045] In such an embodiment, the bottom seal is sealed to the nozzle at one end and to the bottom wall of the capsule at the opposite end. Between these two ends, the seal covers at least one outlet opening of the reservoir. The seal is initially sealed to the bottom wall of the capsule body around the outlet opening of the reservoir, thereby sealing the reservoir outlet.

[0046] In such an embodiment, the capsule is opened by pushing a portion of the nozzle out of the passage in the post of the capsule body, which causes the nozzle to pull one end of the bottom seal away from the bottom wall of the capsule body, thereby opening the outlet opening of the reservoir.

[0047] The seal, which is still sealed to the bottom of the capsule at one end and to the nozzle at the opposite end, then functions as a guide or funnel to receive the liquid compounding component dispensed from the reservoir and then guide the liquid compounding component to the outlet opening of the nozzle, i.e., to the opening through which the base liquid is dispensed so that the liquid compounding component can be dispensed adjacent to and parallel to the flow of the base liquid.

[0048] In an alternative embodiment, the capsule is provided with a guide member fixed to the bottom wall of the capsule.In an embodiment, the guide member is an injection molded component.

[0049] The guide member is configured to receive the liquid compounding component flowing from the reservoir outlet toward the bottom opening of the post and below the bottom opening, so as to dispense the liquid compounding component in or adjacent to the base liquid flow exiting the nozzle outlet opening when the nozzle is in the lowered dispensing position. Thus, by providing the guide body, the reservoir outlet can be spaced apart from the base liquid flow, while the compounding component is dispensed alongside the base liquid flow, preferably attached to the flow. This is particularly beneficial when the cartridge is used in a dispensing device that utilizes pressurized gas, such as air, to mix a liquid compounding component, such as syrup, from the reservoir with a base liquid, such as carbonated water. In such a system, even the last traces of liquid compounding component may be flushed from the reservoir outlet by the discharge of pressurized gas. If the reservoir outlet is positioned near the nozzle, specifically near the base liquid flow, the discharge of pressurized gas may disrupt the flow of the base liquid. Particularly when the base liquid is carbonated water, such disruption of flow may reduce the CO2 content of the flow.

[0050] The guide member has a fixed shape. For example, in an embodiment, the guide member comprises a guide member body. The guide member body comprises a guide surface for guiding the liquid compounding component and a central opening for receiving the bottom end of the nozzle. Furthermore, the guide member body is provided with one or more sealing regions, such as flanges extending along the periphery of the guide member, at which the guide member body is sealed to the bottom wall of the capsule body.

[0051] It is proposed that the guide member body may be fixed to the capsule body by heat sealing or by alternative techniques such as clamping a flange of the guide member body behind a rib or protrusion formed on the bottom wall of the capsule.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment, the central opening of the guide member is positioned in line with the nozzle and is dimensioned so that when the nozzle is lowered against the outer wall of the capsule, the bottom end of the nozzle is received in the guide opening and one or more openings exist between the nozzle and the guide member body for dispensing liquid ingredients at the nozzle.

[0053] Such a guide member is preferably a relatively rigid component compared to the seal in the previous example, for example having a similar rigidity to the capsule body or a greater rigidity than the capsule body.

[0054] In still other embodiments, the guide member is fixed to the nozzle, and preferably is an integral component of the nozzle. In such embodiments, the guide member moves with the nozzle and is not fixed to the bottom wall of the capsule body.

[0055] In an embodiment, the guide member is fixed to the bottom wall of the capsule body and is configured to position and support the nozzle in the channel of the post, and in such a configuration the capsule is provided with a flexible bottom that allows the post and the nozzle received in the post to be pressed downward against the periphery of the capsule.

[0056] In an alternative embodiment, the guide member is configured to remove the bottom seal from the reservoir outlet, hi such an embodiment, the guide member is attached to the bottom of the capsule at or near the perimeter wall such that the guide member is in a fixed position relative to the perimeter wall.

[0057] The guide member extends from below the at least one reservoir outlet to receive liquid formulation component flowing from the reservoir outlet toward and below the bottom opening of the post for dispensing the liquid formulation component in or adjacent to the flow of base liquid exiting the outlet opening of the nozzle when the nozzle is in the lowered dispensing position.

[0058] Further, the guide member is provided with a rib element extending upwardly towards a bottom seal attached to the bottom of the capsule body and to a nozzle, the nozzle being fixed inside the movable post such that there is a gap adjacent to the nozzle, the gap being covered by a seal extending between the reservoir outlet and the nozzle.

[0059] When the post is moved to the lower operating position, the rib element engages with the bottom seal and is received in the gap. The seal, which is fixed to the nozzle and releasably attached to the bottom of the capsule, more specifically the bottom of the capsule body, is pulled away from the bottom of the capsule body and partially pushed into the gap by the rib element. Thus, the rib element pulls the bottom seal away from the reservoir outlet so that the liquid formulation can flow out of the reservoir outlet and thereby out of the reservoir and the capsule.

[0060] In an embodiment, the capsule is provided with a diamond-shaped seal. In such an embodiment, the capsule body is provided with two outlet openings in its bottom wall, the outlet openings being provided on opposite sides of the post with the diamond-shaped bottom seal.

[0061] The bottom seal has a central opening through which the bottom end of the nozzle can protrude. The seal is sealed to the bottom of the capsule body at its periphery and to a flange of the nozzle along the seal's central opening. The seal is further sealed to the bottom wall of the capsule body around the outlet opening of the reservoir.

[0062] In such an embodiment, the capsule is opened by pushing a portion of the nozzle out of the channel in the capsule body, which causes the nozzle to pull the center of the bottom seal away from the bottom wall of the capsule body, thereby opening the outlet opening of the reservoir.

[0063] The seal, which is then still sealed to the base of the capsule at the peripheral edge and still sealed to the nozzle along the central opening, acts as a guide for the liquid ingredient dispensed from the reservoir: it guides the liquid ingredient towards the outlet opening of the nozzle, i.e., towards the opening through which the water is dispensed, so that the liquid ingredient can be dispensed adjacent to and parallel to the flow of water.

[0064] In such an embodiment, the nozzle is preferably provided with a flange at its bottom end to provide a mounting surface for the seal, and a dispensing opening adjacent the central passage of the nozzle for dispensing a liquid formulation component parallel to the flow of water dispensed through the nozzle channel.

[0065] It is proposed that the diamond-shaped seal, in combination with the two outlet openings of the reservoir, forms an optimal guide for the liquid compounding component. The diamond shape causes the seal to form a guide channel that is directed from below the outlet opening of the reservoir towards the nozzle. The seal surface is inclined towards the center of the guide channel and towards the nozzle. Thus, all liquid compounding component is guided towards the dispensing opening, reducing the risk of liquid compounding component remaining in the guide channel, i.e., not being dispensed.

[0066] In an embodiment, a bottom seal is located inside the reservoir. In such an embodiment, the capsule is provided with a flexible bottom, more particularly with a post that is movably supported by the bottom wall of the capsule.

[0067] The bottom wall of the capsule body is preferably provided with corrugations that locally provide flexibility to the bottom wall so that the inner portion of the bottom wall can be pressed downward against the outer portion of the bottom wall. Furthermore, the corrugations preferably allow some additional extension of the bottom wall so that the inner portion of the bottom wall can be pulled away from the outer portion of the bottom wall when the inner portion is pressed downward against the outer portion of the bottom wall.

[0068] Furthermore, in such an embodiment, the seal extends from the outer periphery of the bottom wall, i.e., the outer portion of the bottom wall at the outer wall of the capsule, to the inner periphery of the bottom wall, i.e., the inner portion of the bottom wall at the inner peripheral wall of the capsule body.

[0069] At the outer periphery, the seal is fixed to the insert body of the capsule or to the capsule body, for example the bottom wall and / or the outer wall.

[0070] At the inner periphery, a seal covers the at least one outlet opening of the reservoir and is sealed to the bottom wall of the capsule to seal the at least one outlet opening.

[0071] In such an embodiment, the capsule is opened by pressing the post of the capsule body downward against the outer peripheral wall of the capsule body, which causes the nozzle to pull the bottom wall away from the seal, thereby opening the outlet opening of the reservoir.

[0072] In such an embodiment, it is proposed that the bottom wall is not only configured to be able to push the pillar downwards, but also that a buffer area, such as a corrugated portion, is provided where the bottom wall is free from the seal and spaced apart from it, which buffer area allows the bottom wall, or at least the inner part of the bottom wall, where the outflow opening is provided, to extend over a longer distance than the inner edge of the seal, ensuring that the bottom wall, or at least part of the bottom wall, is actually pulled away from the seal by moving the pillar downwards, at least at the outflow opening.

[0073] In a further embodiment, an insert is provided in the reservoir, the insert providing a sealing area for the seal at the outer peripheral wall, the area of ​​the insert spacing the seal a distance from the bottom wall and allowing the bottom wall to be pulled away from the seal, at least at the outflow opening.

[0074] The capsule body is provided with an upper seal that is sealed to the upper ends of the outer and inner walls of the capsule, i.e., the upper end of the pillar.

[0075] The top sealing membrane is configured to be perforated or ruptured to facilitate dispensing of the liquid formulation component through the outlet opening or opening in the reservoir, thereby allowing pressurized gas to enter the reservoir.

[0076] Preferably, the upper sealing membrane is configured to be pierced or torn when the upper ends of the posts are pressed downward against the outer wall of the capsule.

[0077] In an embodiment, the capsule is provided with a piercing element positioned inside the reservoir for piercing the top seal from inside the reservoir. Additionally or alternatively, the sealing membrane may be provided with a score line to facilitate tearing of the sealing membrane in a specific area. In an embodiment, pressing down on the top end of the post creates tension in the top sealing membrane, causing it to rupture. In yet another embodiment, the top seal is ruptured due to localized application of pressure by a rounded portion of a hemispherical member of a dispenser into which the cartridge is received to dispense the beverage. In such an embodiment, one or more top seal rupturing protrusions are provided on the bottom side of the hemispherical member for engaging with the top seal. Thus, when the hemispherical member is lowered into the cartridge, the one or more top seal rupturing protrusions engage with the top seal and rupture it.

[0078] In an embodiment, the bottom side of the hemispherical member further includes one or more capsule stabilizing members that are inserted into the access opening of the capsule body before the top seal is opened. The stabilizing members are positioned at or near the top of the peripheral wall to prevent the peripheral wall from being pulled inward when the top of the post is pressed downward, thereby pulling the top seal inward. In an embodiment, the stabilizing member is a ring that is concentric with the access opening and can support the peripheral wall along its entire periphery. In another embodiment, for example, two stabilizing fingers are provided on opposite sides of the cartridge post, e.g., at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, and two objects for pulling the top seal to tear it are positioned on opposite sides of the post, e.g., at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions. It should be noted that when used to stress the top seal until it ruptures, the two pulling objects tend to pull the two opposite sides of the peripheral wall inward. To prevent this from happening, stabilizing fingers are provided to support two opposing sides, thereby maintaining the cartridge in its shape. Before the top seal is opened, a capsule stabilizing member can be positioned at the capsule access opening to pull the top seal to a lesser extent than is necessary to tear it open.

[0079] In some embodiments, an insert is provided in the reservoir of the capsule body. The insert may be configured to serve as a base for fixing one end of a bottom seal, which is also provided inside the reservoir. In such embodiments, the insert is provided with one or more sealing areas for fixing the seal. In other embodiments, the insert may be provided with a piercing element for piercing the top seal from inside the reservoir to provide an opening in the top seal through which pressurized gas can flow into the inside of the reservoir to promote the outflow of liquid formulation ingredients from the reservoir. In yet other embodiments, the insert provides a sealing surface for fixing the outer end of the bottom seal and is provided with a piercing element for piercing the top seal.

[0080] In an embodiment, the cartridge is provided with a piercing member for piercing the bottom of the capsule, the bottom piercer being provided inside the reservoir and movable relative to at least the outer wall of the capsule.

[0081] Preferably, the bottom perforation engages with an upper end of the post such that when the working surface of the bottom perforation is pressed downwards, the upper end of the post moves with the working surface and the post is crushed. Preferably, the post guides the bottom perforation downwards.

[0082] In an embodiment, the bottom perforating body comprises two or more perforating members preferably positioned at equal intervals around the column, each perforating member being positioned above a perforable bottom area, for example above one large perforable bottom area or above an individual perforable bottom area.

[0083] In an embodiment, the bottom perforator also comprises a top seal piercing element and / or a top seal tensioning element.

[0084] The present invention further provides a cartridge for providing a liquid product, the cartridge comprising: - a beverage concentrate to be combined with water, e.g., carbonated water, to prepare a beverage, comprising a sealed capsule filled with a portion of a liquid formulation ingredient to be combined with a base liquid to prepare the liquid product; The sealed capsule is - a preferably thermoformed capsule body with a bottom and a top, the capsule body comprising an outer peripheral wall, an inner peripheral wall and a bottom wall, the walls defining an annular reservoir therebetween; wherein the inner and outer peripheral walls at the upper end are provided with inner and outer sealing surfaces, respectively, the sealing surfaces defining a reservoir access opening therebetween; wherein the inner peripheral wall forms a compressible post having an interior cavity extending between an upper opening at a top of the post, preferably surrounded by an inner sealing surface, and a bottom opening at a bottom end of the post; wherein the bottom wall of the capsule body is provided with at least one reservoir outlet in the form of an opening at a bottom surface of the bottom wall, with a peripheral sealing surface and an opening sealing surface surrounding the reservoir outflow opening, the opening sealing surface being positioned between the peripheral sealing surface and the bottom opening of the pillar; - an upper seal, for example an upper sealing membrane, sealed to the inner and outer sealing surfaces and covering the reservoir, the upper seal sealing an access opening to the reservoir; a bottom seal peelably sealed to the opening sealing surface, sealing the reservoir outlet, and secured to the peripheral sealing surface; The cartridge comprises: - further comprising a nozzle received in the cavity for guiding a flow of the base liquid through at least a portion of the cavity and for dispensing the base liquid at a bottom side of the capsule, the nozzle comprising: a nozzle body having a conduit extending between an inlet opening at a top end of the nozzle and an outlet opening at a bottom end of the nozzle; The nozzle is movable relative to the outer peripheral wall of the capsule body from a raised passive position to a lowered dispensing position. the nozzle further has a flange at a bottom end, the flange having a sealing surface for a bottom seal, and at least one dispensing opening extending through the flange at or near the outlet opening for dispensing a liquid formulation component in or adjacent to the flow of base liquid exiting the outlet opening; the bottom seal is secured to a sealing surface of the nozzle, and when the nozzle is moved to a dispensing position, preferably by compressing the post, the nozzle is able to pull the bottom seal away from the opening in the bottom wall of the capsule to force the liquid formulation ingredient out of the reservoir; The bottom seal remains attached to the peripheral sealing surface of the bottom of the capsule and the sealing surface of the nozzle when the nozzle is in the dispensing position, allowing liquid formulation ingredients to flow along the bottom seal from the opening in the bottom of the capsule to the dispensing opening of the nozzle.

[0085] In an embodiment, the upper seal is a sealing membrane covering the reservoir, which sealing membrane is preferably provided with one or more pre-made score lines, for example by laser machining or partially through the thickness of the membrane, and the score lines are embodied such that pushing a post inward, such as downwardly, towards the dispensing position ruptures the one or more pre-made score lines to provide the one or more openings.

[0086] In embodiments, the bottom seal is a sealing membrane, and one or more reservoir outlets are initially sealed by the bottom sealing membrane of the cartridge, e.g., the bottom sealing membrane is the only closure of one or more outlet openings, and movement of the post to the lower dispensing position causes the bottom sealing membrane of the cartridge to form a guide surface for guiding the liquid formulation ingredient dispensed from one or more reservoir outlets initially sealed by the bottom sealing membrane toward the nozzle, thereby enabling dispensing of the liquid formulation ingredient from the cartridge through the nozzle. In such embodiments, the capsule is opened by pushing a part of the nozzle out of the post of the capsule body, which causes the nozzle to pull the center of the bottom seal away from the bottom wall of the capsule body, thereby opening the outlet openings of the reservoirs.

[0087] In embodiments, depressing the top of the post to move the nozzle to the dispensing position first opens the outflow opening by tearing the bottom seal from the opening sealing surface, and then opening the top seal alone by providing sufficient tension on the top seal to tear open, e.g., at a pre-made score line, and / or by pressing an object, e.g., the round part of a hemisphere, against the top seal. Thus, the liquid formulation component flows freely from the reservoir before the top seal is fully pressed down, which prevents pressure buildup in the reservoir due to the top seal being pressed down by moving the top of the post downward. This further reduces the possibility of explosive release of the liquid formulation component from the reservoir when the bottom seal is pulled away from the outflow opening to open the sealed capsule.

[0088] Preferably, the bottom sealing membrane has a pre-formed hole aligned with the outlet opening of the nozzle for dispensing the base liquid, and the sealing membrane is sealed to the nozzle along the periphery of the pre-formed hole, preferably to the flange of the nozzle.

[0089] In an embodiment, the top seal and bottom seal are multi-layer sealing membranes, where the seals comprise multiple layers of different materials.

[0090] In an embodiment, the capsule is provided with an oval or diamond-shaped bottom seal, and the capsule body is provided with two outlet openings in its bottom wall, the outlet openings being provided on opposite sides of the post. Preferably, the oval or diamond-shaped seal has a longitudinal axis and a shorter intersecting axis, and the outlet opening is located above the longitudinal axis. This configuration is optimal for providing a guide or funnel that receives the liquid compounding component dispensed from the reservoir after the bottom seal is pulled away from the reservoir and subsequently guides the liquid compounding component to the liquid compounding component dispensing opening, which is provided in the nozzle for dispensing the liquid compounding component at the outlet opening of the nozzle, i.e., at the opening through which the base liquid is dispensed, so that the liquid compounding component is dispensed parallel to and adjacent to the flow of the base liquid through the liquid compounding component dispensing opening.

[0091] In embodiments, the capsule body is provided with a shoulder or recess along the periphery of the bottom wall, i.e., at the transition from the periphery and bottom wall of the capsule body, to provide additional rigidity to the capsule in this region to support the bottom seal when the nozzle is lowered to the dispensing position, stretching the bottom seal, and to prevent the capsule from being pulled out of the model by the nozzle stretching the bottom seal. This is beneficial when the bottom seal is oblong, i.e., oval or diamond shaped, so that the load on the capsule body due to the stretching of the bottom seal is not evenly distributed along the bottom wall.

[0092] The bottom seal has a central opening through which the bottom end of the nozzle can protrude. The seal is sealed to the bottom of the capsule body at its periphery and to a flange of the nozzle along the seal's central opening. The seal is further sealed to the bottom wall of the capsule body around the outlet opening of the reservoir.

[0093] In such an embodiment, the capsule is opened by pushing a portion of the nozzle out of the post of the capsule body, which causes the nozzle to pull the center of the bottom seal away from the bottom wall of the capsule body, thereby opening the outlet opening of the reservoir.

[0094] In embodiments, the nozzle, preferably the flange of the nozzle, and the bottom sealing membrane together function as a guide member to guide liquid formulation components from one or more reservoir outlets towards the nozzle when the nozzle is in the lowered dispensing position.

[0095] In an embodiment, the capsule body is made from a multi-layer material, preferably thermoformed from a sheet of multi-layer material, such that the capsule wall comprises multiple layers of different materials, the materials having different barrier properties. In an embodiment, the multi-layer material comprises at least one layer of EVOH material and / or oriented PP material.

[0096] In an embodiment, the top seal and / or the bottom seal is a sealing film, preferably a multi-layer sealing film, e.g., comprising multiple layers of different materials, the multiple layers preferably comprising at least one layer of EVOH material and / or stretched PP material.

[0097] In an embodiment, the nozzle comprises one or more injection molded components.

[0098] In embodiments, the post of the cartridge body is a compressible post, and the top of the post can be moved relative to and towards the bottom of the post.

[0099] In a further embodiment, the pillar is provided with a buckling portion, i.e., a localized region of the pillar that is configured to buckle when pressure is exerted on the top of the pillar, thus allowing movement of the top of the pillar towards the base of the pillar.

[0100] In a further embodiment, the buckling portion comprises an annular band of parallelogram-shaped recesses separated by linear ridges, the parallelogram-shaped recesses, e.g., diamond-shaped recesses, being positioned on two opposite sides substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the post when viewed in side view, and on two other opposite sides at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the post when viewed in side view.

[0101] In an embodiment, the lower portion of the column is provided with a reinforcing structure, which comprises linear ribs extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the column when viewed in side view.

[0102] The present invention further provides a cartridge for providing a liquid product, the cartridge comprising: - a beverage concentrate to be combined with water, e.g., carbonated water, to prepare a beverage, comprising a sealed capsule filled with a portion of a liquid formulation ingredient to be combined with a base liquid to prepare the liquid product; The sealed capsule is - a preferably thermoformed capsule body with a bottom and a top, the capsule body comprising an outer peripheral wall, an inner peripheral wall and a bottom wall, the walls defining an annular reservoir therebetween; wherein the inner and outer peripheral walls at the upper end are provided with inner and outer sealing surfaces, respectively, the sealing surfaces defining a reservoir access opening therebetween; wherein the inner peripheral wall forms a pillar having an internal cavity extending between an upper opening at a top of the pillar, preferably surrounded by an inner sealing surface, and a bottom opening at a bottom end of the pillar; wherein the pillar is a crushable pillar, i.e., the inner peripheral wall is configured to buckle when the top end of the pillar is pressed downward toward the bottom end of the pillar; wherein the bottom wall of the capsule body is provided with at least one reservoir outlet in the form of a perforable bottom area; an upper seal, e.g., an upper sealing membrane, sealed to the inner and outer sealing surfaces and covering the reservoir, the upper seal sealing an access opening to the reservoir; The cartridge comprises: - a nozzle received in the cavity for guiding a flow of liquid through at least a part of the cavity and for dispensing a base liquid at the bottom side of the capsule; Here, the nozzle is a nozzle body having a conduit extending between an inlet opening at a top end of the nozzle and an outlet opening at a bottom end of the nozzle; wherein the nozzle is movable from a raised passive position to a lowered dispensing position relative to the outer peripheral wall of the capsule body; - a guide member, preferably attached to the bottom of the capsule and extending from below the perforable bottom area towards and below the bottom opening of the post for receiving the liquid formulation component flowing from the reservoir outlet, for dispensing the liquid formulation component in or adjacent to the flow of base liquid exiting the outlet opening of the nozzle when the nozzle is in the lowered dispensing position; a bottom perforating body having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom perforating body being provided with an operating surface at the top end of the bottom perforating body and positioned at or adjacent to the top end of the post, and a perforating member at the bottom end of the bottom perforating body and positioned at or adjacent to the bottom end of the post above the perforable bottom region; Furthermore, Pressing the bottom perforator downwards causes the piercing member to pierce the pierceable area at the bottom of the capsule, allowing the liquid formulation ingredient to flow out of the reservoir outlet.

[0103] In an embodiment, the bottom perforator is provided with two top seal opening members coupled to the bottom perforator, e.g., to move downward with the bottom perforator. The top opening members each engage with the top seal, e.g., by being respectively attached to the top seal, in one or more regions respectively positioned between the inner and outer peripheral walls. When the bottom perforator is moved downward from its initial position to a lowered position, the reservoir outlet is perforated therein, and the top seal opening members locally overstress the top sealing membrane, thereby rupturing to provide one or more of the gas pressure introduction openings.

[0104] The present invention further provides a cartridge for providing a liquid product, the cartridge comprising: - a beverage concentrate to be combined with water, e.g., carbonated water, to prepare a beverage, comprising a sealed capsule filled with a portion of a liquid formulation ingredient to be combined with a base liquid to prepare the liquid product; The sealed capsule is - a preferably thermoformed capsule body with a bottom and a top, the capsule body comprising an outer peripheral wall, an inner peripheral wall and a bottom wall, the walls defining an annular reservoir therebetween; wherein the inner and outer peripheral walls at the upper end are provided with inner and outer sealing surfaces, respectively, the sealing surfaces defining a reservoir access opening therebetween; wherein the inner peripheral wall forms a pillar having an internal cavity extending between an upper opening at a top of the pillar, preferably surrounded by an inner sealing surface, and a bottom opening at a bottom end of the pillar; wherein the bottom wall has an annular flexible bottom portion around the post such that the post is movable downwardly from the initial position to the lower operating position; wherein the bottom wall of the capsule body is provided with at least one reservoir outlet in the form of an opening, and an opening sealing surface surrounding the opening is provided on an upper surface of the bottom wall; wherein the bottom wall is provided with a peripheral sealing surface on an upper surface thereof, the sealing surface extending along the periphery of the bottom wall; or the capsule comprises an insert positioned on or at a surface of a bottom wall of the capsule, the insert being provided with a peripheral sealing surface, the peripheral sealing surface extending along the periphery of the bottom wall; an upper seal, e.g., an upper sealing membrane, sealed to the inner and outer sealing surfaces and covering the reservoir, the upper seal sealing an access opening to the reservoir; a bottom seal peelably sealed to the opening sealing surface, sealing the reservoir outlet, and secured to the peripheral sealing surface; The cartridge comprises: a nozzle for guiding a flow of liquid through at least a part of the cavity and for dispensing a base liquid at the bottom side of the capsule, a nozzle body having a conduit extending between an inlet opening at a top end of the nozzle and an outlet opening at a bottom end of the nozzle; a nozzle comprising: wherein the nozzle is movable together with the column from a raised passive position to a lowered dispensing position relative to the outer peripheral wall of the capsule body; a guide member, preferably attached to the bottom of the capsule and extending from below the reservoir outlet towards the bottom opening of the post for receiving the liquid formulation component flowing from the reservoir outlet to dispense the liquid formulation component in or adjacent to the flow of base liquid exiting the outlet opening of the nozzle when the nozzle is in the lowered dispensing position; Equipped with By pushing the post downward from the initial position to the lower operating position, the opening sealing surface can be pulled away from the bottom seal, forcing the liquid formulation component to flow out of the reservoir outlet.

[0105] The present invention further provides a cartridge for providing a liquid product, the cartridge comprising: - a beverage concentrate to be combined with water, e.g., carbonated water, to prepare a beverage, comprising a sealed capsule filled with a portion of a liquid formulation ingredient to be combined with a base liquid to prepare a liquid product, the sealed capsule comprising: - a preferably thermoformed capsule body with a bottom and a top, the capsule body comprising an outer peripheral wall, an inner peripheral wall and a bottom wall, the walls defining an annular reservoir therebetween; wherein the capsule body preferably comprises multiple layers of different materials, the materials having different barrier properties; wherein the inner and outer peripheral walls at the upper end are provided with inner and outer sealing surfaces, respectively, the sealing surfaces defining a reservoir access opening therebetween; wherein the inner peripheral wall forms a pillar having an internal cavity extending between an upper opening at a top of the pillar, preferably surrounded by an inner sealing surface, and a bottom opening at a bottom end of the pillar; wherein the bottom wall has an annular flexible bottom portion around the post such that the post is movable downwardly from the initial position to the lower operating position; wherein the bottom wall of the capsule body is provided with at least one reservoir outlet in the form of an opening, and an opening sealing surface surrounding the opening is provided on a bottom surface of the bottom wall; - an upper seal, e.g., an upper sealing membrane, sealed to the inner and outer sealing surfaces and covering the reservoir, the upper seal sealing the access opening of the capsule; The cartridge comprises: a nozzle for guiding a flow of the base liquid through at least a part of the cavity and for dispensing the base liquid at the bottom side of the capsule, a nozzle body having a conduit extending between an inlet opening at a top end of the nozzle and an outlet opening at a bottom end of the nozzle; a sealing surface at the bottom, the sealing surface being positioned in the cavity such that there is a gap between the inner circumferential wall of the capsule body and the sealing surface provided on the nozzle, the gap being positioned between the reservoir outlet and the sealing surface at the nozzle; a nozzle comprising: wherein the nozzle is movable together with the column from a raised passive position to a lowered dispensing position relative to the outer peripheral wall of the capsule body; a bottom seal peelably sealed to the opening sealing surface, sealing the reservoir outlet, and secured to the sealing surface at the nozzle such that the bottom seal extends across the gap; - a guide member attached to the bottom of the capsule at or near the outer circumferential wall so that the guide member is in a fixed position relative to the outer circumferential wall, the guide member extending from below the reservoir outlet toward and below the bottom opening of the post for receiving the liquid formulation component flowing from the reservoir outlet to dispense the liquid formulation component in or adjacent to the flow of base liquid exiting the outlet opening of the nozzle when the nozzle is in the lowered dispensing position; Furthermore, The guide member is provided with a rib element that extends upward toward the bottom seal when the post is in the initial position, and the rib element engages with the bottom seal and is received in the gap when the post is in the lower operating position so that the rib element can pull the bottom seal away from the reservoir outlet by moving the post from the raised passive position to the lowered dispensing position relative to the outer peripheral wall of the capsule body, thereby forcing the liquid blended ingredient to flow out of the reservoir outlet.

[0106] Accordingly, the present invention further provides a cartridge for providing a liquid product, the cartridge comprising: - a beverage concentrate to be combined with water, e.g., carbonated water, to prepare a beverage; a sealed capsule filled with a portion of a liquid formulation ingredient to be combined with a base liquid to prepare a liquid product; - a capsule body with a bottom and a top, the body defining a reservoir to be filled with a portion of a liquid formulation ingredient, the top having an access opening in communication with said reservoir; wherein the capsule body further comprises a pillar projecting upward from a bottom to an upper end of the pillar, the pillar providing an annular shape to the reservoir; wherein the cavity extends through the pillar from a top opening at the top end of the pillar to a bottom opening at the bottom end of the pillar, the bottom opening being located at the bottom of the capsule body; wherein the post has a wall with an inner surface defining a cavity and an upper surface at an upper end of the post; wherein the bottom wall of the capsule body is provided with at least one reservoir outlet in the form of an opening sealed with a bottom seal or in the form of a perforable bottom area; wherein the post is either a crushable post, i.e., the inner peripheral wall is configured to buckle when the top end of the post is pressed downwardly towards the bottom end of the post, or the post is a movable post, i.e., the bottom wall has an annular flexible bottom portion around the post such that the bottom wall is movable downwardly from the initial position to the lower operating position, so that at least the top end of the post is movable downwardly from the initial position to the lower operating position; - an upper seal, e.g., an upper sealing membrane, sealed to the inner and outer sealing surfaces and covering the reservoir, the upper seal sealing the access opening of the capsule; a sealed capsule comprising: a nozzle for guiding a flow of the base liquid through at least a part of the cavity of the pillar and for dispensing the base liquid at the bottom side of the capsule, a nozzle body having a conduit extending between an inlet opening at a top end of the nozzle and an outlet opening at a bottom end of the nozzle; a nozzle comprising: Equipped with a nozzle received in the cavity of the post with an inlet opening oriented toward the upper opening of the cavity and an outlet opening oriented toward the lower opening of the cavity; the nozzle is movable from a raised passive position to a lowered dispensing position relative to the outer peripheral wall of the capsule body, preferably by an upper end of the post; Moving the top end of the post relative to the peripheral wall can either remove the bottom seal from the outlet opening or initiate piercing of the pierceable area of ​​the outlet opening to open the capsule and allow the liquid formulation ingredients to flow out of the reservoir.

[0107] The invention further provides for the cartridge to have a fixed post and a movable nozzle received on said post, in such an embodiment, the cartridge is configured to receive a feed piercer from a dispensing device, the feed piercer engaging the nozzle and moving the nozzle from an initial raised position to an active lowered position.

[0108] In such an embodiment, the cartridge for providing the liquid product comprises: - a beverage concentrate to be combined with water, e.g., carbonated water, to prepare a beverage, comprising a sealed capsule filled with a portion of a liquid formulation ingredient to be combined with a base liquid to prepare the liquid product; The sealed capsule is - a preferably thermoformed capsule body with a bottom and a top, the capsule body comprising an outer peripheral wall, an inner peripheral wall and a bottom wall, the walls defining an annular reservoir therebetween; wherein the inner and outer peripheral walls at the upper end are provided with inner and outer sealing surfaces, respectively, the sealing surfaces defining a reservoir access opening therebetween; wherein the inner peripheral wall forms a pillar having an internal cavity extending between an upper opening at a top of the pillar, preferably surrounded by an inner sealing surface, and a bottom opening at a bottom end of the pillar; wherein the bottom wall of the capsule body is provided with at least one reservoir outlet in the form of an opening at a bottom surface of the bottom wall, with a peripheral sealing surface and an opening sealing surface surrounding the reservoir outflow opening, the opening sealing surface being positioned between the peripheral sealing surface and the bottom opening of the pillar; - an upper seal, e.g. an upper sealing membrane, sealed to the inner and outer sealing surfaces and covering the reservoir, sealing an access opening of the capsule; a bottom seal peelably sealed to the opening sealing surface, sealing the reservoir outlet, and secured to the peripheral sealing surface; The cartridge comprises: - further comprising a nozzle received in the cavity for guiding a flow of the base liquid through at least a portion of the cavity and for dispensing the base liquid at a bottom side of the capsule, the nozzle comprising: a nozzle body having a conduit extending between an inlet opening at a top end of the nozzle and an outlet opening at a bottom end of the nozzle; the nozzle is movable relative to the post from a raised passive position to a lowered dispensing position; the nozzle further has a flange at a bottom end, the flange having a sealing surface for a bottom seal, and at least one dispensing opening extending through the flange at or near the outlet opening for dispensing a liquid formulation component in or adjacent to the flow of base liquid exiting the outlet opening; the bottom seal is secured to a sealing surface of the nozzle, and when the nozzle is moved to a dispensing position, preferably by compressing the post, the nozzle is able to pull the bottom seal away from the opening in the bottom wall of the capsule to force the liquid formulation ingredient out of the reservoir; The bottom seal remains attached to the peripheral sealing surface of the bottom of the capsule and the sealing surface of the nozzle when the nozzle is in the dispensing position, allowing liquid formulation ingredients to flow along the bottom seal from an outlet opening at the bottom of the capsule to a dispensing opening in the nozzle.

[0109] Preferably, the cartridge according to the claimed invention is configured to dispense a base liquid through a nozzle and to dispense liquid ingredients at the bottom of the cartridge. Preferably, the base liquid and liquid ingredients are not mixed in the cartridge but are dispensed as separate streams. Furthermore, preferably, the separate streams are dispensed so as to adhere to each other, preferably such that one or more streams of liquid ingredients are dispensed adhere to a single stream of base liquid at the bottom of the cartridge.

[0110] For example, in an embodiment, the cartridge comprises a guide member and a nozzle, the guide member and the nozzle forming a dispensing opening therebetween for dispensing a liquid formulation component closely adjacent to the base liquid dispensed from the nozzle, preferably in the form of an enclosure, said enclosure covering the flow of base liquid.

[0111] The present invention further provides a system for the preparation of a liquid product, for example a liquid foodstuff such as a beverage, comprising: a) a cartridge according to the present invention; b) a dispensing device, e.g. a beverage dispensing device; The apparatus comprises: a holder for receiving the cartridge and holding it at a dispensing location in the device; - a base liquid delivery assembly with a base liquid delivery member, such as a piercer, arranged at the dispensing location, the base liquid delivery member being embodied to couple to a conduit in the column of the cartridge so as to be able to deliver the base liquid into the conduit; - an operable displacement device adapted to create a movement of the holder for the cartridge and the base liquid feed member relative to each other in order to couple the base liquid feed member to the conduit and to move the post, or at least an upper part of the post, downwards from the raised passive position to said lowered dispensing position; a pressurized gas source, preferably a pressurized air source, for example an air pump; Equipped with the device is adapted to place the pressurized gas source in direct communication with a reservoir of the capsule so as to pressurize the liquid ingredient with the gas to assist in dispensing of the liquid ingredient from the reservoir through one or more of the dispensing passages; the system is adapted to create one or more gas pressure introduction openings in an upper sealing membrane covering the reservoir access opening; the dispensing device further comprises a pressurizing hemispherical member having a peripheral gas seal, e.g., an outer gas seal along a periphery, the pressurizing hemispherical member adapted to sealingly engage the cartridge around where the one or more openings are created in the top sealing membrane to allow entry of the pressurized gas into a reservoir; a pressurized gas source coupled to the hemispherical member and adapted to deliver pressurized gas beneath the hemispherical member within the contour of a peripheral gas seal sealingly engaging the cartridge to pressurize the liquid formulation component in the reservoir through one or more gas pressure introduction openings in the sealing membrane, thereby assisting in dispensing the liquid formulation component from the reservoir through one or more of the reservoir outlets; The cartridge is configured to move at least an upper portion of the post downwardly to locally perforate and / or overstress, thereby rupturing, the upper sealing membrane and provide one or more of said gas pressure introduction openings.

[0112] In an embodiment of the system, the top sealing membrane is pre-weakened to facilitate membrane rupture, preferably pre-weakened at or near one or more locations.

[0113] In an embodiment of the system, the outer peripheral wall of the capsule body is provided with a flange, for example an outwardly protruding flange, which forms the upper peripheral part of the cartridge body, and the upper seal is attached to the flange in the area of ​​the outer seal.

[0114] In an embodiment of the system, the base liquid feed member is a base liquid feed piercer that protrudes from the pressurized hemispherical member, preferably within the contours of the peripheral gas seal.

[0115] In an embodiment of the system, one or more reservoir outlets of the cartridge are located on the bottom side of the cartridge and are spaced from the posts so that the liquid formulation components emerge from the one or more reservoir outlets as a separate stream from the outflow of base liquid emerging from the nozzle, and the one or more reservoir outlets are positioned, or guide members are provided, so that the liquid formulation components emerging from the reservoir outlets are adjacent to the outside of the outflow of base liquid emerging from the nozzle.

[0116] In an embodiment of the system, one or more reservoir outlets of the cartridge are positioned at a height corresponding to the height of the outlet opening of the nozzle or above the outlet opening of the nozzle when the nozzle is in the lowered position.

[0117] In an embodiment of the system, one or more reservoir outlets are initially sealed by a bottom seal of the cartridge, e.g., the bottom sealing membrane, which is the only closure for the one or more reservoir outlets, and downward movement of the post, or at least the upper end of the post, ruptures and / or tears the bottom seal of the cartridge away from the one or more reservoir outlets initially sealed by the bottom seal, thereby allowing dispensing from the cartridge.

[0118] In an embodiment of the system, one or more reservoir outlets are positioned or guided such that the liquid formulation components emerging from the reservoir outlets are adjacent to the outside of the base liquid outflow emerging from the nozzle, forming an annular enclosure around said base liquid outflow.

[0119] In an embodiment of the system, the dispensing device is adapted to pressurize the liquid formulation components in the reservoir such that one or more outflows of the liquid formulation components emerging from one or more reservoir outlets flow as a slow stream together with the outflow of the base liquid emerging from the nozzle, the slow stream being adjacent to the outside of the outflow of the base liquid.

[0120] In an embodiment of the system, a guide member is provided below the capsule body and below the reservoir outlet, the guide member having a guide surface oriented at an angle to the flow of the liquid compounding ingredient emerging from the reservoir such that a jet of the liquid compounding ingredient emerging from the reservoir outlet due to gas pressurization of the liquid compounding ingredient hits the guide surface of the guide member, thereby slowing down and preferably eliminating said jet.

[0121] In an embodiment of the system, the holder is a drawer with a cavity for receiving a cartridge, e.g., said cartridge is suspended in said cavity by an outward flange of the outer peripheral wall of the capsule body, the drawer is movable into the housing of the apparatus to enable the cartridge to be moved to a dispensing location, and the operable displacement device is adapted to move the pressurizing hemispherical member up and down relative to the housing so as to sealingly engage the peripheral gas seal with the cartridge in a lower position of the hemispherical member around where the sealing membrane is opened to allow entry of pressurized gas into the reservoir.

[0122] In embodiments, the holder is configured to support the cartridge only below the flange of the cartridge. In such embodiments, the holder is, for example, in the form of an annulus or is a drawer, and the cavity for receiving the cartridge is completely devoid of a bottom or the like to support the bottom of the cartridge. Thus, in such embodiments, the cartridge has a freely hanging bottom when in the holder.

[0123] In an embodiment of the cartridge according to the invention, the top sealing membrane is provided with a temperature responsive colored area that changes color with temperature changes, thereby providing an indication of the actual temperature of the liquid formulation component. Thus, the dispensing device may have a temperature reading sensor or indicator thereof in the cartridge, or the user may be guided to provide the correct input to the device.

[0124] In embodiments, the post of the cartridge body is a compressible post, and the top of the post can be moved relative to and towards the bottom of the post.

[0125] In a further embodiment, the pillar is provided with a buckling portion, i.e., a localized region of the pillar that is configured to buckle when pressure is exerted on the top of the pillar, thus allowing movement of the top of the pillar towards the base of the pillar.

[0126] In an embodiment, the post is provided with an annular buckling portion, the buckling portion comprising a faceted area that promotes localized crushing of the post.

[0127] In a further embodiment, the buckling portion comprises an annular band of parallelogram-shaped recesses separated by linear ridges, the parallelogram-shaped recesses, e.g., diamond-shaped recesses, being positioned on two opposite sides substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the post when viewed in side view, and on two other opposite sides at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the post when viewed in side view.

[0128] The parallelogram recesses locally reduce the ability of the column walls to support loads applied to the top of the column. In contrast, the ridges separating the parallelogram recesses form thin, rigid regions connecting the portion of the column below the band of parallelogram recesses with the portion of the column above the band of parallelogram recesses. When the top of the column is pushed downward, the column walls buckle at the parallelogram recesses, while the ridges between the recessed regions remain roughly unchanged. The ridges are pushed from an angled position toward a horizontal position, causing the recessed regions between the ridges to fold in on themselves. Thus, the column buckles and the top of the column moves downward toward the bottom end of the column.

[0129] In a further embodiment, the column is provided with two bands of parallelogram recesses, with the ridges between the recesses of the upper band extending at an angle opposite to the angle of the ridges of the lower band. It is proposed that buckling of a column using parallelogram recesses causes the portion of the column above the band of parallelogram recesses to rotate about a vertical axis relative to the portion of the column below the band of parallelogram recesses. By providing the ridges of the lower and upper bands of parallelogram recesses at opposite angles, the rotational movement caused by the upper row of parallelogram recesses is countered by the rotational movement of the lower row of parallelogram recesses. Thus, in such an embodiment, buckling does not, or only minimally, cause rotation of the upper end of the column relative to the lower end of the column.

[0130] In an embodiment, a reinforcing structure is provided in the lower portion of the column to resist buckling of the column when the top of the column is pressed downwards, thereby further helping to limit buckling to a particular region of the column, i.e., to limit buckling of the column to the buckling portion of the column.

[0131] In an embodiment, the reinforcing structure comprises linear ribs extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the column when viewed in side view, the ribs extending parallel to the direction of a force applied to the top of the column to move it downward, creating a condition in which the ribs resist buckling of the column.

[0132] It is submitted above that the recesses may also be provided in the form of protrusions, in both cases the recessed or protruding areas being located outside the plane of the wall.

[0133] The present invention further provides a method for the preparation of a liquid product, e.g. a liquid foodstuff such as a beverage, using from a cartridge according to the invention, preferably from a system accordingly comprising a cartridge according to the claimed invention, the method comprising: - sealingly engaging a peripheral gas seal of the pressurization hemispherical member with the cartridge around where the upper sealing membrane has or will be opened to allow ingress of pressurized gas into the reservoir, e.g., to the upper end of the peripheral wall of the cartridge; - causing the top sealing membrane to open at said one or more locations; - preferably pressing down on at least an upper end of a post of the cartridge to open at least one reservoir outlet; - directing pressurized gas beneath said hemispherical member, whereby said gas pressurizes a liquid ingredient in a reservoir of the capsule, thereby assisting in dispensing of the liquid ingredient from the reservoir through one or more of said dispensing passages; Includes.

[0134] In a further embodiment, the method includes opening the sealed capsule of the cartridge by depressing the top end of the post, thereby crushing a portion of the post and moving the nozzle downward to a dispensing position, whereby the nozzle pulls the bottom seal away from at least the reservoir outlet, opening the outlet.

[0135] The present invention further provides a method for manufacturing a cartridge according to the present invention, the method comprising the steps of: - forming a capsule body from the multi-layer sheet using a thermoforming technique.

[0136] In a further embodiment, the method comprises: - mounting a nozzle in a cavity in the post of the capsule body; - securing a bottom seal to the cartridge bottom and nozzle, sealing at least one reservoir outlet with the bottom seal; Includes.

[0137] In a further embodiment, the method comprises: - filling a reservoir of the capsule body with a liquid formulation; - sealing the reservoir of the capsule by sealing the top seal to the top of the peripheral wall and the top of the post; Includes.

[0138] The cartridge according to the claimed invention is preferably a single-use or disposable cartridge, i.e., the contents of the cartridge are used to provide a single beverage. In embodiments, the cartridge is configured to simultaneously dispense multiple portions of beverage, i.e., comprises multiple quantities of liquid ingredients. In such embodiments, the dispensing device into which the cartridge is received, or the cartridge, is provided with a device for splitting the combined flow of base liquid and liquid ingredients into two separate flows, for example to fill two containers with a single dispensed beverage.

[0139] The design of the cartridge allows the capsule body to be manufactured using thermoforming. Manufacturing the cartridge, more specifically the capsule body of the cartridge, using thermoforming allows the capsule body to be made from a sheet of multilayer material. These multilayer sheets typically include a base layer for providing structural integrity to the capsule body and one or more barrier layers for providing the capsule body with suitable barrier properties. Preferably, the barrier layer is relatively thin compared to the base layer. Therefore, the proportion of the multilayer material in the overall material is small, which is beneficial for recycling the cartridge. In addition, the nozzle and, if present, the guide channel are preferably injection-molded components, preferably made from the same material as the base material used in the capsule body. Therefore, the cartridge is mainly made of the same material, which is beneficial for recycling the cartridge.

[0140] In embodiments, the conduit in the nozzle is divided into sub-conduits. In such embodiments, the conduit is provided with one or more fins, which extend in the axial direction of the conduit. For example, a single fin may intersect the conduit to divide it into two sub-conduits. Furthermore, the fin preferably extends over a substantial portion of the length of the conduit, preferably along the entire conduit. Thus, the stream of base liquid flowing through the conduit is divided into two sub-streams. It has been found that when the fins extend along substantially the entire length of the conduit, they further reduce turbulence in the stream of base liquid being dispensed.

[0141] The present invention provides a thermoformed capsule to provide a sealed capsule according to the present invention, and a plurality of nested thermoformed capsules to provide a sealed capsule according to the present invention.

[0142] The present invention further provides a cartridge for providing a liquid product, the cartridge comprising: - a beverage concentrate to be combined with water, e.g., carbonated water, to prepare a beverage, comprising a sealed capsule filled with a portion of a liquid formulation ingredient to be combined with a base liquid to prepare the liquid product; The sealed capsule is - a preferably thermoformed capsule body with a bottom and a top, the capsule body comprising an outer peripheral wall, an inner peripheral wall and a bottom wall, the walls defining an annular reservoir therebetween; wherein the capsule body preferably comprises multiple layers of different materials, the materials having different barrier properties; wherein the inner and outer peripheral walls at the upper end are provided with inner and outer sealing surfaces, respectively, the sealing surfaces defining a reservoir access opening therebetween; wherein the inner peripheral wall forms a pillar, the pillar having an internal cavity extending between an upper opening at a top of the pillar, preferably surrounded by an inner sealing surface, and a bottom opening at a bottom end of the pillar, the pillar being a compressible pillar having a buckling portion, i.e., a localized region of the pillar configured to buckle when pressure is exerted on the top of the pillar; wherein the bottom wall of the capsule body is provided with at least one reservoir outlet in the form of an opening, and a bottom surface of the bottom wall is provided with a peripheral sealing surface and an opening sealing surface surrounding the reservoir outflow opening; - an upper seal, for example an upper sealing membrane, sealed to the inner and outer sealing surfaces and covering the reservoir, the upper seal sealing an access opening to the reservoir; a bottom seal peelably sealed to the opening sealing surface, sealing the reservoir outlet, and secured to the peripheral sealing surface; The cartridge comprises: - further comprising a nozzle for guiding a flow of the base liquid through at least a part of the cavity and for dispensing the base liquid at the bottom side of the capsule, the nozzle comprising: - a nozzle body having a conduit extending between an inlet opening at a top end of the nozzle and an outlet opening at a bottom end of the nozzle, the nozzle having a sealing surface for a bottom seal and at least one dispensing opening for receiving a flowing liquid formulation component guided to the nozzle by the bottom seal and for dispensing the flowing liquid formulation component in or adjacent to a flow of base liquid guided through the conduit of the nozzle; The nozzle is movable relative to the outer peripheral wall of the capsule body from a raised passive position to a lowered dispensing position. the bottom seal is secured to a sealing surface of the nozzle, and when the nozzle is moved to a dispensing position, preferably by compressing the post, the nozzle can pull the bottom seal away from an opening sealing surface surrounding the reservoir outlet opening to force the liquid formulation component out of the reservoir; The bottom seal remains attached to the peripheral sealing surface of the bottom of the capsule and the sealing surface of the nozzle when the nozzle is in the dispensing position, allowing liquid formulation ingredients to flow along the bottom seal from an outlet opening at the bottom of the capsule to a dispensing opening in the nozzle.

[0143] A capsule according to the present invention may be configured to combine a flow of liquid ingredient dispensed from a reservoir with a flow of base liquid dispensed through a nozzle.

[0144] The present invention further provides a method for providing a cartridge for holding a liquid formulation ingredient so that a base liquid is dispensed, the method comprising the steps of filling a cartridge according to the present invention, the cartridge comprising a capsule, a nozzle and a bottom seal, and subsequently sealing the capsule using a top seal.

[0145] In an embodiment, the sealed capsule has a height between 36mm and 40mm, for example a diameter of 38mm, and a diameter at the top of the outer wall between 48mm and 50mm, for example a diameter of 50mm.

[0146] In an embodiment, the sealed capsule has a pronounced outer wall such that the outer wall has a smaller perimeter at the bottom than the perimeter of the outer wall at the top of the sealed capsule. In an embodiment, the sealed capsule has a diameter of between 48 mm and 50 mm at the top of the outer wall, e.g., 50 mm, and a diameter of between 47 mm and 40 mm at the bottom of the outer wall, e.g., 43 mm or 46 mm.

[0147] In embodiments, the post is a compressible post, and the post is configured to be compressed in the range of 5 mm to 10 mm, for example, configured to be compressed 7 mm. In such embodiments, the post is moved 7 mm when moved to the dispensing position.

[0148] Advantageous embodiments of the cartridge according to the invention are disclosed in the subclaims and in the present description, in which the invention is further illustrated and elucidated on the basis of several exemplary embodiments, some of which are shown in schematic drawings, in which components which correspond in terms of structure and / or function are provided with reference numbers having the same last two digits. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0149] [Figure 1]1 is a perspective top view of a capsule body of a first exemplary embodiment of a cartridge according to the present invention; FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective bottom view of the capsule body of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a nozzle of a cartridge according to the present invention. [Figure 4] 4 is a side view in cross section of the cartridge of FIGS. 1 to 3, with the nozzle received in the capsule body in a first position; FIG. [Figure 5] 4 is a side view in cross section of the cartridge of FIGS. 1 to 3, with the nozzle received in the capsule body in a second position; FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective top view of a capsule body and a bottom perforator received in a reservoir defined by the capsule body of a second exemplary embodiment of a cartridge according to the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective bottom view of the capsule body of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 8 is a side view in cross section of the cartridge of FIGS. 6-7 with the bottom piercer in a first position. FIG. [Figure 9] 8 is a side view in cross section of the cartridge of FIGS. 6-7 with the bottom piercer in a second position. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective top view of a capsule body of a third exemplary embodiment of a cartridge according to the present invention, with a bottom seal received in a reservoir defined by the capsule body. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective side view in cross section of the cartridge of FIG. 10. [Figure 12] 11 is a side view in cross section of the cartridge of FIG. 10 in a first position. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a side view in cross section of the cartridge of FIG. 10 in a second position. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a perspective bottom view of the capsule body of FIG. 10. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a perspective top view of a capsule body of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a cartridge according to the present invention, with a bottom seal and an insert received in a reservoir defined by the capsule body. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a perspective side view in cross section of the cartridge of FIG. 15. [Figure 17] FIG. 16 is a side view in cross section of the cartridge of FIG. 15 in a first position. [Figure 18] FIG. 16 is a side view in cross section of the cartridge of FIG. 15 in a second position. [Figure 19] FIG. 16 is a top view of the cartridge of FIG. 15. [Figure 20] FIG. 11 is a perspective bottom view of the capsule body of FIG. 10. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a perspective side view in cross section of a capsule body of a fifth exemplary embodiment of a cartridge according to the present invention, with a bottom seal outside the reservoir defined by the capsule body and a guide member mounted to the bottom of the capsule body. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a side view in cross section of the capsule body of FIG. 21. [Figure 23] 22 is a partial enlarged view in cross section of the capsule body of FIG. 21 in a first position. [Figure 24] 22 is a partial enlarged view in cross section of the capsule body of FIG. 21 in a second position. [Figure 25] 2 is a perspective view of the components of the liquid food product dispenser and cartridge of FIG. 1 prior to placement in a cartridge holder of the device. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is the view of FIG. 25 in which the cartridge is placed in the cartridge holder. [Figure 27] FIG. 26 is the view of FIG. 25 with the cartridge holder being moved to bring the cartridge to a dispensing location for the device. [Figure 28] 28 is a cross-sectional view of the device and cartridge in the situation of FIG. 27 prior to the start of a dispense cycle. [Figure 29] FIG. 10 is a diagram of the device and cartridge with the valve member in its lowered dispensing position and the pressurizing hemisphere and fluid delivery piercer moved downwardly to engage the cartridge and valve member, respectively. [Figure 30] 1 is a schematic view of a beverage dispensing device with the cartridge in an open position; FIG. [Figure 31] FIG. 10 is a perspective top view of a capsule body of a sixth exemplary embodiment of a cartridge according to the present invention. [Figure 32] FIG. 32 is a side view in partial cross section of the capsule body of FIG. 31. [Figure 33] 33 is a perspective view in cross section of the cartridge of FIGS. 31-32, with the nozzle received in the capsule body in a first position. FIG. [Figure 34] FIG. 34 is a perspective bottom view of the cartridge of FIG. 33. [Figure 35] 32 is a perspective view in cross section of the cartridge of FIG. 31 with the nozzle received in the capsule body in a second position. [Figure 36] FIG. 36 is a perspective bottom view of the cartridge of FIG. 35. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0150] 1 to 5 show a first exemplary embodiment of a cartridge 1 for providing a liquid product according to the present invention.

[0151] The cartridge 1 comprises a sealed capsule 2 and a nozzle 21 .

[0152] The illustrated sealed capsule 2 is filled with a portion of a liquid formulation ingredient that is to be combined with a base liquid to prepare a liquid product, for example a beverage concentrate that is to be combined with water, such as carbonated water, to prepare a beverage.

[0153] The sealed capsule comprises a capsule body 5, a top seal 20, and in the particular embodiment shown, a bottom seal 28. The capsule body 5 is shown in isolation in Figures 1 and 2.

[0154] The capsule body 5 has a bottom 6 and a top 7, and further comprises an outer peripheral wall 8, an inner peripheral wall 9, and a bottom wall 10. The walls define an annular reservoir 11 therebetween.

[0155] The inner and outer peripheral walls 9, 8 are provided at their upper ends with inner and outer sealing surfaces 13, 12 respectively, which sealing surfaces 12, 13 define a reservoir access opening 14 therebetween.

[0156] Top seal 20, shown as a top sealing membrane in the particular embodiment shown, seals to inner sealing surface 13 and outer sealing surface 12. Top seal 20 covers reservoir 11 and seals reservoir access opening 14.

[0157] The inner peripheral wall 9 forms a post 15 having an internal cavity 16 extending between an upper opening 17 at the top of the post and a bottom opening 18 at the bottom end of the post.

[0158] In the particular embodiment shown in Figures 1-5, upper opening 17 is surrounded by inner sealing surface 13. Top seal 20 is sealed to the inner sealing surface and thus to the top of post 15.

[0159] According to the present invention, the bottom wall 10 of the capsule body 5 is provided with at least one reservoir outlet 19. In the specific embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the reservoir outlet 19 is provided in the form of two openings 19A, which are located on opposite sides of the post 15. The openings are sealed with a bottom seal 28.

[0160] 1 to 5, the capsule body 5 is provided with a peripheral sealing surface 26 and an opening sealing surface 27 on the bottom surface of the bottom wall 10, the opening sealing surface surrounding the reservoir outflow opening 19A. The opening sealing surface 27 is positioned between the peripheral sealing surface 26 and the bottom opening 18 of the post 15.

[0161] A bottom seal 28 is peelably sealed to the opening sealing surface 27 to seal the reservoir outlet opening 19 A. The bottom seal 28 is further secured to the peripheral sealing surface 26 and the nozzle 21.

[0162] The cavity 16 holds a nozzle 21, shown separated in FIG. 3, which is configured to direct a flow of a base liquid, such as water, through at least a portion of the cavity 16 and to dispense the base liquid at the bottom side of the capsule.

[0163] Nozzle 21 comprises a nozzle body 22 having a conduit 23 extending between an inlet opening 24 at the top end of the nozzle and an outlet opening 25 at the bottom end of the nozzle.

[0164] The nozzle 21 is movable relative to the outer wall 8 of the capsule body 5 and relative to the bottom portion of the post from a raised passive position shown in FIG. 4 to a lowered dispensing position shown in FIG.

[0165] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1-5, nozzle 21 further has a flange 29 at its bottom end. Flange 29 has a sealing surface for bottom seal 28 and has two outlet openings 31. Outlet openings 31 extend through nozzle flange 29 near nozzle outlet opening 25 for dispensing liquid formulation ingredients in or adjacent to the base liquid stream exiting, i.e., the base liquid stream dispensed from, outlet opening 25.

[0166] A bottom seal 28 is secured to a sealing surface 30 at a flange 29 of the nozzle. When the nozzle 21 is moved to a dispensing position, in the embodiment shown, by compressing the post 15, the nozzle can pull the bottom seal 28 away from an outlet opening 19A in the bottom wall of the capsule, forcing the liquid formulation ingredient to flow out of the reservoir. The bottom seal 28 remains attached to a peripheral sealing surface 26 of the bottom wall 10 of the capsule body 5.

[0167] Thus, when the nozzle 21 is in the dispensing position, the bottom seal 28 remains attached to the peripheral sealing surface 26 of the bottom wall 10 of the capsule body 5 and to the sealing surface 30 of the nozzle 21, allowing the liquid formulation ingredient to flow along the bottom seal 28 from the outflow opening 19A at the bottom of the capsule to the dispensing opening 31 in the flange 29 of the nozzle 21.

[0168] Thus, the cartridge shown in Figures 1 to 5 is configured to simultaneously dispense a stream of base liquid through the conduit in the nozzle and two streams of liquid formulation components from the reservoirs as unmixed streams at the bottom of the cartridge.

[0169] Furthermore, the dispensing opening 31 of the nozzle 21 is positioned adjacent to the inner wall defining the channel in the column, i.e., the channel through which the base liquid is dispensed, so that the liquid ingredient stream is dispensed adjacent to the base liquid stream and preferably adheres to the base liquid stream. The liquid ingredient and base liquid are mixed when the stream strikes a container, such as a drinking glass, for holding a beverage. Thus, turbulence created in the container by the dispensed stream is used to mix the streams. Compared to conventional configurations in which the base liquid and liquid ingredient are typically mixed in a mixing chamber before being dispensed, the cartridge according to the present invention allows the base liquid and liquid ingredient to be mixed with minimal turbulence in the streams. This is particularly beneficial when dispensing beverages containing carbonated water. Due to the reduced turbulence during the dispensing process, less CO2 is separated from the water, resulting in a beverage with a relatively high CO2 content.

[0170] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the cartridge is configured such that movement of the top end of the post opens the capsule. The combination of a sealed capsule body provided with a nozzle allows the capsule body to have a simple shape.

[0171] The capsule has a central pillar with an upper end that can be pushed downwards. In the illustrated embodiment, the pillar 15 is a crushable pillar, i.e., the inner peripheral wall 9 is configured to buckle when the upper end of the pillar is pushed downwards towards the bottom end of the pillar.

[0172] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1-5, pushing on the top end of the post moves the nozzle to a lowered dispensing position. Thus, downward movement of the top end of the post creates a condition in which the bottom seal attached to the bottom end of the nozzle is pulled away from the outlet opening. The capsule does not require a complex capsule body or external piercing device to open the reservoir, or more specifically, to open the capsule.

[0173] The capsule body having a simple shape allows the capsule body, and therefore the capsule body wall, to be made of a multi-layer material. Furthermore, the simple shape of the capsule body is suitable for being produced using thermoforming. Thermoforming allows the use of laminated materials, thus providing a capsule body with improved barrier properties at low cost.

[0174] As such, the cartridge is configured to provide a capsule, or more particularly a sealed reservoir, for holding a formulation component, the capsule having barrier properties compatible with the particular base formulation component held in the reservoir.

[0175] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, it is proposed that the sealed capsule 2 is provided with a diamond-shaped bottom seal 28. In such an embodiment, the capsule body is provided with two outlet openings in its bottom wall, which are provided on opposite sides of the post with the diamond-shaped bottom seal.

[0176] The diamond-shaped bottom seal has a central opening through which the bottom end of the nozzle can protrude. The seal is sealed to the bottom of the capsule body at its periphery and to the flange of the nozzle along its central opening. The seal is further sealed to the bottom wall of the capsule body around the outlet opening of the reservoir.

[0177] 1 to 5, the bottom of the capsule body is provided with an annular recess that serves as a base for fixing a diamond-shaped seal. The recess extends below the portion of the bottom wall where the reservoir outlet opening is provided and serves as a base for fixing the diamond-shaped bottom seal. Therefore, the outer edges of the seal are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall where the sealed outlet opening is provided, which facilitates peeling the bottom seal away from the outlet opening when the nozzle is moved downward.

[0178] In the illustrated embodiment, it is proposed that the recess is diamond-shaped, since there are two outlet openings on opposite sides of the pillar. It is proposed that the recess can have a different shape, for example a circular shape, and can be used in combination with a different number of outlet openings. For example, the recess can be triangular in shape in combination with three outlet openings, each of which is located at a point of the triangle.

[0179] In these embodiments, the capsule is opened by pushing a portion of the nozzle out of the post of the capsule body, which causes the nozzle to pull the center of the bottom seal away from the bottom wall of the capsule body, thereby opening the outlet opening of the reservoir.

[0180] The seal, which is then still sealed to the recess in the bottom of the capsule at the peripheral edge and still sealed to the nozzle along the central opening, acts as a guide for the liquid ingredient dispensed from the reservoir, guiding it towards the outlet opening of the nozzle, i.e., towards the opening through which water is dispensed, so that the liquid ingredient can be dispensed adjacent to and parallel to the flow of water.

[0181] It is proposed that the diamond-shaped seal, in combination with the two outlet openings of the reservoir, forms an optimal guide for the liquid compounding component. The diamond shape causes the seal to form a guide channel that is directed from below the outlet opening of the reservoir toward the nozzle. The seal surface is inclined toward the center of the guide channel and toward the nozzle. Thus, all liquid compounding components are guided toward the dispensing opening, reducing the risk of liquid compounding components remaining in the guide channel, i.e., not being dispensed.

[0182] In a preferred embodiment, the capsule body is made from a multi-layer material, preferably thermoformed from a sheet of multi-layer material, such that the capsule wall comprises multiple layers of different materials, the materials having different barrier properties.

[0183] Figures 6 to 9 show a second exemplary embodiment of a cartridge for providing a liquid product according to the proposed invention.

[0184] The cartridge comprises a sealed capsule 202 , a bottom perforation 234 and a guide member 233 .

[0185] Similar to the sealed capsule 2 shown in Figures 1 to 5, the sealed capsule comprises a top seal 220, for example a top sealing membrane.

[0186] Sealed capsule 202 differs from sealed capsule 2 disclosed in Figures 1 to 5 in that the capsule is not provided with a bottom seal. Furthermore, at least one reservoir outlet is provided in the form of a pierceable bottom area 219B instead of a sealed opening 19A.

[0187] To dispense the liquid ingredients from the reservoir, the pierceable bottom area is to be pierced by bottom perforators 234 .

[0188] Similar to the sealed capsule 2 shown in Figures 1-5, in the sealed capsule 202 shown in Figures 6-9, the capsule body 205 has a bottom 206 and a top 207, and further includes an outer peripheral wall 208, an inner peripheral wall 209, and a bottom wall 210. The walls define an annular reservoir 211 therebetween.

[0189] The inner and outer peripheral walls 209, 208 are provided at their upper ends with inner and outer sealing surfaces 213, 212, respectively, which sealing surfaces 212, 213 define a reservoir access opening 214 therebetween.

[0190] Top seal 220, shown as a top sealing membrane in the particular embodiment shown, is sealed to inner sealing surface 213 and outer sealing surface 212. Top seal 220 thus covers reservoir 211 and seals reservoir access opening 214.

[0191] The inner peripheral wall 209 forms a post 215 having an interior cavity 216 extending between an upper opening 217 at the top of the post and a bottom opening 218 at the bottom end of the post.

[0192] 6-9, upper opening 217 is surrounded by inner sealing surface 213. Top seal 220 is sealed to the inner sealing surface and thus to the top of post 215.

[0193] According to the present invention, the bottom wall 210 of the capsule body 205 is provided with at least one reservoir outlet 219. In the specific embodiment shown in Figures 6-9, the reservoir outlet 219 is provided in the form of two openings 219B, which are located on opposite sides of the post 215. The cavity 216 carries a nozzle 221, which is configured to direct a flow of a base liquid, such as water, through at least a portion of the cavity 216 and to dispense the base liquid at the bottom side of the capsule.

[0194] Nozzle 221 comprises a nozzle body 222 having a conduit 223 extending between an inlet opening 224 at the top end of the nozzle and an outlet opening 225 at the bottom end of the nozzle.

[0195] The nozzle 221 is movable relative to the outer peripheral wall 208 of the capsule body 205 from a raised passive position shown in FIG. 8 to a lowered dispensing position shown in FIG.

[0196] In the embodiment shown in Figures 6-9, the capsule body is provided with crushable pillars, i.e., pillars 215 are provided with buckling regions 232 that are configured to buckle when pressure is exerted on the top of the pillar. Thus, similar to the first embodiment shown in Figures 1-5, the inner peripheral wall is configured to buckle when the top end of the pillar is pressed downwards towards the bottom end of the pillar while the bottom of the capsule body remains in place. Thus, the pillars are provided with annular buckling portions that comprise faceted areas that promote localized crushing of the pillar.

[0197] In an alternative embodiment, movement of the nozzle from the raised passive position to the lowered dispensing position is enabled by a post that is generally movable relative to the peripheral wall of the capsule body, in such an embodiment, the bottom of the capsule body is provided with an annular flexible bottom portion around the post.

[0198] Top seal 220 seals to inner sealing surface 213 and outer sealing surface 212 and covers reservoir 211. Top seal 220 seals reservoir access opening 214.

[0199] The bottom perforator 234 has a top end 235 and a bottom end 236 with an actuation surface 237 at the top end and a perforating member 238 at the bottom end.

[0200] The bottom piercer 234 is positioned in the reservoir 211 of the capsule body 205. The actuation surface 237 of the bottom piercer 234 is positioned at or adjacent to the top end of the post 215. The piercing member 238 of the bottom piercer 234 is positioned at or adjacent to the bottom end of the post 215, above the pierceable bottom region 219B.

[0201] In the specific embodiment shown, the bottom perforator 234 is provided with two top seal opening members coupled thereto, e.g., to move downwardly with the bottom perforator. The top opening members each engage with the top seal, e.g., are respectively attached to the top seal, at one or more regions respectively positioned between the inner and outer circumferential walls. As the bottom perforator is moved downwardly from its initial position to a lowered position, where the reservoir outlet is perforated, the top seal opening members locally overstress the top sealing membrane, thereby rupturing to provide one or more of the gas pressure introduction openings.

[0202] Pressing the bottom piercer 234 downwards causes the piercing member 238 to pierce the pierceable area 219B of the capsule bottom 206, thereby allowing the liquid formulation to flow out of the reservoir outlet 219.

[0203] It should be noted that in the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 6-9, the bottom perforator 234 is pushed downward by pressing against the actuation surface 237 of the bottom perforator 234. Furthermore, the bottom perforator 234 is mounted over the crushable post 215 such that the actuation surface 237 of the bottom perforator is positioned adjacent to the inner sealing surface 213 at the top of the crushable post. This facilitates engaging the post 215 and the bottom perforator 234 and simultaneously pushing downward. Thus, the bottom region 219B is pierced while the nozzle 221 is moved to the lowered dispensing position. Furthermore, the crushable post 215 keeps the bottom perforator 234 centered relative to the pierceable bottom region 219B, particularly while the bottom perforator is being pressed down.

[0204] In the particular embodiment shown, the reservoir outlet 219 is provided in the form of a pierceable bottom region 219B. In an alternative embodiment, the reservoir is provided with a reservoir outlet in the form of an opening sealed with a bottom seal, and the bottom perforator is used to pierce the bottom seal instead of the pierceable bottom region of the capsule.

[0205] In the preferred embodiment shown, the cartridge 201 is provided with a guide member 233 attached to the bottom 206 of the sealed capsule 202 and extending from below the pierceable bottom area 219B towards and below the bottom opening 218 of the post 215 for receiving the liquid formulation component flowing from the reservoir outlet, for dispensing the liquid formulation component in or adjacent to the flow of base liquid exiting the outlet opening 225 of the nozzle 221 when the nozzle is in the lowered dispensing position shown in FIG. 9 .

[0206] In the preferred embodiment shown, the guide member 233 and the nozzle 221 form a dispensing opening 244 therebetween for dispensing the compounding component closely adjacent to the liquid dispensed from the nozzle, preferably in the form of an enclosure, said enclosure covering the liquid stream.

[0207] Figures 10 to 14 show a third exemplary embodiment of a cartridge for providing a liquid product according to the proposed invention.

[0208] The cartridge 301 comprises a sealed capsule 302 and a nozzle 321 .

[0209] The illustrated sealed capsule 302 is filled with a portion of a liquid ingredient that is to be combined with a base liquid to prepare a liquid product, for example, a beverage concentrate that is to be combined with water, such as carbonated water, to prepare a beverage.

[0210] The sealed capsule comprises a capsule body 305, a top seal 320, and in the particular embodiment shown, a bottom seal 328.

[0211] The capsule body 305 has a bottom 306 and a top 307, and further comprises an outer peripheral wall 308, an inner peripheral wall 309, and a bottom wall 310. The walls define an annular reservoir 311 therebetween.

[0212] The inner and outer peripheral walls 309, 308 are provided at their upper ends with inner and outer sealing surfaces 313, 312, respectively, which sealing surfaces 312, 313 define a reservoir access opening 314 therebetween.

[0213] Top seal 320, shown as a top sealing membrane in the particular embodiment shown, seals to inner sealing surface 313 and outer sealing surface 312. Top seal 320 covers reservoir 311 and seals reservoir access opening 314. Figures 10 and 11 depict the cartridge without the top seal.

[0214] The inner peripheral wall 309 forms a post 315 having an interior cavity 316 extending between an upper opening 317 at the top of the post and a bottom opening 318 at the bottom end of the post.

[0215] 10-15, upper opening 317 is surrounded by inner sealing surface 313. Top seal 320 is sealed to the inner sealing surface and thus to the top of post 315.

[0216] Additionally, in the specific embodiment shown, the bottom wall 310 of the capsule 302 has an annular flexible bottom portion 339 around the post 315 that allows the post 315 to move downwardly from the initial position to the lower operating position.

[0217] According to the present invention, the bottom wall 310 of the capsule body 305 is provided with at least one reservoir outlet 319. In the specific embodiment shown in Figures 10-14, the reservoir outlet 319 is provided in the form of two openings 319A, which are located on opposite sides of the post 315. The openings are sealed with a bottom seal 328, which, in the specific embodiment shown, is provided inside the reservoir 311.

[0218] On top of the bottom wall 310, the capsule 302 is provided with an aperture sealing surface 340 for sealing the seal at the bottom of the capsule. The aperture sealing surface surrounds the aperture to enable a leak-proof sealing of the aperture.

[0219] In addition to the aperture sealing surface 340, in the illustrated embodiment, the bottom wall 310 is provided on its upper surface with a peripheral sealing surface 341. The peripheral sealing surface 310 extends along the periphery of the bottom wall 310.

[0220] In an alternative embodiment depicted in Figures 15-20, a cartridge 401 is provided with a capsule 402 comprising an insert 442 positioned in a reservoir 411 at or on a surface of a bottom wall 410 of the capsule 402, the insert 442 being provided with a peripheral sealing surface 441 that extends along the periphery of the bottom wall 410. Thus, compared to the embodiment shown in Figures 10-14, this alternative embodiment differs in that the bottom seal is sealed at its outer edge. However, the bottom seal is sealed to the bottom wall at the reservoir outlet, and the seal is removed from the reservoir outlet in a similar manner to how the bottom seal is removed in the embodiment shown in Figures 10-14, i.e., by pushing the post downwards, i.e., toward the bottom wall.

[0221] Cavity 316 holds a nozzle 321. Nozzle 321 is configured to direct a flow of a base liquid, such as water, through at least a portion of cavity 316 and to dispense the base liquid at the bottom side of the capsule.

[0222] Nozzle 321 comprises a nozzle body 322 having a conduit 323 extending between an inlet opening 324 at the top end of the nozzle and an outlet opening 325 at the bottom end of the nozzle.

[0223] In the illustrated embodiment, the nozzle 321 is movable with the post 315 relative to the outer peripheral wall 308 of the capsule body 305 from a raised passive position depicted in FIG. 12 to a lowered dispensing position depicted in FIG. 13.

[0224] A bottom seal 328 is peelably sealed to the opening sealing surface 340, sealing the reservoir outlet and is secured to the peripheral sealing surface.

[0225] By pushing the post 315 downward from the initial position depicted in FIG. 12 to the lower operating position depicted in FIG. 13, the open sealing surface 340 on the top of the bottom wall 310 can be pulled away from the bottom seal 328, causing the liquid formulation to flow out of the reservoir outlet 319.

[0226] In the preferred embodiment shown, the cartridge is further provided with a guide member 333 attached to the bottom of the capsule 302 and extending from below the reservoir outlet 319 towards and below the bottom opening 318 of the post 315 to receive the liquid formulation component flowing from the reservoir outlet 319 for dispensing the liquid formulation component in or adjacent to the flow of base liquid exiting the outlet opening 325 of the nozzle 321 when the nozzle is in the lowered dispensing position.

[0227] In contrast to the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 9, in the embodiment shown in Figures 10 to 20 the nozzle 321, 421 and the guide members 333, 433 are combined into a single component. The single component comprising the nozzle and the guide members is attached to a part of the base that moves with the post. The single component is therefore in a fixed position relative to the post.

[0228] Similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 6-9, in the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 10-20, the nozzle 321, 421 and guide member 333, 433 form a dispensing opening 344, 444 therebetween for dispensing the compounded component closely adjacent to the liquid dispensed from the nozzle, preferably in the form of an enclosure which covers the liquid stream.

[0229] In an alternative embodiment, the single component comprising the nozzle and guide member is attached to a part of the base that does not move with the post, so that the single component is in a fixed position relative to the outer peripheral wall of the capsule and the post can be moved relative to the nozzle and guide member.

[0230] In still other embodiments, the guide member and nozzle are separate components, with the guide member attached to a portion of the base that does not move with the post, while the nozzle is attached to a movable post, such that the single component is in a fixed position relative to the outer circumferential wall of the capsule, while the nozzle can move with the post.

[0231] In the illustrated embodiment, the insert 342 is provided with two piercing members 347 positioned on opposite sides of the post 315. The piercing members 347 extend from the bottom of the capsule 302 to the top seal 320. When the top end of the post 315 is pressed downward, the piercing members 347 pierce the top seal, allowing gas to be injected into the reservoir 311.

[0232] It is noted that in the illustrated embodiment, bottom seal 328 has a rectangular shape. Bottom seal 328 does not cover the entire bottom wall 310 of capsule 302. In the illustrated embodiment, bottom seal 328 extends from the side with post 315 to the opposite side of the post. In alternative embodiments, the bottom seal may comprise a first seal and a second seal, one on the side with post sealing the first reservoir outlet and one on the opposite side of the post sealing the second reservoir outlet. Many other shapes of bottom seals are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

[0233] An alternative embodiment of a cartridge 501 according to the present invention is depicted in Figures 21-24.

[0234] An alternative embodiment of a cartridge 501 for providing a liquid product is depicted in Figures 21 to 24. The cartridge 501 comprises a sealed capsule 502, a nozzle 521 and a guide member 533. The cartridge further comprises a bottom seal 528, which is provided on the bottom surface of the sealed capsule between the capsule 502 and the guide member 533, which guide member is also mounted on the bottom surface of the sealed capsule.

[0235] The sealed capsule 502 is similar to the sealed capsules discussed above, being filled with a beverage concentrate that is combined with water, such as carbonated water, to prepare a beverage, and a portion of the liquid formulation ingredients that are combined with a base liquid to prepare a liquid product.

[0236] The sealed capsule 502 comprises a capsule body 505 and a top seal 520 .

[0237] The capsule body 505 has a bottom 506 and a top 507, and further comprises an outer peripheral wall 508, an inner peripheral wall 509, and a bottom wall 510. The walls define an annular reservoir 511 therebetween.

[0238] The inner and outer peripheral walls 509, 508 are provided at their upper ends with inner and outer sealing surfaces 513, 512, respectively, which sealing surfaces 512, 513 define a reservoir access opening 514 therebetween.

[0239] Top seal 520, shown as a top sealing membrane in the particular embodiment shown, seals to inner sealing surface 513 and outer sealing surface 512. Top seal 520 covers reservoir 511 and seals reservoir access opening 514.

[0240] The inner peripheral wall 509 forms a post 515 having an interior cavity 516 extending between an upper opening 517 at the top of the post and a bottom opening 518 at the bottom end of the post.

[0241] The bottom wall 510 has an annular flexible bottom portion 539 around the post 515 so that the post can move downwardly from an initial position depicted in FIG. 23 to a lower operating position depicted in FIG.

[0242] Cavity 516 holds a nozzle 521 configured to direct a flow of a base liquid, such as water, through at least a portion of cavity 516 and to dispense the base liquid at the bottom side of the capsule.

[0243] Nozzle 521 comprises a nozzle body 522 having a conduit 523 extending between an inlet opening 524 at the top end of the nozzle and an outlet opening 525 at the bottom end of the nozzle.

[0244] Nozzle 521 is fixed to the bottom portion of post 515 and therefore moves with the post as it is moved downward from the initial position depicted in Figure 23 to the lowered operating position depicted in Figure 24. Thus, the nozzle can be moved with the post from a raised passive position to a lowered dispensing position relative to the outer peripheral wall of the capsule body.

[0245] According to the present invention, the bottom wall 510 of the capsule body 505 is provided with at least one reservoir outlet 519. In the specific embodiment shown in Figures 21-24, the reservoir outlet 519 is provided in the form of two openings 519A, which are located on opposite sides of the post 515. The openings are sealed with a bottom seal 528.

[0246] 21-24, an opening sealing surface 527 is provided on the bottom surface of bottom wall 510. Opening sealing surface 527 surrounds reservoir outflow opening 519A. Bottom seal 528 is peelably sealed to opening sealing surface 527 to seal reservoir outflow opening 519A.

[0247] Bottom seal 528 is further secured to nozzle 521. In the specific embodiment shown in Figures 21-24, the nozzle is provided with a sealing surface 543 at the bottom. Sealing surface 543 is positioned in cavity 516 such that a gap 545 exists between inner peripheral wall 509 of capsule body 505 and sealing surface 543 at nozzle 521. Gap 545 is positioned between reservoir outlet 519 and sealing surface 543 at nozzle 521 such that bottom seal 528 extends across gap 545.

[0248] The guide member 533 is attached to the bottom of the sealed capsule 502 at or near the outer peripheral wall 508 so that the guide member 533 is in a fixed position relative to the outer peripheral wall 508, i.e., does not move with the post 515, when the post is moved downward from the initial position to the lower operating position and the nozzle is moved from the raised passive position to the lowered dispensing position.

[0249] The guide member 533 extends from below the reservoir outlet 519 to receive the liquid formulation component flowing from the reservoir outlet towards and below the bottom opening 518 of the post 515 for dispensing the liquid formulation component in or adjacent to the flow of base liquid exiting the outlet opening of the nozzle 521 when the nozzle is in the dispensing position.

[0250] In this embodiment, guide member 533 is provided with rib element 546. Rib element 546 extends upwardly toward bottom seal 528 when post 515 is in the initial position depicted in FIG. 23. Rib element 546 engages bottom seal 528 and is received in gap 545 when the post is pushed to the lower operating position depicted in FIG.

[0251] Thus, by moving the post 515 relative to the outer peripheral wall 508 of the capsule body 505 from a raised passive position to a lowered dispensing position, the rib element 546 can pull the bottom seal 528 away from the reservoir outlet 519, forcing the liquid formulation ingredients out of the reservoir outlet.

[0252] With a view to further understanding the cartridge depicted in Figures 1-24 and its cooperation with a suitable dispensing apparatus, such as a beverage preparation and dispensing apparatus, the preparation of a beverage or other liquid product will now be discussed with reference to Figures 25-30. It should be noted that the cartridges discussed herein can be used in conjunction with the same apparatus and dispensing can be achieved based on the same principles.

[0253] Figures 25 to 29 show - a housing 1105; a holder 1110, here movable relative to the housing 1105, here a sliding drawer, for receiving and holding the cartridge 1 at a dispensing location in the device; - a base liquid delivery assembly with a base liquid delivery piercer 1120 arranged at the dispensing location, the piercer 1120 being embodied to pierce through the upper sealing membrane 20 of the cartridge 1 so that the base liquid can be delivered to the channel 23, and the base liquid delivery assembly being embodied to connect to the channel 23 of the nozzle 21 of the cartridge 1; 11 depicts components of a dispensing device 1100 comprising:

[0254] The apparatus 1100 is provided with a pressurized gas source, depicted here generally at 1130, which is preferably a pressurized air source such as an air pump or gas bottle.

[0255] The device 1100 is adapted to place the pressurized gas source 1130 in direct communication with the reservoir of the cartridge 1001, more particularly the reservoir of the capsule, so as to pressurize the liquid formulation with said gas, thereby assisting in the dispensing of the liquid from the reservoir when the nozzle 23 of the cartridge 1 is brought into its dispensing position.

[0256] This is advantageous when the liquid ingredients are rather viscous and also allows for control of said dispensing, e.g. taking into account the ratio between the liquid ingredients and the base liquid, e.g. during the dispensing cycle of a single beverage. Control of the gas pressure may be used, if necessary, to counteract temperature-dependent viscosity effects of the liquid ingredients, e.g. increasing the gas pressure when the liquid ingredients are cold. In an embodiment, the device may comprise a temperature sensor adapted to sense the temperature of the liquid ingredients and / or the temperature of the cartridge at the start of a dispensing cycle, e.g. when placed in the holder of the device or when arriving at or being moved to the dispensing location.

[0257] For example, the temperature may be entered by the user, such as "cartridge removed from refrigerator" and "cartridge at ambient temperature."

[0258] It is also contemplated that the top sealing membrane may have a temperature responsive colored area that changes color with temperature changes, thereby providing an indication of the actual temperature of the liquid formulation ingredients. Thus, the device may have a temperature reading sensor or indicator in the cartridge, or the user may be guided to provide the correct input to the device.

[0259] The device 1100 comprises a pressurized hemispherical member 1140 having an outer gas seal 1146 along its periphery adapted to sealingly engage the cartridge 1 around the location where the upper sealing membrane is perforated to allow entry of pressurized gas into the reservoir. Here, the outer gas seal 1146 is embodied to seal against the outer sealing surface 12 of the outer peripheral wall 8 of the cartridge 1.

[0260] A pressurized gas supply 1130 is coupled to the semispherical member 1140 to allow the delivery of pressurized gas beneath the semispherical member 1140 in a space sealed by an outer gas seal that sealingly engages the cartridge. This supply of pressurized gas, such as air, pressurizes the liquid formulation ingredients when the top sealing membrane is opened, e.g., torn open by moving the top end of the cartridge post downward.

[0261] Here, a base liquid delivery piercer 1120 protrudes from a hemispherical member 1140. The piercer and hemispherical member 1140 are united so that they move in unison. The piercer 1120 is provided with a gas seal 1146, here an O-ring, that seals to the top end of the post to prevent pressurized air from entering the conduit.

[0262] The dispensing device has an operable displacement device 1150, here with an excentric mechanism 1151 and an electric motor, which is adapted to generate movement of the hemispherical member 1140 and the piercing body 1120 relative to the cartridge 1 held by the holding body 1110.

[0263] When the displacement device 1150 is operated, the piercer 1120 can pierce the upper sealing membrane 20 and become coupled to the channel 23 of the nozzle 21. Continued downward movement of the piercer 1120, here accompanied by the hemispherical member 1140, causes the base liquid delivery piercer to crush part of the post and move the top of the post 15 and thus the nozzle 21 to its dispensing position, thus pushing the post and nozzle from the raised position to the lowered dispensing position, thereby allowing dispensing of a beverage concentrate or the like from the cartridge 1, see Figure 29.

[0264] The liquid feed assembly is preferably equipped to feed water as a base liquid, such as carbonated water, selectively carbonated and non-carbonated water, here via hose 1121. For example, the liquid feed assembly comprises a pump for the base liquid and / or the liquid feed assembly is connected to a water pipe, for example via an intermediate heat exchanger for cooling and / or heating said liquid and / or via an intermediate carbonator for providing carbonation of the water.

[0265] The holder 1110 for the cartridge 1 is equipped to receive the cartridge and hold it in a substantially horizontal position with the bottom facing downwards. The holder has an opening below the bottom of the cartridge 1 in such a way that the liquid product remains free from the holder during dispensing of said product. This avoids undue obstruction of flow, e.g., reducing the carbonation content of the liquid product, soiling the device, and / or avoiding cross-contamination between successive servings.

[0266] In the illustrated embodiment, the holder 1110 is configured to support the cartridge only below the flange of the cartridge. In the illustrated embodiment, the holder is a drawer, and the cavity for receiving the cartridge is completely devoid of a bottom or the like to support the bottom of the cartridge. Thus, the cartridge has a free-hanging bottom when in the holder.

[0267] At a distance below the dispensing location of the holder, the device has a standing place for a mug or other container such as a drinking glass.

[0268] Now, the user begins by sliding open the drawer 1110 and placing the cartridge into the corresponding cavity in the drawer 1110. Preferably, the cartridge is suspended from the upper flange, as the retainer forms a corresponding support surface for the upper flange. The user then closes the drawer 1110 by sliding the drawer 1110 with the cartridge 1 into the housing so that the cartridge can be moved to the dispensing location of the device 1100. This situation is depicted in Figures 25-27.

[0269] The displacement device 1150 is now operated such that the piercer 1120 ruptures the upper sealing membrane 20 and couples with the channel 23 of the nozzle 21. Continued downward movement of the piercer 1120, here accompanied by the hemispherical member 1140, causes the base liquid delivery piercer to move the upper end of the post 15 and thus the nozzle 20 to its dispensing position, pushing the nozzle from the raised position to the lowered dispensing position, thereby allowing dispensing of a beverage concentrate or the like from the cartridge 1.

[0270] In the embodiment shown, the top seal 20 of the cartridge 1 is opened by pressing the top end of the post, to which the top seal is sealed, downwards against the outer circumferential wall, to which the seal is also sealed, on the inner sealing surface 13. The tension thus generated on the seal causes said seal to tear open. In an alternative embodiment, a piercing device may be provided on the reservoir for piercing the top seal from the inside out. In yet another embodiment, the dispensing device may be provided with a seal piercing device.

[0271] 28 and 29, moving the upper portion of the pillar structure 15 downward from the initial position to the lower position, now in combination with the nozzle 21, locally overstresses and thereby ruptures the upper sealing film 20. The rupture provides the desired one or more gas pressure introduction openings in the upper sealing film 20.

[0272] In an embodiment, the top sealing membrane 20 is pre-weakened at or near one or more locations, such as with one or more pre-made score lines made, for example, by laser scoring the membrane.

[0273] The downward movement of the piercer 1120 causes the base liquid delivery piercer to move the nozzle 20 to its dispensing position and tear the bottom seal from the opening sealing surface, opening the outflow opening and allowing the liquid formulation ingredients to flow from the capsule reservoir.

[0274] The diamond-shaped seal, in combination with the two outlet openings of the reservoir, ensures that the seal forms an optimal guide for the liquid formulation ingredients. The diamond shape causes the seal to form two guide channels that are directed from below the reservoir outlet opening towards the nozzle, more specifically towards the dispensing opening provided in the flange of the nozzle. The surfaces of the seal are inclined towards the centre of the guide channels and towards the nozzle.

[0275] The supply of pressurized gas, such as carbonated water and air, is then initiated, possibly with a time delay between them. The liquid ingredient is then assisted through the outlet opening of the capsule body, from which it flows along the guide channel formed by the bottom seal towards the dispensing opening in the nozzle. In this embodiment, both the liquid ingredient and the water traveling through the channel 23 are dispensed from the nozzle at the bottom of the cartridge, after which the liquid ingredient mixes with the water.

[0276] Once a dose is prepared, the flow of water or other base liquid is stopped. If desired, some gas flow may be continued to completely empty the cartridge and / or to ensure that the last drops of liquid ingredients, such as beverage concentrate, are released. This avoids loss of ingredients and soiling of the device.

[0277] At the end of the dispensing cycle, the hemispherical member 1140 and the piercer 1120 are moved to their initial positions and disengaged from the cartridge 1, allowing the cartridge 1 to be removed so that the drawer 1110 can be opened and the cartridge can be removed.

[0278] Figure 30 shows schematically a beverage dispensing device 2200 similar to that shown in Figures 25 to 29, with the cartridge 2001 in an open position.

[0279] The device has a housing 2205 and a holder 2210 for the cartridge, here a drawer, for receiving and holding the cartridge 2001 at a dispensing station in the device, directly above a support 2215 for a drinking glass 2216.

[0280] The device 2200 comprises an air pump 2230 and a pressurized hemispherical member 2240 having an outer gas seal along its periphery adapted to sealingly engage the cartridge 2001 around the location where the upper sealing membrane is opened to allow entry of pressurized air from the air pump into the reservoir.

[0281] The base liquid delivery piercing body 2220 is integrated with the hemispherical member 2240 as a reciprocating unit driven, here vertically, by an operable displacement device 2250 involving an excentric mechanism and an electric motor, the operable displacement device 2250 being adapted to generate movement of the hemispherical member 2240 and the piercing body 2220 relative to the cartridge 2001 held in the holding body 2210.

[0282] When the displacement device 2250 is actuated, the piercer 2220 couples to a channel in the nozzle in the post of the cartridge 2001. And, on further movement of the piercer 2220, the post, or at least its upper end, is forced downwards to its dispensing position, in the process also moving the nozzle downwards.

[0283] The device 2200 has a water inlet 2260 that is connected to a water line. If desired, the device can include a water filter for filtering the water flowing into the device.

[0284] Reference numeral 2265 indicates a cooling device for cooling water, such as to a temperature between 2°C and 10°C.

[0285] The outlet of water cooling device 2265 is connected via valve assembly 2266 directly to piercer 2220 on the one hand, and to a carbonator 2270, such as an in-line carbonator or a tankless carbonator, on the other hand. A CO2 bottle 2275 is also connected to carbonator 2270 so that CO2 can be dissolved in the cooled water and then pumped into piercer 2220.

[0286] Reference numeral 2280 indicates the flow through a water heater adapted to provide hot water to pierce 2220. The flow is controlled by hot water valve 2281.

[0287] In an embodiment, air pump 2230 is adapted to create an air pressure between 0.5 bar and 2.5 bar above atmospheric pressure, in an embodiment, air pump 2230 creates a predetermined air pressure dependent on readable instructions on the cartridge, such as by reading a barcode, and preferably said pressure is constant over a dispense cycle.

[0288] In an embodiment, the dispense cycle for a glass of beverage, such as about 250 ml, will be between 15 and 30 seconds.

[0289] In embodiments, the volume ratio between the liquid ingredient and the base liquid may be between 1:4 and 1:10. For example, 50 ml of the liquid ingredient in the reservoir is combined with 200-250 ml of carbonated water to fill a drinking glass.

[0290] In embodiments, the dispensing rate of the liquid formulation component from the reservoir is substantially uniform over the dispensing cycle of the base liquid, for example, about 2-3 ml per second.

[0291] Figures 31 to 36 show a sixth exemplary embodiment of a cartridge 601 for providing a liquid product according to the present invention. The cartridge is similar to the cartridge shown in Figures 1 to 5.

[0292] As shown in FIGS. 33 and 35, the cartridge 601 comprises a sealed capsule 602 and a nozzle 621 .

[0293] The capsule 602 comprises a capsule body 605, a top seal 620, and, in the particular embodiment shown, a bottom seal 628. The capsule body 605 is shown in isolation in Figures 31 and 32.

[0294] The capsule body 605 has a bottom 606 and a top 607, and further comprises an outer peripheral wall 608, an inner peripheral wall 609, and a bottom wall 610. The walls define an annular reservoir 611 therebetween that is filled with a portion of a liquid formulation ingredient, such as a beverage concentrate, that is combined with a base liquid to prepare a liquid product.

[0295] The inner and outer peripheral walls 609, 608 are provided at their upper ends with inner and outer sealing surfaces 613, 612, respectively, which sealing surfaces 612, 613 define a reservoir access opening 614 therebetween.

[0296] Top seal 620, shown as top sealing membrane 620 in the specific embodiment shown, seals to inner sealing surface 613 and outer sealing surface 612. Top seal 620 covers reservoir 611 and seals reservoir access opening 614.

[0297] The inner peripheral wall 609 forms a post 615 having an interior cavity 616 extending between an upper opening 617 at the top of the post and a bottom opening 618 at the bottom end of the post. The upper opening 617 is surrounded by an inner sealing surface 613. A top seal 620 is sealed to the inner sealing surface and thus to the top of the post 615. The cavity 616 holds a nozzle 621, which is similar to the nozzle shown in isolation in FIG. 3. The nozzle 621 is depicted in cross section in FIGS. 33 and 35. The nozzle 621 is configured to direct a flow of a base liquid, such as carbonated water, through at least a portion of the cavity 616 and to dispense the base liquid at the bottom side of the capsule. The base liquid is mixed with a liquid formulation held in a reservoir.

[0298] Nozzle 621 comprises a nozzle body 622 and has a conduit 623 for directing the flow of base liquid, which extends between an inlet opening 624 at the top end of the nozzle and an outlet opening 625 at the bottom end of the nozzle.

[0299] Nozzle 621 further has a flange 629 at its bottom end. Flange 629 has a sealing surface for bottom seal 628 and has two liquid formulation component dispensing openings 644. Dispensing openings 644 extend through nozzle flange 629 near nozzle outlet opening 625 for dispensing liquid formulation components at or adjacent to the stream of base liquid exiting, i.e., dispensed from, nozzle outlet opening 625.

[0300] In the illustrated embodiment, a wall section is provided at the dispensing opening 644, dividing the dispensing device into two parallel channels located on opposite sides of the wall. In the figures, cross sections extend through the walls at each dispensing opening. Thus, Figures 33 and 35 depict a portion of the wall and one of the two channels extending along the wall.

[0301] Nozzle 621 is held by post 615 and is movable together with the top of the post relative to the outer circumferential wall 608 of capsule body 605. Thus, by pushing the top end of post 615 downward, nozzle 621 can be moved from the raised passive position shown in Figure 33 to the lowered dispensing position shown in Figure 35.

[0302] According to the present invention, the bottom wall 610 of the capsule body 605 is provided with at least one reservoir outlet 619. In the specific embodiment shown in Figures 31-36, the reservoir outlet 619 is provided in the form of two openings 619A, which are located on opposite sides of the post 615. The openings are sealed with a bottom seal 628.

[0303] 31-36, the capsule body 605 is provided with a peripheral sealing surface 626 and an opening sealing surface 627 on the bottom surface of the bottom wall 610. The opening sealing surface 627 surrounds the reservoir outflow opening 619A. The opening sealing surface 627 is positioned between the peripheral sealing surface 626 and the bottom opening 618 of the post 615.

[0304] A bottom seal 628 is peelably sealed to the aperture sealing surface 627, sealing the reservoir outlet opening 619A. The bottom seal 628 is further secured to the peripheral sealing surface 626 and secured to a sealing surface 630 at a flange 629 of the nozzle.

[0305] Capsule 602 has a central post 615 with an upper end that can be pushed downward. In the illustrated embodiment, post 615 is a crushable post, meaning that the inner peripheral wall 609 of capsule body 605 is configured to buckle when the upper end of the post is pushed downward toward the bottom end of the post. The post is provided with structure to promote buckling. Additionally, buckling structure 632 is provided to localize the buckling of the post to a specific area.

[0306] In the illustrated embodiment, the buckling structure comprises diamond-shaped recesses separated by linear ridges. The walls of the pillar are recessed to locally reduce the wall's ability to support a load applied to the top of the pillar. The ridges between the recesses create regions of rigidity. When the top of the pillar is pushed downward, the pillar wall buckles in the recessed region, while the ridges separating the recesses remain roughly unchanged. Thus, the ridges are moved from an angled position toward a horizontal position, causing the recessed region between the ridges to collapse onto itself. The pillar buckles, and the top of the pillar moves downward toward the bottom end of the pillar.

[0307] In the illustrated embodiment, two rows of diamond-shaped recesses are provided, with the ridges between the recesses in the upper row extending at an angle opposite to that of the ridges in the lower row. It has been suggested that buckling of a pillar using diamond-shaped recesses would cause the upper portion of the pillar to rotate about a vertical axis. By providing the ridges in the lower and upper rows of diamond-shaped recesses at opposite angles, the rotational movement caused by the upper row of diamond-shaped recesses is countered by the rotational movement of the lower row of diamond-shaped recesses. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, buckling does not, or only minimally, cause rotation of the upper end of the pillar relative to the lower end of the pillar.

[0308] Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, a reinforcing structure 662 is provided at the lower portion of the column 615. This reinforcing structure 662 is provided to resist buckling of the column 615 when the top of the column is pushed downward, thus further helping to limit buckling to a particular region of the column.

[0309] In the illustrated embodiment, the reinforcing structure comprises ribs extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the column when viewed in side view, the ribs extending parallel to the direction of a force applied to the top of the column to move it downwards, creating a recess that resists buckling of the column.

[0310] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1-5, pushing on the top end of the post moves the nozzle to a lowered dispensing position. Thus, downward movement of the top end of the post creates a condition in which the bottom seal attached to the bottom end of the nozzle is pulled away from the outlet opening. The capsule does not require a complex capsule body or external piercing device to open the reservoir, or more specifically, to open the capsule.

[0311] Cartridge 601 is depicted without the top seal in Figures 33 and 34 in the passive position and in Figures 35 and 36 in the active position. By depressing the top of post 615, nozzle 615 is moved from the passive position to the dispensing position.

[0312] When the nozzle 615 is moved to the dispensing position, the nozzle can pull the bottom seal 628 away from the outlet opening 619A in the bottom wall of the capsule, causing the liquid formulation ingredient to flow out of the reservoir 611. The bottom seal 628 remains attached along its periphery to the peripheral sealing surface 626 of the bottom wall 610 of the capsule body 605.

[0313] Thus, when the nozzle 615 is in the dispensing position, the bottom seal 628 is attached along its periphery to the peripheral sealing surface 626 of the capsule body 5 and at its center to the sealing surface 630 of the nozzle 615. The bottom seal 628 therefore forms a funnel for guiding the liquid formulation dispensed from the outflow opening 619A at the bottom of the capsule to the two dispensing openings 644 in the flange 629 of the nozzle 621.

[0314] Thus, the cartridge 601 shown in Figures 31-36 is configured to simultaneously dispense a stream of base liquid through a base liquid outlet opening 631 at the bottom end of the conduit 623 of the nozzle 621, and two streams of liquid formulation ingredients through dispensing openings 644 in the flange of the nozzle 621. The base liquid and liquid formulation ingredients combine as unmixed streams at the bottom of the cartridge.

[0315] In the illustrated embodiment, the nozzle 621 is a device for combining a liquid ingredient stream with a base liquid stream. The liquid ingredient dispensing opening 644 of the nozzle 621 is positioned adjacent to the nozzle's inner wall, which defines the nozzle's channel 623 through which the base liquid is dispensed so that the liquid ingredient stream is dispensed adjacent to the base liquid stream. The liquid ingredient stream is preferably dispensed so as to adhere to the base liquid stream. The liquid ingredient and base liquid are mixed when the stream strikes a container, such as a drinking glass, for holding a beverage. Thus, turbulence created in the container by the dispensed stream is used to mix the streams. Compared to conventional configurations in which the base liquid and liquid ingredient are typically mixed in a mixing chamber before being dispensed, the cartridge according to the present invention allows the base liquid and liquid ingredient to be mixed with minimal turbulence in the streams. This is particularly beneficial when dispensing beverages containing carbonated water. Due to the reduced turbulence during the dispensing process, less CO2 is separated from the water, resulting in a beverage with a relatively high CO2 content.

[0316] In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figures 31-36, the cartridge 601 is configured such that movement of the top end of the post 615 opens the sealed capsule 602. The combination of the capsule body 605 with the nozzle 621 allows the capsule body to have a simple shape because the capsule is sealed with a top seal 620 and a bottom seal 628. A capsule body having a simple shape allows the capsule body, and therefore the capsule body wall, to be made of a multi-layer material. Furthermore, the simple shape of the capsule body is suitable for being produced using thermoforming. Thermoforming allows the use of laminated materials, thus providing a capsule body with improved barrier properties at a low cost.

[0317] As such, the cartridge is configured to provide a capsule, or more particularly a sealed reservoir, for holding a formulation component, the capsule having barrier properties compatible with the particular base formulation component held in the reservoir.

[0318] 31-36, it is proposed that the sealed capsule 602 is provided with a diamond-shaped bottom seal 628. In such an embodiment, the capsule body 605 is provided with two outlet openings 644 in its bottom wall 610, the outlet openings being located on opposite sides of the post 615.

[0319] In the depicted embodiment, the diamond-shaped bottom seal 628 has a central opening through which the bottom end of the nozzle 621 protrudes. The bottom seal 628 is sealed at its periphery to the bottom of the capsule body 605 and along its central opening to a flange 629 of the nozzle 621. The bottom seal 628 is further sealed to the bottom wall 610 of the capsule body 605 around the outlet opening 619A of the reservoir 611.

[0320] In the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 31-36, the bottom of the capsule body 605 is provided with an annular shoulder. A bottom seal 628 is sealed to the annular shoulder along its periphery. The nozzle is provided with an annular flange. The bottom seal 628 is secured to the flange along its central opening.

[0321] In the illustrated embodiment, the capsule is opened by pushing a portion of the nozzle, which includes a flange, out of the post of the capsule body, thereby pulling the center of the bottom seal away from the bottom wall of the capsule body, which in turn pulls the bottom seal away from the outlet opening of the reservoir, thus opening the sealed capsule.

[0322] The bottom seal, which is then still fixed to the bottom of the capsule at its peripheral edge and to the nozzle along the central opening, acts as a guide for the liquid ingredient dispensed from the reservoir. The seal guides the liquid ingredient to the outlet opening of the nozzle, i.e., to the opening through which the base liquid is dispensed, so that the liquid ingredient can be dispensed adjacent to and parallel to the flow of the base liquid.

[0323] It is proposed that the diamond-shaped seal, in combination with the two outlet openings of the reservoir, forms an optimal guide for the liquid compounding component. The diamond shape causes the seal to form a guide channel that is directed from below the outlet opening of the reservoir toward the nozzle. The seal surface is inclined toward the center of the guide channel and toward the nozzle. Thus, all liquid compounding components are guided toward the dispensing opening, reducing the risk of liquid compounding components remaining in the guide channel, i.e., not being dispensed.

[0324] In a preferred embodiment, the capsule body is made from a multi-layer material, preferably thermoformed from a sheet of multi-layer material, such that the capsule wall comprises multiple layers of different materials, the materials having different barrier properties. [Explanation of symbols]

[0325] 1 cartridge 2 Sealed capsule 4 capsule bodies 5 capsule body 6 Bottom 7. Top 8 Peripheral wall 9 Inner wall 10 Bottom Wall 11 Storage section 12 Outer sealing surface 13 Inner sealing surface 14 Reservoir access opening 15 pillars 16 Internal cavity 17 Upper opening 18 Bottom opening 19 Reservoir outlet 19A Reservoir Outlet Opening 20 Upper seal, upper sealing film 21 nozzles 22 Nozzle body 23 Conduit 24 Inlet opening 25 Exit opening 26 Peripheral sealing surface 27 Opening sealing surface 28 Bottom seal 29 Flange 31 Outlet opening, dispensing opening 201 Cartridge 202 Sealed Capsule 205 Capsule body 206 Bottom 207 Upper 208 Peripheral wall 209 Inner wall 210 Bottom wall 211 Storage Unit 212 Outer sealing surface 213 Inner sealing surface 214 Reservoir access opening 215 Crushable Pillar 216 Internal cavity 217 Upper opening 218 Bottom opening 219 Reservoir outlet 219B Perforable bottom area, opening 221 Nozzle 222 Nozzle body 223 Conduit 224 Inlet opening 225 Exit opening 232 Buckling region 233 Guide members 234 Bottom perforation 235 Top 236 bottom end 237 Working Surface 238 Perforated Members 244 Dispensing opening 301 Cartridge 302 Sealed Capsule 305 Capsule body 306 Bottom 307 Upper 308 Outer wall 309 Inner wall 310 Bottom wall 311 Storage Unit 312 Outer sealing surface 313 Inner sealing surface 314 Reservoir access opening 315 pillars 316 Internal cavity 317 Upper opening 318 Bottom opening 319 Reservoir outlet 319A Aperture 320 Upper seal 321 Nozzle 322 Nozzle body 323 Conduit 324 Inlet opening 325 Exit opening 328 Bottom seal 333 Guide members 339 Annular flexible bottom part 340 Opening sealing surface 341 Peripheral sealing surface 342 Insert 344 Dispensing opening 347 Perforated Members 401 Cartridge 402 capsules 410 Bottom wall 411 Storage Unit 441 Peripheral sealing surface 442 Insert 444 Dispensing opening 501 Cartridge 502 Sealed Capsule 505 Capsule body 506 Bottom 507 Upper 508 Peripheral wall 509 Inner wall 510 bottom wall 511 Storage Unit 512 Outer sealing surface 513 Inner sealing surface 514 Reservoir access opening 515 pillars 516 Internal cavity 517 Upper opening 518 Bottom opening 519 Reservoir outlet 519A Reservoir Outlet Opening 520 Upper seal 521 Nozzle 522 Nozzle body 523 Conduit 524 Inlet opening 525 Exit opening 527 Opening sealing surface 528 Bottom seal 533 Guide members 539 Annular flexible bottom part 543 Sealing surface 545 Gap 546 Rib Elements 601 Cartridge 602 Sealed Capsule 605 Capsule body 606 Bottom 607 Upper 608 Peripheral wall 609 Inner wall 610 Bottom wall 611 Storage Unit 612 Outer sealing surface 613 Inner sealing surface 614 Reservoir access opening 615 Central pillar 616 Internal cavity 617 Upper opening 618 Bottom opening 619 Reservoir outlet 619A Reservoir Outlet Opening 620 Upper seal, upper sealing film 621 Nozzle 622 Nozzle body 623 Conduit 624 Inlet opening 625 Exit opening 626 Peripheral sealing surface 627 Opening sealing surface 628 Bottom seal 629 flange 630 Sealing surface 631 Base liquid outlet opening 632 Buckling structure 644 Liquid compound component dispensing opening, outflow opening 662 Reinforcement Structure 1100 Dispenser 1105 Case 1110 Holder, drawer 1120 Base liquid feed piercing body 1121 Hose 1130 Pressurized gas supply source 1140 Pressurized Hemispherical Member 1146 Outer gas seal, O-ring 1150 operable displacement device 1151 Paracentric mechanism 2001 Cartridge 2200 Beverage dispensing device 2205 Case 2210 Holding body 2215 Support part 2216 Drinking Glass 2220 Base liquid feed piercing body 2230 Air Pump 2240 Pressurized Hemispherical Member 2250 operable displacement device 2260 water inlet 2265 Water Cooling Device 2266 Valve Assembly 2270 Carbonator 2280 Flow through a water heater 2281 Hot water valve

Claims

1. 1. A cartridge for providing a liquid product, said cartridge comprising: a sealed capsule filled with a portion of a liquid ingredient to be combined with a base liquid to prepare said liquid product, e.g., a beverage concentrate to be combined with water, e.g., carbonated water, to prepare a beverage; the sealed capsule comprises a capsule body with a bottom and a top, the capsule body comprising an outer peripheral wall, an inner peripheral wall, and a bottom wall defining an annular reservoir therebetween, the reservoir being filled with a portion of the liquid formulation ingredient, the top having an access opening in communication with the reservoir; The capsule body preferably comprises multiple layers of different materials, said materials having different barrier properties; the inner and outer peripheral walls at their upper ends are provided with inner and outer sealing surfaces, respectively, the inner and outer sealing surfaces defining a reservoir access opening therebetween; the inner peripheral wall forms a pillar, the pillar protruding upward from the bottom of the capsule body to an upper end of the pillar, the pillar providing an annular shape to the reservoir; the pillar has an internal cavity extending between an upper opening at a top of the pillar, preferably surrounded by the inner sealing surface, and a bottom opening at a bottom end of the pillar, the bottom opening being located at the bottom of the capsule body; the inner peripheral wall has an inner surface defining the interior cavity and an upper surface at the upper end of the post; the post is a crushable post such that at least the top end of the post is movable downwardly from an initial position to a lower operating position, i.e., the inner peripheral wall is configured to buckle when the top end of the post is pressed downwardly toward the bottom end of the post; the bottom wall of the capsule body is provided with at least one reservoir outlet in the form of an opening sealed with a bottom seal or in the form of a pierceable bottom area; The sealed capsule further comprises: a top seal, e.g., a top sealing membrane, sealed against the inner and outer sealing surfaces and covering the reservoir, the top seal sealing the reservoir access opening of the reservoir; The cartridge comprises: a nozzle for directing a flow of a base liquid through at least a portion of the interior cavity of the post and for dispensing the base liquid at a bottom side of the capsule; the nozzle comprises a nozzle body having a conduit extending between an inlet opening at a top end of the nozzle and an outlet opening at a bottom end of the nozzle; the nozzle is received within the interior cavity of the post with the inlet opening of the nozzle oriented toward an upper opening of the interior cavity and the outlet opening of the nozzle oriented toward a lower opening of the interior cavity; the nozzle, together with the upper end of the post, is movable relative to the outer circumferential wall of the capsule body from a raised passive position to a lowered dispensing position; A cartridge in which movement of the upper end of the post relative to the outer peripheral wall initiates removal of the bottom seal to form an outflow opening or perforation of a perforable area of ​​the outflow opening to open the capsule and allow the liquid formulation ingredient to flow out of the reservoir.

2. 10. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the post is provided with a buckling portion, i.e., a localized area of ​​the post that is configured to buckle when pressure is applied to the top of the post.

3. 10. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the post is provided with an annular shaped buckling portion, the buckling portion comprising a faceted area that promotes localized collapse of the post.

4. the buckling portion comprises an annular band of parallelogram-shaped recesses separated by linear ridges; 4. The cartridge of claim 3, wherein the parallelogram recesses are, for example, diamond-shaped recesses, each positioned by two opposing sides that are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the post when viewed in side view, and two other opposing sides that form a predetermined angle with the longitudinal axis of the post when viewed in side view.

5. A reinforcing structure is provided at the lower portion of the pillar, 5. A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reinforcing structure comprises a linear rib extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the post when viewed in side view.

6. the capsule body is thermoformed from a sheet of multi-layer material such that the wall of the capsule comprises multiple layers of different materials; The plurality of layers preferably comprises at least one layer of EVOH material; A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the different materials have different barrier properties.

7. the bottom wall of the capsule body is provided with at least one reservoir outlet in the form of an opening, and a peripheral sealing surface and an opening sealing surface are provided on a bottom surface of the bottom wall, the peripheral sealing surface surrounding the opening of the reservoir outlet, and the opening sealing surface is disposed between the peripheral sealing surface and the bottom opening of the pillar; the sealed capsule further comprises a bottom seal peelably sealed to the open sealing surface, sealing the reservoir outlet, and secured to the peripheral sealing surface; the nozzle further has a sealing surface for the bottom seal and at least one dispensing opening for dispensing a liquid formulation component in or adjacent to the flow of base liquid exiting the outlet opening; the bottom seal is secured to the sealing surface of the nozzle; when the nozzle is moved to the dispensing position, preferably by compressing the post, the nozzle can pull the bottom seal away from the opening in the bottom wall of the capsule to force liquid formulation out of the reservoir; 7. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the bottom seal remains attached to the peripheral sealing surface of the bottom of the capsule and to the sealing surface of the nozzle when the nozzle is in the dispensing position, allowing liquid formulation ingredients to flow along the bottom seal from the opening in the bottom of the capsule to the dispensing opening of the nozzle.

8. the bottom seal is a sealing membrane, and one or more of the reservoir outlets are initially sealed by the sealing membrane of the bottom seal of the cartridge; 8. A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein movement of the pillar to the lower dispensing position causes the bottom sealing membrane of the cartridge to form a guide surface for guiding liquid formulation components dispensed from one or more of the reservoir outlets initially sealed by the bottom sealing membrane towards the nozzle, thereby enabling the liquid formulation components to be dispensed from the cartridge through the nozzle.

9. the bottom seal has a central opening through which the bottom end of the nozzle projects; 9. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the bottom seal is sealed to the bottom of the capsule body at its periphery and to a flange of the nozzle along the central opening of the bottom seal.

10. The cartridge further comprises: a guide member preferably attached to the bottom of the capsule, the guide member extending from below the pierceable bottom area towards and below the bottom opening of the post for receiving a liquid compounding ingredient flowing from the reservoir outlet, in order to dispense the liquid compounding ingredient in or adjacent to the flow of base liquid exiting the outlet opening of the nozzle when the nozzle is in the lowered dispensing position; a bottom perforating body having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom perforating body being provided with an actuating surface at the top end of the bottom perforating body and a piercing member at the bottom end of the bottom perforating body, the actuating surface being located at or adjacent to the top end of the post and the piercing member being located at or adjacent to the bottom end of the post above the pierceable bottom area; It is equipped with 7. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the bottom perforator can be pushed downward to cause the perforating member to perforate the perforable area at the bottom of the capsule and cause liquid formulation ingredient to flow out of the reservoir outlet.

11. 11. A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the top seal is a sealing membrane, the sealing membrane of the top seal preferably being provided with one or more pre-made score lines, for example by laser machining or other machining partway through the thickness of the sealing membrane.

12. A thermoformed capsule body to provide a sealed capsule according to any one of claims 6 to 11.

13. 1. A system for the preparation of a liquid product, e.g. a liquid foodstuff such as a beverage, comprising: a) a cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 12; b) a dispensing device, for example a beverage dispensing device; The dispensing device comprises: a holder adapted to receive the cartridge and hold it at a dispensing location in the dispensing device; a base liquid feed assembly with a base liquid feed member, such as a piercer, arranged at the dispensing location, the base liquid feed member being embodied to couple to the conduit in the column of the cartridge so as to be able to feed a base liquid into the conduit; an operable displacement device adapted to create a movement of the holder for the cartridge and the base liquid feed member relative to one another in order to couple the base liquid feed member to the conduit and to move the pillar, or at least the upper part of the pillar, downwards from the raised passive position towards the lowered dispensing position; a pressurized gas source, preferably a pressurized air source, for example an air pump; Equipped with the dispensing device is adapted to provide direct communication between the pressurized gas source and the reservoir of the capsule so as to pressurize the liquid ingredient with gas to assist in dispensing the liquid ingredient from the reservoir through at least one reservoir outlet; the system is adapted to create one or more gas pressure introduction openings in the top seal overlying the reservoir access opening; the dispensing device further comprises a pressurizing hemispherical member having a peripheral gas seal, e.g., an outer gas seal along a periphery, the pressurizing hemispherical member adapted to sealingly engage the cartridge about where the one or more gas pressure introduction openings are created in the top seal to allow entry of pressurized gas into the reservoir; The pressurized gas source connected to the pressure hemispherical member; and adapted to direct pressurized gas beneath the pressurizing hemispherical member within the contour of the peripheral gas seal when sealingly engaged with the cartridge so as to pressurize the liquid formulation component in the reservoir through the one or more gas pressure introduction openings in the sealing membrane of the top seal, thereby assisting in dispensing of the liquid formulation component from the reservoir through at least one reservoir outlet; The cartridge is configured to move at least the upper portion of the post downward to locally perforate and / or overstress, thereby rupturing, a sealing membrane of the upper seal to provide one or more of the gas pressure introduction openings.

14. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the outer peripheral wall of the capsule body is provided with a flange, for example an outwardly protruding flange, which forms an upper peripheral portion of the cartridge, and the upper seal is attached to the flange in the area of ​​the outer gas seal.

15. The one or more reservoir outlets of the cartridge may include: located on the bottom side of the cartridge; and a liquid formulation component is spaced from the post such that it emerges from one or more of the reservoir outlets as a stream separate from the base liquid stream emerging from the nozzle; 15. The system of claim 13 or 14, wherein one or more of the reservoir outlets are positioned or guided so that the liquid formulation components emerging from the one or more reservoir outlets are adjacent to the outside of the outflow of base liquid emerging from the nozzle.

16. one or more of the reservoir outlets are initially sealed by a bottom seal of the cartridge, e.g., a bottom sealing membrane that is the only closure of the one or more reservoir outlets; 16. The system of any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein downward movement of the pillar or of at least the upper end of the pillar ruptures the bottom seal of the cartridge and / or tears away one or more reservoir outlets initially sealed by the bottom seal, thereby enabling dispensing from the cartridge.

17. a guide member is provided below the capsule body and below the at least one reservoir outlet; 17. A system according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the guide member has a guide surface oriented at a predetermined angle to the flow of the liquid compounding component emerging from the reservoir, whereby a jet of liquid compounding component emerging from the reservoir outlet due to gas pressurization of the liquid compounding component collides with the guide surface of the guide member, slowing down and preferably eliminating the jet.

18. 1. A method for the preparation of a beverage, comprising: Use of the system according to any one of claims 13 to 17 is carried out, The method comprises: - sealingly engaging a peripheral gas seal of the pressurization hemispherical member with the cartridge around where the upper sealing membrane has or will be opened to allow entry of pressurized gas into the reservoir, for example at the upper end of the peripheral wall of the cartridge; - causing the sealing membrane of said top seal to open at one or more of said locations; - preferably by pressing downwards at least the upper end of the post of the cartridge, thereby opening at least one of the reservoir outlets; - directing pressurized gas beneath the pressurizing hemispherical member, thereby causing the pressurized gas to pressurize the liquid compounding ingredients in the reservoir of the capsule to assist in dispensing the liquid compounding ingredients from the reservoir via one or more dispensing passages; A method comprising:

19. A method for manufacturing a cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising forming the capsule body from a multi-layer sheet using a thermoforming technique.

20. - mounting said nozzle in the internal cavity of the post of said capsule body; - fixing said bottom seal to the bottom of said cartridge and to said nozzle, sealing at least one reservoir outlet with said bottom seal; 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

21. - filling the reservoir of the capsule body with a liquid ingredient; - sealing the upper seal against the top of the peripheral wall and the top of the post, thereby sealing the reservoir of the capsule; Further includes:

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