MXPA06009385A - An insert, a machine and a system for the preparation of beverages - Google Patents

Abstract

An insert (400) for use in a beverage preparation machine (201) of a type comprising a brew head (250) comprising an upwardly directed inlet (253) for supplying water to the brew head (250) and a downwardly directed outlet (250) for outflow of beverage produced by the machine (201). The insert (400) comprises, or is adapted to contain in use, a quantity of beverage ingredients in a brewing volume. A lower surface of the insert (400) comprises an inlet (405) and an outlet (404) arranged to communicate respectively with the inlet (253) and outlet (254) of the brew head (250) of the beverage preparation machine (201) when the insert (100) is inserted into the machine such that, in use, water from the inlet (253) of the brew head (250) passes upwardly through the inlet (405) of the insert (400) into the brewing volume and such that beverage produced from the water and the quantity of beverage ingredients passes downwardly through the outlet (404) of the insert (100) to flow out of the outlet (254) of the brew head (250). The lower surface of the insert (400) further comprises a RFID or barcode (320) which, in use, is readable by a RFID or barcode reader of the beverage preparation machine (201) for controlling operation of the beverage preparation machine (201), wherein the barcode (320) or RFID is located on the lower surface of the insert (400) such that a line joining the outlet (404) of the insert (400) to a centre of the barcode (320) or RFID and a line joining the outlet (404) of the insert (400) to the inlet (405) of the insert (400) separated by a minimum angular separation of greater than 70 degrees.

Description

AN INSERTO, A MACHINE, AND A SYSTEM FOR THE PREPARATION OF BEVERAGES The present invention relates to an insert, a machine and a system for the preparation of beverages. It is known to provide machines and systems for the preparation of beverages such as coffee, tea and chocolate. Typically, in such systems the beverage ingredients are used either loosely or contained in a container. It is known in some machines to use flexible containers, such as filter paper bags containing roasted and ground coffee or leaf tea. It is also known in other machines to use containers in the form of cartridges that can be rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible and that are punctured during the preparation of the beverage. In both cases, the machine for use with such containers is specifically adapted to receive a particular container design in an infusion head and to pass water and / or steam through the container to prepare a beverage which is then dispensed. Such a beverage preparation machine can be used in commercial or domestic markets. In domestic market consumers it may not be desirable to use separate machines when preparing beverages of different beverage ingredients containing containers or, in fact, loose beverage ingredients. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an insert, a beverage preparation machine and a beverage preparation system that allow consumers to use a variety of loose containers or ingredients in a single beverage preparation machine. In one aspect, it is an object of the present invention to provide an insert for a beverage preparation machine that is primarily designed for use with cartridges, whether rigid, semi-rigid or flexible, which allows the beverage preparation machine to dispense beverage ingredients from flexible containers such as filter bags. Accordingly, the present invention provides an insert for use in a beverage preparation machine of a type comprising an infusion head comprising an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the infusion head and an outlet directed downwardly to flow out of the beverage produced by the machine, the insert comprising, or being adapted to contain in use, a quantity of the beverage ingredients in an infusion volume, a lower surface of the insert comprising an inlet and an outlet arranged to communicate respectively with the inflow and exit of the infusion head of the beverage preparation machine when the insert is inserted inside the machine such that, in use, water from the infusion head inlet passes upwards to through the entrance of the insert towards the infusion volume and such that the drink produced from the water and the amount of ingredients of beverage passes down through the outlet of the insert to flow out of the infusion head outlet, characterized in that the lower surface of the insert further comprises a barcode or RFID (radio frequency identifier device) which, in use, it is readable by a bar code or RFID reader of the beverage preparation machine to control the operation of the beverage preparation machine, where the barcode or RFID is located on the bottom surface of the insert such that a line joining the outlet of the insert with a center of the bar code and a line joining the outlet of the insert with the entrance of the insert are separated by a minimum angular separation of more than 70 degrees. Advantageously, it has been found that this minimum angular separation of the barcode or RFID of the input improves the accuracy of the bar code or RFID reading by the machine recognition means. Firstly, the separation results in any distortion of the input area having a minimal affectation in the region of the bar code or RFID. Second, it has been found that there may be a small degree of leakage of fluid from the inlet area during dispensing since the dispensing occurs under pressure. This fluid can spread, particularly due to the capillary effect between the insert and an infusion head of the machine, leading to partial obfuscation of the barcode or RFID by the fluid resulting in a greater opportunity for the barcode or RFID It is badly read. With the barcode or RFID separated by an angle of more than 70 degrees it has been found that this problem does not occur. Preferably, the line joining the outlet of the insert with the center of the bar code or RFID and the line joining the outlet of the insert with the entrance of the insert hold an angle of more than or equal to 85 degrees. Preferably, the outlet is located in a center or near a center of the lower surface of the insert. The bar code or RFID preferably is located at or near a periphery of the lower surface. The insert can be disk-shaped. The insert can be a cartridge. The cartridge can be rigid or semi-rigid. The lower surface can be a laminate. In this case, the entrance and exit of the cartridge can be portions of the lower surface that are opened for transportation, in use, by perforating the lower surface. Alternatively, the insert may define a receptacle for receiving loose beverage ingredients. Alternatively, the insert may define a receptacle for receiving a container of the beverage ingredients, wherein the container comprises filtering means. In one aspect, the container is formed at least in part from filter paper or filter membrane. For example, the container can be a filter bag.

The entry and exit of the insert can be open. Alternatively, the entry and exit of the insert can be closed prior to use by means of a frangible membrane. The frangible membrane may comprise a tear portion. The insert can be re-usable. The entry of the insert, the exit of the insert and the barcode or RFID can be co-planar. Alternatively, the entry of the insert, the exit of the insert and the barcode or RFID may not be co-planar. Preferably, the insert further comprises means for preventing rotation of the insert in the infusion head after insertion of the insert and closure of the infusion head.

The means for preventing rotation may comprise an externally directed handle or tongue portion. The handle or externally directed tongue portion can be located substantially diametrically opposite to the entrance of the insert. The present invention also provides a beverage preparation system comprising a beverage preparation machine and an insert for use in said machine, said insert being as described above. The beverage preparation machine may comprise an infusion head comprising an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the infusion head, a downwardly directed outlet for outward flow of the beverage produced by the machine, and a code reader for bars or RFID that has a window in the infusion head through which signals can be transmitted, where a line joining the output of the machine to a center of the window and a line joining the output of the machine to the entrance of The machine holds an angle of more than 70 degrees. Preferably the line joining the output of the machine with the center of the window and the line joining the output of the machine with the input of the machine hold an angle greater than or equal to 85 degrees. Preferably the outlet of the beverage preparation machine is located at or near a center of the infusion head. Preferably the window of the bar code reader or the RFID reader is located at or near a periphery of the infusion head. The infusion head may comprise a f for receiving the insert such as to prevent relative rotation of the insert and the infusion head once the infusion head is closed. The f may comprise a recess or opening for receiving a handle or tongue portion directed externally of the insert. The f may comprise an opening through which the infusion head inlet, the infusion head outlet and the window of the bar code reader or the RFID reader are accessible. The infusion head may comprise a cavity for receiving the insert where one of the insert and the cavity comprise a key and the other of the insert and the cavity comprise a recess, where the inter-linking of the key and the recess prevent relative rotation of the insert. Insert and infusion head once the infusion head closes. The insert of the present invention can contain or be loaded with one or more suitable beverage ingredients for the formation of a beverage product. The beverage product can be, for example, one of coffee, tea, chocolate or a dairy-based beverage including milk. The beverage ingredients can be powdered, ground, leaf-based or liquid. The beverage ingredients may be insoluble or soluble. Examples include roasted and ground coffee, leaf tea, chocolate and soup powder, liquid milk-based beverages, carbonated beverages and concentrated fruit juices. In the following description the terms "upper" and "lower" and equivalents will be used to describe the relative positioning of features of the invention. The terms "upper" and "lower" and equivalents shall be understood to refer to the insert (or other components) in its normal orientation for insertion into the beverage preparation machine and subsequent dispensing. further, the terms "interior" and "exterior" and equivalents will be used to describe the relative positioning of characteristics of the invention. The terms "interior" and "exterior" and equivalents should be understood to refer to relative positions in the insert (or other components) being, respectively, closer or further away from a center or main axis X of the insert (or other component). Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: the figure is a front perspective view of a beverage preparation machine of the present invention; Fig. lb is a front perspective view of the machine of the figure with an infusion head in an open position; Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the machine of the figure with some parts omitted for clarity; Figure 3 is another rear perspective view of the machine of the figure with some parts omitted for clarity; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the infusion head of the figure machine with some parts omitted for clarity; Figure 5 is another perspective view of the infusion head of the figure machine with some parts omitted for clarity; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the infusion head in a closed position; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the infusion head in an illustrated open position containing an insert in the form of a cartridge of the present invention; Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the machine of Figure la; Figures 9a and 9b are schematic diagrams of first and second code recognition means for the machine of Figure la; and Figure 10 is a plan view of the beverage cartridge of the present invention comprising a bar code; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional drawing of an outer member of a cartridge of the present invention that can be used in the beverage preparation machine of the present invention; Figure 12 is a cross-sectional drawing of a detail of the outer member of Figure 11 showing an inwardly directed cylindrical extension, - Figure 13 is a cross-sectional drawing of a detail of the outer member of Figure 11 showing a slit; Figure 14 is a perspective view from above of the outer member of Figure 11; Figure 10 is a perspective view from above of the outer member of Figure 11 in an inverted orientation; Figure 16 is a plan view from above of the outer member of Figure 11; Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional drawing of an inner member of the cartridge; Figure 18 is a perspective view from above of the inner member of Figure 17; Figure 19 is a perspective view from above of the inner member of Figure 17 in an inverted orientation; Figure 20 is a plan view from above of the inner member of Figure 17; Figure 21 is a cross-sectional drawing of the cartridge in an assembled condition; Fig. 22 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of the insert according to the present invention showing its separate upper and lower parts; Figure 23 is a perspective view from below of the lower part of the insert of Figure 22; Figure 24 is a perspective view from above of the insert of Figure 22 showing the upper and lower parts sealed together; and - Figure 25 is a cross-sectional view of the infusion head of the beverage preparation machine in an illustrated open position accommodating the insert of Figure 22. Beverage Preparation System A beverage preparation machine 201 of the system of preparation of beverages of the present invention is shown in Figures a to 9b. The beverage preparation machine 201 generally comprises a housing 210 containing a water tank 220, a water heater 225, a water pump 230, an air compressor 235, a control processor, a user interface 240 and a Infusion head 250. Infusion head 250 in turn generally comprises a support 251, recognition means 252 and inlet and outlet perforators 253, 254. The beverage preparation machine 201 is designed to be capable of dispensing beverage ingredients from inserts in the form of cartridges. 1 such as that illustrated in Figures 10 to 21 and also from inserts 400 such as that shown in Figures 22 to 25 which are loaded in use with beverage ingredients loosely or packaged in other types of containers, such as as flexible bags. To assist understanding of the comprehensive and flexible operation of the beverage preparation machine an example of an insert in the form of the cartridge 1 will be described first and its use in the beverage preparation machine 201 explained before the insert 400 and its use are described.

Cartridge for Use in the System As shown in Figures 10 to 21, the cartridge 1 generally comprises an outer member 2, an inner member 3 and a laminate 5. The outer member 2, the inner member 3 and the laminate 5 are assembled to form the cartridge 1 having an interior 120 to contain one or more beverage ingredients, an inlet 121, an outlet 122 and a beverage flow path linking to the inlet 121 with the outlet 122 and passing through the interior 120. The inlet 121 and the outlet 122 are initially sealed by the laminate 5 and open in use by perforating or cutting the laminate 5. The beverage flow path is defined by the inter-spatial relationships between the outer member 2, the inner member 3 and the laminate 5 as discussed below. Other components may optionally be included in the cartridge 1, such as a filter 4, as will be described further below. The cartridge 1 is particularly designed for use in dispensing filtered products such as roasted and ground coffee or leaf tea. However, the cartridge 1 can be used with other products such as chocolate, coffee, tea, sweeteners, cordials, flavors, alcoholic beverages, flavored milk, fruit juices, smoothies, sauces and desserts. As can be seen from Figure 15, the overall shape of the cartridge 1 is generally circular or disc-shaped with the diameter of the cartridge 1 being significantly greater than its height. A main shaft X passes through the center of the outer member as shown in Figure 11. Typically the overall diameter of the outer member 2 is 74.5 mm ± 6 mm and the overall height is 16 mm ± 3 mm. Typically the volume of cartridge 1 when assembled is 30.2 ml ± 20%. The outer member 2 generally comprises a bowl-shaped shell 10 having a curved annular wall 13, a closed upper part 11 and an open lower part 12. The diameter of the outer member 2 is smaller in the upper part 11 compared to the diameter in the lower part 12, resulting from a flare of the annular wall 13 as one moves from the closed upper part 11 to the open lower part 12. The annular wall 13 and the closed upper part 11 together define a receptacle having an interior 34 A cylindrical extension directed inwards hollow 18 is provided in the closed upper part 11 centered on the main axis X. As shown more clearly in Figure 12, the cylindrical extension 18 comprises a stepped profile having first, second and third portions 19, 20 and 21. The first portion 19 is right circular cylindrical. The second portion 20 is frusto-conical in shape and tapers inwards. The third portion 21 is another straight circular cylinder and is closed by a lower face 31. The diameter of the first, second and third portions 19, 20 and 21 incrementally decreases such that the diameter of the cylindrical extension 18 decreases as one moves from one to the other. the upper part 11 to the closed bottom face 31 of the cylindrical extension 18. A generally horizontal support 32 is formed in the cylindrical extension 18 at the junction between the second and third portions 20 and 21. An outwardly extending support 33 is formed in the outer member 2 towards the bottom part 12. The outwardly extending support 33 forms a secondary wall 15 coaxial with the annular wall 13 such as to define an annular rail forming a manifold 16 between the secondary wall 15 and the annular wall 13. multiple 16 passes around the circumference of the outer member 2. A series of slits 17 are provided in the annular wall 13 flush with the manifold 16 for proportion communication of gas and liquid between the manifold 16 and the interior 34 of the outer member 2. As shown in Figure 13, the slits 17 comprise vertical grooves in the annular wall 13. Between 20 and 40 slits are provided. In the shown embodiment thirty-seven slits 17 are generally provided equidistantly spaced around the circumference of the manifold 16. The slits 17 are preferably between 1.4 and 1.18 mm in length. Typically the length of each slit is 1.6 mm representing 10% of the overall height of the outer member 2. The width of each slit is between 0.25 and 0.35 mm. Typically, the width of each slit is 0.3 mm. The width of the slits 17 is narrow enough to prevent the beverage ingredients from passing through to the manifold 16 either during storage or in use. An inlet chamber 26 is formed in the outer member 2 at the periphery of the outer member 2. A cylindrical wall 27 is provided, as is more clearly seen in Figure 15, which defines the inlet chamber 26 inside, and leaves a the inlet chamber 26 from, the interior 34 of the outer member 2. The cylindrical wall 27 has a closed top face 28 which is formed in a plane perpendicular to the main axis X and an open bottom end 29 co-planar with the bottom side 12 of the outer member 2. The inlet chamber 26 communicates with the manifold 16 by two slits 30 as shown in figure 11. Alternatively, between one and four slits can be used to communicate between the manifold 16 and the inlet chamber 26 A lower end of the outwardly extending support 33 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 35 extending perpendicularly to the main axis X. Typically, the flange 35 has a width between 2 and 4 mm. A portion of the flange 35 is elongated to form a handle 24 by which the outer member 2 can be maintained. The handle 24 is provided with an upturned edge 25 for improved grip. The inner member 3 as shown in Figs. 17 to 20, comprises an annular frame 41 and a cylindrical funnel extending downwardly 40. A main axis X passes through the center of the inner member 3 as shown in Fig. 17 As best seen in Figure 18, the annular frame 41 comprises an outer edge 51 and an inner hub 52 joined by ten equidistant radial spokes 53. The inner hub 52 is integral with and extends from the cylindrical funnel 40. filtration 55 are formed in the annular frame 41 between the radial spokes 53. A filter 4 is arranged in the annular frame 41 such as to cover the filtering apertures 55. The filter is preferably made of a material with a high wet strength, for example a non-woven polyester fiber material. Other materials that can be used include a water-impermeable cellulosic material, such as a cellulosic material comprising woven paper fibers. The woven paper fibers can be mixed with polypropylene, poly (vinyl chloride) and / or polyethylene fibers. The incorporation of these plastic materials within the cellulosic material makes the cellulosic material capable of sealing heat. The filter 4 can also be treated or coated with a material that is activated by heat and / or pressure such that it can be sealed to the annular frame 41 in this manner. As shown in the cross section profile of Figure 17, the inner hub 52 is located in the lower position instead of the outer edge 51, resulting in the annular frame 41 having a lower sloping profile.

The upper surface of each ray 53 is provided with an upstanding weft 54 that divides a void space on the annular frame 41 into a plurality of passages 57. Each passage 57 is delimited on each side by a weft 54 and on a lower face by the weft. filter 4. The passages 57 extend from the outer edge 51 downwards towards, and open in, the cylindrical funnel 40 in openings 56 defined by the inner ends of the frame 54. The cylindrical funnel 40 comprises an outer tube 42 surrounding an inner discharge peak 43. The outer tube 42 forms the outside of the cylindrical funnel 40. The discharge peak 43 is attached to the outer tube 42 at an upper end of the discharge spout 43 by means of an annular flange 47. The discharge spout 43 comprises an inlet 45 at an upper end communicating with the openings 56 of the passages 57 and a departure 44 at a lower end through which the prepared beverage is discharged into a cup or other receptacle. The discharge peak 43 comprises a frusto-conical portion 48 at an upper end and a cylindrical portion 58 at a lower end. The cylindrical portion 58 may have a slight taper such that it narrows towards the outlet 44. The frusto-conical portion 48 helps to channel beverage from the passages 57 downward to the outlet 44 without inducing turbulence to the beverage. An upper surface of the frusto-conical portion 48 is provided with four support frames 49 equi-distal about the circumference of the cylindrical funnel 40. The support frames 49 define channels 50 therebetween. The upper edges of the support frames 49 are flush with each other and perpendicular to the main axis X. The inner member 3 can be formed as a single integral piece of polypropylene or a similar material as described above and by injection molding in the same manner as the outer member 2. Alternatively, the inner member 3 and / or the outer member 2 can be made of a biodegradable polymer. Examples of suitable materials include degradable polyethylene (eg, SPITEK supplied by Symphony Environmental, Borehamwood, United Kingdom), biodegradable polyester amide (eg, BAK 1095 supplied by Symphony Environmental), poly (lactic acid) (PLA supplied by Cargil, Minnesota) , United States), starch based polymers, cellulose derivatives and polypeptides. The laminate 5 is formed from two layers, a first layer of aluminum and a second layer of emptied polypropylene. The aluminum layer is between 0.02 and 0.07 mm thick. The empty polypropylene layer is between 0.025 and 0.065 mm thick. In one embodiment, the aluminum layer is 0.06 mm and the polypropylene layer is 0.025 mm thick. This laminate is particularly advantageous since it has a high frizz resistance during assembly. As a result the laminate 5 can be pre-cut to correct size and shape and subsequently transferred to the assembly station on the production line without being distorted. Consequently, the laminate 5 is particularly well suited to welding. Other laminated materials can be used including PET / Aluminum / PP, PE / EVOH / PP, PET / metallized / PP and Aluminum / PP laminates. Roll laminate material can be used in place of die-cut material. The cartridge 1 can be closed by a rigid or semi-rigid lid instead of a flexible laminate. The assembly of the cartridge 1 involves the following steps: a) the inner member 3 is inserted into the outer member 2; b) the filter 4 is cut to be configured and placed on the inner member 3 such that it is received on the cylindrical funnel 40 and comes to rest against the annular frame 41; c) the inner member 3, the outer member 2 and the filter 4 are joined by ultrasonic welding; d) the cartridge 1 is filled with one or more beverage ingredients; e) the laminate 5 is fixed to the member exterior 2. These steps will be discussed in more detail below. The outer member 2 is oriented with the open bottom 12 directed upwards. The inner member 3 is then inserted into the outer member 2 with the outer edge 51 being received as a loose fit in an axial extension 14 in the upper part 11 of the cartridge 1. The cylindrical extension 18 of the outer member 2 is at the same time received in the upper portion of the cylindrical funnel 40 of the inner member 3. The third portion 21 of the cylindrical extension 18 sits inside the cylindrical funnel 40 with the closed bottom face 31 of the cylindrical extension 18 bearing against the supporting frames 49 of the inner member 3. The filter 4 is then placed on the inner member 3 such that the filter material makes contact with the annular edge 51. An ultrasonic welding process is then used to join the filter 4 with the inner member 3 and at the same time, and in the same process step, to the inner member 3 with the outer member 2. The inner member 3 and the filter 4 are welded around the outer edge 51. The inner member 3 and the outer member 2 are joined by means of welding lines around the outer edge 51 and also the upper edges of the frames 54. As shown more clearly in Figure 21, the outer member 2 and the inner member 3 when joined together define an empty space 130 inside 120 below the annular flange 41 and outside the cylindrical funnel 40 forming a filtration chamber. The filtration chamber 130 and passages 57 on the annular frame 41 are separated by the filter paper 4. The filtration chamber 130 contains the one or more beverage ingredients 200. The one or more beverage ingredients are packed in the filtration chamber 130. For a filtered style drink the ingredient is typically roasted and ground coffee or leaf tea. The packing density of the beverage ingredients in the filtration chamber 130 can be varied as desired. Typically, for a filtered coffee product the filtration chamber contains between 5.0 and 10.2 grams of roasted and ground coffee in a filtration bed of thickness of typically 5 to 14 mm. Optionally, the interior 120 may contain one or more bodies, such as spheres, that are freely movable within the interior 120 to aid mixing by introducing turbulence and decomposing deposits of beverage ingredients during the discharge of the beverage. The laminate 5 is then fixed to the outer member 2 by forming a weld 126 around the periphery of the laminate 5 to join the laminate 5 with the lower surface of the outwardly extending flange 35. The weld 126 extends to seal the laminate 5 against the lower edge of the cylindrical wall 27 of the inlet chamber 26. Furthermore, a weld 125 is formed between the laminate 5 and the lower edge of the outer tube 42 of the cylindrical funnel 40. The laminate 5 forms the lower wall of the filtration chamber 130 and also seals the inlet chamber 26 and the cylindrical funnel 40. However, a small space 123 exists prior to dispensing between the laminate 5 and the lower edge of the discharge spout 43. A variety of welding methods are they can use, such as heat welding and ultrasonic welding, depending on the characteristics of the material of the laminate 5. Advantageously, the inner member 3 spans between the outer member 2 and the mined 5. The inner member 3 is formed from a material of relative rigidity, such as polypropylene. As such, the inner member 3 forms a load bearing member that acts to keep the laminate 5 and the outer member 2 apart when the cartridge 1 is compressed. It is preferred that the cartridge 1 be subjected to compression loading between 130 and 280 N in use. The compression force acts to prevent the cartridge from falling under internal pressurization and also serves to squeeze the inner member 3 and the outer member 2 together. This ensures that the internal dimensions of passages and openings in the cartridge 1 are fixed and are unable to change during the pressurization of the cartridge 1. To use the cartridge 1 it is first inserted into the beverage preparation machine and the 121 inlet and outlet 122 are opened by piercing members of the beverage preparation machine that pierce and bend the laminate 5. An aqueous medium, typically water, under pressure enters the cartridge 1 through the inlet 121 into the inlet chamber 26 at a pressure of between 0.1-2.0 bar. From there the water is directed to flow through the slits 30 and around the manifold 16 and towards the filtration chamber 130 of the cartridge 1 through the plurality of slits 17. The water is forced radially inwardly through the chamber of filtration 130 and mixed with the beverage ingredients 200 contained therein. The water is at the same Time forced up through the drink ingredients. The beverage is formed by the passage of water through the beverage ingredients passing through the filter 4 and the filtration openings 55 towards the passages 57 resting on the annular frame 41. The sealing of the filter 4 on the rays 53 and the welding of the edge 51 with the outer member 2 ensures that there are no short circuits and all the beverage has to pass through the filter 4. The beverage then flows down along the radial passages 57 formed between the webs 57 and through the openings 56 and towards the cylindrical funnel 40. The beverage passes along the channels 50 between the supporting frames 47 and down the discharge spout 43 to the outlet 44 where the beverage is discharged into a receptacle such as a cup . Preferably, the beverage preparation machine comprises an air purge facility, where compressed air is forced through the cartridge 1 at the end of the dispensing cycle to draw the remaining beverage into the receptacle. In accordance with the present invention, the cartridge 1 is provided in the laminate with a bar code 320 as shown in Figure 10. The bar code 320 is formed from a plurality of bars of contrasting color. Preferably the bars are black on a white background to maximize contrast. The barcode 320 is not required to be a published standard but a standard format for barcodes, such as EAN-13, UPC-A, or Interleaf 2 or 5 may be used. As shown in Figure 10, bar code 320 is specifically located in relation to input 121 and output 122 of cartridge 1. As will be noted from the description of cartridge 1 above, input 121 and output 122 they can simply comprise portions of the laminate 5 which in use can be pierced by perforators of the machine as described below. There is no requirement for the entry and exit to be marked on the laminate and these are shown in Figure 10 for illustrative purposes. According to the present invention, the bar code 320 and the input 121 of the cartridge 1 are separated by a minimum angular distance. A line 328 can be defined extending from the center of the cartridge 1 through the center of the bar code 320. In addition, a line 329 can be defined extending from the center of the cartridge 1 through the center of the entrance 121. According to the present invention, the angle sustained by these two lines is greater than 70 degrees. Preferably the angle a is greater than or equal to 85 degrees. Where the outlet 122 is in the center of the cartridge 1 as in the illustrated embodiment the lines 328 and 329 extend from a center of the outlet 122 to the bar code 320 and the inlet 121 respectively. Advantageously, it has been found that this minimum angular separation of the bar code 320 from the input 121 improves the reading accuracy of the bar code 320 by the machine recognition means as described below. This is believed to be for two reasons. First, the separation results in any distortion of the entrance area of the laminate by perforating the laminate 5 having minimal involvement in the laminate in the bar code region 320. Second, it has been found that there may be a small degree of fluid leakage from the entrance area of the cartridge 1 during the dispensing since the dispensing occurs under pressure. This fluid can be scattered, in particular due to the capillary effect between the laminate and the infusion head 250, leading to partial obfuscation of the bar code 320 by the fluid resulting in a greater opportunity for the bar code 320 to be misread. With bar code 320 separated by an angle of more than 70 degrees it has been found that this problem does not occur. In an alternative embodiment the barcode 320 is replaced by an RFID code, located in the same manner as described above. Preferably, the bar code 320 is also located near a periphery of the laminate 5 such that it separates the bar code 320 from the output 122 such as to avoid distortion of the bar code 320 when piercing the outlet 122.

The cartridge 1 described above is given as an example of a type of cartridge that can carry a bar code 320 according to the present invention. Other cartridges of a similar type can be provided to dispense other types of beverages, for example, foamed milk, espresso coffee, chocolate, each of which according to the present invention is provided with a barcode or RFID 320 as described above. Beverage Preparation Slip As shown in Figure 1, the housing 210 contains and holds in position the other components of the machine 201. The housing 210 is preferably made entirely or in part from a sturdy plastic material such as ABS. Alternatively, the housing 210 may be made whole or in part from a metallic material such as stainless steel or aluminum. The housing 210 preferably comprises a clam shell design having a front half 211 and a back half 212 that allow access during assembly for the adjustment of machine components 201 and can subsequently be joined to define an interior 213 of the housing 210 The rear half 212 provides a recess 214 for the connection of the water tank 220. The housing 210 is formed with means, such as seals, stops, protuberances and threaded portions, to retain the components of the machine 201 in position without the need. of a separate chassis. This reduces the overall cost and weight of the machine 201. A base 215 of the housing 210 is preferably provided with legs for lifting the machine therein in a stable manner. Alternatively, the base itself 215 may have a figure that forms a stable support. The front half 211 of the housing 210 comprises a dispensing station 270 where the dispensing of the beverage takes place. The dispensing station 270 comprises a receptacle holder 271 having a hollow interior forming a drip tray 272. An upper surface 273 of the receptacle holder is provided with a grate 273 in which the receptacle is placed. The drip tray 272 is removable from the housing 210 to facilitate the emptying of the collected water. A recess 275 is formed in the front half of the housing 210 above the receptacle holder 271 to accommodate the dimensions of the receptacle. The infusion head 250 is positioned towards the upper part of the housing 210 on the receptacle holder as shown in Figures la and Ib. Preferably, the height of the grill 274 relative to the infusion head 250 can be adjusted to accommodate different receptacle sizes. It is preferred that the receptacle be as close as possible to the infusion head 250, while still allowing the receptacle to be inserted and removed from the dispensing station 270, such that it minimizes the height that the dispensed beverage has to descend before. to make contact with the receptacle. This acts to minimize dew and splashing of the beverage and minimize the loss of trapped air bubbles when they are present. Preferably receptacles between 70 and 110 mm in height can be inserted between the grill 274 and the infusion head 250. The machine user interface 240 is located on the front of the housing 210 and comprises a start / stop button 241, and a plurality of status indicators 243-246. The status indicators 243-246 preferably include a light emitting diode (LED) 243 to indicate favorable disposition of the machine 201, with an LED 244 to indicate whether an error has occurred in the operation of the machine 201, and one or more LEDs 245-256 to indicate whether machine 201 is operating in manual or automatic modes. The LEDs 243-246 can be controlled to illuminate at a constant intensity, to flash intermittently, or both depending on the state of the machine 201. The LEDs 243-246 can have a variety of colors including green, Red and yellow. The start / stop button 241 controls the start of the dispensing cycle and is a manually operated pressure button, switch or the like. A volume adjustment control may be provided to allow a user of the machine 201 to manually adjust the volume of beverage delivered without altering the other operating characteristics. Preferably the volume adjustment control allows a volume adjustment of plus or minus 20%. The volume adjustment control can be a rotary knob, a linear slider, a digital reader with increment and decrement buttons, or the like. More typically, the volume is controlled by a user operating the start / stop button 241. A manual power switch (not shown) can be provided in the machine 201. Alternatively, the power supply can be controlled simply by insertion or removal of the power. power supply plug of the public utility power supply. The water tank 220 is located in the rear part of the housing 210 and is connected to the rear half 212 of the housing 210. The water tank 220 comprises a generally cylindrical body 221 that can be circularly straight or frusto as desired for reasons aesthetic The tank comprises an inlet for filling the tank with water that is closed in use by a manually removable lid 222. An outlet is provided towards the lower end of the tank that communicates with the water pump 230. The water tank 220 can make a transparent or translucent material to allow a consumer to observe the amount of water remaining in the tank. Alternatively, the water tank 220 may be made of an opaque material but having an observation window provided therein. In addition, or instead of the above, the water tank 220 can be provided with a low level sensor which prevents the operation of the water pump 230 and optionally triggers an alert indicator, such as an LED, when the water level in the tank drops to a preselected level. The water tank 220 preferably has an internal capacity of approximately 1.5 liters. The water pump 230 is operatively connected between the water tank 220 and the water heater 225 as shown schematically in Figure 8 and controlled by the control processor. The pump provides a maximum flow rate of 900 ml / min of water at a maximum pressure of 2.5 bar. Preferably, in normal use, the pressure will be limited to 2 bar. The rate of water flow through the machine 201 can be controlled by the control processor to be a percentage of the maximum flow rate of the pump per cycle by cutting the electrical supply to the pump. Preferably the pump can be driven at any of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or 100% of the maximum rated flow rate. The precision of the volume of pumped water is preferably + or - 5%, leading to an accuracy of + or - 5% in the final volume of the dispensed beverage. A suitable pump is the Evolution (RTM) EP8 pump produced by Ulka S.r.l. (Pavia, Italy). A volumetric flow sensor (not shown) is preferably provided in the flow line either upstream or downstream of the water pump 230. Preferably, the volumetric flow sensor is a rotary sensor. The water heater 225 is located inside the housing 210. The heater 225 has an energy rating of 1,550 W and is capable of heating water received from the water pump 230 from an initial temperature of about 20 ° C to a temperature operating temperature of around 85 ° C in less than 1 minute. Preferably the residence time between the end of a dispensing cycle and the heater 225 being able to begin a subsequent dispensing cycle is less than 10 seconds. The heater maintains the selected temperature within + or - 2 ° C during the dispensing cycle. Water for the dispensing cycle it can be delivered to the infusion head 250 to 83 or 93 ° C. The heater 225 is able to quickly adjust the delivery temperature to either 83 ° C or 93 ° C from a nominal water temperature of 85 ° C. The heater 225 comprises an over-heating cut that cuts the heater if the temperature exceeds 98 ° C. Water outlet from heater 225 is fed to infusion head 250 by means of a three-way valve. If the water flow pressure is acceptable, the water is passed to the cartridge 1. If the pressure is below or above predetermined limits then the water is diverted by means of the three-way valve to the tray recovery container. drip 270. The air compressor 235 is operatively connected to the infusion head 250 by means of a one-way valve and controlled by the control processor. The air compressor 235 provides a maximum air flow rate of 500 ml / min at 1.0 bar. In using, a work volume of 35 ml is pressurized to 2.0 bar. Preferably, the air compressor 235 can produce two flow rates: a fast (or maximum) flow rate and a slow flow rate. The control processor of the beverage preparation machine 201 comprises a processing module and a memory. The control processor is operatively connected to, and controls the operation of, the water heater 225, the water pump 230, the air compressor 235 and the user interface 240. The memory of the control processor includes one or more variables for one or more operating parameters for the beverage preparation machine 201. The operating parameters are the temperature of the water passed through the beverage cartridge 1 during the operating stage, the loading speed of the beverage cartridge 1, the presence or other form of a wetting step, the total dispensed volume of the beverage, the flow rate of the water during the discharge stage, and the flow rate and period of the purge stage. The variables for the operating parameters are stored in the memory. The cartridge 1 comprises a code provided in the cartridge 1 representing the operating parameters required for optimum dispensing of the beverage in that cartridge 1. The code is in binary format and comprises a plurality of data bits corresponding to the variables stored in the memory of the control processor. The infusion head 250 is shown in Figures 4 to 7. The support 251 of the infusion head 250 comprises a fixed lower portion 255, a rotatable upper portion 256 and a pivotable cartridge assembly 257 positioned between the fixed lower portion. 255 and rotating top 256. Top 256, bottom 255 and cartridge assembly 257 are rotated about a common hinge axis 258. Figures 4 to 7 show support 251 with some components of machine 201 omitted for clarity. The rotating upper part 256 and the pivotable cartridge assembly 257 move relative to the fixed lower part 255 by means of a gripping mechanism 280. The gripping mechanism 280 comprises a clamping lever having members or parts first and foremost. second 281 and 282. The first part 281 of the clamping lever comprises a U-shaped arm that is pivotably mounted to the top 256 at two first pivot points 283, one on each side of the support 251. The second part of the clamping lever comprises two arms on the center 282, one on each side of the support 251 which are pivotably mounted each to the top 256 at a second pivot point 285 located on the hinge axis 258 engaging the upper part 256 with the fixed lower part 255. Each arm on the center 282 is a reciprocal member comprising a cylinder 282a, a stem 282b and a flexible sleeve 282c. The cylinder 282a has an internal bore and is rotatably mounted at one end on the hinge shaft 258. A first end of the stem 282b is slidably received in the bore of the cylinder 282a. The opposite end of the stem 282b is rotatably mounted to the U-shaped arm 281 at a third pivot point 286. The third pivot points 286 are disconnected from, and are freely movable relative to, the top 256 and the lower part 255. Flexible sleeve 282c is externally mounted to stem 282b and extend, in use, between abutment surfaces in cylinder 282a and stem 282b. The flexible sleeve 282c accommodates arm shortening on the center 282 but pushes the arm on the center 282 to an extended configuration. The movement of the third pivot points 286 towards and away from the hinge axis 258 and thus is possible by relative movement of the stems 282b in the cylinders 282a. The flexible sleeves 282c are preferably formed of silicone. Although the illustrated embodiment uses two arms on the center 282, it will be apparent that the locking mechanism can be configured with only one arm on the center 282. The U-shaped arm 281 extends around the front of the support 251 and comprises two downwardly depending hook members 287, one on each side of the arm. support 251, each comprising a cam surface 288 facing the hinge axis 258. The fixed lower portion 255 of the support 251 is provided with two protuberances 259, or detents, located one on each side of the lower part 255 at or near its front edge 260 generally aligned with the hook members 287. As shown in Figure 4, the U-shaped arm 281 can be formed of one-piece plastic moldings comprising an ergonomic hand grip and the integral hook members 287. to the arm. The cartridge assembly 257 is rotatably mounted between the upper and lower portions 255, 256 of the support 251. The assembly 257 is provided with a substantially circular recess 290 that receives in use the beverage cartridge 1. The recess 290 includes a irregularity 291 to accommodate the handle portion 24 of the beverage cartridge 1 which also acts to prevent rotation of the beverage cartridge 1 in the holder 251. The cartridge assembly 257 is twisted relative to the fixed bottom 255 such that in the open position, as shown in Figure 7, the cartridge assembly 257 is pushed out of contact with the fixed bottom 255 such that the cartridge assembly 257 moves out of contact with the exit and entry piercing members 254, 253 The cartridge assembly 257 is provided with an aperture 292 for receiving the inlet and outlet perforators 253, 254 and a head 300 of the cartridge recognition means 252 therethrough when the cartridge assembly 257 moves to the closed position. The upper part 255 comprises a generally circular body 310 housing a circular observation window 312 through which a consumer can observe the beverage cartridge 1 during a dispensing cycle and also visually confirm whether a cartridge 1 is loaded in the machine 201 The observation window 312 is cup-shaped having a downward facing edge 311. The observation window 312 is capable of moving axially relative to the body 310 of the upper part 255. An arrangement for achieving relative movement is to provide a wave spring (not shown), or similar flexible means such as a rubberized ring, placed between the observation window 312 and the circular body 310. In an alternative arrangement, a series of propeller compression springs (not shown) are provided extending between the observation window 312 and the body 310. In both cases the flexible means allow the observation window 312 to move axially relative to the circular body 310 by a small degree. When the holder 251 is in the closed position, the observation window 312 rests against the beverage cartridge 1 by pushing it against the top 256. In an arrangement, the edge 3111 of the observation window contacts and rests against the flange 35 of the drink cartridge. At the same time the window 312 makes contact with the closed upper part 11 of the cartridge 1. In an alternative arrangement, only the observation window 312 makes contact with the closed upper part 11 of the cartridge 1. In an alternative arrangement, only the window of observation 312 makes contact with the closed top 11 of the cartridge 1, and there is no rest contact between the edge 311 and the flange 35. The pressure exerted by the edge 311 on the flange 35 and / or by the window 312 on the part Closed top 11 secures a tight fluid seal between cartridge 1 and support 251. Lower part 255 comprises the inlet and outlet perforators 253, 254 and head 300 of cartridge recognition means 252. Inlet perforator 253 comprises a hollow needle-like tube 260 having a sharp end 261 for piercing the laminate 5 of the beverage cartridge 1 in use. The inlet piercer 253 is in fluid communication with a water conduit 262 as shown in figure 7 which passes through the lower part 255 and is connected to an outlet conduit 263 of the water heater 225. The outlet piercer 254 is similar in type to the exit perforator described in the applicant's European patents EP 0 389 141 and EP 0 334 572 and comprises an open-ended cylinder 264 of circular or D-shaped cross section having dimensions greater than the peak of discharge 43. An arcuate portion 265 of the upper end of the outlet perforator 254 is sawed to perforate and eventually cut the laminate of the beverage cartridge 1. The remainder of the upper end is cut longitudinally of the cylinder in at least the base of the teeth 266 of the sawn portion for bending or pulling the cut laminate 5 out of the exit opening before the beverage is dispensed therethrough. The exit piercer 254 pierces the laminate 5 externally of the discharge spout 43 and when the cartridge assembly 257 is in the closed position, it rests in the ring between the discharge spout 43 and the outer wall 42 of the discharge funnel 40. The exit perforator 254 bends back the cut laminate 105 towards the ring. Thus both the outlet perforator 254 and the cut laminate 105 are kept out of the way of the discharged beverage. The outlet piercer 254 is surrounded by a flange 254a that rises relative to its surroundings by 0.5 mm. Advantageously, the outlet piercer 254 is removable from the lower part 255 to allow it to be completely cleaned, for example, in a dishwasher. The removable outlet perforator 254 is received in a recess 267 in the lower part 255 where it sits. The inlet piercer 253 and / or outlet piercer 254 can be made of a metal, such as stainless steel, or of a plastic material. Advantageously, the use of plastic cutting elements is enabled by the use of a laminate 5 which is capable of being perforated and cut by a non-metallic material. Consequently, perforators 253, 254 can be made less sharp which reduces the risk of injury to the consumer. In addition, plastic perforating elements are not susceptible to corrosion. Preferably, the inlet piercer 253 and the outlet piercer 254 are formed as a single integral unit that is removable from the lower portion 255. In accordance with the present invention, the inlet piercer 253 is located at a specific angular distance from a head window of cartridge recognition means 300. A line 326 can be defined extending from the center of the infusion head 250 through the center of the window of the recognition means 252. In addition, a line 327 can be defined by extending from the center of the infusion head 250 through the center of the inlet piercer 253. In accordance with the present invention, the angle a held by these two lines is greater than 70 degrees. Preferably the angle a is greater than or equal to 85 degrees. Where the outlet perforator 254 is in the center of the infusion head 250 as in the illustrated embodiment the lines 326 and 327 extend from a center of the exit perforator 254 to the window and the entry perforator respectively. In use, the upper part 256 of the support 251 is movable from an open position in which it is oriented vertically or vertically as shown in Figure Ib, to a closed position in which it is oriented substantially horizontally. and in inter-engagement with the fixed lower part 255 and the cartridge assembly 257. The upper part 256 moves from the open to the closed positions by the operation of the clamping lever. To close the upper part 256, a user takes hold of the clamping lever by the U-shaped arm 281 and pulls it downwards. Consequently, the upper part 256 rotates which leads to the edge 311 of the observation window 312 towards contact with the flange 35 of the beverage cartridge 1 in the cartridge assembly 257 and / or the window 312 itself in contact with the closed top part. 11 of the cartridge 1. Continuous rotation of the top 256 rotates to the top 256 and cartridge assembly 257 down to contact the bottom 255. Additional rotation of the U-shaped arm 281 causes the U-shaped arm 281 rotates relative to the upper part 256 and the lower part 255 resulting in the hook members 287 of the upper part 256 bonding the protuberances 259 of the lower part 255 with the cam surface 288 carried over the protuberances 259. During this The last stage of rotation of the cartridge 1 is compressed between the cartridge assembly 257 and the observation window 312. As a result, the observation window 312 moves axially with respect to the Ion to the circular body 310 of the upper part 256 against the thrust of the wave spring or propeller springs. This movement allows for a pick up of tolerances in the beverage cartridge 1 and beverage preparation machine and ensures that the amount of compression force applied to the cartridge is kept within an acceptable range. The gripping or clamping force of the mechanism as moderated by the action of the wave spring or propeller springs ensures a grip pressure on the cartridge. For the arrangement where pressure rest is applied to both the flange 35 and the closed top 11 of the cartridge 1, it has been found that a pressure between 130 and 280 N is required. Preferably the force is approximately 200 N. A force less than about 130 N does not provide an adequate seal, while a force greater than about 280 N leads to plastic failure of the cartridge components 1. For the arrangement where pressure rest is applied only to the closed top 11 of the cartridge 1 it has been found that a pressure between 50 and 280 N is required. It will be noted that a lower pressure level is possible with this arrangement without a detrimental effect on the sealing of the cartridge 1. During the closing of the infusion head, the laminate 5 of the cartridge 1 is tensioned as it is brought into contact with the flange 254a surrounding the exit perforator 254 which causes the laminate 5 to flex out of plane as the distal end of the outer tube 42 of the cylindrical funnel moves upwards by 0.5 mm relative to the flange 35. This movement also ensures that the vast majority of the compression force applied to the cartridge acts through the central region of the cartridge 1 through the inner load carrying member 3. In the closed position, the cartridge 1 can thus be clamped around the flange 35 by means of the edge 311 of the observation window 312 and is always held firmly between the closed upper part 11 of the cartridge and the outer tube 42 of the member interior 3 by contact with observation window 312 and flange 254a. These clamping forces help to prevent failure of the cartridge 1 during pressurization and also ensure that the inner member 3 and the outer member 2 are fully seated in relation to each other and so that all internal passages and openings remain in their intended dimensions even during the internal pressurization. An imaginary reference line can be drawn between the first and second pivot points 283, 285 of the support 251. As can be seen in figure 7, in the open position the third pivot points 286 are located on the line side reference points closest to the fixed bottom part 255. As the upper part 256 reaches the closed position, the third pivot points 286 of the clamping lever pass through the reference line joining the first and second pivot points 283 , 285 on the opposite side of the line, further from the fixed bottom 255. Consequently, the U-shaped arm 281 is suddenly adjusted through a first stable position to a second stable position. The stroke adjustment action is accommodated by cutting the arms over the center 282 and consequently compressing the flexible sleeves 282c. Once the third pivot points 286 are beyond the imaginary reference line then the recovery of the flexible sleeves 282c acts to continue the movement of the third pivot points 286 away from the imaginary reference line. The clamping lever thus has a bi-stable operation in which the lever is stable in the open or closed positions but unstable at the point when the third pivot points 286 rest on the imaginary reference line joining the pivot points first and second 283, 285. Thus, the pressure adjusting action of the clamping lever provides a positive closing mechanism where it leads to a defined closing action where in the final stages of the clamping lever rotation, the adjusting action under pressure of the U-shaped arm 281 and the second arms 284 force the hook members 287 firmly into engagement with the protrusions 259. In addition, the flexible sleeves 282c provide a resistance for reopening the top 256 since a minimum force it is required to compress the sleeves 282c sufficiently to move the third pivot points 286 back to line with the reference line cia joining the first and second pivot points 283, 285. Advantageously, the inter-linking of the hook members 287 and the protuberances 259 prevents the separation of the upper and lower parts different than by rotation of the clamping lever. This is useful to prevent opening of the infusion head 250 during operation when the infusion head 250 is subjected to internal pressurization. The purpose of the recognition means 252 is to allow the machine 201 to recognize the type of beverage cartridge 1 that has been inserted and to adjust one or more operating parameters accordingly. In a typical embodiment, the recognition means 252 comprises an optical barcode reader that reads the printed barcode 320 provided in the laminate 5 of the beverage cartridge 1 as shown in FIG. 10 and discussed above. The optical barcode reader comprises one or more LEDs 321 for illuminating the bar code 320, a focusing lens 322 for acquiring a bar code image, a charge coupled device (CCD) 323 to produce an electrical signal representative of the acquired image and support circuits for the LEDs and CCD. The space at the bottom to accommodate the barcode reader is limited. A mirror or mirrors 324 can be used to reflect the light of the LEDs 321 to a focusing lens that is not located at the bottom 255. Schematic arrangements are shown in Figures 9a and 9b. The lower part 255 comprises an opening 326 which is the same size as the barcode 320 in the beverage cartridge 1. The opening 326 is closed by a window, preferably glass, which can transmit the signals produced by the reader Barcode. In use, the electrical signals produced are decoded by the signal processing software and the results are forwarded to the control processor. The software can recognize whether the reading of the bar code contained errors, although the occurrence of these is minimized as described above for specific location of the bar code 320 in relation to the input. The barcode 320 can be re-examined a number of times before an error message is presented to the consumer. If the machine 201 is unable to read the bar code, the consumer is able to use the beverage cartridge 1 to dispense a beverage using a manual operation mode. Alternatively, an RFID reader is provided to read an RFID located on the cartridge 1. The infusion head 250 may also include a cartridge sensor to detect if a cartridge is present in the holder 251. The infusion head 250 may also include a closure sensor that detects whether the holder 251 is properly closed. Preferably the closing sensor comprises a microswitch that is triggered when the support 251 is closed and secured. Preferably the cartridge sensor and the closure sensor are connected in series such that the output of both sensors must be satisfactory, ie, cartridge present and mechanism closed, before the dispensing cycle can begin. The operation of the machine 201 comprises insertion of a beverage cartridge 1 into the infusion head 250, carrying out a dispensing cycle in which the beverage is dispensed and removal of the cartridge 1 from the machine. The operational behavior of the machine 201 is determined by software embedded in the control processor. To insert the cartridge 1, the holder 251 is opened as described above to expose the cartridge assembly 257. The cartridge 1 is then placed in the cartridge assembly 257 received within the recess 290 such that the handle 24 of the cartridge is located in the cartridge. the irregularity 291. The optical or magnetic barcode 320 or RFID of the cartridge 1 is oriented directly on the opening 326 in the cartridge assembly 257. The support 251 is then closed by operation of the clamping lever as described above. During closure the inlet and outlet perforators 253, 254 perforate the laminate 5 of the cartridge 1 to form the inlet 121 and outlet 122 of the cartridge. As described above the laminate 5 cut by the exit perforator 254 is bent to the ring surrounding the discharge spout 43. When closed, the support 251 grasps the cartridge 1 around the edge 35 between the cartridge assembly 257 and the top 256 and / or between window 311 and top 11 of cartridge 1 to form a fluid-tight seal of sufficient integrity to withstand the pressures developed during the dispensing cycle. To start the operation cycle the consumer operates the start / stop button 241.

The operation cycle comprises the cartridge recognition steps and the discharge cycle. The cartridge recognition is carried out by the optical recognition means 252 as described above before assuming that the outputs of the cartridge sensor and closing sensor are satisfactory. Once the barcode 320 or RFID has been decoded, the operating parameters of the machine 201 are adjusted by the control processor. The discharge cycle is then started automatically. The discharge cycle has four main stages, not all of which are used for all types of beverage: (i) Pre-wetting (ii) Pause (iii) Infusion / Mixing (iv) Purging In the pre-wetting stage , the cartridge 1 is charged with water from the water storage tank 220 by the water pump 230. The water loaded one causes the beverage ingredients 200 in the filtration chamber 130 to get wet. Loading takes place at a "fast" flow rate of 600 ml / min or a "slow" flow rate of 325 ml / min. The slow loading rate is particularly useful for cartridges containing viscous liquid beverage ingredients where the ingredients require some dilution before being able to be pumped at a higher volume flow rate. The volume of water injected into the cartridge 1 is selected to ensure that water or beverage does not drip from the outlet of the cartridge 122 during this step. The pause stage allows the beverage ingredients 200 to be moistened in the injected water during the pre-wetting step for a predetermined period of time. It is known that the stages of both pre-wetting and wetting increase the yield of extractables of the beverage ingredients 200 and improve the final taste of the beverage. The pre-wetting and wetting are particularly used where the beverage ingredients are roasted and ground coffee. In the infusion / mixing water step it is passed through the cartridge 1 to produce the beverage from the beverage ingredients 200. The water temperature is determined by the control processor which instructs the water heater 225 to heat the water. water passing from the water tank 220 to the infusion head 250. Water enters the lower part 255 of the support 251 through the conduit 262 by the inlet valve and the inlet borer 253 within the inlet chamber 126 of the beverage cartridge 1. Infusion and / or mixing and subsequent dispensing of the beverage from the beverage cartridge 1 is as described above with reference to the versions of the beverage cartridge 1. The air purge comprises the blowing of pressurized air through of the beverage preparation machine and the beverage cartridge 1 to ensure that all the beverage is dispense and that the flow path is released ready to dispense another beverage. Air purging does not begin immediately upon cessation of the infusion / mixing step to allow most flow to release the flow path. This prevents an unacceptable peak in the internal pressure at the beginning of the air purge. In normal operation, a user manually stops the machine 201 by operating the start / stop button 241. Once the operation cycle has been completed, the consumer removes the cartridge 1 by opening the holder 251 and manually removing and discarding the cartridge. Alternatively, the machine 201 can be provided with an automatic ejection mechanism to remove the cartridge automatically when opening the holder 251. Insert for Use in the System As described above, the machine 201 of the present invention can also be used with other inserts not necessarily from a cartridge form. An example of another suitable form of insert will now be described. The insert 400 comprises an upper portion 401 and a lower portion 402. The upper portion 401 in the illustrated embodiment generally is in the shape of the outer member 2 described above with reference to the cartridge 1. However, it will be apparent that other figures and Top shapes can be used. The upper part 401 does not contain an inner member but is substantially hollow having a downwardly directed opening 409. Sealing means in the form of a rubberized or elastomeric "0" shaped ring 403 is inserted or attached to one edge of the opening 409 of the upper part 401. The O-shaped ring 403 can be releasably or permanently attached to the upper part 401. Alternatively, the O-shaped ring 403 can be attached to the lower part 402. The lower part 402 is generally in the shape of the assembly 257 described above. In particular, the lower portion 402 comprises a generally flat portion having a circular recess 408 for receiving the upper portion 401 as will be described below. In addition, the lower portion 402 comprises two dependent legs 407 having C-shaped fastening means 406 at their distal ends for attachment to the pivot shaft of the beverage preparation machine 201 in the same manner as described above for attachment of the assembly 257 of the beverage preparation machine 201. The lower portion 402 is provided with an inlet opening 405 near a periphery of the recess 408 and an exit opening 404 at a center of the recess 408. Figure 23 illustrates the view from below of the lower part 402 of the insert 400. As shown, the entry opening 405 can be surrounded by a concave recess. Alternatively, the entry opening 405 may be a simple hole in a flat surface. The lower surface 417 of the lower part 402 is also provided with a recess 415 for receiving a barcode or RFID for reading by the bar code reader or RFID reader of the beverage preparation machine 201 in the same manner as the bar code or RFID reading of the cartridge 1 as described above. Alternatively, the bar code or RFID can be applied directly to the lower surface 417 of the lower part 402 without the need for a recess 415. In particular, in accordance with the present invention, and as with the cartridge 1 described above, the code of bars 320 or RFID and the entry opening 405 of the insert 400 are separated by a minimum angular distance. A line 328 can be defined extending from the center of the insert 400 through the center of the barcode 320 or RFID. In addition, a line 329 may be defined extending from the center of the insert 400 through the center of the entry aperture 405. In accordance with the present invention, the angle a held by these two lines is greater than 70 degrees. Preferably the angle is greater than or equal to 85 degrees. The outlet opening 404 of the lower portion 402 is provided with a downwardly dependent cylindrical extension 410 which, as shown in Fig. 25, is accommodated in the closure of the infusion head by removing the removable inlet and outlet perforators. 253, 254. In use, the upper part 401 and the lower part 402 of the insert 400 are sealed together as shown in Fig. 24 to define an interior infusion volume having an inlet provided by the inlet opening 405 of the part lower 402 and an outlet provided by the outlet opening 404 of the lower portion 402. It will be appreciated that the inflow volume inlet is directed upward and the infusion volume outlet is directed downward. When the upper part 401 and the lower part 402 are sealed together, the "O" shaped ring 403 provides a peripheral seal surrounding the infusion volume to prevent leakage of fluid at the ends of the insert 400. As shown in the figure 25, the insert 400 can be inserted into the beverage preparation machine of the type described above in place of the rotary assembly 257 and the removable inlet and outlet perforators 253, 254. As with assembly 257, the insert 400 can be rotated about of the pivot access of the beverage preparation machine. In use, a quantity of beverage ingredients is loaded into the infusion volume defined by the insert 400 by placing the beverage ingredients between the upper portion 401 and the lower portion 402 and then placing the upper portion 401 and the lower portion 402 together to seal the infusion volume by the "O" ring 403. This loading operation may take place before or after the insert 400 is removably attached to the beverage preparation machine. Preferably, the lower portion 402 of the insert 400 remains attached to the beverage preparation machine 201 and the user loads the amount of beverage ingredients onto the lower portion 402 and then places the upper portion 401 above the lower portion 402 in the recess 408 to define and seal the infusion volume. The operation of the closure mechanism of the beverage preparation machine is exactly the same as described above. In particular, it should be noted that upon closure of the closing mechanism the infusion head applies a downward pressure on the upper portion 401 of the insert 400 to hold the upper portion 401 and the lower portion 402 together to create the seal therebetween. The pressure can be applied to the upper portion 401 by the upper portion of the observation window 311 or by the dependent edge downwardly of the observation window depending on the construction of the upper portion 401. In addition, the applied downward pressure applied by the closure mechanism of the beverage preparation machine seals the lower portion 402 of the insert 400 against the fixed bottom portion 255 of the infusion head by securing a seal between the entry opening 405 of the lower portion 402 and the directed entry upward of the infusion head to ensure that water does not leak during dispensing at this point. Preferably the lower part 255 of the infusion head 250 at the inlet is provided with a rubberized seal 420 that rises slightly from the plane of the lower part 255 to create an improved seal between the upwardly directed inlet and the lower surface 417 of the lower portion 402 of the insert 400. The amount of beverage ingredients loaded within the infusion volume of the insert 400 may be loose or may be contained in a container such as a flexible filter bag made of filter paper. The use of a filter bag has the advantage that the loading of the beverage ingredients is very fast and the removal of the beverage ingredients after dispensing becomes easier. During dispensing the beverage preparation machine injects water upwardly towards the infusion volume from the upwardly directed inlet of the infusion head 250. The water is mixed with the amount of beverage ingredients maintained in the infusion volume and the The resulting beverage is dispensed down through the outlet opening 404 into a receptacle located below the infusion head 250. Other aspects of the operation of the beverage preparation machine are as described above with respect to the operation of the beverage preparation machine. cartridge. In particular, the recognition means of the beverage preparation machine can be used to read a barcode or RFID located on the lower surface of the lower part 402, preferably in the recess 415.

The insert 400 has been particularly described for use with beverage ingredients contained in containers such as filter bags. As indicated, the beverage ingredients may alternatively be in a loose form. In this case, a separate filter may be provided in the insert 400 to prevent discharge of beverage ingredient residue. A preferred arrangement is for a flat filter to be positioned through the upper end of the outlet opening 404 of the lower part 402. It will be appreciated that it would be advantageous if the upper part 401 of the insert 400 is rigid or semi-rigid so that it is capable of transferring the downward pressure created by the closing mechanism to the seal 403 to ensure a good seal between the upper part 401 and the lower part 402 of the insert 400. In the Illustrated embodiment of the insert 400, the upper portion 401 and the lower portion 402 are shown as separate articles. In an alternative configuration, the upper portion 401 and the lower portion 402 can be entangled together at one point but movable from an open position and a closed position to allow loading and unloading of the amount of beverage ingredients. Preferably, this version of insert 400 would be formed as a plastic mold with a plastic hinge. Flow through the insert 400 is generally in an inward direction from the inlet 405 to the outlet 404.

Also, advantageously since the inlet 405 and the outlet 404 are both provided in the lower part 402, the construction of the upper part 401 is simplified. In the above description the insert has been described as defining an infusion volume. It should be understood that the insert and the beverage preparation machine can be used with beverage ingredients that do not require infusion but are instead dissolved, diluted or otherwise mixed with water without departing from the scope of the present invention. An insert of a non-cartridge form has been described for use with the beverage preparation system comprising an upper and a lower part and defining a volume of infusion therebetween. Open top inserts can also be used which are formed to seal against the infusion head 250 of the machine 210 and which are provided with a barcode or RFID on its bottom surface located in accordance with the present invention.

Claims (31)

1. CLAIMS 1. An insert for use in a beverage preparation machine of a type comprising an infusion head comprising an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the infusion head and a downwardly directed outlet for flow outwardly of the infusion head. beverage produced by the machine, the insert comprising, or being adapted to contain in use, a quantity of beverage ingredients in an infusion volume, a lower surface of the insert comprising an inlet and an outlet arranged to respectively communicate with the entry and the exit of the infusion head of the beverage preparation machine when the insert is inserted inside the machine such that, in use, water from the infusion head inlet passes up through the insert towards the volume of the infusion head. infusion and r such that the beverage produced from the water and the amount of beverage ingredients pass down through the outlet of the insert for flow out of the infusion head outlet, characterized in that the lower surface of the insert further comprises an RFID or bar code which, in use, is readable by an RFID reader or barcode of the machine. preparation of beverages to control the operation of the beverage preparation machine, where the barcode or RFID is located on the lower surface of the insert such that a line joining the outlet of the insert with a center of the barcode or RFID and a Line joining the exit of the insert with the entrance of the insert is separated by a minimum angular separation of more than 70 degrees. An insert according to claim 1, wherein the line joining the insert outlet with the center of the bar code or RFID and the line joining the insert outlet with the entry of the insert supports an angle of more than or equal to 85 degrees. An insert according to any preceding claim, wherein the outlet is located at a center or near a center of the lower surface of the insert. 4. An insert according to any preceding claim, wherein the bar code or RFID is located at or near a periphery of the lower surface. 5. An insert according to any preceding claim, wherein the insert is disc-shaped. 6. An insert according to any preceding claim, wherein the insert is a cartridge. 7. An insert according to claim 6, wherein the cartridge is rigid or semi-rigid. 8. An insert according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the bottom surface is a laminate. An insert according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the inlet and outlet of the cartridge are a portion of the lower surface which are opened for transport, in use, by piercing the lower surface. 10. An insert according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the insert defines a receptacle for receiving loose beverage ingredients. An insert according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the insert defines a receptacle for receiving a container of beverage ingredients, wherein the container comprises filtering means. 12. An insert according to any of claims 11, wherein the container is formed at least in part from filter paper or filter membrane. 13. An insert according to claim 12, wherein the container is a filter bag. 14. An insert according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the entry and exit of the insert open. 15. An insert according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the entry and exit of the insert are closed prior to use by means of a frangible membrane. 16. An insert according to claim 15, wherein the frangible membrane comprises a tear portion. 17. An insert according to any of claims 10 to 16, which is capable of re-use. 18. An insert according to any preceding claim, wherein the entry of the insert, the exit of the insert and the barcode or RFID are in the same plane. 19. An insert according to any preceding claim, wherein the entry of the insert, the exit of the insert and the barcode or RFID are not in the same plane. An insert according to any preceding claim, wherein the insert further comprises means for preventing rotation of the insert in the infusion head after insertion of the insert and closure of the infusion head. 21. An insert according to claim 20, wherein the means for preventing rotation comprises an externally directed handle or tongue portion. 22. An insert according to claim 21, wherein the externally directed handle or tongue portion is located substantially diametrically opposite the insert entry. 23. A beverage preparation system comprising a beverage preparation machine and an insert for use in said machine, said insert being in accordance with any preceding claim. A beverage preparation system according to claim 23, wherein the beverage preparation machine comprises an infusion head comprising an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the infusion head, a downstream outlet for flow out of the beverage produced by the machine and a barcode or RFID reader that has a window in the infusion head through which signals can be transmitted, where a line joining the output of the machine to a center of the window and a line that joins the exit of the machine with the entrance of the machine hold an angle of more than 70 degrees. 25. A beverage preparation system according to claim 24, wherein the line joining the output of the machine to the center of the window and the line joining the output of the machine to the entrance of the machine hold an angle of more than or equal to 85 degrees. 26. A beverage preparation system according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the outlet of the beverage preparation machine is located at or near a center of the infusion head. 27. A beverage preparation system according to any of claims 24 to 26, wherein the window of the bar code reader or RFID reader is located at or near a periphery of the infusion head. A beverage preparation system according to any of claims 24 to 27, wherein the infusion head comprises an assembly for receiving the insert such as to prevent relative rotation of the insert and the infusion head once the infusion head closes. 29. A beverage preparation system according to claim 28, wherein the assembly comprises a recess or opening for receiving a handle or portion of the tongue directed externally of the insert. 30. A beverage preparation system according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the assembly comprises an opening through which the infusion head inlet, the infusion head outlet and the code reader window Bar or RFID reader are accessible. A beverage preparation system according to any of claims 24 to 27, wherein the infusion head comprises a cavity for receiving the insert where one of the insert and the cavity comprises a key and the other of the insert and the cavity comprise a recess, where inter-linking of the key and the recess prevent relative rotation of the insert and the infusion head once the infusion head is closed. Summary An insert for use in a beverage preparation machine of a type comprising an infusion head comprising an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the infusion head and a downwardly directed outlet for outward flow of beverage produced by the infusion head. machine. The insert comprises, or is adapted to contain in use, a quantity of beverage ingredients in an infusion volume. A smaller surface of the insert comprises an inlet and an outlet arranged to communicate respectively with the inlet and outlet of the infusion head of the beverage preparation machine when the insert is inserted into the machine such that, in use, water from the entrance of the insert to the infusion volume and such that the beverage produced by the water and the amount of beverage ingredients pass down through the outlet of the insert to flow out of the exit of the infusion head. The lower surface of the insert further comprises an RFID or bar code which, in use, is readable by an RFID reader or barcode of the beverage preparation machine to control the operation of the beverage preparation machine, where the barcode or RFID is located on the lower surface of the insert such that a line joining the insert outlet with a center of the bar code or RFID or RFID and a line joining the insert exit with the insert entry are separated by a minimum angular separation of more than 70 degrees.