WO2017108509A1

WO2017108509A1 - Beverage powder container

Info

Publication number: WO2017108509A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/080873
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yann Brunner; Olivier GIRAULT
Original assignee: Nestec S.A.
Priority date: 2015-12-22
Filing date: 2016-12-14
Publication date: 2017-06-29

Abstract

The invention concerns a container (1) for storing, dosing and dispensing a food or beverage powder comprising : -a tank (11), -at least one horizontal outlet duct (13a, 13b) at the bottom of the tank, -two rotatable endless screws (12a, 12b) positioned at the bottom of the tank (113), wherein the two rotatable endless screws (12a, 12b) are configured for displacing a dose of powder in direction of the outlet duct when they rotate in the same rotational direction D simultaneously.

Description

BEVERAGE POWDER CONTAINER

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to beverage dispensers preparing beverages from a soluble powder stored in a container and from which a dose of powder is dispensed to prepare a beverage.

Background of the invention

Many beverages like espresso and other coffee beverages, milk beverages, chocolate beverages are prepared by mixing a beverage soluble powder with a diluent. Mixing devices are known for speedier preparation of such beverages by mixing the beverage soluble powder with the diluent, such as water. These devices can comprise a dissolution chamber in which the soluble component and the diluent are fed. The diluent can be introduced into the dissolution chamber in order to create a whirlpool to efficiently dissolve the soluble powder in the hot water or the hot diluent can be introduced under the form of jets that provides mixing, dissolving and frothing. The mixture can also eventually be frothed by a whipper in the dissolution chamber to reconstitute the beverage and produce foam. The beverage is then usually evacuated into a receptacle for drinking. These devices can also mix the beverage soluble powder with the diluent in a drinking cup, usually a single use cup. In that case the soluble food component is introduced in the cup and the diluent is introduced under the form of jets that provides mixing, dissolving and/or frothing.

Whatever the way the powder and the diluent are mixed together the beverage soluble powder is usually stored in a container placed above the dissolution chamber opened mouth and a dosing device like a screw or an auger doses and delivers the beverage soluble powder which falls in the dissolution chamber or the drinking cup. Diluent is simultaneously fed to the dissolution chamber so that dissolution occurs.

Usually the preparation of each beverage is made according to a specific recipe in which critical parameters are the quantity of the soluble ingredient and the quantity of diluent (usually water). The quantities of soluble ingredient and of diluent define the taste and the quality of the beverage with the expected taste.

Once these quantities are defined, the beverage machine used for preparing the beverage must constantly and accurately provide these quantities. In particular the dosing of the powder must be accurate so that the exact recipe is reproduced and the dosing must be constantly the same so that when a consumer is used to order a specific beverage, he/she can be provided with the same constant taste. If the dose-to-dose variation is too large, e.g., on the order of 5 % of powder discrepancy or more, it affects the in-cup quality of the product in a way that becomes perceptible for the consumer.

Consequently a constant and accurate dosing of soluble powder ingredient is important.

Simultaneously to the above requirement, it is also important that the operation of dosing is implemented rapidly in order to deliver the beverage in the shortest time as possible once the consumer has launched the preparation. Yet the step of dosing the soluble ingredient can take up to 10 seconds. This dosing time could be reduced by increasing the speed of rotation, but it may affect the consistency and accuracy of the dosing.

An object of the invention is to address at least some of the drawbacks of the prior art storing and dosing powder containers or at least to provide an alternative thereto. Summary of the invention

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a container for storing and dosing a food or beverage powder comprising :

- a tank ,

- at least one horizontal outlet duct at the bottom of the tank,

- two rotatable endless screws positioned at the bottom of the tank,

wherein the two rotatable endless screws are configured for displacing a dose of powder in direction of the at least one outlet duct when said screws rotate in the same rotational direction D1 simultaneously. Generally the tank of the container presents two lateral walls and two end walls, usually one rear end wall and one front end wall. The walls extend between the bottom and the top of the tank and are essentially vertical. By essentially vertical it is meant that some parts of the walls can be inclined, for example for increasing the storing volume of the tank above the screw or for creating a funnel that pushed powder to the screw.

The top of the tank is preferably closed by a removable lid in order to be able to refill the tank.

The at least one horizontal outlet duct is usually positioned at the bottom of the front end wall. Usually the end of each endless screw extends through the at least one horizontal outlet duct.

Preferably the container comprises two horizontal outlet ducts and the end of each endless screw extends through one dedicated horizontal outlet duct. Preferably the ends of the endless screws do not overlap the end(s) of the at least one outlet duct.

The length of the horizontal outlet duct at the bottom of the tank can be quite short. In a particular embodiment the length can be limited to the thickness of the wall of the container.

The container comprises two endless screws. The bottom of the tank is preferably shaped so that it follows the outlines of the two endless screws. It can present a double U shape and the two endless screws are lodged in this double U-shaped bottom. Preferably the two endless screws are positioned next to the other in the same horizontal plane. The longitudinal axis of the endless screws are parallel one to the other. Preferably the two endless screws are positioned one next to the other so that their edges do not overlap. Each of the rotatable endless screws are configured for displacing a dose of powder in direction of the outlet duct when said both screws rotate in the rotational direction D1. This configuration is due to the design of the screwing path of each screw.

Preferably the two endless screws present the same design of screwing path.

Preferably the two endless screws are identical. According to that preferred embodiment, the screws are generally attached to the container so that each screw is in a position in the container that corresponds to a rotation by 180° of the position of the other screw in the container.

The container is configured for rotating the two endless screws in the same rotational direction D1 simultaneously. Preferably the container comprises a connector for connecting the two endless screws to the same motor. The connector applies the same direction of rotation D1 to the two screws.

Preferably the container comprises two driving means each of said driving means cooperating with the rear end of one dedicated endless screw.

Preferably the container comprises a connector for connecting the two driving means to the same motor.

According to the preferred embodiment, the rear end of each endless screw comprises tooth gear and the two tooth gears are interconnected through an intermediate tooth gear. Accordingly when the intermediate tooth gear is driven, the two endless screws rotate in the same rotary direction opposed to the direction of rotation of the intermediate tooth gear.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a beverage dispenser comprising : - at least one container such as described above,

- at least one beverage preparation unit operatively linked to the container for preparing a beverage from the stored food or beverage powder,

- at least one motor for actuating the rotatable endless screws.

The beverage preparation unit can be any device for contacting the food or beverage powder with a diluent, preferably water. The device for contacting the food ingredient with the diluent can be comprised in the list of : a jet(s) head, a mixing bowl, a whipper bowl.

The jet(s) head can be a nozzle delivering at least one jet of diluent. Preferably it delivers at least two jets of diluent and even more preferably the jets head is able to rotate during the delivery of the diluent through the nozzle.

The mixing bowl can be a chamber configured to receive the diluent and the food or beverage powder. It can be designed so as to make an efficient contact of the powder and the diluent, and improve the dissolution of the powder.

The whipper bowl usually comprises a first part which is a mixing chamber configured to receive the diluent and the powder and a second part comprising a whipper configured to make the mixture of the diluent and the powder foam.

In the present invention the food or beverage powder designates powders, pellets or granules of food or beverage ingredients. According to the preferred mode, the beverage ingredients are soluble ingredients like soluble coffee, tea, chocolate, milk, sugar, flavoured powders, soup, ..

In the present application the terms "internal", "external", "rear", "front", "bottom" and "lateral" are used to describe the relational positioning of features of the invention. These terms should be understood to refer to the container in its normal orientation when positioned in a beverage preparation dispenser for the production of a beverage as shown in Figures 1 and 6. In the present invention the terms "endless screw" cover a usual endless screw and also a helicoidal spring attached to a solid insert, said solid insert being placed within the helicoidal spring.

The above aspects of the invention may be combined in any suitable combination. Moreover, various features herein may be combined with one or more of the above aspects to provide combinations other than those specifically illustrated and described. Further objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the claims, from the detailed description, and annexed drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood in relation to the following figures :

- Figure 1 is a view of a container according to the invention,

- Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container 1 as taken along plane AA of Figure 1 ,

- Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tank 1 1 of the container 1 of Figure 1 as taken along plane BB of Figure 1 ,

- Figure 4 corresponds to the view of Figure 2 in which only the tank 1 1 is represented,

- Figure 5 is a magnified view of the back end of the container of Figure 2,

- Figure 6 is a view of a beverage dispenser according to the state of the art.

Detailed description of the drawings

Figure 1 illustrates a beverage powder container 1 according to the invention. The container comprises a tank 1 1 to store a powder. The tank 1 1 is closed at its top by a removable lid 1 10 in order to be able to refill the tank with powder. The container usually presents an essentially parallepipedal shape presenting two vertical lateral walls 1 1 1 and two vertical end walls, one front wall 1 12a and one rear wall 1 12b.

The container comprises a powder outlet 13.

The container comprises a connector 16 for connection to the shaft of a motor.

With further reference to Figure 2, the container comprises two horizontal outlet ducts 13a, 13b at the bottom 1 13 of the tank for evacuating the powder from the tank. The outlet ducts 13a, 13b are positioned at the bottom of a terminal wall.

The container comprises two endless screws 12a, 12b at the bottom 1 13 of the tank. The front end 121 a, 121 b of each endless screw extends through one dedicated outlet duct 13a, 13b respectively. Accordingly each screw doses powder through one outlet duct only, as further illustrated in Figure 4.

As illustrated, the two screws are identical : they present the same design and are positioned in the tank so that they displace powder to the outlet ducts 13a, 13b when they are rotated in the same rotational direction D1 .

Preferably each endless screw may be arranged to comprise a volume of powder transport that is greater in the front portion of the endless screw than in the rear portion of the screw. For that, the cylindrical core 122 of the endless screw may present a decreasing section from the rear side to the front side of the tank thus reducing the capacity of the screw to move the powder in the rear region as opposed to the front region of the container and thereby reducing cliffing at the front region.

Figure 3 illustrates the preferred shape of the bottom 1 13 of the tank. This is the shape of a double U that follows the outlines of the screws. The lateral walls 1 1 1 a, 1 1 1 b attached to the double U are preferably vertical. As further illustrated in Figure 5, at their rear end 122a, 122b, the screws comprises driving means 14a, 14b, respectively configured for being indirectly connected to the drive shaft of a motor and being rotated in the same direction of rotation D1. The driving means 14a, 14b comprise tooth gears.

The container comprises a connector 15 presenting :

- at one end 151 tooth gears for engaging simultaneously the tooth gears of both driving means 14a, 14b, and

- at the other end an empty cylinder designed for cooperating with the drive shaft of a motor. The connector 15 enables the rotation of both endless screws 12a, 12b - simultaneously in the same rotational direction. It means that, view from the front ends, 121 a, 121 b, both screws rotate clockwise according to direction D1 (direction D1 is illustrated in Figure 2)

Figure 6 illustrates a beverage dispenser according to the state of the art. Behind the front door 22, the dispenser comprising beverage powder containers 1 placed above beverage preparation units 21 . The outlets of the containers are oriented so as to deliver the beverage powder in the beverage preparation 3 for contacting a dose of beverage powder with a diluent. The diluent is supplied by a fluid system comprising usually a boiler, a pump and a heater placed in the back part of the dispenser (not illustrated). The beverage preparation unit 21 delivers the beverage in a cup placed in a dispensing area 24.

The containers 1 cooperate with motor shafts 23 at their rear end in order to actuate the dosing screw inside the containers.

The containers of the present invention can be positioned in such a dispenser in place of existing containers.

Examples

The container illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 was filled with a beverage powder ingredient. Then the whole container was emptied by dosing successively portions of the ingredient ; at each dosing the same number of rotations was applied to the screws. Each dosed portion was weighed in order to evaluate the consistency of the successive dosing operations. In another run of tests, similar dosing operations were realised with a similar container comprising the same two endless screws, but in which these both screws dose the powder by rotation in opposed directions.

The results of the tests are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1

Cappuccino powder is an instant coffee mix comprising at least instant coffee powder, milk powder and powdered sugar. Such a powder comprises more than 20 % in weight fat and more than 20 % in weight powdered sugar.

Nescau powder is a chocolate powder.

The beverage dispenser of the present invention presents the advantage of dosing beverage powders more consistently and in a shorter time length compared to a container of the state of the art comprising two screws rotating simultaneously in opposed rotational directions that is one screw rotating according to the rotary direction D1 (e.g. clockwise) and the other screw rotating according to the rotary direction opposed to D1 (e.g. anticlockwise). In particular better results were obtained for powders comprising fats and/or powdered sugar, or powders that are not well agglomerated.

The above tests were applied for dosing instant coffee too : no important difference was noticed in terms of consistency between the two types of containers. Both containers of the present invention and of the state of the art performed well with about 70 to 80 % of doses within 5 % of the target depending on the nature of the instant coffee. Yet the dosing time was improved with the container of the present invention compared to the container of the state of the art.

As a result the container of the present invention enables a consistent dosing of beverage powders, whatever the nature of the powder.

The advantage of the container of the present invention is that it improves the dosing of beverage powders that are usually difficult to dose consistently like powders comprising fats or powders hat are not uniformly agglomerated, while keeping a consistent dosing of other beverage powders like instant coffee.

Accordingly the same container can be used for the storage, dosing and dispensing of all kinds of beverage powders.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the above illustrated embodiments, it will be appreciated that the invention as claimed is not limited in any way by these illustrated embodiments.

Variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, where known equivalents exist to specific features, such equivalents are incorporated as if specifically referred in this specification.

As used in this specification, the words "comprises", "comprising", and similar words, are not to be interpreted in an exclusive or exhaustive sense. In other words, they are intended to mean "including, but not limited to".

List of references in the drawings :

container 1

tank 1 1

lid 1 10

lateral wall 1 1 1

front wall 1 12a

rear wall 1 12b

bottom 1 13

endless screw 12a, 12b

front end 121 a, 121 b

rear end 122a, 122b

powder outlet 13

duct 13a, 13b

external end 131 a, 131 b driving means 14a, 14b connector 15

first end 151 second end 152 intermediate gear 16 beverage dispenser 2

beverage preparation unit 21 front door 22 motor shaft 23 dispensing area 24 direction of rotation of the screws D1

Claims

1 . Container (1 ) for storing, dosing and dispensing a food or beverage powder comprising : - a tank (1 1 ),

- at least one horizontal outlet duct (13a, 13b) at the bottom of the tank,

- two rotatable endless screws (12a, 12b) positioned at the bottom of the tank (1 13), wherein the two rotatable endless screws (12a, 12b) are configured for displacing a dose of powder in direction of the outlet duct when they rotate in the same rotational direction D1 simultaneously.

2. A container according to the precedent claim, wherein the end (121 a, 121 b) of each endless screw extends through the at least one horizontal outlet duct

3. A container according to the Claim 1 or 2, wherein said container comprises two horizontal outlet ducts (13a, 13b) and the end (121 a, 121 b) of each endless screw extends through one dedicated horizontal outlet duct.

4. A container according to any one of the precedent claims, wherein the bottom (1 13) of the tank presents a double U shape and the two endless screws (12a, 12b) are lodged in this double U-shaped bottom.

5. A container according to any one of the precedent claims, wherein the two endless screws (12a, 12b) are identical.

6. A container according to the precedent claim, wherein the screws are attached to the container so that each screw is in one position in the container, said position corresponding to a rotation by 180° of the position of the other screw in the container.

7. A container according to any one of the precedent claims, wherein said container comprises a connector (15) for connecting the two endless screws (12) to the same motor.

8. A container according to any one of the precedent claims, wherein said container comprises :

- two driving means (14a, 14b) each of said driving means cooperating with the rear end (122a, 122b) of one dedicated endless screw, and

- a connector (15) for connecting the two driving means (14a, 14b) to the same motor.

9. Beverage dispenser (2) comprising :

- at least one container (1 ) according to any one of Claims 1 to 8,

- at least one beverage preparation unit (21 ) operatively linked to the container for preparing a beverage from the stored food or beverage powder,

- at least one motor for actuating the rotatable endless screws.