Coffee bean packaging cartridge and coffee beverage system including the same

Abstract

A coffee beverage system is described including a first coffee bean packaging cartridge, a second coffee bean cartridge and a coffee brewing apparatus. After a first predetermined number of servings of coffee, transportation component of the first cartridge for transporting coffee beans of the first cartridge to a metering chamber of the system are disabled. The transportation component of the second coffee bean cartridge are not disabled or only disabled after a second predetermined number of servings of coffee which is larger than the first predetermined number of servings of coffee.

1 .- 61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . A first coffee bean packaging cartridge comprising:
 a container comprising an interior volume and at least one exit opening defining a coffee bean outlet, wherein the interior volume is configured to hold coffee beans for supplying multiple servings of coffee beans;   a transportation device adapted for enabling transportation of the coffee beans from the interior volume towards the at least one exit opening;   wherein the transportation device comprises a part which is movable relative to a main body of the first cartridge for transporting the coffee beans towards the at least on exit opening upon driving of said transportation device;   wherein the transportation device is releasably connectable with a vertically extending drive shaft;   wherein upon rotation of the drive shaft the transportation device is driven and thereby transports the coffee beans towards the at least one exit opening of the first cartridge;   wherein after a first predetermined number of revolutions of the drive shaft, the transportation device is automatically disabled from transporting the coffee beans towards the exit opening; and preferably   wherein the container is configured to not be refillable with additional coffee beans.   
     
     
         63 . (canceled) 
     
     
         64 . The first cartridge according to  claim 62 , wherein after a first predetermined number of revolutions of the drive shaft in a direction other than, or other than used for driving the transportation device, the transportation device is automatically disabled for transporting the coffee beans towards the exit opening. 
     
     
         65 . The first cartridge according to  claim 62 , wherein after a first predetermined number of revolutions of the drive shaft for driving the transportation device, the first cartridge is automatically disabled for transporting the coffee beans towards the exit opening. 
     
     
         66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . The first cartridge according to  claim 62 , wherein the automatic disabling of the transportation device for transporting the coffee beans towards the exit opening is by a disengagement of a mechanical connection, so that the rotation of the drive shaft does not result in driving the transmission device or a part of the transmission device. 
     
     
         68 . The first cartridge according to  claim 62 , wherein the movable part of the transportation device of the first cartridge includes a disk element, which rotates upon rotation of the drive shaft. 
     
     
         69 . The first cartridge according to  claim 68 , wherein the disk element is an impellor including a bottom and a plurality of vanes. 
     
     
         70 . The first cartridge according to  claim 68 , wherein the disk element includes a recess wherein the disk element rotates upon rotation of the drive shaft due to an engagement of a drive device with the recess. 
     
     
         71 . The first cartridge according to  claim 70 , wherein after a first predetermined number of revolutions of the drive shaft in a direction other than, or other than used for driving the transportation device, the transportation device is automatically disabled for transporting the coffee beans towards the exit opening, wherein the disk element is caused to stay in its position upon rotation of the drive shaft in the direction other than, or other than used for driving the transportations device, preferably by a ratchet connection between the disk element and an upper surface of a coffee brewing apparatus. 
     
     
         72 . (canceled) 
     
     
         73 . (canceled) 
     
     
         74 . (canceled) 
     
     
         75 . The first cartridge according to  claim 70 , wherein the drive device comprises the drive shaft and a drive bush, mountable on the drive shaft, and a nut mountable on the drive bush. 
     
     
         76 . (canceled) 
     
     
         77 . (canceled) 
     
     
         78 . The first cartridge according to  claim 70 , wherein the engagement of the drive device and the recess is by one or more protrusions engaging with one or more corresponding slots. 
     
     
         79 . The first cartridge according to  claim 75 ,
 wherein the disk element includes a recess wherein the disk element rotates upon rotation of the drive shaft due to an engagement of drive device with the recess,   wherein the drive device comprises the drive shaft and a drive bush, mountable on the drive shaft,   wherein an element of the drive device that, in use, is displaced in the recess is the nut and a screw thread covering a part of the surface of the drive bush causes displacement of the nut,   wherein revolutions of the drive shaft result in a movement of the nut over the part of the surface of the drive bush covered with screw thread and wherein after the first predetermined number of revolutions of the drive shaft the nut leaves the part of the surface of the drive bush covered with the screw thread and disengages from a wall of the recess.   
     
     
         80 . The first cartridge according to  claim 79 , wherein at least one of one or more slots and one or more protrusions vertically extend over the surface of the wall of the recess corresponding to the surface of the drive bush covered with screw thread, wherein when the nut leaves the part of the surface of the drive bush covered with the screw thread, the one or more protrusions disengage from the corresponding slot or slots. 
     
     
         81 . The first cartridge according to  claim 79 , further comprising one or more vertically extending interruptions of the screw thread and an edge at the interior of the nut shaped for enabling the motion of the nut along the screw thread in one direction and inhibiting the motion of the nut along the screw thread in an opposite direction. 
     
     
         82 . (canceled) 
     
     
         83 . (canceled) 
     
     
         84 . The first cartridge according to  claim 78 , wherein the engagement of the drive device and the recess is by one or more snap fingers with one or more corresponding slots, wherein the snap fingers and the corresponding slots work to cause the disk element to stay in its position upon rotation of the drive shaft in the direction other than, or other than used for driving the transportations device. 
     
     
         85 . (canceled) 
     
     
         86 . The first cartridge according to  claim 62 , wherein the transportation device comprises a downwardly extending bottom wall of the container for transporting the coffee beans towards the exit opening under the influence of gravity. 
     
     
         87 . (canceled) 
     
     
         88 . A method for preparing a beverage with a coffee beverage system, the method comprising the following steps:
 rotating a vertically extending drive shaft with the motor means thereby to drive and move a transportation device of a first cartridge for transporting the coffee beans towards the exit opening of the first cartridge;   grinding coffee beans which have entered a coffee apparatus via the entrance opening thereof;   brewing coffee on the basis of grinded coffee; and   after a first predetermined number of revolutions of the drive shaft automatically disabling the transportation device of the first cartridge for transporting the coffee beans towards the exit opening.   
     
     
         89 . (canceled) 
     
     
         90 . The method according to  claim 88 ,
 wherein the system is further provided with a metering chamber for receiving coffee beans which are transported with the aid of the transportation device into the metering chamber, and   wherein the transportation device are driven for filling the metering chamber in that the drive shaft is rotated in a direction other than, or other than used for driving the transportations device of the first cartridge, after the filling of the metering chamber.   
     
     
         91 . The method according to  claim 90 , wherein the transportation device is driven for filling the metering chamber with coffee beans and that in a subsequent step which follows after the completion of the step of filling the metering chamber with coffee beans, the grinding device is activated for emptying the metering chamber and for grinding coffee beans which were collected in the metering chamber during the filling step. 
     
     
         92 . The method according to  claim 91 , wherein for at least one of during the filling step the transportation device is driven longer than is required for filling the metering chamber with coffee beans and during the grinding step the grinding device is activated longer than is required for emptying or at least substantially completely emptying the metering chamber and for grinding all the coffee beans which were collected in the metering chamber during the filling step. 
     
     
         93 . (canceled) 
     
     
         94 . A coffee beverage system, comprising:
 a first coffee bean packaging cartridge structured for holding and supplying multiple servings of coffee beans, the first coffee bean packaging cartridge including:
 a container comprising an interior volume and an exit opening defining a coffee bean outlet, the interior volume holding the coffee beans; and 
 a transportation device for transporting the coffee beans from the interior volume towards the exit opening of the first cartridge; 
   a coffee brewing apparatus including:
 an entrance opening for receiving the coffee beans which are transported by the transportation device; 
 a grinder for grinding the coffee beans which have entered the coffee brewing apparatus via the entrance opening; 
 a vertically extending drive shaft for driving the transportation device of the first cartridge, wherein the drive shaft is releasably connected with the transportation device; and 
 a brewing device for brewing coffee based on the grinded coffee beans; 
   wherein the first coffee bean packaging cartridge is removably connected to a coffee brewing apparatus; and   wherein after a first predetermined number of revolutions of the drive shaft, the transportation device of the first cartridge is automatically disabled from transporting the coffee beans towards the exit opening.