Spout assembly for food or beverage containers

Abstract

A spout assembly ( 10 ) for one or a plurality of food or beverage containers, each container comprising at least one ingredient for the preparation of a single or multiple product, the spout assembly ( 10 ) comprising at least one primary fluid inlet ( 11 ) and at least one secondary fluid inlet ( 12 ) through which a fluid can be supplied into one or a plurality of food or beverage containers, the fluid inlets ( 11, 12 ) being either connected to the same single container or each one of the fluid inlets ( 11, 12 ) being connected to one of the plurality of containers; at least one dispensing outlet ( 13 ) through which the single or multiple product is dispensed; the spout assembly ( 10 ) being configured in such a way that the fluid can be supplied into a single container or into a function of the single or multiple product to be dispensed.

1 . A spout assembly for one or a plurality of food or beverage containers, each container comprising at least one ingredient for the preparation of a single or multiple product, the spout assembly comprising:
 at least one primary fluid inlet and at least one secondary fluid inlet through which a fluid can be supplied into one or a plurality of food or beverage containers, the fluid inlets being either connected to the same single container or each one of the fluid inlets being connected to one of the plurality of containers;   at least one dispensing outlet through which the single or multiple product is dispensed; and   the spout assembly being configured in such a way that the fluid can be supplied into a single container or into a plurality of containers sequentially, as a function of the single or multiple product to be dispensed.   
     
     
         2 . A spout assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the spout assembly and/or the single or plurality of food or beverage containers comprise an identification member having the information of the sequential fluid supply into the single or plurality of containers which is to be followed, as a function of the single or multiple product to be obtained. 
     
     
         3 . A spout assembly according to  claim 1 , such that the spout assembly is configured under discrete rotational symmetry of the second order with respect to a longitudinal central axis. 
     
     
         4 . A spout assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary fluid inlet and the secondary fluid inlet are piercable by an injector which can inject high pressure fluid inside the fluid inlets, the fluid inlets being configured for converting the fluid injected into a high velocity jet into the single or plurality of containers. 
     
     
         5 . A spout assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the fluid inlets convert the fluid injected into a jet having a velocity of at least 20 m/s. 
     
     
         6 . A spout assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the fluid inlets are configured for providing an orientable high velocity jet into the single or plurality of containers. 
     
     
         7 . A spout assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the fluid inlets communicating with the inside volume of the single or plurality of containers is between 0.3 and 1 mm. 
     
     
         8 . A spout assembly according to  claim 1 , made of two substantially identical composing parts attached together, wherein each composing part comprises at least one fluid inlet communicated to the inside volume of a single or a plurality of containers, through which fluid can be injected into a single or plurality of containers, and at least one dispensing outlet through which product can be dispensed. 
     
     
         9 . A spout assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein each one of the composing parts is attached to one food or beverage container, such that each one of the composing parts is communicated to the inside volume of one of these containers through one injection hole. 
     
     
         10 . A spout assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein each of the composing parts comprises at least two fluid inlets configured as through holes, one of the fluid inlets being communicated to at least an injection hole through which a high velocity jet can be introduced into a food or beverage container, the injection hole being arranged at a certain angle with respect to the fluid inlet. 
     
     
         11 . A spout assembly according to  claim 1 , made of one composing part attached to one food or beverage container. 
     
     
         12 . A spout assembly according to  claim 11  comprising at least one primary fluid inlet and at least one secondary fluid inlet, communicated to the container through a primary injection hole and a secondary injection hole, respectively, the spout assembly also comprising one dispensing outlet through which the product is dispensed. 
     
     
         13 . A spout assembly according to  claim 11  comprising at least two frontal fluid inlets, configured as through holes, one of them being communicated to at least a primary injection hole, also comprising at least two rear fluid inlets, configured as through holes communicated to the frontal inlets, one of them being communicated to at least a secondary injection hole, such that a high velocity jet can be introduced into a food or beverage container through the primary and/or secondary injection holes, the injection holes being arranged at a certain angle with respect to the frontal and rear fluid inlets, preferably at about 90°. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A spout assembly according to  claim 1  made of a certain number of composing parts, the number of composing parts corresponding to the number of food or beverage containers. 
     
     
         16 . A pack comprising a spout assembly for one or a plurality of food or beverage containers, each container comprising at least one ingredient for the preparation of a single or multiple product, the spout assembly comprising: at least one primary fluid inlet and at least one secondary fluid inlet through which a fluid can be supplied into one or a plurality of food or beverage containers, the fluid inlets being either connected to the same single container or each one of the fluid inlets being connected to one of the plurality of containers; at least one dispensing outlet through which the single or multiple product is dispensed; and the spout assembly being configured in such a way that the fluid can be supplied into a single container or into a plurality of containers sequentially, as a function of the single or multiple product to be dispensed. 
     
     
         17 . A pack according to  claim 16  wherein each food or beverage container comprises two flexible water impermeable sheets joined to one another to define an inner volume where at least one ingredient for the preparation of a single or multiple product is stored, the spout assembly being arranged in such a way that it brings together the or the plurality of food or beverage containers, in order to provide a sequential extraction of these containers. 
     
     
         18 . A pack according to  claim 16 , wherein the food or beverage containers present an essentially plane shape, the spout assembly being arranged on one of the sides of the pack. 
     
     
         19 . A pack according to  claim 16 , wherein the food or beverage containers are arranged essentially vertically during the production and dispensing of the single or multiple product, the spout assembly being arranged in such a way that the fluid coming through the fluid inlets is supplied into the containers in an upward direction. 
     
     
         20 . A pack according to  claim 16 , wherein the food or beverage containers comprise a soluble food or a beverage ingredient. 
     
     
         21 . A pack according to  claim 16 , wherein the food or beverage containers comprise at least one sloped area arranged in the vicinity of the spout assembly and converging towards the spout assembly. 
     
     
         22 . A machine for preparing single or multiple food or beverage products from a pack comprising a spout assembly for one or a plurality of food or beverage containers, each container comprising at least one ingredient for the preparation of a single or multiple product, the spout assembly comprising: at least one primary fluid inlet and at least one secondary fluid inlet through which a fluid can be supplied into one or a plurality of food or beverage containers, the fluid inlets being either connected to the same single container or each one of the fluid inlets being connected to one of the plurality of containers; at least one dispensing outlet through which the single or multiple product is dispensed; and the spout assembly being configured in such a way that the fluid can be supplied into a single container or into a plurality of containers sequentially, as a function of the single or multiple product to be dispensed, the machine comprising a receiving member adapted to accommodate the pack and injector designed for engaging with the spout assembly and for injecting high pressure fluid inside the fluid inlets of the spout assembly.