System for flexible food or beverage packs

Abstract

The invention relates to a spout (10) comprising at least two parts (11, 12) relatively moveable with respect to each other such that at least one of the two parts (11, 12) of the spout comprise means presenting a measurable resistance to being connected to an engaging part of a beverage preparation device and/or to the relative movement of the two parts (11, 12) of the spout, these means further comprising one or a plurality of indents or bumps (40, 50). Further, the invention refers to a pack (100) for preparing a food or beverage product comprising a spout (10) as the one described and a container (30) configured to comprise a product to prepare the said food or beverage product, wherein the one or plurality of indents or bumps (40, 50) configure a code comprising the information on the product inside the container (30) and/or on the processing of the said product. Moreover, the invention relates to a system for preparing a food or beverage product comprising a pack as described comprising a product and a beverage preparation device that will introduce a fluid in the form of a jet inside the volume of the pack (100). The invention also refers to a method for preparing a food or beverage product from such a pack (100) in a system as the one described.

1 . Spout comprising at least two parts relatively moveable with respect to each other such that at least one of the two parts of the spout comprises a member presenting a measurable resistance to being connected to an engaging part of a beverage preparation device and/or to the relative movement of the two parts of the spout, the member further comprising one or a plurality of indents or bumps. 
     
     
         2 . Spout according to  claim 1  wherein the presence or not of an indent or a bump is translated into binary format for configuring a code. 
     
     
         3 . Spout according to  claim 1  wherein the profile of the indents or bumps define a digital value for configuring a code. 
     
     
         4 . Pack for preparing a food or beverage product comprising a spout comprising at least two parts relatively moveable with respect to each other such that at least one of the two parts of the spout comprises a member presenting a measurable resistance to being connected to an engaging part of a beverage preparation device and/or to the relative movement of the two parts of the spout, the member further comprising one or a plurality of indents or bumps and a container configured to comprise a product to prepare the food or beverage product, wherein the one or plurality of indents or bumps configure a code comprising the information on the product inside the container and/or on the processing of the product. 
     
     
         5 . Pack according to  claim 4  wherein the container is configured by at least one flexible film folded in order to shape an enclosed space where the food or beverage product is arranged. 
     
     
         6 . Pack according to  claim 5  wherein the flexible film is configured overwrapping the spout in its entirety except for the part of the spout which is in direct communication with the inner volume of the container. 
     
     
         7 . Pack according to any of  claim 4  configured for allowing the injection of a fluid through the spout and to create a jet inside the volume of the container to prepare the food or beverage product. 
     
     
         8 . System for preparing a food or beverage product comprising a pack comprising at least two parts relatively moveable with respect to each other such that at least one of the two parts of the spout comprises a member presenting a measurable resistance to being connected to an engaging part of a beverage preparation device and/or to the relative movement of the two parts of the spout, the member further comprising one or a plurality of indents or bumps comprising a product and a beverage preparation device that will introduce a fluid in the form of a jet inside the volume of the pack. 
     
     
         9 . System according to  claim 8  wherein the beverage preparation device comprises a control unit configured for measuring along time the resistance of the connection of the beverage preparation device to the spout and the resistance of the relative movement of the two parts of the spout, determining a code, as a function of the bumps or indents, this code providing information on the type of food or beverage product in the pack and on the parameters to process the product in the pack. 
     
     
         10 . System according to  claim 9  wherein the beverage preparation device comprises a control unit configured for measuring along time, during the food or beverage preparation, the current provided by a driving motor driving the connection of the device to the spout of the pack and also driving the movement of the two parts of the spout relative to each other, in order to determine the profile of the bumps or indents. 
     
     
         11 . System according to  claim 10  wherein the control unit is configured to transform the current value of the driving motor into a motor torque or a resistance force value along time, during the food or beverage preparation, in order to determine the profile of the bumps or indents. 
     
     
         12 . System according to  claim 8  wherein the code is an analog format or a digital format. 
     
     
         13 - 15 . (canceled)