Capsule-based system for preparing and dispensing a beverage

Abstract

The present invention relates to dispensing of a substance from a container by means of a dispensing apparatus. Specifically, the exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to (1) a container and (2) the automated method for opening such container and (3) the automated method of dispensing of the contents from such container into a customer receptacle or glass.

1 . A method of making a beverage from a beverage capsule using a machine comprising:
 accepting a beverage capsule into the machine, the beverage capsule having a capsule body, rim and lid, and containing a beverage mix;   the machine reading a barcode or numerical code on the capsule or lid with an optical reader and identifying the beverage mix in the capsule;   the machine cracking said capsule open by tearing the capsule body along a crease by rotating the capsule body away from the rim;   the machine determining a correct quantity of mixing liquid based on identification of the beverage mix on said code;   forcing the beverage mix out of the capsule and into a dispensing orifice with the mixing liquid stream.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said code is a bar code. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mixing liquid stream is at ambient temperature being neither chilled nor heated. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mixing liquid stream is water. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the mixing stream is filtered in the machine. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the capsule body is rotated 45 degrees with respect to the rim. 
     
     
         7 . The method of claim I wherein said step of determining is performed by a processor in said machine. 
     
     
         8 . A method of dispensing a beverage with a machine comprising:
 accepting a beverage container into the machine from a user by providing the user with instructions to place the beverage container in the machine, the beverage capsule having a capsule body, capsule rim, solid or liquid beverage mix in the capsule and capsule lid, the capsule lid sealed to the capsule rim;   with a sensor, sensing if the beverage container is present, the machine reading a barcode or numerical code on the capsule lid or capsule body with an optical reader, the barcode or numerical code containing information specifying the beverage mix in the capsule;   determining the liquid beverage mix from the barcode or numerical code;   providing the user with instructions to close the compartment lid over the capsule;   pivoting the capsule rim away from the capsule body cracking the capsule open along a crease in the capsule body;   determining a quantity of mixing liquid to be injected into the capsule from identification of the beverage mix contained in said code;   injecting a flow of mixing liquid into the capsule;   further injecting mixing liquid into the capsule flushing its contents into a dispensing port thus dispensing the beverage into the beverage container.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising: the machine sensing when the beverage container has been removed the machine by the user, and opening a recycle bin, crushing the capsule, and forcing it into the recycle bin. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mixing liquid is water. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the water is chilled.