Title of Invention	BEVERAGE MACHINE FOR PREPARING A HOT BEVERAGE BY BREWING AND EXTRACTING A SUBSTANCE RECEIVED IN A CARTRIDGE
Abstract	The beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a cartridge is provided with a brewing chamber comprising a lower brewing chamber portion and a closure element. The lower portion of the brewing chamber serves for positively receiving of the cartridge. On both the lower brewing chamber portion and the closure element, piercing elements are provided for piercing the cartridge at opposite sides thereof. Upon closing the brewing chamber, the lower portion thereof, together with the cartridge received therein, is axialiy moved relative to the closure member to such an extent that the cover of the cartridge is pierced by means of the one piercing member. The bottom of the cartridge is pierced by the other piercing member only to such an extent that the tip of the piercing member penetrates the bottom of the cartridge, without a beverage outlet channel provided in the other piercing element being connected to the interior of the cartridge.

Title of Invention

BEVERAGE MACHINE FOR PREPARING A HOT BEVERAGE BY BREWING AND EXTRACTING A SUBSTANCE RECEIVED IN A CARTRIDGE

Abstract

The beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a cartridge is provided with a brewing chamber comprising a lower brewing chamber portion and a closure element. The lower portion of the brewing chamber serves for positively receiving of the cartridge. On both the lower brewing chamber portion and the closure element, piercing elements are provided for piercing the cartridge at opposite sides thereof. Upon closing the brewing chamber, the lower portion thereof, together with the cartridge received therein, is axialiy moved relative to the closure member to such an extent that the cover of the cartridge is pierced by means of the one piercing member. The bottom of the cartridge is pierced by the other piercing member only to such an extent that the tip of the piercing member penetrates the bottom of the cartridge, without a beverage outlet channel provided in the other piercing element being connected to the interior of the cartridge.

Full Text	BEVERAGE MACHINE FOR PREPARING A HOT BEVERAGE BY BREWING AND EXTRACTING A SUBSTANCE RECEIVED IN A CARTRIDGE The present invention refers to a beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a cartridge. Further, the invention also refers to a cartridge to be used in a beverage machine, and finally, the invention refers to a method of preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a cartridge. Cartridges of the kind referred to herein serve for receiving a. hermetically sealed substance suitable for preparing a hot beverage. A fundamental advantage of such cartridges consists in the fact that the substance contained therein, for example coffee powder, can be kept fresh during an extended period of time. For extracting coffee powder contained in such a cartridge, for example, semi-automatic espresso coffee makers are used in which the cartridge is inserted into a cartridge holder with the cover of the cartridge downwards. The document EP-A-0,512,470 discloses such a coffee maker in which the cartridge is inserted into a cartridge holder with the cover downwards. The cartridge holder is manually inserted into the coffee maker by means of a bayonet fixture. The coffee maker is provided with a piercing member located in the region of the connecting means for the cartridge holder. The piercing member has radial outlet openings for feeding brewing water into the car- tridge. Upon connecting the cartridge holder to the coffee maker, the piercing member pierces the bottom of the cartridge. The bot- tom of the cartridge holder itself is provided with a plurality of embossments arranged on a grating. These embossments penetrate the cover of the cartridge and break it open as soon as the brewing' water fed into the interior of the cartridge has built up a cer- tain overpressure. During the subsequent brewing operation, the brewing water is fed into the cartridge through the piercing mem- ber, flows under pressure through the coffee powder and is dis- charged through the apertures in the cover. The freshly brewed coffee beverage can flow out through the grating and leave the coffee maker through outlet means located below the cartridge holder. The document DE-C-41,92,762 discloses an apparatus for prepar- ing a liquid product by feeding a fluid and/or steam into a cartridge. The apparatus is provided with a withdrawal member, com- prising a chamber for a cartridge. The cartridge has a bottom por- tion concavely curved towards its interior. At the apparatus, a piercing pin provided with fluid channels is provided, while the bottom of the withdrawal member comprises a plurality of emboss- ments causing a perforation of the bottom of the cartridge as soon as the cartridge is sufficiently deformed under the influence of the pressure of the brewing water. In an alternative embodiment, the bottom of the withdrawal member comprises a single piercing pin, having an integrated liquid discharge channel. By providing the cartridge with a concavely shaped bottom, it is to be realized that the bottom is pierced only when the bottom of the cartridge is deformed to a certain degree and the interior volume of the cartridge has been increased. Thereby, it should be ensured that the brewing water fed into the interior of the cartridge can soak the substance received in the cartridge before the bottom of the cartridge is broken open to have the prepared beverage flow out. The document EP-A-1,295,554 discloses a coffee maker for brewing coffee powder packed into a cartridge. The coffee maker is provided with a pressurized hot water sprinkler and with a dispensing cup movable relative thereto. The dispensing cup is provided with an open hollow space, i.e. a brewing chamber, as well as with a second space, communicating with a perculator spout for dispensing the brewed coffee beverage. Between the hollow space for receiving the cartridge and the second space, a plate is provided whose top side has a plurality of needles. Each of these needles has a conical outer surface as well as several slots, each of the slots communicating via an aperture in the plate with the second space. The hot water sprinkler is provided with a cup- shaped front portion that is axially movable against the force of a number of springs. At the rigid back portion of the hot water sprinkler, a piercing element in the form of a plate having a plurality of needles is provided. The cup-shaped front portion is provided with an end wall, having a number of holes, through which the needles can extend when the cup-shaped front portion is in its operating position, in order to pierce the top of the cartridge. To axially move the dispensing cup relative to the hot water sprinkler, a not further shown drive means is provided. When the dispensing cup is moved towards the hot water sprinkler, the top of the cartridge is pierced by the needles provided on the hot water sprinkler, while the bottom of the cartridge remains intact because the needles on the plate have a length that is approximately equal to, but not greater than the distance between an annular shoulder at the bottom of the hollow space and an annular groove, serving to receive the above mentioned plate. The height of the needles on the plate between the hollow space and the second space, thereby, is chosen such that the needles at the most touch the bottom of the cartridge, but do not weaken it or even pierce it when the brewing chamber is closed. The brewing water having fed into the interior of the cartridge, the bottom thereof is deformed outwards under the influence of the heat and the pressure such that the needles penetrate the bottom of the cartridge and gradually pierce it. The document EP-A-1,101,430 discloses a cartridge for a beverage filter cartridge system. The side wall of this cartridge is provided with several steps for supporting a filter member or a porous membrane, such that a free space remains between the filter element and the membrane, respectively, and the cartridge cover' and cartridge bottom, respectively. This free space is used for inserting an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, respectively, through the side wall into the cartridge. The document WO 00/42891 discloses an automatic brewing system fro brewing substances received in a cartridge. The brewing system is provided with a liquid supply tank and a dosage chamber located therein, the dosage chamber being operatively connected to an air pump for conveying a certain amount of liquid. The system further comprises a cartridge holder, cooperating with a movable cover. Both the cover and the bottom of the cartridge holder are equipped with a hollow piercing member. If the cartridge holder is closed by means of the cover, both the cartridge cover and the cartridge bottom are pierced by means of the respective piercing elements. The piercing element located at the bottom of the cartridge holder is designed such that an outlet for the prepared beverage is cre- ated as soon as the bottom of the cartridge is pierced. It is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a cartridge in which the cartridge is broken open and pierced, respectively, to form a beverage outlet only at a predetermined moment and at a predetermined location. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and ex-' tracting a substance received in a cartridge in which the contamination of the machine by the extract leaving the cartridge in liquid form should be reduced. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a cartridge in which the pressure of the brewing water required to break open an outlet in the cartridge sxis reduced. To meet these and other objects, the present invention provides, according to a first aspect, a beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a cartridge having a cartridge cover and a cartridge bottom portion. The beverage machine comprises a brewing chamber adapted to receive the cartridge with a lower brewing chamber portion and a closure element, a pump for feeding brewing water under pressure into the brewing chamber, and at least one first piercing member adapted to pierce the cartridge cover. Further, the machine comprises, for piercing the cartridge bottom portion, at least one second piercing member comprising at least one piercing tip portion and at least one outlet channel. Thereby, means are provided for axially moving the lower brewing chamber portion relative to the closure element for closing the brewing chamber. The length of the path of the axial movement of the lower brewing chamber portion relative to the closure element is such that the cartridge cover is pierced by the first piercing element, while the second piercing element penetrates or pierces the cartridge bottom at the most to such an extent that the outlet channel of the second piercing element does not communicate with the interior of the cartridge. Due to the fact, upon closing the brewing chamber, that the lower portion of the brewing chamber, together with the cartridge received therein, is axially moved relative to the closure element to such an extent that the tip of the second piercing member penetrates the bottom of the cartridge at the most only to such a degree that the outlet channel does not yet communicate with the interior of the cartridge, it can be ensured that the bottom of the cartridge is fully pierced, upon feeding pressurized brewing water into the cartridge, at a relatively low pressure level of the brewing water and at a predetermined location, whereby, simultaneously, the danger of contamination is substantially reduced, because the piercing of the bottom of the cartridge is performed in a continuous manner. If the bottom of the cartridge, upon closing the brewing chamber, is pierced by the piercing member located on the lower portion of the brewing chamber only to such an extent that the outlet channel does not communicate with the interior of the cartridge, it also can be ensured that any gaseous medium usually present in the interior of the cartridge can escape during feeding brewing water into the cartridge to evenly soak the substance received in the cartridge, whereby simultaneously a certain overpressure can be built up in the interior of the cartridge before the liquid extract is discharged from the cartridge. According to a further aspect, the invention provides a bevel age machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a cartridge having a cartridge cover and cartridge bottom portion. The brewing machine comprises a brewing chamber adapted to receive the cartridge for brewing and extracting the substance contained in the cartridge with a lower brewing chamber portion and a closure element, a pump for feeding brewing water under pressure into the brewing chamber, at least one first piercing member adapted to pierce the cartridge cover and attached to the closure element, and at least one second piercing member adapted to pierce the cartridge bottom portion and attached to or located in the region of the lower brewing chamber portion. Means are provided for axially moving the second piercing mem ber attached to or located in the region of the lower brewing chamber portion relative to the lower brewing chamber portion to such an extent, after the brewing chamber having been closed by the closure member, that the bottom of the cartridge is pierced. In this way, the bottom of the cartridge can be pierced independently of the closing operation of the brewing chamber and independently of the moment of feeding brewing water into the cartridge. According to a still further aspect, the invention also provides a cartridge adapted to be used in such a beverage machine. It comprises an essentially cup-shaped cartridge body and a car- tridge cover attached to the cartridge body. The cartridge con- tains a predetermined amount of a substance extractable by means of hot water. At least one sieve-like member is located between the bottom of the cartridge body and the substance contained in the cartridge. The sieve-like member has a central recess directed towards the interior of the cartridge and dimensioned such that the front portion of a piercing member adapted to pierce the bot- tom of the cartridge body can extend into the recess, once the cartridge bottom has been pierced, without piercing the first sieve-like member. A second sieve-like member can be located between the cover of the cartridge body and the substance contained in the cartridge, also having a central recess directed towards the interior of the cartridge and dimensioned such that the front portion of a piercing member adapted to pierce the cover of the cartridge can extend into the recess, once the cartridge cover has been pierced, without piercing the second sieve-like member. Accordingly, the present invention provides a beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a cartridge having a cartridge cover and a cartridge bottom portion, comprising a brewing chamber adapted to receive said cartridge with a lower brewing chamber portion and a closure element, a pump for feeding brewing water under pressure into said brewing chamber, at least one first piercing member adapted to pierce said cartridge cover, and at least one second piercing member adapted to pierce said cartridge bottom portion, said at least one second piercing member comprising at least one piercing tip portion and at least one outlet channel, characterized in that means are provided for axially moving said lower brewing chamber portion relative to said closure element for closing said brewing chamber, the length of the path of said axial movement of said lower brewing chamber portion relative to said closure element being such that said cartridge cover is pierced by said first piercing element, while said at least one second piercing element pierces said cartridge bottom at the most to such an extent that said outlet channel of said at least one second piercing element does not communicate with the interior of said cartridge. The invention further provides a beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a cartridge having a cartridge cover and a cartridge bottom portion, comprising a brewing chamber adapted to receive said cartridge for brewing and extracting the substance contained in said cartridge with a lower brewing chamber portion and a closure element, a pump for feeding brewing water under pressure into said brewing chamber, at least one first piercing member adapted to pierce said cartridge cover and attached to said closure element, and at least one second piercing member adapted to pierce said cartridge bottom portion and attached to or located in the region of said lower brewing chamber portion, characterized in that means are provided for axially moving said at least one second piercing member attached to or located in the region of said lower brewing chamber portion relative to said lower brewing chamber portion to such an extent, after the brewing chamber having been closed by the closure member, that the bottom of said cartridge is pierced. The invention also provides a method of preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a cartridge, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: providing a brewing chamber adapted for receiving the cartridge and having a first piercing member incorporating a brewing water feed channel and a second piercing member incorporating a beverage outlet channel; enclosing the cartridge in said brewing chamber and piercing a first side of the cartridge by means of said first piercing member; partially piercing the cartridge at the opposite side of the cartridge by means of said second piercing member to such an extent that said outlet channel of said second piercing element is not yet connected to the interior of the cartridge; and feeding brewing water through said brewing water feed channel of said first piercing member into the interior of the cartridge to create a hydraulic overpressure in the interior of the cartridge, thereby expanding the cartridge such that it is fully pierced by said second piercing member at said opposite side to connect the interior of the cartridge to said beverage outlet channel in said second piercing member. The invention further provides a method of preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a cartridge, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: providing a brewing chamber adapted for receiving the cartridge and having a first piercing member incorporating a brewing water feed channel and a second piercing member incorporating a beverage outlet channel; enclosing the cartridge in said brewing chamber and piercing a first side of the cartridge by means of said first piercing member; feeding brewing water through said brewing water feed channel of said first piercing member into the interior of the cartridge to create a hydraulic overpressure in the interior of the cartridge; and piercing the cartridge by means of said second piercing member at said opposite side to connect the interior of the cartridge to said beverage outlet channel in said second piercing member. In the following, embodiments of the invention will be further described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a strictly schematic view of the beverage machine according to the invention, together with a cartridge, in a partially sectioned view; Fig. 1a shows an enlarged view of the lower piercing member; Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the brewing chamber and of the cartridge in a first phase during the closing of the brewing chamber; Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the closed brewing chamber and of the cartridge before brewing water is injected into the brewing chamber; Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the closed brew- ing chamber and of the cartridge during the injection of brewing water into the brewing chamber; and Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the closed brew- ing chamber and of the cartridge according to an alternative em- bodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 shows a strictly schematic view of an embodiment of. a beverage machine, designed in the present example as a coffee mak- er. Particularly, shown in Fig. 1 are a brewing chamber 1, a fresh water tank 5, a pump 6 as well as a boiler 7. The brewing chamber 1, shown in a longitudinal sectional view, comprises a lower por- tion 2 and a closure element 3. Also shown in Fig. 1 in a schemat- ic longitudinal sectional view is a cartridge 4 containing ground coffee 8. The means for fixing the lower portion 2 of the brewing cham- ber 1 to the coffee maker and to the closure element 3, respec- tively, are not shown in the drawings. Neither shown are the means required for realizing the axial relative movement between the lower portion 2 of the brewing chamber 1 and the closure element 3 for closing the brewing chamber. The lower portion 2 of the brewing chamber 1 comprises an out- er base portion 10 and an inner cartridge receptacle 11. Both the base portion 10 and the cartridge receptacle 11 have essentially circular shape. The cartridge receptacle 11 is adapted to receiye the cartridge 4 in a positively fitting manner and supported on the outer base portion 10 by means of springs 12. The top portion of the cartridge receptacle 11 facing the closure member 3 is pro- vided with an annular shoulder 13. The outer base portion 10 is provided with an annular flange 24, constituting, together with the shoulder 13 of the cartridge receptacle 11, an axial limit stop during closing the brewing chamber 1. The bottom of the outer base portion 10 is provided with a piercing member 15, having a central outlet channel 16. The pierc- ing member 15 can extend into the interior of the cartridge recep- tacle 11 through an opening 17 provided in the bottom of the car- tridge receptacle 11. Below the bottom of the base portion 10, a Y-shaped beverage outlet 18 is located, communicating with the central outlet channel 16 of the piercing member 15. The cartridge receptacle 11 simultaneously serves as a finger guard inasmuch as it prevents access to the piercing member 15 as long as the coffee maker is in its rest position as shown in Fig. 1. The bottom of the closure member 3 facing the lower portion 2 of the brewing chamber 1 is provided with a piercing member 20, too. Through this piercing member 20, the brewing water required for brewing and extracting the coffee powder 8 is fed into the in- terior of the cartridge 4. To this end, the piercing member 20 is provided with radial outlet openings 21 through which the brewing water can escape from the piercing member 20. The closure member 3 comprises an annular gasket 23 radially surrounding the piercing member 20 and serving for sealing the top portion of the cartridge 4 with regard the lower portion of the cartridge 4. The cartridge 4 comprises a cup-shaped lower portion and a cover 4a welded thereto. Both the cup-shaped lower portion and the cover 4a are made of an oxygen impermeable multi layer foil of plastic material, whereby particularly the foil constituting the cup-shaped lower portion of the cartridge 4 should be elastic. Even if such a cartridge 4 is suitable to receive any sub- stance extractable by means of water, in the following, it is as- sumed that it is filled with ground coffee, i.e. coffee powder, adapted to be used to prepare a regular coffee or an espresso cof- fee beverage. Preferably, the bottom 4b is slightly bossed, i.e. it is curved to the outside to a convex shape. Moreover, the cartridge 4 is preferably provided with an upper sieve-like member 25 and with a lower sieve-like member 26. Thereby, the upper member 25 serves as a distribution sieve member and the lower member 26 as a col- lection sieve member. The two sieve members 25, 26 are provided with a plurality of apertures through which the brewing water can be fed into the interior of the cartridge 4, and the coffee bever- age can escape from the interior of the cartridge 4 filled with coffee powder, respectively. Both sieve members 25, 26 comprise each a central recess 33, 34 directed to the interior of the car- tridge 4 into which the corresponding piercing members 15, 20 can extend after the cover 4a of the cartridge 4 and the bottom 4b thereof, respectively, have been pierced, without damaging the sieve members 25, 26. The coffee powder 8 to be extracted is received between the two sieve members 25, 26. The two rigidly designed sieve members 25, 26 serve to ensure, on the one hand, that the coffee powder" cannot escape the cartridge 4 once its cover 4a and its bottom 4b, respectively, have been pierced. On the other hand, the upper dis- tribution sieve member 25 serves to evenly distribute the brewing water entering the cartridge 4 over the entire cross section of the cartridge 4, while the lower collection sieve member 26 serves to ensure that the liquid coffee extract flows to the central piercing member 15. To this end, both at the top and the bottom-, free spaces 14, 19 are provided between the upper distribution sieve member 25 and the cartridge cover 4a, and between the lower collection sieve member 26 and the cartridge bottom 4b, respec- tively. Instead of the free spaces 14, 19 shown in the drawings., the sieve members 25, 2 6 could also be provided with recesses iri the shape of channels in which the brewing water flows to be dis- tributed over the cross section of the cartridge 4, and in which the extracted beverage flows to be collected, respectively. In this case, the sieve members 25, 26 can be directly supported by the cover 4a of the cartridge 4 and the bottom 4b of the car- tridge, respectively, on the raised portions extending between the channels. Fig. la shows an enlarged side view of the piercing member 15 The piercing member 15 is provided with a two-tiered tip 28, whereby the first portion 28a has conical shape having a smooth jacket surface and ending in an acute tip end, while the second, portion 28b has the shape of a truncated cone with a larger cone angle and is provided with several radial apertures 29, opening into the central outlet channel 16. The lower portion of the piercing member 15 is provided with a thread 31 by means of which it can be screwed into the bottom of the lower portion 2 of the- brewing chamber 1. Instead of radial apertures 29, the second por- tion 28b can be provided, for example, with axially extending out- let grooves, channels or the like. Moreover, instead of the thread 31, for example a push-fit connection can be provided for attach- ing the piercing member 15 to the bottom of the lower portion 2 of the brewing chamber 1. In any case, the outlet channel and the ra- dial outlet openings 29, respectively, are located behind or, as seen in the drawing, below the tip 28. Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the brewing chamber 1 and the cartridge 4 in a first phase during closing the brewing chamber 1. The cartridge 4 having been inserted into the cartridge receptacle 11, the lower portion 2 of the brewing cham- ber 1 is axially moved upwards, in the direction of the arrow P, towards the closure member 3. Thereby, the cartridge receptacle II is pushed into the outer base portion 10 of the lower portion 2 of the brewing chamber 1 against the force of the springs 12. Simul- taneously, the upper piercing member 2 0 penetrates the cover 4a of the cartridge 4, while the lower piercing member 15 abuts against the bottom 4b of the cartridge 4 and pushes the bottom 4b upwards, with the result that the cartridge bottom 4b is deformed towards the cartridge cover 4a and the internal volume of the cartridge 4 is decreased. Due to the fact that the cup-shaped lower portion of the cartridge 4 is made of an elastic material and that the car- tridge bottom 4b is bossed, the cartridge bottom 4b can be rela- tively easily deflected in a direction towards the cartridge cover 4a. Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the closed brew- ing chamber 1 and the cartridge 4 before brewing water is injected into the cartridge 4. The closed state of the brewing chamber 1 is realized by mechanically moving the lower portion 2 of the brewing chamber 1 upwards to such an extent that the shoulder 13 of the cartridge receptacle 11 rests against the flange 24 of the outer base portion 10. Simultaneously, the cartridge cover 4a is hy- draulically sealed with reference to the cartridge bottom 4b at* the outside, due to the fact that the gasket 23 provided at the bottom of the closure element 3 is pressed, against the top of the cartridge cover 4a to seal it radially against the outside. Fur- ther, it can be seen in Fig. 3 that the tip 28 of the piercing member 15 provided at the bottom of the lower portion 2 of the brewing chamber 1, particularly its first portion 28a (Fig. 1a), penetrates the bottom 4b of the cartridge 4. Due to the fact that the first portion 28a has an acuter angle than the second portion 28b, the result is that the cartridge bottom 4b rests against the second portion 28b and keeps this position once the brewing chamber 1 is closed, but before brewing water is injected into the cartridge 4. Because the cartridge bottom 4b rests against the second portion 28b of the piercing member 15, it can be ensured that the radial apertures 2 9 and the outlet channel 16, respectively, do not yet communicate with the interior of the cartridge 4, even if the cartridge bottom 4b is already perforated. Instead of the here shown perforating of the cartridge bottom 4b by the tip 28 of the piercing member 15, it may be sufficient to partially weaken the cartridge bottom 4b by means of the tip 28, but without the tip 28 really perforating the bottom 4b. In any case, the cartridge cover 4a is made of a material having a lower extensibility and/or a lower tear strength than the material of which the cartridge bottorn 4b is made, to ensure that the upper piercing member 20 perforates the cartridge cover 4a, while the cartridge bottom 4b is perforated at the most by the tip 28 of the relating piercing mem- ber 15. Fig. 4 shows the so-called brewing and extracting phase in a view similar to the view in Fig. 3. In this phase, water is fed from the fresh water tank 5 into the boiler 7 by means of the pump 6. In the boiler 7, the water is heated to the required brewing temperature. The heated and pressurized water is led via the upper piercing member 20 into the space 14 between the cover 4a and the upper distribution sieve member 25, where it is evenly distributed over the cross section of the cartridge 4. Through the openings provided in the upper distribution sieve member 25, the brewing water enters the interior of the cartridge 4 and extracts the coffee powder. Through the openings provided in the lower collection sieve member 26, the liquid coffee extract flows into the space 19 between the lower collection sieve member 26 and the cartridge bottom 4b. Since the cartridge 4 is positively surrounded by the cartridge receptacle 11, the overpressure generated by injecting pressurized water into the cartridge 4 has the effect that the cartridge cover 4a is pressed against the bottom of the closure member 3 and that the cartridge bottom 4b is deflected downwards such that the internal volume substantially reaches its former value. During the injection of brewing water into the cartridge 4, any gas present in the interior of the cartridge 4 can escape through the radial gap between piercing tip 28 and cartridge bottom 4b, thus ensuring an even moistening of the coffee powder 8, received in the cartridge 4. By pressing the cartridge bottom 4b downwards, as herein before described, the opening in the bottom 4b of the cartridge 4 is increased to such an extent that the radial apertures 2 9 and, thereby, the outlet channel 16 communicate with the interior of the cartridge 4. Now, the liquid coffee extract can flow from the lower space 19 through the radial apertures 29 in the piercing member 15 into the outlet channel 16 and, there from, into the beverage outlet 18, from where it can be dispensed into a not further shown beverage container. The mechanical weakening and piercing of the cartridge bottom 4b, respectively, as previously described, brings along a number of substantial advantages: • The cartridge bottom 4b is weakened or pierced at a pre- determined location in a well defined manner. • After brewing water has been injected into the cartridge, a continuous enlargement of the pierced opening in the cartridge bottom takes place by gradually generating a hydraulic overpressure in the interior of the cartridge such that the cartridge bottom is pressed and deflected downwards towards the piercing member. Thus, the liquid coffee extract can smoothly flow out downwards through the continuously enlarging outlet cross section in the lower piercing member, since its radial apertures are continuously more and more exposed during pressing the cartridge bottom downwards. The result is, on the one hand, that the danger of contamination is reduced because the liquid coffee extract cannot suddenly escape from the cartridge as is the case with a cartridge that is pierced only under the influence of the pressurized brewing wa- ter. On the other hand, the gaseous medium contained in the cartridge, for example air and/or CO-, can escape downwards through the narrow radial gap between piercing tip and cartridge bottom once brewing water is injected into the cartridge from the top thereof. The result is" that the ground coffee contained in the cartridge is ho- mogenously moistened over the entire cross section of the cartridge once the brewing water flows into the cartridge from its top. • The brewing water pressure required for piercing the car- tridge bottom and for enlarging the pierced opening, re- spectively, is comparatively low. • The brewing water pressure required for piercing the car- tridge bottom and for enlarging the pierced opening, re- spectively, can be more exactly calculated. • The cartridge may show higher manufacturing tolerances with regards of its dimensions without the danger that the brewing operation would be impaired. • The bottom of the cartridge has not to be rigid and needs not to have a concave basic shape. • The danger of breaking open the cartridge at an undesired location under the influence of the required high hy- draulic overpressure of up to 10 bar is practically eliminated. Instead of perforating the bottom of the cartridge by means o the lower piercing member, alternatively, the design could be such that the bottom 4b is only weakened by the lower piercing member 15 upon mechanically closing the brewing chamber 1, without the lower piercing member 15 penetrating the bottom 4b of the cartridge 4. In any case, even by means of a mechanical weakening, it can be ensured that the bottom of the cartridge is continuously broken open at a well defined location even if the brewing water is injected into the cartridge with a relatively low pressure. Independently there from, the lower piercing member 15 could be provided with a pressure control valve, opening only after a certain overpressure is reached to release the outlet channel 16. Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment in a view similar to Fig. 4. In this embodiment, the lower piercing member 15a is not fixedly attached to the lower portion 2 of the brewing chamber 1, but axially movable in the direction of the arrow P1 and relative to the lower portion 2 of the brewing chamber 1. The means required to move the piercing member 15a are not shown. This embodiment shows the advantage that the moment in which the bottom 4b of the cartridge 4 is pierced can be arbitrarily chosen, independently of the closing operation of the brewing chamber and of the hydraulic pressure existing in the interior of the cartridge. Preferably, the cartridge bottom 4b is pierced shortly after the brewing water has been injected into the top of the cartridge 4-. Also in this case, the piercing operation can be performed in two steps. In other words, in a first step, the cartridge bottom 4b is pierced to such an extent that the outlet channel 16a in the inte- rior of the piercing element 15 does not yet communicate with the interior of the cartridge 4; thus, the gas contained in the inte- rior of the cartridge 4 can escape. In a second step, the piercing member 15a is pushed further into the cartridge bottom 4b until the radial apertures and the outlet channel 16a of the piercing member 15a communicate with the interior of the cartridge such that the liquid coffee extract can flow out through the outlet channel 16a. This variant has the advantage that the moment in which the cartridge bottom 4b is pierced can be chosen independent of the closing operation of the brewing chamber and of the injec- tion of brewing water into the cartridge. Otherwise, the alterna- tive embodiment described herein before shows most of the previ- ously named advantages. The solution according to the invention can be realized in substantially all kinds of coffee makers. Particularly suitable are not only manual coffee makers with a manually insertable car- tridge holder, but also semi-automatic coffee makers in which the cartridge is manually inserted into the cartridge receptacle and automatically removed as well as fully automatic coffee makers in which the cartridge is both automatically inserted into the car- tridge receptacle and automatically removed there from. However, essential is that a certain relative axial movement between the cartridge received in the lower portion of the brewing chamber and the closure element takes place upon closing the brewing chamber, to ensure that, on the one hand, the cartridge cover is reliably pierced and, on the other hand, the cartridge bottom is at least partially weakened. Such relative movement usually has to amount to several millimeters and can be realized, for example, by means of a bayonet fixing, an eccentric drive mechanism, a lever mecha- nism, a spindle drive mechanism, a hydraulic drive mechanism or a slotted link mechanism. WE CLAIM : 1. Beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a cartridge having a cartridge cover and a cartridge bottom portion, comprising a brewing chamber adapted to receive said cartridge with a lower brewing chamber portion and a closure element, a pump for feeding brewing water under pressure into said brewing chamber, at least one first piercing member adapted to pierce said cartridge cover, and at least one second piercing member adapted to pierce said cartridge bottom portion, said at least one second piercing member comprising at least one piercing tip portion and at least one outlet channel, characterized in that means are provided for axially moving said lower brewing chamber portion relative to said closure element for closing said brewing chamber, the length of the path of said axial movement of said lower brewing chamber portion relative to said closure element being such that said cartridge cover is pierced by said first piercing element, while said at least one second piercing element pierces said cartridge bottom at the most to such an extent that said outlet channel of said at least one second piercing element does not communicate with the interior of said cartridge. 2. Beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a cartridge having a cartridge cover and a cartridge bottom portion, comprising a brewing chamber adapted to receive said cartridge for brewing and extracting the substance contained in said cartridge with a lower brewing chamber portion and a closure element, a pump for feeding brewing water under pressure into said brewing chamber, at least one first piercing member adapted to pierce said cartridge cover and attached to said closure element, and at least one second piercing member adapted to pierce said cartridge bottom portion and attached to or located in the region of said lower brewing chamber portion, characterized in that means are provided for axially moving said at least one second piercing member attached to or located in the region of said lower brewing chamber portion relative to said lower brewing chamber portion to such an extent, after the brewing chamber having been closed by the closure member, that the bottom of said cartridge is pierced. 3. Beverage machine as claimed in claim I, wherein said at least one first piercing member is attached to said closure element and said at least second piercing member is attached to said lower portion of said brewing chamber, whereby said outlet channel provided in said at least one second piercing member is located below and behind, respectively, said piercing tip of said at least one second piercing member, as seen in axial direction. 4. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein, by injecting brewing water into the cartridge, said bottom of said cartridge is opened by means of said second piercing member located at the lower portion of the brewing chamber to such an extent that the outlet channel of said second piercing member communicates with the interior of said cartridge. 5. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second piercing member located at the lower portion of the brewing chamber comprises a two-stage piercing portion, whereby a first stage is designed as a piercing tip and whereby the second stage is provided with at least one opening communicating with said outlet channel. 6. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second piercing member located at the lower portion of the brewing chamber comprises a two-stage piercing portion, whereby the first stage is designed as a piercing tip and whereby the second stage is provided with essentially axially running outlet depressions, outlet channels or outlet grooves. 7. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 5 or 6. wherein said first stage of said second piercing member has conical shape and a smooth jacket surface. 8. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lower portion of said brewing chamber is provided with a cartridge receptacle positively enclosing said cartridge, whereby the bottom of the cartridge is deformed by feeding pressurized water into the cartridge to such an extent that the outlet channel provided in said second piercing member is connected to the interior of said cartridge. 9. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 3. wherein said first piercing member is centrally attached to the closure member and said second piercing member is centrally attached to the lower portion of the brewing chamber, whereby both said first and second piercing members are provided with radial openings for feeding the brewing water and for dispensing the liquid beverage extract, respectively. 10. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said closure member is provided with a gasket member radially circumventing said first piercing member, said gasket member hydraulically sealing the cartridge cover relative to the cartridge bottom at the outer side of the cartridge upon closing said brewing chamber. 11. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 3. wherein said lower portion of said brewing chamber comprises a base portion and a cartridge receptacle supported on said base portion by means of springs, said cartridge receptacle being provided with a shoulder facing said closure member on which said closure member rests upon closing the brewing chamber and constituting, together with a flange member provided on the base portion, an axial stop member upon closing the brewing chamber. 12. Beverage machine as claimed in claim I 1. wherein said second piercing member is attached to said base portion, whereby the bottom of the cartridge receptacle is provided with an opening whose location corresponds inasmuch with the location of the second piercing member that the second piercing member extends through said opening when the cartridge receptacle is pressed into said base portion upon closing the brewing chamber by said closure element against the force of said springs. 13. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second piercing member located at the lower portion of the brewing chamber or the conduit connected to said second piercing member is provided with a pressure control valve. 14. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 2. wherein the bottom of the cartridge, after the start of feeding brewing water into the cartridge, is pierced by the piercing member located at the lower portion of the brewing chamber or in the region of the lower portion of the brewing chamber to such an extent that the liquid extract can flow out of the cartridge through the piercing member or through an outlet channel provided in the piercing member. 15. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein said closure member is provided with a gasket member radially circumventing said first piercing member, said gasket member hydraulically sealing the cartridge cover relative to the cartridge bottom at the outer side of the cartridge upon closing said brewing chamber. 16. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein said second piercing member is attached to said base portion, whereby the bottom of the cartridge receptacle is provided with an opening whose location corresponds inasmuch with the location of the second piercing member that the second piercing member extends through said opening when the cartridge receptacle is pressed into said base portion upon closing the brewing chamber by said closure element against the force of said springs. 17. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 16. wherein said second piercing member is attached to said base portion, whereby the bottom of the cartridge receptacle is provided with an opening whose location corresponds inasmuch with the location of the second piercing member that the second piercing member extends through said opening when the cartridge receptacle is pressed into said base portion upon closing the brewing chamber by said closure element against the force of said springs. 18. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein said second piercing member located at the lower portion of the brewing chamber or the conduit connected to said second piercing member is provided with a pressure control valve. 19. A method of preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a cartridge, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: providing a brewing chamber adapted for receiving the cartridge and having a first piercing member incorporating a brewing water feed channel and a second piercing member incorporating a beverage outlet channel; enclosing the cartridge in said brewing chamber and piercing a first side of the cartridge by means of said first piercing member; partially piercing the cartridge at the opposite side of the cartridge by means of said second piercing member to such an extent that said outlet channel of said second piercing element is not yet connected to the interior of the cartridge; and feeding brewing water through said brewing water feed channel of said first piercing member into the interior of the cartridge to create a hydraulic overpressure in the interior of the cartridge, thereby expanding the cartridge such that it is fully pierced by said second piercing member at said opposite side to connect the interior of the cartridge to said beverage outlet channel in said second piercing member. 20. A method of preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a cartridge, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: providing a brewing chamber adapted for receiving the cartridge and having a first piercing member incorporating a brewing water feed channel and a second piercing member incorporating a beverage outlet channel; enclosing the cartridge in said brewing chamber and piercing a first side of the cartridge by means of said first piercing member; feeding brewing water through said brewing water feed channel of said first piercing member into the interior of the cartridge to create a hydraulic overpressure in the interior of the cartridge; and piercing the cartridge by means of said second piercing member at said opposite side to connect the interior of the cartridge to said beverage outlet channel in said second piercing member. The beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a cartridge is provided with a brewing chamber comprising a lower brewing chamber portion and a closure element. The lower portion of the brewing chamber serves for positively receiving of the cartridge. On both the lower brewing chamber portion and the closure element, piercing elements are provided for piercing the cartridge at opposite sides thereof. Upon closing the brewing chamber, the lower portion thereof, together with the cartridge received therein, is axialiy moved relative to the closure member to such an extent that the cover of the cartridge is pierced by means of the one piercing member. The bottom of the cartridge is pierced by the other piercing member only to such an extent that the tip of the piercing member penetrates the bottom of the cartridge, without a beverage outlet channel provided in the other piercing element being connected to the interior of the cartridge.

Full Text

BEVERAGE MACHINE FOR PREPARING A HOT BEVERAGE BY BREWING AND EXTRACTING A SUBSTANCE RECEIVED IN A CARTRIDGE
The present invention refers to a beverage machine for preparing
a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received
in a cartridge. Further, the invention also refers to a cartridge
to be used in a beverage machine, and finally, the invention
refers to a method of preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting
a substance received in a cartridge.
Cartridges of the kind referred to herein serve for receiving
a. hermetically sealed substance suitable for preparing a hot beverage.
A fundamental advantage of such cartridges consists in the
fact that the substance contained therein, for example coffee powder,
can be kept fresh during an extended period of time. For extracting
coffee powder contained in such a cartridge, for example,
semi-automatic espresso coffee makers are used in which the cartridge
is inserted into a cartridge holder with the cover of the
cartridge downwards.
The document EP-A-0,512,470 discloses such a coffee maker in
which the cartridge is inserted into a cartridge holder with the
cover downwards. The cartridge holder is manually inserted into
the coffee maker by means of a bayonet fixture. The coffee maker
is provided with a piercing member located in the region of the
connecting means for the cartridge holder. The piercing member has
radial outlet openings for feeding brewing water into the car-
tridge. Upon connecting the cartridge holder to the coffee maker,
the piercing member pierces the bottom of the cartridge. The bot-
tom of the cartridge holder itself is provided with a plurality of
embossments arranged on a grating. These embossments penetrate the
cover of the cartridge and break it open as soon as the brewing'
water fed into the interior of the cartridge has built up a cer-
tain overpressure. During the subsequent brewing operation, the
brewing water is fed into the cartridge through the piercing mem-
ber, flows under pressure through the coffee powder and is dis-

charged through the apertures in the cover. The freshly brewed
coffee beverage can flow out through the grating and leave the
coffee maker through outlet means located below the cartridge
holder.
The document DE-C-41,92,762 discloses an apparatus for prepar-
ing a liquid product by feeding a fluid and/or steam into a cartridge.
The apparatus is provided with a withdrawal member, com-
prising a chamber for a cartridge. The cartridge has a bottom por-
tion concavely curved towards its interior. At the apparatus, a
piercing pin provided with fluid channels is provided, while the
bottom of the withdrawal member comprises a plurality of emboss-
ments causing a perforation of the bottom of the cartridge as soon
as the cartridge is sufficiently deformed under the influence of
the pressure of the brewing water. In an alternative embodiment,
the bottom of the withdrawal member comprises a single piercing
pin, having an integrated liquid discharge channel. By providing
the cartridge with a concavely shaped bottom, it is to be realized
that the bottom is pierced only when the bottom of the cartridge
is deformed to a certain degree and the interior volume of the
cartridge has been increased. Thereby, it should be ensured that
the brewing water fed into the interior of the cartridge can soak
the substance received in the cartridge before the bottom of the
cartridge is broken open to have the prepared beverage flow out.
The document EP-A-1,295,554 discloses a coffee maker for brewing
coffee powder packed into a cartridge. The coffee maker is
provided with a pressurized hot water sprinkler and with a dispensing
cup movable relative thereto. The dispensing cup is provided
with an open hollow space, i.e. a brewing chamber, as well
as with a second space, communicating with a perculator spout for
dispensing the brewed coffee beverage. Between the hollow space
for receiving the cartridge and the second space, a plate is provided
whose top side has a plurality of needles. Each of these
needles has a conical outer surface as well as several slots, each
of the slots communicating via an aperture in the plate with the
second space. The hot water sprinkler is provided with a cup-

shaped front portion that is axially movable against the force of
a number of springs. At the rigid back portion of the hot water
sprinkler, a piercing element in the form of a plate having a plurality
of needles is provided. The cup-shaped front portion is
provided with an end wall, having a number of holes, through which
the needles can extend when the cup-shaped front portion is in its
operating position, in order to pierce the top of the cartridge.
To axially move the dispensing cup relative to the hot water
sprinkler, a not further shown drive means is provided. When the
dispensing cup is moved towards the hot water sprinkler, the top
of the cartridge is pierced by the needles provided on the hot water
sprinkler, while the bottom of the cartridge remains intact
because the needles on the plate have a length that is approximately
equal to, but not greater than the distance between an annular
shoulder at the bottom of the hollow space and an annular
groove, serving to receive the above mentioned plate. The height
of the needles on the plate between the hollow space and the second
space, thereby, is chosen such that the needles at the most
touch the bottom of the cartridge, but do not weaken it or even
pierce it when the brewing chamber is closed. The brewing water
having fed into the interior of the cartridge, the bottom thereof
is deformed outwards under the influence of the heat and the pressure
such that the needles penetrate the bottom of the cartridge
and gradually pierce it.
The document EP-A-1,101,430 discloses a cartridge for a beverage
filter cartridge system. The side wall of this cartridge is
provided with several steps for supporting a filter member or a
porous membrane, such that a free space remains between the filter
element and the membrane, respectively, and the cartridge cover'
and cartridge bottom, respectively. This free space is used for
inserting an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, respectively, through
the side wall into the cartridge.
The document WO 00/42891 discloses an automatic brewing system
fro brewing substances received in a cartridge. The brewing system
is provided with a liquid supply tank and a dosage chamber located

therein, the dosage chamber being operatively connected to an air
pump for conveying a certain amount of liquid. The system further
comprises a cartridge holder, cooperating with a movable cover.
Both the cover and the bottom of the cartridge holder are equipped
with a hollow piercing member. If the cartridge holder is closed
by means of the cover, both the cartridge cover and the cartridge
bottom are pierced by means of the respective piercing elements.
The piercing element located at the bottom of the cartridge holder
is designed such that an outlet for the prepared beverage is cre-
ated as soon as the bottom of the cartridge is pierced.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage
machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a
substance received in a cartridge in which the cartridge is broken
open and pierced, respectively, to form a beverage outlet only at
a predetermined moment and at a predetermined location.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and ex-'
tracting a substance received in a cartridge in which the contamination
of the machine by the extract leaving the cartridge in liquid
form should be reduced.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting
a substance received in a cartridge in which the pressure
of the brewing water required to break open an outlet in the cartridge
sxis reduced.
To meet these and other objects, the present invention provides,
according to a first aspect, a beverage machine for preparing
a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received
in a cartridge having a cartridge cover and a cartridge bottom
portion. The beverage machine comprises a brewing chamber adapted
to receive the cartridge with a lower brewing chamber portion and
a closure element, a pump for feeding brewing water under pressure
into the brewing chamber, and at least one first piercing member
adapted to pierce the cartridge cover.

Further, the machine comprises, for piercing the cartridge
bottom portion, at least one second piercing member comprising at
least one piercing tip portion and at least one outlet channel.
Thereby, means are provided for axially moving the lower brewing
chamber portion relative to the closure element for closing the
brewing chamber. The length of the path of the axial movement of
the lower brewing chamber portion relative to the closure element
is such that the cartridge cover is pierced by the first piercing
element, while the second piercing element penetrates or pierces
the cartridge bottom at the most to such an extent that the outlet
channel of the second piercing element does not communicate with
the interior of the cartridge.
Due to the fact, upon closing the brewing chamber, that the
lower portion of the brewing chamber, together with the cartridge
received therein, is axially moved relative to the closure element
to such an extent that the tip of the second piercing member penetrates
the bottom of the cartridge at the most only to such a degree
that the outlet channel does not yet communicate with the interior
of the cartridge, it can be ensured that the bottom of the
cartridge is fully pierced, upon feeding pressurized brewing water
into the cartridge, at a relatively low pressure level of the
brewing water and at a predetermined location, whereby, simultaneously,
the danger of contamination is substantially reduced, because
the piercing of the bottom of the cartridge is performed in
a continuous manner.
If the bottom of the cartridge, upon closing the brewing chamber,
is pierced by the piercing member located on the lower portion
of the brewing chamber only to such an extent that the outlet
channel does not communicate with the interior of the cartridge,
it also can be ensured that any gaseous medium usually present in
the interior of the cartridge can escape during feeding brewing
water into the cartridge to evenly soak the substance received in
the cartridge, whereby simultaneously a certain overpressure can
be built up in the interior of the cartridge before the liquid extract
is discharged from the cartridge.

According to a further aspect, the invention provides a bevel
age machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting
a substance received in a cartridge having a cartridge cover and cartridge bottom portion. The brewing machine comprises a brewing
chamber adapted to receive the cartridge for brewing and extracting
the substance contained in the cartridge with a lower brewing
chamber portion and a closure element, a pump for feeding brewing
water under pressure into the brewing chamber, at least one first
piercing member adapted to pierce the cartridge cover and attached
to the closure element, and at least one second piercing member
adapted to pierce the cartridge bottom portion and attached to or
located in the region of the lower brewing chamber portion.
Means are provided for axially moving the second piercing mem
ber attached to or located in the region of the lower brewing
chamber portion relative to the lower brewing chamber portion to
such an extent, after the brewing chamber having been closed by
the closure member, that the bottom of the cartridge is pierced.
In this way, the bottom of the cartridge can be pierced independently
of the closing operation of the brewing chamber and independently
of the moment of feeding brewing water into the cartridge.
According to a still further aspect, the invention also provides
a cartridge adapted to be used in such a beverage machine.
It comprises an essentially cup-shaped cartridge body and a car-
tridge cover attached to the cartridge body. The cartridge con-
tains a predetermined amount of a substance extractable by means
of hot water. At least one sieve-like member is located between
the bottom of the cartridge body and the substance contained in
the cartridge. The sieve-like member has a central recess directed
towards the interior of the cartridge and dimensioned such that
the front portion of a piercing member adapted to pierce the bot-
tom of the cartridge body can extend into the recess, once the
cartridge bottom has been pierced, without piercing the first
sieve-like member.

A second sieve-like member can be located between the cover of the cartridge body and the
substance contained in the cartridge, also having a central recess directed towards the interior of the
cartridge and dimensioned such that the front portion of a piercing member adapted to pierce the
cover of the cartridge can extend into the recess, once the cartridge cover has been pierced, without
piercing the second sieve-like member.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage
by brewing and extracting a substance received in a cartridge having a cartridge cover and a cartridge
bottom portion, comprising a brewing chamber adapted to receive said cartridge with a lower
brewing chamber portion and a closure element, a pump for feeding brewing water under pressure
into said brewing chamber, at least one first piercing member adapted to pierce said cartridge cover,
and at least one second piercing member adapted to pierce said cartridge bottom portion, said at least
one second piercing member comprising at least one piercing tip portion and at least one outlet
channel, characterized in that means are provided for axially moving said lower brewing chamber
portion relative to said closure element for closing said brewing chamber, the length of the path of
said axial movement of said lower brewing chamber portion relative to said closure element being
such that said cartridge cover is pierced by said first piercing element, while said at least one second
piercing element pierces said cartridge bottom at the most to such an extent that said outlet channel
of said at least one second piercing element does not communicate with the interior of said cartridge.
The invention further provides a beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing
and extracting a substance received in a cartridge having a cartridge cover and a cartridge bottom
portion, comprising a brewing chamber adapted to receive said cartridge for brewing and extracting
the substance contained in said cartridge with a lower brewing chamber portion and a closure

element, a pump for feeding brewing water under pressure into said brewing chamber, at least one
first piercing member adapted to pierce said cartridge cover and attached to said closure element, and
at least one second piercing member adapted to pierce said cartridge bottom portion and attached to
or located in the region of said lower brewing chamber portion, characterized in that means are
provided for axially moving said at least one second piercing member attached to or located in the
region of said lower brewing chamber portion relative to said lower brewing chamber portion to such
an extent, after the brewing chamber having been closed by the closure member, that the bottom of
said cartridge is pierced.
The invention also provides a method of preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a
substance received in a cartridge, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: providing a
brewing chamber adapted for receiving the cartridge and having a first piercing member
incorporating a brewing water feed channel and a second piercing member incorporating a beverage
outlet channel; enclosing the cartridge in said brewing chamber and piercing a first side of the
cartridge by means of said first piercing member; partially piercing the cartridge at the opposite side
of the cartridge by means of said second piercing member to such an extent that said outlet channel
of said second piercing element is not yet connected to the interior of the cartridge; and feeding
brewing water through said brewing water feed channel of said first piercing member into the interior
of the cartridge to create a hydraulic overpressure in the interior of the cartridge, thereby expanding
the cartridge such that it is fully pierced by said second piercing member at said opposite side to
connect the interior of the cartridge to said beverage outlet channel in said second piercing member.

The invention further provides a method of preparing a hot beverage by brewing and
extracting a substance received in a cartridge, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:
providing a brewing chamber adapted for receiving the cartridge and having a first piercing member
incorporating a brewing water feed channel and a second piercing member incorporating a beverage
outlet channel; enclosing the cartridge in said brewing chamber and piercing a first side of the
cartridge by means of said first piercing member; feeding brewing water through said brewing water
feed channel of said first piercing member into the interior of the cartridge to create a hydraulic
overpressure in the interior of the cartridge; and piercing the cartridge by means of said second
piercing member at said opposite side to connect the interior of the cartridge to said beverage outlet
channel in said second piercing member.
In the following, embodiments of the invention will be further described, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a strictly schematic view of the beverage machine according to the invention,
together with a cartridge, in a partially sectioned view;
Fig. 1a shows an enlarged view of the lower piercing member;
Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the brewing chamber and of the cartridge in a
first phase during the closing of the brewing chamber;
Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the closed brewing chamber and of the cartridge
before brewing water is injected into the brewing chamber;

Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the closed brew-
ing chamber and of the cartridge during the injection of brewing
water into the brewing chamber; and
Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the closed brew-
ing chamber and of the cartridge according to an alternative em-
bodiment of the invention.
Fig. 1 shows a strictly schematic view of an embodiment of. a
beverage machine, designed in the present example as a coffee mak-
er. Particularly, shown in Fig. 1 are a brewing chamber 1, a fresh
water tank 5, a pump 6 as well as a boiler 7. The brewing chamber
1, shown in a longitudinal sectional view, comprises a lower por-
tion 2 and a closure element 3. Also shown in Fig. 1 in a schemat-
ic longitudinal sectional view is a cartridge 4 containing ground
coffee 8.
The means for fixing the lower portion 2 of the brewing cham-
ber 1 to the coffee maker and to the closure element 3, respec-
tively, are not shown in the drawings. Neither shown are the means
required for realizing the axial relative movement between the
lower portion 2 of the brewing chamber 1 and the closure element 3
for closing the brewing chamber.
The lower portion 2 of the brewing chamber 1 comprises an out-
er base portion 10 and an inner cartridge receptacle 11. Both the
base portion 10 and the cartridge receptacle 11 have essentially
circular shape. The cartridge receptacle 11 is adapted to receiye
the cartridge 4 in a positively fitting manner and supported on
the outer base portion 10 by means of springs 12. The top portion
of the cartridge receptacle 11 facing the closure member 3 is pro-
vided with an annular shoulder 13. The outer base portion 10 is
provided with an annular flange 24, constituting, together with
the shoulder 13 of the cartridge receptacle 11, an axial limit
stop during closing the brewing chamber 1.
The bottom of the outer base portion 10 is provided with a
piercing member 15, having a central outlet channel 16. The pierc-
ing member 15 can extend into the interior of the cartridge recep-
tacle 11 through an opening 17 provided in the bottom of the car-

tridge receptacle 11. Below the bottom of the base portion 10, a
Y-shaped beverage outlet 18 is located, communicating with the
central outlet channel 16 of the piercing member 15. The cartridge
receptacle 11 simultaneously serves as a finger guard inasmuch as
it prevents access to the piercing member 15 as long as the coffee
maker is in its rest position as shown in Fig. 1.
The bottom of the closure member 3 facing the lower portion 2
of the brewing chamber 1 is provided with a piercing member 20,
too. Through this piercing member 20, the brewing water required
for brewing and extracting the coffee powder 8 is fed into the in-
terior of the cartridge 4. To this end, the piercing member 20 is
provided with radial outlet openings 21 through which the brewing
water can escape from the piercing member 20. The closure member 3
comprises an annular gasket 23 radially surrounding the piercing
member 20 and serving for sealing the top portion of the cartridge
4 with regard the lower portion of the cartridge 4.
The cartridge 4 comprises a cup-shaped lower portion and a
cover 4a welded thereto. Both the cup-shaped lower portion and the
cover 4a are made of an oxygen impermeable multi layer foil of
plastic material, whereby particularly the foil constituting the
cup-shaped lower portion of the cartridge 4 should be elastic.
Even if such a cartridge 4 is suitable to receive any sub-
stance extractable by means of water, in the following, it is as-
sumed that it is filled with ground coffee, i.e. coffee powder,
adapted to be used to prepare a regular coffee or an espresso cof-
fee beverage.
Preferably, the bottom 4b is slightly bossed, i.e. it is
curved to the outside to a convex shape. Moreover, the cartridge 4
is preferably provided with an upper sieve-like member 25 and with
a lower sieve-like member 26. Thereby, the upper member 25 serves
as a distribution sieve member and the lower member 26 as a col-
lection sieve member. The two sieve members 25, 26 are provided
with a plurality of apertures through which the brewing water can
be fed into the interior of the cartridge 4, and the coffee bever-
age can escape from the interior of the cartridge 4 filled with

coffee powder, respectively. Both sieve members 25, 26 comprise
each a central recess 33, 34 directed to the interior of the car-
tridge 4 into which the corresponding piercing members 15, 20 can
extend after the cover 4a of the cartridge 4 and the bottom 4b
thereof, respectively, have been pierced, without damaging the
sieve members 25, 26.
The coffee powder 8 to be extracted is received between the
two sieve members 25, 26. The two rigidly designed sieve members
25, 26 serve to ensure, on the one hand, that the coffee powder"
cannot escape the cartridge 4 once its cover 4a and its bottom 4b,
respectively, have been pierced. On the other hand, the upper dis-
tribution sieve member 25 serves to evenly distribute the brewing
water entering the cartridge 4 over the entire cross section of
the cartridge 4, while the lower collection sieve member 26 serves
to ensure that the liquid coffee extract flows to the central
piercing member 15. To this end, both at the top and the bottom-,
free spaces 14, 19 are provided between the upper distribution
sieve member 25 and the cartridge cover 4a, and between the lower
collection sieve member 26 and the cartridge bottom 4b, respec-
tively. Instead of the free spaces 14, 19 shown in the drawings.,
the sieve members 25, 2 6 could also be provided with recesses iri
the shape of channels in which the brewing water flows to be dis-
tributed over the cross section of the cartridge 4, and in which
the extracted beverage flows to be collected, respectively. In
this case, the sieve members 25, 26 can be directly supported by
the cover 4a of the cartridge 4 and the bottom 4b of the car-
tridge, respectively, on the raised portions extending between the
channels.
Fig. la shows an enlarged side view of the piercing member 15
The piercing member 15 is provided with a two-tiered tip 28,
whereby the first portion 28a has conical shape having a smooth
jacket surface and ending in an acute tip end, while the second,
portion 28b has the shape of a truncated cone with a larger cone
angle and is provided with several radial apertures 29, opening
into the central outlet channel 16. The lower portion of the

piercing member 15 is provided with a thread 31 by means of which
it can be screwed into the bottom of the lower portion 2 of the-
brewing chamber 1. Instead of radial apertures 29, the second por-
tion 28b can be provided, for example, with axially extending out-
let grooves, channels or the like. Moreover, instead of the thread
31, for example a push-fit connection can be provided for attach-
ing the piercing member 15 to the bottom of the lower portion 2 of
the brewing chamber 1. In any case, the outlet channel and the ra-
dial outlet openings 29, respectively, are located behind or, as
seen in the drawing, below the tip 28.
Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the brewing
chamber 1 and the cartridge 4 in a first phase during closing the
brewing chamber 1. The cartridge 4 having been inserted into the
cartridge receptacle 11, the lower portion 2 of the brewing cham-
ber 1 is axially moved upwards, in the direction of the arrow P,
towards the closure member 3. Thereby, the cartridge receptacle II
is pushed into the outer base portion 10 of the lower portion 2 of
the brewing chamber 1 against the force of the springs 12. Simul-
taneously, the upper piercing member 2 0 penetrates the cover 4a of
the cartridge 4, while the lower piercing member 15 abuts against
the bottom 4b of the cartridge 4 and pushes the bottom 4b upwards,
with the result that the cartridge bottom 4b is deformed towards
the cartridge cover 4a and the internal volume of the cartridge 4
is decreased. Due to the fact that the cup-shaped lower portion of
the cartridge 4 is made of an elastic material and that the car-
tridge bottom 4b is bossed, the cartridge bottom 4b can be rela-
tively easily deflected in a direction towards the cartridge cover
4a.
Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the closed brew-
ing chamber 1 and the cartridge 4 before brewing water is injected
into the cartridge 4. The closed state of the brewing chamber 1 is
realized by mechanically moving the lower portion 2 of the brewing
chamber 1 upwards to such an extent that the shoulder 13 of the
cartridge receptacle 11 rests against the flange 24 of the outer
base portion 10. Simultaneously, the cartridge cover 4a is hy-

draulically sealed with reference to the cartridge bottom 4b at*
the outside, due to the fact that the gasket 23 provided at the
bottom of the closure element 3 is pressed, against the top of the
cartridge cover 4a to seal it radially against the outside. Fur-
ther, it can be seen in Fig. 3 that the tip 28 of the piercing
member 15 provided at the bottom of the lower portion 2 of the
brewing chamber 1, particularly its first portion 28a (Fig. 1a),
penetrates the bottom 4b of the cartridge 4. Due to the fact that
the first portion 28a has an acuter angle than the second portion
28b, the result is that the cartridge bottom 4b rests against the
second portion 28b and keeps this position once the brewing chamber
1 is closed, but before brewing water is injected into the
cartridge 4.
Because the cartridge bottom 4b rests against the second portion
28b of the piercing member 15, it can be ensured that the radial
apertures 2 9 and the outlet channel 16, respectively, do not
yet communicate with the interior of the cartridge 4, even if the
cartridge bottom 4b is already perforated. Instead of the here
shown perforating of the cartridge bottom 4b by the tip 28 of the
piercing member 15, it may be sufficient to partially weaken the
cartridge bottom 4b by means of the tip 28, but without the tip 28
really perforating the bottom 4b. In any case, the cartridge cover
4a is made of a material having a lower extensibility and/or a
lower tear strength than the material of which the cartridge bottorn
4b is made, to ensure that the upper piercing member 20 perforates
the cartridge cover 4a, while the cartridge bottom 4b is
perforated at the most by the tip 28 of the relating piercing mem-
ber 15.
Fig. 4 shows the so-called brewing and extracting phase in a
view similar to the view in Fig. 3. In this phase, water is fed
from the fresh water tank 5 into the boiler 7 by means of the pump
6. In the boiler 7, the water is heated to the required brewing
temperature. The heated and pressurized water is led via the upper
piercing member 20 into the space 14 between the cover 4a and the
upper distribution sieve member 25, where it is evenly distributed

over the cross section of the cartridge 4. Through the openings
provided in the upper distribution sieve member 25, the brewing
water enters the interior of the cartridge 4 and extracts the coffee
powder. Through the openings provided in the lower collection
sieve member 26, the liquid coffee extract flows into the space 19
between the lower collection sieve member 26 and the cartridge
bottom 4b. Since the cartridge 4 is positively surrounded by the
cartridge receptacle 11, the overpressure generated by injecting
pressurized water into the cartridge 4 has the effect that the
cartridge cover 4a is pressed against the bottom of the closure
member 3 and that the cartridge bottom 4b is deflected downwards
such that the internal volume substantially reaches its former
value. During the injection of brewing water into the cartridge 4,
any gas present in the interior of the cartridge 4 can escape
through the radial gap between piercing tip 28 and cartridge bottom
4b, thus ensuring an even moistening of the coffee powder 8,
received in the cartridge 4. By pressing the cartridge bottom 4b
downwards, as herein before described, the opening in the bottom
4b of the cartridge 4 is increased to such an extent that the radial
apertures 2 9 and, thereby, the outlet channel 16 communicate
with the interior of the cartridge 4. Now, the liquid coffee extract
can flow from the lower space 19 through the radial apertures
29 in the piercing member 15 into the outlet channel 16 and,
there from, into the beverage outlet 18, from where it can be dispensed
into a not further shown beverage container.
The mechanical weakening and piercing of the cartridge bottom
4b, respectively, as previously described, brings along a number
of substantial advantages:
• The cartridge bottom 4b is weakened or pierced at a pre-
determined location in a well defined manner.
• After brewing water has been injected into the cartridge,
a continuous enlargement of the pierced opening in the
cartridge bottom takes place by gradually generating a
hydraulic overpressure in the interior of the cartridge

such that the cartridge bottom is pressed and deflected
downwards towards the piercing member. Thus, the liquid
coffee extract can smoothly flow out downwards through
the continuously enlarging outlet cross section in the
lower piercing member, since its radial apertures are
continuously more and more exposed during pressing the
cartridge bottom downwards. The result is, on the one
hand, that the danger of contamination is reduced because
the liquid coffee extract cannot suddenly escape from the
cartridge as is the case with a cartridge that is pierced
only under the influence of the pressurized brewing wa-
ter. On the other hand, the gaseous medium contained in
the cartridge, for example air and/or CO-, can escape
downwards through the narrow radial gap between piercing
tip and cartridge bottom once brewing water is injected
into the cartridge from the top thereof. The result is"
that the ground coffee contained in the cartridge is ho-
mogenously moistened over the entire cross section of the
cartridge once the brewing water flows into the cartridge
from its top.
• The brewing water pressure required for piercing the car-
tridge bottom and for enlarging the pierced opening, re-
spectively, is comparatively low.
• The brewing water pressure required for piercing the car-
tridge bottom and for enlarging the pierced opening, re-
spectively, can be more exactly calculated.
• The cartridge may show higher manufacturing tolerances
with regards of its dimensions without the danger that
the brewing operation would be impaired.
• The bottom of the cartridge has not to be rigid and needs
not to have a concave basic shape.
• The danger of breaking open the cartridge at an undesired
location under the influence of the required high hy-

draulic overpressure of up to 10 bar is practically eliminated.
Instead of perforating the bottom of the cartridge by means o
the lower piercing member, alternatively, the design could be such
that the bottom 4b is only weakened by the lower piercing member
15 upon mechanically closing the brewing chamber 1, without the
lower piercing member 15 penetrating the bottom 4b of the cartridge
4. In any case, even by means of a mechanical weakening, it
can be ensured that the bottom of the cartridge is continuously
broken open at a well defined location even if the brewing water
is injected into the cartridge with a relatively low pressure. Independently
there from, the lower piercing member 15 could be provided
with a pressure control valve, opening only after a certain
overpressure is reached to release the outlet channel 16.
Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment in a view similar to
Fig. 4. In this embodiment, the lower piercing member 15a is not
fixedly attached to the lower portion 2 of the brewing chamber 1,
but axially movable in the direction of the arrow P1 and relative
to the lower portion 2 of the brewing chamber 1. The means required
to move the piercing member 15a are not shown. This embodiment
shows the advantage that the moment in which the bottom 4b of
the cartridge 4 is pierced can be arbitrarily chosen, independently
of the closing operation of the brewing chamber and of the hydraulic
pressure existing in the interior of the cartridge.
Preferably, the cartridge bottom 4b is pierced shortly after the
brewing water has been injected into the top of the cartridge 4-.
Also in this case, the piercing operation can be performed in two
steps. In other words, in a first step, the cartridge bottom 4b is
pierced to such an extent that the outlet channel 16a in the inte-
rior of the piercing element 15 does not yet communicate with the
interior of the cartridge 4; thus, the gas contained in the inte-
rior of the cartridge 4 can escape. In a second step, the piercing
member 15a is pushed further into the cartridge bottom 4b until
the radial apertures and the outlet channel 16a of the piercing

member 15a communicate with the interior of the cartridge such
that the liquid coffee extract can flow out through the outlet
channel 16a. This variant has the advantage that the moment in
which the cartridge bottom 4b is pierced can be chosen independent
of the closing operation of the brewing chamber and of the injec-
tion of brewing water into the cartridge. Otherwise, the alterna-
tive embodiment described herein before shows most of the previ-
ously named advantages.
The solution according to the invention can be realized in
substantially all kinds of coffee makers. Particularly suitable
are not only manual coffee makers with a manually insertable car-
tridge holder, but also semi-automatic coffee makers in which the
cartridge is manually inserted into the cartridge receptacle and
automatically removed as well as fully automatic coffee makers in
which the cartridge is both automatically inserted into the car-
tridge receptacle and automatically removed there from. However,
essential is that a certain relative axial movement between the
cartridge received in the lower portion of the brewing chamber and
the closure element takes place upon closing the brewing chamber,
to ensure that, on the one hand, the cartridge cover is reliably
pierced and, on the other hand, the cartridge bottom is at least
partially weakened. Such relative movement usually has to amount
to several millimeters and can be realized, for example, by means
of a bayonet fixing, an eccentric drive mechanism, a lever mecha-
nism, a spindle drive mechanism, a hydraulic drive mechanism or a
slotted link mechanism.

WE CLAIM :
1. Beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance
received in a cartridge having a cartridge cover and a cartridge bottom portion, comprising a brewing
chamber adapted to receive said cartridge with a lower brewing chamber portion and a closure
element, a pump for feeding brewing water under pressure into said brewing chamber, at least one
first piercing member adapted to pierce said cartridge cover, and at least one second piercing member
adapted to pierce said cartridge bottom portion, said at least one second piercing member comprising
at least one piercing tip portion and at least one outlet channel, characterized in that means are
provided for axially moving said lower brewing chamber portion relative to said closure element for
closing said brewing chamber, the length of the path of said axial movement of said lower brewing
chamber portion relative to said closure element being such that said cartridge cover is pierced by
said first piercing element, while said at least one second piercing element pierces said cartridge
bottom at the most to such an extent that said outlet channel of said at least one second piercing
element does not communicate with the interior of said cartridge.
2. Beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance
received in a cartridge having a cartridge cover and a cartridge bottom portion, comprising a brewing
chamber adapted to receive said cartridge for brewing and extracting the substance contained in said
cartridge with a lower brewing chamber portion and a closure element, a pump for feeding brewing
water under pressure into said brewing chamber, at least one first piercing member adapted to pierce
said cartridge cover and attached to said closure element, and at least one second piercing member
adapted to pierce said cartridge bottom portion and attached to or located in the region of said lower
brewing chamber portion, characterized in that means are provided for axially moving said at least
one second piercing member attached to or located in the region of said lower brewing chamber

portion relative to said lower brewing chamber portion to such an extent, after the brewing chamber
having been closed by the closure member, that the bottom of said cartridge is pierced.
3. Beverage machine as claimed in claim I, wherein said at least one first piercing member is
attached to said closure element and said at least second piercing member is attached to said lower
portion of said brewing chamber, whereby said outlet channel provided in said at least one second
piercing member is located below and behind, respectively, said piercing tip of said at least one
second piercing member, as seen in axial direction.
4. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein, by injecting brewing water into the
cartridge, said bottom of said cartridge is opened by means of said second piercing member located at
the lower portion of the brewing chamber to such an extent that the outlet channel of said second
piercing member communicates with the interior of said cartridge.
5. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second piercing member located at the
lower portion of the brewing chamber comprises a two-stage piercing portion, whereby a first stage is
designed as a piercing tip and whereby the second stage is provided with at least one opening
communicating with said outlet channel.
6. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second piercing member located at the
lower portion of the brewing chamber comprises a two-stage piercing portion, whereby the first stage
is designed as a piercing tip and whereby the second stage is provided with essentially axially
running outlet depressions, outlet channels or outlet grooves.

7. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 5 or 6. wherein said first stage of said second piercing
member has conical shape and a smooth jacket surface.
8. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lower portion of said brewing chamber
is provided with a cartridge receptacle positively enclosing said cartridge, whereby the bottom of the
cartridge is deformed by feeding pressurized water into the cartridge to such an extent that the outlet
channel provided in said second piercing member is connected to the interior of said cartridge.
9. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 3. wherein said first piercing member is centrally
attached to the closure member and said second piercing member is centrally attached to the lower
portion of the brewing chamber, whereby both said first and second piercing members are provided
with radial openings for feeding the brewing water and for dispensing the liquid beverage extract,
respectively.
10. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said closure member is provided with a
gasket member radially circumventing said first piercing member, said gasket member hydraulically
sealing the cartridge cover relative to the cartridge bottom at the outer side of the cartridge upon
closing said brewing chamber.
11. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 3. wherein said lower portion of said brewing chamber
comprises a base portion and a cartridge receptacle supported on said base portion by means of
springs, said cartridge receptacle being provided with a shoulder facing said closure member on
which said closure member rests upon closing the brewing chamber and constituting, together with a

flange member provided on the base portion, an axial stop member upon closing the brewing
chamber.
12. Beverage machine as claimed in claim I 1. wherein said second piercing member is attached
to said base portion, whereby the bottom of the cartridge receptacle is provided with an opening
whose location corresponds inasmuch with the location of the second piercing member that the
second piercing member extends through said opening when the cartridge receptacle is pressed into
said base portion upon closing the brewing chamber by said closure element against the force of said
springs.
13. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second piercing member located at the
lower portion of the brewing chamber or the conduit connected to said second piercing member is
provided with a pressure control valve.
14. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 2. wherein the bottom of the cartridge, after the start of
feeding brewing water into the cartridge, is pierced by the piercing member located at the lower
portion of the brewing chamber or in the region of the lower portion of the brewing chamber to such
an extent that the liquid extract can flow out of the cartridge through the piercing member or through
an outlet channel provided in the piercing member.
15. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein said closure member is provided with a
gasket member radially circumventing said first piercing member, said gasket member hydraulically
sealing the cartridge cover relative to the cartridge bottom at the outer side of the cartridge upon
closing said brewing chamber.

16. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein said second piercing member is attached
to said base portion, whereby the bottom of the cartridge receptacle is provided with an opening
whose location corresponds inasmuch with the location of the second piercing member that the
second piercing member extends through said opening when the cartridge receptacle is pressed into
said base portion upon closing the brewing chamber by said closure element against the force of said
springs.
17. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 16. wherein said second piercing member is attached
to said base portion, whereby the bottom of the cartridge receptacle is provided with an opening
whose location corresponds inasmuch with the location of the second piercing member that the
second piercing member extends through said opening when the cartridge receptacle is pressed into
said base portion upon closing the brewing chamber by said closure element against the force of said
springs.
18. Beverage machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein said second piercing member located at
the lower portion of the brewing chamber or the conduit connected to said second piercing member is
provided with a pressure control valve.
19. A method of preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a
cartridge, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:
providing a brewing chamber adapted for receiving the cartridge and having a first piercing
member incorporating a brewing water feed channel and a second piercing member incorporating a
beverage outlet channel;

enclosing the cartridge in said brewing chamber and piercing a first side of the cartridge by
means of said first piercing member;
partially piercing the cartridge at the opposite side of the cartridge by means of said second
piercing member to such an extent that said outlet channel of said second piercing element is not yet
connected to the interior of the cartridge; and
feeding brewing water through said brewing water feed channel of said first piercing member
into the interior of the cartridge to create a hydraulic overpressure in the interior of the cartridge,
thereby expanding the cartridge such that it is fully pierced by said second piercing member at said
opposite side to connect the interior of the cartridge to said beverage outlet channel in said second
piercing member.
20. A method of preparing a hot beverage by brewing and extracting a substance received in a
cartridge, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:
providing a brewing chamber adapted for receiving the cartridge and having a first piercing
member incorporating a brewing water feed channel and a second piercing member incorporating a
beverage outlet channel;
enclosing the cartridge in said brewing chamber and piercing a first side of the cartridge by
means of said first piercing member;
feeding brewing water through said brewing water feed channel of said first piercing member
into the interior of the cartridge to create a hydraulic overpressure in the interior of the cartridge; and
piercing the cartridge by means of said second piercing member at said opposite side to
connect the interior of the cartridge to said beverage outlet channel in said second piercing member.

The beverage machine for preparing a hot beverage by brewing
and extracting a substance received in a cartridge is provided
with a brewing chamber comprising a lower brewing chamber portion
and a closure element. The lower portion of the brewing chamber
serves for positively receiving of the cartridge. On both the lower
brewing chamber portion and the closure element, piercing elements
are provided for piercing the cartridge at opposite sides
thereof. Upon closing the brewing chamber, the lower portion
thereof, together with the cartridge received therein, is axialiy
moved relative to the closure member to such an extent that the
cover of the cartridge is pierced by means of the one piercing
member. The bottom of the cartridge is pierced by the other piercing
member only to such an extent that the tip of the piercing
member penetrates the bottom of the cartridge, without a beverage
outlet channel provided in the other piercing element being connected
to the interior of the cartridge.

Documents:

983-kol-2005-granted-abstract.pdf

983-kol-2005-granted-claims.pdf

983-kol-2005-granted-correspondence.pdf

983-kol-2005-granted-description (complete).pdf

983-kol-2005-granted-drawings.pdf

983-kol-2005-granted-examination report.pdf

983-kol-2005-granted-form 1.pdf

983-kol-2005-granted-form 18.pdf

983-kol-2005-granted-form 2.pdf

983-kol-2005-granted-form 3.pdf

983-kol-2005-granted-form 5.pdf

983-kol-2005-granted-gpa.pdf

983-kol-2005-granted-priority document.pdf

983-kol-2005-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

983-kol-2005-granted-specification.pdf

983-kol-2005-granted-translated copy of priority document.pdf

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Patent Number

225993

Indian Patent Application Number

983/KOL/2005

PG Journal Number

49/2008

Publication Date

05-Dec-2008

Grant Date

03-Dec-2008

Date of Filing

28-Oct-2005

Name of Patentee

SCHIFFERLE RENE

Applicant Address

AARETALSTRASSE 11 CH-5312 DOETTINGEN

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	SCHIFFERLE RENE	AARETALSTRASSE 11 CH-5312 DOETTINGEN

PCT International Classification Number

A67J 31/00

PCT International Application Number

N/A

PCT International Filing date

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	10 2004 056 317.9	2004-11-22	Germany