Method of improving the production of foam during the preparation of drinks from a cartridge and device for its implementation

Abstract

Method of obtaining a frothy drink from a cartridge, the said cartridge being made up of at least one chamber containing at least a preparation for a drink. The method comprises injecting into the said cartridge a predetermined volume of fluid, a first part of which essentially consists of air which is compressed in the cartridge to a pressure lower than the pressure at which the cartridge opens or the drink flows freely through the said cartridge and a second part of which consists of water, or possibly of a mixture of air and water, which is injected after the first part into the cartridge so as to make it possible to obtain the drink by causing the internal pressure to increase until the cartridge opens or the drink flows freely through the cartridge thus allowing the drink to be discharged and froth to be formed.

1 . Method of obtaining a frothy drink from a cartridge, the cartridge comprising a chamber containing a preparation for a drink, comprising:
 injecting a predetermined volume of fluid into the cartridge, by injecting a phase consisting essentially of air which is compressed to form a reserve pocket of air in the cartridge, compressed to a pressure lower than the pressure at which the cartridge opens or at which the drink flows freely through the cartridge, and then,   by injecting a phase comprising water which mixes with the air in the cartridge the water phase causing an increase in the internal pressure until the cartridge opens or the drink flows freely through the cartridge thus allowing the drink to be discharged and froth to be formed.   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined volume of fluid comprises a predetermined volume of air contained in at least one storage member, which fills with air before each cycle of injection into the cartridge. 
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined volume of fluid comprises a volume of water which is injected into the cartridge, acting like a piston so as to drive the volume of air until it is introduced into the cartridge. 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 3 , wherein the volume of water injected is not heated. 
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined volume of air is at least 10 cubic centimeters. 
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined volume of air is at least 15 cubic centimeters. 
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge has a headspace smaller than the volume of air injected into the cartridge. 
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge opens, in order to allow the drink to flow out, via a wall of the cartridge which tears or becomes pierced upon contact with tearing or piercing elements when a certain fluid pressure within the cartridge is reached. 
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is injected by means of at least one pressurized jet within the cartridge. 
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein the fluid is injected by at least one jet injected from a position off-centred in the cartridge so as to create a swirling movement in the liquid. 
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the preparation contained in the cartridge is a preparation that dissolves in the water during injection. 
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 11 , wherein the preparation is selected from the group consisting of soluble coffee, soluble tea, instant chocolate, powdered milk, fruit juice, an infusion and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . Method of obtaining a drink from a cartridge comprising:
 injecting a phase consisting essentially of air under a pressure lower than the pressure at which the cartridge opens; and   injecting a phase comprising water which mixes with the air in the cartridge.   
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined volume of air is at least 20 cubic centimeters.