Card for containing food or beverage ingredients

Abstract

A card for containing food or beverage ingredients includes a substantially planar and rigid base portion, at least two ingredient compartments for storing the ingredients, and at least two discharge portions. Each of the discharge portions are linked to one of the compartments and extend along the plane of the base portion. At least one sealing member is provided on the base portion covering the compartments and discharge portions on the base portion side of the card. The card is designed for insertion in a food and beverage preparation device in order to dispense the ingredients from the compartments via the discharge portions. Further, a food and beverage preparation system includes such a card and also a food and beverage preparation device. A method for preparing food or beverages uses the card.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A card for containing food or beverage ingredients comprising:
 a substantially planar and rigid base portion;   at least two ingredient compartments for storing the ingredients and at least two discharge portions, each discharge portion being linked to one of the compartments and being formed by recesses protruding from the plane of the base portion;   at least one sealing member provided on the base portion covering the compartments and discharge portions on the base portion side of the card; and   the card is designed for insertion in a food and beverage preparation device to dispense the ingredients from the compartments via the discharge portions.   
     
     
         2 . The card according to  claim 1 , wherein both the compartments and discharge portions are formed by recesses, wherein the recesses protrude in the same direction from the plane of the base portion. 
     
     
         3 . The card according to  claim 1 , wherein the discharge portions of the card extend from the respective compartments to a common mixing chamber, and a further discharge portion extends from the mixing chamber along the plane of the base portion. 
     
     
         4 . The card according to  claim 1 , comprising a static mixer provided in at least one of the discharge portions. 
     
     
         5 . The card according to  claim 1 , comprising a flow controlling element arranged in at least one discharge portion and being moveable therein, the flow controlling element comprising channels to allow for the ingredients to pass the discharge portions. 
     
     
         6 . The card according to  claim 5 , wherein the flow controlling element comprises a piercing member for piercing of a closing member closing an inlet or outlet of a discharge portion. 
     
     
         7 . The card according to  claim 6 , wherein the flow controlling element being provided in the mixing chamber comprises an actuation member protruding through the sealing member and allowing to control a movement of the flow controlling element, and further comprises a first piercing member and at least a second piercing member, each of the first and second piercing members allowing it to pierce closing member closing an inlet or outlet of a discharge portion. 
     
     
         8 . The card according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one outlet of a discharge portion forms an outlet of the card in a lateral end region of the base portion. 
     
     
         9 . Card according to  claim 1 , wherein the discharge portions comprise a clamping portion to be clamped by a clamping member of a food and beverage preparation device to control the fluid flow through the respective channel. 
     
     
         10 . A food and beverage preparation device comprising:
 a card receiving element designed to receive a card comprising a substantially planar and rigid base portion, at least two ingredient compartments for storing the ingredients and at least two discharge portions, each discharge portion being linked to one of the compartments and being formed by recesses protruding from the plane of the base portion, at least one sealing member provided on the base portion covering the compartments and discharge portions on the base portion side of the card, and the card is designed for insertion in a food and beverage preparation device to dispense the ingredients from the compartments via the discharge portions;   a dispensing member interacting with the compartments of the card to dispense the ingredients from the respective compartments; and   a fluid injection member for injecting a liquid into the compartments.   
     
     
         11 . The preparation device according to  claim 10 , comprising additional fluid injection member for injecting a gas or a liquid into a discharge portion or a mixing chamber of the card. 
     
     
         12 . The preparation device according to  claim 10 , further comprising an actuator for moving a flow controlling element. 
     
     
         13 . The preparation device according to  claim 10 , comprising a heating and/or cooling member adapted to be brought into contact with a surface of the card for cooling or heating up of its content. 
     
     
         14 . The preparation device according to  claim 13 , wherein the heating and/or cooling member comprises a thermally conductive element having an adaptable shape, the thermally conductive element being located such that when a card is inserted in the device, it is in contact with the card. 
     
     
         15 . A food or beverage producing system comprising:
 a card for containing food or beverage ingredients comprising a substantially planar and rigid base portion, at least two ingredient compartments for storing the ingredients and at least two discharge portions, each discharge portion being linked to one of the compartments and being formed by recesses protruding from the plane of the base portion, at least one sealing member provided on the base portion covering the compartments and discharge portions on the base portion side of the card, and the card is designed for insertion in a food and beverage preparation device to dispense the ingredients from the compartments via the discharge portions; and   a food and beverage preparation device comprising   a card receiving element designed to receive a card comprising a substantially planar and rigid base portion;   at least two ingredient compartments for storing the ingredients and at least two discharge portions, each discharge portion being linked to one of the compartments and being formed by recesses protruding from the plane of the base portion;   at least one sealing member provided on the base portion covering the compartments and discharge portions on the base portion side of the card; and   a dispensing member interacting with the compartments of the card to dispense the ingredients from the respective compartments, the card is designed for insertion in the food and beverage preparation device to dispense the ingredients from the compartments via the discharge portions; and   a fluid injection member for injecting a liquid into the compartments.