Beverage producing system and capsule

Abstract

A system for preparing an edible product includes a brewing chamber configured to receive a capsule that contains at least one ingredient for preparing the edible product by flowing water therethrough includes a water-inlet wall and a product-outlet wall. The product-outlet wall has at least a first, pierceable wall portion, and a second, pierceable wall portion. The second wall portion is recessed with respect to the first wall portion. The product-outlet wall is asymmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the capsule.

1 . A system for preparing an edible product, comprising:
 a capsule containing at least one ingredient for preparing the edible product by flowing water there through, the capsule comprising:
 a water-inlet wall; 
 a product-outlet wall; and 
 at least one ingredient for preparing the edible product within the capsule, 
 wherein the product-outlet wall comprises at least a first wall portion configured to be pierced, a second wall portion configured to be pierced, the second wall portion being recessed with respect to the first wall portion, and a third wall portion that is inwardly curved into the capsule and joins the first wall portion to the second wall portion, the capsule further comprising a first sidewall portion extending from the first wall portion to the water-inlet wall, and a second sidewall portion that is opposite of the first sidewall portion with respect to the water-inlet wall, the second sidewall portion extending from the second wall portion to the water-inlet wall, 
 wherein the product-outlet wall is asymmetrical with respect to a longitudinal plane that extends through a center of the capsule and separates the first wall portion from the second wall portion, and 
 wherein the second wall portion is configured to be pierced by a piercing member when the second wall portion expands under a pressure in the capsule, the edible product being configured to flow out of the capsule once the second wall portion is pierced by the piercing member when the second wall portion expands under the pressure in the capsule; and 
   a brewing chamber configured to selectively receive the capsule in two alternative positions, and comprising at least one first piercing member and one second piercing member, the first piercing member being shorter than the second piercing member, the first piercing member being arranged to pierce the first wall portion when the capsule is introduced in the brewing chamber with the first wall portion facing the first piercing member, and the second piercing member being configured to allow the edible product to be delivered there through when the second wall portion expands under the pressure in the capsule.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second piercing member is configured to pierce the second wall portion when the second wall portion expands under the pressure in the capsule. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second wall portion extends in a central area of the product-outlet wall. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal plane of said capsule intersects the third wall portion. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule has g two alternative positions of use, defined by a mutual position of the first wall portion and the second wall portion in the brewing chamber, wherein the two alternative positions of use differ by a rotation of the capsule by a 180 degrees about the longitudinal plane. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall portion and the second wall portion are arranged side-by-side along a transverse direction of the capsule transverse to the longitudinal plane. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the product-outlet wall is formed entirely by the first wall portion, the second wall portion and the third wall portion, and wherein the second wall portion is entirely recessed with respect to the first wall portion. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall portion is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal plane of the capsule. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a recognition element arranged in an asymmetrical position with respect to the longitudinal plane of the capsule, wherein the recognition element is formed on a rim surrounding the water-inlet wall and comprises a tag projecting sideways from the capsule. 
     
     
         10 . A device for preparing an edible product, comprising:
 a brewing chamber configured to receive a capsule, the capsule containing at least one ingredient for preparing an edible product by flowing water there through, the capsule comprising:
 a water-inlet wall; 
 a product-outlet wall; and 
 at least one ingredient for preparing the edible product within the capsule, 
 wherein the product-outlet wall comprises at least a first wall portion configured to be pierced, a second wall portion configured to be pierced, the second wall portion being recessed with respect to the first wall portion, and a third wall portion that is inwardly curved into the capsule and joins the first wall portion to the second wall portion, the capsule further comprising a first sidewall portion extending from the first wall portion to the water-inlet wall, and a second sidewall portion that is opposite of the first sidewall portion with respect to the water-inlet wall, the second sidewall portion extending from the second wall portion to the water-inlet wall, 
 wherein the product-outlet wall is asymmetrical with respect to a longitudinal plane that extends through a center of the capsule and separates the first wall portion from the second wall portion, and 
 wherein the second wall portion is configured to be pierced by a piercing member of the device when the second wall portion expands under a pressure in the capsule, the edible product being configured to flow out of the capsule once the second wall portion is pierced by the piercing member when the second wall portion expands under the pressure in the capsule; and 
   at a first end wall of the brewing chamber, at least one water inlet duct configured to deliver water in the brewing chamber;   at a second end wall of the brewing chamber, at least one product outlet duct configured to dispense the edible product from the brewing chamber; and   at least one first, shorter piercing member and one second, longer piercing member, both projecting from the second end wall towards an interior of the brewing chamber.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the first, shorter piercing member and the second, longer piercing member are arranged asymmetrically with respect to a longitudinal plane that extends through a center of the brewing chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the second, longer piercing member is arranged in a central position of the second end wall. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the second, longer piercing member is arranged on the longitudinal plane of the brewing chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , comprising a sensor configured to detect an insertion position of the capsule in the brewing chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , comprising a pump configured to pump pressurized water in the brewing chamber, and a control device configured to control at least one pump parameter as a function of a beverage selection. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one pump parameter is controlled based on a signal from the sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the brewing chamber comprises a recess configured to receive a capsule rim, and wherein the sensor is arranged at the recess and configured to detect an angular position of insertion of the capsule in the brewing chamber. 
     
     
         18 . A system for preparing an edible product, comprising:
 a capsule containing at least one ingredient for preparing the edible product by flowing water there through; and   a brewing chamber configured to receive the capsule,   wherein the capsule comprises:
 a water-inlet wall; 
 a product-outlet wall; and 
 at least one ingredient for preparing the edible product within the capsule, 
 wherein the product-outlet wall comprises at least a first wall portion configured to be pierced, a second wall portion configured to be pierced, the second wall portion being recessed with respect to the first wall portion, and a third wall portion that is inwardly curved into the capsule and joins the first wall portion to the second wall portion, the capsule further comprising a first sidewall portion extending from the first wall portion to the water-inlet wall, and a second sidewall portion that is opposite of the first sidewall portion with respect to the water-inlet wall, the second sidewall portion extending from the second wall portion to the water-inlet wall, 
 wherein the product-outlet wall is asymmetrical with respect to a longitudinal plane that extends through a center of the capsule and separates the first wall portion from the second wall portion, and 
 wherein the second wall portion is configured to be pierced by a piercing member when the second wall portion expands under a pressure in the capsule, the edible product being configured to flow out of the capsule once the second wall portion is pierced by the piercing member when the second wall portion expands under the pressure in the capsule. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the piercing member comprises a first piercing member and a second piercing member, both projecting from the second wall portion of the brewing chamber towards an interior of the brewing chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first piercing member is shorter than the second piercing member.