Method for preparing a beverage or liquid food and system using brewing centrifugal force

Abstract

A method and system for preparing a beverage or liquid from a food substance contained in a filtering receptacle by passing water through the substance using brewing centrifugal forces. The method includes feeding water into the receptacle, and driving the receptacle in centrifugal rotation to force water to flow through the substance in a centrifugal flow path to the outlet of the receptacle. The system includes equipment necessary to carry out the method. The receptacle is a sealed capsule which is opened for water to be introduced into the capsule, contains a predetermined dose of food substance and is discarded after use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for preparing a beverage or liquid food from a predetermined dose of a food substance contained in a sealed filtering capsule that is cup-shaped and has a longitudinal axis of rotation that passes vertically and centrally through the cup, which comprises injecting water into the capsule along the longitudinal axis, and centrifugally rotating the capsule about the axis of rotation in order to force the water to flow through the substance in the capsule in a centrifugal flow path to an outlet to prepare the beverage or liquid food. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage or liquid food is prepared in a beverage preparation device, and the method comprises:
 opening the capsule and introducing water therein, and   centrifugally rotating the capsule in the beverage preparation device to force the water to flow through the substance in the centrifugal flow path to form the beverage of liquid food,   wherein the capsule is discarded after preparing the beverage.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the capsule is centrifugally rotated at a centrifugal speed of at least 500 rpm, the water is introduced in the capsule at substantially no pressure, and the outlet is made before or when water is introduced in the capsule. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein, after insertion of the capsule in the beverage preparation device, the capsule is opened for the water to be introduced therein by piercing of the capsule or by piercing or removal of a sealing foil of the capsule. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule is sealed in a gas tight manner and contains ground coffee powder, soluble coffee, tea, chocolate, whitener, flavours or combinations thereof, with the dose of the substance included therein forming one or two servings of the beverage, and with the capsule having an axis of rotation that is vertical or inclined relative to vertical at an angle that is less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , which further comprise piercing the capsule to form the outlet as one or more peripheral outlets on a lid or sidewall of the capsule. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet is formed by pressure exerted on a deflectable portion of the capsule by liquid movement due to the centrifugal forces. 
     
     
         8 . A system for preparing a beverage or liquid food from a predetermined dose of a food substance contained in a sealed filtering capsule that has a longitudinal axis of rotation that passes vertically and centrally through the capsule, comprising:
 a device comprising:
 water feed means for introducing water into the capsule, and 
 means for centrifugally rotating the capsule about its axis of rotation to force the water to flow through the substance in the capsule in a centrifugal flow path to prepare the beverage or liquid food; 
   the sealed filtering capsule being insertable in the device for preparing the beverage or liquid food and then removable from the device after preparing the beverage or liquid food, and   referencing means for positioning and referencing the capsule in a removable manner in the device and in operational relationship with the water feed means and along an axis of rotation in the centrifugal rotating means, with the referencing means comprising a water injection structure that engages an upper portion of the capsule and is rotatable therewith and that also includes means for piercing a water inlet in the capsule at its longitudinal central axis.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the referencing means further comprises a capsule holder associated with the centrifugal rotating means for allowing the capsule to be rotated around its central axis at a centrifugal speed of at least 500 rpm. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the capsule has a cup-shaped body and a pierceable sealing lid comprising a flexible membrane that is attached to the cup-shaped body. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the capsule comprises trunconical sidewalls and the sealing lid is made of a rigid plastic, wherein the lid and body are attached via peripheral deflectable sealing means that includes at least one peripheral plastic lip engaged in a seat and which opens by effect of the centrifugal effect to form an outlet for the beverage or liquid food. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the capsule has an axis of rotation and comprises a pierceable membrane, and the device comprises inlet piercing means of a single needle for piercing the membrane and for enabling the water feed means to introduce water in the capsule, with the inlet piercing means arranged to pierce at least one water inlet at the axis of rotation of the capsule. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the capsule has an axis of rotation and the device comprises outlet piercing means for enabling the beverage or liquid food to exit the capsule wherein the outlet piercing means are radially positioned with respect to the axis of rotation of the capsule in the device, wherein the outlet piercing means comprises a series of needles positioned in a circular pattern and arranged in relation to the capsule to pierce radial holes in the capsule. 
     
     
         14 . A device for preparing a beverage or liquid food from a food substance contained in a sealed capsule that has a longitudinal axis of rotation that passes vertically and centrally through the capsule, by passing water through the substance in the capsule, the device comprising:
 water feed means for introducing water into the capsule, and   means for centrifugally rotating the capsule about its axis of rotation to force the water to flow through the substance in the capsule in a centrifugal flow path to prepare the beverage or liquid food; and   referencing means for positioning and referencing the capsule in a removable manner in the device and in operational relationship with the water feed means and along an axis of rotation in the centrifugal rotating means, with the referencing means comprising a water injection structure that engages an upper portion of the capsule and is rotatable therewith and that also includes means for piercing a water inlet in the capsule at its longitudinal central axis.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the centrifugal rotating means comprises a drive shaft and an electrical motor connected to the referencing means for rotating the capsule, and the referencing means is designed for receiving the capsule in a removable manner and for receiving the capsule in the device in an operational relationship with the water feed means and the centrifugal rotating means. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the referencing means comprises a capsule holder having a cavity which is rotatable and which is connected to the motor via a drive shaft arranged for driving the capsule holder about a central rotational axis. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the water injection structure of the referencing means comprises a water injection lid that closes onto the capsule, is traversed by a water conduit. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14 , which further comprises means for piercing peripheral outlets for enabling the beverage or liquid food to leave the capsule, wherein the piercing means is formed by a series of needles on the injection lid. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 14 , which further comprises a collector for collecting the beverage or liquid food, the collector including a by-pass conduit arranged to add a volume of water into the collector without such water passing into the capsule. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 14 , which further comprises a control unit adapted to vary the speed of the centrifugal rotation means for rotating the capsule at at least two different centrifugal speeds to provide different centrifugal pressures of water in the capsule. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the water feed means comprises a pump and an injection tube connected to a water reservoir for injection of water in the capsule under the effect of rotational momentum.