Beverage or foodstuff preparation system

Abstract

A container for use with a machine for preparing a beverage and/or foodstuff or a precursor thereof, the container including: a storage portion comprising a cavity with sidewalls and abase for containing a precursor material; a closing member to close the storage portion, and; a flange portion to interconnect the storage portion and the closing member, wherein the sidewalls comprise a shoulder proximal the flange portion or proximal the base that extends outwardly to define a void defining region of the sidewall that is arranged between the shoulder and the base, the shoulder arranged to engage a container holding portion of a processing unit of the machine with the void defining region arranged distal the container holding portion to form a void therebetween.

1 . A container for use with a machine for preparing a beverage and/or foodstuff or a precursor thereof, the container including:
 a storage portion comprising a cavity with sidewalls and a base for containing a precursor material;   a closing member to close the storage portion, and;   a flange portion to interconnect the storage portion and the closing member,   wherein the sidewalls comprise a shoulder proximal the flange portion or proximal the base that extends outwardly to define a void defining region of the sidewall that is arranged between the shoulder and the base,   the shoulder arranged to engage a container holding portion of a processing unit of the machine with the void defining region arranged distal the container holding portion to form a void therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least the sidewalls of the storage portion is formed of a wood pulp based material. 
     
     
         3 . The container of either of  claim 1 , wherein the shoulder extends from the flange portion to a rim of the sidewall. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the shoulder has a depth distance S between the flange portion and the rim of the sidewall of less than 70% of a total depth D of the storage portion. 
     
     
         5 . The container of either  claim 3 , wherein the shoulder has a depth distance S between the flange portion and the rim of the sidewall of greater than 5% of the total depth D of the storage portion. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the void defining region extends from the shoulder to the base of the container. 
     
     
         7 . The container of any  claim 1 , wherein an average of a separation distance N between the void defining region of the sidewall and the container holding portion is at least 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The container of anyone of  claim 1 , wherein
 the container is arranged to be stacked within a second corresponding container, whereby a rim of the shoulder of the container engages a flange portion of the second container and at least part of the void defining region of the sidewall of the container is distal an interior of a cavity of the second container.   
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is arranged to be stacked within a second corresponding container, whereby a rim of the shoulder of the container engages a flange portion of the second container and at least part of the void defining region of the sidewall of the container is distal an interior of a cavity of the second container. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , comprising stiffener portions to stiffen the void defining region of the sidewall. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the stiffener portions protrude into an interior of the storage portion and not outwardly from an exterior. 
     
     
         12 . The container of either of  claim 10 , wherein the stiffener portions are arranged as channels that bridge the base and the void defining region of the side wall. 
     
     
         13 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of preparing a beverage and/or foodstuff or a precursor thereof, the method comprising:
 arranging a container containing precursor material in a container holding portion of a processing unit of a machine;   engaging a shoulder of a sidewall of the container that is profiled to maintain a void between a portion of the sidewall between a base and the shoulder, and;   processing the precursor material.   
     
     
         16 . A method of filling a container with precursor material, the method comprising:
 arranging the container in a container holding portion of a filling machine;   engaging a shoulder of a sidewall of the container that is profiled to maintain a void between a portion of the sidewall between a base and the shoulder, and;   filling the container with the precursor material.