Field of the invention

The present invention relates to beverage dispensers configured for providing alternatively hot and cold beverages.

Background of the invention

It is known to prepare beverages by mixing a beverage concentrate such as a dry powder or a liquid concentrate with a diluent such as cold or hot water. One way to implement the mixing of the concentrate and the diluent is the so-called in-cup mixing where the beverage concentrate is introduced into a drinking cup and then at least a stream or jet of diluent is introduced to the cup in order to enable an interaction of the beverage concentrate and the diluent. Accordingly, the beverage concentrate is dissolved and eventually frothed by the diluent in order to prepare the beverage. Usually the dose of concentrate that is introduced in the empty drinking cup is dosed and dispensed from a storage tank.

The dispenser can comprise several storage tanks holding different types of concentrates - e.g. coffee powder, milk powder, cocoa powder, tea powder - for preparing different types of beverages from each powder or by mixtures of said powders. The dispenser is configured for introducing the jet of diluent in the cup according to specific parameters depending on the nature of the ingredient to be dissolved. These parameters can relate to the volume of diluent introduced in the cup, the velocity of the diluent jet, the movement of the diluent jet during dispensing and influence the effective dissolution of the concentrate and also the texture of the concentrate. For example a high jet velocity enables the incorporation of air in the beverage during its preparation and the creation of foam on the top of the beverage ; such a foam is desired for a milky or chocolate beverage but not for a tea. In that last case the diluent shall be introduced with a low velocity in order to create fewer bubbles as possible on the surface of the final beverage. Usually the controller of the dispenser stores information about the process of dissolution in relation to each concentrate and each selected beverage.

It is also known to prepare beverages in the simplest way by introducing hot water in particular drinking cups comprising a pre-packed quantity of a beverage concentrate. Such cups are known as opercule cups. Generally the pre-packed quantity of beverage concentrate is disposed in a compartment closed by removable sealing means so that the concentrate is protected from air and moisture before the cup is used. This kind of opercule cups are described in WO2008003570. To prepare the beverage the consumer can introduce hot water from a kettle directly inside the cup. As there can be no control of the process of introduction of the diluent in said cup, the quality of the beverage can only be controlled through the properties of the concentrate packed in the cup ; for example, the foamy aspect of cappuccino can only be obtained by the introduction of a foaming agent in the composition of the beverage concentrate.

It has been proposed to use a beverage dispenser to fill such opercule cups with a diluent for the preparation of beverages. Yet the dispenser introduces the diluent in the opercule cup without information about the nature of the concentrate packed in the cup and cannot produce a stream of diluent in the cup fully optimised with the nature of the concentrate to be dissolved.

One object of the present invention is to propose a solution to the above problem related to the filling of opercule cups with a beverage dispenser.

In the field of the preparation of food and beverages by means of a machine it has been known to provide containers holding beverage ingredients with a code enabling the machine to get information about the ingredient hold in the container. In particular such codes are applied on single dose beverage capsules for small home machines or on multidose containers for foodservice beverage dispensers. These codes can be optical codes, magnetic codes, RFID codes, mechanical codes. These codes present drawbacks when used in the field of beverage production : some can be easily copied (barcodes, optical codes, mechanical codes), some are too expensive for disposable containers (RFID tags) and others are not reliable if water, steam or beverage residues are deposited upon (barcodes, optical codes).

Consequently there is a need for a code that can simultaneously combine the advantage of low cost, difficulty to copy and the use in a beverage dispenser.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect, the invention concerns a container enclosing a beverage or food ingredient, wherein the container carries at least one dielectric or conductive pattern said pattern encoding information.

In the context of the present invention, a dielectric pattern is a pattern defining areas or regions having different dielectric properties, in particular different dielectric coefficients. Similarly, a conductive pattern is a pattern defining areas or regions having different conductive properties, in particular different conductivities. The dielectric coefficient and/or conductivity may vary continuously over the pattern or in discrete steps. The pattern may comprise two distinct coefficients or a plurality of predefined dielectric coefficients/conductivities. Preferably, the first material of the container is made of a material that presents a first dielectric coefficient ε1 and the pattern carried by said container is made of a second material with a second dielectric coefficient ε2, the second coefficient ε2 being different from the first coefficient ε1. Other terms for the dielectric coefficient may include capacitivity, dielectric constant, dielectric permittivity, inductive capacity, permittivity and/or relative permittivity.

According to the preferred embodiment the first material the container is made of is electrically non-conductive, whereas the second material the pattern is made of is conductive. Yet the embodiment wherein the first material the container is made of is electrically conductive, whereas the second material the pattern is made of is non-conductive can also be implemented.

Examples of electrically conductive materials include, without being limited to, metals, metal particles, materials comprising conductive particles, conductive polymers or any combination of the mentioned materials. Preferably metals (for example aluminum, copper, iron, ...), graphite, soot and/or dielectric materials can be considered. Combinations of these materials or even alloys are also possible. Even doped semiconducting material or conductive synthetic materials are conceivable It is preferred that the conductive particles comprise carbon black and/or graphite particles. Beyond these materials salts and electrolytes are also possible as well as liquids, inks and fluids and/or combination of the mentioned materials. It is preferred that liquids, fluids and the like materials get gelled and/or cured, tempered or in any other way stabilized for further processing and/or handling. Stabilizing can also be reached by penetration of the fluids into a soaking surface.

Preferably the at least one dielectric or conductive pattern presents a design defined by curves fills, for example, rectangles, circles, or similar figures. The spatial relationships of the sections to one another represent (orientation, number, distance and/or position), and/or the shape of the partial areas preferably represent the information

The container can carry the at least one dielectric or conductive pattern on any surface that can be made accessible to a reader. According to the preferred embodiment the container carries the at least one dielectric or conductive pattern on its external surface. Yet for a drinking cup the dielectric or conductive pattern can also be positioned on the surface of the cup positioned inside the drinking volume, preferably on the upper part of the cup.

According to a first embodiment the at least one dielectric or conductive pattern can be printed on the container. The pattern can be printed with a conductive ink.

According to a second embodiment the at least one dielectric or conductive pattern can be applied on the surface of the container by foil application. For example the dielectric or conductive pattern can be applied according to the process defined in US 201 1/0253789 or US 2012/0125993.

According to a second embodiment the at least one dielectric or conductive pattern can be applied by vacuum deposition.

According to a third embodiment the at least one dielectric or conductive pattern can be printed on a label said label being further attached to the container. As above the pattern can be either printed, foil applied or vacuum deposited on the label itself.

Whatever the embodiment, the pattern can be covered by a laminate.

Information encoded by the pattern preferably relate to features, properties or processing of the beverage or food ingredient enclosed in the container.

According to a first mode the container of the present invention encloses a beverage or food ingredient and preferably said ingredient forms a beverage or a food when it is processed inside the container. Usually the processing consists in mixing the beverage or food ingredient with a diluent inside the container. Generally the diluent is water. The food or beverage ingredient enclosed in the container can be a powder or a liquid concentrate. Preferably the beverage concentrate ingredient is selected in the list of instant coffee powder, milk powder, instant tea powder, cocoa powder, soup powder or mixture of said powders. The beverage concentrate can also be a liquid selected in the list of a coffee concentrate, a milk concentrate, a syrup.

According to the preferred embodiment of the first mode the container is a drinking cup enclosing a single serving portion of beverage or food ingredient. The food or beverage ingredient is usually disposed in a compartment of the drinking cup closed by removable sealing means. Then the concentrate is protected from air and moisture before the cup is used. According to a particular mode the food or beverage ingredient can be pre-packed in an insert having the shape of second cup, said second cup being smaller than the drinking cup so that this insert can be slid in the drinking cup and positioned at its bottom with its opening turned upwards the opening of the cup. This insert can present any shape or size. Usually its volume does not exceed one third of the internal volume of the drinking cup. The insert can be made of any material. Preferably it is made out of an injection molded thermoplastic material like polystyrene or polyethylene. The insert can be closed by a peelable removable foil made for instance of aluminium. For practical reasons the foil usually presents a tab, said tab being accessible from the top edges of the drinking cup. For such a drinking cup the capacitive pattern can be positioned under the bottom wall of the cup or on the external side wall of the cup although it could also be possible to position the pattern on the edges of the cup or even on the internal walls of the cup. For such a drinking cup the information encoded by the pattern particularly relate to the process of introducing a diluent in the cup. According to a second mode the container can be a multiple serving portion beverage or food ingredient container. Such a container usually encloses a powder or a concentrate such as described hereabove. For such a multiple serving portion container the information encoded by the pattern particularly relate to the process of dosing the beverage or food ingredient from the container and the process for preparing a beverage or a food from this dose of ingredient in the beverage dispenser. In a particular embodiment of this second mode the multiple serving portion beverage or food ingredient container can comprise an integrated dosing or pumping device and also eventually an integrated mixing device. Such containers are described for example in publications WO 2009/019141 , WO 2006/ 05401 , WO 2010/1 15888 or US 51 14047. For such multiple serving portion containers the information encoded by the pattern can particularly relate to the process of dosing or pumping the beverage or food ingredient in the container and eventually the process conditions for mixing this dose of ingredient in the container mixing chamber with a diluent.

Whatever the mode or the embodiment the container of the present invention is preferably a single use container. It is usually disposable.

According to a second aspect the invention relates to a food or beverage dispenser adapted for decoding information encoded by the pattern carried by a container such as described hereabove and for preparing a food or a beverage from the beverage or food ingredient enclosed in the container.

The food or beverage dispenser comprises usual means for preparing a beverage or a food starting from a food or beverage ingredient. In particular for the preparation of a beverage the dispenser generally comprises a water supply, a water pump, a water heater and means for contacting water and the food or beverage ingredient. According to the invention the dispenser preferably includes a reading device for reading the dielectric or conductive pattern carried by the container. Preferably the reading device presents a surface for facing at least a part of the container carrying the pattern when the container is positioned for pattern reading in the dispenser. Preferably the dispenser comprises a container receiving area configured so that the dielectric or conductive pattern carried by the container is automatically positioned close to the reading device. For example the container receiving area can present a shape in which the container can exactly fit - for example a drinking cup holder - or the container receiving area can present indication means for informing the consumer or operator how to place the container in the receiving area.

According to the preferred embodiment the reading device comprises an electrode arrangement designed so that the pattern is detected, recorded and data processed. The electrodes can be designed and arranged in such a way that the number and/or size and/or form and/or position of the pattern of the container, can be recognized, retrieved and further processed.

According to the preferred embodiment the reading device is interconnected with the controller of the dispenser. The controller of the dispenser is usually configured to carry out instructions coded in the pattern to prepare a beverage or a food. The container can, in connection with the reading device through its pattern, be assigned to or trigger actions of the dispenser.

The information encoded by the pattern or the data extracted from the pattern by the reading device can be simple data which can be used in order to trigger actions in the program run on the dispenser itself.

According to another embodiment the information encoded by the pattern or the data extracted from the pattern by the reading device can be signed information used to perform actions in the program sequence of the dispenser and/or an external data processing system to which the dispenser is connected and which can be connected via a data network to trigger (for example internet).

According to another embodiment the information encoded by the pattern or the data extracted from the pattern by the reading device can be encrypted information which can be decrypted by the program sequence of the dispenser and/or an external data processing system to which the dispenser is connected and that causes actions in the program sequence of the dispenser or in the external data processing system.

According to the present invention the dielectric or conductive pattern, the process for placing said pattern on a container, the device for reading the code such as described in the publications WO 2008/043794, WO 2010/043422, WO 2010/051802 can be implemented.

According to a third aspect the invention relates to a food or beverage production system of a container and a food or beverage dispenser such as described hereabove.

In the system the information encoded by the pattern carried by the container can include at least one of the following information :

- nature of the food or beverage ingredient,

- authenticity of the food or beverage ingredient,

- a date of expiration of the food or beverage ingredient enclosed in the container,

- an expiration date determined from the date when the pattern is read by the reading device, - preparation instructions with the beverage dispenser

- information to be displayed on a user interface of the dispenser.

The latter information can relate to information about the product or al loyalty program.

According to a first mode of the system the container can be a multiple serving portion beverage or food ingredient container and the dispenser comprises means for dosing a portion of beverage or food ingredient from the container and means for mixing the portion of beverage or food ingredient with a diluent to prepare a food or beverage, and the information encoded by the pattern carried by the container directly or indirectly includes at least one of the following preparation instructions information :

- the volume of beverage or food ingredient to be dosed,

- the dilution ratio,

- the temperature of the diluent,

- the mixing conditions of the diluent and the dose of beverage or food ingredient.

In the present application :

- "directly includes at least one preparation instruction information" means that the preparation instruction information is coded in the pattern,

- "indirectly includes at least one preparation instruction information" means that the preparation instruction information is not coded in the pattern but the pattern encodes information from which the controller of the dispenser can deduce or get access to the preparation instruction information. For example the volume of beverage or food ingredient to be dosed in the drinking cup is usually not coded in the pattern but the diluent flow rate and the time of activation of the diluent pump of the dispenser can indirectly provide information about the volume of beverage.

The mixing conditions can particularly relate to the times of introduction of the diluent and the ingredient, the speed of a whipper used for mixing the ingredient with the diluent, the time length for activating the whipper.

According to a second mode of the system the container can be a drinking cup enclosing a single serving portion of beverage or food ingredient and the dispenser comprises means for introducing a diluent in the container, and wherein the information encoded by the pattern carried by the container directly or indirectly includes at least one of the following preparation instructions information :

- the temperature of the diluent,

- the volume of diluent,

- the conditions for introducing the diluent in the cup.

In particular the dispenser of the system can comprise : - means for introducing the diluent in the container comprising :

. at least one nozzle delivering a jet of diluent at high pressure, and

. at least one nozzle delivering diluent at low pressure,

and wherein the information encoded by the pattern carried by a container includes at least one of the following mixing conditions information :

- dispensing time through each nozzle,

- flow rate through each nozzle,

- sequence of use of each nozzle.

More particularly the dispenser can comprise dispenser means for introducing the diluent in the container said means comprising several nozzles delivering a jet of diluent at high pressure and means for rotating these nozzles during diluent dispensing, and wherein the information encoded by the pattern carried by the container includes at least one information relative to the rotation speed of the means for rotating the nozzles.

Even more particularly the information encoded by the pattern carried by the container can directly or indirectly include at least one of the following information relative to the sequence of use of each nozzle:

- subsequences about the dispensing of diluent through each nozzle,

- the time length of each subsequences,

- delay between the subsequences.

According to an embodiment the dispenser of the system can comprise support means for supporting the drinking cup and means for relatively moving the support means of the drinking cup to the at least one nozzle, and wherein the information encoded by the pattern carried by the container directly or indirectly includes at least one information relative to the relative position of the support to the nozzle during the preparation of the beverage.

According to a fourth aspect the invention relates to the use of a container such as described hereabove for a system according such as described hereabove.

Finally according to a fifth aspect the invention concerns a method for dispensing a food or beverage with a system such as described hereabove, said method comprising :

- placing the container in or close to the food or beverage dispenser,

- decoding information encoded by the pattern carried by the container,

- preparing the food or beverage according to the decoded information. According to the preferred method the container is a drinking cup enclosing a single serving portion of beverage or food ingredient, said beverage or food ingredient portion being disposed in a compartment closed by removable sealing means, wherein the method comprises the step of removing said sealing means before placing the container in or close to the food or beverage dispenser.

Brief description of the drawings

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood in relation to the following figures.

- Figure 1 illustrates a drinking cup enclosing a beverage ingredient and carrying a conductive or dielectric pattern on its lateral side wall.

- Figure 2 illustrates a drinking cup carrying a conductive or dielectric pattern on its bottom wall.

- Figures 3A and 3B illustrates drinking cups comprising a pre-packed quantity of beverage concentrate ingredient.

- Figure 4 illustrates a beverage dispenser according to the present invention forming a system with a drinking cup carrying a pattern such as illustrated in Figure 2.

- Figure 5 illustrates a reading device configured for the beverage dispenser of Figure 4.

- Figure 6 illustrates a beverage dispenser according to the present invention forming a system with a drinking cup carrying a pattern such as illustrated in Figure 1.

- Figure 7 illustrates a reading device configured for the beverage dispenser of Figure 6.

- Figure 8 illustrates a beverage dispenser according to the present invention forming a system with a multiple serving portion beverage container.

- Figure 9 illustrates an assembly of sub-nozzles that can be implemented in a dispenser according to Figure 4 or 6.

- Figure 10 illustrates one example of sequence used for describing a recipe.

- Figures 1 1 a-11 e illustrate examples of drinking cups receiving areas.

Detailed description of the drawings Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a drinking cup 1 enclosing a beverage ingredient 10 and carrying a dielectric or conductive pattern 1 1 . According to this embodiment the drinking cup carries the conductive or dielectric pattern on its lateral side wall 1 a. The pattern is preferably printed on the side wall of the cup with an ink presenting a dielectric coefficient different from the dielectric coefficient of the cup material. In Figure 1 the pattern is composed of rectilinear segments of various lengths, orientations and widths forming L shapes.

Figure 2 illustrates a variant of the embodiment of a drinking cup 1 illustrated in Figure 1 wherein the cup carries the pattern on its bottom wall 1 b. The pattern is composed of arcs of circles of various lengths, diameters and widths.

Generally, the pattern can be applied onto the container by additive and/or subtractive methods, preferably by printing or laminating the pattern onto the substrate. In additive methods, the pattern is readily applied onto the container. This may happen in one or more steps of production. Additive methods include, but are not limited to, printing, laminating, transfer and coating methods, for example the methods described in WO 2010/043422. In subtractive methods, the pattern is added onto the container in excess. In one or more following steps, parts of the pattern is removed (e.g. by laser procedures and/or cauterization). For both methods, printing the pattern onto the container is an easy and economic procedure to achieve the desired pattern and thus preferred. Yet, other methods are can be implemented. In particular the attachment of a label presenting the pattern to the drinking cup can be a solution when the dispenser and the cups are not produced by the same manufacturer.

Figure 3A illustrates a type of drinking cup containing a pre-packed quantity of beverage ingredient that is used in the present invention and that can be particularly associated to the cups illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The beverage ingredient is stored at the bottom of the drinking cup and protected from air and humidity by a membrane 12. A part of the edge of the membrane can extend up to the top of the cup and forms a tab 13. The consumer can pull the tab to withdraw the membrane from the cup and then use the cup to prepare a beverage. Figure 3B illustrate a variant of Figure 3A in which the beverage ingredient is pre-packed in an insert 121 having the shape of second cup, said second cup being smaller than the drinking cup so that this insert can be slid in the drinking cup and positioned at its bottom with its opening turned upwards the opening of the cup. The insert is closed by the removable membrane 12.

Figure 4 illustrates a beverage dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention configured for preparing a beverage with a drinking according to Figure 2. In Figure 4 the dispenser comprises a dispensing area 7 configured for receiving a drinking cup 1 enclosing a beverage ingredient 10, preferably as illustrated in Figures 3A or 3B, and a conductive or dielectric pattern on its external surface positioned on its bottom as illustrated in Figure 2. The dispenser presents a receiving area 22 for the drinking cup 1 so that the pattern carried by the cup can be correctly positioned in front of the reading device 2. The dispenser comprises several nozzles for introducing a diluent in the drinking cup 1. Figure 4 illustrates a dispenser with two different types of nozzles 31 and 32. A first nozzle 31 enables the introduction of a diluent at low pressure. This kind of nozzle enables the rapid and gently filling of a drinking cup ; it is useful for producing beverage for which no bubble or foam is desired on the top surface like tea or for completing the filling of a beverage which has been previously foamed. Such a nozzle 31 can present an outlet diameter comprised between 4 and 15 mm, preferably between 8 and 10 mm. The second nozzle 32 is an assembly of several sub-nozzles enabling the introduction of several jets of diluent at high pressure in the cup. Figure 9 illustrates such an assembly of sub-nozzles and the way these nozzles introduce the diluent in a cup. The assembly comprises four sub- nozzles 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d. Each nozzle is oriented so that it produces a jet of diluent according to a specific orientation and so that the diluent hits the drinking cup at a specific place. For example as illustrated in Figure 6, two of the sub-nozzles 32a, 32b direct a diluent jet A3, A4 to an inner side wall 1 a of the cup and are arranged at different angles (a) with respect to the vertical, and at least two of the sub-nozzles 32c, 32d are designed to direct a diluent jet A1 , A2 to the bottom of the cup 1 b and are arranged at different angles (β) with respect to the vertical. Figure 9 illustrates the importance of using always the same shape of cup when a nozzle configuration is set. The jets of diluent are defined to provide specific mixing to get the full dissolution for the beverage ingredient placed in the cup and to provide specific agitation to introduce air in the beverage and get the requested foam. If the shape of the cup (surface of the bottom, angles of the lateral walls, height) changes then the diluent jets do not produce the optimal dissolution and agitation and finally a beverage of quality.

Preferably nozzles 32 providing high velocity jets of diluent present an outlet diameter comprised between 0,5 and 2,5 mm preferably between 0,6 and 1 ,5 mm. In the embodiment of Figure 4 the second nozzle 32 can be moved in particularly rotated during the dispensing of diluent in the cup. The movement is produced by a motor 321 to which the second nozzle 32 is connected. The motor 321 can also be used to change the relative distance between the drinking cup placed in the dispensing area and the nozzle 32.

The nozzles 31 , 32 are supplied with the diluent that is usually water. The supply of water comprises a source 8 which can be a tank or tap water. A pump 9 drives the water from the source 8. The dispenser comprises a heater 16 to heat the water for the preparation of hot beverages. Alternatively for the production of beverages at ambient temperature the dispenser comprises a by-pass line 15 from the pump outlet to the nozzles. Valves 16, 12 enable the selection of the temperature of the beverage. Two others valves 13, 14 respectively enable the supply of the first nozzle 31 or the second nozzle 32.

The dispensing area 7 enables the positioning of a drinking cup under the at least one nozzle 31 , 32 by the consumer. The dispenser comprises a reading device 2 adapted to read the conductive or dielectric pattern 1 1 on the bottom of the cup 1 once the drinking cup is positioned in the dispensing area. Before positioning the cup 1 in the dispensing area the consumer withdraws the membrane 12.

Figure 5 illustrates the part of the reading device 2 comprising the electrode arrangement designed so that the conductive or dielectric pattern such as illustrated in Figure 2 can be detected. The reading device 2 comprises a carrier material 211 , exciter electrodes 212 and corresponding reading electrodes 213. Once the drinking cup of Figure 2 is placed in the dispensing area, the conductive or dielectric pattern 1 1 carried by the cup bottom surface is put nearer the electrodes 212, 213 of the reading device 2. For identifying the type of conductive or dielectric pattern illustrated in Figure 2 the electrodes are specially adapted in circles ; consequently the electrodes are designed and arranged in such a way that the number and/or size and/or position of the arcs of circles in the pattern at the bottom of the cup can be recognized, retrieved and further processed by the controller of the dispenser.

As illustrated in Figure 4 the reading device 2 is connected to the control unit (or controller) 4 of the dispenser so that in function of the conductive or dielectric pattern read by the reading device the control unit 4 adapts the process for introducing water in the drinking cup and for mixing the beverage concentrate ingredient and water. In particular the following devices of the dispenser can be adapted :

- the activation of the water pump 9,

- the activation of heater 17,

- the activation of the hot water valve 16 or the ambient water valve 12,

- the activation of the first nozzle valve 14,

- the activation of the second nozzle valve 13,

- the activation of the second nozzle motor 321.

The activation relates at least to the following aspects :

- switching on or off the corresponding device,

- the time at which the corresponding device is activated,

- the time during which the corresponding device is activated,

- the speed of the motors (for pump and for the nozzle rotation).

Depending on the activation or not of these different devices according to specific time sequences, different type of dilution processes can be implemented by the dispenser. The identifier 1 1 on the drinking cup provides the dispenser with information for implementing the optimal water introduction in the cup to get the optimal beverage from the beverage concentrate ingredient present in the cup and based on the shape of the cup. Figure 10 illustrates one example of sequence used for describing a recipe. The sequence provides information related to the time of activation of the pump, the time of activation of the rotating jet, the delay between the activation of the different devices. Other information relate to the temperature of the water, the flow of water delivered by the pump, the rotation speed of the second nozzle. In the sequence illustrated in Figure 5, the recipe comprises 3 sub-sequences :

- during the first sub-sequence, diluent is delivered through the second nozzle which is made to rotate, so as to enhance dissolution,

- during the second sub-sequence, diluent is delivered through the first nozzle, so as to fill the cup,

- during the third sub-sequence, diluent is delivered through the second nozzle which is made to rotate, so as to froth the beverage.

Other recipes can comprise fourth or fifth sub-sequences.

The dispenser also comprises a user interface 5 like a screen on which information related to the beverage under preparation can be presented to the consumer ; these information can again be obtained from the information sensed by the reading device 2 through the conductive or dielectric pattern 1 1.

According to a specific embodiment the control unit 4 of the dispenser can be in communication with an external server 41 and at least one database 42 that can store information about the dispenser or about the drinking cup 1 of which pattern is read by the reading device 2. Based on the information encoded in the conductive or dielectric pattern the control unit 4 can be induced to download information from the external system 41 , 42. For example the following information can be downloaded :

- information about the beverage concentrate enclosed in the cup, like compositions of the beverage ingredients, origins of the ingredients, nutritional information about the dispensed beverages.

- information about the recipes for preparing a beverage from the cup with the particular dispenser of Figure 4, in particular the process for introducing water in the drinking cup and for mixing the beverage concentrate ingredient and water such as defined in a sequence as illustrated in Figure 10.

The connection of the dispenser to an external data processing system that causes actions in the dispenser control unit is particularly interesting since the dispenser does not have to be regularly updated with new softwares e.g. each time a new beverage concentrate is developed or a new dilution recipe is implemented.

Based on the information encoded in the conductive or dielectric pattern the control unit 4 can also be induced to upload information in the external system 41 , 42. These information can be used to establish consumption patterns.

Figure 6 illustrates a beverage dispenser according to another embodiment of the present invention wherein another particular embodiment of the nozzles is implemented, another type of pattern is implemented on the drinking cup and consequently another reading device is implemented.

The beverage dispenser of Figure 6 is configured for preparing a beverage with a drinking cup according to Figure 1 that carries a conductive or dielectric pattern on its external lateral side wall. The dispensers of Figures 4 and 6 are particularly detailed to explain the operations of the means for introducing the diluent in the drinking cup, of the reading device and of the dispenser control unit. But the present invention is not limited to these both particular embodiments of Figures 4 and 6. Any combination of nozzles configuration could be used with any position of the reading device in the dispensing area.

In the dispenser of figure 6 the second nozzle 32 of the dispenser is a single tube presenting a shape configured for producing a high pressure water jet, preferably a tube having a diameter outlet comprised between 0,5 and 2,5 mm, preferably between 0,6 and 1 ,5 mm., even preferably a nozzle having an internal bore tapering to said outlet diameter. This nozzle is oriented so that the water jet emerging therefrom hits the lateral internal side of the drinking cup.

The dispensing area 7 comprises a cup support 6 which can be made moved by a motor 61 . The movement can be a rotation of the cup on itself and/or a vertical movement to adapt the distance between the cup 1 and the nozzles 31 , 32.

The dispenser is configured for forming a system with a drinking cup 1 comprising a prepacked quantity of beverage ingredient 10 and carrying a conductive or dielectric pattern 1 1 on its lateral external side such as illustrated in Figure 1. The reading device 2 of the dispenser is positioned so as to be able to read information on said side of the cup when the cup is placed in the dispenser. Before positioning the cup 1 in the dispensing area the consumer withdraw the membrane 12. Figure 7 illustrates the part of the reading device 2 comprising the electrode arrangement designed so that the pattern such as illustrated in Figure 1 can be detected. The reading device 2 comprises a carrier material 21 1 , exciter electrodes 212 and corresponding reading electrodes 213. Once the drinking cup of Figure 1 is placed in the dispensing area 7, the pattern 11 carried by the cup bottom contacts the electrodes 212, 213 of the reading device 2. For identifying the type of pattern illustrated in Figure 1 the electrodes are specially adapted in straight lines ; consequently the electrodes are designed and arranged in such a way that the number and/or size and/or position of the L shapes in the pattern on the lateral side of the cup can be recognized, retrieved and further processed by the controller of the dispenser. The electrodes are preferably designed to present a curved surface that can fit with the corresponding curved surface of the cup.

As illustrated in Figure 6 the reading device 2 is connected to the control unit 4 of the dispenser so that in function of the conductive or dielectric pattern read by the reading device the control unit 4 adapts the process for introducing water in the drinking cup and for mixing the beverage concentrate ingredient and water. In particular the following devices of the dispenser can be adapted :

- the activation of the water pump 9,

- the activation of heater 17,

- the activation of the hot water valve 16 or the ambient water valve 12,

- the activation of the first nozzle valve 14,

- the activation of the second nozzle valve 13,

- the activation of the cup support motor 61.

The activation relates at least to the following aspects :

- switching on or off the corresponding device,

- the time at which the corresponding device is activated,

- the time during which the corresponding device is activated,

- the speed of the motor of the pump, the speed of the motor of device for rotating the cup.

Depending on the activation or not of these different devices according to specific time sequences, different type of dilution processes can be implemented by the dispenser. The identifier 1 1 on the drinking cup provides the dispenser with information for implementing the optimal water introduction in the cup to get the optimal beverage from the beverage concentrate ingredient present in the cup and based on the shape of the cup.

The dispenser also comprises a user interface 5 like a screen on which information related to the beverage under preparation can be presented to the consumer ; these information can again be obtained from the information sensed by the reading device 2 through the conductive or dielectric pattern 1 1.

Figure 8 illustrates a beverage dispenser according to another embodiment of the present invention wherein the dispenser produces beverages from a multiple serving portion beverage container 100 that carries a conductive or dielectric pattern 11 on its external surface.

The dispenser comprises a dosing device 18 for metering a dose of beverage ingredient from the container 100 and delivering said dose in a mixing chamber 19 supplied with hot or cold water. The supply of water comprises a source 8 which can be a tank or tap water. A pump 9 drives the water from the source 8. The dispenser comprises a heater 17 to heat the water for the preparation of hot beverages. Alternatively for the production of beverages at ambient temperature the dispenser comprises a by-pass line 15 from the pump outlet to the nozzles. Valves 16, 12 enable the selection of the temperature of the beverage. The mixing chamber is provided with a whipper 20 that can be operated to simply enhance the dissolution of the beverage ingredient or froth the beverage depending on the speed of rotation of said whipper. The outlet of the mixing and whipping chamber emerges in the dispensing area 7 of the dispenser in which an empty drinking cup can be placed.

The dispenser is configured for forming a system with the container 100 that carries the conductive or dielectric pattern 1 1 on its external side. The reading device 2 of the dispenser is positioned so as to be able to read information on said side of the container 100 when the latter is positioned in the dispenser. The pattern can present the type of design illustrated on the drinking cup of Figure 1 and the corresponding reading device 2 can present the electrodes arrangement of Figure 7. Other types of pattern designs and electrodes arrangement can be implemented. The pattern 1 1 of the container 100 can be recognized, retrieved and further processed by the controller 4 of the dispenser. In particular he controller of the dispenser can carry out instructions coded in the pattern to prepare a beverage. The information about the processing of the ingredient stored in the container 100 can particularly relate to the process for dosing and mixing the beverage concentrate ingredient and water. In particular the following devices of the dispenser can be adapted :

- the activation of the water pump 9,

- the activation of the heater 17,

- the activation of the hot water valve 16 or the ambient water valve 12,

- the activation of the dosing device 18 (in particular its time length of activation),

- the activation of whipper 20 (in particular its time length of activation, and its speed of rotation)

- the sequence of activation of the pump 9, the dosing device 18 and the whipper rotation 20.

The activation relates at least to the following aspects :

- switching on or off the corresponding device,

- the time at which the corresponding device is activated,

- the time during which the corresponding device is activated,

- the speed of the different devices motors (pump, dosing device, whipper).

The pattern 1 1 on the container 100 provides the dispenser with information for implementing the optimal production of beverage from the beverage concentrate ingredient present in the container 100. The present invention also covers dispensers in which the reading device 2 is not positioned to read information on the cup at the moment when the cup is placed in the dispenser. The sensing device can be positioned in another area of the dispenser and the consumer can be incited to place his/her cup 1 or his/her container 100 near from or in contact with said device to obtain information therefrom before the cup or the container is placed in the dispenser.

Figures 11 a to 11e illustrates different types of drinking cup receiving area for the reading device. For each of these receiving areas 22 the electrodes of the reading device are designed and positioned so as to face - and if necessary contact - the surface of the cup carrying the pattern. Preferably the electrodes are positioned in the receiving area.

Figure 1 1a illustrates a receiving area 22 which is a ring holder. When the consumer introduces the cup in the ring the pattern carried by the cup can be read. The pattern on the cup can be positioned as a ring around the cup positioned at the level of the ring holder.

Figure 1 1 b illustrates a receiving area 22 which is a cylinder on which the bottom edge 1 c of the cup can be plugged. The pattern on the cup can be positioned at the bottom surface of the cup or as a ring on the internal bottom edge of the cup.

Figure 1 1 c illustrates a receiving area 22 which is a hollowed cylinder in which the bottom of the cup can be introduced. The pattern on the cup can be positioned at the bottom surface of the cup or as a ring on the internal bottom edge of the cup or a ring on the external bottom edge of the cup

Figure 1 1 d illustrates a receiving area 22 which is a hollowed frustoconical shape in which the bottom of the cup can be introduced. This configuration can correspond to a combination of the embodiments of Figures 1 1 a and 1 1 c. The pattern on the cup can be positioned at the sidewall surface of the cup.

Figure 1 1 e illustrates a receiving area 22 which is a hollowed half frustoconical shape in which the cup can be sideways introduced. The pattern on the cup can be positioned at the sidewall surface of the cup.

The receiving areas of Figures The present invention presents the advantage of enabling the encoding of a disposable drinking cup in a very rapid and low cost manner in order to enable the optimised preparation of the beverage ingredient present in the cup. In particular it is possible to code the shape of the drinking cup so that diluent can be optimally introduced in the cup taking into account that shape.

The present invention also presents the advantage of enabling the production of new food or beverage ingredient presenting new tastes and compositions and being always able to teach the dispenser how to optimally prepared the beverage with the new ingredient.

The present invention presents the advantage of encoding containers comprising multiple serving portions of food or beverage ingredient in a very rapid and low cost manner.