Patents by Inventor Nick Andrew Hansen
Nick Andrew Hansen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11213162Abstract: A method of dispensing a beverage comprising: a) inserting a beverage ingredient tablet (20) into a beverage preparation machine (30); b) measuring a characteristic associated with the thickness of at least a portion of the beverage ingredient tablet (20) to identify the beverage ingredient tablet (20); c) configuring one or more dispense parameters of the beverage preparation machine (30) based on the identification of the beverage ingredient tablet (20); and d) operating the beverage preparation machine (30) to dispense a beverage by contacting the beverage ingredient tablet (20) with an aqueous fluid.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2013Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V.Inventors: Nick Andrew Hansen, Simon Carr, Geoff York, Andrew Halliday, Egidijus Bartkus
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Patent number: 10750901Abstract: The present invention provides a method of dispensing a beverage comprising: a) inserting a beverage ingredient tablet (20) into a beverage preparation machine (30); b) measuring a surface finish of at least a portion of the beverage ingredient tablet (20) to identify the beverage ingredient tablet; c) configuring one or more dispense parameters of the beverage preparation machine (30) based on the identification of the beverage ingredient tablet (20); and d) operating the beverage preparation machine (30) to dispense a beverage by contacting the beverage ingredient tablet (20) with an aqueous fluid.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2013Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V.Inventors: Nick Andrew Hansen, Simon Carr, Geoff York, Andrew Halliday, Egidijus Bartkus
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Patent number: 10450130Abstract: A cartridge for preparation of a beverage comprising: a closed container defining a container volume; a filter to divide the container volume into an ingredient chamber volume and a filtrate volume; a beverage medium located in the ingredient chamber volume; and a guard element located in the filtrate volume; wherein the guard element is separately-formed from the closed container and located within the filtrate volume to define an outlet zone, the guard element being interposed between the filter and the outlet zone; wherein the guard element is configured to prevent encroachment of the filter into the outlet zone such that on piercing of a piercing surface of the cartridge by a piercing element of a beverage preparation apparatus the piercing element is enabled to be placed in fluid communication with the outlet zone without the piercing element contacting the guard element or filter. Associated methods and systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Kraft Foods R & D, Inc.Inventor: Nick Andrew Hansen
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Patent number: 9840365Abstract: A capsule (1) for preparation of a beverage from a beverage ingredient (32). The capsule comprising a first section (12, 14) and a second section (15, 40) which together form a beverage ingredient compartment of the capsule in which is received a beverage ingredient. The first section comprising a pre-formed inlet (23) for entry of aqueous medium into the capsule and the second section comprising a pre-formed outlet (41) for beverage formed, in use, from the beverage ingredient and the aqueous medium. Wherein the capsule is compressible when the capsule is inserted into the receptacle of a beverage preparation machine by the first section of the capsule being engaged by an inlet piercer (60) of the beverage preparation machine so as to cause movement of the first section of the capsule towards the second section of the capsule without piercing of the first or second sections.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2012Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: Kraft Foods R&D, INC.Inventors: Mark Norton, Nick Andrew Hansen
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Patent number: 9427105Abstract: A beverage preparation machine of the type which uses pre-packaged containers of beverage ingredients is described. The beverage preparation machine is configured for controlling the volume of air resident in at least a part of a delivery system of the machine to produce predetermined characteristics in a prepared beverage.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V.Inventors: Nick Andrew Hansen, Andrew Charles Bentley, Elizabeth Jane Hinckley, Mark Richard Thomas Norton
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Patent number: 9339142Abstract: Method of preparing beverages using a beverage preparation machines and in particular a beverage preparation machine of the type which uses pre-packaged containers of beverage ingredients. The method includes controlling the volume of air resident in at least a part of a delivery system of the machine to produce predetermined characteristics in a prepared beverage.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2010Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Kraft Foods R&D, Inc.Inventors: Nick Andrew Hansen, Andrew Charles Bentley, Elizabeth Jane Hinckley, Mark Richard Thomas Norton
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Publication number: 20150353276Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in the preparation of beverages and, in particular, to an improved cartridge for preparing beverages in brewing machines. The cartridges can also be used for preparing liquid food products. The cartridge comprises a continuous elongate tubular chamber containing the at least one ingredient providing a fluid flow path linking an inlet for the introduction of the liquid at one end of the chamber to an outlet for discharge of the beverage or food product at an opposite end of the chamber. The chamber has an internal width to length ratio in the range of 1:4 to 1:200.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2015Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: Ian Denis Fisk, Ayse Tulay Massey, Nick Andrew Hansen
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Publication number: 20150313402Abstract: A method of dispensing a beverage comprising: a) inserting a beverage ingredient tablet (20) into a beverage preparation machine (30); b) measuring a characteristic associated with the thickness of at least a portion of the beverage ingredient tablet (20) to identify the beverage ingredient tablet (20); c) configuring one or more dispense parameters of the beverage preparation machine (30) based on the identification of the beverage ingredient tablet (20); and d) operating the beverage preparation machine (30) to dispense a beverage by contacting the beverage ingredient tablet (20) with an aqueous fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2013Publication date: November 5, 2015Inventors: Nick Andrew Hansen, Simon Carr, Geoff York, Andrew Halliday, Egidijus Bartkus
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Publication number: 20150297023Abstract: The present invention provides a method of dispensing a beverage comprising: a) inserting a beverage ingredient tablet (20) into a beverage preparation machine (30); b) measuring a surface finish of at least a portion of the beverage ingredient tablet (20) to identify the beverage ingredient tablet; c) configuring one or more dispense parameters of the beverage preparation machine (30) based on the identification of the beverage ingredient tablet (20); and d) operating the beverage preparation machine (30) to dispense a beverage by contacting the beverage ingredient tablet (20) with an aqueous fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2013Publication date: October 22, 2015Inventors: Nick Andrew Hansen, Simon Carr, Geoff York, Andrew Halliday, Egidijus Bartkus
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Patent number: 9145256Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in the preparation of beverages and, in particular, to an improved cartridge for preparing beverages in brewing machines. The cartridges can also be used for preparing liquid food products. The cartridge comprises a continuous elongate tubular chamber containing the at least one ingredient providing a fluid flow path linking an inlet for the introduction of the liquid at one end of the chamber to an outlet for discharge of the beverage or food product at an opposite end of the chamber. The chamber has an internal width to length ratio in the range of 1:4 to 1:200.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2011Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Kraft Foods R & D, Inc.Inventors: Ian Denis Fisk, Ayse Tulay Massey, Nick Andrew Hansen
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Publication number: 20150157170Abstract: The present invention provides a beverage preparation machine for forming a beverage by contacting an aqueous medium with one or more beverage ingredients, the beverage preparation machine comprising a tube forming at least a part of an outlet path for discharging the beverage to a receptacle; wherein the tube has an upstream end for receiving the beverage and a downstream end for discharging the beverage; wherein the upstream end has a characteristic internal dimension of at least 8 mm and the downstream end has a characteristic internal dimension of at least 10 mm.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2012Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: KRAFT FOODS R&D, INC.Inventors: Mark Norton, Nick Andrew Hansen
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Patent number: 8999420Abstract: This disclosure relates to improvements in beverage/food product preparation systems and in particular to beverage/food product preparation systems having machines of the type which use pre-packaged cartridges containing beverage or food ingredients. The cartridge (30) contains one or more beverage or food ingredients for use in a machine for preparing a beverage or food product from said ingredients. The cartridge (30) includes a base (34), an outlet aperture (37) in the base (34), and a collar (38) extending from the cartridge base (34) around the outlet aperture (37). The cartridge (30) is inserted into a holding receptacle (14) of a machine the collar (38) interacts with an element (65) of the machine and the collar (38) is configured to determine the pressure in the cartridge (30) during the preparation process.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Inventor: Nick Andrew Hansen
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Patent number: 8846121Abstract: A beverage preparation machine of the type which uses pre-packaged containers of beverage ingredients comprises a cartridge recognition device for determining the type of beverage to be prepared from a cartridge inserted into the machine and a variable geometry valve located downstream of a cartridge when inserted in the machine. The valve enables preparation of beverages at a range of pressures by having at least an open position and at least one restricted flow position, and a controller for selecting an initial valve position and controlling the subsequent operation of the valve according to the determination of the type of beverage to be prepared by the cartridge recognition device.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Kraft Foods R&D, Inc.Inventors: Nick Andrew Hansen, Andrew Bentley
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Patent number: 8833238Abstract: A beverage preparation machine of the type which uses pre-packaged containers of beverage ingredients comprises a cartridge recognition device for determining the type of beverage to be prepared from a cartridge inserted into the machine and a variable geometry valve located downstream of a cartridge when inserted in the machine. The valve enables preparation of beverages at a range of pressures by having at least an open position and at least one restricted flow position, and a controller for selecting an initial valve position and controlling the subsequent operation of the valve according to the determination of the type of beverage to be prepared by the cartridge recognition device.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2010Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Kraft Foods R&D, Inc.Inventors: Nick Andrew Hansen, Andrew Bentley
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Publication number: 20140225285Abstract: A beverage preparation machine of the type which uses pre-packaged containers of beverage ingredients is described. The beverage preparation machine is configured for controlling the volume of air resident in at least a part of a delivery system of the machine to produce predetermined characteristics in a prepared beverage.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: Kraft Foods R&D, Inc.Inventors: Nick Andrew Hansen, Andrew Charles Bentley, Elizabeth Jane Hinckley, Mark Richard Thomas Norton
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Publication number: 20140079853Abstract: This disclosure relates to improvements in beverage/food product preparation systems and in particular to beverage/food product preparation systems comprising machines of the type which use pre-packaged cartridges containing beverage or food ingredients. The cartridge (30) contains one or more beverage or food ingredients for use in a machine for preparing a beverage or food product from said ingredients. The cartridge (30) comprises a base (34), an outlet aperture (37) in the base (34), and a collar (38) extending from the cartridge base (34) around the outlet aperture (37). The cartridge (30) is inserted into a holding receptacle (14) of a machine the collar (38) interacts with an element (65) of the machine and the collar (38) is configured to determine the pressure in the cartridge (30) during the preparation process.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2012Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: KRAFT FOODS R&D, INC.Inventor: Nick Andrew Hansen
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Patent number: D703039Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2013Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Kraft Foods R&D, Inc.Inventor: Nick Andrew Hansen
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Patent number: D708057Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Kraft Foods R & D, Inc.Inventor: Nick Andrew Hansen
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Patent number: D743252Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2013Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: Kraft Foods R & D, Inc.Inventors: Nick Andrew Hansen, Mark Richard Thomas Norton
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Patent number: D743786Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2014Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Kraft Foods R & D, Inc.Inventor: Nick Andrew Hansen