EP1792850B1 - Single portion cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

The capsule has a filter device (6) arranged between a beverage substance (9) e.g. coffee, and a capsule base (3). The filter device is held at a distance to the base in a central area of the base using a ring-shaped structure (16), where an outer area (20) and an inner area (21) are defined through the structure in an intermediate space between the filter device and the capsule base. The outer area is connected with the inner area through openings (22), where the openings are relatively smaller for formation of the cream.

Description

The invention relates to a portion capsule which is particularly suitable for brewing individual coffee portions (one cup or two cups of a coffee beverage) in a coffee machine intended for the use of portion capsules.

In the EP 1 344 722 A1 a portion capsule is described with a capsule lid and a capsule bottom, which is closed on all sides in the delivery state and contains a particulate, extractable by water coffee substance. In this case, a distributor device is arranged between the capsule lid and the coffee substance and a collecting device is arranged between the coffee substance and the capsule bottom. The distribution device and the collection device each have a number of openings and embossments for the formation of liquid channels on. This portion capsule is used in a special coffee machine, wherein the capsule lid and the capsule bottom are perforated when inserting the portion capsule into the machine or during the brewing process. Thus, hot water reaches the distribution device through an opening in the capsule lid and is distributed substantially uniformly therefrom, so that the coffee substance in the portion capsule can be extracted substantially uniformly. The finished beverage is passed from the collector to an opening in the capsule bottom. In this case, it first flows through the openings of the collecting device, which have a screen or filter function, and can then flow through a cavity between the collecting device and the capsule bottom, which is formed between the embossments of the collecting device, to the opening in the capsule bottom. There, the beverage exits from the portion capsule and can be collected from a vessel (eg a cup).

The collecting device of the previously known portion capsule has, in addition to the functions mentioned as a guide, as a sieve or filter and as a spacer, the additional function of providing a crema formation (foam) in the coffee beverage, if desired. This is especially the case with Cafe Crema and Espresso, while e.g. in Germany normal filter coffee just should not get a crema. In the case of the previously known portion capsule, however, the crema formation in connection with the other functions of the collecting device can not be controlled satisfactorily.

It is an object of the invention to provide a portion capsule with a water-extractable beverage substance, in which the crema formation can be better adjusted than in the previously known portion capsule.

This object is achieved by a portion capsule with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

The portion capsule according to the invention has a capsule lid and a capsule bottom and is closed on all sides in the delivery state. It contains a particulate water-extractable beverage substance, preferably ground coffee. Between the beverage substance and the capsule bottom a sieve device is arranged, which fulfills a sieve or filter function.

The screening device is held in the central region of the capsule bottom by means of a ring-like structure at a distance from the capsule bottom. By the ring-like structure is defined in the space between the sieve device and capsule bottom, an outer region (which is outside the ring-like structure) and an inner region (which lies within the ring-like structure). The term "ring-like structure" is not to be understood as limited to a ring appearing circular in plan view, but more generally; so the ring-like structure in plan view, e.g. square or irregular shaped and must not necessarily be closed in the circumferential direction. The outer area and the inner area of the ring-like structure are connected via passage openings. Preferably, the height of the ring-like structure is less than 20% of the height of the portion capsule, e.g. less than 10%.

The ring-like structure of the portion capsule according to the invention is involved in the formation of a gap between the sieve device and the capsule bottom. This space takes during the brewing process by the sieve means penetrated extracted beverage, which created by a created in the central region of the capsule floor opening Can leave the portion capsule. It must flow through the through holes. Crema formation can be controlled via the design of the passage openings. This is completely independent of the design of the screening device. Therefore, in the portion capsule according to the invention, the devices for the screen or filter function and for the crema formation are decoupled, which increases the design options.

In preferred embodiments, the beverage substance comprises ground coffee. In this case, the passage openings can be relatively small and designed to form a crema. Because when coffee flows through small openings, especially at higher pressure (e.g., 7 bar to 13 bar or 9 bar to 18 bar, as is customary for Cafe Crema or espresso), turbulence causes entrapment of air, forming the crema.

On the other hand, if the ports are relatively large, especially at lower pressures (e.g., 1 bar to 7 bar for filter coffee), the flow is largely laminar, with little or no crema. A person skilled in the art can easily find out through experiments how he optimally designs passage openings in size and shape in individual cases.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the screening device has a support structure. Preferably, the ring-like structure is formed integrally with the support structure, for example as a molded part. The support structure may comprise one or more spacers which bear against the capsule bottom outside the central region of the capsule bottom so that these spacers, together with the annular structure in the central region, provide the desired gap between the sieve device and the capsule bottom. In this case, the gap does not necessarily extend over the entire surface of the capsule bottom. Preferably, the spacer or are the Spacer formed as a projection, for example as a peripheral annular bead, which protrudes in the direction of the capsule bottom, or as a number of point-like projections.

The support structure may be provided with at least one recess which is covered with a textile fabric, such as a fabric or a nonwoven. More about such embodiments can be found in the German Patent Application 10 2005 016 297 , In this case, the textile fabric can be connected, for example, by gluing, welding, embossing or embedding with the support structure.

The screening device may also comprise a perforated screen, which is preferably formed integrally with the support structure, e.g. as a molded part. Since with today's injection molding techniques even such fine holes can be formed as e.g. are required for a coffee filter, such a one-piece construction can have price advantages. It is also conceivable, however, to occupy recesses in a support structure with conventional filter paper.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the support structure in its central region on a protuberance, which is directed away from the ring-like structure and adapted for receiving a mandrel on a coffee capsule adapted to the capper. Portion capsules with such a protuberance are intended for coffee machines in which the portion capsule is perforated on the capsule bottom by means of a mandrel. The mandrel should penetrate only the capsule bottom, but not damage the screening device, which is why the screening device springs back into the inside of the portion capsule, where the mandrel penetrates, ie in the region of the protuberance.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the support structure has a reinforcing edge on its periphery, e.g. an edge that protrudes from a disc-like structure. In principle, many and very different configurations are conceivable for the support structure.

Furthermore, the portion capsule according to the invention may have a distributor device which is arranged between the capsule lid and the beverage substance. The distribution device may e.g. be formed as (flat) plate with openings or as a curved structure with openings, wherein the apertures, e.g. can be configured as radially extending slots and / or as holes. Preferably, the manifold has no channel-like embossments. The distribution device causes water introduced on the capsule lid to extract the beverage substantially evenly distributed in the beverage substance.

In a preferred embodiment, the distribution device also has a protuberance in its central region, which is here directed away from the capsule lid and adapted to receive a mandrel on a coffee machine adapted to the portion capsule, via which the water is introduced into the portion capsule. Similar to the previously described protuberance of the screening device, the protuberance of the distributor device is not damaged when the mandrel penetrates into the portion capsule.

The capsule bottom may have a desired weak point in its central area. Capsule bottom is generally understood to mean the side of the portion capsule from which the beverage emerges from the portion capsule, that is, regardless of whether the capsule bottom is located at the top or bottom of a portion capsule inserted into a coffee machine. The weak point of weakness facilitates the piercing of the capsule bottom in the coffee machine. Preferably, the desired weak point has a piece of film which is weaker than the capsule bottom in the vicinity of the film piece.

The beverage substance may also comprise substances other than ground coffee, e.g. Tea, chocolate (again, the possibilities of the invention are useful for controlling crema formation), instant soup, milk powder, liquid milk (as an additive), etc., or mixtures of such substances, including ground coffee.

Figur 1

einen Längsschnitt durch eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Portionskapsel, die zum Brühen von Cafe Crema eingerichtet ist,

Figur 2

einen Längsschnitt durch die Siebeinrichtung der Portionskapsel aus Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine dreidimensionale Ansicht der Tragstruktur der Siebeinrichtung aus Figur 2 von oben,

Figur 4

eine dreidimensionale Ansicht der Tragstruktur der Siebeinrichtung aus Figur 2 von unten,

Figur 5

eine dreidimensionale Ansicht einer Variante der Verteilereinrichtung der Portionskapsel aus Figur 1 von unten,

Figur

6 einen Längsschnitt durch eine zweite Ausführungsform einer Siebeinrichtung,

Figur 7

eine dreidimensionale Ansicht einer Varianten der Siebeinrichtung gemäß Figur 6 von unten,

Figur 8

eine Ausschnittsvergrößerung aus Figur 7 und

Figur 9

einen Längsschnitt durch eine weitere Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Portionskapsel, die zum Brühen von Filterkaffee eingerichtet ist.

In the following, the invention will be further described by means of exemplary embodiments. The drawings show in

FIG. 1

a longitudinal section through an embodiment of a portion capsule according to the invention, which is set up for brewing Cafe Crema,

FIG. 2

a longitudinal section through the screening device of the portion capsule FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3

a three-dimensional view of the support structure of the screening device FIG. 2 from above,

FIG. 4

a three-dimensional view of the support structure of the screening device FIG. 2 from underneath,

FIG. 5

a three-dimensional view of a variant of the distribution device of the portion capsule FIG. 1 from underneath,

figure

6 shows a longitudinal section through a second embodiment of a screening device,

FIG. 7

a three-dimensional view of a variant of the screening device according to FIG. 6 from underneath,

FIG. 8

an excerpt from FIG. 7 and

FIG. 9

a longitudinal section through a further embodiment of a portion capsule according to the invention, which is set up for brewing filter coffee.

In FIG. 1 an embodiment of a portion capsule 1 is shown in longitudinal section. The portion capsule 1 has a capsule lid 2, a capsule bottom 3 and a peripheral wall 4, which is formed integrally with the capsule bottom 3 in the embodiment. From the upper end of the wall 4 is an annular flange 5, on which in the embodiment of the capsule lid 2 is sealed. The portion capsule 1 is therefore closed on all sides in the delivery state.

In the interior of the portion capsule 1 are located above the capsule bottom 3, a sieve 6 and under the capsule cover 2, a manifold 8. The space between the sieve 6 and the manifold 8 is filled with a coffee powder 9, in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 with a coffee powder, as it is suitable for brewing Cafe Crema.

The terms "top" and "bottom" here refer to the illustration in the figures, regardless of the orientation in which a portion capsule is inserted when used in a coffee machine. In principle, the bottom can also be at the top and the lid at the bottom. In the terminology chosen here, the brewing water is introduced into the capsule cap on the capsule lid, while the finished beverage emerges from the capsule bottom. How this can be done in detail is explained below.

In the embodiment, the capsule bottom 3 and the wall 4 of the portion capsule 1 are made of a plastic, e.g. as a molded part or as a deep-drawn part. It can also be used multilayer materials, as known from the technology of food packaging. The capsule lid 2 has in the exemplary embodiment a composite foil with aluminum and plastics.

In FIG. 2 the screening device 6 is again shown in longitudinal section. The screening device 6 includes a support structure 10 having a raised reinforcing edge 12 projecting outwardly at its upper end in a flange-like manner. In the middle region of the support structure 10, a conical protuberance 14 is provided which faces upwards. On the underside there is a ring-like structure 16. In the exemplary embodiment, the support structure 10 and the ring-like structure 16 are integrally formed as a molded part of a food-grade plastic, such as polypropylene.

In FIG. 1 illustrates how the ring-like structure 16 keeps the sieve 6 at a distance from the capsule bottom 3, whereby a gap 18 between the sieve device 6 and the capsule bottom 3 is formed. The intermediate space 18 contains two partial regions, namely an outer region 20 outside the annular structure 16 and an inner region 21 within the annular structure 16. The outer region 20 and the inner region 21 communicate via passage openings 22, which in the exemplary embodiment are spaces between downwardly pointing teeth the ring-like structure 16 are formed. In an alternative embodiment, it is also conceivable to provide the passage openings as bores, which are bounded by material around the ring-like structure.

The FIGS. 3 and 4 show the support structure 10 in a three-dimensional view from above and from below, whereby the design of the ring-like structure 16 is particularly clear. On the support structure 10, a number of large-area recesses 24 are provided, which are separated by radial ribs 25 from each other. In the Figures 1 and 2 the cutting plane passes through two ribs 25; in the Figures 1 and 2 shown passage openings 22 are outside the cutting plane, but are still shown for clarity.

About the recesses 24 is on two circumferential projections 26 and 27, a textile fabric 28 attached, which serves as a filter. Examples of the fabric 28 are a woven or nonwoven fabric. Mixed forms are also conceivable, e.g. multilayer structures in which e.g. a nonwoven layer is applied to a fabric layer. Furthermore, the fabric may be e.g. be configured as knitted fabrics, crochet galloon or knitwear.

Suitable materials for the textile fabric are threads and / or fibers of plastics and / or natural materials, but of metal. Suitable plastics are e.g. Polyolefins (especially polypropylene and polyethylene) as well as polyamide. Suitable natural products include, but are not limited to, cellulose. regenerated celluloses (e.g., viscose) may also be used. Stainless steel is particularly suitable for the metals. It is also conceivable to use mixtures of different materials, including mixtures of plastics and natural materials or with metal threads.

The textile fabric 28 preferably has pores with a size in the range of 10 microns to 500 microns. Preferred ranges are 10 .mu.m to 200 .mu.m or 30 .mu.m to 150 .mu.m. When filaments are used, particularly preferred filament thicknesses are in the range from 10 μm to 200 μm or from 30 μm to 150 μm. The Threads can also be designed as double or multiple threads (plied or twisted).

In the exemplary embodiment, the textile fabric 28 is designed in one piece as an annular, planar structure and welded onto the circumferential projections 26 and 27. Adhesive connections or point-like connections (in particular, if the textile fabric rests close to the support structure) are also conceivable. Instead of welding or gluing, the fabric may also be e.g. be connected by impressing with the support structure, in all cases both from the top and the bottom of the support structure ago. Furthermore, it is conceivable to embed the textile fabric in an injection molding process in the respective support structure.

The manifold 8 is constructed similarly to the screen 6, but does not contain a ring-like structure. A support structure 30 with a reinforcing edge 32 is provided in its central region with a downwardly facing protuberance 34. In FIG. 1 not shown recesses are covered with a textile fabric 36. The recesses are separated by radial ribs 37.

In FIG. 5 a variant 8 'of the distributor device is shown, wherein corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals as in FIG FIG. 1 , Instead of the recesses covered with a textile fabric, however, narrow radial slots 38 are used here. Other types or arrangements of openings in the distributor device are also conceivable, for example a number of, for example circular holes, which are arranged along concentric lines.

The portion capsule 1 is used in a coffee machine designed specifically for the use of portion capsules is. In an example of such a coffee maker, the portion capsule 1 is placed in a separate capsule holder, which is then inserted and locked in the coffee machine. In this case, a mandrel (puncture means) penetrates through the central region of the capsule lid 2 into the protuberance 34, without damaging the distributor device 8. Below the capsule bottom 3 is also a mandrel (piercing means), but in the example at this stage, the capsule soil is not completely penetrated, but only scribing. Subsequently, pressurized water is passed through the opening in the capsule lid 2 and largely uniformly distributed by the distributor device 8, so that the water can extract the coffee powder 9 contained in the portion capsule 1. In this case, the pressure rises in the portion capsule 1, so that the capsule bottom 3 bulges slightly outward and is completely penetrated by the mandrel located below the capsule bottom. This mandrel is configured as a hollow mandrel and is received in the protuberance 14, without damaging the screening device 6.

Extracted beverage enters the outer region 20 of the intermediate space 18 through the textile fabric 28 of the screening device 6, which acts as a filter, and from there passes through the through-openings 22 into the inner region 21 and through the hollow mandrel to the outside, e.g. in a parked under the capsule holder cup.

In this example, the coffee powder 9 is set up to brew Café Crema, and in the described brewing process, a pressure in the range of, for example, about 7 bar to 13 bar is built up via the coffee machine in the portion capsule 1. Since the passage openings 22 are relatively small, thereby high flow velocities occur in the region of the through openings 22, and it comes to turbulence and foaming, as desired at Cafe Crema. By the construction of the Sieve device 6 so the functions as a filter device and as a crema image generator assigned to different areas, namely the textile fabric 28 and the ring-like structure 16 with the through holes 22. Therefore, it is possible to optimize the two functions independently by the design of these areas ,

Similarly, espresso may be brewed, in which case the coffee powder is ground from coffee beans common for espresso. Furthermore, the pressure used for scalding is usually higher, being e.g. in the range of 9 bar to 18 bar. Even with espresso, a crema formation is desired.

In FIG. 6 is a further embodiment of a screening device, here denoted by 6 ', shown in longitudinal section. The screening device 6 'in turn has a support structure 40 with a reinforcing edge 42 and on its underside an annular structure 44 with through holes 45. In contrast to the screening device 6, the filter function is not achieved by means of a textile fabric 28, but by a plurality of holes 46th provided in the support structure 40. In the exemplary embodiment, the sieve device 6 'or the support structure 40 with the ring-like structure 44 is produced in one piece as an injection-molded part.

The FIGS. 7 and 8 show a variant of the screening device FIG. 6 , here designated by 6 ". Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals as in FIG FIG. 6 , In the embodiment according to the FIGS. 7 and 8 However, the holes 46 are arranged in annular zones, between which downwardly projecting projections 48 are located. In the detail enlargement according to FIG. 8 For the individual projections 48, the respective axes are shown as dashed lines. The projections 48 ensure a uniform distance between the capsule bottom and the screening device 6 ", so that a well-defined outer region of the intermediate space is formed between the sieve device 6" and the capsule bottom and the extracted beverage can flow unhindered through the holes 46. In the exemplary embodiment, the screening device 6 "is in turn made in one piece with the ring-like structure 44 as a molded part made of a food-grade plastic.

In FIG. 9 is a further embodiment of a portion capsule, here denoted by 1 ', illustrated in longitudinal section. The portion capsule 1 'has a similar structure to the portion capsule 1 FIG. 1 why corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

However, in the portion capsule 1 ', the ring-like structure 16' formed on the underside of the screen 6 '' has a greater height than the ring-like structure 16, and wider through-holes 22 'are provided Through openings 22 from the embodiment according to FIG. 1 ,

Furthermore, the capsule bottom 3 'has in its middle region an opening 50, which is provided with a piece of film 52 adhered from below, made of e.g. Aluminum foil is closed. Alternatively, the piece of film could also be launched from above. The film piece 52 forms a target weak point because it is e.g. can be penetrated by a mandrel easier than the rest of the material of the capsule bottom 3 '.

The portion capsule 1 'is filled with a coffee powder 9', which is suitable for brewing filter coffee. If the portion capsule 1 'in a coffee machine in accordance with the embodiment according to FIG. 1 explained way inserted, the lower mandrel pierces the film piece 52 already, when the capsule holder is locked. For brewing filter coffee, a relatively low water pressure is used, eg 1 bar to 7 bar. After the extracted coffee has penetrated the filter fabric 27 of the screen 6 ", it passes into the space 18 and through the large passage openings 22 'to the perforation opening in the film piece 52 and the penetrated mandrel which serves as an outlet The relatively low pressure and the relatively large passage openings 22 'do not produce any crema, so the finished brewed filter coffee emerges from the coffee machine with virtually no cream, as is desired, for example, in Germany.

Claims (17)

1. Portion capsule,

   - comprising a capsule cover (2) and a capsule base (3; 3'), being closed on all sides in the delivered state, and containing a particulate beverage substance (9; 9') which can be extracted with water, a screening device (6; 6'; 6"; 6"') being arranged between the beverage substance (9; 9') and the capsule base (3; 3');

   - characterised in that the screening device (6; 6'; 6"; 6"') is spaced apart from the capsule base (3; 3') in a central region of said capsule base (3; 3') by an annular structure (16; 16'; 44), which defines an outer region (20) and an inner region (21) in the intermediate space (18) between the screening device (6; 6'; 6"; 6"') and the capsule base (3; 3'), the outer region (20) being connected to the inner region (21) by through-openings (22; 22'; 45).
2. Portion capsule according to claim 1, characterised in that the beverage substance comprises ground coffee (9) and in that the through-openings (22; 45) are relatively small and intended for the formation of a crema.
3. Portion capsule according to claim 1, characterised in that the beverage substance comprises ground coffee (9') and in that the through-openings (22') are relatively large.
4. Portion capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the screening device (6; 6'; 6"; 6"') comprises a support structure (10; 40).
5. Portion capsule according to claim 4, characterised in that the annular structure (16; 16'; 44) is formed integrally with the support structure (10; 40), preferably as an injection moulding.
6. Portion capsule according to either claim 4 or claim 5, characterised in that the support structure (40) comprises at least one spacer (48) which abuts against the capsule base outside the central region of said capsule base, the spacer preferably being formed as a projection (48).
7. Portion capsule according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the support structure (10) is provided with at least one recess (24) which is covered up by a planar textile fabric (28).
8. Portion capsule according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterised in that the screening device (6'; 6") comprises a perforated screen, which is preferably formed integrally with the support structure (40).
9. Portion capsule according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterised in that the support structure (10; 40) comprises, in the central region thereof, a protuberance (14) which is directed away from the annular structure (16; 16'; 44) and is intended to receive a spike on a coffee machine which is matched with the portion capsule (1; 1').
10. Portion capsule according to any one of claims 4 to 9, characterised in that the support structure (10; 40) has a reinforcement rim (12; 42) along the periphery thereof.
11. Portion capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised by a distributor device (8; 8') which is arranged between the capsule cover (2) and the beverage substance (9'; 9').
12. Portion capsule according to claim 11, characterised in that the distributor device (8') comprises a plate with through-passages (38).
13. Portion capsule according to claim 12, characterised in that the through-passages are configured as radially extending slits (38) and/or as holes.
14. Portion capsule according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterised in that the distributor device (8; 8') comprises, in the central region thereof, a protuberance (34) which is directed away from the capsule cover (2) and which is intended to receive a spike on a coffee machine which is matched with the portion capsule (1; 1').
15. Portion capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the capsule base (3') comprises a pre-weakened spot (52) in the central region thereof.
16. Portion capsule according to claim 15, characterised in that the pre-weakened spot comprises a piece of foil (52) which is weaker than the capsule base (3') in the vicinity of said piece of foil (52).
17. Portion capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that the height of the annular structure (16; 16'; 44) is less than 20 %, preferably less than 10 %, of the height of the portion capsule (1; 1').

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