EP2314525B1 - Modular system for producing a capsule for a device for creating liquid food - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves combining a container (1) and covers (2,12) in different forms with each other during the manufacturing of a capsule, so that the container closed with the cover receives the full volume. The capsule has a filter, inlet closures (6,16) and an outlet closure, which are arranged in such a manner that the liquid in the container is supplied over the inlet closure. An independent claim is included for a modular system for manufacturing a capsule for a device for generating liquid food, particularly for coffee machine.

Description

The invention relates to a modular system for producing a capsule for a device for producing liquid foods, in particular for coffee machines.

It is known to make liquid foods in which a liquid, such as hot water, is passed through a substance embedded in a capsule.

Such capsules find particular use in coffee machines. The capsules have a container with a lid, as well as a filter, an inlet closure and an outlet closure.

After inserting the capsule in a coffee machine, the inlet closure of the capsule is pierced, for example, by a needle and pressed through the inlet closure hot water at high pressure in the capsule. The hot water enters the container in which coffee powder is located via the inlet closure. Due to the resulting pressure in the container, the spout opens, allowing the coffee to escape through the spout. In order to prevent the coffee powder from escaping, a filter is arranged upstream of the outlet closure.

Such capsules and the corresponding coffee machines are widely used, so that a variety of fillings for the capsules are desirable. This is primarily to think of different coffees and coffee strength, but also capsules with any other substances are conceivable, for example for the preparation of soups.

EP 1 579 791 A discloses an integrated cartridge for extracting a beverage from a powdered substance, such as ground coffee.

The cartridge has a hollow cylindrical cup with a bottom and a lid. The floor is provided with an outlet. For different uses, according to EP 1 579 791 A provided differently shaped cartridges.

US 6 012 379 A discloses a filter carrier for an espresso machine. Below the filter support a body with two funnels is arranged, which makes it possible to evenly distribute the beverage produced by the espresso machine on two cups.

FR 2 338 027 A1 discloses a liquid dispenser for dispensing beverages, e.g. B. in connection with a several cups filling coffee machine. The liquid distributor has two outlets and is attached to a nozzle, so that under the two outlets two cups can be filled with coffee.

DE 89 00 362 U1 discloses an espresso machine with a coffee filter and a run-off device fed by the latter with a distributor device which distributes the prepared coffee to outlets opening into two cups.

Due to these different requirements, variability in the capsules is required. On the other hand, capsules to be used in one and the same device must meet certain basic geometric requirements, such as the positioning of the inlet area relative to the outer perimeter of the capsule. Only then is it guaranteed that the capsule can be functionally absorbed by the device.

On this basis, the object of the present invention is to enable a variability in the capsules for a device for producing liquid foods, so that at the same time the basic geometric requirements for the use of different capsule configurations in a machine are maintained. Furthermore, the invention is based on the object to expand by increased variability, the scope of the capsules in the production of liquid food, In addition the capsules should enable a simple, robust and cost-effective production.

These objects are achieved by a modular system for producing a capsule for a device for producing liquid foods, in particular for coffee machines, according to claim 1

An advantageous embodiment of the modular system is defined in the dependent claim 2.

The modular system according to the invention for producing a capsule for a device for producing liquid foods, in particular for coffee machines, comprises at least one container and at least two lids, wherein lid and container are connectable at its edge region, so that different filling volumes by different container / lid combinations are available. Furthermore, the at least two covers each have an edge region for placement on a peripheral edge of the container, wherein the lid surface is immersed at different depths of different depths in the container. The modular system according to the invention further comprises at least two outlet elements for attachment to the bottom of the container, wherein a first outlet element comprises an outlet opening and a second outlet element comprises two spaced apart outlet openings for simultaneously filling two vessels. By different container / lid combinations thus capsules can be produced with different filling volumes.

Since the modular system comprises at least two outlet elements for attachment to the bottom of the container, wherein a first outlet element comprises an outlet opening and a second outlet element at least two spaced outlet openings, for example, capsules for one or two cups of coffee can be produced by means of the modular system.

To reduce the elements of the modular system, it is advantageous if a filter is integrated in the container bottom.

According to a method for producing a capsule, which is not part of the present invention, the capsule is made of at least the components container and lid. In this case, a substance for producing the liquid food is first filled in the container. This is typically coffee granules or coffee powder, but as described above, can also be any other substance with which liquid foods can be produced after passage of a liquid.

Subsequently, the container is closed with a lid.

The capsule also has a filter, an inlet closure and at least one outlet closure, which are arranged such that liquid can be supplied into the container via the inlet closure and liquid can be discharged from the container through the filter via the outlet closure. For example, inlet and outlet shutters can be designed such that they can be opened mechanically, for example by means of a needle, or be equipped such that they are opened by means of the pressure transmitted through the liquid.

If liquid is supplied via the inlet closure, it thus passes into the container, as a result of which the liquid foodstuff is produced, and is subsequently dispensed via the outlet closure, the filter preventing the substance from escaping.

It is essential that in the production of the capsule containers and / or lids of different shapes are combined individually, so that the closed container with the lid receives an optional specifiable filling volume.

In the manufacturing method described above, thus several containers and / or more covers are available. For an optionally predetermined volume, a corresponding combination of a lid with a container is selected so that the capsule produced therefrom receives the desired filling volume. This can thus easily the circumstance Be taken into account that different filling volumes are desirable for different substances. This results, for example, from the fact that different amounts of coffee powder are required for preparation in different strong coffees. Likewise, depending on the configuration of a capsule, for example, for the preparation of one or two cups of coffee, a different filling quantity can be selected.

By the manufacturing method described above thus a variability in the filling volume of the capsule is made possible, so that the application areas of the capsule expand and at the same time the manufacturing process is inexpensive to carry out because in a production line by selecting the appropriate lid / container combinations each with a capsule with the desired Filling volume can be produced.

It is essential here that due to the variability of the filling volume in the container no white space remains, so that a uniform distribution of the supplied liquid is ensured, such as supplied by hot-βem water.

Advantageously, in the manufacturing process, the selection from lids with different shape. In this case, all lids have an identical edge region for placement on a peripheral edge of the container. It can thus be placed on the identical container shape all lids. It is essential that the inner lid surface is immersed at different depths in the container at different depths. The greater the immersion depth of the inner lid surface, the lower the filling volume of the finished capsule.

In this preferred embodiment of the method can thus be prepared by selecting the lid when using only a container shape, a capsule for an optional specifiable filling volume.

Typically, the devices for producing liquid foods are designed such that liquid is supplied to the upper side of the capsule and the liquid is to be dispensed on the underside of the capsule.

Preferably, the covers are therefore designed such that they each have an inlet closure, which is connected via an inlet chamber with the lid surface. When placed on the container lid liquid can thus pass through the inlet closure into the inlet chamber and from there through an opening of the lid surface in the container. Preferably, the height of the inlet chamber is selected for each lid so that when the container is closed, the inlet closure regardless of the lid shape the same height is.

This results in the advantage that capsules with different filling volumes have the inlet closure at the same height, so that the capsules can be used in one and the same machine, regardless of the lid shape used.

Advantageously, an outlet element is attached to the container as an additional component. This outlet element has at least one outlet opening for dispensing the liquid food. The outlet element may for example be funnel-shaped, as it may have one or more channels, so that the outlet opening is located at a desired, predetermined location.

Preferably, in the method, the outlet element is selected from a plurality of outlet elements. In this case, depending on the filling volume of the container, an outlet element with an outlet opening or with a plurality of spaced-apart outlet openings is selected.

This is advantageous, for example, if the process coffee capsules both for the preparation of a cup of coffee, and - in the design of the capsule with the contrast, higher filling volume - are prepared for the preparation of two cups of coffee. In a capsule for a cup of coffee can be selected according to a spout element with only one outlet opening, whereas when preparing a capsule for two cups an outlet element with two spatially spaced outlet openings is selected so that two cups placed simultaneously under the capsule can be dispensed and coffee is dispensed into each cup from each one spout.

As described above, it is advantageous if the capsule has a filter which is arranged upstream of the Austaufverschlusses, so that leakage of the substance for producing the liquid food is prevented by the filter.

It is particularly advantageous if the filter is formed integrally with the container by being integrated, for example, in the container bottom. This reduces the number of components required in the production of the capsule, so that a more cost-effective and faster manufacturing process is made possible.

Advantageously, the filter is designed like a sieve, with triangular filter openings have been found to be particularly advantageous in coffee, as they give a better coffee quality and the risk of constipation is reduced by the substance. It is also within the scope of the invention to design the filter opening in any other shape, in particular circular.

Advantageously, under the container bottom, a lower film is attached to the container, which covers the entire filter integrated in the container bottom. As a result, the container is sealed on the bottom side after production of the capsule, so that no deterioration of the substance due to incoming air or moisture takes place.

Advantageously, a weakening line is introduced into the lower film, so that when the container is subjected to pressurized liquid in the film along the line of weakness, a defined opening is formed.

The attached to the bottom of the capsule film thus represents the drain plug.

However, it is also possible to form the drain plug directly on the outlet opening, for example in the outlet element.

Furthermore, it is advantageous to place an upper foil on the substance after filling the container. This is advantageously made of filter paper or a perforated film. After closing the container by means of the lid, the upper film is thus between substance and cover and prevents penetration of the substance into the inlet chamber of the lid, allows the distribution of water and prevents local Wegspülen the substance in the region of the closure opening.

Typically, devices for producing liquid foods are designed such that an inserted capsule rests with the capsule bottom or at least the outer edge of the capsule bottom in a capsule holder of the device. Advantageously, in the method according to the invention for producing a capsule, the individual constituents for producing the capsule are therefore selected such that the capsule has a predetermined overall height independently of the predetermined filling volume.

This can be done, for example, by the fact that, as described above, only one container shape and different covers with differently deep dipping lid surfaces are used. The outlet elements are designed such that regardless of the number of outlet openings there is always a constant overall height of the outlet element. This ensures that regardless of the lid used or the outlet element used always results in an identical total height of the capsule.

Likewise, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide containers of different heights with correspondingly different filling volumes and to accordingly select outlet elements with different heights and / or to select covers with different thicknesses of the regions resting on the container rim, so that the resulting total height of the capsules is equal to different filling volumes ,

The previously described variability in the manufacture of a capsule is thus made possible by the provision of a modular system for producing a capsule for a device for producing liquid foods, in particular for coffee machines.

A capsule for a device for producing liquid food, in particular for coffee machines, which is not part of the present invention, as described above, a container, wherein the container for receiving a substance for producing a liquid food is used.

The capsule further comprises a filter, an inlet closure and at least one outlet closure, which are arranged such that liquid can be supplied via the inlet closure into the container and thus to the substance stored in the container and out of the container through the filter via the outlet closure is deductible.

It is essential that the capsule comprises at least two spaced-apart outlet openings, wherein the outlet closure is connected to at least one outlet opening.

With the capsule thus a vessel can be filled, which is positioned under the capsule so that both outlet openings open into the vessel, as well as two vessels can be filled simultaneously, in which each vessel is positioned below an outlet opening.

Advantageously, therefore, the capsule has two spaced-apart outlet openings, which have a distance of at least 1.5 cm, preferably about 3 cm between the centers of the two outlet openings, so that it is ensured that two vessels can be placed next to each other under each outlet opening.

Advantageously, the capsule is designed such that the container is closed by means of a lid.

In this case, each outlet opening can each have an outlet closure, so that the respective outlet closure is opened at each outlet opening, for example by means of the pressurized liquid, and the liquid food can escape.

In an advantageous embodiment of the capsule, the capsule only has an outlet closure. The at least two outlet openings are each connected to the one outlet closure. This has the advantage that only one outlet closure must be opened and then the liquid food occurs through both outlet openings. It is therefore particularly excluded that due to pressure differences or manufacturing inaccuracies, not all spouts open at the same time, so that the liquid food would escape from only part of the outlet openings.

Both for the modular system according to the invention and for the capsule described above, embodiments preferably result from the advantageous embodiments of the individual components illustrated in the description of the method described above.

• Figur 1 eine Kapsel zum Herstellen von einer Tasse Kaffee,
• Figur 2 eine Kapsel zum Herstellen von zwei Tassen Kaffee und
• Figur 3 eine dreidimensionale Darstellung der Bestandteile der Kapseln aus den Figuren 1 und 2.

Further advantageous embodiments are described below with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the figures. Showing:

• FIG. 1 a capsule for making a cup of coffee,
• FIG. 2 a capsule for making two cups of coffee and
• FIG. 3 a three-dimensional representation of the components of the capsules from the FIGS. 1 and 2 ,

FIG. 1 shows a capsule for a coffee machine, which comprises a container 1, a lid 2, a discharge element 3, and a lower foil 4 and an upper foil 5.

In the container a sieve-like filter is integrated in the bottom of the triangular recesses, of which, for example, the recesses 4a and 4b are designated.

Between the bottom of the container and the upper foil 5 is the filling volume, which is filled with coffee powder.

The lid has an inlet closure 6, which is connected via an inlet chamber 7 with the container 1.

When using the capsule, the inlet closure 6 of the lid 2 is pierced by means of a needle and then introduced via the inlet closure 6 hot-βes water into the inlet chamber 7 under pressure. The hot water penetrates the film 5, which consists of filter paper.

Anschießend penetrates the hot water, the coffee powder in the container 1, so that coffee is generated.

The lower film 4 is centered for this purpose in the middle approximately in a circular and welded at the edge of the perforation ring with the bottom of the container 1. This inner weld has weakenings, so that due to the high pressure, the film 4 detaches from the inner weld.

The coffee thus penetrates the sieve integrated in the capsule bottom and dissolves the lower foil 4 in the central area of the capsule bottom so that the coffee flows via the central perforation in the lower foil 4 into the outlet element 3. The lower film 4 thus represents the outlet closure.

The escaping coffee enters the funnel-shaped outlet element 3 and flows through the outlet opening 8 of the outlet element 3 into a cup positioned below the capsule.

In FIG. 2 is a capsule for two cups of coffee shown. This is identical to the one in FIG. 1 shown capsule a container 1, and a lower foil 4 and an upper foil 5.

It is essential that the lid 12 has a different shape compared to the lid 2:

When the lid 12 is placed in the container state, a lower immersion depth, compared with the immersion depth of the lid surface of the lid 2. This results in the in FIG. 2 illustrated capsule in about twice as large filling volume compared with in FIG. 1 illustrated capsule.

Since the in FIG. 2 shown capsule is suitable for the preparation of two cups of coffee, a discharge element 13 was attached to the container 1, which has two outlet openings 8a and 8b.

The preparation of coffee is analogous to the method described in Figure 1, wherein the coffee is divided after passing through the lower film 4 in the outlet element 13, so that approximately half of the outlet opening 8a and the other half exits from the outlet opening 8b. It can thus be placed in each cup under the two outlet openings, so that both cups are filled at the same time.

A comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2 shows that the heights of the outlet elements 3 and 13 are identical and the heights of the inlet chamber 7 of the lid 2 and the inlet chamber 17 of the lid 12 have been selected such that both capsules have an identical total height. In particular, the inlet closure 6 is the in FIG. 1 shown capsule at the same height as the inlet closure 16 of in FIG. 2 illustrated capsule.

In the FIGS. 1 and 2 Thus, an inventive modular system is shown, which consists of a container 1, two covers 2 and 12 with different shape and two outlet elements 3 and 13 with one or two outlet openings.

In the method described above is thus determined depending on whether a filling volume of coffee powder for a cup or for two cups is accordingly in the manufacture of a lid with a shape according to the lid 2 for a capsule for a cup of coffee and a lid according to the shape of the lid 12 selected for a capsule for two cups of coffee and connected to the container 1 after filling the container, preferably by weld.

Accordingly, depending on the given filling volume with a filling volume for a cup, an outlet element 3 with an outlet opening and with a filling volume for two cups an outlet element 13 with two outlet openings is selected and attached to the container 1, preferably welded.

In FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional representation of the components of the capsules from the FIGS. 1 and 2 shown.

The components are designed such that the finished capsule has a substantially cylindrical shape.

The container 1 is thus made substantially cylindrical, and has at the bottom of the integrated filter, wherein not the entire bottom is covered with sieve-like openings, but a concentrically arranged around the center circular area has no recesses. The lower film 4 has an outer annular region which is welded to the capsule bottom. Furthermore, the film has an annular area around a central hole, which is also welded to the capsule bottom, but has two approximately triangular weakenings in which no welding takes place. The inner seal is thus released from the capsule bottom by the coffee passing through the capsule bottom under pressure, whereas the outer seal is chosen to withstand the pressure and to not detach from the capsule bottom.

In FIG. 3 Thus, the elements of an embodiment of a modular system according to the invention are shown.

The covers 2 and 12 are also substantially circular or cylindrical. Likewise, the inlet closures 6 and 16 are circular and arranged approximately concentrically around the center of the cover 2 and 12. Accordingly, the inlet chambers are approximately cylindrical and arranged centrally in the covers 2 and 12.

Container, lid and outlet element are each made by casting from gas-tight plastic. In the production of the capsule, the individual components are welded together. Likewise, however, a gluing or any other connection is conceivable.

In the FIGS. 1 . 2 and 3 The different immersion depths of the covers 2 and 12 were achieved in that rings projecting at different depths into the container were formed in the edge region of the cover. Likewise, it is also conceivable to carry out the cover with different thickness, so that the inlet chambers 7 or 17 are formed as a bore in the lids.

The in the FIGS. 1 . 2 and 3 However, selected embodiment of the lid has the advantage that less material is needed and easier production by casting is possible.

The structure of the capsule has been described above in such a way that the inlet closure is arranged in the lid, so that the liquid enters the container through the lid and exits through the container bottom out of the container.

However, it is also within the scope of the invention to reverse the direction of flow, that is, to form a corresponding inlet region in the container bottom and to form a corresponding sieve in the lid. Analogously, in this embodiment, the outlet element would be arranged on the lid.

Claims (2)

1. Modular system for manufacturing a capsule for a device for producing liquid foodstuffs, especially for coffee machines, comprising at least one container (1) and at least two lids (2, 12),
   wherein lid and container are connectible at their rim regions, so that as a result of different container/lid combinations it is possible to obtain various fill volumes,
   the modular system comprises at least two lids (2, 12) which each have a rim region for mounting on a peripheral rim of the container, the lid surface in the case of the different lids projecting into the container to different depths, and
   the modular system comprises at least two outlet elements (3, 13) for attachment to the base of the container, a first outlet comprising one outlet opening and a second outlet element comprising two outlet openings spaced apart from one another, for simultaneously filling two receptacles.
2. Modular system according to claim 1, characterised in that a filter is integrated into the container base.

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