EP3010838A1

EP3010838A1 - Capsule having a capsule body and method for producing said capsule

Info

Publication number: EP3010838A1
Application number: EP13729331.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Raphael Gugerli
Original assignee: Delica AG
Current assignee: Delica AG
Priority date: 2013-06-17
Filing date: 2013-06-17
Publication date: 2016-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 2033-06-17
Also published as: AU2013392999A1; DK3010838T3; BR112015031232A2; WO2014202105A1; DK3010838T4; EP3010838B1; ES2634334T5; EP3010838B2; AU2013392999B2; JP2016529942A; ES2634334T3; PT3010838T; BR112015031232B1

Abstract

A capsule for preparing a beverage consists of a capsule body (2), which has a side wall (3) and a bottom (4), and a lid that covers the capsule body for forming a closed chamber, which is filled with a substance. The capsule body made of plastic material is provided with at least one aroma-tight barrier layer. Openings (8) are provided on the bottom (4), through which openings liquid can flow in a beverage preparation machine in addition to the openings that are created by a penetration means (12). A likewise aroma-tight membrane (9) for sealing the closed chamber (6) with respect to the opening (8) is arranged on the inside of the bottom (4). Said membrane is connected to the bottom either along a connection zone (10) following the circumference of the bottom or over the entire area.

Description

Capsule with a capsule body and process for its preparation

The invention relates to a capsule according to the preamble of claim 1. Such capsules are today used in various forms for the preparation of a beverage, in particular of coffee or tea in a beverage preparation machine.

The capsules fulfill a dual function, on the one hand, by the substance contained therein from the outside

Protecting the effects and preserve their aroma and on the other hand by the interaction with the beverage preparation machine also perform a mechanical function for the passage of hot water under high pressure. The capsule is received in a brewing chamber, which for the brewing process

is sealed pressure-tight. In many

Beverage preparation machines takes place with the closure of the brewing chamber, a penetration of the soil, which hot water can penetrate into the interior of the capsule after pressing the pump. The lid, which closes the capsule body is either perforated or he breaks through the structure of the

Internal pressure in several places, so that the hot drink from the brewing chamber can remove. Such a capsule is described for example in WO 2012/080501.

A problem with capsules made of plastic material is that when perforating the soil in consequence of the

Material elasticity of the soil close to the perforating means applies, so that the penetrating amount of water per unit time is lower than, for example, with capsules made of aluminum. It has therefore been shown that it is particularly advantageous to install additional openings in the bottom already during the production of the capsule, which measures the flow rate in the bottom Increase beverage preparation machine. These openings are advantageously produced without material removal slots, which are closed in the pressureless state and take over a kind of valve function under pressure.

A disadvantage of this embodiment, however, is that each individual capsule still has to be packed separately in an aroma-tight bag. However, it would be desirable to dispense with this additional packaging means, because a

Oxygen and aroma-tight design of the capsule apart from the openings in the ground is easily implemented. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a capsule of the type mentioned, which manages without additional outer shell and in which the flow rate in the

Beverage preparation machine is controllable through any openings in the bottom of the capsule. This object is achieved according to the invention with a capsule, which has the features in claim 1.

The capsule body is itself already provided in a known per se with a barrier layer. Multi-layered construction

Plastic films with such a barrier layer are already known. Also cover with barrier properties are known. In order to prevent moisture or atmospheric oxygen from penetrating the capsule bottom through the production-side openings or aroma material can escape, is on

Inside the bottom of a membrane with barrier properties for sealing the closed chamber disposed opposite the opening. The membrane can be connected to the ground along a connection zone following the circumference of the floor. In this way, all are already installed in the ground

Open hermetically closed, so that only through the Penetrating agent in the beverage preparation machine at the same time the bottom and the membrane is pierced.

The dimensioning of the connection zone is chosen so that a sufficiently firm connection with the ground is ensured. It may be particularly useful if the

Connecting zone a central area of the capsule floor

includes, where the membrane is not connected to the ground. This disconnected area can serve

Bumps such as e.g. To compensate for wrinkles or indents in the membrane.

On the other hand, however, it may also be particularly expedient if the openings are arranged at least partially in the central region of the capsule bottom, where the membrane is not connected to the ground. In this way, the liquid penetrating through the openings in the unconnected

Immediately spread the membrane area in all directions so that sufficient flow is maintained.

The capsule may be rotationally symmetrical, wherein the connection zone may be annular.

Of course, the same principle but, for example, in a polygonal cross-section formed capsule with a polygonal capsule bottom can be realized.

In an annular connection zone, it has proved to be particularly advantageous if the connection zone has an outer diameter between 14 and 17 mm and a

Inner diameter between 8 and 11 mm. With these

Masses on the one hand ensures a secure connection between the membrane and capsule bottom and on the other hand remains one sufficiently large central area at which the membrane is not connected to the ground.

The term "barrier properties" is well-known to those skilled in the food packaging industry, the essential criteria being oxygen permeability and oxygen permeability

Water vapor permeability in each case at a certain

Temperature of for example 23 ° C or 25 ° C. As

Plastic material having excellent barrier properties is known, for example, as polyethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH). This material is used in laminated films as a barrier layer and has permeability values in the range of 0.01 to 1. The oxygen permeability of plastic films is measured according to DIN 53 380. The value for the oxygen permeability results from cm ³ / m ² xdx bar. For the present application permeability rates apply, as they already deep-drawn

Plastic capsules are used for portion coffee.

In certain cases, it may also be expedient if the membrane is connected over its entire surface to the bottom of the capsule. Depending on the design of the penetration means on the machine, the openings can bring about a better flow rate even in such a case. This is particularly the case when the penetration means pierces the bottom of the capsule in the region of the slots.

As already mentioned, the opening is advantageously closed in the unpressurized state

Slot under hydraulic, pneumatic or

mechanical pressure action is expandable. The only one

Slit may be straight or curved, or it may also be crossed slots. advantageous

Embodiments of slit valves that are under Open pressure, the skilled person already known from various fields of technology.

Of course, other types of openings may be used instead of slots, in particular round or polygonal holes.

A particularly optimal effect is achieved when several openings, preferably at least three openings are placed in the bottom. This is related to that in the

Beverage preparation machine, the relative position of the capsule to the penetration means is not always predictable. With at least three openings, however, the risk of an unfavorable relative position is considerably reduced.

Particularly advantageously, the floor adjacent to the outer periphery of a stiffening zone, which is formed by a plurality of indentations. Thus, the bottom for the passage of the liquid through the chamber in a beverage preparation machine with a penetrating agent is penetratable without the capsule body bends. A sufficient resistance to the capsule bottom is in capsule bodies made of plastic material of special

Meaning, because this material of the penetration sets a greater resistance to, for example, aluminum.

The indentations mentioned can inner wall sections

which lie on a common circumference, wherein the diameter of the circumference of the circle corresponds approximately to the diameter of the membrane. The membrane is also centered in this way by the inner wall sections, resulting in the

Production process has a positive effect. The membrane may consist of an aluminum-based film. It can also be a slide of one

Aluminum alloy or a laminate with at least one aluminum layer act. From the same film material and the lid can be made to close the capsule body. Aluminum is known to have excellent properties in terms of barrier to diffusion. For this reason, such films are often used for aroma-tight packaging in the food industry.

The capsule body is particularly suitably designed as a deep-drawn part. In the deep drawing process can multilayer

Plastic films are processed, which are exactly on the

Packaged goods and are aligned to the use of the capsule. Of course, it would also be conceivable that

Form capsule body, for example, as an injection molded part.

The invention also relates to a method for producing a capsule body for a capsule, which has the features in claim 13. It has proved to be particularly advantageous

proven when the openings are placed in the bottom of the capsule in a separate operation after the production of the capsule body. In this way, the openings can be positioned exactly, which is particularly important for the desired effect. Subsequently, the membrane is used, whose surface configuration corresponds approximately to that of the bottom of the capsule. As already mentioned, the connection takes place along a connection zone following the circumference of the floor or over the whole area.

An optimization of the manufacturing process can be further achieved in that the capsule body in a

Deep drawing process is prepared, the soil preferably is formed as a flat surface. In a flat surface, the openings are easier to install than when it is curved. Finally, the membrane can also be on a flat surface

Floor surface can be better applied.

The opening is formed without material removal by an incision such that a self-closing slit in the rest state. The soil is preferably pierced with a sharp blade. Of course, the openings could also be punched or burned out, for example by means of laser beams.

The connection of the membrane to the bottom is advantageously carried out by heat sealing, wherein the membrane with a

correspondingly sealable layer e.g. can be equipped with a sealing wax. Of course, however, other connection methods are conceivable, such as e.g. gluing or welding or a purely mechanical pressing.

Finally, the invention also relates to a system comprising a capsule filled with a substance as above

and a beverage preparation machine, which has a capsule holder for receiving the capsule, and a device for passing a liquid through the capsule for extracting or dissolving the substance for producing a beverage, wherein the beverage preparation machine has at least one device for penetrating the bottom of the capsule.

By using the capsules according to the invention in a beverage preparation machine known per se, their

Performance can be significantly increased. The additional openings in the capsule bottom reduce the load on the pump on the beverage preparation machine and thus extend their capacity Lifespan. Nevertheless, the capsule is absolutely aroma-tight and does not require an additional outer cover.

Further advantages in the system can be achieved in that the arrangement of the opening or the openings in the bottom of the capsule is adapted to the device for penetrating the soil such that at least one penetration means meets at least one opening. Depending on the configuration of the openings, an excellent flow rate can be achieved in this way.

Further advantages and individual features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a capsule,

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the capsule according to FIG. 1,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the empty capsule body

according to FIG. 1 in the direction of capsule opening,

FIG. 4 shows a cross section through the capsule body according to FIG

Figure 3 in the sectional plane

FIG. 5 shows a cross section through the capsule body according to FIG

Figure 3 in the sectional plane

Figure 6 An enlarged cross section through a

Capsule bottom with inserted membrane

FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of the production of a capsule body, Figure 8 is a plan view of an alternative

Embodiment of a capsule,

Figure 9 is a plan view of another

Embodiment of a capsule,

Figure 10 An enlarged cross section through a

Capsule bottom with continuously connected membrane.

According to FIG. 1, a capsule 1 known per se consists of a substantially rotationally symmetrical capsule body 2 with a side wall 3 and a bottom 4. The capsule body 2 has the overall shape of a stepped truncated cone, the last truncated cone portion 17 being the steepest

Truncated cone angle to the longitudinal central axis. The bottom 4 is substantially flat, but may be off

production reasons in the central area have a slightly concave curvature 25. Around the side wall 3 stiffening ribs 18 are arranged at regular angular pitch. A circumferential flange 19 serves on the one hand the seal in the beverage preparation machine and on the other hand the

Attachment of a lid 5.

On the outer circumference of the bottom 4 closes a

Stiffening zone 13, which is formed by individual indentations 14. These indentations interrupt the

Truncated cone section 17 in regular angular pitch.

As can also be seen in particular from FIG. 2, openings 8 are arranged in the form of slots in the bottom, which openings completely penetrate the bottom, but are closed in the state of rest due to the material elasticity. When shown Embodiment four slots are arranged in an angular pitch of 90 °.

Figures 3 to 5 show for the sake of better

Clarity an empty capsule body 2 in the state before filling with a substance and before closing the

Capsule opening with the lid 5. As can be seen from Figure 3, the capsule bottom is covered on the inside with a membrane 9. With a broken circle while the connection zone 10 is indicated, on which the membrane is firmly connected to the ground. This connection zone follows the circumference of the floor and is formed here annular.

FIG. 4 shows still further details of the stiffening zone 13 or of the individual indentations 14. Each indentation is provided with an inner wall section 15, which runs in cross section approximately parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the capsule. The inner wall sections 15 lie on a common

Peripheral circle, which corresponds approximately to the outer diameter of the membrane 9. Each indentation 14 also has two side wall portions 16, the distance of which widens slightly against the bottom 4 here. This way, against one

Force from the outside on the capsule bottom achieved a particularly good stability.

In Figure 5, the cross section through the truncated cone portion 17 is shown in the left half of the figure. These are in each case the sections between two individual indentations 14.

Figure 6 shows a simplified representation of the situation after the penetration of the capsule base 4 by a

Penetrant 12 in a beverage preparation machine. The membrane 9 is fixed to an annular connection zone 10 connected to the capsule bottom 4. This membrane consists of an aroma-tight film with barrier properties such as aluminum. Also, the capsule body 2 made of plastic material has such an aroma-tight barrier layer, which is not specified in the drawings. The connection zone 10 has an outer diameter dl, which at the same time about the

Outer diameter of the membrane 9 corresponds. However, the membrane 9 may also partially overlap the side wall 3 of the capsule. The inner diameter d2 of the connection zone 10 encloses a central region 11, at which the membrane 9 is not firmly connected to the capsule bottom 4. The

Penetrant 12 penetrates the capsule bottom 4 and the membrane 9 within or optionally outside of the central region 11. Through the opening 8, which may be a closed slit at rest, hot brewing water flows into the area between the capsule bottom 4 and membrane. 9 and thence through the opening in the membrane 9, which was created by the penetration means 12. At the same time, however, brewing water also penetrates through the opening in the bottom 4, which was likewise created by the penetration means 12. Before use in the beverage preparation machine, the chamber 6 formed by the capsule evidently remains hermetically sealed against the outside atmosphere.

FIG. 7 shows in individual sequences the production of a capsule body for a capsule according to the invention. First, according to a, a capsule body 2 is produced in a deep-drawing die 20. The production technology and the materials are known to the person skilled in the art. For example, a multi-layered film based on polypropylene and polyethylene

be used. The finished capsule body 2 is provided according to b using a plunge tool 21 with the openings at the bottom.

Subsequently, according to c, a membrane 9 is provided and placed on the inside of the capsule body on the ground.

According to d then carried out with a Heisssiegelwerkzeug 22, the firm connection of the membrane 9 with the bottom of the capsule body 2 in the manner described above. The initially completely flat bottom of the capsule body can be obtained by the sealing process a slightly concave curvature against the inside.

According to e, at a filling station 23, the filling of the

Capsule body 2 with a substance 7, so for example with coffee powder.

Finally, according to f, the capsule body 2 is closed with a lid 5 with the aid of a closing tool 24.

In particular, the steps e and f can take place at a great distance from step d. The prepared capsule body 2 can be stacked, for example, after operation d and stored until they are fed to the filling station.

In the alternative embodiment according to FIG. 8, the openings 8 consist of a total of eight circular holes which penetrate the bottom 4.

The capsule according to FIG. 9 differs from that according to FIG. 2 in that the four slots 8 serving as openings are arranged relatively far outside almost in the region of the indentations 14. In such an arrangement, the openings are in the region of the connection zone, that is in the Area in which the membrane 9 is firmly connected to the bottom 4 of the capsule. This is independent of whether the membrane is only connected to an annular connection zone or over the entire surface to the ground.

Figure 10 shows an embodiment in which the membrane 9 is connected over the entire surface with the bottom 4. The slot-shaped openings 8 also extend far outward here, as shown in FIG. The penetration means 12 and 12 'penetrate the bottom 4 in the outer peripheral region of the bottom 4. Das

shown penetration means 12 pierces the soil in a region in which no opening is arranged. At this point, there is no increase in the flow rate. In contrast, the penetration means 12 'pierces the bottom 4 in a region in which an opening 8 is arranged. Here, the slot 8 causes an increased flow rate, which is caused on the one hand by the enlarged opening cross-section and on the other hand by a reduction in the resilience of the bottom wall.

Claims

1 claims

1. capsule (1) with a capsule body (2) of a

Plastic material, comprising a side wall (3) and a base (4) integrally formed therewith, and a cover (5) covering the capsule body to form a closed chamber (6) containing a substance (7) for the preparation of a beverage contains, where the

Capsule body (2) in the bottom (4) has at least one opening (8) for passing a liquid through the capsule, characterized in that the capsule body (2) and the lid (5) with respect to permeability of oxygen and

Flavored barrier properties and that on the inside of the bottom (4) a membrane for sealing the closed chamber with respect to the opening (8) is arranged, wherein the membrane is fixedly connected to the bottom (4) and also has barrier properties.

2. Capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Membrane along one of the circumference of the soil following

Connection zone (10) to the bottom (4) is connected, which a central portion (11) of the capsule bottom (4)

includes, where the membrane (9) is not connected to the ground.

3. Capsule according to claim 2, characterized in that the

Opening (8) at least partially in the central region (11) of the capsule bottom (4) is arranged, on which the membrane (9) is not connected to the ground.

4. Capsule according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized

in that the capsule (1) is rotationally symmetrical 2 is formed and that the connection zone (10)

runs in a circular ring.

5. Capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Membrane is connected on its entire surface to the bottom (4).

6. Capsule according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized

characterized in that the membrane (9) by means of a

Hot seal is connected to the ground.

7. Capsule according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized

characterized in that the opening (8) in an unpressurized

Condition closed slot is, which is expandable under hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanical pressure.

8. Capsule according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized

characterized in that in the bottom (4) a plurality of openings (8), preferably at least three openings are arranged.

9. Capsule according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized

characterized in that the bottom (4) for the passage of the liquid through the chamber in one

Beverage preparation machine with penetrating agents

is penetratable and that the bottom adjacent to the outer periphery of a stiffening zone (13), which by several

Indentations (14) is formed.

10. Capsule according to claim 9, characterized in that the

Indentations (14) have inner wall sections (15) which lie on a common circumference, wherein the 3

Diameter of the circumference about the diameter of the membrane (9) corresponds.

11. Capsule according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized

characterized in that the membrane (9) consists of an aluminum-based film.

12. Capsule according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized

characterized in that the capsule body (2) is a deep-drawn part.

13. A method for producing a capsule body (2) for a capsule (1), in particular according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by the following steps:

Providing a capsule body (2)

Plastic material having at least one barrier layer, with a side wall (3) and with a bottom (4) integrally formed therewith;

Attaching at least one opening (8) in the ground; Providing a membrane (9) with

Barrier properties whose surface configuration corresponds approximately to that of the soil (4);

Inserting the membrane (9) into the capsule body (2) and connecting it to the inside of the bottom (4) either along a circumference of the bottom

Connection zone (10), or over the entire surface of the membrane.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the capsule body is produced in a deep-drawing process, 4 wherein the bottom is preferably formed as a flat surface.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the opening (8) without material removal by a

Incision is formed such that a self-closing at rest slit arises.

16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized

in that the connection of the membrane (9) to the bottom (4) is effected by heat sealing.

17. System comprising a substance-filled capsule (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12 and a

Beverage preparation machine, which has a capsule holder for receiving the capsule, and a device for

Passing a liquid through the capsule to

Extracting or dissolving the substance for making a beverage, wherein the beverage preparation machine comprises at least one device for penetrating the bottom (4) of the capsule.

18. System according to claim 17, characterized in that the

Arrangement of the opening or the openings (8) in the bottom (4) of the capsule is adapted to the device for penetrating the soil such that at least one penetration means meets at least one opening.

19. Capsule body for a capsule according to one of claims 1 to 12.