EP3118139B1 - System and capsule with a capsule body, preferably formed in a rotationally symmetrical manner - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a capsule with a preferably rotationally symmetrical capsule body according to the preamble of claim 1 and a system comprising a device for preparing a liquid food and such a capsule.

Such capsules and systems are now widely used in particular for the preparation of coffee or coffee blends. The capsule forms in particular a portion packaging for the transport and storage of a substance contained therein. In addition, the design of the capsule plays an important role in the preparation of a beverage with a corresponding device. For the storage of the substance, the capsule must form an aroma-tight envelope, in particular with coffee powder. In addition, the capsule must protect the substance contained therein from moisture and other environmental influences.

In generic capsules, the opening on the inlet side is usually carried out by penetration of the soil when enclosing the capsule in a percolation chamber of a beverage preparation device. On the outlet side, the build-up internal pressure in the capsule usually causes an opening, so that the injected liquid can flow through the substance. In addition to membranes provided for penetration on the exit side, membranes are also known which burst exclusively under mechanical pressure without mechanical action.

By the WO 2014/061046 A1 a generic similar capsule, according to the preamble of claim 1, has become known, the bottom of which on the inside areas having penetration elements which can be displaced by exerting a compressive force on the capsule bottom in the direction of the capsule interior, in order to achieve a penetration of the capsule bottom spanning membrane.

A disadvantage of this solution is that after penetration of the membrane, the penetration elements block the newly created flow openings. Furthermore, accidental penetration of the membrane can be prevented only by being designed comparatively thick. The sharp-edged penetration elements are beyond to produce only with considerable effort. The sharp-edgedness of the penetration elements also results in a certain risk of injury for the personnel involved in capsule production and for the end user in the event of the capsule being opened.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a capsule of the type mentioned, in which a passage in the bottom area for the passage of a liquid in connection with a beverage production is better generated. In addition, the passage should be created as far as possible in relation to the outer center area and not distributed over the entire surface of the membrane, as described in the prior art. This allows in particular a flow guide concentrically from outside to inside. The capsule should also work reliably and be easy to use. In addition, it should be easy and inexpensive to produce.

These objects are achieved by a capsule having the features in claim 1 and by a system having the features in claim 15.

The capsule comprises a preferably rotationally symmetrical capsule body having a side wall and a bottom and a lid covering the capsule body for forming at least one chamber containing a substance for preparing a liquid food. The bottom is divided relative to the longitudinal center axis of the capsule in at least one outer bottom portion and at least one inner bottom portion. The at least one outer bottom section and the at least one inner bottom section are movably connected to one another via at least one connecting section, in particular in the direction of the longitudinal central axis of the capsule. Within the chamber, a preferably impermeable membrane is mounted above the bottom, which is connected to the at least one outer bottom portion. By moving the at least one inner bottom portion in the direction of the chamber, a passage in the membrane for the passage of a liquid can be generated. The at least one movable bottom section forms a bearing surface for the membrane.

Such a configuration of the capsule considerably improves the generation of a passage in its bottom area in the preparation of a liquid food. Thus, there need not necessarily be penetration elements which potentially block a passageway formed by penetration of the membrane. Since the movable bottom portion forms a support surface for the membrane, this can be configured with a small thickness. The fact that a waiver of penetration elements is made possible, the safety of the capsule, whether during their production or use, can be significantly increased. In addition, the risk of accidental generation of a passage, for example in the context of the transport of the capsule, significantly reduced. The structure of a rice tension in the membrane can be much better control.

In such a capsule, the lid may form an inlet side and the bottom an exit side for the passage of a liquid through the chamber. In addition, the at least one inner bottom portion may have a preferably designed as a nozzle outlet opening. Such a configured capsule has the advantage that in the preparation of a liquid food after leaving the capsule is no longer in contact with the device used for this purpose, thereby eliminating a cleaning of the system after its use.

However, in the case of a capsule according to the invention for the passage of a liquid through the chamber of the lid, an outlet side and the bottom can also form an inlet side. In this case, the at least one inner bottom portion may have an inlet opening preferably designed as a connecting piece. Similarly configured capsules are widely used nowadays. In particular, they have the advantage that the cover covering the capsule body can also fulfill the function of a filter element when using the capsule in combination with a beverage production device with a filter plate adapted thereto.

Quite generally, in the case of the capsules described here, the bearing surface for the membrane can be embodied on at least one inner bottom section as a support structure, in particular in the form of open or closed rings. Such a support structure can fulfill two functions. On the one hand, it serves to support the membrane covering the capsule bottom, which makes it comparatively thin. On the other hand, the support structures for liquids containing the membrane have happened to serve as a kind of labyrinth which the fluids have to go through. This can serve the better mixing of a beverage product. In addition, it can be achieved, especially in milk-containing beverages, a foaming of the beverage product.

In the case of capsules according to the invention, the membrane can additionally be connected to the at least one inner bottom section. This has the advantage that a part of the membrane separated during the formation of a flow remains connected to the capsule bottom and can not thereby disturb the actual beverage production process. In the fixed area, the membrane also can not stretch, which favors the construction of a rice tension.

The membrane can also have predetermined breaking lines. Such frangible lines serve to ensure the formation of a passage in the membrane of precisely defined size and proportions.

The at least one outer bottom section and the at least one inner bottom section can be connected to the at least one connecting section via regions having a reduced wall thickness, in particular via film hinges. This type of connection makes it possible to manufacture the capsule in one piece by an injection molding or deep-drawing process.

The at least one inner bottom portion and the at least one outer bottom portion may be interconnected via two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten connecting portions. This allows the capsule to be adapted to the respective application. In addition, the force required by the number of connecting elements, which requires is to move the at least one inner bottom portion in the direction of the chamber.

In such an embodiment, the connecting portions can also be connected to each other over areas with reduced wall thickness, in particular via film hinges. This also allows a very rational one-piece production of the capsule by an injection molding or deep-drawing process.

The areas with reduced wall thickness may have a thickness of less than 0.7 mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm, preferably less than 0.3 mm. Starches of this kind ensure good tear resistance in the case of materials commonly used for such a capsule. However, the force required to move the inner bottom portion remains within an acceptable range.

The connecting portions may be annular or ring segment-shaped. Accordingly, the symmetry of the capsule is optionally maintained in the connecting sections, which allows a uniform symmetrical force during movement.

A capsule according to the invention can have stiffening ribs in the transition region between the side wall and the bottom. Such stiffening ribs are used to forward forces acting on the at least one outer bottom portion when moving the at least one inner bottom portion of the direction of the chamber as effectively as possible on the side wall.

The present invention further relates to a system comprising a device for preparing a liquid food and a capsule as described above.

In such a system, the device may comprise a percolation chamber for receiving the capsule, wherein by closing the percolation chamber with inserted capsule by moving the at least one inner bottom portion in the direction of the chamber, a flow in the membrane can be generated. For this purpose, the heights of the capsule and the percolation chamber can be selected such that by closing the percolation chamber with inserted capsule a compressive force on the at least one inner bottom portion is exercisable, such that by moving the at least one inner bottom portion of the capsule in the direction of the chamber, a flow can be generated in the membrane. Such a design has the advantage that when inserting the capsule in the percolation chamber and closing the same automatically a passage in the membrane for the production of a beverage product is formed immediately before this process.

Further advantages and individual features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of several embodiments and from the drawings.

Figur 1:

Prinzipiendarstellung einer erfindungsgemässen Kapsel, eingelegt in eine auf sie abgestimmte Perkolationskammer, jedoch vor dem Verschliessen derselben;

Figur 2:

Kapsel in der Perkolationskammer gemäss Figur 1, jedoch nach dem Verschliessen derselben;

Figur 3:

Schnittbild einer erfindungsgemässen Kapsel beim Einlegen in eine auf sie abgestimmte Perkolationskammer;

Figur 4:

Schnittbild der Kapsel gemäss Figur 3, eingelegt in eine Perkolationskammer, die verschlossen ist;

Figur 5:

Schnittbild eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemässen Kapsel;

Figur 6:

Teilvergrösserung des Schnittbildes gemäss Figur 6;

Figur 7:

Teilvergrösserung eines Schnittbildes eines alternativen Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemässen Kapsel;

Figur 8:

Draufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemässe Kapsel gemäss dem Schnittbild von Figur 5;

Figur 9:

Perspektivische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemässen Kapsel von aussen;

Figur 10:

perspektivische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemässen Kapsel von innen.

They show schematically:

FIG. 1:

Schematic representation of a capsule according to the invention, inserted in a percolation chamber adapted to it, but before closing it;

FIG. 2:

Capsule in the percolation chamber according to FIG. 1 but after closing them;

FIG. 3:

Sectional view of a capsule according to the invention when placed in a percolation chamber adapted to it;

FIG. 4:

Sectional view of the capsule according to FIG. 3 inserted in a percolation chamber, which is closed;

FIG. 5:

Sectional view of another embodiment of a capsule according to the invention;

FIG. 6:

Partial enlargement of the sectional image according to FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 7:

Partial enlargement of a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a capsule according to the invention;

FIG. 8:

Top view of a capsule according to the invention according to the sectional view of FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 9:

Perspective view of a capsule according to the invention from the outside;

FIG. 10:

perspective view of a capsule according to the invention from the inside.

How out FIG. 1 As can be seen, a capsule 1 according to the invention generally comprises a capsule body 2 with a side wall 3 and a bottom 4. The capsule body 2 is covered with a lid 5, so that the capsule shown forms a chamber 6. The capsule bottom 4 is divided into an outer bottom section 7 and an inner bottom section 8. The two bottom sections 7 and 8 are mutually connected to one another by a connecting section 9. Above the bottom 4, an impermeable membrane 10 is attached, which is fixedly connected to the outer bottom portion 7. In the illustrated capsule, the bottom has an outlet 12, which is designed in the form of a nozzle is. Furthermore, it can be seen from the figure that such a capsule and a percolation chamber 13 aligned for use in combination with it are largely adapted to each other in terms of their shape. With the cover 14, the percolation chamber 13 can be closed. In the illustration shown, the capsule 1 and the percolation chamber 13 are designed with respect to their height so that when closing the percolation chamber 13 with the lid 14 a force from the bottom 15 of the percolation chamber is exerted on the inner bottom portion 8 of the capsule, whereby the inner bottom portion 8 in the direction of the chamber 6 shifts.

FIG. 2 shows the capsule 1 in the percolation chamber 13 according to FIG. 1 However, after closing the percolation chamber 13 with the lid 14. It can be seen that the inner bottom portion 8 has been moved significantly in the direction of the chamber 6. However, the inner bottom portion 8 and the outer bottom portion 7 are still connected to each other via the connecting portion 9. In the membrane 10, a circular passage 17 has formed, whereby a liquid passing through the chamber 6 to the outlet opening 12 can flow.

FIG. 3 shows a concrete embodiment of an inventive capsule 1, wherein only the essential elements are described below. It can be seen that the percolation chamber 13 provided for use with the capsule 1 has an inner contour which is matched to the outer contour of the capsule 1. In the case of the illustrated capsule 1, the outer bottom section 7, to which the membrane 10 is connected, itself is attached to the fixed part 16 of the capsule bottom 4 via a film hinge 11 ".The connecting section 9 is also connected to the outer bottom section 7 via film hinges 11 and 11 ' and the inner bottom portion 8.

FIG. 4 shows the capsule 1 according to FIG. 3 , inserted in the percolation chamber 13, this being closed with the lid 14. It can be seen that the inner bottom section 8 is displaced in the direction of the chamber 6. The membrane 10 therefore has a passage 17 for the liquid flowing through the chamber.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a capsule according to the invention 1. In this capsule 1 3 reinforcing ribs 18 are mounted in the transition region between the capsule bottom 4 and the side wall. These reinforcing ribs 18 serve to distribute the forces occurring in the formation of a passage in the membrane 10 on the capsule bottom 4 more efficiently on the side wall 3.

FIG. 6 shows a partial enlargement of the capsule according to FIG. 5 , In the said representation, the outer bottom portion 7 of the inner bottom portion 8 and the connecting portion 9 are more clearly visible. Likewise, one recognizes the areas 11, 11 'and 11 "with reduced wall thickness, which are formed in this case as film hinges.

FIG. 7 shows one of the FIG. 6 corresponding partial section through a further embodiment of an inventive capsule. In this case, the connecting portion 9 is formed between the outer bottom portion 7 and the inner bottom portion 8 in the manner of a bellows.

FIG. 8 shows a plan view of an inventive capsule 1 according to FIG. 5 , Again, the reinforcing ribs 18 are clearly visible in the transition region between the bottom 4 and the side wall 3. In addition, the figure shows that the bearing surface for the membrane is partly in the form of ring segments 19, 19 'and 19 "is executed, however, a part of the support surface is also in the form of a central region 20. As also apparent from the said figure, the capsule body of this embodiment is rotationally symmetrical.

By FIG. 9 Further sub-aspects with respect to the outside of a capsule 1 according to the invention become clear. Thus, the outlet opening 12 is clearly visible in the form of a nozzle. To stabilize this neck reinforcing ribs 21 are also mounted on the outside.

FIG. 10 shows one of the FIG. 9 corresponding figure, however, which clarifies further details with respect to the interior of the capsule 1 better. In addition to the reinforcing ribs 18, the support structures 19, 19 ', 19 "and 20 are clearly visible.

Claims (17)

1. Capsule (1) comprising a preferably rotationally symmetrical capsule body (2) having a side wall (3) and a base (4) and having a cover (5), which covers the capsule body (2) and is intended for forming at least one chamber (6) which contains a substance for preparing a liquid food, wherein the base (4), as seen in relation to the longitudinal centre axis of the capsule (1), is subdivided into at least one outer base portion (7) and into at least one inner base portion (8), and the at least one outer base portion (7) and the at least one inner base portion (8) are connected to one another in a movable manner, in particular in the direction of the longitudinal centre axis of the capsule (1), via at least one connecting portion (9), wherein a preferably impermeable membrane (10) is fitted over the base (4), within the chamber (6) and is connected to the at least one outer base portion (7), wherein displacement of the at least one inner base portion (8) in the direction of the chamber (6) makes it possible to produce a through-passage in the membrane (10) in order for a liquid to be channelled through, characterized in that the at least one inner base portion (8) forms a bearing surface for the membrane (10).
2. Capsule (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in order for a liquid to be channelled through the chamber (6), the cover (5) forms an entry side and the base (4) forms an exit side.
3. Capsule (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the at least one inner base portion (8) has an exit opening (12) designed preferably in the form of a connecting piece.
4. Capsule (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in order for liquid to be channelled through the chamber (6), the cover (5) forms an exit side and the base (4) forms an entry side.
5. Capsule (1) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the at least one inner base portion (8) has an entry opening designed preferably in the form of a connecting piece.
6. Capsule (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the bearing surface for the membrane (10) on the at least one inner base portion (8) is designed in the form of a supporting structure, in particular in the form of open or closed rings.
7. Capsule (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the membrane (10) is connected, in addition, to the at least one inner base portion (8) .
8. Capsule (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the membrane (10) has predetermined breaking lines.
9. Capsule (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the at least one outer base portion (7) and the at least one inner base portion (8) are connected to the at least one connecting portion (9) via regions (11, 11') of reduced wall thickness, in particular via film hinges.
10. Capsule (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the at least one inner base portion (7) and the at least one outer base portion (8) are connected to one another via two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten connecting portions (9).
11. Capsule (1) according to Claim 10, characterized in that the connecting portions (9) are connected to one another via regions of reduced wall thickness, in particular via film hinges.
12. Capsule (1) according to one of Claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the regions (11, 11') of reduced wall thickness have a thickness of less than 0.7 mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm, preferably less than 0.3 mm.
13. Capsule (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the connecting portions (9) are designed in the form of rings or in the form of ring segments.
14. Capsule (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the capsule (1) has stiffening ribs in the transition region between the side wall (3) and base (4).
15. System comprising an apparatus for preparing a liquid food and also comprising a capsule (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 14.
16. System according to Claim 15, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a percolation chamber (13) for accommodating the capsule (1), wherein, by closure of the percolation chamber (13) with the capsule (1) inserted therein, displacement of the at least one inner base portion (8) in the direction of the chamber (6) makes it possible to produce a through-passage in the membrane (10).
17. System according to Claim 16, characterized in that the overall heights of the capsule (1) and of the percolation chamber (13) are selected such that, by closure of the percolation chamber (13) with the capsule (1) inserted therein, a compressive force can be applied to the inner base portion (8) such that displacement of the at least one inner base portion (8) of the capsule (1) in the direction of the chamber (6) makes it possible to produce a through-passage in the membrane (10).

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