HUE033214T2

HUE033214T2 - Kávékapszula

Info

Publication number: HUE033214T2
Application number: HUE15189391A
Authority: HU
Inventors: Leonardo Langhi; Carlo Morfini
Original assignee: Alice Allison Sa
Priority date: 2014-10-13
Filing date: 2015-10-12
Publication date: 2017-11-28
Also published as: SG10201508486TA; HRP20170780T1; US9676547B2; JP2016107068A; US20160101928A1; EP3009378A1; PT3009378T; EP3009378B1; SI3009378T1; PL3009378T3; CY1118981T1; DK3009378T3; CH710252A1; RS55980B1; LT3009378T; ES2627283T3; JP6661322B2

Description

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION (45) Date of publication and mention (51) Int Cl.: of the grant of the patent: B65D 851804 <200€ 01> 08.03.2017 Bulletin 2017/10 (21) Application number: 15189391.4 (22) Date of filing: 12.10.2015

(54) COFFEE CAPSULE

KAFFEEKAPSEL CAPSULE DE CAFE (84) Designated Contracting States: · Morfini, Carlo AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB 6850 Mendrisio (CH)

GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO

PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR (74) Representative: Schneider Feldmann AG

Patent- und Markenanwalte (30) Priority: 13.10.2014 CH 15592014 Beethovenstrasse 49

Postfach (43) Date of publication of application: 8027 ZUrich (CH) 20.04.2016 Bulletin 2016/16 (56) References cited: (73) Proprietor: Alice Allison SA EP-A1-1 555 219 EP-A1-2 210 827 6537 Grono (CH) EP-A1- 2 570 369 CH-A2- 707 035 DE-A1-102007 024 579 US-A1- 2003 222 089 (72) Inventors: US-A1-2007 068 395 US-A1-2012 251 672 • Langhi, Leonardo 28078 Romagnano Sesia (NO) (IT)

Description Technical Field [0001] The invention relates to capsule which under pressure in espresso machines is suitable for extraction of coffee and which may contain roasted and ground coffee.

[0002] The capsule comprises a truncated cone-shaped capsule body of thermoformed plastic having a side wall. The wider end of the side wall defines an outlet side of the capsule and the narrower end of the sidewall defines an inlet side of the capsule. The capsule body further has an outwardly directed circumferential first flangeon thewiderendofthesidewall providing asealing area towards a brewing chamber of an espresso machine; and a circular inlet opening on the narrower end of the conical side wall. Adestructible outlet sealing membrane is attached to the first flange and closes the outlet side of the capsule body. A inlet sealing membrane closes the inlet opening of the capsule body and is attached to the inside of the capsule body.

Prior Art [0003] For more than 20 years, the company Nestle SA has been successfully selling portioned packages containing roasted and ground coffee, with which coffee can be extracted under pressure in espresso machines. These portioned packages are known in several shapes; it is however the conical capsules which have proven particularly successful on the market. The espresso machines for these conical capsules comprise a so-called brewing chamber largely corresponding to the shape of the capsules. The capsules are held in the machine in a clamped and sealed manner, whereupon several water injection needles or tear-open tips penetrate into the capsule at its narrower end. When water as an extraction fluid is getting into the capsule under pressure, a sealing membrane on the wider end of the capsule is destroyed in a patterned manner at several locations by a counterpressure plate in the machine and the extraction fluid can thus practically exit through a sieve leaving the ground coffee within the capsule.

[0004] Various patents directed to these capsules have expired in the meantime, and capsules in competition have arrived on the market. These are designed such that they can be used compatibly with the already existing espresso machines. The compatible capsules which are present on the market today are of plastic for ecological as well as economic reasons instead of the original aluminium capsules. This means that the capsules must be designed such that injection needles belonging to the machine do not come into contact with the plastic of the capsule, because otherwise the hot injection needles ortear-open tips would cause melting of the plastic material, which would lead to a bonding of the injection needles and thus would result in the exit openings of these needles becoming blocked. Such a plastic capsule is described e.g. in EP2712824.

[0005] Also, the tips heated by the hot water would soften the plastic and this plastic would form around the tip in a closing manner and handicap the correct entry of water. The plastic residues remaining on the tips moreover lead to a blunting of the tips and these would no longer function correctly over time. Accordingly, these capsules are built smaller in axial direction as the original capsules of the company Nestle SA and/or have a recessed bottom part. Thereby significantly more water gets into the brewing chamber of the machine and may flow around the capsule on extraction. Only when the remaining space between the capsule and the brewing chamber is completely filled, does the water forcibly go only into the plastic capsule. However, this is not the case and a need of a greater sealing effect between the brewing chamber of the machine and the inserted plastic capsule exists. Disadvantageous to the shorter plastic capsules is also the smaller volumetric capacity for holding ground coffee and the necessary greater sealing effect.

[0006] Therefore, there is need for plastic capsules having the same axial length of the original aluminium capsules allowing the injection needles to penetrate into the capsule but still avoiding the above problems of the hot injection needles melting the plastic.

[0007] From EP2210827 a conical capsule according to the preamble of claim 1, optionally made of plastic with a similar form as the original aluminium capsules is known. The capsule has on its narrower side a circular inlet opening covered from the inside of the capsule with a membrane. The membrane is attached to the capsule in a detachable sealing engagement. When water pressure builds up in a brewing chamberthe detachable sealing membrane deflects and the water is injected into the capsule. The machines for these capsules however do not have hot injection needles ortear-open tips penetrating the inlet membrane and the capsule cannot be used in an espresso machinewith hotinjection needles ortear-open tips.

[0008] FR2617389 describes anothertype of capsules for producing e.g. cappuccino where after brewing the entire content of the capsule is removed by a tubelike emptying element into a cup. Thereby a membrane attached to the edge of an opening is pierced by the emptying element approximately the size of the opening. The emptying element however is not hot and the problem of softening or melting the plastic of the capsule does not occur.

Summary of the Invention [0009] It is an objective of the invention to provide a capsule compatible with the well-known Nespresso machines, said capsule being made of plastic and having approximately the same size and axial length of the original aluminium capsules allowing the injection needles to penetrate into the capsule. The above problems of the hot injection needles melting the plastic should be avoided.

[0010] This is achieved by a capsule according to claim 1. Thus, the capsule which under pressure in espresso machines is suitable for extraction of cofFee and which may contain roasted and ground cofFee, comprises a truncated cone-shaped capsule body of thermoformed plastic having a conical side wall, the wider end of the conical side wall defining an outlet side of the capsule and the narrower end of the conical side wall defining an inlet side of the capsule; an outwardly directed circumferential first flange on the wider end of the side wall providing a sealing area towards a brewing chamber of an espresso machine; and a circular inlet opening on the narrower end of the conical side wall. The capsule further comprises a destructible outlet sealing membrane being attached to the firstflangeand closing the outlet side of the capsule body; and a destructible inlet sealing membrane closing the inlet opening of the capsule body and being attached to the inside of the capsule body. The capsule body further comprises a circumferential centring ramp at the narrower end of the conical side wall, which translates into an inwardly directed circumferential second flange forming the circular inlet opening. The circumferential centring ramp is designed to align the inlet sealing membrane with the inlet opening before welding said inlet sealing membrane to the second flange. The inlet sealing membrane has a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the second flange, such that a circular edge of the inlet sealing membrane is able to bend upwards along the centring ramp and at least partially covers the centring ramp when the membrane is welded to the second flange, wherein the upwards bent circular edge forms a heat protecting layer between a hot sealing tool and the centring ramp during welding the inlet sealing membrane to the second flange.

[0011] Because in the existing espresso machines several injection needles or tear-open tips are arranged in a widely spaced arrangement the inlet opening of a capsule with a plastic capsule body must have a size as large as possible in order to avoid contact with the hot injection means of the machine. On the other hand the capsule body on its narrower side must still provide a large enough area for permanently attaching the sealing membrane in an accurate and efficiently manufacturing process manner. In order to fulfil both criteria the plastic capsule comprises the inwardly directed circumferential second flange, onto which the sealing membrane is welded, and a centring ramp for correctly positioning the sealing membrane during the manufacturing process. At the same time the inlet sealing membrane has a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the second flange. The inlet sealing membrane placed inside the capsule body during the manufacturing process is typically attached to the flange by thermo-welding with a sealing tool e.g. in theform ofawelding iron pressing the sealing membrane onto the flange. Thereby the inlet sealing membrane with its oversize compared to the outer diameter of the flange (or inner diameter of the centring ramp) is bend upwards along the centring ramp and at least partially covers the lower part of the centring ramp. This upward formed bend of the sealing membrane protects the centring ramp and the capsule body from the heat of the sealing to e.g. in form of a welding iron allowing the actual welding ring to be closer to the conical side wall. This in turn allows to reduce the size of the inwardly directed flange and thereby enlarge the size of the inlet opening to avoid contact of the plastic capsule with the hot injection means of the espresso machine.

[0012] With the present invention the diameter of the circular opening can be designed such that hot injection needles or tear-open tips of the espresso machine do not touch the plastic capsule body when penetrating into the capsule.

[0013] Further embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

[0014] A good performance of the circumferential centring ramp for centring and bending the inlet sealing membrane has been found with an circumferential centring ramp having an off-axis angle to the longitudinal axis of the capsule of 20 to 50 degrees, preferably 35 to 40 degrees.

[0015] In some embodiments the second flange may be approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conical side wall and may form a bottom portion of the capsule body. This allows the use of aflat welding iron having a welding area corresponding approximately to the area of the circumferential second flange.

[0016] In some embodiments the second flange may have a width in radial direction of 2 to 3 mm, preferably between 2.2 and 2.5 mm, such that the inlet sealing membrane may be permanently attached in a tight sealing manner.

[0017] In some embodiments the diameter of inlet sealing membrane may be 5 to 15 %, preferably about 10%, larger than the outer diameter of the second flange, such that it partially covers the centring ramp when attached to the second flange. The outer diameter of the second flange also corresponds to the innerdiameterofthe centring ramp.

[0018] In some embodiments the second flange and the inlet sealing membrane may form aflat bottom portion of the capsule.

[0019] In some embodiments the capsule body may be thermoformed from a layered plastic sheet material comprising on both outer sides a layer of polypropylene and an inner barrier layer of EVOH.

[0020] In some embodiments the membrane may be a metallic membrane preferably of aluminium. The inlet membrane may be coated on the sealing side with polypropylene to improve welding onto the first or second flange, respectively.

[0021] In some embodiments the inlet membrane may be permanently attached to the second flange by thermo welding.

[0022] In some embodiments the inlet and/or outlet sealing membrane may be structured by embossing.

Brief Explanation of the Figures [0023] The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to embodiments that are illustrated in the figures. The figures show:

Fig. 1 a perspective view of the capsule showing the inlet side;

Fig. 2 a sectional view of the capsule of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a detailed view of the capsule of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 a detailed view of the capsule during welding.

Embodiments of the Invention [0024] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show a perspective view and a sectional view of the capsule according to the invention. The capsule 1, which may be filled with roasted and ground coffee (not shown), has a truncated cone-shaped capsule body 2 made of thermoformed plastic. The capsule body 2 has a conical side wall 3 the wider end of which defines an outlet side 4 of the capsule 1 and the narrower side of which defines an inlet side 5 of the capsule 1. The inlet side 5 of the capsule 1 refers to the water entering side of the capsule in use, where hot injection means of an espresso machine penetrate into the capsule. The outlet side 4 of the capsule 1 refers to the side, where the brewed coffee leaves the capsule 1.

[0025] The capsule body 2 comprises on its wider end an outwardly directed (away from the longitudinal axis A of the capsule body) circumferential first flange 6 provided with a sealing and clamping area 7 to seal the capsule 1 against a brewing chamber of an espresso machine and hold the capsule in said brewing chamber in position while the coffee is brewed. A destructible outlet sealing membrane or film 8 of aluminium is welded from the outside onto the first flange 6.

[0026] The capsule body 2 is further provided with an inwardly directed (towards the longitudinal axis A of the capsule body) circumferential second flange 9 on the narrower inlet side defining an inlet opening 10. The second flange 9 is formed after the thermoforming process by cutting the opening 10 into the bottom of a preformed capsule body. A destructible inlet sealing membrane or film 10 of aluminium is welded from the inside onto the second flange 9 to sealingly close the inlet opening 10. The diameter of the inlet opening 10 is designed such that hot injection needles or piercing members of the espresso machine cannot touch the plastic capsule body 2 while penetrating into the capsule 1, but only pierce the aluminium sealing membrane 10.

[0027] The second flange 9 is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A of the conical side wall 3 forming a bottom portion of the capsule body 2. The width in radial direction of the second flange is 2 to 3 mm, preferably between 2.2 and 2.5 mm, most preferably approximately 2.4 mm, to allow enough contact area for welding the inlet sealing membrane 11 onto the capsule body 2.

[0028] Between the second flange 9 and the conical side wall 3, the capsule body 2 further comprises a circumferential centring ramp 12 with an off-axis angle to the longitudinal axis A of 20 to 50 degrees, prefereably about 35 to 40 degrees, as can be nicely seen in the detailed views of Fig. 3 and Fig. 4.

[0029] Thecentringramp12fulfils two f u n ctio ns: first ly itsupports the precise alignment of the inlet sealing membrane 11 with the second flange 9 and the inlet opening 10 when placed inside the capsule body 2 during the manufacturing process of the capsule 1; secondly itsupports protection of the conical side wall 3 from the heat of the sealing tool e.g. in form of a welding iron 14 (see Fig. 4) during the thermo welding. Therefore, the circular inlet sealing membrane 10 has a diameter slightly larger as the outer diameter of the second flange 9 (or the corresponding inner diameter of the centring ramp 12), preferably larger by about 5 to 15 %, more preferably by about 10%. The oversize together with the inclined centring ramp 13 leads to an upwards bend 14 of the circular edge of the inlet sealing membrane to form a heat protecting layer between a hot sealing tool 14 and the plastic capsule body 2 during welding (see Fig. 4).

[0030] Both the outlet and inlet sealing membrane (8, 11) are provided with a coating, preferably polypropylene, in order to effectively weld it onto the respective flange (6, 9). The sealing membranes (8, 11) of aluminium may further have an embossed structure to reduce unintentional tearing of the membrane.

Reference Signs [0031] 1 capsule 2 capsule body 3 conical side wall 4 outlet side 5 inlet side 6 first flange 7 sealing area 8 outlet sealing membrane 9 second flange 10 inlet opening 11 inlet sealing membrane 12 centring ramp 13 bend in inlet sealing membrane 14 sealing tool / welding iron

Claims 1. A capsule which is suitable for extraction of coffee under pressure in espresso machines and which may contain roasted and ground coffee, comprising a truncated cone-shaped capsule body (2) of ther-moformed plastic having - a conical sidewall (3), the wider end of the side wall defining an outlet side (4) of the capsule (1 ) and the narrower end of the sidewall (3) defining an inlet side (5) of the capsule (1); - an outwardly directed circumferential first flange (6) on the wider end of the conical side wall (3) providing a sealing area (7) towards a brewing chamber of an espresso machine; and - a circular inlet opening (10) on the narrower end of the conical side wall (3); the capsule (1) further comprising - a destructible outlet sealing membrane (8) being attached to the first flange (6) and closing the outlet side (4) of the capsule body (2); and -adestructible inletsealing membrane (11)closing the inlet opening (10) of the capsule body (2) and being attached to the inside of the capsule body (2); characterized in that the capsule body (2) further comprises a circumferential centring ramp (12) at the narrower end of the conical side wall (3), which translates into an inwardly directed circumferential second flange (9) forming the circular inlet opening (10), the circumferential centring ramp (12) designed to align the inlet sealing membrane (11) with the inlet opening (10) before welding said inletsealing membrane (11 ) to the second flange (9); and in that the inlet sealing membrane (11 ) has a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the second flange (9), such that the circular edge of the inlet sealing membrane (11) is able to bend upwards along the centring ramp (12) and at least partially covers the centring ramp (12) when said inlet sealing membrane (11) is welded to the second flange (9), wherein the upwards bent circular edge (13) of the inlet sealing membrane (11) forms a heat protecting layer between a hot sealing tool (14) and the centring ramp (12) during welding the inlet sealing membrane (11) to the second flange (9). 2. The capsule of claim 1, characterized in that the circumferential centring ramp (12) has an off-axis angle to the longitudinal axis (A) of the capsule (1) of 20 to 50 degrees, preferably 35 to 40 degrees. 3. The capsule of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second flange (9) is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A) of the conical side wall (3) and forms a bottom portion of the capsule body (2). 4. The capsule of one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second flange (9) has a width in radial direction of 2 to 3 mm, preferably between 2.2 and 2.5 mm. 5. The capsule of one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diameter of the inlet sealing membrane (11) is 5 to 15 %, preferably about 10%, larger than the outer diameter of the second flange (9)· 6. The capsule of one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second flange (9) and the inlet sealing membrane (11) form a flat bottom portion of the capsule (1). 7. The capsule of one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the capsule body (2) is thermofor-med from a layered plasticsheet material comprising on both outer sides a layer of polypropylene and an inner barrier layer of EVOH. 8. The capsule of one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing membrane (8,11) is a metallic membrane preferably of aluminium. 9. The capsule of claim 8, characterized in that the outlet and inlet sealing membranes (8,11) are coated on the sealing side with polypropylene to improve welding onto the first or second flange(6,9), respectively. 10. The capsule of one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet sealing membrane (11 ) is permanently attached to the second flange (9) by welding. 11. The capsule of one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet and/or outlet sealing membrane (8, 11) are structured by embossing.

Patentansprüche 1. Eine Kapsel, die unter Druck in Espressomaschinen für die Extraktion von Kaffee geeignet ist und die gerösteten und gemahlenen Kaffee enthalten kann, umfassend einen kegelstumpfförmigen Kapselkörper (2) aus thermogeformtem Kunststoff mit - einer konischen Seitenwand (3), wobei das weitere Ende der Seitenwand eine Auslassseite (4) der Kapsel (1) und das engere Ende der Seitenwand (3) eine Einlassseite (5) der Kapsel (1 ) definiert; mit - einem auswärts gerichteten umlaufenden ersten Flansch (6) am weiteren Ende der konischen Seitenwand (3), der eine Dichtfläche (7) zu einer Braukammer einer Espressomaschine ausbildet, und mit -einerkreisförmigen Einlassöffnung (10) am engeren Ende der konischen Seitenwand (3); die Kapsel (1) ferner umfassend -eine zerstörbare Auslassdichtmembran (8), die am ersten Flansch (6) befestigt ist und die Auslassseite (4) des Kapselkörpers (2) schließt; und - eine zerstörbare Dichtmembran (11), die die Einlassöffnung (10) des Kapselkörpers (2) schließt und an der Innenseite des Kapselkörpers (2) befestigt ist; dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Kapselkörper (2) ferner eine umlaufende Zentrierrampe (12) am engeren Ende der konischen Seitenwand (3) umfasst, die in einen einwärts gerichteten, umlaufenden zweiten Flansch (9) übergeht, der die kreisförmige Einlassöffnung (10) bildet, wobei die umlaufende Zentrierrampe (12) ausgelegt ist, die Einlassdichtmembran (11) auf die Einlassöffnung (10) auszurichten, ehe die Einlassdichtmembran (11) an den zweiten Flansch (9) geschweißt wird; und dass die Einlassdichtmembran (11) einen Durchmesser hat, der größer als der Außendurchmesser des zweiten Flansches (9) ist so, dass der kreisförmige Rand der Einlassdichtmembran (11) sich nach oben entlang der Zentrierrampe (12) biegen kann, und mindestens teilweise die Zentrierrampe (12) bedeckt, wenn die Einlassdichtmembran (11) auf den zweiten Flansch (9) geschweißt ist, wobei der aufwärts gebogene, kreisförmige Rand (13) der Einlassdichtmembran (11) einen Flitzeschutzschicht zwischen einem heißen Siegelwerkzeug (14) und der Zentrierrampe (12) während des Schweißens der Einlassdichtmembran (11) auf den zweiten Flansch (9) bildet. 2. Kapsel nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die umlaufende Zentrierrampe (12) einen achsabweichenden Winkel zur Längsachse (A) der Kapsel (1) von 20 bis 50 Grad hat, vorzugsweise 35 bis 40 Grad. 3. Kapsel nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der zweite Flansch (9) ungefähr perpendikulär zur Längsachse (A) der konischen Seitenwand (3) ist und einen Bodenteil des Kapselkör pers (2) bildet. 4. Kapsel nach einem der vorausgehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der zweite Flansch (9) eine Breite in radialer Richtung von 2 bis 3 mm, bevorzugt zwischen 2,2 und 2,5 mm, hat. 5. Kapsel nach einem der vorausgehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Durchmesser der Einlassdichtmembran (11) 5 bis 15 %, bevorzugt ungefähr 10 % größer als der Außendurchmesser des zweiten Flansches (9) ist. 6. Kapsel nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dassderzweite Flansch (9) und die Einlassdichtmembran (11 ) einen flachen Bodenteil der Kapsel (1) bilden. 7. Kapsel nach einem der vorausgehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Kapselkörper (2) aus einem geschichteten Kunststofffolienmaterial thermogeformt ist, das auf beiden Außenseiten eine Schicht Polypropylen und eine innere Barriereschicht von EVOFI umfasst. 8. Kapsel nach einem der vorausgehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Dichtmembran (8,11) eine metallische Membran, bevorzugt aus Aluminium, ist. 9. Kapsel nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Auslass- und Einlassdichtmembran (8, 11) auf der Dichtseite mit Polypropylen beschichtet sind, um das Schweißen auf den ersten beziehungsweise zweiten Flansch (6, 9) zu verbessern. 10. Kapsel nach einem der vorausgehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Einlassdichtmembran (11 ) durch Schweißen permanent am zweiten Flansch (9) befestigt ist. 11. Kapsel nach einem der vorausgehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Einlass-und/oder Auslassmembranen (8, 11) durch Prägen strukturiert sind.

Revendications 1. Capsule, laquelle convient pour l’extraction de café sous pression dans des machines à expresso et pouvant contenir du café torréfié et moulu, comprenant un corps de capsule en forme de cône tronqué (2) en plastique thermoformé rayant : - une paroi latérale conique (3), l’extrémité plus large de la paroi latérale définissant un côté de sortie (4) de la capsule (1) et l’extrémité plus étroite de la paroi latérale (3) définissant un côté d’entrée (5) de la capsule (1) ; - un premier rebord circonférentiel orienté vers l’extérieur (6) sur l’extrémité plus large de la paroi latérale conique (3) fournissant une zone de scellement (7) vers une chambre d’infusion d’une machine à expresso ; et une ouverture d’entrée circulaire (10) à l’extrémité plus étroite de la paroi latérale conique (3) ; la capsule (1) comprenant en outre : - une membrane de scellement de sortie destructible (8) attachée au premier rebord (6) et fermant le côté de sortie (4) du corps de capsule (2) ; et - une membrane de scellement d’entrée destructible (11) fermant l’ouverture d’entrée (10) du corps de capsule (2) et attachée à l’intérieur du corps de capsule (2) ; caractérisée en ce que le corps de capsule (2) comprend en outre une rampe de centrage circonférentielle (12) sur l’extrémité plus étroite de la paroi latérale conique (3), laquelle se transforme en un deuxième rebord circonférentiel orienté vers l’intérieur (9) formant l’ouverture d’entrée circulaire (10), la rampe de centrage circonférentielle (12) étant conçue pour aligner la membrane de scellement d’entrée (11) avec l’ouverture d’entrée (10) avant le soudage de ladite membrane de scellement d’entrée (11 ) au deuxième rebord (9) ; et en ce que la membrane de scellement d’entrée (11 ) a un diamètre supérieur au diamètre extérieur du deuxième rebord (9) de sorte que le bord circulaire de la membrane de scellement d’entrée (11) est capable de se replier vers le haut le long de la rampe de centrage (12) et recouvre au moins partiellement la rampe de centrage (12) lorsque ladite membrane de scellement d’entrée (11) est soudée au deuxième rebord (9), dans laquelle le bord circulaire replié vers le haut (13) de la membrane de scellement d’entrée (11) forme une couche de protection de la chaleur entre un outil de scellement chaud (14) et la rampe de centrage (12) pendant le soudage de la membrane de scellement d’entrée (11 ) au deuxième rebord (9). 2. Capsule selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la rampe de centrage circonférentielle (12) a un angle hors axe par rapport à l’axe longitudinal (A) de la capsule (1) de 20 à 50 degrés, de préférence de 35 à 40 degrés. 3. Capsule selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisée en ce que le deuxième rebord (9) est approximative ment perpendiculaire à l’axe longitudinal (A) de la paroi latérale conique (3) et forme une partie inférieure du corps de capsule (2). 4. Capsule selon l’une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que le deuxième rebord (9) a une largeur en direction radiale de 2 à 3 mm, de préférence comprise entre 2,2 et 2,5 mm. 5. Capsule selon l’une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que le diamètre de la membrane de scellement d’entrée (11) est de 5 à 15%, de préférence environ de 10% plus grand que le diamètre extérieur du deuxième rebord (9). 6. Capsule selon l’une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que le deuxième rebord (9) et la membrane de scellement d’entrée (11) forment une partie inférieure plate de la capsule (1). 7. Capsule selon l’une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que le corps de capsule (2) est thermoformé à partir d’un matériau en feuilles de plastique en couches comprenant, sur les deux côtés extérieurs, une couche de polypropylène et une couche de barrière interne d’EVOH. 8. Capsule selon l’une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que la membrane de scellement (8, 11) est une membrane métallique de préférence en aluminium. 9. Capsule selon la revendication 8, caractérisée en ce que les membranes de scellement de sortie et d’entrée (8, 11) sont revêtues sur le côté de scellement avec du polypropylène pour améliorer le soudage respectivement sur les premier et deuxième rebords (6, 9). 10. Capsule selon l’une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que la membrane de scellement d’entrée (11) est en permanence attachée au deuxième rebord (9) grâce à un soudage. 11. Capsule selon l’une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que les membranes de scellement d’entrée et/ou de sortie (8,11) sont structurées par embossage.

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader’s convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description • EP 2712824 A[0004] · FR2617389 [0008] • EP 2210827 A [0007]

Claims

Kávékapszula Szabadalmi igénypontok

1. Kapszula, amely kávénak kávégépben nyomás alatt történő extrahálására alkalmas, továbbá amely pörkölt és őrölt kávét tartalmazhat, amely kapszulának csonka kúp alakú hőformázott műanyag kapszulateste (2) van, amely tartalmaz - kúpos oldalfalat (3), az oldalfal szélesebb vége a kapszula (1) kiömlési oldalát (4) jelöli ki és az oldalfal (3) keskenyebb vége a kapszula (1) beömlési oldalát (5) jelöli ki; - egy a kúpos oldalfal (3) szélesebb végén kifelé irányított kerületi első karimát (6), amely kávégép íozetkészítő kamrája felé tömítési tartományt (7) biztosít; és - a kúpos oldalfal (3) keskenyebb végén kör alakú beömlőnyílást (10); a kapszula (1) tartalmaz továbbá - egy az első karimához (6) csatlakoztatott és a kapszulatest (2) kiömlési oldalát (4) lezáró roncsolható kiömlészáró membránt (8); és - egy a kapszulatest (2) beömlőnyílását (10) lezáró és a kapszulatest (2) belsejéhez csatlakoztatott roncsolható beömlészáró membránt (11); azzal jellemezve, hogy a kapszulatest (2) a kúpos oldalfal (3) keskenyebb végén kerületi központosító rámpát (12) tartalmaz, ami egy a kör alakú beömlő nyílást (10) képező befelé irányított kerületi második karimába (9) megy át, a beömlészáró membrán (11) második karimához (9) hegesztését megelőzően a kerületi központosító rámpa (12) a beömlészáró membránt (11) a beömlőnyílással (10) egy vonalba igazítón van kiképezve; továbbá a beömlészáró membrán (11) a második karima (9) külső átmérőjénél nagyobb átmérővel rendelkezik úgy, hogy a beömlészáró membrán (11) kör alakú széle a központosító rámpa (12) mentén felhajlítható és a beömlészáró membrán (11) második karimához (9) hegesztett helyzetében a központosító rámpát (12) legalább részben fedi, ahol a beömlészáró membrán (11) felfelé hajló kör alakú széle (13) a beömlészáró membrán (11) második karimához (9) hegesztésekor egy forró lezárószerszám (14) és a központosító rámpa (12) között hővédő réteget képez.

2. Az 1. igénypont szerinti kapszula, azzal jellemezve, hogy a kerületi központosító rámpa (12) hajlásszöge a kapszula (1) hossztengelyéhez (A) 20-50°, előnyösen 35-40° nagyságú.

3. Az 1. vagy a 2. igénypont szerinti kapszula, azzal jellemezve, hogy a második karima (9) a kúpos oldalfalak (3) hossztengelyére (A) körülbelül merőleges és a kapszulatest (2) fenékrészét képezi.

4. Az előző igénypontok bármelyike szerinti kapszula, azzal jellemezve, hogy a második karima (9) szélessége sugárirányban 2-3 mm, előnyösen 2,2 mm és 2,5 mm között van.

5. Az előző igénypontok bármelyike szerinti kapszula, azzal jellemezve, hogy a beömlészáró membrán (11) átmérője a második karima (9) külső átmérőjénél 5-15%-kal, előnyösen mintegy 10%-kal nagyobb.

6. Az előző igénypontok bármelyike szerinti kapszula, azzal jellemezve, hogy a második karima (9) és a beömlészáró membrán (11) a kapszula (1) sík fenékrészét képezik.

7. Az előző igénypontok bármelyike szerinti kapszula, azzal jellemezve, hogy a kapszulatest (2) mindkét külső oldalán polipropilén réteget és EVOH belső záróréteget tartalmazó rétegelt műanyag lapanyagból hőformázással van előállítva.

8. Az előző igénypontok bármelyike szerinti kapszula, azzal jellemezve, hogy a zárómembránt (8, 11) fémes membrán, előnyösen alumínium képezi.

9. A 8. igénypont szerinti kapszula, azzal jellemezve, hogy a kiömlés- és beömlészáró membránok (8, 11) rendre az első vagy a második karimára (6, 9) való jobb ráhegeszthetőséghez a tömítő oldalon polipropilénnel vannak bevonva.

10. Az előző igénypontok bármelyike szerinti kapszula, azzal jellemezve, hogy a beömlészáró membrán (11) a második karimával (9) hegesztés útján maradandóan van csatlakoztatva.

11. Az előző igénypontok bármelyike szerinti kapszula, azzal jellemezve, hogy a beömlés- és/vagy kiömlészáró membránok (8, 11) dombornyomással strukturálva vannak.