KR20140105834A - Capsule, system and method for preparing a beverage - Google Patents

Abstract

The capsule 1 according to the present invention comprises a capsule body 2 having a side wall 3 and a bottom 4. The capsule 1 comprises a lid 5 covering the capsule body 2 to form a closed chamber 6 comprising a material for the production of food. The capsule body (2) comprises at least one slot (8) for perfusing liquid through the capsule (1). The slot 8 in the capsule body 2 is formed before the capsule 1 is used according to the application in an apparatus for the production of food.

Description

[0001] CAPSULE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREPARING A BEVERAGE [0002]

The present invention relates to a capsule according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for producing the capsule.

Particularly, capsules which are used only once and discarded after use are recently widely used as a portion package for making coffee or tea, for example, in a device. The user does not have to worry about a certain amount of coffee weighing, for example, and after the extraction process, the capsule can be discarded together with the contents.

WO 2010/128844 A1 discloses a capsule containing a substance for the manufacture of a beverage, comprising a round opening or a long slot at the bottom. WO 2004/026091 A1 discloses a capsule for containing a substance for making a beverage, in which a slot is opened in the lid by means of an opening device. US 5,756, 311 discloses a capsule having a reduced thickness region that can be torn under pressure of the fluid supplied during operation of the bottom or thin film of the capsule, and which accepts material for beverage production. EP 2 133 285 A1 also discloses a potion package comprising a container, a floor and a membrane, the bottom being perforated by a penetrating device for the supply of fluid during operation.

DE 27 52 733 discloses a capsule containing a substance, for example coffee, for the production of a beverage by brewing in a device. The disclosed capsules are generally made of an aluminum sheet.

However, the use of aluminum as a material for capsules disclosed in the prior art has the disadvantage that aluminum is expensive and high energy consumption occurs in the production of aluminum.

WO 2008/087009 A2 discloses a plastic capsule comprising a material for making a drink using a machine. The disclosed capsules are less expensive to manufacture than aluminum, for example, and reduce energy consumption for the manufacture of capsules compared to open aluminum capsules.

However, the disclosed capsules can be produced in a reduced quality food if the plastic capsules are not reliably penetrated in the machine for food production and, as a result, a sufficient amount of liquid is not supplied through the capsule to meet the relevant specification conditions . In addition, if the capsules do not penetrate and thus the supplied liquid can not be discharged immediately, there is a possibility that the device will be damaged as a larger overpressure is formed in the device. In addition, a safety risk may arise to the operator due to overpressure.

Another disadvantage of the disclosed prior art is that it requires placement of means for penetrating the capsule in the device, which is costly.

The object of the present invention is to prevent the disclosed disadvantages and to provide a capsule which can be improved in operational safety when used according to the use, particularly in an apparatus for producing food, and can be produced environmentally and inexpensively. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a capsule which can be used without a penetrating means in an apparatus for producing beverages.

The above object is solved by a capsule comprising the features according to claim 1.

The capsule according to the present invention comprises a capsule body having a side wall and a bottom. The capsule body is preferably formed in rotational symmetry. Particularly, the capsule body is formed integrally with the side wall and the bottom. The capsule includes a lid that covers the capsule body to form a closed chamber comprising a material for the manufacture of the food product. The capsule body includes at least one slot for fluid flow through the capsule, the slot being formed substantially without material removal. The slots in the capsule body are formed prior to use of the capsules according to the application in an apparatus for the manufacture of food.

The expression "substantially without material removal" is a non-cutting method of forming a slot, in the context of the present application, meaning that substantially no material is removed from the capsule body during slot formation. This can be achieved, for example, by a cutting method when an appropriate cutting tool, such as a blade, is used.

The expression "a slot in a capsule body is formed before use of the capsule in an application in an apparatus for the manufacture of a food ", in relation to the present application, means that a slot in the capsule body is formed during manufacture of the capsule body, Means that the capsule is formed after the filling of the capsule and the cover with the lead, and the capsule containing the slot in the capsule body is sold and stored. The slot formed by the means of the apparatus in use in the apparatus for the production of food is thus not a slot in the capsule body formed prior to use of the capsule according to the application in connection with the present application.

For example, the slot can be manufactured by a blade and / or a laser. Particularly, the capsules are suitable for food or beverage production in a device that does not include through means.

This offers the advantage of enabling the manufacture of cheaper devices for the production of food.

"Penetrating means" as used in connection with the present application is a means by which the capsule can be pierced, especially perforated, in use, depending on the application, so that the liquid can be perfused through the capsule.

"Rotating symmetry" is a symmetry about rotation about the longitudinal axis of the capsule at a discrete angle or angle relative to the present application.

The formation of at least one slot in the capsule body provides the advantage that the liquid can flow through the slot if the capsule body is not surely penetrated as the case may be. This advantageously prevents the formation of overpressure in the device, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the device. Also, by placing the slots in the capsule body, a constant quality of the produced food can be achieved, since at least a certain amount of flow through the device is guaranteed. Another advantage is the availability of the capsules according to the invention in an apparatus for the production of food products which do not comprise penetrating means.

In particular, coffee, tea and chocolate or any combination thereof may be used as the material

In particular, by parameters, for example, the opening characteristics of the slot, for example by the length of the slot, the wall thickness of the capsule body and the material of the capsule body or any combination of the above parameters, . For example, this allows the slot to be opened for perfusion of the liquid only if a certain overpressure in the device is reached when the capsule is not properly penetrated in the device. Whereby the slot can act as a safety valve and / or flow control means.

Preferably the oppositely disposed edges of the slots are at least partially in contact with the rest position. The oppositely disposed edges of the slots preferably contact at least 90%, preferably at least 95%, particularly preferably 100% of the length l of the slot. "100%" refers to the contact in substantially the entire length l of the slot.

"Resting position" in the context of the present application is, for example, the position of a slot in which force is not applied to the capsule body by an apparatus for food production. This force can be mechanical force action, for example, for deformation of the capsule body, so that the slot can be moved from the rest position. Alternatively or additionally, for example, it may be a hydraulic force action, which occurs in the capsule upon extraction of the substance, for example in the supply of liquid under pressure into the capsule for brewing of the coffee beverage.

The formation of the slots in such a manner that the oppositely disposed edges at least partially contact the rest position provides the advantage that the capsule is substantially closed and the material can not be discharged from the capsule body.

Particularly preferably, the slot is openable from the rest position to the open position by a force action. In particular, the slots can be opened by mechanical and / or hydraulic actuation.

The "open position" of the slot is the position of the slot in which the oppositely disposed edges of the slot are spaced from one another by force action for fluid perfusion in connection with the present application.

This provides the advantage that the slot can be opened from the rest position to the open position depending on the force action, for example to adjust the flow rate through the slot depending on the force action.

Particularly preferably, the slot is openable by the formation of a pressure difference at least in the region of the slot between the chamber and the outer surface of the capsule body, especially when a pressure difference due to the supplyable liquid in the pressurized state is formed. In other words, the slot is openable by a pressure difference between the outer surface of the capsule and the inner surface of the capsule formed by the chamber.

This allows for the slot to be opened in dependence on the pressure difference between the inner and outer sides of the capsule occurring in the device, for example by the supply of liquid for extraction of the material, for a further improved and safer use of the capsule in the device Provides the advantages of.

Preferably the slot is substantially reversibly closable and substantially restored to the rest position after removal of the force action.

This offers the advantage that after the production of the food the slots are closed again substantially automatically and thus the extracted material remains contained within the capsule, thereby improving handling. This can also result in the production of food in standardized operating conditions, as the case may be, in order to achieve as consistent and high quality as possible of the food, since the slot is only occasionally opened at a certain overpressure and is closed again after a reduction in the overpressure .

Particularly preferably after the opening by force action to the open position and after the supply of heat energy the slot is maintained in the substantially open position. In other words, the slot is held in the open position after removal of the pressure difference. When the liquid is higher than 70 DEG C, preferably higher than 75 DEG C and particularly preferably higher than 80 DEG C for the supply of heat energy, in particular the slots are kept in the open position for the formation of the pressure difference after opening by the liquid. In particular, the capsule body is substantially irreversibly deformed by thermal energy at least in the region of the slot, so that the slot is held in the open position.

This provides the advantage that a good flow rate through the capsule is ensured even when, for example, the pumping performance for the supplied liquid is reduced, because the slot is maintained in the open position even when the pressure difference is reduced.

Particularly preferably, the open position of the slot depends on the pressure difference, and thus the opening of the slot in the increase of the pressure difference can be expanded in the open position.

This provides the advantage that the opening of the slot can be adjusted in the open position to the associated pressure difference, for example by a pressure difference formed by variable pumping performance, whereby flow regulation is achieved.

Preferably the capsule body is made by deep drawing processing. Particularly, the capsule body is made of polymer. Preferably the capsule body has a wall thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.4 mm, particularly preferably 0.06 mm to 0.3 mm, and very particularly preferably 0.07 mm to 0.25 mm.

The "wall thickness" of the capsule body is the average wall thickness of the bottom and side walls in connection with the present application.

The production of capsule bodies using deep drawing processing offers advantages that are affordable. In particular, the thin wall thickness offers the advantage that the material consumption in the manufacture of the capsule can be reduced and therefore the cost can be lower.

Particularly preferably, the slot has a length l of 0.1 to 20 mm, preferably 1 to 15 mm, and particularly preferably 3 to 8 mm.

This provides the advantage that the design of the slot can be tailored to the relevant needs of the device used for the manufacture of the food and / or food to be manufactured.

Particularly preferably, the slot has a maximum width (b) of 6 mm, in particular 5 mm, and in particular 4 mm in the open position. The slot has a width (b) of about 0 mm especially at the closed position.

This provides the advantage that the flow control can be further improved in accordance with the relevant requirements in food production.

Preferably the slot is disposed in the bottom.

This provides the advantage that the supplied liquid carried through the slot can wet as much of the material as possible to be extracted, since the liquid must substantially flow through the entire length of the capsule, High quality products can be produced from the material, which makes the manufacture of capsules cheaper.

Particularly preferably, the floor comprises at least two slots, which in particular intersect at the approximate structural center point of the floor.

This expands the area of the openings formed by the at least two slots, thereby providing the advantage that more liquid can be transported through the openings for better extraction of the material. The arrangement of the at least two slots, particularly at the bottom, particularly at the approximate structural center point, offers the advantage that a larger opening of the slot can be formed depending on the pressure difference formed for better flow control.

Particularly preferably, the slot is disposed on the side wall. Particularly, the slots are arranged at a half of the sidewall, preferably at 1/3, and particularly preferably at 1/4 along the central flow of the liquid through the capsule for the entire length of the capsule along the longitudinal axis of the capsule do. In other words, the slots are arranged in the flow direction when viewed from the bottom, for example at 1/2, 1/3 or 1/4 of the side wall with respect to the length along the longitudinal axis of the capsule.

This offers the advantage that this arrangement of slots further improves the supply of liquid into the capsule and also improves flow regulation. In particular, the arrangement of the slots at 1/2 with respect to the length of the capsule and the direction of flow of the liquid is such that as much as possible of the material can be wetted through the slots arranged in the sidewalls, which improves the quality of the produced food, It requires a positive material, thus providing a cost-free advantage.

Preferably the slots are disposed substantially along the circumference of the side wall. In other words, the slots are arranged substantially parallel to the circumference of the capsule body, especially formed in rotational symmetry.

The circumference of the sidewall is substantially circular in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the capsule, for example in a conical shaped capsule body.

This arrangement of the slots substantially along the circumference or at an angle with the circumference provides the advantage of improved flow control and increases the extraction efficiency of the material.

In particular, it is possible to arrange the slots in combination according to the above-mentioned arrangements in the arrangement of a plurality of slots. For example, it is possible to provide two slots arranged at the structural center point on the bottom, at least one slot being arranged substantially along the circumference and the other slot being arranged substantially perpendicular to the circumference.

Particularly preferably, a bead is not disposed on the side face toward the chamber in the edge region of the slot.

For example, such a bead may occur, for example, in the formation of a slot with a cutting tool. The prevention of such bead placement provides the advantage that the flow of liquid in the capsule in the region of the slot is not adversely affected and thus the flow rate regulation and / or the flow rate are improved.

Preferably, the capsule body comprises at least two slots, in particular at least three slots and more particularly four slots.

This provides the advantages of improved flow control and improved extraction of the material to improve the quality of the produced food.

Particularly preferably, the slot is formed as a substantially straight slot.

Particularly preferably, the slot is formed as a substantially curved slot.

This provides the advantage that the shape of the slot can be appropriately selected according to the demand. A combination of straight and curved slots is also possible for placement of at least two slots.

Preferably, the slot is formed such that substantially no material can pass through the slot prior to extraction of the material for food production.

In particular, the material has a particle size distribution of 0 占 퐉 to 800 占 퐉, preferably 25 占 퐉 to 750 占 퐉, and particularly preferably 50 占 퐉 to 700 占 퐉. If at least 95% by weight, preferably 97% by weight, and particularly preferably 99% by weight of the particles have a particle size in the above defined range, the material has a particle size distribution as described above. Particle size is the maximum size of the particles with respect to this application.

This facilitates handling of the capsule and provides the advantage that no material can leak from the capsule during storage or shipping and this leakage can in some cases lower the quality because in this case the capsule is less Because it can contain substances.

Particularly preferably, the slots are closed by a substantially air impermeable layer. In particular, the air impermeable layer is disposed on the side of the capsule body away from the chamber and / or towards the chamber.

This provides the advantage that the capsule can be closed in a substantially perfumed manner by the air impermeable layer and therefore does not require an additional outer sleeve for storage or transportation, and such a sleeve can increase the cost of manufacturing the capsule And makes handling by the operator difficult.

Preferably the layer is provided substantially on the capsule body and in particular on the side walls and / or the entire surface of the bottom.

This provides the advantage of a simple coating method because the entire capsule body is coated regardless of the position of the slot, which makes the method simpler and therefore less costly.

Preferably the layer is provided in part for closing the slot.

This provides the advantage of reduced material consumption for the layer, which reduces the material cost. It also provides the advantage that the material of the layer entering the food is reduced since the layer is in contact with the liquid used for the production of the food during the production of the food.

Particularly preferably, the layer is applied to at least one edge of the oppositely disposed edges and in particular to two oppositely disposed edges of the slot.

This provides the advantage of further reduction of the material needed for the layer having the advantages described above. It is also possible to intentionally adhere the slot in accordance with the selected material for the layer, which further improves the sealing and improves the defined opening characteristics of the slot, as the case may be, in the pressurized state.

Particularly preferably, the layer comprises at least a separable and food-grade material, for example aluminum or a separable polymer, or any combination thereof. The polymer is particularly fused at> 50 ° C. In particular, sugars, polysaccharides, hydrogels, biopolymers, waxes and paraffins or any combination thereof may be used for the formation of a substantially air-impermeable layer.

This provides the advantage that, in the use of separable, food-compatible and / or separable polymers, the layer is dissolved during the production of the food and, in some cases, production is enabled. The use of a material suitable for food, for example a soluble sugar layer, provides a safe advantage in the production of food.

The use of aluminum offers the advantage that more reliable sealing can be achieved. The aluminum layer is secured to the capsule and / or the capsule so that the layer is separated from the capsule body prior to use, or optionally separated from the slot by the supplied liquid, but remains fixedly secured to the capsule. Alternatively, the aluminum layer may be torn under pressure and / or punctured by correspondingly disposed through means. This provides the advantage that the produced food is not contaminated by aluminum.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a capsule comprising a capsule body formed preferably in a rotationally symmetrical manner. Capsules are especially the capsules described above. The capsule body is particularly made of a polymer. The capsule body consists of a sidewall and a bottom, in which case the sidewall and bottom are particularly formed as a single part. The capsule includes a lid that covers the capsule body to form a closed chamber comprising a material for the manufacture of the food product. The capsule body includes at least one opening for the perfusion of liquid through the capsule. The openings are particularly formed as slots. The openings are formed in the capsule body prior to use according to the application in the device for the manufacture of food. A substantially air impermeable and an incendiary thin film is disposed between the material and the opening to seal the enclosed chamber against the opening. The membrane is particularly fixed within the capsule body. In other words, the enclosed chamber comprises a substance, in which case a substantially air-impermeable membrane is disposed in the capsule body, so that direct fluid connection is made from the opening to the substance for the liquid and / or gas prior to use of the capsule It does not.

This offers the advantage that the material of the capsule body and the material of the thin film can be chosen differently in relation to the possibility of perforation by means of penetration of the device for the production of food. This increases the reliability of puncturing of the capsule during operation, and the food can be reliably produced. This also makes it possible to manufacture, for example, inexpensively a capsule body that can be made of plastic.

When the plastic capsule made of a polymer is used, the through hole formed by the penetrating means is partially closed again by the partial elastic behavior of the capsule body after the perforation of the capsule body by the penetrating means, It should be noted that sufficient liquid can not be supplied for production. By arranging at least one opening in the capsule body, it can be ensured that sufficient liquid can be supplied into the closed chamber of the capsule even after partial closure of the through opening due to the elastic behavior of the material of the capsule body. However, by placing at least one opening in the capsule body, it is prevented that the capsule is closed in a substantially hermetic manner to form the perfume-encapsulating package. In this case it is recommended, for example, to close the capsules in a substantially hermetic manner for the transport and / or storage of the capsules into the outer sleeve in the use of coffee as the extractable material, since more packaging material is consumed, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > capsules < / RTI > occupy a larger volume than normal capsules. By placing a substantially air impermeable membrane between the opening and the substance in the capsule, the substance can be substantially closed in a capsule in a confined manner, so that an incendiary capsule is formed.

The openings in the capsule body may be formed, for example, as holes and slots having a rectangular, elliptical or circular cross section. The shape of the openings upon placement of the one or more openings in the capsule body may optionally be combined, for example, by the arrangement of openings and slots having a circular cross-section at the bottom and / or sidewalls.

Preferably, the substantially air impermeable film is disposed at least in the region of the at least one opening away from the side wall and / or the bottom. In particular, the substantially air-impermeable film is disposed apart from the entire bottom.

This provides the advantage that a flow connection is formed from the opening to the perforation position of the membrane after perforation of the membrane by the penetrating means for reliable extraction of the material for the manufacture of food. A reliable and rapid extraction of the material for the production of food can be achieved, especially at the time of spacing of the thin film from the bottom and in the placement of a large number of openings in the bottom.

In this case, the thin film does not contact the capsule body in the region where the opening is arranged.

Preferably the capsule body has at least two openings, in which case all the openings are disposed on the side of the substantially air impermeable membrane remote from the material.

This provides the advantage that no direct fluid connection is established between the periphery and the material due to the placement of the openings in the capsule body for simple sealing of the enclosed chamber in which the material is disposed.

The substantially air-impermeable thin film is preferably arranged so as to be penetrable during operation by means of penetration of the apparatus for the manufacture of food in use, depending on the application.

This provides the advantage that the capsule body and the membrane can be pierced with the same penetration means for a reliable supply of liquid extract of the material for the manufacture of beverage.

As an alternative, of course, it may also be considered that only the capsule body is punctured by the penetrating means, and the thin film is torn by the pressure of the liquid supplied during operation. To this end, the brittle region can be particularly arranged in the thin film, so that the thin film tears more easily during operation.

The thin film is preferably made of aluminum and / or a laminate. In particular, the laminate is substantially plastic-deformable.

This provides the advantage of the adjustability of the capsule to the device for the manufacture of foodstuffs, which should be used to ensure a reliable supply of liquid into the enclosed chamber for the extraction of material from the device. Particularly, the use of aluminum is preferable since the aluminum thin film is substantially plastic-deformed at the time of perforation, and therefore, a through-opening for supplying the liquid to the aluminum can be reliably formed. Alternatively, the thin film can be formed of a laminate, i. E. A multilayer material, which is particularly plastic deformable for reliable formation of a through opening.

For example, a laminate of two polymer layers or one aluminum layer may be formed in combination with one polymer layer, depending on the needs of the capsule.

Preferably, the capsule body and the lid are made of a substantially air impermeable material. This provides the advantage that the material contained in the capsule is closed in a substantially hermetic manner, thus forming an incendiary capsule and does not require an additional outer sleeve, which lowers manufacturing costs and allows the handling of the capsule Make it simple.

Preferably, the bottom of the capsule is pierced in the through region of the bottom by means of penetration disposed on the exterior of the capsule for perfusion of liquid through the enclosed chamber. In this case, the bottom includes a reinforcing area, and in particular, the central area of the bottom is formed as a through area. The reinforcing area is disposed around the through area. The arrangement of the reinforcement region is rotationally symmetric, especially about the through region. The reinforcement region is formed substantially circumferentially in the bottom as at least a partial recess.

The recess in the bottom is the recess on the outer side of the capsule as an integral part of the bottom.

Partially recessed in the bottom substantially in the circumferential direction means that the recess has a width less than 360 占 in the circumferential direction.

A through region is a region of the bottom that is penetrated by the penetrating means in connection with the present application.

The reinforcement zone is the area of the floor where the recess for reinforcement is disposed in relation to the present application.

The arrangement of the reinforcing area around the perforation area provides the advantage that beverage production is possible by allowing the bottom to be reliably penetrated by the penetrating means arranged in a general device for the manufacture of food. The capsules may also be made inexpensively because the reinforcing region is formed as an integral part of the capsule, and thus the capsule can be made, for example, by deep drawing processing. Plastic capsules can thus be used in a typical device, where the reinforcement area is not placed and not necessarily reliably penetrated in the device.

 Preferably the recess comprises at least two wall sections inclined to one another. In particular, the wall sections are inclined with respect to one another at the cross-section extending through the recess along the longitudinal axis of the capsule body.

This arrangement of the two wall sections inclined with respect to each other as recesses has proved to be desirable for the formation of the reinforcing region in practice, and the recess can also be manufactured simply and inexpensively, for example by deep drawing processing.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to the capsule body of the capsule described above.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of making the capsule body described above. The method includes deep drawing processing of the capsule body. At least one slot is subsequently cut and / or concurrent with the deep drawing process. The cutting step is carried out such that material removal is substantially not effected. In particular, the oppositely disposed edges of the slots are preferably at least partially in contact with at least 90%, particularly preferably at least 95%, and very particularly preferably at least 100% of the length L of the slot.

The formation of at least one slot in the deep drawn body of the capsule provides the advantage that a slot with a size that substantially no material can be drained from the capsule can be made inexpensively. In particular, the method of forming at least one slot is much cheaper than the formation of holes with correspondingly small diameters in the capsule body. At least one slot can be formed after filling of the material and closing of the capsule body with the lead.

Preferably a substantially air-impermeable layer is provided partially and / or over the entire surface. In particular, the layer is provided on the side wall and / or the bottom.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a system comprising a capsule and a beverage production device filled with a material as described above. The beverage production apparatus includes a capsule holder for accommodating the capsule. The beverage production apparatus also includes means for supplying liquid into the capsule for extraction of the material for production of the beverage, in which case the beverage can be discharged through the lid of the capsule. Further, the beverage production apparatus preferably also includes a penetration means.

In addition, the beverage production apparatus includes, in particular, means for the discharge of the beverage into the beverage container, for example.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, in order to facilitate an understanding of the invention, and the invention is not limited to the embodiments.

1 is a plan view of a capsule body according to the present invention including four slots.
Figure 2 is a plan view of an alternative capsule body according to the present invention comprising a slot, the entire surface of which is coated.
Figure 3 is a plan view of a capsule body according to the present invention, including a slot, partially coated.
4 is a plan view of a capsule body according to the present invention comprising a slot, the entire surface of which is coated;
Figure 5 is a plan view of a capsule body according to the present invention including slots in the bottom and side walls.
Figure 6 is a plan view of a capsule body according to the present invention including a slotted curved slot at the bottom.
Figure 7 is a plan view of a capsule body according to the present invention comprising a slot in a side wall coated with an entire surface.
Figure 8 is a plan view of an alternate capsule body according to the present invention including slots.
Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of detail A according to Fig. 8, including a slot in a rest position; Fig.
Figure 10 is an enlarged view of detail A according to Figure 8 in the open position of the coated slot.
Figure 11 is a side view of a capsule according to the present invention including a curved slot.
12 is a schematic view of a system according to the present invention comprising a capsule and beverage production device according to the present invention;
13 is a schematic diagram of an alternative system according to the present invention comprising a beverage production device comprising a capsule and through means.
14 is a plan view of a capsule according to the present invention including a slot.
Figure 15 is a cutaway side view of an alternative capsule body according to the present invention.
16 is a partially cutaway side view of a capsule according to another alternative invention.
17 is a plan view of a capsule according to the present invention including an opening.

Figure 1 shows a top view of the bottom 4 of the capsule body 2 according to the invention. The capsule body (2) includes a flange (22) and a side wall (3). Four slots 8 in the bottom 4 are shown in the rest position, i.e. closed position. No force is applied to the capsule body (2).

Figure 2 shows a top view of an alternative capsule body 2 according to the invention. The same reference numerals denote the same features in all of the figures, and are thus again described only when necessary.

Two slots (8) are arranged in the bottom (4) of the capsule body (2), the slots being intersected at the approximate structural center of the floor. The entire surface of the capsule body 2, i.e. the side wall 3 and the bottom 4, is closed with the air impermeable layer 10 for sealing the slot 8. The layer 10 is formed of substantially sugar as a separable, food-compatible air impermeable layer.

3 shows another alternative capsule body 2 according to the present invention, including slot 8. The slot 8 is partially sealed with an aluminum layer 10 covering the bottom 4.

4 shows a top view of another capsule body 2 according to the invention. The slots 8 in the bottom are closed with a soluble polymer layer 10 covering the entire surface of the bottom 4.

5 shows a top view of another capsule body 2 according to the invention, including a bottom 4 and a slot 8 in the side wall 3. The layer for the closing of the slot 8 is provided on the inner side, i.e. in the chamber of the capsule body in which the material for the production of the beverage is received. The layer is not well illustrated in this figure.

6 shows a top view of another capsule body according to the invention, including a curved slot.

Figure 7 shows a top view of the capsule body 2 according to the invention, comprising a slot 8 in the side wall closed by a soluble layer 10 suitable for food. The layer 10 is provided on the entire surface of the side wall 3.

8 shows another plan view of an alternative embodiment of the capsule body 2 comprising two slots 8 in the floor. Details A are described in Figs. 9 and 10 below.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of detail A according to Fig.

The slot 8 is in the rest position 15, i.e. no force acts on the slot or capsule body. The slot 8 has a length l of 4 mm.

Fig. 10 shows the detail A according to Fig. 8, which includes the slot 8 of the open position 16, in an enlarged scale. In the open position, the slot 8 has a maximum width of b = 4 mm.

One edge of the oppositely disposed two edges 9 of the slot 8 is coated with a soluble layer 10 suitable for food which causes closure at the rest position as shown in Figure 9, Causing adhesion.

11 is a side view of the capsule body 2 according to the present invention.

The arrow 21 indicates the flow direction of the liquid. As liquid, hot water is supplied at a pressure of approximately 15 bar. The slot 8 is formed as a curved slot 8 and is disposed in the side wall 3. [ The curved slot 8 extends from the bottom along the central flow of the liquid through the capsule body with respect to the longitudinal axis 17 of the capsule body 2 to a distance between the bottom 4 and the flange 22, / 4.

12 schematically shows a system 11 comprising a capsule 1 according to the invention having a beverage production device 12 with a plate 19 and a slot 8. In Fig.

The capsule 1 comprises a side wall 3 and a bottom 4 and is closed by a lid 5 for the formation of a chamber 6. The inside of the chamber 6 is filled with a material not shown here.

In the drawing shown here, two slots 8 are visible, the slots being arranged in the sidewall and extending in a circumferential plane (U) shown substantially in the figure.

The beverage production apparatus 12 includes a capsule holder 13 for accommodating the capsule 1 and means 14 for supplying liquid. The beverage production apparatus 12 does not include the penetration means.

In operation, the water is heated by the means for supplying the liquid and supplied to the capsule 1. The heated water flows into the chamber 6 of the capsule 1 through the slot 8, so that a drink, in this case coffee, can be extracted. The extracted beverage is discharged through the lead (5) and the skin plate (19).

In order to better wet the material in the chamber 6, the capsule 1 comprises unillustrated slots in the bottom 4.

A schematic diagram of an alternative system 11 is shown in Fig. Unlike Fig. 12, the beverage production apparatus 12 includes the penetrating means 18 for penetrating the bottom 4 of the capsule. The capsule includes a slot 8, which is disposed in the side wall. The two slots 8 shown are disposed substantially in the circumferential plane U. The other slot has an angle W of approximately 90 [deg.] With the circumferential plane U and thus extends parallel to the longitudinal axis 17. [

The capsule 1 is shown in a partially cut away side view that includes the substance 7 in the chamber 6. [

14 shows another capsule body 2 according to the invention, including four slots 8 arranged in the floor 4, in plan view towards the longitudinal axis.

The capsule body 2 includes a reinforcing member formed as a reinforcing region 24 and the reinforcing member is formed by the recess 25 in the bottom so that the penetrating region 23 of the bottom 4 may penetrate Can be more surely punctured by the means.

The capsule body 2 includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs 27 distributed circumferentially on a side surface thereof and is formed integrally with a bottom 4 having a reinforcing region 24. The capsule body 2 is made of a plastic material and is manufactured by deep drawing processing.

15, an alternative capsule body 2 according to the present invention is shown in cross-section, and the external shape of the capsule body corresponds to the external shape according to FIG. Reinforcing ribs 27 for reinforcement of the capsule body 2 are shown in the side wall 3 of the capsule body 2 during the penetration through the penetrating means in the penetrating region 23.

The bottom 4 is provided with a slot 8 according to Fig. The bottom 4 comprises a reinforcing area 24, which is formed by a recess 25. The reinforcing region (24) is arranged rotationally symmetrically around the through region (23).

A substantially air-impermeable film 26 made, for example, of aluminum, is placed in the capsule body 2 close to the bottom 4. Material not shown here in the closed chamber 6 is disposed on the side of the thin film 26 away from the bottom. Symbolically illustrated penetrating arbor 18 passes through bottom 4 and fibrillation membrane 26.

16, an alternative capsule 1 according to the invention is shown in a partially cut-away side view. The capsule 1 is closed with the aluminum lead 5. A substance (7) is arranged in the closed chamber (6), and the substance is coffee. A substantially air-impermeable thin film is fixed to the capsule 1 by, for example, welding.

A slot is arranged in the side wall 3 of the capsule 1 and two openings 20 or slots are arranged in the bottom 4.

In Fig. 17 another alternative capsule body 2 according to the invention is shown in plan view. Unlike the capsule body according to FIG. 14, the capsule body 2 according to FIG. 17 comprises four openings 20 having an elliptical cross-section, and the openings are arranged in the through- A substantially air-impermeable film, not shown here, is spaced apart from the bottom in the capsule body 2.

1 capsule
2 capsule body
3 side walls
4 floor
5 leads
6 chamber
7 Substance
8 slots
9 Edge
10th floor
12 Beverage production equipment
13 capsule holders
14 Means for supplying liquid
15 rest location
16 open position
17 Longitudinal axis
18 penetration means
19 plates
20 aperture
22 Flange
23 through area
24 reinforcement area
25 recess
26 Thin film
17 reinforcing rib

Claims (26)

(1) comprising a capsule body (2) formed preferably in rotational symmetry, said capsule body comprising a side wall (3), a bottom (4) formed in a particularly integral form with said side wall, and a material (7) And a lid (5) covering the capsule body (2) to form an enclosed chamber (6) containing the capsule body (2)
Wherein the capsule body 2 comprises at least one slot 8 for perfusing liquid through the capsule 1 wherein the slots 8 in the capsule body 2 are for the production of food Characterized in that the capsule (1) is formed in the device prior to use according to the application. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the oppositely disposed edges (9) of the slot (8) are at least partially in the rest position (15), preferably at least 90% of the length (l) Gt; 95% < / RTI > and very particularly preferably 100%. 3. A capsule according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said slot (8) is openable from a rest position (15) to an open position (16) by a force action, in particular by mechanical and / . The capsule according to claim 3, characterized in that said slot (8) is substantially reversibly closable and substantially returns to said rest position (15) after removal of the force action. 5. A capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the slot is formed such that substantially no material can pass through the slot prior to the extraction of the material for food production. The capsule body (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the capsule body (2) is produced by deep drawing with a polymer, preferably 0.05 mm to 0.4 mm, particularly preferably 0.06 mm to 0.3 mm, and Particularly preferably from 0.07 mm to 0.25 mm. 7. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said slot (8) is arranged in said bottom (4). 8. A capsule as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said bottom (4) comprises at least two slots (8), said slots particularly preferably intersecting at the approximate structural center point of said bottom (4). 9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slot (8) is formed in the side wall (3), in particular in the entire length of the capsule (1) along the longitudinal axis (17) Preferably 1/3, and particularly preferably 1/4 of the sidewall (3) along the central flow of the liquid through the capsule (1). 10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the capsule body (2) comprises at least two slots (8), in particular at least three slots (8) . 11. A capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slot (8) is formed as a substantially straight slot (8) and / or as a substantially curved slot (8). 12. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slot (8) is substantially surrounded by the air impermeable layer (10), in particular from the chamber (6) and / Is closed at the side of the capsule body (2). 13. The capsule of claim 12, wherein said layer (10) is applied to at least one edge of oppositely disposed edges (9) of said slot (8). 14. A method according to claim 12 or claim 13, characterized in that said layer (10) comprises at least a separable and food-grade material, a separable polymer which melts at a temperature above 50 DEG C, or any combination of these materials . A capsule (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it comprises a capsule body (2) preferably formed of a rotationally symmetrical and in particular polymer, the capsule body comprising a side wall (5) covering the capsule body (2) to form a closed chamber (6) comprising a bottom (4) formed in particular integral with the side wall and a material (7) In the capsule,
A substantially air impermeable, in particular an incendiary, membrane 26 is arranged between the substance 7 and the opening 20 to seal the enclosed chamber 6 against the opening 20, . 16. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that said membrane (26) is arranged in the region of at least one opening (20) at least apart from said side wall (3) and / or said bottom (4) . 18. A device according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the capsule body (2) comprises at least two openings (20), all the openings (20) Wherein said capsule is disposed in said capsule. 18. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the membrane (26) is arranged to be pierceable during operation by means of penetration means (18) of the device for the manufacture of food, The capsule. 19. A capsule according to any one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that the membrane (26) is made of aluminum and / or a laminate which is particularly plastically deformable. 20. The capsule according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the capsule body (2) and the lid (5) are made of a substantially air impermeable, in particular an incense sealing material. 21. A capsule according to any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein all openings (20) are arranged in said bottom (4). 22. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one bottom (4) comprises a penetrating means (18) arranged externally of said capsule (1) for the perfusion of liquid through said closed chamber The bottom 4 may comprise a reinforcing region 24 and in particular the central region of the bottom 4 may be penetrated through the penetrating region 23 of the bottom 4, Wherein the reinforcing area 24 is arranged rotationally symmetrically about the penetrating area 23, in which case the reinforcing area 24 is at least partly recessed 25, (4). ≪ Desc / Clms Page number 13 > 23. The capsule of claim 22, wherein the recesses (25) comprise at least two wall sections inclined to one another. A capsule body (2) of the capsule (1) according to any one of the preceding claims. A method of manufacturing a capsule body (2) according to claim 24, characterized in that it comprises a step of deep drawing of the capsule body (2), in which at least one slot In which case the oppositely disposed edges 9 of the slot 8 are preferably at least 90%, particularly preferably at least 95%, of the length 1 of the slot 8, and Particularly preferably at least 100%. A system (11) comprising a capsule (1) and a beverage production device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 23 filled with a substance (7), said beverage production device (12) 1), and means (14) for supplying liquid into the capsule (1) for extracting a substance (7) for the production of a beverage, wherein the beverage comprises a capsule Can be discharged through the lid (5) of the beverage production machine (1), or the beverage production apparatus further comprises through means.

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