WO2015193451A1

WO2015193451A1 - System for producing a tea beverage

Info

Publication number: WO2015193451A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/063746
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wolfgang Eppler; Andre THROM
Original assignee: K-Fee System Gmbh
Priority date: 2014-06-18
Filing date: 2015-06-18
Publication date: 2015-12-23
Also published as: US20180044104A1; EP3157844A1; AU2015276083A1; CN106458436A; AR100911A1; TW201600053A

Abstract

The invention relates to a single serve capsule for producing tea, comprising a capsule body with a capsule base and a filling side. A cavity for accommodating a powdered or liquid tea granulate is formed between the capsule base and the filling side, a filter element is arranged between the tea granulate and the capsule base, and said filter element comprises a filter structure which is arranged in the region of the capsule base.

Description

System for making a tea beverage

The present invention relates to a system for producing a tea beverage comprising a brewing chamber and a portion capsule with a cavity in which a tea granules is, wherein the portion capsule is provided in the brewing chamber and a liquid flows through the brewing chamber and the portion capsule and thereby extracts the tea granules and / or desorbs and thereby produces a tea beverage.

Such systems are known from the prior art and are used for example to produce so-called fruit teas. For this purpose dried fruit pieces, dried fruit peels and / or herbs are provided in the portion capsule. However, the known from the prior art systems have the disadvantage that the portion capsules often clog and even burst when brewing the tea beverage.

It was therefore the object of the present invention to provide a system which does not have the disadvantages of the prior art,

This object is achieved with a system for producing a tea beverage consisting of a brewing chamber and a portion capsule with a cavity in which a tea granules is, wherein the portion capsule is provided in the brewing chamber and a liquid flows through the brewing chamber and the portion capsule while the tea granules extracted and / or desorbed and thereby produces a tea beverage, wherein the tea granules are provided so that the square of the average volume flow of the liquid is at least 1.3.

According to the invention, the system consists of a brewing chamber and a portion capsule.

The portion capsules for producing a tea beverage are preferably frusto-conical or cylindrical in shape and are produced, for example, from a thermoformed plastic film or by a plastic injection molding process. They usually have a capsule bottom, a cavity with an open filling side and a collar edge, on which a lid film is sealed or glued. Before arranging the cover film on the collar edge, a tea granulate is filled into the existing cavity. Between the tea granules and the capsule bottom, a filter element supporting against the capsule bottom is preferably arranged, which prevents the particles from entering the tea beverage. The tea granules are, in particular, substances which are used for Production of a fruit and / or herbal teas are used, ie preferably dried Fruchtfleisch- and / or Fruchtschalenstücke and / or tea-like substances, each of which whole and / or crushed, in particular ground, may be present. Often, the granules on a variety of different components, which are present in particular as a mixture. For example, the granules fruit especially apple and / or orange fine cut from pulp and / or shell, which may be ground or non-ground. Lemongrass, ginger and any other substance from which a fruit tea can be made is also a preferred ingredient of tea granules.

Before the extraction process, the portion capsule is preferably essentially closed to the environment in an aroma-tight manner. However, the portion capsule does not have to be hermetically sealed, but can also be provided before use in a hermetically sealed package which is then opened manually, for example, and / or any openings in the capsule bottom and / or in the lid area are covered by a film. withdrawn and / or punctured prior to making tea.

The brewing chamber, which is part of a corresponding machine, for example, consists of two parts, which can be separated and joined together and thus open or close the brewing chamber. For preparing the tea beverage, the portion capsule is introduced into the brewing chamber. After or during the closing process of the brewing chamber, the capsule is preferably opened on its closed bottom side by means of an opening mandrel arranged in the brewing chamber and after sealing the brewing chamber the filling side of the portioning capsule closed with a closing foil is pierced by means of one or more piercing means. Subsequently, hot water is fed under pressure into the portion capsule. The water flows through the tea granules and extracts and / or triggers the substances required for the beverage production from the tea granules. The tea beverage thus produced leaves the portion capsule and is collected in a container. The temperature of the hot water is preferably 90-100 ° C. The hot water is preferably provided at a pressure of 10-20 bar at the portion capsule entrance. The volume flow of the hot water is preferably continuous but may also be intermittent.

According to the tea granules is now provided so that the square of the average volume flow is at least 1.3. The average Flow rate is the yield of tea beverage, measured in milliliters divided by the time required for beverage production measured in seconds. It has now surprisingly been found that only if this lower limit is met, it is ensured that the portion capsule does not clog and / or burst in tea making. This average volume flow is influenced, for example, by the swelling number of the tea granules, the initial weight, the volume of the cavity and / or the particle size distribution, Dv50.

Preferably, the Dv50 of the tea granules is 300-1000, preferably 350-900, μηη.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the swelling number of the tea granules is 1, 8-4.0, preferably 2.0-3.3. The swelling number is determined by initially charging a certain amount of tea granules and then with a multiple of the volume of the tea granules is added to 100 ° C hot water. The volume of the tea granules is determined before and after the addition of water and a quotient is formed from this, which gives the swelling number. Since tea granules always swell under the addition of water, the quotient is always greater than 1.

The weight of the granules is preferably 0.4-7, preferably 0.5-5 g per portion capsule. This amount has proven to be useful for the preparation of a 150-250 ml tea beverage, preferably 180-220 ml.

Preferably, the volume of the cavity is 20-30 ml, more preferably 22-26 ml, most preferably 23.5-24.5 ml.

Preferably, a filter element is provided in the cavity, which preferably has a felt structure. The filter element prevents particles from entering the finished beverage. Most preferably, the felt structure has a mass coverage of between 600 and 1500 grams per square meter, more preferably between 1000 and 1400 grams per square meter, and most preferably from 1200 to 1300 grams per square meter. Preferably, the thickness of the filter element is between 0.8 and 3.3 millimeters, more preferably between 1.1 and 3.0 millimeters, and most preferably 1.2 to 1.4 millimeters. In particular, the felt structure is a needled felt structure. Preferably, the filter element consists of at least one felt structure and a support structure, in particular a fabric structure, wherein, particularly preferably the felt structure comprises at least a portion of the volume of the support structure. Preferably, the felt structure extends over the entire cross section of the support structure, but more preferably over only a portion of the height of the Support structure. The felt structure is preferably connected to the carrier structure in a form-locking and / or materially bonded manner. Preferably, the filter element has two or more felt structures, which are preferably separated from each other by the support structure. The thickness of the two felt structures may be the same or different. Preferably, a felt structure facing the tea granules is thinner than the felt structure facing the capsule bottom, or vice versa. Preferably, the surface of the felt structure is treated, for example, heat-treated, for example, to fix loose fibers. Preferably, the filter element having a felt structure is merely inserted into the capsule, in particular on its bottom. However, the filter element can also be connected to the capsule, in particular its bottom, in particular materially bonded. When perforating the portion capsule, the perforating agent can penetrate into this filter element. Preferably, a plurality of filter elements, which have one or more felt structures and a carrier structure, are arranged one above the other in the capsule, possibly joined together. The filter element having the felt structure is produced, for example, by providing a fabric structure consisting of longitudinal and transverse threads. For the construction of a felt, in particular a needle felt, fiber units are preferably selected from 0.8 to 7 dtex. The connection of the individual fibers together to form a felt and / or its anchoring in the support structure preferably takes place through the production process of needling. In this case, needles are inserted with reverse barbs in the submitted fiber package at high speed and pulled out again. The barbs are used to entangle the fibers with one another and / or with the carrier fabric via a multiplicity of loops.

According to a preferred embodiment, the capsule bottom has a prefabricated exit opening, which is preferably sealed with a film, wherein the film particularly preferably has a pull tab for removing the film by hand. However, the film can also be pierced by a perforating agent in the brewing chamber. The outlet opening preferably has such a large cross-sectional area that no appreciable pressure loss occurs when the finished beverage flows out of the outlet opening, even if a perforating means is located in the outlet opening. Preferably, the tea beverage downstream of the filter element is substantially depressurized, i. it has ambient pressure. Preferably, the outlet opening has a diameter between 10 and 14 mm.

Preferably, the filter element spans the exit opening. Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures and explained in more detail in the following description. The figures are described by way of example only and do not limit the general inventive concept.

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a portion capsule according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is adapted for the preparation of tea.

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section through a in a closed

Brew chamber lying portion capsule according to the first embodiment of the present invention

Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section through a in a closed

Brew chamber lying portion capsule according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a portion capsule with a prefabricated opening, here in the capsule bottom area

In the various figures, the same parts are always provided with the same reference numerals and are therefore usually named or mentioned only once in each case.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the portion capsule 1 according to the invention. The portion capsule 1 comprises a frusto-conical capsule body 2 with a closed capsule bottom 3 and with a collar edge 5 arranged on its filling side 4, onto which a lid foil 6 is welded or glued. Between the capsule bottom 3 and the cover sheet 6 is thus a, preferably air and aroma sealed cavity 100, formed, which with a powdered and granular or leaf-shaped beverage substance 101. The beverage substance 101 comprises in the present case, substances for producing a fruit tea, the whole and / or crushed, especially as a fine cut, may be present. On the inside 3a of the closed capsule body bottom 3, ie within the cavity 100, a filter element 7, here arranged with a felt structure. The filter element 7 is either loosely on the inside 3a of the capsule bottom 3 or is fixed, ie preferably cohesively connected to the inside 3a of the capsule body bottom 3. In the second variant, the filter element 7 in particular only in an edge region 3 'of the capsule bottom 3 on the capsule bottom 3 along a circular ring cohesively attached. FIG. 2 shows a portion capsule 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the portion capsule 1 in FIG. 2 is arranged in a closed brewing chamber 8. The brewing chamber 8 consists of a first brewing chamber element 9 and a second brewing chamber element 10, wherein the first brewing chamber element 9 is provided to introduce the portion capsule 1 movable relative to the second brewing chamber element 10 or vice versa. Between the two Brühkammerelementen 9, 10, a seal 11 is arranged. The first brewing chamber element 9 essentially consists of a closing piston 12 with piercing elements 13a, 13b for opening the lidding film 6 of the portion capsule 1, a preparation liquid feed 14 and the seal 11. The second brewing chamber element 10 essentially comprises a brewing chamber bell 15 partially enclosing the portioning capsule 1 an opening dome 16 arranged at the bottom of the brewing chamber bell 15, which is provided here with drainage grooves 17, and a beverage outlet 18. For receiving the portioning capsule 1, the brewing chamber 8 is in an open state, not shown, in which the first and the second brewing chamber element 9, 10 are spaced from each other to ensure a supply of the portion capsule 1, and the illustrated closed state in which a preparation process for producing a beverage by means of the portion capsule 1 is feasible. In the closed state, the brewing chamber 8 is sealed. When and / or after transferring the brewing chamber 8 from the opened state to the illustrated closed state, the lidding film 6 is punctured by the piercing elements 13a, 13b, so that the preparation liquid, in particular hot brewing water, through the preparation liquid feed 14 under pressure into the cavity 100 of the portion capsule 1 arrives. Further, here when closing the brewing chamber 8, the capsule bottom 3 is perforated by the opening means 16 formed as perforating means, so that an outlet opening 107 is produced in the portion capsule 1, through which the tea produced from the portion capsule 1 can emerge in the direction of the beverage outlet 18. To assist the discharge of the beverage liquid, the opening dome 16 may have the drainage grooves 17 on its lateral surface. In the illustration, the bottom 3 of the present in the brewing chamber 9, 10 portion capsule 1 is pierced by the opening dome 16 of the second Brühkammelementes and lying over the puncture site filter element 7 is slightly raised from the piercing tip 19 of the opening dome 16, if necessary pierced but not pierced. This is achieved in particular in that the central region 7 "of the felt structure is not materially connected to the capsule bottom 3, but rather the filter element 7 only in the edge region 3 'of the capsule bottom 3 cohesively connected to the capsule bottom 3, so that it is raised only by the capsule bottom 3 as a result of mechanical contact with the tip of the opening dome 3 and thus remains intact (ie, for example, pierced by the opening mandrel 16 but not destroyed). In the edge region 3 'of the capsule bottom 3 or in the edge region T of the filter element 7, the capsule bottom 3 and the filter element 7 remain in contact with each other and, in particular, firmly bonded together so that no beverage substance 101 passes around the filter element 7 into the beverage outlet 18.

FIG. 3 shows a portion capsule 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the second embodiment substantially equals the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 and the portion capsule 1 is likewise shown in a closed brewing chamber 8. In contrast to the first embodiment, however, the portion capsule bottom 3 in the piercing region of the opening mandrel 16 has a bulge 21 directed against a recess 20 in the brewing chamber bottom 3a (the bulge 21 is thus directed in a direction opposite to the filling side 4), into which the opening mandrel 16 pierces. without puncturing the filter element 7. A lifting of the filter element 7 from the capsule bottom 3 is thus not required. For the preparation of the beverage is in turn closed after the introduction of the portion capsule 1 in the brewing chamber 8, the brewing chamber 8. During the closing operation, the lidding film 6 of the portion capsule 1 is perforated by means of the piercing means 13a, 13b and after the merging and sealing of the first and second brewing chamber elements 9, 10 (by means of the seal 11), brewing water is made available via the liquid inlet 14. Likewise, during the closing operation of the brewing chamber, the opening mandrel 16 pierces an opening in the bottom 3 of the portion capsule 1. The filter element 7 lying over the puncture site is tuned in its thickness and tensile strength to the penetration depth of the piercing tip 19 of the opening mandrel 16, so that the filter element 7 preferably is not pierced. Alternatively, the filter element 7 is located above the bulge 21 of the capsule bottom 3, in the recess of the Brühglockenbodens 23, and the opening mandrel 16 pierces only in the bulge 21 of the capsule bottom 3 and does not reach the filter element 7. Then, the liquid flows in the production of tea hot water, in the capsule 1 a. In the capsule, this liquid flows through the tea granules 101 and extracts and / or dissolves the substances required for beverage production from the tea granules 101. The flow of the liquid in the cavity 100 through the tea granules 101 is illustrated by the reference numeral 22. Thereafter, the resulting beverage flows through the between the tea granules 101 and the arranged on the capsule bottom 3 filter element 7, which prevents constituents of the tea granules 101 particulate in the resulting beverage and will pass through the opening pierced by the opening mandrel 16 in the capsule bottom 3 and the drainage grooves 17 of the opening mandrel 16 in a collecting vessel, such as a cup or jug.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a portion capsule 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is substantially similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, wherein the portion capsules 1 of the present embodiment is provided with a permanent outlet opening 107 in the capsule bottom 3, which is initially sealed with the film 108. The foil

108 preferably has a pull tab 109 for removing the film 108 by hand. A perforation of the capsule bottom 3 by means of an outer perforating means 16 is not provided but also a conceivable embodiment. Rather, when inserting the portion capsule 1 in the brewing chamber 8, the film 108 by means of Abziehlasche

109 simply withdrawn from the capsule bottom 3 and the brewing process can then be started directly and without perforation of the capsule bottom 3. However, it is also possible that the film 108 remains on the portion capsule and is pierced by the perforating means. The filter element spans the exit opening 107, which is preferably so large that there is no appreciable pressure loss of the outflowing beverage, even if the perforating means is located in the opening. This also applies in the event that the opening mandrel is in the outlet opening.

One skilled in the art will recognize that it is possible for the performance means 16 to stress, puncture and / or pierce the filter element as it enters the capsule, i. the filter element is connected, for example, at least partially cohesively to the bottom of the capsule, provided on the ground as possible over a large area and / or tensioned.

In the following, the invention will be explained with reference to the attached table. In the table:

QZ [-] swelling number, ml of wet tea substance / ml of dry tea substance preparation [s] the time needed to achieve the desired yield

Yield [ml] scored, collected tea

Dv50 [pm] average particle diameter of the tea granules Q [ml / s] average volumetric flow = yield / 1

Weighed t Yield Dv50 QQ ²

Sample QZ [g] [s] [ml] [μπι] [ml / s] Platzer [ml ² / s ² ]

Apple FS

unground 3.63 1 68 203 886 2.9853 no 8.9120

3.63 2 124 192 886 1.5484 no 2.3975

Apple FS

ground 3.67 0.5 75 196 402 2.6133 no 6.8295

3.67 1 125 139 402 1.1120 yes 1.2365

3.67 2 258 138 402 0.5349 yes 0.2861

Lemongrass 2,15 2,1 94 191 557 2,0319 no 4,1287

2.15 2.1 124 190 557 1.5323 no 2.3478

2.15 2.1 241 193 557 0.8008 yes 0.6413

Lemongrass 2.07 2.1 67 204 795 3.0448 no 9.2707

2.07 2.1 69 201 795 2.9130 no 8.4858

2.07 2.1 68 203 795 2.9853 no 8.9120

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 portion capsule

2 capsule bodies

3 capsule bottom

3a capsule bottom inside

3 'edge area of the capsule floor

4 filling side

5 collar edge

6 lid foil

7 filter element

7 'edge region of the filter element

7 "central area of the filter element

8 brewing chamber

9 First brewing chamber element

10 second brewing chamber element

1 1 seal

12 closing pistons

13a piercing element

13b piercing element

14 preparation liquid supply

15 brewing bell

16 opening mandrel

17 outlet grooves

18 process

19 piercing tip

20 indentation

21 bulge

22 Preparation liquid flow

23 brewing cup bottom

100 cavity

101 tea granules

102 sidewall area

107 exit opening

108 foil

109 pull tab

Claims

claims

1. A system for producing a tea beverage comprising a brewing chamber and a portion capsule with a cavity (100), in which a tea granules is, wherein the portion capsule is provided in the brewing chamber and a liquid flows through the brewing chamber and the portion capsule while the tea granules ( 101) is extracted and / or desorbed, thereby producing a tea beverage, characterized in that the tea granules are provided so that the square of the average volume flow is at least 1.3.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the Dv50 of the granules is 300 - 1000, preferably 350 - 900 mm.

3. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the swelling number of the tea granules 1, 8 - 4.0, preferably 2.0 - 3, 8 amounts.

4. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weight of the granules is 0.4 to 7.0, preferably 0.5 to 5.0 g.

5. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the volume of the cavity is 20 - 30 ml.

6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the cavity (100) a filter element (7) is provided, which preferably has a felt structure.

7. System according to claim 6, characterized in that the felt structure comprises a mass coverage of between 600 and 1500 grams per square meter, more preferably between 1000 and 1400 grams per square meter, and most preferably, from 1200 to 1300 grams per square meter.

8. System according to any one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the thickness of the filter element between 0.8 and 3.3 millimeters, more preferably between 1, 1 and 3.0 millimeters, and most preferably, 1, 2 - Is 1, 4 millimeters.

9. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the capsule bottom (3) has an outlet opening (107), which preferably with a film (108) is sealed, wherein the film (108) particularly preferably a Abziehlasche (109) for removing the film by hand.

10. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that tea granules ground apple cut and / or unground and / or lemongrass and / or ginger.