Patent Application
20230227244
The invention relates to a capsule for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product and to a method for producing such capsule.
Systems for preparing a beverage, such as coffee using a brewing device for supplying a liquid, such as water, under pressure to a capsule comprising a dose of beverage ingredient (i.e., a beverage substance) are known. The capsule usually comprises a cup-shaped base body provided with a bottom and a side wall for receiving the beverage substance and a flange-like rim. A beverage delivery foil closing the cup is attached to the flange-like rim, said beverage delivery foil is intended to be torn under pressure during the brewing process.
Typically, the brewing device comprises a chamber for receiving the capsule, such as a capsule cage for covering the cup and pressing a flange of the cup against a capsule support of the device comprising extracting means, e.g., recesses and protrusions. As liquid is filled in the capsule, the pressure rises inside and the foil is pressed against the extracting means of the support until the foil breaks at several locations generally at the top edges of pyramid-shaped protrusions, thereby creating small orifices for the beverage to exit the capsule. EP0512470 describes a process of extraction of this kind for a sealed capsule.
WO2006111807A1 relates to improvements to capsules and machines for the making of infuses such as espresso coffee. The capsule, hermetically sealed by a lid, internally includes a distance wheel equipped with a filter paper disc, and the capsule can be used with a closable machine provided with devices for the steam injection and with simple punching devices to allow the pouring out of the infuse, such as espresso coffee, from the capsule. The presence of the filter prevents the coming out of the powders even if very fine.
However, the positioning of the filter paper disc is such that the filter is placed at the highest distance from the lid and the reinforcement is placed between the filter paper and the lid. This configuration provides several problems.
Firstly, the filter paper is submitted to high stress during extraction and is prone to breakage due to the large voids created by the distance wheel.
Secondly, significant volume for the beverage is lost (unutilized) in the capsule due to the voids that can be prejudicial to the quality of the beverage, e.g., the strength and aroma of coffee.
The invention aims at solving the above-identified problem as well as providing convenience in producing the capsule.
For this, the invention relates to a capsule for producing a beverage using an extractable product, by means of a beverage brewing device, comprising:
wherein it comprises a filter disc fitted in the cavity between the beverage substance and the foil; the filter disc comprising:
wherein the frame comprises a plurality of transversal reinforcing portions separating the internal area demarcated by the annular reinforcing portion in a plurality of apertures open in the axial direction; and wherein the filter membrane covers the plurality of apertures; and,
As a result, the filter membrane is less prone to damage while the filter disc remains rigid to reduce deformation and ensure a precise and easy positioning in the capsule even during brewing. The filling capacity in the capsule also remains optimal.
Preferably, the radial reinforcing portions forms radial spokes preferably merging in the axial centre of the disc. Such configuration is easy to produce and provides optimal rigidity.
The filter membrane is preferably adjacent the foil with a distance to the foil of less than 1.5 mm, more preferably less than 1.0 mm. By placing the filter membrane as close as possible to the foil, the deformation of the membrane is reduced and the filling capacity in the capsule is increased.
Preferably, the circumferential surface of the annular portion is flared towards the foil. This ensures a tightly fit with a truncated circumferential wall of the cup. This also provides a defined axial position of the filter disc in the cavity. Also, there is no need for providing an annular recess or step in the cup to fix the filter disc in position and which normally complicates the forming of the cup, especially, for aluminum-based cup that are typically formed from a flat foil, e.g. by deep drawing. Also, a truncated matching of the filter disc with the cup ensures a reduced risk of product by-pass due to the absence of corner.
In a mode, the filter membrane is sealed on one side to a planar surface of the annular reinforcing portion of the frame facing the foil. Preferably, the filter membrane comes flushed with the flange of the cup. Therefore, the filter membrane remains close to the foil and is well supported by the transversal reinforcing portions, e.g. radial spokes, in the interior of the cavity, when the foil is deformed and breaks against the extracting means of the brewing device.
The filling capacity of the capsule is also optimized with as less lost volume as possible.
In a second mode, the frame comprises:
The base part and the holding ring are preferably connected together such as by press-fitting and/or welding.
The rigidity of the filter disc is improved while maintaining the advantages of the previous mode. The connection of the filter membrane is improved and the filter membrane is less prone to disconnection during handling or storage. The handling of the filter disc is also facilitated for placing it in the capsule. The filter membrane is better protected against accidental perforation during handling.
In this mode, the holding ring can comprise secondary transversal reinforcing portions, e.g. secondary radial spokes, matching axially with the primary transversal reinforcing portions of the base part. In this case, the filter membrane is protected in both directions against axial deformation. The secondary transversal reinforcing portions also protects the filter membrane against mechanical or manual contact during handling.
The filter membrane is preferably pressed between the base part and the holding ring and/or welded to the base part and/or holding ring.
In general, the filter membrane is made of porous paper material, paper filter for example, or non-woven polymer material. The material can be polyurethane, polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene and the like. The filter membrane may be made of biodegradable and/or compostable materials.
The frame can be made of injected polymer material. For example, the material for the frame can be polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, polystyrene and the like. Particularly, the frame may be made of biodegradable and/or compostable polymer materials.
Preferentially, the beverage substance is essentially roast-and-ground coffee powder. By “essentially”, it is meant that the substance has at least 95% wt. of the defined material. The beverage substance may comprise roast and ground coffee powder and soluble coffee. The beverage substance may comprise green coffee, flavouring(s), sweetener(s), aroma oil(s), whitener(s) and combinations thereof. The beverage substance can also be essentially non-roast-and-ground coffee such soluble coffee, leaf tea, herbal tea, cocoa, chocolate, chicory, dairy milk, vegetal-origin milk and combinations thereof.
The invention further relates to a method for producing a capsule for the production of a beverage according to any of the preceding claims comprising the steps of:
These and other aspects of the invention will be discussed in more detail with reference to like elements. It will be appreciated that the drawings are present for illustrative purposes and may not be used for limiting the scope of the appended claims.
The invention will now be further described by means of, non-limiting examples referring to the drawings in which:
In the schematic representation of
The capsule generally comprises a cup 7 extending by the flange 6 and a foil 8 connected to the flange, e.g. by welding. The cup comprises a circumferential wall 9 and a bottom wall 10 at a first end or inlet side of the capsule. The foil closes the second end or outlet side of the capsule. The circumferential wall extends revolutionary about a central axis I to form, for example, a slightly truncated wall. The bottom wall 10 may not necessary be transversally flat but may be outwardly convex, e.g., truncated. The cup and the foil 8 enclose an inner space forming a cavity 11 comprising the extractable product 12. In this example, the capsule is initially sealed, i.e., closed without openings prior to use.
In the device of
The device further comprises beverage extracting means 15, here embodied as protrusions of the support 5, for breaking (e.g. tearing or piercing) the foil of the capsule. The protrusions and lid can be arranged together for tearing the foil once a liquid pressure inside the cavity exceeds a threshold pressure and presses the foil 8 against the protrusions 15 with sufficient force. The foil may be a tearable foil. e.g., made of aluminum that is torn when contacting the protrusions 15.
In a non-represented embodiment, the foil may be peeled off before the use of the capsule, the peel off foil may comprise a tab to help removing the peel off foil. In this case, when water is injected inside the cavity of the capsule, no pressure is established inside the cavity and there is no contact with the protrusions 15 of the extraction device 1. The coffee thus obtained is a filter like coffee.
The device further comprises a source of liquid, e.g., a water reservoir 16 and a liquid circuit 17 that may comprise a heater and a pump (not shown) that are controlled by a control unit 18. The liquid circuit ends in the capsule cage by a liquid inlet 19 that is positioned closed to the piercing means 13 at the bottom side of the capsule. A one-way or check valve (not shown) may be provided to prevent liquid backflow in the circuit.
The capsule comprises a filter disc 20 that will be described in relation to the next figures.
The filter disc 20 is positioned inside the capsule, i.e., in the cavity 11, in manner that the disc is placed between the foil 8 and the beverage substance 12. When liquid flows in through the beverage substance, its path to the broken foil must necessarily cross the filter disc. By-pass of the disc by the liquid is prevented by ensuring tight fitting of the filter disc in the cup and, more preferably with the circumferential wall of the cup.
In view of
The filter membrane 22 is placed preferably between the foil and the plurality of reinforcing portions or spokes. As a result, when the foil is broken by the device during brewing, the reinforcing portions provide rigidity to the filter membrane and particularly the inward deflection of the filter membrane is reduced by the reinforcing portions.
A tight fit of the filter disc in the cup can be obtained by a flared design of the annular reinforcing portion 23. The annular reinforcing portion has a circumferential surface 26 which is flared towards the foil as illustrated by
In the mode of
A second mode of the invention is represented in
The base part 27 may comprise an inward annular step 32 that holds the filter membrane in place, i.e., the periphery of the filter membrane fitting in the step. The holding ring 28 engages against the filter membrane 22 in the annular step 32 for holding or securing the filter membrane in place by preventing it from lifting up.
The holding ring 28 is preferably welded, clipped or clamped to the base part. In the case of the holding ring being welded to the based part, the holding ring comprises an outer surface 33 matching an inner circumferential surface 34 of the step; both surfaces 33, 34 being welded together such as by ultrasonic sealing or heat sealing.
The holding ring and base part are preferably made of the same polymer material or of different materials having welding compatibility together.
In this mode, the first annular reinforcing portion also comprises a circumferential surface 26 which is flared towards the foil when the filter disc is fitted in the capsule. The circumferential surface is dimensioned and shaped to tightly fit with the circumferential wall of the cup.
As previously described the frame 21 of the filter disc is preferably formed of injected rigid polymer such as polypropylene or polyamide. The filter membrane 22 can be made filter paper or a non-woven polymer material.
Both elements, frame and filter membrane may be made of biodegradable and/or compostable materials.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20181874.7 | Jun 2020 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/066766 | 6/21/2021 | WO |
