PORTION CAPSULE BASE BODY AND PORTION CAPSULE FOR A BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINE AND CORRESPONDING METHODS

Abstract

A portion capsule base body defines a directed axis and is fillable with an extraction material. The base body has a bottom region, a circumferential side wall adjoining the bottom region and having an outer surface, an a circumferential collar region adjoining the side wall, and through which an opening is defined. The axis is centrally extending through the bottom region and through the opening, and defines an axial direction pointing from the bottom region through the opening. A distance measured perpendicular to the axis is referred to as the axial distance, and the side wall has at least one ramp element by which at least one ramp region is defined in which the axial distance of the outer surface is increasing along the axial direction.

Claims

1. A portion capsule base body defining a directed axis and being fillable with an extraction material, comprising: a bottom region; a circumferential side wall adjoining the bottom region and having an outer surface; and a circumferential collar region adjoining the side wall and defining an opening; the axis extending centrally through the bottom region and through the opening and defining an axial direction pointing from the bottom region through the opening, and wherein a distance measured perpendicular to the axis is referred to as axial distance, the side wall comprising at least one ramp element defining at least one ramp region in which the axial distance of the outer surface increases along the axial direction.

2. The portion capsule base body according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ramp region is arranged at a collar region sided end of the side wall, in particular wherein the at least one ramp region is adjoining the collar region.

3. The portion capsule base body according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ramp element extends only over a part of a periphery of the side wall.

4. The portion capsule base body according to claim 1, wherein the side wall comprises two side wall regions peripherally adjoining the at least one ramp element, and wherein the at least one ramp element protrudes outwardly relative to the two side wall regions.

5. The portion capsule base body according to claim 1, wherein the side wall has at least a first and a second ramp element which are arranged opposite one another with respect to the axis, in particular wherein the ramp region of the second ramp element is designed identically to the ramp region of the first ramp element.

6. The portion capsule base body according to claim 1, wherein the side wall comprises at least two pairs of ramp elements, the first pair being arranged mirror-invertedly relative to the second pair with respect to a plane containing the axis, in particular wherein the ramp region of a first ramp element of the first pair is identically formed as the ramp region of a first ramp element of the second pair, and the ramp region of a second ramp element of the second pair is identically formed as the ramp region of a second ramp element of the first pair.

7. The portion capsule base body according to claim 1, wherein for every direction perpendicular to the axis the at least one ramp element is outwardly protruded by the collar region or protrudes outwardly maximally to the same extent as the collar region.

8. A portion capsule comprising the portion capsule base body filled with an extraction material according to claim 1 as well as a lid sealingly connected to the portion capsule base body in the collar region.

9. The portion capsule according to claim 8, comprising a capsule collar, wherein, for every direction perpendicular to the axis, the at least one ramp element is outwardly protruded by the capsule collar or protrudes outwardly maximally to the same extent as the capsule collar.

10. A combination comprising a portion capsule according to claim 8 and a beverage preparation machine for receiving the portion capsule, wherein the beverage preparation machine comprises a brewing chamber with an injector and a discharge unit.

11. The combination according to claim 10, wherein said brewing chamber comprises at least one mechanical control element for controlling a movement of said portion capsule in the brewing chamber, which is provided for cooperating with the at least one ramp element, in particular wherein the at least one mechanical control element is provided for causing a movement of said portion capsule parallel to said axis or antiparallel to said axis relative to the injector and/or to the discharge unit.

12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the brewing chamber is adapted to hold the portion capsule in the brewing chamber and comprises a drive for effecting a relative movement of the held portion capsule parallel or antiparallel to the axis, relative to the injector and/or relative to the discharge unit, and wherein the brewing chamber is configured such that the at least one mechanical control element moves along the at least one ramp region during the relative movement.

13. The combination according to claim 12, wherein the mechanical control element comprises an active region and the brewing chamber is configured such that during a relative movement caused by the drive, during which the mechanical control element moves relative to the held portion capsule parallel to the axis, the active region of the mechanical control element presses, with a mechanical pretension, outwardly against the outer wall and, in the course of the relative movement, while moving along the ramp region, is pressed increasingly further away from the axis.

14. A method of operating a beverage preparation machine comprising a brewing chamber with at least one mechanical control element for controlling movements of a portion capsule in the brewing chamber, the mechanical control element comprising an active region, the method comprising the steps of: inserting a portion capsule into the brewing chamber, the portion capsule comprising a side wall with at least one ramp element defining at least one ramp region, and the portion capsule defining an axis extending centrally through the portion capsule; holding the portion capsule in the brewing chamber; generating a relative movement parallel to the axis between the at least one mechanical control element and the portion capsule during which the active region presses with a mechanical pretension externally against the side wall and in the course of which: the active region, while moving along on the outside of the ramp region, is pressed increasingly further away from the axis; and/or the side wall is increasingly deformed by the mechanical control element; and wherein the portion capsule is a portion capsule according to claim 1.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the portion capsule comprises a capsule collar, and wherein in the further course of the relative movement, the active region comes into contact with the capsule collar.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein during relative movement the active region moves towards the axis again.

17. Use of a portion capsule according to claim 8 for reducing a maximum force to be applied for a generation of a relative movement of the portion capsule in a brewing chamber of a beverage preparation machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0118] In the following, the subject matter of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to embodiment examples and the accompanying drawings. They show schematically:

[0119] FIG. 1 a portion capsule in a side view;

[0120] FIG. 2 the portion capsule base body of the portion capsule from FIG. 1, in perspective view;

[0121] FIG. 3A a section through a portion capsule base body just below the capsule collar, with two ramp elements arranged opposite each other with respect to the axis;

[0122] FIG. 3B a section through a portion capsule base body just below the capsule collar, with four ramp elements, two of which are arranged opposite each other with respect to the axis;

[0123] FIG. 4A a section through a portion capsule base body just below the capsule collar, with two pairs of ramp elements arranged mirror invertedly to each other;

[0124] FIG. 4B a sectional view of a portion capsule base body just below the capsule collar, with four pairs of ramp elements, two of which are mirror invertedly arranged with respect to each other and also the other two are mirror invertedly arranged with respect to each other, and wherein the ramp elements of each of the pairs are mirror invertedly arranged with respect to each other;

[0125] FIGS. 5A-5J strongly schematized sections, each through one half of a portion capsule base body;

[0126] FIGS. 6A-6C strongly schematized illustrations of a relative movement of a mechanical control element and a portion capsule with a ramp element, in a section;

[0127] FIGS. 7A-7C strongly schematic illustrations of relative movement of a mechanical control element and a portion capsule that does not include a ramp element, in a section;

[0128] FIG. 8 a strongly schematized illustration of a brewing chamber with inserted portion capsule with a ramp element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0129] Parts not essential for understanding the invention are, in part, not shown. The described embodiments are examples of the subject matter of the invention or serve to explain it, and have no limiting effect.

[0130] FIG. 1 shows a portion capsule 1 in a side view. The portion capsule 1 includes a portion capsule base body 2 and an outwardly curved lid 3, which are sealingly connected to one another in the region of a circumferential, outwardly projecting capsule collar 4.

[0131] FIG. 2 shows the portion capsule base body 2 of the portion capsule 1 of FIG. 1 in perspective view.

[0132] The portion capsule 1 is approximately cube-shaped and has a central axis A which is directed from a bottom region 5 towards the lid 3. Distances perpendicular to the axis A are referred to as axial distance r.

[0133] The bottom region 5 is connected to a circumferential side wall 6, the outer surface of which is marked 6a.

[0134] The portion capsule base body 2 has an opening 8 which, for example, can be used for filling the portion capsule base body 2, for example with ground coffee. The opening 8 is bounded by a collar region 7 of the portion capsule base body 2, which can project further than the capsule collar 4 of the portion capsule 1.

[0135] Further, the portion capsule base body 2 includes two ramp elements 10, which are not visible in FIG. 2, and each has a ramp region 11.

[0136] FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B each show a section through a portion capsule base body 2 (or, equally, through a corresponding portion capsule 1) just below the collar region 7 (or the capsule collar 4—not explicitly labelled). Various exemplary arrangements of ramp elements 10 are shown. The ramp elements are sectorial ramp elements; each of them extends over only part of the circumference of the side wall.

[0137] The collar region 7 (or, equally, the capsule collar 4—not explicitly labelled) is shown dashed.

[0138] In the shown sectional plane just below the collar region 7 and the capsule collar 4, respectively, the ramp elements 10 are (sideways; outwardly) protruded by the collar region 7 as well as by the capsule collar 4.

[0139] Alternatively to the illustrated trapezoidal cross-section, the ramp elements 10 can also exhibit other cross-sections, for example rectangular or rounded.

[0140] Circumferentially on both sides of each ramp element 10, the side wall 6 includes side wall regions 61, 62 which adjoin the respective ramp element and in which the outer surface 6 has a smaller axial distance r1 than has the outer surface in the ramp region 11 (axial distance r0). And/or the collar region 7 as well as the capsule collar 4 protrude (laterally; outwardly) beyond the side wall 6 in the ramp region 11 less than in the side wall regions 61, 62.

[0141] As illustrated, there is an option for all ramp elements to be identically designed.

[0142] FIG. 3A illustrates the case of two ramp elements 10 arranged opposite each other with respect to the axis A. FIG. 3A can, for example, be a section through the portion capsule 1 and through the portion capsule base body 2, respectively, of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0143] In FIG. 4A, two pairs of ramp elements 10 are provided, mirror-invertedly arranged with respect to one another, with respect to a plane E (dashed) containing axis A.

[0144] In FIGS. 3A and 4A, the ramp elements 10 are mirror invertedly arranged with respect to the plane E.

[0145] When pressure forces are applied to the ramp elements 10, it can be advantageous if they cancel each other out. Embodiments such as those shown in FIGS. 3A, 4A or also 3B, 4B are well suited for this purpose.

[0146] In FIG. 3B, the portion capsule base body 2 and the portion capsule 1, respectively, includes two pairs of ramp elements 10 arranged mirror invertedly with respect to each other, with respect to planes E (dashed) containing the axis A.

[0147] In FIG. 4B, the portion capsule base body 2 and portion capsule 1, respectively, includes four pairs of ramp elements 10, two of which are mirror-invertedly arranged with respect to each other (planes E), and also the other two are mirror invertedly arranged with respect to each other (planes E), and the ramp elements 10 of each of the pairs are mirror-invertedly arranged with respect to each other (planes E).

[0148] FIGS. 3B and 4B are examples of the fact that—in general—the ramp elements 10 can be arranged in such a way that they are converted into each other by a 90° rotation about the axis A. This can, in the illustrated case of a portion capsule 1 having an approximately square cross-section (perpendicular to axis A), simplify insertion of the portion capsule 1 (into a beverage preparation machine) because then no additional attention needs to be paid to the orientation of the portion capsule 1 during the insertion because of the ramp elements 10, as compared to the case where no ramp element 10 would be provided.

[0149] FIGS. 5A to 5J represent strongly schematized sections, in each case through one half of a portion capsule base body 2, the section plane passing through the ramp region 11 of a ramp element 10. Likewise, FIGS. 5A to 5J are to be understood as sections through a portion capsule 1, wherein in that case the collar region 7 would be considered as the capsule collar 4 and the lid 3 is not shown in the corresponding figure.

[0150] The ramp region 11 can be (completely) straight, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5J.

[0151] The ramp region 11 can be concave in shape, as exemplified in FIG. 5B and also shown in FIG. 5D.

[0152] The ramp region 11 can be embodied as a bead, in particular a rounded bead; as exemplified in FIG. 5C.

[0153] The ramp region 11 can have multiple steps, as exemplified in FIGS. 5D, 5E, 5F and 5H. Therein, the individual steps can be straight each, as shown for example in FIGS. 5D, 5H, or curved (for example: FIGS. 5E, 5F).

[0154] The ramp region 11 can be convex in shape, as exemplified in FIGS. 5C, 5G, 5H and also in FIG. 5I.

[0155] The outer surface 6a in the ramp region 11 can have an axial distance r that is continuously increasing (parallel to the axis A), as exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5D, 5G, 5H, 5J.

[0156] The outer surface 6a in ramp region 11 can have an axial distance r which is discontinuously increasing, as exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 5E, 5F.

[0157] The ramp element 10 can extend directly to the capsule collar 4 and to the collar region 7, respectively, as exemplified in FIGS. 5B, 5D, 5G, 5H, 5J.

[0158] The ramp element 10, in particular the ramp region 11, can exhibit a maximum axial distance r which is the same as the maximum axial distance there of the collar region 7 and of the capsule collar 4, respectively, as exemplified in FIGS. 5B, 5D, 5F, 5G, 5H.

[0159] The ramp element 10, in particular the ramp region 11, can exhibit a maximum axial distance r that is smaller than the maximum axial distance there of the collar region 7 and the capsule collar 4, respectively, as exemplified in FIGS. 5A, 5C, 5E, 5F, 5I, 5J.

[0160] The ramp element 10, in particular the ramp region 11, can have a distance from the capsule collar 4 or the collar region 7, as exemplarily shown in FIGS. 5C, 5E, 5F, 5I. This (axial) distance can be, for example, less than 20%, in particular less than 10% of the axial extension of the side wall 6, in particular of the ramp region 10, as exemplarily shown in FIGS. 5C, 5E, 5F, 5I.

[0161] The ramp element 10 may extend over only a portion of the axial extent of the side wall 6, as exemplified in FIGS. 5A through 5J.

[0162] The portion capsule base body 2 can have, in the region of the ramp element 10, an inner side wall part, as exemplarly shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5F, 5G, 5H. In these cases, in the region of the ramp element 10, an inner surface 6b of the side wall is not formed by the ramp element 10, but by said side wall part.

[0163] In the range of the ramp element 10, both the outer surface 6a and the inner surface 6b of the side wall 6 can be formed by the ramp element 10, as exemplarily shown in FIGS. 5E, 5I, 5J.

[0164] The portion capsule base body 2 can be thickened in the region of the ramp element 10, as exemplarily shown in FIGS. 5E and 5I.

[0165] The portion capsule base body 2 can have the same sidewall thickness in the region of the ramp element 10 as in adjoining side wall regions, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 5J.

[0166] The ramp element 10 can be formed by the same material as other parts of the portion capsule base body 2, in particular as the remainder of the portion capsule base body 2. This may apply, as an option, to any of the described embodiments.

[0167] The ramp element 10 can be formed by a different material than other portions of the portion capsule base body 2 (for example, than the remainder of the portion capsule base body 2). This can apply, as an option, to any of the described embodiments.

[0168] For example, the material from which the ramp element 10 is formed can be a more easily deformable material, and in particular the material can be resilient. Such embodiments can be particularly advantageous for embodiments in which the axial distance r of the outer surface 6a is discontinuously increasing along the axial direction, such as in FIGS. 5E, 5F.

[0169] FIGS. 6A-6C show strongly schematic illustrations of a relative movement of a mechanical control element 45 with an active region 45a and a portion capsule 1 with a ramp element 10, in a section.

[0170] Analogously, FIGS. 7A-7C show such a movement for the case that the portion capsule 1 does not have a ramp element 10.

[0171] In FIGS. 6A to 6C and 7A to 7C a portion capsule 1 is illustrated which includes a portion capsule base body 2 corresponding to the one of FIG. 5A. A differently designed portion capsule base body 2 can be used as well, for example, one of those shown in FIGS. 5B to 5J or others herein described.

[0172] In the course of the relative movement, in the example shown, the active region 45a is moved, regarding to its axial position, from one side of the capsule collar 4 (base body side) to the other side of the capsule collar 4 (lid side)—i.e. parallel to axis A (and not antiparallel to axis A).

[0173] FIGS. 6A, 7A show an initial position. The active region 45a of the mechanical control element 45 presses, with a mechanical pretension, outwardly against the side wall 6—in an (axial) region without ramp element 10.

[0174] In FIG. 6B, the active region 45a is in direct mechanical contact with the ramp region 11. At least one of two effects results. On the one hand, the active region 45a is pressed further outward than in the case without ramp element (FIG. 7B). And on the other hand, the side wall 6 is indented (deformed inwardly) by the mechanical control element 45, or more precisely by the active region 45a. In FIG. 6B, it is indicated with dotted lines that the side wall 6—at least in the area of the ramp region 11—is deformed due to the inwardly directed force that the mechanical control element 45 exerts on the portion capsule 1 (more precisely: on the side wall 6).

[0175] In the further course of the relative movement, the active region 45a jumps over the capsule collar 45 in both cases, but in the case without a ramp element (FIGS. 7A to 7C), a relatively high force must be applied within a relatively short axial distance in order to press the active region 45a of the mechanical control element 45, over this distance, as far outward as is necessary. This requires application of a large force by the drive, be it an electric motor, or be it a manually operated drive. With a ramp element 10, on the other hand (FIGS. 6A to 6C), the maximum force required is significantly lower, because already while moving along on the ramp region 11, the active region 45a is pressed further and further outward and/or the side wall 6 is indented further and further, so that no such high force needs to be applied anymore to overcome the capsule collar 4.

[0176] Thus, by providing the ramp element 10, a reduction of the maximum force to be applied for performing the relative movement can be effected.

[0177] FIGS. 6C, 7C show a final state of the relative movement, which is after the capsule collar 4 has been overcome, and in which the axial distance r of the active region 45a has already been reduced again; also the deformation of the side wall 6 can now be smaller again or, as the case may be, be completely suspended. In this position, the mechanical control element 45 is engaged on the capsule collar. Due to the shape of the active region 45a, namely due to having a surface which points in a direction with a component antiparallel to the axial direction, the portion capsule 1 can be—after a reversal of direction (relative to the previously described relative movement)—retracted (in a direction antiparallel to the axial direction) by means of the mechanical control element 45, more precisely: by means of the surface, by means of which the active region 45 can act as a retraction hook.

[0178] FIG. 8 shows a strongly schematized representation of a brewing chamber 8 with inserted portion capsule 1 with ramp element 10. The brewing chamber has an injector 42 and a discharge unit 44. Connected to the injector 42 is a mechanical control element 45, which can be identical to the one described above. Connected to the discharge unit 44 is a second mechanical control element 46, by which the portion capsule 1 is held. The situation depicted in FIG. 8 can correspond to the status depicted in FIG. 6B, wherein here, there is no deformation of the side wall 6, or at least no such deformation is depicted in FIG. 8.

[0179] The dashed arrow symbolizes that the injector 42 moves together with the mechanical control element 45 parallel to the axial direction, relative to the portion capsule 1 (and to the discharge unit 44).

[0180] The open arrow symbolizes that forces pointing inwardly are exerted by the mechanical control element 45 on the outer surface 6a of the portion capsule 1, in particular on the ramp region.

[0181] The filled arrow symbolizes that the active region 45a is optionally pressed outwardly due to the relative movement and because of the ramp element 10.

[0182] As will be clear from the above, providing the ramp elements 10 described above, particularly when using an electrically powered motor and drive, respectively, to control the movements in the brewing unit 40, can allow a user to save energy and/or use a drive that is limited to producing smaller maximum forces than would be required for the same brewing unit with the same capsule but without a ramp element. And when the movements in the brewing chamber are manually driven, a user can operate the beverage preparation machine with less effort and/or a user has a more pleasant user experience, for example, because it is less jerky and/or feels smoother when performing the movement.