BEVERAGE CAPSULE, ASSOCIATED FILLING METHOD, CAPSULE FILLING APPARATUS AND BEVERAGE

Abstract

Disclosed is a capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage machine by feeding liquid into the capsule and extracting a beverage out of the capsule. The capsule comprises containment walls forming an interior cavity containing a beverage precursor for mixing with the liquid in the cavity, wherein the beverage precursor comprises a layer of compressed coffee precursor and a layer comprising a further substance, wherein the layer of compressed coffee precursor is more compressed than the layer comprising the further substance. Also disclosed is a capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage machine by feeding liquid into the capsule and extracting a beverage out of the capsule through an outlet side of the capsule, wherein the capsule comprises containment walls forming an interior cavity containing a beverage precursor for mixing with the liquid in the cavity, wherein the beverage precursor comprises a layer of coffee precursor and a layer comprising a further substance comprising an algae product, wherein the layer comprising the further substance is located between the layer of coffee precursor and the outlet side. Also disclosed is a corresponding method of filling a capsule, a beverage obtained from a capsule and a capsule filling apparatus.

Claims

1. A capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage machine by feeding liquid into the capsule and extracting a beverage out of the capsule, wherein the capsule comprises containment walls forming an interior cavity containing a beverage precursor for mixing with the liquid in the cavity, wherein the beverage precursor comprises a layer of compressed coffee precursor and a layer comprising a further substance, wherein the layer of compressed coffee precursor is more compressed than the layer comprising the further substance.

2. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the capsule comprises an outlet side through which the beverage is arranged to be extracted, wherein the layer comprising the further substance is located between the layer of coffee precursor and the outlet side.

3. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the further substance is more heat-sensitive than the coffee precursor.

4. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the further substance comprises an algae product.

5. A capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage machine by feeding liquid into the capsule and extracting a beverage out of the capsule through an outlet side of the capsule, wherein the capsule comprises containment walls forming an interior cavity containing a beverage precursor for mixing with the liquid in the cavity, wherein the beverage precursor comprises a layer of coffee precursor and a layer comprising a further substance comprising an algae product, wherein the layer comprising the further substance is located between the layer of coffee precursor and the outlet side.

6. The capsule according to claim 4, wherein the algae product comprises an algae, an algae extract or algae biomass, in particular Spirulina or a product derived therefrom.

7. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the further substance is at least partially soluble in water, in particular substantially soluble in water, in particular at temperatures above 55° C.

8. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the layer of coffee precursor occupies substantially the entire cross-section of the cavity in a first plane, and/or the layer comprising the further substance occupies substantially the entire cross-section of the cavity in a second plane.

9. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the layer of coffee precursor is compressed with a pressure of over 1 bar, more preferably with a pressure of over 2 bar, still more preferably with a pressure of over 2.5 bar, and most preferably with a pressure of over 3 bar, and/or wherein the layer comprising the further substance is compressed with a pressure of less than 1 bar, more preferably with a pressure of less than 0.8 bar, more preferably with a pressure of less than 0.6 bar, more preferably with a pressure of less than 0.5 bar, still more preferably with a pressure of less than 0.4 bar and most preferably with a pressure of about 0.32 or 0.3 bar.

10. A method of filling a capsule, the capsule being a capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage machine by feeding liquid into the capsule and extracting a beverage out of the capsule, wherein the method comprises: providing a capsule comprising containment walls and an opening, the containment walls and the opening defining an interior cavity, supplying a beverage precursor through the opening into the cavity, the beverage precursor being for mixing with the liquid in the cavity and comprising coffee precursor and a further substance, and substantially sealing the opening, wherein supplying the beverage precursor through the opening into the cavity comprises: supplying the coffee precursor through the opening into the cavity, compressing the coffee precursor so as to form a layer of compressed coffee precursor in the cavity, and supplying the further substance through the opening into the cavity so as to form a layer comprising the further substance in the cavity, wherein the layer of compressed coffee precursor is more compressed than the layer comprising the further substance.

11. A method of filling a capsule, the capsule being a capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage machine by feeding liquid into the capsule and extracting a beverage out of the capsule through an outlet side of the capsule, wherein the method comprises: providing a capsule comprising containment walls and an opening, the containment walls and the opening defining an interior cavity, supplying a beverage precursor through the opening into the cavity, the beverage precursor being for mixing with the liquid in the cavity and comprising coffee precursor and a further substance comprising an algae product, and substantially sealing the opening, wherein supplying the beverage precursor through the opening into the cavity comprises: supplying the coffee precursor through the opening into the cavity so as to form a layer of coffee precursor in the cavity, and supplying the further substance through the opening into the cavity so as to form a layer comprising the further substance in the cavity, wherein the coffee precursor and the further substance are supplied into the cavity in such a way that the layer comprising the further substance is located between the layer of coffee precursor and the outlet side.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the coffee precursor and the further substance are supplied into the cavity in such a way that the layer of coffee precursor occupies substantially the entire cross-section of the cavity in a first plane, and/or the layer comprising the further substance occupies substantially the entire cross-section of the cavity in a second plane.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising compressing the layer of coffee precursor with a pressure of over 1 bar, more preferably with a pressure of over 2 bar, still more preferably with a pressure of over 2.5 bar, and most preferably with a pressure of over 3 bar.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising compressing the layer comprising the further substance with a pressure of less than 1 bar, more preferably with a pressure of less than 0.8 bar, more preferably with a pressure of less than 0.6 bar, more preferably with a pressure of less than 0.5 bar, still more preferably with a pressure of less than 0.4 bar and most preferably with a pressure of about 0.32 or 0.3 bar.

15. A beverage obtained from a capsule according to claim 1.

16. A capsule filling apparatus arranged to manufacture a capsule according to claim 1.

17. A beverage obtained from a capsule filled by means of a method according to claim 10.

18. A capsule filling apparatus arranged to carry out a method according to claim 10.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] Features of some embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0060] FIG. 1 schematically shows a side view of a beverage capsule according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] FIG. 2 schematically shows a first stage of a method of filling the capsule of FIG. 1.

[0062] FIG. 3 schematically shows a second stage of a method of filling the capsule of FIG. 1.

[0063] FIG. 4 schematically shows a third stage of a method of filling the capsule of FIG. 1.

[0064] FIG. 5 schematically shows a fourth stage of a method of filling the capsule of FIG. 1.

[0065] FIG. 6 schematically shows a fifth stage of a method of filling the capsule of FIG. 1.

[0066] FIG. 7 shows a stage of an alternative embodiment of a filling process.

[0067] FIG. 8 shows a further stage of the alternative filling process of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0068] FIG. 1 schematically shows a side view of a beverage capsule 1. The beverage capsule 1 comprises containment walls 2a to 2d defining a cavity 12 (see FIG. 2). The capsule 1 of this embodiment has a generally frustoconical shape, although other shapes are possible. In the example shown, the capsule 1 has rotational symmetry with respect to a longitudinal axis through the capsule 1. This axis is not shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, it would extend vertically through the centre of the capsule 1.

[0069] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the capsule 1 comprises a substantially cylindrical portion (approximately in the bottom half of the capsule 1), which is defined by containment wall portion 2c. In FIG. 1, the top half of the capsule 1 is defined by containment wall portion 2b. As shown in FIG. 1, this may differ from an exact frustoconical shape by being curved inwardly towards the top end.

[0070] Other shapes are possible for the capsule 1, including a substantially exact frustoconical shape (where the lateral containment walls do not form two distinct containment wall portions, such as portions 2c and 2b), a cylindrical shape with substantially constant cross-section from top to bottom, or a shape where the lateral wall portions have a curvature throughout when viewed from the side.

[0071] A top surface 2a is provided at the top of the capsule 1. A bottom surface 2d is provided at the bottom of the capsule 1.

[0072] In a preferred embodiment, the top surface 2a and the lateral walls 2b and 2c are formed in one piece, for example from aluminium or plastics or compostable material. The bottom surface 2d may be provided as a separate item, i.e., a seal for sealing the opening at the bottom of the side wall portion 2c so that the contents of the capsule 1 are fully enclosed on all sides. It is, however, possible that any portions of the containment walls 2a to 2d are provided with (small) perforations or similar or a weakened portion along which the capsule 1 may break open when sufficient pressure has built up within the capsule 1. Further, a filter (not shown) may be provided in the capsule, e.g., lining a portion or all of the containment walls. This filter may retain beverage precursor particles above a certain size, which may be useful in particular if the capsule breaks open during the extraction process.

[0073] In use, i.e., after insertion of the capsule into a beverage machine, a hollow member (not shown) may move downwards from above the capsule 1 and pierce the top surface 2a, as a result of which a portion of the hollow member would project into the top portion of the capsule 1. Liquid, in particular water, can then be supplied through the hollow member into the cavity 12. The top portion 2a of the containment wall can therefore be regarded as an inlet side 3. The bottom portion 2d of the containment wall can be regarded as an outlet side 4, located axially opposite the inlet side 3.

[0074] In the embodiment shown, the cavity 12 of the capsule 1 is filled with two layers 5 and 6, which meet at an interface 10. Layer 5 comprises coffee precursor, for example ground coffee. The coffee precursor 5 may be in the form of granules of a size suitable for obtaining an espresso by forcing heated water under pressure through layer 5.

[0075] Layer 6 comprises a further substance, i.e., a substance different from the coffee precursor of layer 5. In a preferred embodiment, the further substance present in layer 6 may be more heat-sensitive than the coffee precursor of layer 5, as already described. The further substance in layer 6 may, in particular, comprise an algae product, for example an algae, an algae extract, or algae biomass, in particular Spirulina or a product derived therefrom, such as Spirulina biomass, particularly dried biomass of an Arthrospira species, in particular Arthrospira platensis.

[0076] In the example shown, the majority of the cavity 12 is occupied by layer 5 of coffee precursor. A relatively small portion, such as approximately 10%, of the depth of the cavity 12 is occupied by layer 6 comprising the further substance. Other relative thicknesses of the layers 5 and 6 are possible, including layers of equal thickness, or the thickness of layer 6 being greater than the thickness of layer 5.

[0077] A method of filling the capsule 1 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6. As shown in FIG. 2, a blank capsule 1a comprising lateral wall portions 2b and 2c and end wall 2a is provided. When compared with the capsule 1 shown in FIG. 1, the blank capsule 1a shown in FIG. 2 is in an upside-down orientation so that the smaller end wall 2a (which was the top portion in FIG. 1) is now located at the bottom. The opposite end of the blank capsule defines an opening 13, via which the cavity 12 (i.e., the space within the blank capsule) can be accessed. The top end of the blank capsule 1a may have a flange 14 projecting laterally outwardly with respect to side wall portion 2c.

[0078] At the first stage of the filling process as shown in FIG. 2, the blank capsule 1a can be placed between or within a suitable holder 7, which defines an opening. The size of the opening defined by holder 7 is slightly larger than the side wall portion 2c such that the blank capsule 1a fits into the opening of holder 7 whilst flange 14 rests on the holder 7. The size of the outer edge of flange 14 is larger than the opening defined by holder 7.

[0079] Holder 7 may be part of an apparatus for filling the blank capsule 1a.

[0080] In an alternative embodiment indicated in dashed lines, the holder 7 generally follows the contour of the blank capsule 1a so as to form a recess 8 generally corresponding to the shape of the blank capsule 1a whilst being slightly larger.

[0081] FIG. 3 shows a second stage of the filling process. As indicated by a downward arrow, coffee precursor 5a is supplied, by means of a filling device 15, into the cavity 12 via opening 13. Only an outlet of the filling device 15 is indicated in FIG. 3. Suitable filling devices are, in principle, known in the art. The filling device 15 may alternatively have a wider outlet than shown in FIG. 3, for example of a size and shape generally corresponding to the opening 13. Alternatively, the filling device 15 may be provided with several outlets distributed over an area corresponding to the opening 13.

[0082] Coffee precursor 5a may fall into the blank capsule 1a through the action of, or assisted by, gravity. Coffee precursor 5a initially forms a substantially uncompressed heap 5a within the cavity 12. The heap of coffee precursor 5a may initially be rounded at the top.

[0083] A third stage of the filling process is shown in FIG. 4. A mechanical member 9 is moved vertically through opening 13 and partially into the cavity 12 so as to compress the heap of coffee precursor 5a into a layer of compressed coffee precursor 5. Mechanical member 9 can, for example, generally resemble a piston and may therefore have, as shown in FIG. 4, a substantially horizontal plate 9a whose shape substantially corresponds to the cross section of the cavity 12, in particular the space within lateral wall portion 2c. The horizontal plate 9a may be connected to a substantially vertical rod 9b, similar to a piston rod, for actuating the plate 9a.

[0084] The coffee precursor 5 may be compressed with a pressure of at least 1 bar, at least 2 bar, at least 2.5 bar, or at least 3 bar.

[0085] The mechanical member 9 is then withdrawn in the upward direction (not shown).

[0086] FIG. 5 shows a fourth stage of the filling process. Similar to the supplying of coffee precursor 5a into the cavity 12 as shown in FIG. 3, a further substance 6a is supplied into the cavity 12 via opening 13. The further substance 6a may be supplied via the same filling device 15, which has previously been used to supply the coffee precursor 5a, or via a different filling device.

[0087] The further substance 6a may fall into the cavity 12 through the action of, or assisted by, gravity and may initially form a heap 6a, which may be rounded at the top. As shown in FIG. 5, the topmost point of the heap 6a is slightly above the level of the top end of the blank capsule 1a, whereas, at the outer edges, the heap comprising the further substance 6a is slightly below the level of the top edge of the blank capsule 1a.

[0088] FIG. 6 shows a fifth stage of the process of filling the blank capsule 1a. Similar to what is shown in FIG. 4, a mechanical member, which may be the same mechanical member 9 from FIG. 4, or a different mechanical member, is used to flatten the heap of the further substance 6a so as to form a layer 6 comprising the further substance. The heap 6a may be compressed with a pressure which is less than 1 bar, or less than 0.8 bar, less than 0.6 bar, less than 0.5 bar, less than 0.4 bar, or about 0.32 bar or 0.3 bar. The pressure is therefore less, or even significantly less, than the pressure with which the coffee precursor has been compressed.

[0089] The pressure for compressing the heap 6a may be just enough to flatten the heap of the further substance 6a so that its top surface is substantially flat, or it may compress the heap of the further substance 6a somewhat more than is necessary to achieve this. In any event, the layer 6 comprising the further substance 6a will be less compressed than the layer 5 of coffee precursor 5a.

[0090] The mechanical member 9 is then withdrawn (not shown). Thereafter, the blank capsule 1a is sealed with seal 2d so as to form the finished capsule 1 shown in FIG. 1. The finished capsule 1 can then be removed or ejected from the holder 7.

[0091] FIG. 7 shows one stage of an alternative filling process. FIG. 7 illustrates a stage generally corresponding to what is shown in FIG. 3. However, according to this alternative embodiment, a (significantly) larger amount of coffee precursor 5a is intended to be supplied into the cavity 12 than according to FIG. 3. In particular, the volume (or rather the outer envelope) of the heap of uncompressed coffee precursor 5a is greater than the volume of the cavity 12. In order to prevent spillage during the filling process, a filling aid 11 is used. Filling aid 11 may be a tubular member located above opening 13 of blank capsule 1a, in particular at close proximity thereto, so that filling aid 11 effectively forms an extension of side wall 2c of the blank capsule 1a. As indicated in FIG. 7, the internal cross-section of filling aid 11 corresponds to the cross-section of the cavity 12 at its upper end. Filling aid 11 can, in particular, be a tubular member.

[0092] Once filling aid 11 is in placed above the blank capsule 1a, coffee precursor can be supplied from filling device 15 so as to form an uncompressed heap of coffee precursor 5a. In contrast to FIG. 3, the uncompressed heap of coffee precursor 5a of FIG. 7 fills the entire cavity 12 and at least part of the filling aid 11.

[0093] Subsequently, as indicated in FIG. 8, the heap of coffee precursor 5a is compressed by means of the mechanical member 9. To this end, the mechanical member 9 is driven through the filling aid 11 and partially into the cavity 12. As a result, the coffee precursor is compressed into the cavity 12 to a level below the top edge of the blank capsule 1a. In this way, a higher compression of the coffee precursor can be reached when compared with the steps illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The final state of compression is not shown in FIG. 8—only an intermediate state of compression.

[0094] After the coffee precursor 5a has been compressed, as per FIG. 8, to form a layer 5 of compressed coffee precursor, the further substance can be supplied into the blank capsule 1a as per FIG. 5. Alternatively, the filling aid 11 may, again, be used. It is then also possible to supply a larger amount of the further substance into the blank capsule 1a and partially into the filling aid 11, whereupon this may again be compressed down to a level where it does not project beyond the top edge of the blank capsule 1a.

[0095] The filling process (or processes) illustrated in, and/or described with reference to, FIGS. 1 to 8 can be performed automatically by a filling apparatus. The filling apparatus may in particular comprise any or all of the elements for filling the capsule as illustrated and/or described, in particular the holder 7, filling device(s) 15, mechanical member 9 and, if applicable, filling aid 11. The filling apparatus may also comprise suitable actuators for moving the (blank) capsule and/or the mechanical member and conveying devices for supplying the beverage precursor and/or a device for applying the seal 2d to the filled blank capsule 1a.

[0096] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the layer comprising the further substance may comprise several different substances. For example, one of these substances may be an algae product whilst another component of this layer may consist of a different substance. Further, while embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to two distinct layers within the capsule, it is possible for three or more distinct layers to be provided within the capsule. Additionally, the (layers of) beverage precursor do not necessarily have to fill the entire cavity. Regions resembling layers or pockets (i.e., not only voids between individual granules of beverage precursor, but larger regions outside the layers of beverage precursor) may remain free of beverage precursor and may be filled with a gas, e.g., an inert gas, such as CO.sub.2 or N.sub.2.

[0097] Although the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments as set forth above, it should be understood that these embodiments are illustrative only and that the claims are not limited to those embodiments. Those skilled in the art will be able to make modifications and alternatives in view of the disclosure which are contemplated as falling within the scope of the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS/COMPONENT NUMERALS

[0098] 1 beverage capsule [0099] 1a blank capsule [0100] 2a containment wall at one axial end [0101] 2b, 2c lateral containment wall portions [0102] 2d containment wall at other axial end; seal [0103] 3 inlet side [0104] 4 outlet side [0105] 5 layer of compressed coffee precursor [0106] 5a (uncompressed heap of) coffee precursor [0107] 6 layer comprising further substance [0108] 6a (uncompressed heap comprising) further substance [0109] 7 holder [0110] 8 recess [0111] 9 mechanical member [0112] 9a (piston) plate [0113] 9b (piston) rod [0114] 10 interface [0115] 11 filling aid [0116] 12 cavity [0117] 13 opening [0118] 14 flange [0119] 15 (outlet of) filling device