Capsule for producing a liquid food item, method for manufacturing a capsule for producing a liquid food item, use of a capsule for producing a liquid food item, system made up of a capsule and a device, and device for the production of a liquid food item

Abstract

A capsule for producing a liquid food item includes a capsule body and two chambers for holding two substances. One chamber contains a perforation element for perforation of the capsule body. An anvil for a punch of a device into which the capsule can be inserted is provided on the perforation element.

Claims

1. A capsule for producing a liquid food item, having a capsule body and two chambers defined by a fluid-impermeable divider in the capsule for accommodating two substances, wherein one chamber contains a guide sleeve arranged inside the chamber and a perforation element guided by the guide sleeve for perforating the capsule body from within the inside of the one chamber, and an other chamber contains a press element arranged on the divider in the acting direction of the perforation element such that a force applied to the press element flows to the perforation element.

2. The capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that an anvil on the perforation element is in contact with a divider that separates the chambers.

3. The capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide sleeve is connected to the capsule body.

4. The capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the capsule body has a section in a passage of the guide sleeve, the section being bent (a) into the chamber or (b) out of the chamber.

5. The capsule according to claim 4, characterized in that the guide sleeve has lateral slots.

6. The capsule according to claim 5, characterized in that the perforation element has a longitudinal section, which is designed with a star-shaped cross section.

7. The capsule according to claim 5, characterized in that the press element has an aligning element.

8. The capsule according to claim 7, characterized in that a perforation tip is formed on both ends of the perforation element.

9. The capsule according to claim 8, characterized in that an anvil for the interaction with a ram of a device, into which the capsule can be inserted is arranged on the perforation element.

10. A method for manufacturing a capsule for producing a liquid food item, having a capsule body enclosing two chambers and a fluid-impermeable divider separating the chambers, wherein the following steps are carried out: insertion of a guide sleeve and a perforation element guided by the guide sleeve for perforating the capsule body from within the inside of the one chamber into one of the two chambers, filling the one of the two chambers with a first substance, inserting the divider and attaching the divider to the capsule body, arranging a press element on the divider configured to act in the direction of the perforation element such that a force applied to the press element flows to the perforation element, filling an other of the two chambers situated above the divider with a second substance and closing the capsule body with a cover.

11. A device for producing a liquid food item, into which a capsule, in particular a capsule having a capsule body and two chambers defined by a fluid-impermeable divider in the capsule for accommodating two substances, wherein one chamber contains a guide sleeve arranged inside the chamber and a perforation element guided by the guide sleeve for perforating the capsule body from within the inside of the one chamber, and an other chamber contains a press element arranged on the divider in the acting direction of the perforation element such that a force applied to the press element flows to the perforation element which can be inserted into a receiving space, characterized in that the device has a ram that can be moved from a first position outside of the receiving space into a second position, in which the ram protrudes partially into the receiving space.

12. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the two chambers comprise an upper chamber and a lower chamber, and wherein the perforation element is arranged within the lower chamber.

13. The capsule according to claim 12, wherein the perforation element is arranged to perforate a bottom of the capsule.

14. The capsule of claim 1, wherein the perforation element is arranged freely within the one chamber that contains the perforation element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in more detail in the following, using exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

(2) The drawings show:

(3) FIG. 1 a capsule according to the invention in a partially sectional diagram as seen from the side;

(4) FIG. 2 the capsule according to FIG. 1 in a view from above without the divider and cover;

(5) FIG. 3 the capsule according to FIG. 2 in a view obliquely from above;

(6) FIG. 4 a capsule body for the capsule according to FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 5a a view of a perforation element from the side;

(8) FIG. 5b a view of the perforation element from FIG. 5a in a cross-sectional diagram;

(9) FIG. 6a a view of a press element from above;

(10) FIG. 6b a view of the press element from FIG. 6a in a partial sectional diagram;

(11) FIG. 7 shows a view of a guide sleeve from the side;

(12) FIG. 8 shows an interaction of a capsule with a device;

(13) FIG. 9 shows an interaction of a device and a capsule inserted into the device in another embodiment;

(14) FIG. 10 shows an interaction of a device and a capsule inserted into the device in another embodiment; and

(15) FIG. 11 shows a flow chart for the interaction of a device and a capsule inserted into the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(16) FIG. 1 shows a capsule 1 in a sectional diagram as seen from the side. The capsule 1 has a capsule body 2, a cover 3 and a divider 4.

(17) The capsule 1 and/or the capsule body 2 is/are closed with the cover 3 at the top. The divider 4 subdivides the interior of the capsule 1 into two areas and/or divides the sealed capsule body 2 into two chambers 5, 6. The divider 4 forms an upper chamber 5 between the cover 3 and the divider 4 and forms a lower chamber 6, which is bordered by the capsule body 2 at the bottom and the side. The capsule 1 is essentially rotationally symmetrical with the central axis.

(18) A substance (not shown) is present in both chambers 5, 6.

(19) A perforation site 7, which can be punctured by means of a perforation element 8, is formed on the bottom of the capsule body 2. The perforation element 8 is designed as an elongated mandrel, which tapers to a point on the front end directed at the perforation site 7. The perforation element 8 has a perforation tip 9 at the front end.

(20) The perforation element 8 sits loosely in the chamber 5 and is surrounded by a guide sleeve 10. The perforation element 8 is directed by the guide sleeve 10 at the perforation site 7 and is guided by means of the guide sleeve 10 with regard to the movement of the perforation element 8.

(21) On the end at a distance from the perforation tip 9, the perforation element 8 has an anvil 11, which is aligned in the acting direction with a ram of a device, into which the capsule 1 can be inserted when the capsule has been inserted into the device. The anvil 11 of the perforation element 8 is freely in contact with the divider 4.

(22) A press element 12, which is aligned in the capsule body 2 on contact by means of its outside contour, which corresponds essentially to the inside contour of the capsule body 2 in the area of the contact, is placed on the divider 4.

(23) The press element 12, which is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2, 3, 6a and 6b, has a central acting element 13, which is aligned centrally with the perforation element 8. Webs 15, which center the acting element 13 with the capsule body 2 and with the perforation element 8, extend from the acting element 13 to the capsule body 2 for alignment of the acting element 13. The webs 15 are connected at the end at a distance from the acting element 13 by means of a centering ring 16.

(24) The capsule body, which is illustrated in FIG. 4, is described in greater detail below. The upper chamber 6 is designed with a partially conical shape. The peripheral edge of the upper chamber 6 of the capsule body 2 has a straight-line section 17. A shoulder 18, which forms an angle of less than 90 with the section 17, is connected to the straight line section 17. The shoulder 18 surrounds the opening of the lower chamber 5 at the edge. The divider 4 sits on the edge of the shoulder 18 and is at least partially connected thereto. The wall of the capsule body 2 is designed in the form of a partially elliptical section in the area of the lower chamber 5.

(25) At the head of the capsule body 2, a flange 19 surrounding the opening of the upper chamber 6 and/or the opening of the capsule body 2 at the edge is formed. The cover 3, which is attached at least partially to the flange 19, sits on the flange 19.

(26) The capsule 1 has a flattened area 20 on the bottom at a distance from the cover 3 in the area of the partially elliptical section, formed with rotational symmetry at the center of the capsule body 2. The flattened area 20 is advanced forward with respect to the partially elliptical section.

(27) FIGS. 5a and 5b show an embodiment of a perforation element 8. The perforation element 8 has a perforation tip 9 and an anvil 11. The perforation tip 9 has surfaces 21, which form an angle of 90 to one another. As indicated by FIG. 5b, the cross section of the perforation element 8 is designed to be at least partially cruciform. The cruciform shape is retained starting on the anvil 11 up to the perforation tip 9.

(28) FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a guide sleeve 10, which has a tubular guide body 22 and a flange-type base area 23. The guide body 22 and the base area 23 form an angle of essentially 90 to one another. Slots 24 are formed in the guide body 22, through which a liquid on the bottom of the chamber 5 can escape into the guide sleeve 22 and through the hole created by means of the perforation element 8 at the perforation site 7. The slots 24 are designed with a curve. Each slot 24 has at least two elliptical and/or circular section directed away from one another. By means of the base body 23, the guide sleeve 10 can be connected to the interior bottom of the capsule body 2.

(29) FIG. 8 shows schematically an interaction of a capsule 1 with a device, into which the capsule is inserted. The device has a ram 25, which is moved in the direction of the perforation element 8 toward the capsule 1 on the cover end. There may be a force flow from the ram 25 to the press element 12 and the perforation element 8 so that the capsule body 2 is perforated by the perforation element 8 at the perforation site 7. The divider 4 is not perforated between the anvil 11 of the perforation element 8 and the press element 12 because the anvil 11 of the perforation element 8 is designed to be essentially planar. Injection elements 26 that can be acted on by a liquid may be moved toward the capsule 1 in addition to the ram 25together with itand can puncture the cover 3 and optionally also the divider 4. Liquid with which the substance in the chambers 5, 6 can be rinsed out of the perforation site 7 can be supplied.

(30) FIG. 9 shows an interaction of a device and a capsule 1 inserted into the device, in which the perforation element 8 is designed with a tip on both ends. The perforation element 8 has a perforation tip 9 on each end, which punctures the capsule body 2 at the perforation site 7 and punctures the divider 4 in the area of the acting element 13 of the press element 12. The press element 12 and/or the acting element 13 of the press element 12 therefore has a receptacle, into which the perforation tip 9 at the head can be inserted. The receptacle may also be designed as a liquid channel from the device into the capsule 1.

(31) FIG. 10 shows an interaction of a device and a capsule 1 inserted into the device, a perforation element 8a being formed on the device, so that the capsule body 2, the divider 4 and/or the cover 3 can be perforated. The perforation element 8a is designed essentially like the perforation element 8 but may also have a liquid inlet, so that liquid can be carried into the chambers 5, 6 by means of the perforation element 8a.

(32) FIG. 11 shows a flow chart for an interaction of a capsule in a device, in which water is stored. The device also has a pump, which can act upon the water with pressure. A flooding unit, into which the capsule can be inserted, is formed in the device. The flooding unit may contain the receiving space for the capsule and injection elements, which can inject the water, which is under pressure, into the capsule. The water rinses substances present in the capsule out of it, emerges at an outlet from the device and fills a container situated beneath the outlet with the liquid food item as a beverage.