A CAPSULE HAVING A SEALING RING WITH AN INNER LIQUID-PERMEABLE COMPRESSIBLE LAYER AND OUTER LIQUID-IMPERMEABLE SHIELDING LAYER

Abstract

A capsule includes a cup-like capsule body with a circumferential side wall, a transverse base wall at a first end of the side wall, and a radially outwardly protruding flange encircling the side wall at its second end, and a multi-layered sealing ring lying against the flange while encircling the side wall. The sealing ring includes a compressible layer of fibrous and/or cellulose and/or paper material and an outer shielding layer of a liquid-impermeable material, where the shielding layer is provided on an outwardly directed external surface of the sealing ring and where the shielding layer is configured for shielding the inner compressible layer of fibrous and/or cellulose and/or paper material against pressurized liquid during beverage production.

Claims

1. A capsule for containing a substance from which a beverage can be produced, the capsule being designed for insertion in a beverage production machine in which pressurized liquid enters the capsule in order to interact with the substance in the capsule and to drain a beverage from the capsule, comprising: a cup-like capsule body that comprises: a circumferential side wall; a transverse base wall at a first end of the side wall; and a radially outwardly protruding flange encircling the side wall at its second end, a multi-layered sealing ring lying against the flange while encircling the side wall, wherein the sealing ring comprises: a compressible layer of fibrous and/or cellulose and/or paper material, wherein the sealing ring further comprises: an outer shielding layer of a liquid-impermeable material, wherein the shielding layer is provided on an outwardly directed external surface of the sealing ring and wherein the shielding layer is configured for shielding the inner compressible layer of fibrous and/or cellulose and/or paper material against pressurized liquid during beverage production.

2. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the outer shielding layer of the sealing ring is made out of metal, in particular aluminium.

3. The capsule according to claim 2, wherein an intermediate plastic lamination is provided in between the metal outer shielding layer and the fibrous and/or cellulose and/or paper material compressible layer.

4. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the outer shielding layer of the sealing ring is made out of plastic, in particular a plastic lamination.

5. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the fibrous and/or cellulose and/or paper material of the compressible layer comprises cardboard, in particular made out of waste paper.

6. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the fibrous and/or cellulose and/or paper material of the compressible layer comprises non-woven material, in particular felt.

7. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the sealing ring is connected with the capsule body by means of a press fit.

8. The capsule according to claim 7, wherein the sealing ring is configured to lie with said press fit all around directly against the second end of the side wall of the capsule body, for which the sealing ring has been manufactured with an inner radius that is smaller than an outer radius of the side wall (5) of the capsule body at its second end.

9. The capsule according to claim 7, wherein the flange comprises a circumferential rim portion which projects from the flange in the direction towards the first end and which is configured to delimit a radial outer side wall of a circumferentially extending gutter, and wherein the sealing ring is configured to lie with said press fit all around directly against the outer side wall of the gutter rim portion of the flange of the capsule body, for which the sealing ring has been manufactured with an outer radius that is larger than an inner radius of the outer side wall.

10. The capsule according to claim 7, wherein the outer shielding layer does not cover radial inner and/or outer edges of the inner compressible layer of the sealing ring, wherein the radial inner and/or outer edges of the outer shielding layer of the sealing ring lie with said press fit directly against the capsule body, and wherein also the radial inner and/or outer edges of the inner compressible layer of the sealing ring lie with said press fit directly against the capsule body.

11. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the sealing ring is connected with the capsule body by means of an adhesive.

12. The capsule according to claim 11, wherein an intermediate plastic lamination is provided in between the adhesive and the fibrous and/or cellulose and/or paper material compressible layer.

13. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the sealing ring is formed by a flat gasket that has been cut out of multilayered plate material that comprises the inner compressible layer of fibrous and/or cellulose and/or paper material with the outer shielding layer lying on top thereof.

14. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the side wall of the capsule is frustoconical, with the transverse base wall at a first smaller diameter end of the side wall, and the radially outwardly protruding flange encircling said side wall at a second larger diameter end.

15. A beverage production machine comprising: a capsule according to claim 1; and a beverage production machine having: a pressing sleeve for sealing with the capsule; and an injection opening for feeding pressurized liquid, in particular heated liquid, into the capsule, wherein the sealing ring of the capsule and the pressing sleeve are configured to seal with each other during beverage production such that the outer shielding layer on the outwardly directed external surface of the sealing ring shields the inner compressible layer of fibrous and/or cellulose and/or paper material against pressurized liquid during beverage production for preventing the compressible layer of fibrous and/or cellulose and/or paper material to absorb the liquid.

16. A method for production of a beverage, comprising the following steps: providing a capsule according to claim 1 that contains a substance from which a beverage can be produced and that is closed by a closing member connected to the flange; positioning the capsule in a beverage production machine; making inlet and outlet openings in the base wall and the closing member while injecting a pressurized liquid into the capsule for interaction with the substance inside the capsule, and draining a beverage from the capsule, wherein the sealing ring of the capsule and the pressing sleeve seal with each other during beverage production such that the outer shielding layer on the outwardly directed external surface of the sealing ring shields the inner compressible layer of fibrous and/or cellulose and/or paper material against pressurized liquid during the beverage production for preventing the compressible layer of fibrous and/or cellulose and/or paper material to absorb the liquid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an assembly of a capsule body and a sealing ring in accordance with the present invention preceding press fitting of the sealing ring;

[0040] FIG. 2 shows a partially cut open view of FIG. 1;

[0041] FIG. 3 shows, to a large scale, a schematic cross section through a sheet out of which the sealing ring of FIGS. 1 and 2 is cut;

[0042] FIG. 4 shows a view similar to FIG. 2 with the sealing ring press-fitted thereto;

[0043] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged sectional partial view of FIG. 4;

[0044] FIG. 6 illustrate the relationship between the capsule and a pressing sleeve of a beverage production machine wherein the capsule has been pre-positioned between the pressing sleeve and a holder;

[0045] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged partial view of FIG. 6;

[0046] FIGS. 8 and 9 show the views of FIGS. 6 and 7 wherein the capsule has been pushed further into the pressing sleeve by the holder just before sealing between the capsule and the sleeve occurs;

[0047] FIGS. 10 and 11 show the views of FIGS. 8 and 9 wherein the capsule has been pushed further into the pressing sleeve by the holder such that sealing between the capsule and the sleeve has occurred; and

[0048] FIG. 12-18 show exploded views of the various layers of variant embodiments of the sealing ring according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0049] In FIG. 1 a beverage capsule, in particular a coffee capsule, has been indicated with the reference numeral 1 and comprises an assembly of a capsule body 2 and a sealing ring 3. The capsule body 2 is cup-like and comprises a frustoconical side wall 5, a transverse base wall 6 at a smaller diameter first end of the side wall 5 and a radially outwardly extending flange 7 which encircles a larger diameter second end of the side wall 5.

[0050] The flange 7, the adjacent part of the side wall 5, and the multi-layered sealing ring 3 are shown in section in FIG. 2. The flange 7 has an inwardly rolled peripheral rim 8 which inhibits flexing of the flange 7 whilst coffee is being extracted.

[0051] A portion of the rim 8 projects from the flange 7 in the direction towards the smaller diameter first end of the capsule 1. A circumferential gutter 10 is delimited between the side wall 5 and the rim 8. A radially outer circumferential surface portion of the frustoconical side wall 5 constitutes a frustoconical cq gradually curved transitional shaped circumferential inner side wall 11 of the gutter 10. A radially inner circumferential surface portion of the rim 8, that here is flattened and extends parallel to a center axis of the capsule 1, constitutes a straight shaped circumferential outer side wall 12 of the gutter 10. A bottom 13 of the gutter 10 is formed by a flat portion of the flange 7 that extends perpendicular to the center axis of the capsule 1.

[0052] The sealing ring 3 is pre-positioned above the gutter 10 while circumventing the side wall 5 and is destined to come to lie with a tight fit in between the inner side wall 11 and the outer side wall 12 of the gutter 10.

[0053] The sealing ring 3, that is shown in cross-section in FIG. 2, has been made out of multi-layered plate material 15, as is shown in FIG. 3. This multi-layered plate material 15 comprises an inner compressible paper board layer 16 and an outer aluminium shielding layer 17. The aluminium shielding layer 17 is formed by aluminium foil that is adhered by means of a suitable adhesive layer 18 to the paper board layer 16.

[0054] The sealing ring 3 can easily be cut out of the plate material 15 for example by means of a punching tool. With this the sealing ring 3 is dimensioned such that its inner radius is smaller than a smallest radial dimension of the inner side wall 11 of the gutter 10, and such that its outer radius is larger than a largest radial dimension of the outer side wall 12 of the gutter 10.

[0055] During manufacturing the sealing ring 3, starting from a position as shown in FIG. 1, is pushed in the axial direction fully towards the flange 7 until it has come to lie with a press-fit inside the gutter 10. See FIGS. 4 and 5. During this pushing the paper board layer 16 shall get compressed somewhat in the axial and radial direction, and during this pushing the outer aluminium shielding layer 17 shall also get deformed somewhat in the axial and radial direction. During testing it has appeared that despite the frustoconical cq partly gradually curved shape of the outer side wall 12 of the gutter 10, the novel and inventive type of multi-layered sealing ring 3 is well able to neatly stay in position inside the gutter 10.

[0056] In this press-fitted position the inwardly directed surface of the paper layer 16 lies freely against the bottom 13 of the gutter 10, lies with a tight circumferential press-fit against the inner side wall 11 of the gutter 10, and lies with a tight circumferential press-fit against the outer side wall 12 of the gutter 10. In this press-fit position the aluminium shielding layer 17 keeps on being adhered to the outwardly directed surface of the paper layer 16, while also lying with a tight circumferential press-fit against the inner side wall 11 of the gutter 10, and while lying with a tight circumferential press-fit against the outer side wall 12 of the gutter 10.

[0057] A possible use of the capsule 1 shall now be explained for FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 where a pressing sleeve PS of a beverage production machine is shown. The pressing sleeve PS defines a frusto-conical inner space that is somewhat larger than the capsule 1, such that the capsule body 2 fits inside it with some circumferential play.

[0058] With this use is made of a capsule 1 that already has got the sealing ring 3 press-fitted thereto, that already has been filled with a substance, in particular coffee powder, for producing a beverage, in particular coffee, after which it has been closed by a closing member, in particular an aluminium foil lid that is connected to the flange 7, for example by means of a heat seal.

[0059] Inside the sleeve PS, some projecting inlet opening members IOM, here spikes, are provided that are configured to automatically form liquid inlet openings in the base wall 6 of the capsule 1 during coupling and/or beverage production.

[0060] The sleeve PS further comprises an injection opening IO that is connected to a liquid supply for feeding heated pressurized water into the sleeve PS during beverage production.

[0061] In front of the pressing sleeve PS and facing its inner space, a holder H with some projecting outlet opening members 00M are provided that are configured to automatically form beverage outlet openings in the closing member of the capsule 1 during coupling and/or beverage production.

[0062] The pressing sleeve PS comprises a circumferential profiled front end X that is provided with a profile of bulges and radially extending notches that alternate each other in the circumferential direction, and that are configured to, in a coupled position, clamp the flange 7 of the capsule 1 against the holder H and to seal with the sealing ring 3.

[0063] The advantageous cooperation between the sealing ring 3 and the profiled front end X of the pressing sleeve PS shall now be explained in more detail with reference to the respective stages of coupling as shown in FIGS. 6-7, 8-9 and 10-11.

[0064] The capsule 1 is firstly pre-positioned inside the pressing sleeve PS, after which the sleeve PS and the holder H are move towards each other. See FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0065] In FIGS. 8 and 9 an intermediate stage is shown in which the capsule 1 has already partly entered the pressing sleeve P but with the entire sealing ring 3 still lying non-compressed underneath the front end X of the pressing sleeve P.

[0066] During further coupling/closing of the pressing sleeve PS and the holder H towards each other, the capsule 1 shall be pushed further into the sleeve PS while having its base wall 6 get cut open/pierced by the pointed rigid inlet opening members IOM for forming the liquid inlet openings.

[0067] In FIGS. 10 and 11 the coupled position is shown in which the profiled front end X has entered into the sealing ring material in such a way that the profiled front end X has locally deformed the sealing ring 3 to such an account that it has taken over the profiled shape and has gotten to fully fill up its notches in a sealing manner.

[0068] When during this coupling the profiled front end X gets pressed against and into the sealing ring 3, the compressible paper layer 16 is well able to then get locally compressed by the bulges and start filling up the notches, while the aluminium shielding layer 17 is well able to get deformed to follow the profiled shaped along the bulges and into the notches. Advantageously according to the inventive thought, this local compressing of the sealing ring 3 during coupling shall not lead to serious cracks and tears starting to arise, nor inside the paper layer 16, nor inside the aluminium shielding layer 17. Not only has the paper layer 16 proven to be well able to undergo the foreseen local compressions, the aluminium shielding layer 17 on top of the compressible paper layer 16 has proven to be well able to undergo the foreseen deformations while at a same time keeping the paper layer 16 together.

[0069] When hot liquid under pressure is subsequently injected into the pressing sleeve PS, the liquid shall flow via the liquid inlet openings into the capsule 1. The quickly rising liquid pressure inside the capsule 1 then shall press the closing member forcedly against the outlet opening members OOM thus forcing the closing member to burst at a number of positions between the outlet opening members OOM for forming the beverage outlet openings, and from there drain as hot extracted beverage towards a cup, mug or other suitable container, ready for consumption.

[0070] The hot pressurized liquid shall also start to flow inside the pressing sleeve P around the outside of the capsule 1 and thus reach the sealing ring 3. The aluminium shielding layer 17 there shall form a water tight seal between the side wall 5 of the capsule 1 itself and the profiled front end X of the sleeve P.

[0071] The tight strong sealing abutment of the aluminium shielding layer 17 against the inner side wall 11 of the gutter 10 shall fully take care that the hot pressurized liquid shall not come into direct contact with the paper layer 16. No absorption of liquid into the paper layer 16 can thus takes place and the non-wetted paper layer 16 is well able to maintain its integrity without starting to crack or tear.

[0072] On the other hand the strong and water-impermeable aluminium shielding layer 17 adhered to the paper layer 16 shall also help to maintain the integrity of the paper layer 16 and thus of the entire sealing ring 3.

[0073] In fact, the continued pressing force of the front end X of the pressing sleeve PS against the sealing ring 3 together with the fact that this leakage water is of a relative high temperature, still above 80 degrees Celsius, the aluminium shielding layer 17 is even prone to start softening somewhat. This shall lead to the aluminium shielding layer 17, on top of the already present press-fitting forces, increase its sealing forces against the inner side wall 11 of the gutter 10 as well as against the profiled front end X of the pressing sleeve PS. This gives the shielding layer 17 an even greater inner deformability such that together with the compressibility of the paper layer 16, the entire sealing ring 3 can be deformed/compressed by the increasing water pressure firmer and firmer against the front end X of the pressing sleeve PS as well as against the capsule body 2.

[0074] In FIG. 12 a first variant of the various layers that can be used for the multi-layer sealing ring according to the invention is shown. The sealing ring here comprises an aluminium outer shielding layer that via a heat seal lacquer and an intermediate plastic lamination is strongly bonded to a cardboard compressible layer. The cardboard compressible layer is configured to, via an intermediate plastic lamination and a heat seal lacquer, be strongly bonded against a flange of a capsule body.

[0075] In FIG. 13 a second variant of the various layers that can be used for the multi-layer sealing ring according to the invention is shown. The sealing ring here comprises a fabric for texture as outer layer that is bonded to the plastic lamination outer shielding layer.

[0076] In FIG. 14 a third variant of the various layers that can be used for the multi-layer sealing ring according to the invention is shown. The sealing ring here comprises a non-woven as outer layer that is bonded to the plastic lamination outer shielding layer.

[0077] In FIG. 15 a fourth variant of the various layers that can be used for the multi-layer sealing ring according to the invention is shown. The sealing ring here no longer comprises the fabric or non-woven but immediately has the plastic lamination outer shielding layer lying at its outer side.

[0078] In FIG. 16 a fifth variant of the various layers that can be used for the multi-layer sealing ring according to the invention is shown. The sealing ring here comprises felt as compressible layer, against which an aluminium outer shielding layer is bonded via a heat seal lacquer and an intermediate plastic lamination.

[0079] In FIG. 17 a sixth variant of the various layers that can be used for the multi-layer sealing ring according to the invention is shown. The sealing ring here again comprises felt as compressible layer, against which this time a plastic lamination outer shielding layer is bonded.

[0080] In FIG. 18 a seventh variant of the various layers that can be used for the multi-layer sealing ring according to the invention is shown. The sealing ring here comprises an aluminium outer shielding layer that via a heat seal lacquer is directly bonded to a non-woven material compressible layer. The non-woven compressible layer is configured to, via a heat seal lacquer, be strongly bonded against a flange of a capsule body.

[0081] Besides the embodiments shown numerous variants are possible. For example the dimensions and shapes of the various parts can be altered. Also it is possible to make combinations between advantageous aspects of the shown embodiments. All kinds of materials can be used for making the capsule body and the respective sealing ring layers. Preferably those materials are biodegradable and/or recyclable.

[0082] Beside paper materials, the compressible layer may comprise any compressible fibrous and/or cellulose material.

[0083] Besides aluminium-containing materials such as aluminium and aluminium oxide (AIOx), the shielding layer may comprise any liquid-impermeable material, such as for instance other metal foils, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), silicion oxide (SiOx), Polyvinylalcohol (PVOH), metalized plastics, or a combination thereof. Also the materials for the shielding layer listed above can be laminated in combination with plastic films made of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephtalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polylactic acid (PLA), or a combination thereof, to create laminated shielding layers. Laminated shielding layers such as for instance EVOH/PP, PET/SiOx/PP, PET/AIOx/PP, PET/Aluminium/PE may also be applied.

[0084] The compressible layer preferably has a thickness in the axial direction of between 0.3 mm-0.5 mm The shielding layer preferably has a thickness in the axial direction of between 10 -30 micron, for example between 15 to 20 micron. This layer thicknesses may vary as long as the compressible layer of fibrous and/or cellulose and/or paper material remains being thicker, than a depth of notches or the like in the profiled front end of the pressing sleeve, and as long as the shielding layer of water-impermeable material remains being deformable or flexible enough for being able to follow the profiled shape of the front end of the pressing sleeve.

[0085] Instead of against the flange of the capsule body, the inventive sealing ring according to the invention can also be used on other positions on the capsule body. Instead of on the described frusto-conical shaped capsule, the inventive sealing ring can also be used in combination with other types of beverage capsules where a sealing ring is foreseen at an outer side of the capsule body, including ones where a closing member on the flange is foreseen to be provided during use with one or more liquid inlet openings while an opposing base wall is foreseen to be provided with one or more beverage outlet openings.

[0086] Should in practice the press-fit appear not to be enough for keeping the sealing ring in place on the frusto-conical side wall, then of course additional measures can be taken, like using an adhesive and or mechanical deformation steps of the circumferential side wall of the capsule just above or right there were the sealing ring is aimed to be positioned. Those additional measures can also be used as an alternative for the described press-fitting arrangement.

[0087] Instead of the sealing ring merely shielding of a top side of the compressible layer, it is also possible for the shielding layer to extend along the radial inner and/or outer edges and/or along a bottom side of the compressible layer of fibrous and/or cellulose and/or paper material. Then also the aimed shielding the inner compressible layer of fibrous and/or cellulose and/or paper material against pressurized liquid during beverage production can be obtained and the press-fitting then even won't be necessary for obtaining this.

[0088] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and therefore will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.