Abstract
Disclosed is a single-serve capsule for preparing a beverage, comprising a capsule member that includes a capsule bottom and a filling end, a cavity being formed between the capsule bottom and the filling end for holding a powdery or liquid beverage substrate. A filter element is placed between the beverage substrate and the capsule bottom, said filter element comprising a nonwoven fabric which is placed in the region of the capsule bottom.
Claims
1. A portion capsule (1) for producing a beverage, having a capsule body (2) with a capsule base (3) and a filling side (4), with a cavity (100) for accommodating a pulverulent or liquid beverage base (101) being formed between the capsule base (3) and the filling side (4), and with a filter element (7) being arranged between the beverage base (101) and the capsule base (3), with the filter element (7) being provided from a non-woven material which is arranged in the region of the capsule base (3), characterized in that the filter element is provided from two layers (7.1, 7.2).
2. The portion capsule (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one layer (7.1), preferably both layers (7.1, 7.2), is/are provided from a non-woven.
3. The portion capsule (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the two layers (7.1, 7.2) are connected to one another by a cohesive connection, in particular by a sealing effect.
4. The portion capsule (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the cohesive connection is provided locally, in particular as a circular ring.
5. The portion capsule (1) as claimed in claim 1, 3 or 4, characterized in that the filter element (7) is provided from a non-woven layer (7.1) and a filter layer (7.2).
6. The portion capsule (1) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the felt layer (7.2) has a smaller surface against which beverage flows than the non-woven layer (7.1).
7. The portion capsule (1) as claimed in one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the non-woven comprises a non-woven material which is produced from fine polyester fibers, and/or in that the non-woven has a mass per unit area of between 50 and 150 grams per square meter, preferably of between 80 and 120 grams per square meter and particularly preferably 100 grams per square meter, and/or in that the non-woven has a thickness of between 0.2 and 0.8 millimeters, preferably of between 0.25 and 0.39 millimeters and particularly preferably of substantially 0.32 millimeters, and/or in that the non-woven has an air permeability of between 1000 and 3000 l/(m.sup.2s), preferably of between 1500 and 2500 (l/m.sup.2s) and particularly preferably substantially of 2000 l/(m.sup.2s) at a pressure of 100 pascal.
8. The portion capsule (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter element (7) is sealed, in particular ultrasonically sealed and preferably stretched, at the base of the capsule.
9. The portion capsule (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter element (7) completely or only partially covers the capsule base (3).
10. The portion capsule (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the capsule base (3) has a protrusion (21) in a direction (103) opposing the filling side (4).
11. The portion capsule (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter element (7) is formed in such a way that, when the capsule base (3) is perforated by an external perforation means (16), the filter element (7) is at least partially lifted off from the capsule base (3), and/or in that the perforation means perforates at least one layer (7.1, 7.2) of the filter (7).
12. The portion capsule (1) as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the filter element (7) lifts off from the capsule base (3) only in a central region (7) and continues to rest on the capsule base (3) or remains attached to the capsule base (3) in the edge region (3) of the capsule base (3).
13. The portion capsule (1) as claimed in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the perforation means pierces and/or taps both layers (7.1, 7.2).
14. The portion capsule (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter element (7) is formed in such a way that, when the capsule base (3) is perforated by an external perforation means (16), the filter element (7) lifts off from the capsule base (3) in the central region (7) of said filter element and/or the distance between the layers (7.1, 7.2) changes.
15. The portion capsule (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the capsule base (3) has an outlet opening (107) which is preferably sealed off by a film or foil (108), with the film or foil (108) particularly preferably having a pull-off tab (109) for pulling off the film or foil by hand.
16. A method for producing a portion capsule, characterized in that the filter element (7), which comprises two layers (7.1, 7.2), is inserted into the portion capsule and connected to the capsule base, characterized in that the two layers (7.1, 7.2) are connected to one another substantially at the same time.
17. The method as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the connection of the filter element to the base and the connection between the layers are preferably made by welding, in particular ultrasonic welding.
18. A method for producing a beverage using a portion capsule (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the portion capsule (1) is provided in a first method step, in that the capsule base (3) is perforated by means of an external perforation means (16) in a second method step, and in that, in a third method step, at least one layer (7.1, 7.2) of the filter element (7) is at least partially spaced apart from the capsule base (3) and/or the distance between the layers (7.1, 7.2) is locally increased.
19. The method as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that, in the third method step, the filter element (7) is spaced apart from the capsule base (3) only in a central region (7) and continues to rest on the capsule base (3) or remains at attached to the capsule base (3) in the edge region (3) of the capsule base (3).
20. The method as claimed in either of claims 18 and 19, characterized in that the filter element (7) is at least partially stretched when the central region (7) is spaced apart from the capsule base (3).
21. The use of a portion capsule (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 22 for producing a beverage, preferably for producing a coffee, cocoa, tea and/or milk beverage.
Description
[0044] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures and explained in greater detail in the following description. The figures are described merely by way of example and do not restrict the general concept of the invention. The description applies to all the subjects of the present invention in equal measure.
[0045] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a portion capsule according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which portion capsule is designed for the purpose of preparing an espresso.
[0046] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through a portion capsule, which is situated in a closed brewing chamber, according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0047] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section through a portion capsule, which is situated in a closed brewing chamber, according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment of the filter element.
[0049] FIG. 5 schematically shows the production of the portion capsule.
[0050] FIG. 6 schematically shows the tapping of a portion capsule.
[0051] FIG. 7 shows a portion capsule with a closed base opening.
[0052] FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of the filter.
[0053] FIG. 9 shows the perforation of the filter according to FIG. 8.
[0054] In the various figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference symbols and therefore also will be generally cited or mentioned only once in each case.
[0055] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the portion capsule 1 according to the invention. The portion capsule 1 comprises a capsule body 2 in the form of a truncated cone, having a closed capsule base 3 and having a collar edge 5 which is arranged on the filling side 4 of said capsule body and to which a cover film or foil 6 is welded or adhesively bonded. Therefore, a cavity 100, which is preferably sealed off in an air- and aroma-tight manner, is formed between the capsule base 3 and the cover film or foil 6, said cavity being filled with a pulverulent or granular beverage substance 101. In this case, the beverage substance 101 comprises, for example, coffee, cocoa, tea and/or milk powder (or granules). A filter element 7 is arranged on the inner side 3a of the closed capsule body base 3, that is to say within the cavity 100, which filter element 7 is explained further using the figures which follow. The filter element 7 is situated on the inner side 3a of the capsule base 3 and is firmly, that is to say preferably cohesively, connected to the inner side 3a of the capsule body base 3. Preferably, the filter element 7 is attached in a cohesive manner to the capsule base 3 only in an edge region 3 of the capsule base 3 in particular along a circular ring. The filter element comprises at least one layer composed of non-woven material, in particular a non-woven material which is produced from fine polyester fibers. The fibers are particularly preferably thermally connected to one another by means of a calender, for example a large number of extruded polyester fibers are arranged one on the other and next to one another and then consolidated (flat-calendered) by means of heated rollers. The non-woven material comprises random fiber and/or fiber-oriented non-woven material.
[0056] FIG. 2 illustrates a portion capsule 1 according to the first embodiment, which is illustrated in FIG. 1, of the present invention, with the portion capsule 1 in FIG. 2 being arranged in a closed brewing chamber 8. The brewing chamber 8 consists of a first brewing chamber element 9 and a second brewing chamber element 10, with the first brewing chamber element 9 being provided for the purpose of inserting the portion capsule 1 such that it can move in relation to the second brewing chamber element 10, or vice versa. A seal 11 is arranged between the two brewing chamber elements 9, 10. The first brewing chamber element 9 substantially consists of a closing piston 12 with puncturing elements 13a, 13b for opening the cover film or foil 6 of the portion capsule 1, a preparation liquid supply means 14 and the seal 11. The second brewing chamber element 10 substantially consists of a brewing chamber bell 15 which partially surrounds the portion capsule 1 and has an opening mandrel 16 which is arranged on the base of the brewing chamber bell 15 and is provided with discharge grooves 17, and a beverage discharge means 18. For the purpose of accommodating the portion capsule 1, the brewing chamber 8 is in an open state (not illustrated), in which the first and the second brewing chamber element 9, 10 are spaced apart from one another in order to ensure supply of the portion capsule 1, and in the illustrated closed state, in which a preparation process for producing a beverage using the portion capsule 1 can be carried out. In the closed state, the brewing chamber 8 is sealed off in a pressure-tight manner. When the brewing chamber 8 is moved from the open state to the depicted closed state, the cover film or foil 6 is pierced by the puncturing elements 13a, 13b, so that preparation liquid, in particular hot brewing water, passes through the preparation liquid supply means 14 under pressure and into the cavity 100 in the portion capsule 1. Furthermore, when the brewing chamber 8 is closed, the capsule base 3 is perforated by the perforation means, which is in the form of an opening mandrel 16, and therefore an outlet opening 107 is produced in the portion capsule 1, it being possible for the produced beverage liquid to leave the portion capsule 1 in the direction of the beverage discharge means 18 through said outlet opening. In order to assist delivery of the beverage liquid, the opening mandrel 16 is preferably provided with the discharge grooves 17 on its casing surface. In the illustration, the base 3 of the portion capsule 1, which is located in the brewing chamber 9, 10, is pierced by the opening mandrel 16 of the second brewing chamber element, but the filter element 7, which is situated above the puncturing point, is slightly raised by the puncturing spike 19 of the opening mandrel 16 but not pierced. This is achieved, in particular, by the central region 7 not being cohesively connected to the capsule base 3 but the filter element 7 being cohesively connected to the capsule base 3 only in the edge region 3 of the capsule base 3, so that it is raised only from the capsule base 3 as a result of the mechanical contact with the spike of the opening mandrel 16 and therefore remains unperforated (that is to say is not perforated by the opening mandrel 16). The capsule base 3 and the filter element 7 remain in contact with one another and, in particular, cohesively connected to one another in the edge region 3 of the capsule base 3 and in the edge region 7 of the filter element 7, and therefore no beverage substance 101 enters the beverage discharge means 18 around the filter element 7. However, it is also possible for the opening mandrel 16 to tap and/or pierce at least one layer of the filter element 7.
[0057] FIG. 3 illustrates a portion capsule 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, with the second embodiment substantially resembling the first embodiment, which is illustrated in FIG. 2, and likewise illustrating the portion capsule 1 in a closed brewing chamber 8. However, in contrast to the first embodiment, the portion capsule base 3 has, in the puncturing region of the opening mandrel 16, a protrusion 21 which is directed toward a recess 20 in the brewing chamber base 3a (the protrusion 21 is therefore directed in a direction which opposes the filling side 4) and which the opening mandrel 16 enters, without piercing the filter element 7 in the process. Therefore, it is, in particular, not necessary to lift off the filter element 7 from the capsule base 3. In order to produce the beverage, the brewing chamber 8 is closed again after the portion capsule 1 is inserted into the brewing chamber 8. During the closing process, the cover film or foil 6 of the portion capsule 1 is perforated by means of the puncturing means 13a, 13b and, after the first and the second brewing chamber element 9, 10 are brought together and sealed (by means of the seal 11), brewing water is made available via the liquid inlet 6. The opening mandrel 16 likewise makes an opening in the base 3 of the portion capsule 1 during the closing process of the brewing chamber. The thickness and the tear strength of the filter element 7, which is situated above the puncturing point, are matched to the penetration depth of the puncturing spike 19 of the opening mandrel 16, and therefore the filter element 7 is not pierced. As an alternative, the filter element 7 is situated above the protrusion 21 of the capsule base 3, which protrusion is situated in the recess in the brewing bell base 23, and the opening mandrel 16 enters only the protrusion 21 of the capsule base 3 and does not reach the filter element 7. The liquid, for example hot water when coffee is being produced, then flows into the capsule 1. In the capsule, this liquid flows through the beverage base 101 and extracts and/or dissolves the substances, which are required to produce the beverage, from the beverage base 101. The flow of the liquid in the beverage base 101 is illustrated by reference symbol 22. The resulting beverage then flows through the filter element 7 which is arranged between the beverage base 101 and the on the capsule base 3, this preventing constituents of the beverage base 101 entering the resulting beverage in particulate form and further entering a collection vessel, for example a cup or pot, via the opening made in the capsule base 3 by the opening mandrel 16 and via the discharge grooves 17 in the opening mandrel 16.
[0058] FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment of the filter element 7. According to the invention, said filter element has a first layer 7.1 and a second layer 7.2, which layers are each produced from a non-woven, that is to say a non-woven material, in the present case. The two layers 7.1, 7.2 are connected to one another in a cohesive manner, in particular by welding, preferably by ultrasonic welding, here. The two layers are provided as circular disks here. The connection is preferably made along a circular ring which particularly preferably extends in a concentric manner around the rotation axis of the portion capsule. The two layers are preferably identical, but may also differ in respect of material, thickness and/or diameter.
[0059] As can be seen in FIG. 5 in particular, the two layers are initially preferably inserted into the portion capsule as separate parts and the bottom layer 7.2 is then connected to the base 3 of the portion capsule connected filter element 7 at the base 3 of the portion capsule by welding, in particular ultrasonic welding. At the same time, the two layers 7.1 and 7.2 are connected to one another in the process. The connection both between the filter element 7 and the capsule base 3 and also between the two layers 7.1, 7.2 of the filter element is preferably made along a circular ring. A sonotrode preferably pushes the two layers together and, in the process, against the base of the portion capsule. In this case, the two layers are welded to one another and the bottom layer is connected to the base of the portion capsule at least substantially at the same time.
[0060] FIG. 6 shows the tapping of the portion capsule by means of an opening mandrel 16 which initially pierces the capsule base 3 and as a result provides a discharge means for the beverage which is to be prepared. As can be seen in the illustration according to FIG. 6, the opening mandrel preferably pierces at least the bottom layer of the filter element and at least taps the top layer 7.2. In particular, the distance between the two layers is increased locally, in the central region of the filter element in this case.
[0061] FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of the portion capsule according to the invention. In the present case, a permanent opening is provided in the capsule base, said permanent opening being closed by a pull-off tab 109 in this case. This pull-off tab can be pierced by the opening mandrel or can be manually removed, for example by being pulled off, before the beverage is prepared.
[0062] FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of the filter 7, which filter again is provided with two layers, wherein the filter element has a first layer 7.2, which is composed of a non-woven material, and a second layer 7.1, which is composed of a felt material, in the present case. The two layers are preferably cohesively connected to one another, and a surface against which beverage flows or the diameter of the layer 7.1 is very particularly preferably small in comparison to the layer 7.2. The thickness of the two layers can be the same or different. FIG. 9 schematically shows the tapping of a portion capsule which contains the filter element 7. Said figure clearly shows that the layer 7.1 is pierced and the layer 7.2 is only tapped. This ensures that no granules can, for example, enter a beverage which is to be prepared.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0063] 1 Portion capsule [0064] 2 Capsule body [0065] 3 Capsule base: [0066] 3a Inner side of the capsule base [0067] 3 Edge region of the capsule base [0068] 4 Filling side [0069] 5 Collar edge [0070] 6 Cover film or foil [0071] 7 Filter element [0072] 7 Edge region of the filter element [0073] 7 Central region of the filter element [0074] 7.1 Felt structure, needle felt structure [0075] 7.2 Support structure [0076] 7.3 Felt structure, needle felt structure [0077] 8 Brewing chamber [0078] 9 First brewing chamber element [0079] 10 Second brewing chamber element [0080] 11 Seal [0081] 12 Closing piston [0082] 13a Puncturing element [0083] 13b Puncturing element [0084] 14 Preparation liquid supply means [0085] 15 Brewing bell [0086] 16 Opening mandrel [0087] 17 Discharge grooves [0088] 18 Discharge means [0089] 19 Puncturing spike [0090] 20 Recess [0091] 21 Protrusion [0092] 22 Preparation liquid flow [0093] 23 Brewing bell base [0094] 100 Cavity [0095] 101 Beverage base [0096] 102 Side wall region [0097] 103 Attachment of the filter 7, welding [0098] 103 Corrugated or folded region [0099] 104 Predetermined breaking point [0100] 105 Lines of weakness [0101] 106 Central point [0102] 107 Outlet opening [0103] 108 Film or foil [0104] 109 Pull-off tab
