METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A COMPOSTABLE POD

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a pod (100) for preparing a beverage in a beverage production machine, the machine having opening elements for opening the pod (100) under the effect of rising pressure of fluid being injected into the pod (100). In the method, two formable sheet elements (200) are provided, into one of which an opening (210) is cut. A second sheet material (300) is provided and connected with the respective sheet element (200) at a connection area (230) that circumferentially surrounds the opening (210). The so connected sheet material (300) forms a delivery wall (110) of the pod (100), through which during the beverage preparation process the prepared beverage is dispensed from the pod (100). The two sheet elements (200) are formed into the shape of a half-shell (101, 102), respectively, whereby the connection area (230) is pinched from opposite sides of the sheet element (200) when forming the respective half-shell (101, 102). An injection wall (120) for injecting a fluid into the pod (100) is formed. A substance (105) for the beverage is provided and the two half-shells (101, 102) are connected to form a pod body (130) around the substance (105). Therein, the pod body (130) together with the delivery wall (110) and the injection wall (120) delimit a chamber containing the substance (105). The delivery wall (110) is configured to be opened upon interaction with the opening elements of the beverage production machine under the effect of rising pressure of the fluid being injected into the pod (100).

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a pod for preparing a beverage in a beverage production machine, comprising the steps of: providing two sheet elements each being made of a formable material; cutting an opening into one of the sheet elements; covering the opening with a sheet material and connecting the sheet material and the respective sheet element at a connection area circumferentially surrounding the opening, the so connected sheet material forming a delivery wall; forming the two sheet elements into the shape of a half-shell, respectively; forming an injection wall of the pod for injecting a fluid into the pod; providing a substance required for the preparation of the beverage; connecting the two half-shells to form a pod body around the substance to form the pod, the pod body together with the delivery wall and the injection wall defining a chamber containing the substance for preparing the beverage upon interaction of the substance with the fluid injected through the injection wall, and the delivery wall being adapted to be opened upon interaction with opening elements of the beverage production machine under the effect of rising pressure of the fluid being injected into the pod to dispense the prepared beverage from the pod, and wherein the connection area is pinched from opposite sides of the sheet element when forming the respective half-shell.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sheet elements are formed into the shape of a half-shell, respectively, by drawing at least part of the respective sheet element into a forming die.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein pinching the connection area is obtained by a punch positioned on one side of the sheet element and a counter-punch positioned on the other side of the sheet element with respect to the punch.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the counter-punch is configured to dampen and/or to resist a displacement force applied by the punch onto the connection area, and the counter-punch is elastically supported in the forming die, preferably by an elastic element, like a spring.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the counter-punch is spring-elastically biased towards the punch so as to apply a defined clamping force to the connection area during the forming step.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the two half-shells comprises a circumferential flange.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the two half-shells are connected to each other via the circumferential flanges.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the two sheet elements are provided by cutting or punching a sheet made of a formable and biodegradable material.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the half-shells are configured such that the two half-shells are separated by a gap when surrounding the substance before the step of connecting the two half-shells.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the injection wall is formed when forming one of the half-shells.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the half-shells are formed before or after cutting the opening into the sheet element.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one or both of the sheet elements have a disc shape.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the half-shells are identical.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substance is provided as a tablet made of compressed beverage powder.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the two half-shells are connected under the application of vacuum and under the application of heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing.

Description

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0060] Further features, advantages and objects of the invention will become apparent for the skilled person when reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention and when taking in conjunction with the figures of the enclosed drawings. In case numerals have been omitted from a figure, for example for reasons of clarity, the corresponding features may still be present in the figure.

[0061] FIG. 1 shows various steps of an embodiment of a pod production method according to the invention.

[0062] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of initial steps of an embodiment of the pod production method in the invention.

[0063] FIG. 3 shows a top view of an embodiment of a pod produced with a pod production method according to the invention.

[0064] FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-section of the pod of FIG. 3.

[0065] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a forming step in the pod production method according to the invention.

[0066] FIGS. 6A and 6B show different embodiments of finalizing steps of the pod production method according to the invention, which include filling and assembly of the pod with a substance for the beverage preparation.

[0067] FIGS. 7A and 7B show different embodiments of a connecting step of the pod production method according to the invention.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0068] FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 to 7 show different views and aspects of an embodiment of a method for manufacturing a pod 100, which is suitable for preparing a beverage in a beverage production machine, according to the present invention. FIGS. 3 and 4 show different views and aspects of an embodiment of the pod 100 produced with the manufacturing method according to the present invention.

[0069] A first aspect of the invention relates to said method for manufacturing a pod for preparing a beverage in a beverage production machine, such as the mentioned pod 100. The method for manufacturing the pod 100 comprises a number of steps, some of which are exemplarily assigned reference signs S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 and S6 in FIG. 1, which are also used in other Figures. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the particular order of steps indicated exemplarily by the reference signs in the Figures. FIGS. 2 and 5 to 7 exemplarily illustrate further details and aspects of steps of the method of the invention.

[0070] In the method, two sheet elements 200 are provided. FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate this step exemplarily in step S1. For example, in FIG. 2 it is exemplarily illustrated that the sheet elements 200 may be provided from a sheet 201, which preferably may be provided on a reel 250. Each of the two sheet elements 200 may be provided separately on a reel or they may be provided from the same reel 250. The sheet 201 may be rolled off the reel 250 and (subsequently) may be cut and/or punched to define the sheet elements 200 (e.g. to transform the sheet 201 into the sheet element 200). Cutting and/or punching may be done at various points in the manufacturing process. Naturally, this way of providing the sheet elements 200 is only an example and other ways to provide the sheet elements are conceivable. In particular, FIG. 2 shows exemplarily how a multitude of sheet elements 200 may be provided and produced to industrial scale. Furthermore, as exemplarily shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7, at least one or both of the sheet elements 200 may have a disc shape. However, it is also conceivable that the sheet element 200 may have a different shape, such as a rectangular or polygonal shape. Preferably, the shape of the sheet elements 200 may correspond to the shape of the pod holder of the beverage production machine. The sheet elements 200 may have the same shape (as shown in the Figures) or each may have a different shape.

[0071] Each of the sheet elements 200 is made of a formable and preferably biodegradable and/or preferably (home-) compostable material. For example, the sheet 201 may be made of a formable and/or biodegradable and/or compostable material. For example, the material of the sheet elements 200 (or the sheet 201) may be formable by being stretchable (and/or deformable permanently) in traverse and longitudinal directions. For example, a suitable material for this purpose may be a formable paper material. The material of the sheet elements 200 (or the sheet 201) may comprise a formable paper material, preferably having a grammage between 80 g/m.sup.2 to 150 g/m.sup.2. For example, the formable paper material may be a Kraft paper. Preferably, the formable paper material may be exclusively made of cellulose fibres. The material of the sheet elements 200 may have a tensile strength between 2000 MPa and 30 000 MPa, preferably 26 000 MPa in the cross-direction of the paper material, and/or preferably 2600 MPa in the machine-direction of the paper material. Preferably, the sheet elements 200 may be configured to have an elongation at break in the range between 8% and 15% at a tensile strength between 2000 MPa to 40 000 MPa. Therein, elongation at break may generally be understood as the ratio between changed length and initial length after breakage of the test specimen, and can be used as a measure to quantify the resistance of a material to changes of the shape without breaking or crack formation. For example, the elongation at break can be determined by tensile testing following EN ISO 527. The work up to break of the material of the sheet elements 200 may be between 100 Nmm and 200 Nmm. For example, by providing the sheet elements 200 (or the sheet 201) with any of the aforementioned configurations, it is possible to provide the pod 100 with sufficient rigidity, stiffness and/or form-stability to build up pressure inside the pod 100 during the preparation of a beverage.

[0072] Preferably, the material of the sheet elements 200 may have a (laminated) multi-layer structure, which preferably may comprise at least one additional layer 212 (in addition to a formable paper layer 211). This exemplarily illustrated in the schematic cross-section of FIG. 2. Preferably, the material of the sheet elements 200 may comprise an oxygen-barrier and/or moisture barrier and/or adhesive layer that may be provided as a coating and/or in a lamination process. For example, the oxygen barrier may be lower than 5 cc/m.sup.2-day.

[0073] Further, in the method, an opening 210 is cut (and/or punched) into at least one of the sheet elements 200. This is exemplarily shown in step S2 of FIGS. 1 and 2. It is conceivable that the opening 210 may be cut in the sheet element 200 before (FIGS. 2 and 5), upon (FIG. 1) or after the two sheet elements 200 are cut or punched from the sheet 201. The opening 210 may have any shape and/or size. Preferably, the opening 210 may be circular and/or may be a through hole. The diameter D1 of the opening 210 may be between 18 mm and 30 mm, preferably 24 mm. FIG. 2 shows this exemplarily. Preferably, the sheet element 200 may comprise one or more (similar and/or different) openings. Generally, there is no limitation in the number of openings 210 the sheet elements 200 may have. Preferably, the opening 210 may be configured and/or provided/arranged such that elements of the beverage production machine, like opening elements and/or injection elements, do not engage and/or come into contact with the remaining parts of the sheet element 200 in the beverage production machine during the beverage preparation. This may be achieved by dimensioning and/or positioning the opening 210 accordingly.

[0074] Moreover, in the method, the opening 210 is covered with a sheet material 300. FIG. 2 exemplarily illustrates in step S3 that the sheet material 300 may be placed over the opening 210. Preferably, the opening 210 may be fully closed (on one side of the sheet element 200) by covering the opening 210, as exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7.

[0075] The sheet material 300 and the respective sheet element 200 (having the opening 210) are connected at a connection area 230. The connection may be established by sealing the respective elements to each other, for example by heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing. The state, in which the sheet element 200 (or sheet 201) is connected to the sheet material 300, is exemplarily shown in all Figures. FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate this part of the manufacturing process as step S3. The connection area 230 circumferentially surrounds the opening 210. Thus, the connection area 230 may be a section of the sheet element 200 that is situated at the opening 210, encloses the opening 210 and/or directly adjoins (is contiguous with) the opening 210. For example, in FIG. 2 the connection area 230 is exemplarily illustrated as a ring shaped (continuous) section of the sheet 201 (or the sheet element 200). Preferably, the connection area 230 may be circular and have a diameter D2 (FIG. 2). The diameter D2 may be between 15 mm and 40 mm, preferably 32 mm. However, the connection area 230 may have any size or shape that preferably may correspond with and extend over the shape and size of the opening 210. The sheet material 300 may be connected to either side of the sheet element 200.

[0076] Preferably, the sheet material 300 may have any size, shape or form. For, example, in FIG. 2 it is exemplarily illustrated that the sheet material 300 may be provided as a sheet rolled onto a reel 350. The sheet material 300 may be rolled off the reel 350 such that the sheet material 300 intersects with the sheet 201 and thereby covers the opening(s) 210 provided in the sheet 201. Therein, it is (alternatively or additionally) conceivable that in step S3 the sheet material 300 may be adjusted to take a different shape and size, before, upon or after the sheet material 300 and the sheet element 200 are connected at the connection area 230. This is irrespective of the provision of the sheet material 300 as a sheet rolled onto a reel 350. FIG. 2 (right of the intersection of the sheet material 300 and the sheet 201) and FIG. 5, for example, show the sheet material 300 being adjusted to the size of the connection area 230. In FIG. 2, the size adjustment is exemplarily illustrated as being accomplished during the connection process of the sheet material 300 and the sheet 201. However, this is only an example and not to be understood as the only possible implementation of step S3.

[0077] The so connected (sealed) sheet material 300 forms a delivery wall 110 of the pod 100. Through the delivery wall 110 the beverage is dispensed from the pod 100 during the process of preparing the beverage. The delivery wall 110 is exemplarily shown in all Figures, but highlighted in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7. The delivery wall 110 is adapted to be opened upon interaction with opening elements (e.g. pyramid plate) of the beverage production machine (i.e. opening elements external to the pod 100) under the effect of rising pressure of the fluid being injected into the pod 100 to dispense the beverage from the pod 100.

[0078] The sheet material 300 may be provided as a continuous foil, film, sheet or membrane or as a layered structure. Preferably, the sheet material 300 may be a biodegradable and/or (home-) compostable material. For example, the sheet material 300 may comprise a paper material, preferably having a grammage between 20 g/m.sup.2 and 100 g/m.sup.2 and/or more preferred comprising an aerated structure to provide softness to facilitate the sheet material's 300 perforation. Moreover, the sheet material 300 may comprise paper, parchment paper, (coated) cellophane, a (home- or industrial-) compostable film and/or a filter paper for filtering particles and residues of the substance from the prepared beverage. Alternatively or additionally, the sheet material 300 may comprise an oxygen barrier (e.g. less than 5 cc/m.sup.2-day) and/or moisture barrier. Preferably, the sheet material 300 may be configured to have an elongation at break in the range between 2% and 25% at a tensile strength between 250 MPa to 15 000 MPa.

[0079] The two sheet elements 200 are formed into the shape of a half-shell 101, 102, respectively, as exemplarily shown in step S4 of FIGS. 1 and 5. This may be done before or after (FIGS. 1 and 5) cutting the opening 210 into the sheet element 200. The forming of the sheet elements 200 into the shape of a half-shell 101, 102 may be accomplished by (deep-)drawing the respective sheet element 200 into a forming die 400, for instance. Therein, the forming die 400 may comprise a blank holder 402 to keep the sheet 201 (sheet element 200) during the forming step S4 in a fixed position. The forming die 400 may further comprise a forming part 401 that corresponds with the (negative) shape of the finished half-shell 101, 102. Preferably, the sheet 201 or sheet element 200 may be drawn into the shape of a half-shell by mechanical action of a punch 410 or by creating a pressure difference between the forming part 401 and the side opposite thereto with respect to the sheet 201 (sheet element 200). For example, overpressure or a vacuum may be applied. The punch 410 may have any shape. Preferably, the punch 410 may have a shape that corresponds with the shape of the forming part 401. This is exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0080] The half-shells 101, 102 may have any shape or form. Preferably, the shape of the half-shells 101, 102 may correspond with the geometry of the pod holder. Examples for the geometry and design of the half-shells 101, 102 can be taken from FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7. In these Figures, it is exemplarily illustrated that each of the two half-shells 101, 102 may comprise a circumferential flange 140, which may extend radially outward with respect to the respective half-shell 101, 102. Further, each of the half-shells 101, 102 may extend axially from an inner edge of the circumferential flange 140 towards the opening 210 (if present). The circumferential flanges 140 may be formed on each of the two half-shells 101, 102 as part of the half-shell forming process. For example, the circumferential flanges 140 may be formed by clamping a, with respect to the opening 210, radially outer area 240 of the respective sheet element 200 (or of the sheet 201) between the blank holder 402 surrounding the punch 410 and the forming die 400. In addition, the blank holder 402 may comprise a sharp edge that cuts through the sheet 201 to separate the half-shell 101, 102 from the sheet 201 (e.g. thereby preferably finishing the sheet element 200). The half-shells 101, 102 may be identical or different to each other. For example, the half-shells 101, 102 may differ in height. Moreover, the half-shells 101, 102 may be different in so far as that one of the half-shells 101, 102 comprises the opening 210 and the sheet material 300 being connected to it while the respective other of the half-shells 102, 101 does not comprise the opening 210 or its opening 210 is covered by a material different to the sheet material 300. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate examples for such differently designed half-shells 101, 102.

[0081] However, as exemplified by the Figures, before being formed into the shape of a half-shell, at least one of the sheet elements 200 (or at least one section of the sheet 201) may have a configuration where the opening 210 may be covered by the sheet material 300 and where the sheet element 200 (or at least one section of the sheet 201) and the sheet material 300 may be connected to each other.

[0082] The connection area 230 is pinched from opposite sides of the sheet element 200 when forming the respective half-shell 101, 102. Preferably, pinching the connection area 230 may be obtained by the aforementioned punch 410 being positioned on one side of the sheet element 200 and a counter-punch 420 being positioned on the other side of the sheet element 200 with respect to the punch 410. The punch 410 and the counter-punch 420 may be relatively movable with respect to each other and/or the sheet element 200 (sheet 201). This is exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 5. The counter-punch 420 may be configured to dampen and/or to resist a displacement force applied by the punch 410 onto the connection area 230. The counter-punch 420 may be elastically supported in the forming die 400, preferably by an elastic element 421, like a spring. Naturally, other implementations of the elastic element 421 are conceivable, such as a hydraulic spring, an air spring or an electrically driven and controlled piston. Generally, any element capable of being reversibly displaceable in reaction to a machine force typical for the forming process may be considered for the elastic element 421. The counter-punch 420 may be preferably elastically (or spring-elastically) biased towards the punch 410. Thereby, a defined pinching force is applied onto the connection area 230 through the compressive action of the punch 410 onto counter-punch 420 during the forming step.

[0083] An injection wall 120 of the pod 100 for injecting a fluid into the pod 100 is formed. The injection wall 120 may interact or engage with injection elements of the beverage production machine during the beverage preparation process, through which a (hot, e.g. 60 to 120 degree Celsius) fluid (under pressure, e.g. 1 to 20 bar) may be injected into the pod 100. The injection wall 120 may be formed when forming one of the half-shells 101, 102 and preferably may be the one half-shell 101, 102 other than the half-shell 101, 102 comprising the opening 210 or the delivery wall 110. This is exemplarily shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7. For example, the injection wall 120 may be identical to the delivery wall 110 as exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 7A. For this, the injection wall 120 may be formed by cutting another opening into the sheet element 200, which preferably is the sheet element 200 other than the sheet element 200 into which the said opening 210 is cut, so that the respective sheet element 200 comprises the other opening. Then, this other opening may be covered with another sheet material, which then may be connected with the respective sheet element 200, preferably by heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing, at another connection area circumferentially surrounding the other opening. Thereby, the other so connected (sealed) sheet material may form the injection wall 120. The other opening may be cut/punched into the respective sheet element 200 before or after the half-shells 101, 102 are formed. The other sheet material may be the same or different to the sheet material 300. However, it is also conceivable that the other opening may be provided in the same sheet element 200, which comprises already the said opening 210. Alternatively, the injection wall 120 may be formed by the half-shell 101, 102 that does not comprise the opening 210 and may consist of the material of the sheet element 200. Thus, the injection wall 120 may be defined as a wall portion of the half-shell 101, 102 in such configuration. This is exemplarily shown in FIGS. 6B, 7B.

[0084] A substance 105 required for the preparation of the beverage is provided. This is exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6 as step S5. For example, the substance 105 may be provided as a tablet made of compressed or compacted beverage powder, such as coffee powder. In general, the substance may be an (extractable) food substance, such as ground coffee powder, tea or chocolate. It is also conceivable to compact the substance 105 in one of the half-shells 101, 102 as part of step S5. Preferably, the half-shell 101, 102 forming the injection wall 120 or more preferred, the one half-shell 101, 102 without the opening 210 may be used for this purpose. This is exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 6B.

[0085] The two half-shells 101, 102 are connected. By connecting the two half-shells 101, 102 they form a pod body 130 around the substance 105 to form the pod 100. The pod body 130 together with the delivery wall 110 and the injection wall 120 delimit a chamber containing the substance 105 for preparing the beverage upon interaction of the substance 105 with the fluid injected through the injection wall 120. This is exemplarily shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 as step S6. The connection of the two half-shells 101, 102 may be established under the application of vacuum and/or under the application of heat sealing and/or ultrasonic sealing and/or pressure. Thereby, the half-shells 101, 102 may be sealingly connected via a sealing section that extends along the perimeter of each of the half-shells 101, 102. For example, in the FIGS. 1 to 4 and 7, the two half-shells 101, 102 are illustrated as being connected to each other via the circumferential flanges 140. Thus, the circumferential flanges 140 may form the sealing section. For example, for the connection process, the two half-shells 101, 102 and/or the substance 105 may be concentrically aligned and/or may be brought into abutment, preferably such that the substance 105 is sandwiched between the two half-shells 101, 102.

[0086] It has been surprisingly been found that it is also possible to configure the half-shells 101, 102 such that-at first-the two half-shells 101, 102 are separated (radially and/or axially) by a gap when surrounding the substance 105 before the step of connecting the two half-shells 101, 102. Therein, the size of the gap may depend on the volume of the substance 105. However, the half-shells 101, 102 may be configured such that the volume of the pod 100 corresponds to the volume of the substance 105 after the step of connecting the two half-shells 101, 102 so that the gap may be reduced or even eliminated upon connection of the two half-shells 101, 102. This may be a result of the pod manufacturing method of the invention comprising the step of pinching the connection area 230 since the material forming the pod body 130 is primarily stretched at portions thereof that are between the flange 140 and the opening 230. In comparison, the connection area 230 and delivery wall 110 have not undergone mechanical stress and thus, higher forces are required to stretch and plastically deform this section of the pod 100. Thereby, it is possible that the two half-shells 101, 102 stretch to match the volume and dimensions of the substance 105 under conditions typically present during the filling and connection process, which include the application of a vacuum during the connecting process. This effect may be advantageously supported by the substance 105 being compacted as it may act as a bending edge for stretching the half-shells 101, 102. In experiments, a gap extending up to 2 mm, preferably between 0.1 mm and 2 mm, was successfully reduced or even eliminated at the end of the connecting process. Therein, the configuration of the half-shells 101, 102, the substance 105 and/or the connection process may be such that at least one of the half-shells 101, 102, preferably the half-shell 101, 102 comprising the injection wall 120, may follow in shape and dimension at least a part of the contour of the compacted substance 105, to which it is adjacent in the pod 100. It is also conceivable that, before the step of connecting the two half-shells 101, 102, the half-shells 101, 102 may be formed such that they differ in height. Preferably, the half-shell 101, 102 comprising the injection wall 120 may have a greater height than the half-shell 101, 102 comprising the delivery wall 110. Naturally, it is also conceivable that no gap (0 mm) exists between the two half-shells 101, 102 at the beginning of the connecting process. In this configuration, the substance 105 may be (additionally) compacted during the connecting process.

[0087] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a pod, such as the above described pod 100, being produced in the above described method. The pod 100 is suitable and/or configured for preparing a beverage in a beverage production machine. The beverage production machine may comprise elements for opening the pod 100 under the effect of rising pressure of a fluid that is injected into the pod 100. FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 7 show examples of the pod 100. The pod 100 may be made (entirely) from (home-)compostable materials so that the pod 100 may be simply disposed in industrial or home compost piles after its use. Thus, the entire contents of the pod 100, including any beverage components contained therein, may be compostable. The pod 100 comprises the pod body 130 being composed of the two half-shells 101, 102 being connected to each other so as to delimit a chamber for containing the substance 105 for the preparation of the beverage. Further, the pod 100 comprises an injection wall 120 for injecting a fluid in the chamber for preparing the beverage upon interaction of the fluid with the substance 105. Moreover, the pod 100 comprises a delivery wall 110 being connected to the pod body 130 via the connection area 230 to close the chamber, the delivery wall 110 being adapted to be opened upon interaction with (external) opening elements under the effect of rising pressure of the fluid being injected into the pod 100 to dispense the prepared beverage from the pod 100. Preferably, the pod 100 contains the substance 105. Preferably, the connection between the delivery wall 110 and the pod body 130 may be free of stresses due to shearing forces during the forming process of the half-shells 101, 102. More preferred, the forming process of the half-shells 101, 102 may be accomplished without pre-wetting of the formable material used for the pod body 130.

[0088] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a use of a pod, such as the above described pod 100, which is produced in the above described method, for preparing a beverage in a beverage production machine having a pod holder. Therein, the pod 100 may be placed inside the pod holder of the beverage production machine. The pod holder may be closed and the beverage may be prepared in the above-described way and may be released from the pod 100 by interaction of the delivery wall 110 with the opening elements of the beverage production machine.

[0089] The invention is not limited by the embodiments as described hereinabove, as long as being covered by the appended claims. All the features of the embodiments described hereinabove can be combined in any possible way and be provided interchangeably.