PORTION CAPSULE FOR PRODUCING A BEVERAGE
A portion capsule for producing a beverage includes a cavity for a beverage raw material, wherein an opening can be made in the portion capsule for producing the beverage.
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This application is a Continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2011/002661, filed on May 30, 2011, entitled PORTION CAPSULE FOR PRODUCING A BEVERAGE which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates to a portion capsule for producing a beverage, said portion capsule having a cavity in which a raw beverage material is provided, wherein, in order to produce the beverage, an opening is introducible into the portion capsule.
Such portion capsules are well known from the prior art and are available on the market for example as coffee portion capsules. In these coffee portion capsules, the cavity is filled at least partially with coffee powder and hot water flows through said cavity to produce a coffee, espresso and the like. In order to prevent the coffee located in the cavity from losing its aroma, the portion capsule is preferably hermetically sealed. Therefore, in order to produce the coffee, openings have to be able to be introduced into the portion capsule or already be present therein in advance.
In particular in the case of coffee portion capsules, there is a permanent desire on the part of a person skilled in the art to improve the quality of the resulting coffee beverage. A large role is played here, inter alia, by the displacement of the air which is located for example in the cavity in the portion capsule but also in the coffee powder, and also the residence time of the hot water in the portion capsule.
Therefore, it was the object of the present invention to provide a portion capsule with which a good coffee beverage is producible.
SUMMARYThe object is achieved by a portion capsule for producing a beverage, said portion capsule having a cavity in which a raw beverage material is provided, wherein, in order to produce the beverage, an opening is introducible into the portion capsule, said opening being provided at a distance from a plane of symmetry of the portion capsule.
The statements made with respect to this subject of the present invention apply in equal measure to the other subjects of the present invention and vice versa, and the features disclosed here can be combined with other subjects of the present invention and vice versa.
The present invention relates to a portion capsule for producing a beverage, said portion capsule having a cavity in which a raw beverage material is provided. Such a portion capsule is produced for example from plastics material, a natural substance and/or a biodegradable material, and usually has a basic element, in particular a thermoformed basic element, which is preferably frustoconical or cylindrical. The raw beverage material is introduced into the cavity in the portion capsule and is subjected to extraction and/or dissolved, for example, using a liquid, in particular water. Following the introduction of raw beverage material, the basic element is preferably closed, in particular with a membrane, for example a plastics film. The membrane is preferably provided opposite the base of the basic element. The membrane may be produced from the same material as the basic element, or a different material, and is fastened on the basic element, preferably by sealing and/or adhesive bonding. Furthermore, one or more insert elements, for example a filter, a liquid distributor, a nonwoven, a barrier sheet or the like may be provided in the cavity.
In order to produce the beverage, this portion capsule now has to be opened, i.e. be provided with an inlet and an outlet. According to the invention, at least one opening, preferably the opening through which the liquid flows into the portion capsule, is provided at a distance from a plane of symmetry. As a result, flow takes place in an asymmetrical manner through the portion capsule, resulting in advantages for the quality of the end product, for example in the extraction of the coffee and/or in the formation of crema.
According to a further or a preferred subject of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of openings, in particular in the inlet, which are distributed at least partially in an asymmetrical manner and are located with respect to a first plane that extends in an axial direction of the portion capsule and is preferably a plane of symmetry of the unopened capsule. On account of this embodiment according to the invention or preferred embodiment of the present invention, too, flow takes place through the cavity in the portion capsule in an asymmetrical manner at least in sections and/or temporarily, thereby resulting in an improved coffee quality. Preferably, the plane is a plane of symmetry of the unopened portion capsule.
The statements made with respect to this subject of the present invention apply in equal measure to the other subjects of the present invention and vice versa, and the features disclosed here can be combined with other subjects of the present invention and vice versa.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the openings are introduced in such a way, in particular into the cover sheet, that said openings are provided in a symmetrical manner with respect to a further axis of symmetry of the unopened portion capsule.
The opening(s) is/are introduced into the portion capsule preferably immediately prior to the production of the particular beverage. This can be carried out in any manner familiar to a person skilled in the art, for example by piercing, for example with a spike, by removal of material, by material softening and/or by pressure, in particular water pressure. Preferably, the membrane has at least one, preferably a plurality of, in particular two, openings, and the base, which is preferably located opposite the membrane, preferably has at least one opening. The opening in the base of the portion capsule is provided preferably centrally, but can also be arranged at a distance from a plane of symmetry. The openings can have any desired shape familiar to a person skilled in the art. Preferably, however, the holes in the membrane are triangular, circular, square or rectangular. This type of openings can be introduced into the portion capsules with a particularly small force.
Preferably, the membrane has at least one, preferably two or more openings, preferably along a first plane of symmetry of the portion capsule, wherein these openings in an asymmetrical manner with respect to a second plane of symmetry of the portion capsule, which are arranged preferably perpendicularly to the first plane of symmetry. This opening serves/these openings serve preferably for a liquid to pass into the cavity in the portion capsule. Preferably, the membrane, particularly preferably additionally, has at least one, preferably two, opening(s), preferably along a second plane of symmetry, which are preferably provided in a symmetrical manner with respect to the first plane of symmetry. This additional opening serves at least temporarily for venting the cavity in the portion capsule.
A further or a preferred subject of the present invention is a portion capsule for producing a beverage, said portion capsule having a cavity in which a raw beverage material is provided and through which a liquid can flow, wherein flow takes place onto the capsule at a distance from a plane of symmetry.
The statements made with respect to this subject of the present invention apply in equal measure to the other subjects of the present invention and vice versa, and the features disclosed here can be combined with other subjects of the present invention and vice versa.
In the case of this portion capsule, it is provided according to the invention that flow takes place onto the portion capsule at a distance from a plane of symmetry, i.e. the liquid is supplied to the portion capsule not centrally but outside the center. This also results, at least temporarily, in improved flow through the cavity in the portion capsule and/or, at least temporarily, a longer residence time of the liquid in the portion capsule and thus a higher quality beverage.
A further or a preferred subject of the present invention is a portion capsule in which the membrane has a liquid inlet and a venting opening.
The statements made with respect to this subject of the present invention apply in equal measure to the other subjects of the present invention and vice versa, and the features disclosed here can be combined with other subjects of the present invention and vice versa.
The liquid inlet and the venting opening are preferably introduced, preferably cut, into the membrane of the portion capsule by a coffee machine. With respect to the gravitational field of the Earth, the venting opening is preferably arranged above the liquid inlet. As soon as no more gas emerges from the venting opening, the venting opening is preferably used likewise for the liquid supply. Particularly preferably, the membrane of the portion capsule has a plurality of liquid inlets and a plurality of venting openings.
Preferably, in the base of the portion capsule there is provided an outlet opening, which can be arranged centrally or at a distance from a plane of symmetry. The produced beverage flows out of the portion capsule through this opening.
According to a further or a preferred subject of the present invention, a venting opening is provided in the base. This opening serves for venting the cavity in the portion capsule while liquid is flowing through the latter. Only a very small amount of prepared beverage, if any at all, flows through this venting opening. Preferably, this opening is introduced, preferably cut, into the portion capsule only in the coffee machine. With respect to the gravitational field of the Earth, the venting opening in the base of the capsule is arranged above the outlet opening.
The statements made with respect to this subject of the present invention apply in equal measure to the other subjects of the present invention and vice versa, and the features disclosed here can be combined with other subjects of the present invention and vice versa.
A further subject of the present invention is a method for producing a beverage, in which a liquid flows through a portion capsule, wherein the portion capsule has to be opened at two points before flow takes place therethrough, wherein at least one opening is provided at a distance from a plane of symmetry of the portion capsule.
The statements made with respect to this subject of the present invention apply in equal measure to the other subjects of the present invention and vice versa, and the features disclosed here can be combined with other subjects of the present invention and vice versa.
Preferably, in particular in the membrane, there are provided a plurality of openings which are provided in an asymmetrical manner with respect to a plane that extends in an axial direction of the portion capsule, in particular a plane of symmetry of the unopened portion capsule.
A further subject of the present invention is a method for producing a beverage, in which a liquid flows through a portion capsule, wherein flow takes place onto the portion capsule at a distance from one of its planes of symmetry, that extends in an axial direction, of the unopened portion capsule.
The statements made with respect to this subject of the present invention apply in equal measure to the other subjects of the present invention, and the features disclosed here can be combined with other subjects of the present invention and vice versa.
According to a preferred or a further subject of the present invention, flow takes place through the portion capsule in an asymmetrical manner at least in sections and at least temporarily with respect to at least one plane of symmetry of the unopened portion capsule.
The statements made with respect to this subject of the present invention apply in equal measure to the other subjects of the present invention and vice versa, and the features disclosed here can be combined with other subjects of the present invention and vice versa.
Preferably, the capsule is provided in a horizontal manner while flow takes place therethrough, i.e. its central axis extends horizontally. The plane of symmetry mentioned above or hereinbelow is preferably a plane of symmetry which extends at least substantially along the horizontal.
A further or a preferred subject of the present invention is a method in which, while the liquid flows in, the cavity in the portion capsule is vented at least temporarily via at least one opening. This opening can be located in the membrane or in the base of the portion capsule. Preferably, the venting takes place at least temporarily through both openings. Preferably, the venting takes place via one or more opening(s) which are not used for the liquid inlet or liquid outlet.
The invention is explained in the following text with reference to
Claims
1. A portion capsule for producing a beverage, said portion capsule having a membrane and a cavity in which a raw beverage material is provided, wherein, in order to produce the beverage, a plurality of openings, an inlet opening and an outlet opening are introduced, wherein the outlet opening is formed in a base of the portion capsule (1), characterized in that the membrane has the inlet opening and a venting opening.
2. A portion capsule for producing a beverage, said portion capsule having a base and a cavity in which a raw beverage material is provided, wherein, in order to produce the beverage, a plurality of openings, an inlet opening and an outlet opening are introduced, wherein the inlet opening is formed in a membrane of the portion capsule, characterized in that the outlet opening and a venting opening are provided in the base of the portion capsule.
3. The portion capsule as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the outlet opening is provided in the base of the portion capsule, centrally or at a distance from a plane of symmetry.
4. A method for producing a beverage, wherein a portion capsule is provided with an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a venting opening, wherein a membrane of the portion capsule is provided with the inlet opening and the venting opening, wherein a liquid flows through a cavity in the portion capsule, characterized in that, while the liquid flows in, the cavity in the portion capsule is vented at least temporarily via the venting opening.
5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein, once gas has escaped from the portion capsule, the venting opening acts as a liquid inlet opening.
6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the inlet opening or venting opening is provided at a distance from a plane of symmetry of the portion capsule.
7. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the venting opening is provided above the inlet opening with respect to the gravitational field of the Earth.
8. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the portion capsule is provided with two inlet openings and two venting openings, wherein the venting openings are arranged in a vertical plane one above the other.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the liquid is supplied by means of a liquid inlet means which is arranged along the vertical plane between the two venting openings.
10. A method for producing a beverage, wherein a membrane of a portion capsule is provided with an inlet opening and a base of the portion capsule is provided with an outlet opening, characterized in that an additional venting opening is introduced into the base.
11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the additional venting opening is introduced above the outlet opening arranged in the base, with respect to the gravitational field of the Earth.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 28, 2012
Publication Date: Apr 4, 2013
Applicant: K-FEE SYSTEM GMBH (Bergisch-Gladbach)
Inventor: K-FEE SYSTEM GMBH (Bergisch-Gladbach)
Application Number: 13/687,074
International Classification: B65D 85/804 (20060101);