U.S. patent application number 12/968409 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-16 for portion capsule and use of a portion capsule.
Invention is credited to Marc KRUGER.
Application Number | 20110142996 12/968409 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44143237 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110142996 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KRUGER; Marc |
June 16, 2011 |
PORTION CAPSULE AND USE OF A PORTION CAPSULE
Abstract
A portion capsule for preparing a beverage is proposed, having a
substantially frustoconical or cylindrical base element, which has
a cavity for accommodating a beverage raw material, and a membrane
which closes the cavity, with a wall region of the base element
having a plurality of channels.
Inventors: |
KRUGER; Marc;
(Bergisch-Gladbach, DE) |
Family ID: |
44143237 |
Appl. No.: |
12/968409 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61284389 |
Dec 16, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
426/80 ; 426/431;
426/77 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 29/022 20170801;
B65D 85/8043 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/80 ; 426/77;
426/431 |
International
Class: |
B65B 29/02 20060101
B65B029/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 16, 2009 |
DE |
10 2009 058 646.6 |
Claims
1. Portion capsule for preparing a beverage, having a substantially
frustoconical or cylindrical base element, which has a cavity for
accommodating a beverage raw material, and a membrane which closes
the cavity, characterized in that a wall region of the base element
has a plurality of channels.
2. Portion capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the
channels each extend substantially in a plane which is parallel to
the membrane, with the channels preferably each being designed to
substantially encircle the base element.
3. Portion capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the
channels each comprise a groove and/or convexity which are/is
preferably formed on an inner face of the base element, the inner
face facing the cavity, and/or on an outer face of the base
element, the outer face being averted from the cavity.
4. Portion capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the
channels are designed in such a way that the wall region is
reinforced by means of the channels and/or that eddying of an
extraction liquid which flows through the cavity is generated by
means of the channels.
5. Portion capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the
membrane is roughened at least on an outer face which is averted
from the cavity.
6. Portion capsule according to claim 5, characterized in that the
membrane is provided with a roughened protective film or foil on
the outer face.
7. Portion capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that a
wall region of the base element has a shoulder.
8. Portion capsule according to claim 7, characterized in that the
portion capsule has a flange to which the membrane is attached,
with the shoulder being designed to adjoin the flange.
9. Portion capsule according to claim 7, characterized in that the
base element has an enlarged diameter in the region of the shoulder
in a plane parallel to the membrane.
10. Portion capsule according to claim 7, characterized in that the
base element tapers in the direction of the membrane in the region
of the shoulder.
11. Portion capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the
portion capsule has a flange to which the membrane is attached,
with a ratio of the diameter of that wall region of the base
element which adjoins the flange to the diameter of the flange
being between 0.79 and 0.95.
12. Portion capsule according to claim 11, characterized in that
the ratio of the diameter of that wall region of the base element
which adjoins the flange to the diameter of the flange being
between 0.85 and 0.89, and in particular being substantially
0.87.
13. Portion capsule according to claim 11, characterized in that
the diameter of that wall region of the base element which adjoins
the flange is substantially 39 millimeters and/or the diameter of
the flange is substantially 45 millimeters.
14. Portion capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the
base element has a bottom region which extends substantially
parallel to the membrane and a wall region which extends
substantially between the membrane and the bottom region, with the
base element having a greater or lesser material thickness in the
bottom region than in the wall region.
15. Portion capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that a
filter element is arranged within the cavity, the filter element
dividing the cavity into a first region for accommodating the
beverage raw material and into a second region for accommodating a
beverage extract, with the filter element having a fusible element
on a side which faces a bottom region of the base element.
16. Portion capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that a
filter element is arranged within the cavity, the filter element
dividing the cavity into a first region for accommodating the
beverage raw material and into a second region for accommodating a
beverage extract, with the filter element having at least one
holding area for picking up the filter element.
17. Portion capsule according to claim 16, characterized in that
the filter element has a plurality of filter openings, with the
filter openings being arranged outside the holding area.
18. Portion capsule according to claim 17, characterized in that
the holding area is formed in a central region of the filter
element.
19. Portion capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that a
filter element is arranged within the cavity, the filter element
dividing the cavity into a first region for accommodating the
beverage raw material and into a second region for accommodating a
beverage extract, with the portion capsule having a ratio of a
first distance between the membrane and the filter element to a
second distance between a bottom region of the base element and the
filter element of between 3.5 and 4.5.
20. Portion capsule according to claim 19, characterized in that
the ratio of the first distance to the second distance is between
3.8 and 4.2, and preferably substantially 4.
21. Portion capsule according to claim 20, characterized in that
the first distance is substantially 20 millimeters and the second
distance is substantially 5 millimeters.
22. Portion capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that a
filter element is arranged within the cavity, the filter element
dividing the cavity into a first region for accommodating the
beverage raw material and into a second region for accommodating a
beverage extract, with the filter element having a circumferential
sealing lip for sealing off the first region from the second
region, the sealing lip moulding itself against the wall region of
the base element in a form-fitting manner and extending
perpendicular to the membrane at least over the entire height of
the filter element.
23. Portion capsule according to claim 22, characterized in that
the sealing lip is circular in a plane parallel to the membrane,
with the diameter of the sealing lip tapering in the direction of
the bottom region of the base element.
24. Portion capsule according to claim 23, characterized in that
the sealing lip has a pressure area which faces the first region
and is designed in such a way that an excess pressure in the first
region leads to an increase in a sealing pressure between the
sealing lip and the wall region.
25. Use of a portion capsule according to claim 1 for preparing a
hot beverage.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to a portion capsule for
preparing a beverage, having a substantially frustoconical or
cylindrical base element, which has a cavity for accommodating a
beverage raw material, and a membrane which closes the cavity.
[0002] Portion capsules of this kind are generally known. For
example, FR 2 556 323 A1 discloses a portion capsule which has a
frustoconical or cylindrical base element and is used for preparing
a beverage, with a cavity within the portion capsule being filled
with a beverage raw material, in particular with a coffee powder,
and being closed by means of a membrane. In order to prepare a
coffee beverage, the portion capsule is arranged in a brewing
chamber in which the membrane is perforated and an extraction
liquid, in particular hot water, is introduced into the cavity. The
extraction liquid flows through the beverage raw material, and
therefore a beverage extract, in particular a coffee beverage, is
formed. In the brewing chamber, a bottom region of the portion
capsule is also perforated, and therefore the beverage extract can
leave the portion capsule and pass, if appropriate, into a beverage
receptacle, for example, a coffee cup.
[0003] One disadvantage of this portion capsule is that the portion
capsule has a comparatively low degree of mechanical stability. The
extraction liquid is injected into the brewing chamber under excess
pressure during the extraction process, so that the portion capsule
is subjected to a comparatively high pressure during the extraction
process. Therefore, there is a risk of the portion capsule buckling
laterally, in particular in a wall region between the membrane and
the bottom region, and, as a result, the beverage raw material not
flowing uniformly through the brewing chamber and/or the extraction
liquid flowing laterally around the portion capsule in the brewing
chamber. The taste of the beverage to be extracted will be
adversely affected as a result.
SUMMARY
[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide
a portion capsule which does not exhibit the disadvantages of the
prior art and, furthermore, can be produced in a comparatively
simple and cost-effective manner.
[0005] The object is achieved by way of a portion capsule for
preparing a beverage, having a substantially frustoconical or
cylindrical base element which has a cavity for accommodating a
beverage raw material, and a membrane which closes the cavity, with
a wall region of the base element having a plurality of
channels.
[0006] The advantage of the portion capsule according to the
invention over the portion capsule according to the prior art is
that the wall region of the base element is reinforced by the
plurality of channels. This firstly has the advantage that the
portion capsule has a greater degree of mechanical stability, and
therefore deformation, and in particular lateral buckling, of the
portion capsule is prevented. This preferably ensures that the
beverage raw material flows uniformly through the brewing chamber,
as a result of which the quality and the reliability of the
extraction process can be considerably increased. In particular,
the increase in mechanical stability due to the use of the
plurality of channels means that the material thickness of the base
element can be reduced overall. This makes production of the
portion capsule considerably more cost-effective and
environmentally friendly. Secondly, the plurality of channels means
that adhesion of the wall region to the brewing chamber wall in the
brewing chamber is reduced or avoided, this being advantageous for
ejection or removal of the portion capsule from the brewing
chamber. A further advantage of the plurality of channels is that
the flow of extraction liquid along the base region is subject to
eddying due to the channel structure in the wall region within the
cavity. More intense eddying of the extraction liquid in the cavity
in comparison to the prior art has the advantage over the prior art
that no undesired and accidental main liquid flows are formed
through the bed of the beverage raw material, but instead that the
liquid flows through the entire volume of the beverage raw
material. The extraction process can therefore be controlled and
reproduced significantly more efficiently and precisely. As an
alternative, it is feasible for the capsule wall to have a greater
material thickness than the base region, and therefore puncturing
of the portion capsule in the bottom region is simplified. The
beverage raw material comprises, in particular, coffee powder
(preferably ground roast coffee), chocolate powder, milk powder,
tea or the like. As an alternative, it is feasible for the beverage
raw material to comprise a beverage extract, for example instant
coffee.
[0007] Within the meaning of the present invention, the channels
are, in particular, convexities or concavities which preferably
have a linear main extent. The channels are particularly preferably
designed in the form of crosspieces and/or grooves. In this case,
the channels are optionally formed on an inner face of the base
element, the said inner face facing the cavity, and/or on an outer
face of the base element, the said outer face being averted from
the cavity. Provision is particularly preferably made for the
channels to each extend substantially in a plane which is parallel
to the membrane, with the channels preferably each being intended
to encircle the base element, for example in the form of rings
which encircle the base element parallel to the membrane and are
substantially closed.
[0008] According to a further subject matter or a preferred
development of the present invention, provision is made for the
membrane to be roughened at least on an outer face which is averted
from the cavity. Therefore, adhesion of the membrane to a brewing
chamber wall which faces the membrane is reduced or suppressed in
an advantageous manner, and therefore ejection or removal of the
portion capsule from the brewing chamber after the extraction
process is made easier. Particularly in the case of a brewing
chamber with an automatic ejection mechanism, there is a risk of
the portion capsule not being ejected reliably since, after the
extraction process, a portion capsule wall or the membrane of the
portion capsule sticks to a brewing chamber wall. Possible reasons
for this could be, for example, electrostatic attraction forces
between the portion capsule wall and the brewing chamber wall
and/or corresponding surface tension of a liquid between the
portion capsule wall and the brewing chamber wall. These effects
are considerably reduced by structuring the portion capsule wall,
for example by roughening the membrane and/or by arranging channels
on the wall region, this therefore ensuring reliable automatic
ejection of the portion capsule from the brewing chamber in
comparison to the prior art. The membrane is preferably structured
by the membrane being provided with a roughened protective film or
foil on the outer face. As an alternative, it is feasible for the
membrane to be roughened, for example, by means of laser
irradiation.
[0009] According to a further subject matter or a preferred
development of the present invention, provision is made for a wall
region of the base element to have a shoulder. The shoulder
advantageously enables a large number of portion capsules to be
stacked, for example before the said portion capsules are filled.
Before the portion capsules are filled with the beverage raw
material, the portion capsule does not contain either beverage raw
material or a membrane. The empty portion capsules, and in
particular the base elements, can therefore be stacked one in the
other, as a result of which a large number of empty portion
capsules can be arranged in a comparatively compact manner. This
reduces, in particular, transportation and storage costs. The
portion capsule according to the invention now has a shoulder which
is designed in the form of a stack edge, as a result of which two
portion capsules which are stacked one in the other are held at a
distance from one another. In this case, one portion capsule rests
on the other portion capsule by way of the shoulder. The portion
capsule preferably comprises a flange to which the membrane is
attached, with the shoulder in each case being designed, in
particular, to adjoin the flange. The shoulder of one portion
capsule now advantageously rests on the flange of the other portion
capsule. The two flanges of the two portion capsules which are
stacked one in the other are advantageously spaced apart from one
another in accordance with the height of the shoulder. Each flange
is advantageously comparatively simple to pick up, in particular by
machine, in order to separate the two portion capsules which are
stacked one in the other. Furthermore, the spacing between the two
portion capsules which are stacked one in the other prevents the
formation of a vacuum between the portion capsules, and therefore
the empty portion capsules can be separated from one another again
in a reliable and simple manner. The portion capsule preferably has
a flange to which the membrane is attached, with the shoulder being
designed to adjoin the flange. The base element preferably
comprises an enlarged diameter in the region of the shoulder in a
plane parallel to the membrane. Provision is particularly
preferably made for the base element to taper in the direction of
the membrane in the region of the shoulder. This advantageously
effectively prevents the shoulders of two empty portion capsules
which are stacked one in the other slipping one into the other. The
spacing between the two portion capsules is therefore reliably
ensured in the case of large axial forces. This is of great
importance, for example, when stacking a comparatively high number
of empty portion capsules. The tapering design of the shoulder in
the direction of the membrane also has the advantage that the
portion capsule can be held by a holding or gripping arm which
engages in the intermediate region between the flange and the
shoulder, for example in the brewing chamber, when the brewing
chamber is being filled or during production of the portion
capsule, with the holding or gripping arm being automatically
centred between the flange and the shoulder in this case. The
shoulder therefore has a self-centring effect.
[0010] According to a further subject matter or a preferred
development of the present invention, provision is made for the
portion capsule to have a flange to which the membrane is attached,
with a ratio of the outside diameter of that wall region of the
base element which adjoins the flange to the outside diameter of
the flange being between 0.79 and 0.95. The flange is therefore
advantageously comparatively large in comparison to the wall region
which adjoins the flange, and therefore a sufficiently large
adhesion area is created on the flange for attaching the membrane
to the flange in a stable manner and the cavity is centred in the
flange region in a comparatively simple manner when the portion
capsule is produced, for example using a deep-drawing process. In
particular, the requirements for the requisite production
tolerances are reduced as a result, and therefore the production
costs can be lowered overall. Secondly, the flange is small enough
in comparison to the wall region that the lever arm between the
flange and the wall region is small. This advantageously leads to a
situation where a force effect on the flange does not lead to
undesired deformation of the wall region. The ratio of the outside
diameter of that wall region of the base element which adjoins the
flange to the outside diameter of the flange is preferably between
0.85 and 0.89, and in particular is substantially 0.87. Therefore,
an optimum compromise is advantageously achieved between large
production tolerances on the one hand and low use of material on
the other. Furthermore, an optimum compromise is achieved between
good adhesion between the flange and the membrane on the one hand,
and a short mechanical lever arm between the flange and the wall
region. Provision is particularly preferably made for the outside
diameter of that wall region of the base element which adjoins the
flange to be substantially 39 millimetres and/or the outside
diameter of the flange to be substantially 45 millimetres.
[0011] According to a further subject matter of a preferred
development of the present invention, provision is made for the
base element to have a bottom region which extends substantially
parallel to the membrane and a wall region which extends
substantially between the membrane and the base region, with the
base element having a greater material thickness in the bottom
region than in the wall region. The base element is therefore
advantageously stiffer in the bottom region than in the wall
region. This has the advantage that puncturing the bottom region in
the brewing chamber is considerably simplified since the bottom
region does not yield or yields only slightly in the direction of
the cavity during the puncturing operation. In a preferred
development of the present invention, provision is made for a
filter element to be arranged within the cavity, the said filter
element dividing the cavity into a first region for accommodating
the beverage raw material and into a second region for
accommodating a beverage extract, with the filter element being
welded to the bottom region on a side which faces a bottom region
of the base element. This weld contact is produced, in particular,
by means of ultrasonic welding. The weld contact is advantageously
produced in a simplified manner by virtue of the relatively high
material thickness in the bottom region since, in this case, there
is enough material in the bottom region to produce the weld
contact.
[0012] According to a further subject matter or a preferred
development of the present invention, provision is made for a
filter element to be arranged within the cavity, the said filter
element dividing the cavity into a first region for accommodating
the beverage raw material and into a second region for
accommodating a beverage extract, with the filter element having a
fusible element on a side which faces a bottom region of the base
element. In the region of that side which faces the bottom region,
the filter element is advantageously welded to the bottom region by
means of an ultrasonic weld seam. During production of the
ultrasonic weld seam, the fusible element is melted by means of
ultrasound and therefore a weld connection to the bottom region is
established. The weld connection is accordingly comparatively
simple to establish. As an alternative, the use of all other known
welding processes is also feasible, for example a friction welding
process.
[0013] According to a further subject matter or a preferred
development of the present invention, provision is made for a
filter element to be arranged within the cavity, the said filter
element dividing the cavity into a first region for accommodating
the beverage raw material and into a second region for
accommodating a beverage extract, with the filter element having at
least one holding area for picking up the filter element. The
filter element can advantageously be picked up in an automated
manner in the region of the holding area, and therefore automated
installation of the filter element into the base element is made
possible in particular. Therefore, the production costs for the
portion capsule can be lowered.
[0014] According to a preferred development, provision is made for
the filter element to have a plurality of filter openings, with the
filter openings being arranged outside the holding area, and with
the holding area particularly preferably being formed in a central
region of the filter element. Therefore, it is advantageously
possible to pick up the filter element using a suction head which
holds the filter element in the region of the holding area by
vacuum, without the vacuum being compensated by a subsequent flow
of air through the filter openings. The suction head is preferably
attached to an installation robot arm which can move in all
directions in space.
[0015] According to a further subject matter or a preferred
development of the present invention, provision is made for a
filter element to be arranged within the cavity, the said filter
element dividing the cavity into a first region for accommodating
the beverage raw material and into a second region for
accommodating a beverage extract, with the portion capsule having a
ratio of a first distance between the membrane and the filter
element to a second distance between a bottom region of the base
element and the filter element of between 3.5 and 4.5. The ratio of
the first distance to the second distance is preferably between 3.8
and 4.2, and preferably substantially 4. The first distance is
particularly preferably substantially 20 millimetres and the second
distance is substantially 5 millimetres. Therefore, an optimum
ratio is advantageously achieved between the volume of the first
region and the volume of the second region in order to extract a
specific quantity of beverage raw material arranged in the first
region and to bring a specific quantity of beverage raw material
into contact with a specific quantity of air, which is located in
the second region, during the extraction process. In particular, a
coffee beverage with an optimum aroma and an optimum crema is
particularly advantageously generated in this way. At the same
time, the portion capsule can be produced in as compact and
therefore cost-effective manner as possible.
[0016] According to a further subject matter or a preferred
development of the present invention, provision is made for a
filter element to be arranged within the cavity, the said filter
element dividing the cavity into a first region for accommodating
the beverage raw material and into a second region for
accommodating a beverage extract, with the filter element having a
circumferential sealing lip for sealing off the first region from
the second region, the said sealing lip moulding itself against the
wall region of the base element in a form-fitting manner and
extending perpendicular to the membrane at least over the entire
height of the filter element. The second region is advantageously
sealed off from the first region by the sealing lip, and therefore
no extraction liquid passes from the first region to the second
region via the filter openings. This is necessary so that no
beverage raw material enters the second region and from there
enters the beverage. The sealing lip is self-sealing in such a way
that an increase in pressure in the first region causes increased
contact pressure by the sealing lip against the wall region, that
is to say the sealing effect increases with the pressure to be
sealed off. This effect is advantageously particularly great when
the sealing lip projects beyond filter areas of the filter element
in the direction of the membrane, the said filter area being
provided with the filter openings. The sealing lip is, in
particular, circular in a plane parallel to the membrane, with the
diameter of the sealing lip preferably tapering in the direction of
the bottom region of the base element.
[0017] A further subject matter of the present invention is the use
of a portion capsule according to the invention for preparing a hot
beverage.
[0018] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in
the figures and explained in greater detail in the following
description. The figures are described merely as examples and do
not restrict the general concept of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0019] FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show schematic, lateral sectional views of
a portion capsule according to a first, second and third embodiment
of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a portion
capsule according to a fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0021] FIG. 5 shows a schematic plan view of a filter element of a
portion capsule according to a fifth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of a plurality of
stacked portion capsules according to a sixth embodiment of the
present invention.
[0023] In the various figures, identical parts are always provided
with the same reference numerals and are therefore generally also
each cited or mentioned only once.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic, lateral sectional view of a
portion capsule 1 according to a first embodiment of the present
invention, with the portion capsule 1 having a substantially
frustoconical base element 2 which is in the form of a pot and
surrounds a cavity 3. The cavity 3 is closed off by a membrane 4.
The base element 2 comprises, in particular, a soft, semi-rigid or
rigid plastics material which has preferably been deep-drawn. The
membrane 4 preferably comprises a thin plastics film or aluminium
foil. The base element 2 has an encircling fastening flange 7 in
the region of the membrane 4, with the membrane 4 being cohesively
connected, in particular welded or adhesively bonded, to the
fastening flange 7. A filter element 5 which is produced from a
thermoplastic, for example polypropylene, is arranged within the
base element 2. The filter element 5 divides the cavity 3 into a
first region 8 and into a second region 9. The first region 8 is
intended to accommodate a beverage raw material, which is not
illustrated in the figures for reasons of clarity. For example, the
first region 8 is filled with a coffee powder before the cavity 3
is closed off by the membrane 4. The coffee powder is preferably
intensely compressed when poured into the first region 8. The
second region 9 serves to accommodate and, in particular, to
collect a beverage extract (not depicted) during the extraction
process of the portion capsule 1. The portion capsule 1 is intended
to be inserted into a brewing chamber 10 of a coffee machine (not
shown) in which an extraction liquid (for example, hot water) is
supplied, preferably under high pressure, to the first region 8.
This extraction liquid interacts with the beverage raw material,
and therefore forms a beverage extract. The filter element 5 has a
plurality of filter openings 13 (not depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3)
in a filter area 5' and therefore functions as a sieve for the
beverage extract. In this case, the beverage extract passes through
the filter openings 13 into the second region 9. The second region
9 is delimited by a bottom region of the base element 2, which
bottom region is pierced in the brewing chamber 10, for example by
a bottom puncturing stem 21 of the coffee machine, in order to
produce an outlet opening for the beverage extract. As an
alternative, it is feasible for an outlet opening to be formed
automatically in the bottom region 11 under the pressure of the
extraction liquid, and/or for an outlet opening or an outlet valve
to already be integrated in the bottom region 11. The cross section
of the filter openings 13 is selected in such a way that
substantially no particles of the beverage raw material pass from
the first region 8 to the second region 9. In order to prevent the
filter element 5 from being displaced relative to the base element
2, the portion capsule 1 optionally has an ultrasonic weld
connection 6 to the base element 2. The membrane 4 is roughened on
a side which is averted from the cavity 3, and therefore adhesion
between the membrane 4 and a wall of the brewing chamber 10 after
the extraction process is prevented or reduced and therefore the
portion capsule 1 is automatically ejected from the brewing chamber
10 in a fault-free manner. Furthermore, the base element 2 has a
wall region 12 which extends substantially between the flange 7 and
the bottom region 11. A plurality of channels 15 are made in the
wall region 12, the said channels being designed in the form of
substantially circumferential grooves which face the cavity 3. The
channels 15 could also be partly interrupted in the circumferential
direction. The channels 15 are further designed in such a way that
the wall region 12 is reinforced by the plurality of channels 15.
Furthermore, adhesion between the wall region 12 and the wall of
the brewing chamber 10 after the extraction process is prevented by
the plurality of channels 15 which are distributed, in particular,
over the wall region 12, as a result of which automatic ejection of
the portion capsule 1 from the brewing chamber 10 is made easier.
The portion capsule 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 also comprises a
circumferential shoulder 16 which is formed in an intermediate
region between the wall region 12 and the flange 7 and which has a
diameter (parallel to the membrane 4) which is larger than that of
the wall region 12. The contour of the shoulder 16 is preferably
designed such that the diameter of the shoulder 16 remains constant
in the direction of the flange 7, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or
reduces again in the direction of the flange 7, as illustrated in
FIG. 3. The bottom region 11 has a greater material thickness in
comparison to the wall region 12 in order, for example, to make it
easier to puncture the bottom region 11 and establish the
ultrasonic weld connection 6. The filter element 5 has a fusible
element 17 on that side which faces the bottom region 11, the said
fusible element being at least partly melted onto the bottom region
11 during an ultrasonic welding process in order to establish the
ultrasonic weld connection 6. The filter element 5 has, by way of
example, a reinforcement structure 5' which supports the filter
area 5' on that side which faces the second region 9. The filter
element 5 also has a circumferential sealing lip 18 which is
connected to the other filter element 5 in the vicinity of the
bottom region 11 and projects from there in the direction of the
flange 7. The sealing lip 18 is at least partly flexible and
projects beyond the filter area 5' in the direction of the flange
7. The free end of the sealing lip 15 snaps into a groove 15, which
is made in the wall region 12, and moulds itself against the wall
region 12 in a form-fitting manner, and therefore an additional
seal is created between the first region 8 and the second region 9,
the said seal preventing liquid flowing around the filter element
5. In this case the sealing lip 18 is designed in such a way that
it has a pressure area 18' which faces the first region 8. An
increase in the pressure in the first region, for example due to
extraction liquid flowing into the cavity 3, now leads to a force
of action on the pressure area 18' in the direction of the wall
region 12, and therefore the sealing action between the wall region
12 and the sealing lip 18 is increased as a function of the
pressure in the first region 8. A first distance along a line which
is perpendicular to the membrane 4, between the membrane 4 and the
filter area 5', which faces the membrane 4, is preferably
substantially 20 millimetres, while a second distance along a line,
which is perpendicular to the membrane 4, between the filter area
5', which faces the membrane 4, and the bottom region 11 is
preferably substantially 5 millimetres.
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic lateral sectional view of a
portion capsule 1 according to a second embodiment of the present
invention with the second embodiment being substantially identical
to the first embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 1, with the
portion capsule 1 according to the second embodiment not having a
shoulder 7, a sealing lip 18 or a greater material thickness in the
bottom region 11 in comparison with the wall region 12.
Furthermore, the channels 15 are designed in the form of grooves
which are formed on that side of the wall region 12 which is
averted from the cavity 3.
[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic lateral sectional view of a
portion capsule 1 according to a third embodiment of the present
invention, with the third embodiment being substantially identical
to the first embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 1, with the
portion capsule 1 according to the third embodiment having only two
channels 16 in the wall region 12, with one of the channels 15 at
the same time serving for the filter element 5 to be snapped
in.
[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a portion
capsule 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the present
invention, with the fourth embodiment being substantially identical
to the second embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 2, with three
grooves 16 being formed in the wall region 12.
[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic plan view of a filter element
5 of a portion capsule 1 according to a fifth embodiment of the
present invention, with the fifth embodiment being substantially
identical to the second embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 2,
with the filter area 5' being depicted from the perspective of the
membrane 4 in FIG. 5. In this case, the filter openings 13 are
arranged in such a way that there are no filter openings 13
arranged in the central region of the filter area 5'. Furthermore,
the filter area 5' is flat in the central region. Therefore, the
filter element 5 has a holding area 14 in the central region, the
said holding area being provided for the purpose of picking up the
filter element 5 by means of a vacuum suction head.
[0029] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a
plurality of stacked portion capsules 1 according to a sixth
embodiment of the present invention, with the sixth embodiment
being substantially identical to the fourth embodiment which is
illustrated in FIG. 4, with the portion capsule 1 according to the
sixth embodiment also having a shoulder 16, not yet being filled
with a beverage raw material, nor having a filter element 5 and not
yet being closed by a membrane 4. FIG. 6 depicts a total of six
such empty portion capsules 1, with five of the portion capsules 1
already being stacked one in the other. In this case, a portion
capsule 1 always rests with its shoulder 16 on the flange 7 of a
portion capsule 1 situated beneath it. In FIG. 6, these five
portion capsules 1 which are already stacked one in the other are
stacked into a sixth portion capsule 1 along a stacking direction
101.
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