U.S. patent application number 14/779385 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-03 for portion capsule having a liquid distributor.
The applicant listed for this patent is K-FEE SYSTEM GMBH. Invention is credited to Gunter EMPL, Marco HANISCH, Marc KRUGER.
Application Number | 20160060023 14/779385 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50841789 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160060023 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
EMPL; Gunter ; et
al. |
March 3, 2016 |
PORTION CAPSULE HAVING A LIQUID DISTRIBUTOR
Abstract
The invention relates to a portion capsule for producing a
beverage or a food, comprising a side wall and a bottom, which
together define a volume in which a raw material is located, which
is extracted, desorbed, and/or dissolved by means of a liquid in
order to produce the beverage.
Inventors: |
EMPL; Gunter; (Bergisch
Gladbach, DE) ; KRUGER; Marc; (Bergisch Gladbach,
DE) ; HANISCH; Marco; (Bergisch Gladbach,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
K-FEE SYSTEM GMBH |
Bergisch Gladbach |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
50841789 |
Appl. No.: |
14/779385 |
Filed: |
May 27, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
May 27, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2014/060953 |
371 Date: |
September 23, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/112 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/8043
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/804 20060101
B65D085/804 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 29, 2013 |
DE |
10 2013 210 031.0 |
Dec 12, 2013 |
DE |
10 2013 225 779.1 |
Jan 22, 2014 |
DE |
10 2014 100 689.5 |
Claims
1. A portion capsule for producing a beverage or a foodstuff,
having a side wall and a base which collectively define a volume in
which a raw material, which, for producing the beverage, is
extracted by a liquid, is located, wherein a liquid distributor
which distributes the liquid perfusing into the portion capsule
across the cross section thereof is preferably provided in the
volume, so as to be upstream of the coffee powder, characterized in
that the granulate material is coffee granulate material which has
a larger cross section than the mean particle diameter of the
coffee powder.
2. The portion capsule as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that
the liquid distributor bears on the raw material.
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. The portion capsule as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that
the granulate material is an organic material.
6. (canceled)
7. The portion capsule as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that
the granulate material is provided as a layer.
8. The portion capsule as claimed in 5, characterized in that a
separating agent is provided between the layer and the raw
material.
9. The portion capsule as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that
the granulate material at least in portions is surrounded by a
casing.
10. (canceled)
11. The portion capsule as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the granulate material is provided from a swellable
material.
12. (canceled)
13. (canceled)
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. (canceled)
17. (canceled)
18. The portion capsule as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the liquid distributor at least partially is provided from a
natural material, in particular wood, wood fibers, or cork.
19. The portion capsule as claimed in claim 18, characterized in
that the liquid distributor is composed of interconnected fibers or
pieces.
20. (canceled)
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a portion capsule for
producing a beverage or a foodstuff, having a side wall and a base
which collectively define a volume in which a raw material, which,
for producing the beverage, is extracted, desorbed, and/or
dissolved by a liquid, is located.
[0002] Portion capsules of this type are well known from the prior
art and are employed for producing coffee, espresso, cappuccino,
and milk-and-cocoa beverages, and so forth, for example. However,
portion capsules of this type may also serve for producing
foodstuffs, for example soups. To this end, a liquid, in particular
hot water, which extracts, desorbs, and/or dissolves the beverage
to be produced from the raw material, is induced into the portion
capsule. However, the yield which is achieved thereby is often
unsatisfactory.
[0003] It has therefore been the object of the present invention to
provide a portion capsule which does not exhibit the disadvantages
of the prior art.
[0004] The object is achieved with a portion capsule for producing
a beverage or a foodstuff, having a side wall and a base which
collectively define a volume in which a raw material, which, for
producing the beverage, is extracted, desorbed, and/or dissolved by
a liquid, is located, wherein a liquid distributor which
distributes the liquid perfusing into the portion capsule at least
partially across the cross section thereof is preferably provided
in the volume, wherein the liquid distributor is provided so as to
be [0005] movable in the volume, and/or [0006] deformable, and/or
[0007] modifiable in terms of its volume.
[0008] The narrative offered for this subject matter of the present
invention equally applies to the other subject matter and
vice-versa.
[0009] The present invention relates to a portion capsule for
producing a beverage or a foodstuff. The portion capsule has a side
wall which may be designed so as to be cylindrical or conical, for
example, or else so as to have a rectangular, square, or elliptic
cross section. A base is provided, in particular in an integral
manner, at one end of the side wall. The side wall and the base may
be produced by vacuum forming a film web or by injection molding,
for example. The base and the side wall define a volume in which a
raw material, which, for producing the beverage, is extracted,
desorbed, and/or dissolved by a liquid, is provided. The liquid
here perfuses through the portion capsule in a main flow direction,
in particular from the base to the opposite end of the portion
capsule, or vice-versa. The raw material is typically provided in
the form of particles. The particles may be compressed in the
portion capsule. The raw material is coffee powder or tea, for
example, the leaves of the latter having preferably been
comminuted. Alternatively or additionally, there is milk powder,
cocoa powder, a pulverulent substance for producing a nutritional
supplement, or for example a substance by way of which a foodstuff,
for example soup, is produced, in the capsule. However, there may
also be other foodstuff raw materials in the portion capsule.
Furthermore, the raw material may be a cleaning agent by way of
which the automatic coffee machine which the portion capsules for
producing the beverage or the foodstuff at least partially is
cleaned.
[0010] According to the invention, the portion capsule, in
particular in the volume, has a liquid distributor which at least
partially distributes the liquid, in particular hot water, which
perfuses into the portion capsule across the cross section thereof.
This liquid distributor is provided upstream of the raw material
and so as to be movable in the volume, that is to say that the
liquid distributor is not connected in a materially integral,
form-fitting, and/or force-fitting manner to the side wall, a
flange at the upper periphery of the side wall, and/or to the base
or a cover film of the portion capsule such that said liquid
distributor cannot move. The liquid distributor is moved, for
example, by the liquid in the flow direction thereof and thereby
preferably compresses the raw material, or at least prevents the
formation of an undesired flow duct in the raw material. However,
on account of environmental influences, the distributor may be
deformed even during storage or shipping. However, it is also
possible for the liquid distributor to modify its angular position
in relation to the portion capsule. Alternatively or additionally,
the liquid distributor is configured so as to be deformable, that
is to say that it may be deformed during the production operation
of the liquid or of the foodstuff, for example. The distributor is
elastically or plastically deformed in particular under pressure
from the inflowing liquid. However, the distributor may under
circumstances also be deformed on account of environmental
influences during storage or shipping. According to one further
embodiment according to the invention or preferred embodiment, the
volume of the distributor is modified in particular during
production of the beverage or of the foodstuff, preferably under
the influence of the liquid and/or temperature. The distributor
preferably swells as soon as it is in contact with the inflowing
liquid.
[0011] The liquid distributor is provided so as to be upstream of
the liquid supply into the portion capsule, preferably between the
base and the raw material, or between the raw material and the
limitation of the portion capsule which is opposite the base, for
example a cover film.
[0012] According to one further subject matter according to the
invention or a preferred subject matter of the present invention,
the liquid distributor bears on the raw material, that is to say
that the liquid distributor also at least partially limits the
freedom of movement of the raw material in the portion capsule.
[0013] The narrative offered for this subject matter of the present
invention also applies equally to the other subject matter, and
vice-versa.
[0014] The cross section of the liquid distributor at least in
portions is preferably smaller than the cross section of the
portion capsule in that region in which the liquid distributor
bears on the raw material. This preferred embodiment of the present
invention has the advantage that in particular axial movement, that
is to say movement along a symmetry axis of the portion capsule in
the main flow direction of the liquid through the portion capsule,
is enabled, in particular when the side wall of the portion capsule
is provided so as to be conical.
[0015] According to one further preferred embodiment or an
embodiment according to the invention, the liquid distributor is a
granulate material.
[0016] The narrative offered for this subject matter of the present
invention also applies equally to the other subject matter of the
present invention, and vice-versa.
[0017] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the
liquid distributor is not an integral and/or rigid body, but is
composed of a plurality of individual particles, between which are
interdisposed liquid ducts through which the liquid induced into
the portion capsule is able to perfuse and be distributed
thereby.
[0018] The granulate material is preferably a plastics material, an
organic material, or an inorganic material.
[0019] According to one preferred embodiment, the granulate
material is composed of the same material as the raw material or
has at least one component of the raw material, wherein the
granulate material has a larger cross section than the mean
particle diameter of the raw material. The granulate material is,
for example, very coarsely ground coffee beans or very coarsely cut
tea leaves. The granulate material here does not have the task of
having a beverage or foodstuff component part being extracted or
desorbed to any significant extent therefrom and/or of the
granulate material being dissolved, but substantially has a liquid
distribution function.
[0020] According to one preferred embodiment, the granulate
material has a swellable component. The granulate material may at
least in part be composed of cellulose and/or starch.
[0021] According to one preferred embodiment, the granulate
material is provided as a layer which very particularly preferably
adjoins the raw material layer. This layer preferably has a larger
thickness than the largest diameter of the particles of which the
granulate material is composed.
[0022] A separating agent, for example a woven or non-woven
material or a film which is permeable to the liquid, is preferably
provided between the layer and the raw material, in order to
prevent the granulate material and the raw material from mixing.
The separating agent may be made from a natural material or a
plastics material. Examples of a non-woven material include a felt
or a non-woven structure, or a paper filter.
[0023] The granulate material is preferably at least in portions,
in particular completely, surrounded by a casing. This casing has
the advantage that the granulate material remains in a particular
shape and/or that it cannot mix with the raw material. The casing
may be passed through by the liquid.
[0024] According to one further preferred subject matter of the
present invention, or a subject matter according to the invention,
a filler material has been added to the raw material.
[0025] The narrative offered for the portion capsule according to
the invention also applies equally to the method according to the
invention, and vice-versa. Features of the method may be combined
with features of the other subject matter of the present invention,
and vice-versa.
[0026] This filler material is at least not as heavily extracted,
desorbed, and/or dissolved as the raw material. The filler material
preferably serves for liquid distribution and/or for filling the
portion capsule in the case where the raw material does not
completely fill the volume in the portion capsule.
[0027] The narrative offered for the portion capsule according to
the invention also applies equally to the method according to the
invention, and vice-versa. Features of the method may be combined
with features of the other subject matter of the present invention,
and vice-versa.
[0028] The granulate material and/or the filler material are/is
preferably provided from a swellable material.
[0029] Preferably, or according to one embodiment according to the
invention, the liquid distributor is provided from a fibrous
material or from a material which is composed of one or a plurality
of threads.
[0030] The narrative offered for the portion capsule according to
the invention also applies equally to the method according to the
invention, and vice-versa. Features of the method may be combined
with features of the other subject matter of the present invention,
and vice-versa.
[0031] Particularly preferably, the fibrous material is natural or
man-made fibers. The fibers are made from a plastics material, for
example.
[0032] The fibers and/or the thread or the threads are at least
partially interconnected. This composite structure may be formed by
an adhesive and/or by way of thermal treatment. Alternatively or
additionally, the fibers and/or the thread or the threads are
provided with a sheathing which holds the former together and/or
shapes the liquid distributor in a certain manner.
[0033] The liquid distributor preferably extends across the entire
cross-sectional area of the portion capsule and is particularly
preferably in direct contact with the beverage substance/foodstuff
substance.
[0034] Said liquid distributor very particularly preferably bears
on said beverage substance/foodstuff substance.
[0035] The liquid distributor is preferably provided so as to be
compressible in at least one direction of extent, so that bypassing
of the liquid distributor by the liquid is prevented and/or so as
to at least substantially completely fill the space between an
optionally present cover film and the beverage substance/foodstuff
substance.
[0036] According to one further preferred embodiment or an
embodiment according to the invention, the liquid distributor is a
natural material, in particular a wood material and/or a cork
material.
[0037] The narrative offered for the portion capsule according to
the invention also applies equally to the method according to the
invention, and vice-versa. Features of the method may be combined
with features of the other subject matter of the present invention,
and vice-versa.
[0038] The wood material may be wood fibers; alternatively or
additionally, a plurality of bores through which the liquid
perfuses, and on account of which the liquid is distributed across
the cross section of the capsule, are introduced into the natural
material.
[0039] The liquid distributor is preferably tailored to the
respectively desired height.
[0040] Alternatively or additionally, the liquid distributor is
composed of one piece or a plurality of interconnected pieces.
[0041] The height of the liquid distributor is preferably provided
such that the latter completely fills the space between the
beverage substance/foodstuff substance, and an optionally present
cover film, and/or the base.
[0042] The liquid distributor is preferably compressed in the
portion capsule. The liquid distributor is in particular compressed
between the cover and the beverage substance/foodstuff substance.
On account thereof, the beverage substance/foodstuff substance is
positionally fixed and cannot shift for example during shipping of
the portion capsules.
[0043] A further preferred subject matter of the present invention,
or a subject matter according to the invention, is a portion
capsule in which a layer having a swelling agent is provided
between the cover film and the beverage substance/foodstuff
substance, said swelling agent swelling when in contact with the
liquid.
[0044] The narrative offered for the portion capsule according to
the invention also applies equally to the method according to the
invention, and vice-versa. Features of the method may be combined
with features of the other subject matter of the present invention,
and vice-versa.
[0045] To this end, skin residue of the coffee cherries, or coffee
skins, respectively, and/or sugar-beet chips are preferably used
and particularly preferably pressed to form a disk, particularly
preferably having a thickness which is smaller than the
intermediate space between the surface of the beverage
substance/foodstuff substance and the cover film.
[0046] Upon commencement of the brewing operation, the liquid
perfuses through the layer which immediately begins to swell, on
account of which the intermediate space between the beverage
substance/foodstuff substance and the cover-film inner side is at
least partially closed off.
[0047] A further subject matter of the present invention is a
method in which a connection between particles of the beverage
substance/foodstuff substance, which has been established by an
adhesive, is released again upon perfusion of the beverage
substance/foodstuff substance.
[0048] The narrative offered for the portion capsule according to
the invention also applies equally to the method according to the
invention, and vice-versa. Features of the method may be combined
with features of the other subject matter of the present invention,
and vice-versa.
[0049] The inventions will be explained hereunder by means of FIGS.
1 to 7. These explanations are merely exemplary and do not limit
the general concept of the invention. In the figures:
[0050] FIGS. 1 to 4 show in each case one embodiment of the portion
capsule according to the invention;
[0051] FIGS. 5 to 7 show in each case the granulate material and
the raw material.
[0052] FIG. 1 shows the portion capsule 1 according to the
invention. This portion capsule has a capsule body 16 which in the
present case is composed of a conically shaped side wall 2 and a
base 5. The side wall 2 and the base 5 define a volume 14. The side
wall, at the end thereof which is opposite the base, in the present
case has a flange 4 on which a cover film 3 is attached, in
particular sealed, said cover film 3 separating the volume 14 from
the environment. The beverage raw material or foodstuff raw
material is provided in the volume. Furthermore, a retaining
element 6, for example a sieve, which prevents raw-material
particles reaching the beverage, may be provided in the volume. The
raw material may be coffee powder, tea leaves, or else milk powder,
cocoa powder, a nutritional supplement powder, or a raw material by
way of which a foodstuff, for example soup, is produced. In order
for a beverage or a foodstuff to be produced, the portion capsule
is perfused by a liquid which extracts the raw material and/or
desorbs substances therefrom and/or dissolves the raw material. The
liquid is preferably hot water which perfuses the portion capsule
preferably from the base 5 to the cover 3, or vice-versa. According
to the invention, a liquid distributor 8 by way of which the
inflowing liquid is distributed across the cross section of the
portion capsule is furthermore provided in the volume. In the
present case the liquid distributor is provided between the raw
material and the cover film. However, the liquid distributor may
also be interdisposed between the base and the raw material. This
liquid distributor distributes the liquid by way of which the
beverage or the foodstuff is produced at least partially across the
cross section of the portion capsule. The liquid perfuses the
liquid distributor and then comes into contact with the raw
material and extracts or desorbs therefrom flavoring substances
and/or dissolves beverage particles or foodstuff particles. In
order for the beverage to be produced, the portion capsule is
perforated preferably in the region of the cover 3 and in the
region of the base 5. The liquid flows into the portion capsule
through one of these openings and flows out therefrom through the
other.
[0053] FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the portion capsule
according to the invention, Reference may substantially be made to
the narratives according to FIG. 1, wherein in the present case the
liquid distributor 8 is provided such that the latter is moved in
the direction identified by the arrow and on account thereof
compresses the raw material 7 for example, when the liquid flows in
through the cover 3.
[0054] According to one further embodiment (not illustrated) of the
present invention, the liquid distributor swells when liquid flows
into the volume, that is to say that the volume of the liquid
distributor is preferably enlarged so much that the space between
the raw material and the cover or the base is at least partially,
preferably completely, filled, and/or the raw material is
compressed.
[0055] In FIG. 3 one further embodiment of the portion capsule
according to the invention is illustrated. Reference is again made
to the narratives according to FIG. 1. In the present case the
distributor is provided such that the latter is deformed in
particular during production of the beverage or of the foodstuff,
in particular on account of the influence of a hot pressurized
liquid, and on account thereof in turn preferably compresses the
raw material 7. In the present case the distributor is also
perfused by the liquid during production of the beverage or of the
foodstuff.
[0056] FIG. 4 shows one further embodiment of the portion capsule
according to the invention. In the present case the raw material 7
has a filler material 10 which in the present case is provided so
as to be particulate. This filler material may be from a plastics
material, an organic material, or an inorganic material. The filler
material may be at least partially identical to the raw material
and/or have one component thereof, wherein the filler material has
a larger, preferably a much larger particle size than the mean
diameter of the raw material provided in a pulverulent manner. The
filler material is coarsely ground coffee beans or coarse tea
particles, for example. The filler material is preferably provided
to be from a swellable material, for example cellulose or
starch.
[0057] FIG. 5 shows the raw material 7 and the liquid distributor
8, which are both located in the volume 14 of the portion capsule.
In the present case the liquid distributor 8 is provided as a layer
15 of a granulate material 11. In the present case this granulate
material is located at that side at which the liquid flows into the
portion capsule. Fluid ducts, through which the liquid can perfuse
and which distribute the liquid at least partially across the cross
section of the portion capsule, are located between the individual
particles of the granulate material 11. The individual particles of
the granulate material are preferably substantially larger than the
mean grain diameter of the raw material. The thickness D of the
granulate material layer is preferably larger than the largest
diameter of the particles of the granulate material. The granulate
material is preferably from the same or a similar material as the
raw material, or has at least one component thereof. The granulate
material is coarsely ground coffee beans or coarse tea particles,
for example.
[0058] A preferred embodiment of the embodiment according to FIG. 5
is illustrated in FIG. 6. In the present case a separating agent,
for example a liquid-permeable film which prevents the granulate
material mixing with the raw material, is provided between the
granulate material 11 and the raw material 7.
[0059] FIG. 7 shows one further preferred embodiment of the liquid
distributor 8 which is provided as a granulate material. In the
present case the granulate material is provided in a casing which
may be perfused by the liquid. The liquid distributor is held in a
particular shape by this casing, and/or mixing with the raw
material is avoided thereby. The casing is permeable to the liquid
for producing the beverage or foodstuff.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0060] 1 Portion capsule [0061] 2 Side wall [0062] 3 Cover film
[0063] 4 Flange [0064] 5 Base [0065] 6 Filter element [0066] 7 Raw
material [0067] 8 Liquid distributor [0068] 9 Cross section [0069]
10 Filler material [0070] 11 Granulate material [0071] 12
Separating agent [0072] 13 Casing of the granulate material [0073]
14 Volume [0074] 15 Layer [0075] 16 Capsule body [0076] D Thickness
of the granulate material layer 11
* * * * *