Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Portion capsule having a liquid distributor
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.
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.
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.
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
- movable in the volume, and/or
- deformable, and/or
- modifiable in terms of its volume.
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The narrative offered for this subject matter of the
present invention equally applies to the other subject
matter and vice-versa.
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.
According to the invention, the portion capsule, in
particular in the volume, has a liquid distributor
which at least partially distributes the liquid, in
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1
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.
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
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between the raw material and the limitation of the
portion capsule which is opposite the base, for example
a cover film.
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.
The narrative offered for this subject matter of the
present invention also applies equally to the other
subject matter, and vice-versa.
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.
According to one further preferred embodiment or an
embodiment according to the invention, the liquid
distributor is a granulate material.
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.
According to this embodiment of the present invention,
the liquid distributor is not an integral and/or rigid
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,
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.
The granulate material is preferably a plastics
material, an organic material, or an inorganic
material.
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.
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.
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.
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
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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The granulate material and/or the filler material
are/is preferably provided from a swellable material.
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.
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.
Particularly preferably, the fibrous material is
natural or man-made fibers. The fibers are made from a
plastics material, for example.
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.
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.
Said liquid distributor very particularly preferably
bears on said beverage substance/foodstuff substance.
The liquid distributor is preferably provided so as to
be compressible in at least one direction of extent, so
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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.
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.
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.
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.
The liquid distributor is preferably tailored to the
respectively desired height.
Alternatively or additionally, the liquid distributor
is composed of one piece or a plurality of
interconnected pieces.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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:
figs. 1 to 4 show in each case one embodiment of the
portion capsule according to the
invention;
figs. 5 to 7 show in each case the granulate material
and the raw material.
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-
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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.
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
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compresses the raw material 7 for example, when the
liquid flows in through the cover 3.
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.
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.
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
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is preferably provided to be from a swellable
material, for example cellulose or starch.
Fig. 5 shows the raw material 7 and the liquid
5 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
10 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.
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.
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
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=
material is avoided thereby. The casing is permeable to
the liquid for producing the beverage or foodstuff.
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List of reference signs:
1 Portion capsule
2 Side wall
3 Cover film
4 Flange
Base
6 Filter element
7 Raw material
8 Liquid distributor
9 Cross section
Filler material
11 Granulate material
12 Separating agent
13 Casing of the granulate material
14 Volume
Layer
16 Capsule body
Thickness of the granulate material layer 11
