Abstract:
A capsule comprising beverage ingredients therein, and including a closed enclosure hermetically sealed to gas; and a perforated flow-regulating disc member which is arranged in the closed enclosure, perpendicularly to the liquid flow path inside the capsule, and which is configured for separating the ingredients at least partially into at least two ingredient spaces and which enables liquid to spread more evenly and transversely across one ingredient space and to the periphery of the enclosure to facilitate extraction of the beverage ingredients in the ingredient spaces. The capsule also may include an insert located within the enclosure and having tubular portions which are respectively open away from the center of the enclosure, wherein the insert is centrally arranged inside the capsule, and the ingredients are entirely provided radially outside the tubular portions of the insert.

Description:
This application is a 371 filing of International Patent Application PCT/EP2008/53148 filed Mar. 17, 2008. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention generally relates to the field of production of beverages or other liquid comestibles on the basis of ingredients contained in a capsule. 
     Such capsules are known for being inserted in matching beverage production machines (e.g. coffee machines). After being placed in an extraction chamber of the beverage production machine, water is injected into the capsule. The water will interact with the ingredients contained in the capsule. As a result of the interaction, a beverage or other comestible will be produced which can then be obtained from the capsule. 
     The invention preferably uses capsules which are hermetically sealed at a production site and which are inserted into the extraction chamber of the beverage production machine while still being in the sealed state. The capsule is opened both at the water inlet face for injection injecting pressurized water into the capsule as well as at the beverage outlet face for delivering the beverage. Openings on both sides may be produced by dedicated members of the machine. Note that these members can be driven manually, e.g. via a lever mechanism, or automatically by a motor. 
     EP 870 457 A1 and WO 94/02059 show extraction methods and extraction machines for essentially symmetrical capsules. 
     WO 94/01344 also describes a symmetrical capsule. 
     When water is injected into the interior of the capsule, especially when using ground coffee powder as an ingredient, it has to be assured that the water will be homogenously distributed all over the ingredients. A heterogeneous flow distribution of the water through the ingredients will lead to a poor quality or an unreliable quality of the produced beverage. 
     One known solution consists in having the water enter the interior of the capsule at a plurality of openings such that water distributes evenly across the whole transversal section of the capsule. However, this leads to a rather complex machine which has to be provided with a plurality of perforation/water injection members to this regard. Furthermore, the production of a plurality of openings requires a high closure force to be able to correctly pierce through the capsule for the injection of water. The required force is even higher for capsules containing ground ingredients in a compacted form. 
     Another issue, especially when extracting coffee from ground coffee powder containing capsule, is to control the flow rate of the usually pressurized hot water through the interior of the capsule. Depending on the kind of coffee to be produced, different flow rates and pressures inside the capsule have to be guaranteed. In particular, flow rates are usually relatively slow for capsules containing ground coffee in compacted form. Too slow of a flow rate may also negatively impact the extraction of coffee compounds. 
     Another issue is that when a “long” beverage (e.g., 110 mL or more) is desired, the solution usually consists in passing a higher amount of water through the ingredients. However, this may result in over-extracting the ingredients and to bitterness issues of the final drink. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention now overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a technology for producing a beverage from an ingredient containing capsule with reliable quality, all by not increasing the complexity as well as the inconveniences associated with the existing beverage production machines. 
     One aspect in this regard is the homogenous distribution of the injected water throughout the bulk of the beverage ingredient. Another (independent) aspect is the reliable control of the flow rate and the pressure conditions inside the capsule. 
     This aspect is achieved by means of the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims develop further the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention a capsule comprising ingredients is proposed, wherein a rigid or flexible perforated flow regulating disc member is arranged inside the capsule, in particular in an enclosure of the capsule closed in a gas tight manner, thus separating the space for the ingredients into at least two parts. The disc member is arranged perpendicularly to the liquid flow path through the capsule, i.e. between the liquid inlet face and the liquid outlet face of the capsule. 
     The disc member can separate the ingredients space symmetrically or asymmetrically, such that correspondingly symmetrically partitioned compartments or asymmetrically partitioned compartments for the ingredients are produced. 
     The perforation of the disc member can be designed such that the flow resistance provided through the disc member is smaller at the periphery of the disc member than at its centre area. 
     In one mode, the number of perforation openings (i.e. the density of the perforation openings) and/or the cross-sectional surface of the perforation openings can be made larger at the periphery of the disc member than at its centre area. This configuration enables to distribute water, injected from the centre, more evenly through the whole cross section of the capsule. 
     It can be foreseen that the capsule can be selectively inserted in two different orientations in the beverage production machine, wherein in the first orientation the liquid will traverse the capsule in a first direction and wherein in the second orientation the liquid will traverse the capsule in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction. In this case the flow resistance as regulated by the disc member can be the same for both flow directions, or the flow resistance can be different between the first and second (opposite) flow direction. In the latter case the properties of the produced beverage can be set by choosing the corresponding orientation of the capsule in the beverage production machine. 
     The upper and/or lower side of the disc member can be provided with mechanical anchoring corrugations assisting in the stabilization of the ingredients in the capsule. 
     The disc member can be provided with the mechanical anchoring corrugations only near the centre area and be substantially free of corrugations near its free edge. 
     The disc member can extend radially to the rim of the capsule such that the ingredient space is completely partitioned by the disc member. 
     Alternatively, the outer rim of the disc member can be radially recessed from the rim of the capsule such that the ingredient space is not completely partitioned by the disc member. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a capsule containing ingredients for beverages or other liquid comestibles is proposed. Inside the capsule an insert is provided which has a plurality of tubular portions, such as e.g. two connected tubular portions. The tubular portions are respectively opened towards the associated front wall of the insert, such that the tubular portions are opened towards the neighbouring faces of the capsule. The insert is centrally arranged inside the capsule. The ingredients are entirely provided radially outside the tubular portions of the insert. 
     Preferably the capsule can be symmetrical with regard to a middle plane perpendicular to the length of the insert. 
     The tubular portions can be separated from each other by a closed partitioning wall between the two tubular portions such that there is no fluid communication between the two tubular portions. 
     Alternatively, at least one liquid duct can be provided in the partitioning wall of the tubular portions thus producing a liquid communication with reduced cross-section between the two tubular portions. 
     The insert can have a cylindrical wall defining the tubular portions and being provided with liquid passage means for producing a fluid communication between the inner hollow space of each tubular portion, i.e., the water injection space, and the space radially outside thereof, i.e. the ingredient space. 
     The passage means can be provided in the cylindrical wall of the insert closed to each front wall or directly at each ring-shaped front wall of the insert. 
     A rigid or flexible perforated disc member can be provided radially extending from the circumferential wall of the central insert. 
     The disc member can extend in a centre plane of the tubular portions. 
     The disc member ( 15 ) can be an integral piece with the tubular portions ( 6 ,  7 ) of the insert ( 2 ) or a separate piece thereto. 
     A still further aspect of the invention proposes a capsule comprising beverage ingredients. The capsule is provided with at least one inner bypass channel traversing the interior of the capsule designed to guide a portion of a liquid injected through a first face to an opening produced in an opposing second face of the capsule wall without said portion getting in contact with the ingredients. 
     The invention also relates to a capsule beverage device comprising
         an enclosing member,   a water injection and perforation member having an outer tube member,   characterized that the outer tube member is selectively closed by an inner tube member and is openable by the fluid under pressure which moves the inner tube member in opening to let the fluid leave the water injection and perforation member and be injected in the capsule.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further advantages, features and object of the present invention will become evident for the skilled person when reading the enclosed detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the figures of the enclosed drawings. 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a capsule according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  show exploded views of a capsule according to two different embodiments of the present invention, essentially differing in the design of their insert. 
         FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  show details and the function of an embodiment of the capsule perforation and water injection member. 
         FIG. 7  shows a schematic view of a capsule according to an embodiment of the present invention when inserted in an extraction chamber of a beverage production machine as well as the liquid flow path occurring when operating the beverage production machine. 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the inner side of an enclosing member of the beverage production machine of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  shows a view of a top face of the beverage ingredient containing capsule according to an embodiment of the present invention after an extraction process. 
         FIG. 10  shows a view comparable to  FIG. 7 , however, with a capsule according to a still further embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a capsule according to another possible embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a capsule according to still another possible embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In  FIG. 1  a beverage ingredient containing capsule  1  is shown. The beverage ingredients are referenced by the numeral  3 . These ingredients are preferably ground coffee powder, which preferably is present in the form of a compact and thus form-stable cake. 
     The capsule  1  shown in  FIG. 1  has an essentially symmetrical design. Therefore, preferably such capsule  1  can be used with its first face  4  serving as the water injection side and its second face  5  serving as the beverage delivery side or vice versa. It can be noted that the capsule and the injection device are represented in the examples spatially in a top-down flow direction only as a matter of illustration, and the invention should also be imagined in any other possible spatial relationship (e.g., horizontal flow direction). 
     The two faces  4 ,  5  are connected to each other at a rim-shaped flange portion  35  and are preferably hermetically sealed to each other at this rim portion  35 . Thus, the capsule  1 , before being inserted in a beverage production machine and thus in the state as shown in  FIG. 1 , will contain the beverage ingredient  3  in a hermetically sealed and gas tight manner. 
     Inside the capsule  1  an insert  2  is provided. Preferably, this insert  2  is made from a rigid material, such as a plastic material, and is provided as one integral piece. Alternatively, this insert  2  can be composed of several parts. The insert  2  (or the parts from which it is composed) can be produced e.g. by injection moulding. 
     The insert  2  presents two tubular portions  6 ,  7  which are respectively open towards the neighbouring faces  4 ,  5 , respectively, of the capsule  1  and which are separated from each other by a partitioning wall  12 . In the example of  FIG. 1  the partitioning wall  12  is closed and thus there is no direct liquid communication between the hollow spaces confined by the tubular portions  6 ,  7 . 
     Note that the cross-section of the tubular portions  6 ,  7  does not necessarily have to be circular, but can present any other transversal section. 
     As will be explained later on, an adapted beverage production machine will have a perforation member perforating the face  4  within the area overlapping the tubular portion  6 . Once such opening is made in the face  4 , water can then be injected into the first tubular portion  6 . The circumferential wall  13  of the insert  2  is provided with liquid passages  8  producing a fluid communication between the hollow space of the first tubular member  6  and the beverage ingredients  3  which are provided in a space radially surrounding the tubular portions  6 ,  7 . 
     Preferably identically water passages  14  are also provided in the circumferential wall  13  of the second tubular member  7 . 
     Preferably these water passages  14  are present in the area of the circumferential wall  13  of the tubular member  6 ,  7  close to the corresponding front wall  8  and  9  respectively, of the insert  2 . 
     According to the embodiment of  FIG. 1  these water passages are actually defined by projections and/or recessions (e.g. grooves)  14  in the front wall  8  and  9  respectively, of the insert  2 . 
     From  FIG. 1  it can be seen that the insert  2  is provided centrally in the interior of the capsule  1 . The beverage ingredients  3  are entirely provided in an ingredient space  16 ,  17  radially outside the circumferential wall  13  of the insert  2 . 
     Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the insert  2  extends throughout the entire thickness of the interior of the capsule  1  and thus essentially from the first face  4  to the second face  5 . 
     Preferably, the insert  2  is provided inside the capsule  1  such that no ingredients can migrate from the ingredient spaces  16 ,  17  into the hollow spaces of the tubular portions  6  and  7 , respectively. 
     A filter layer (not shown, but see references  43 ,  44  in  FIG. 12 ) can also block the ingredients from migrating into the hollow spaces of the tubular portions  6 ,  7 . The filter function can also be taken over by the passages  14  in case their cross-sections are made smaller than the average grain size of the ingredients. 
     Generally, water injected into the first tubular member  6  will exit the hollow space defined by the first tubular member  6  through the water passages  14  and will thus enter the ingredient space  16 ,  17 . It will then traverse the ingredient space in an essentially axial direction. 
     The hot water will interact with the ingredients  3 . The thus produced beverage or liquid comestible will then leave the capsule  1  at the lower face  5 . 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , the present invention generally also proposes the provision of an inner flow regulating member which, in the example of  FIG. 1 , is present as a perforated disc member  15 . The disc member  15  can be solid or flexible (foil or membrane). If rigid, it can be made from a plastic material, e.g. by injection molding. The disc member  15  can be an integral piece of the insert  2  or a separate piece. 
     The disc member  15  is arranged perpendicularly to the liquid flow path through the capsule, i.e. between the liquid inlet face  4  and the liquid outlet face  5  of the capsule  1 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 1  the perforated disc member  15  extends from the insert  2  in the centre plane of the insert  2 , i.e. a plane perpendicular to the axis of the tubular portions  6 ,  7  and crossing the insert  2  and the level of the partitioning wall  12  of the insert  2 . 
     The disc member can also be arranged at other levels of the insert in which case asymmetrically partitioned ingredient compartments will be produced. 
     A plurality of disc members can be provided at different levels in order to produce more than two ingredient compartments, which can be of advantage e.g. in case different ingredients are to be contained in the interior of the capsule. 
     The invention also covers embodiments which only have the disc member  15 , but not the insert  2  of  FIG. 1  having two connecting tubular portions  6 ,  7 . (Such embodiments will be described later on with reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 .) 
     In any case, the perforated disc-shaped member  15  is provided inside the capsule  1  such that it separates the ingredient space completely or partially (see  FIG. 2 ) into two ingredients compartments  16 ,  17 . 
     The disc-shaped member  15  is perforated with openings  20  in order to produce a liquid communication channel between the first and the second compartment  16 ,  17  of the ingredient space. 
     Optionally, the disc-shaped member can serve as a flow-regulating member such that the pressure conditions inside the capsule  1  can be controlled by the flow resistance of the perforation openings  20  of the disc member  15 , the disc member  15  essentially representing the bottle-neck of the liquid flow through the interior of the capsule  1 . 
     The two ingredient space compartments  16 ,  17  can contain the same or different ingredients. Thus, the openings  20  can also have the function of a filter avoiding the migration from ingredients of the first ingredient compartment  16  into the second compartment  17  and vice versa. 
     The flow resistance of the disc-shaped member  15  can be constant over the entire surface of the disc-shaped member  15 . Alternatively, the flow resistance of the disc shaped member  15  can decrease towards the periphery  18  of the disc member such that the flow resistance of the disc member  15  is smaller at the periphery than at the centre. The effect is that water tends to spread more evenly across all the transverse section of the first portion of ingredients and up to the edge of the capsule thus ensuring that all the coffee contained in the capsule is fully extracted. 
     Therefore, the disc-shaped member  15  has a water-distributing function ensuring that any water coming from the central insert  2  is homogeneously spread all over the width of the capsule  1 . 
     This can be achieved e.g. by having a higher density of perforation openings  20  and/or openings with a higher cross-sectional surface at the periphery  18  when compared to the centre area  19 . 
     The upper and/or lower side of the disc-shaped member  15  can be provided with corrugations  21 . 
     Although the disc-shaped member  15  in  FIG. 1  is shown in a symmetrical arrangement (thus producing symmetrical beverage ingredient compartments  16 ,  17 ), it is to be understood that the disc-shaped member  15  can also be provided asymmetrically, thus producing different beverage ingredient compartments  16 ,  17 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 1  (and also  FIG. 3 ) the disc-shaped member  15  extents throughout the entire width of the interior of the capsule  1  and thus entirely divides the two beverage ingredient compartments  16 ,  17 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the cross-section of the disc-shaped member  15  is smaller than the cross-section of the interior of the capsule  1  and the width direction, such that the outer rim of the disc-shaped member  15  will be radially recessed from the flange area  35  of the capsule  1 . 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 2 , the corrugations  19  can e.g. be pyramids distributed over the lower and/or upper side of the disc-shaped member  15  in a regular pattern. Of course, the corrugations can take other shapes such as cubic, cross or polygonal contours. 
     In  FIG. 2  one can also see that the ingredients  3  can be provided as two halves of a solid compacted cake. 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective exploded view of the capsule of  FIG. 1 . 
     In this example, on the one hand the disc-shaped member  15  extents throughout the entire width direction of the interior of the capsule  1 . In addition, the corrugations  19  are only provided at the centre area  19  of the disc member but not at the periphery  18  thereof. 
       FIGS. 4 to 6  show a capsule perforation and water injection member  24  which can be used together with the capsule as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 . The perforation and injection member essentially comprises an outer tube member  27  and an inner member  25  having a conical seat portion  26 . The conical seat portion  26  tightly closes off the front and outer tube portion  27  assisted by the biasing force of spring means  28 . 
     The front wall  29  of the outer tube  27  is designed as a relatively sharp edge which (see explanations later on) will guarantee a correct perforation of the capsule face  4  in the area of the capsule face  4  overlapping the hollow space of the first tubular member  6 . 
     One advantage of the perforation and water injection member  24  is that its tip closes as soon as the water flow is stopped, thus avoiding beverage, liquid or solid residue from contaminating the inner surface of the injection member. It is particularly advantageous in the context of the capsule where the injection member is deeply inserted in the tubular portion  6  of the insert. 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 4 , without water pressure being applied the conical seat portion  26  tightly closes off the water exit of the outer tube  27 . 
     It has to be noted that the sharp edge portion  29  of the outer tubes  27  axially extents slightly beyond the edge of the conical seat member  26 . Thus, the cutting effect of the sharp edge  29  will not be hindered by the bottom surface of the conical seat portion  26 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the water injection and perforation member  24  in a state where water pressure is applied as indicated by an arrow A 1 . 
     The water pressure acts on an inner disc  40  which is mounted to the inner member  25 . The inner tubular member  25  is assembled to the inner disc  40  in the outer tubular member by clipping. The water pressure will thus move the inner member  25  against the biasing force of the spring element  28 , such that the conical valve seat portions  26  will also move downwards and will thus produce an annular gap  30  between the edge  29  of the outer tube  27  and the conical seat portion  26 . Thus, water can be injected into a capsule. 
     It is to be noted that the water pressure is only applied after the water injection and capsule perforation member  24  has been made to penetrate into the hollow space defined by the first tubular member  6 . Only after the sharp edge  29  has produced a hole in first face  4  of the capsule and the water injection perforation member  24  penetrates into the hollow space defined by the first tubular member  6  (see  FIG. 7 ), the water pressure will be applied which will move downwards the inner member  25  and open the annular gap  30 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a capsule  1  according to the present invention when inserted into the extraction chamber of a beverage production machine. The extraction chamber is defined between an enclosing upper member  32  and a capsule support  33 . 
     The enclosing member  32  and the capsule support  33  join each other at sealing surfaces  34  which can be designed to clamp the flange  35  of the capsule  1  in a water tight and pressure tight manner. 
     The capsule support  33  can be provided with a profiled plate  36 , which assists in the opening of the lower face  5  of the capsule  1 . When the water pressure builds up in the interior of the capsule  1 , the lower face  4  will be deformed against the profile  36  until the lower face  35  reaches its strength and perforations are produced in the lower face  5 . Note that a plurality or only a single outlet opening can be produced in such a manner depending on the specific design of the profiled plate  36 . 
     In any case, a beverage from the interior of the capsule  1  can leave the beverage production machine through an outlet channel  37 . 
       FIG. 7  shows the water injection and perforation member  24  in a state in which an opening has been produced in the first face  4  of the capsule and the water injection and perforation member  24  penetrates into the hollow space defined by the tubular member  6 . Dark arrows (some of which are identified as  10 ) demonstrate the fluid path of the injected water through the capsule. Water injected through the annular gap  30  of the water injector will leave the hollow space defined by the tubular member  6  through the passages  14  provided in the wall of the insert  2  defining the hollow space. 
     The water will interact with ingredients in the first compartment  16 , will then go through the openings  20  of the disc-shaped member  15 , will interact with the beverage ingredients in the second compartment  17  and a produced beverage will finally leave the beverage production machine through the outlet opening  37 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the water injection can take place close to the bottom wall  12  of the tubular member  6  such that the water jet will be deflected first towards the front wall  8  of the insert  2  in order to leave the hollow space of the tubular member  6  through the passages  14 . 
       FIG. 8  shows an example for the enclosing member  32 . The enclosing member  32  has a central opening  41  for housing the water injection and perforation member  24 . 
     The dome-shaped inner side of the enclosing member  32  can be profiled and can e.g. be provided with channels  38  that extend radially from opening  41 . 
     In  FIG. 8  the outer sealing surface  34  of the enclosing member  32  can also be seen. 
     The capsule support  33  is provided with a matching surface. 
     Due to the channels  38  in the inner side of the dome of the enclosing member  32 , the capsule  1 , i.e. its top face  4  will be dynamically profiled upon pressurizing the interior of the capsule  1  by the injection of water. The channels  39  will then have complementary shapes to any corrugation of the inner side of the dome of the enclosing member  32 . 
     The dynamically formed channels in the face  4  of the capsule  1  provide a radial distribution of the injected water at the surface of the ingredient and through substantially the entire cross section of the capsule. The inner ends  42  of the dynamically profiled channels  39  are close to the passages  14  and the insert  2 . 
       FIG. 10  shows an embodiment of the present invention in which, contrary to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 7 , fluid communication, e.g. a duct  38  is provided between the first tubular member and the second tubular member  7  of the insert  2 . As in  FIG. 7 , dark arrows (some of which are identified as  10 ) demonstrate the fluid path of the injected water through the capsule. As such, a portion of the injected water will bypass the ingredients and will directly, e.g. without interaction with the ingredients arrive at the outlet channel  37 , where pure water will be mixed with the beverage produced by the interaction of the portion of the water which has been made to interact with the ingredients. Such a capsule  1  having means for guiding injected water to the outlet without interaction with the ingredients is adapted e.g. for the production of so-called “lungo style” coffee or for any other beverage where the produced beverage is to be diluted with pure hot water. 
     Generally the duct  38  together with the tubular portions  6 ,  7  represents just one example for an inner bypass channel in a capsule. The number and surface of the duct can be adjusted as a function of the desired ratio extracted liquid volume:by-passed liquid volume. The bypass channel traverses the interior of the capsule and is designed to guide a portion of a liquid flow injected through a first face to an opening produced in an opposing second face of the capsule wall without said liquid low portion getting in contact with the ingredients. Another portion of the liquid flow will be caused to interact with the ingredients before arriving at the outlet face  5 . 
     It has been shown that the capsule system according to the present invention promotes a high quality and a high reliability of the extraction (interaction) process of the water with the ingredients. 
     Although, the above explanation has been made based on a symmetrical arrangement of the capsule, the capsule can be designed and the ingredients can be selected such that the extraction process depends on the flow direction of the water, i.e. whether water is injected in the tubular member  6  or the tubular member  7 . 
     As it is also shown in  FIGS. 7 and 10  and particularly in  FIG. 8 , the enclosing member  42  is also provided with an inner sealing surface  42  which (see  FIGS. 7 and 10 ) is pressed against the top surface  8  of the insert  2 , the top face  4  being sandwiched between the sealing surface  42  and the front wall  8  of the insert  2 . This will lead to a sealing of the capsule system in an annular area surrounding the water injection and perforation member  24 . Thus, water injected into the hollow space of the tubular member  6  can only exit from the hollow space through the passages  14 , but not through a leak outside the capsule. 
     It is to be noted that the reinforcement effect of the insert  2  promotes this sealing arrangement between the sealing surface  42  of the enclosing member  32  as the reinforcing insert  2  procures a counterforce for the sealing. 
     A further advantage of the invention is that the characteristics of the produced beverage can be varied from capsule to capsule by varying the flow characteristics of the disc member  15 . Even when using the same capsule, the characteristics of the produced beverage can be varied by reversing the insertion side of the capsule submitted to extraction, if the flow characteristics of the insert  2  and/or the disc-shaped member  15  are not symmetrical. 
     The invention can use a simple extraction chamber with a centralised injecting member  24 . 
     The flow characteristics of the capsule depends on the insertion direction of the capsule (and thus the direction of the water flow through the interior of the capsule) if the flow regulating disc member  15  is not arranged symmetrically, but offset the median transversal plane (centre plane). 
     The corrugations  20  of the disc-shaped member  15  do also have an effect in stabilising the neighbouring bulk of beverage ingredients. 
     The embodiments of  FIGS. 11 and 12  show capsules  1  having respectively a disc-shaped member  15 ′ entirely traversing the capsule in the width direction and not being connected nor being integral to any other parts inserted in the interior of the capsule  1 . 
     In  FIG. 11  unconnected “tubular portions”  6 ′,  7 ′ are shown which actually are symmetrically arranged flow-diverting inserts. Note that the invention also encompasses embodiments having only one of the inserts  6 ′,  7 ′. 
     Contrary to the embodiment of  FIG. 1  a portion  47  of each ingredient compartment  16 ,  17  of the ingredient space is sandwiched between the inserts  6 ′,  7 ′. Thus the ingredients are not entirely arranged radially outside the inserts  6 ′,  7 ′. 
     Each space of ingredients separated by the disc member can be of same or different nature. For instance, one space of ingredients can contain coffee of a granulometry and/or blend which differs from the other space. As a result, the characteristic of the coffee can be different upon which surface  4 ,  5  of the capsule serves as the injection surface and which surface  4 ,  5  serves as the beverage delivery surface. 
     The flow-regulating disc  15 ′ can also have perforation openings  48  in its centre area. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 12  the capsule  1  does not have such inserts  6 ′,  7 ′. A flexible or rigid filtering layer  43 ,  44 , respectively, is arranged close to each of the faces  4 , from which the wall of the capsule  1  is composed. The filtering layers  43 ,  44  are formed with central depressions  45 ,  46 , respectively. Water can then be injected e.g. in the depression  45 , which water will then pass the filtering layer  43  after having been radially distributed in the space between the filtering layer and the adjacent face of the capsule  1  (e.g. assisted by the dynamically formed channels shown in and explained with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). 
     Note that such filtering layers  43 ,  44  can also be used in connection with all other embodiments (in the embodiment  FIG. 1  the filtering layers will then have a central opening through which the tubular portions  6 ,  7  protrude).