Patent ID: 12227323

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG.1illustrates a schematic view of a sectional image of a portion capsule1according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A portion capsule1of this type is used for production of a beverage in special beverage production machines. The portion capsule1here substantially comprises the basic element2which is a frustoconical body with a capsule bottom2″ in the region of the smallest diameter, with the capsule wall2′ and with an open end at the opposite end. The open end is closed here before use by means of a capsule cover4, for example a membrane, which is fastened to an encircling flange5of the portion capsule1, in particular is sealed thereon. The flange5has a bead6which extends over more than half of the area of the bead. The capsule cover4follows the profile of the flange5even in the region of the bead6and is also at least partially fastened to the latter.

Here, for the sake of clarity, the capsule cover4is illustrated with a somewhat smaller diameter than the flange5, but the diameter of the capsule cover4can just as readily be of substantially the same size as the outer radius of the flange5. However, it is also conceivable for the diameter of the capsule cover4to be smaller than the outer radius of the flange5or larger than the outer radius of the flange5. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, the capsule cover4is illustrated at a distance from the flange5and from the bead6. This serves exclusively for better visibility of the individual components. According to the invention, the capsule cover4is at least partially fastened to the flange5and at least partially to the bead6.

The flange5is preferably manufactured integrally with the basic element2.

A capsule interior3is formed inside the basic element2, the capsule interior3being filled with beverage raw material (this is not illustrated for clarity reasons) and being closed by the capsule cover4, the capsule bottom2″ and the capsule wall2′.

The cup-shaped basic element2is preferably produced from an aluminum material by primary forming or forming, in particular hot forming or cold forming.

In an alternative embodiment, it is provided that the basic element2is formed as a deep-drawn plastics part from polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In this embodiment, the basic element2is preferably produced by thermoforming, for example deep drawing by means of negative pressure, positive pressure and/or a movable stamp, or by means of an injection molding process, in particular a single-component, multi-component or in-mold process.

At the outer edge of the flange5, the latter is shaped to form a thickened portion9. The thickened portion9is a rolling edge, the center of which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, is intersected by the main plane of extent of the capsule cover4.

The capsule cover4is preferably formed from an aluminum material or a plastic, such as, for example, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

The capsule cover4is fastened to the flange5and to the bead6preferably by means of ultrasonic sealing with an ultrasound sonotrode of a sealing stamp8(not illustrated inFIG.1for clarity reasons) or by sealing by introducing heat with a sealing stamp8. It is also conceivable for the capsule cover4to be fastened to the flange5and to the bead6by laser welding.

The portion capsule1is located in the receptacle10.

During use in a beverage production machine, the portion capsule1is introduced into a brewing chamber which conventionally consists of a first brewing chamber part surrounding the portion capsule1and of a second brewing chamber part that is movable relative to the first brewing chamber part. Subsequently, the capsule bottom is perforated by an opening element of the brewing chamber and preparation liquid is introduced under pressure into the capsule interior3through the perforation opening in the capsule bottom2″. The desired beverage arises by the interaction between the preparation liquid and the beverage raw material. The pressure arising in the capsule interior3because of the introduced preparation liquid presses the capsule cover4against a further opening element of the brewing chamber, as a result of which the capsule cover4is perforated at one point or at a plurality of points. The beverage leaves the portion capsule1through the perforation openings in the capsule cover4and is supplied to a beverage vessel. The further opening element of the brewing chamber and/or the perforated capsule cover4are optionally suitable for filtering any particles of the beverage raw material out of the beverage and for retaining same in the portion capsule1. In order to prevent the extraction liquid from emerging, in particular into the region between first brewing chamber part and flange5, the flange5of the portion capsule1has the bead6which is deformed when the brewing chamber is closed and forms a seal which is preferably uninterrupted in the circumferential direction of the portion capsule1.

FIGS.2A-2Hshow schematic partial views of sectional images of portion capsules1with beads6of various cross sections according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Illustrated in parts are the basic element2, the flange5, the bead6, the area of which is more than half of the area of the flange, and the thickened portion9, designed in the exemplary embodiments shown here as a rolled edge which is substantially arranged below the main plane of extent of the capsule cover4(not illustrated here).FIG.2Aillustrates a bead6with a triangular cross section. The latter is particularly readily suitable for sealing purposes since all of the areas of the bead6can easily be reached with the bead protrusion8′ of the sealing stamp8(not illustrated).FIG.2Bshows a bead6with a triangular cross section, wherein the outer side wall is inclined more steeply than the inner side wall.FIG.2Cshows a bead6with a triangular cross section, wherein the inner side wall is inclined more steeply than the outer side wall. By adaptation of the inclination of the side walls, the behavior of the bead6during the deformation when the brewing chamber is closed and therefore the tightness of the sealing taking place by means of the bead6can be influenced.FIG.2Dshows a bead6with a trapezoidal cross section. A trapezoidal cross section affords the advantage that the bead protrusion8′ of the sealing stamp8(not illustrated) upon insertion into the bead6can center the portion capsule1by means of the oblique side walls for sealing relative to the sealing stamp8. Furthermore, the trapezoidal cross section provides a large area parallel to the main plane of extent of the flange5, said area allowing easy sealing.FIG.2Eshows a bead6with a rectangular cross section. This cross section provides the greatest area parallel to the main plane of extent of the capsule cover4(seeFIG.1) and therefore the greatest area which can be sealed in a very simple manner.FIGS.2F,2G, and2Hshow further beads6with a pentagonal, circular-segment or oval-segment cross section as further possible embodiments. All of the embodiments shown have various advantages. Thus, the pentagonal cross section that is shown inFIG.2Fis suitable for centering the portion capsule1when the bead protrusion8′ of the sealing stamp8(not shown) is inserted and provides a similar sealing area to the cross section shown inFIG.2Awith a significantly deeper bead6. More material is thus available for the deformation and therefore for the sealing. The circular-segment cross section that is shown inFIG.2Gin turn provides a large volume, which is covered by the bead6, for a small use of material. The oval-segment cross section shown inFIG.2Hprovides an undercut of the flange5and therefore, for example, the possibility of clamping the capsule cover4(not shown) with a filling material (not shown) for fastening purposes.

FIG.3schematically shows the third step of the method for producing a portion capsule1according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Illustrated in parts are the basic element2, the flange5and the thickened portion9. The sealing stamp8is guided from above onto the basic element2. The capsule cover4rests loosely on the flange5. The bead protrusion8′ of the sealing stamp8strikes the bead6through the capsule cover4not precisely centrally, but offset slightly to the left, illustrated here. By means of the shape of the bead protrusion8′ adapted to the bead8, when the bead protrusion8′ is introduced the sealing stamp8displaces the basic element2with the flange5in such a manner that the bead6is exactly aligned with respect to the bead protrusion8′. The movability of the portion capsule1is assisted by a shaker (not shown) which causes the portion capsule1to vibrate. The sealing stamp8now presses the capsule cover4onto the flange5, or the bead protrusion8′ of the sealing stamp8presses the capsule cover4into the bead6, and, with ultrasonic sealing or by the introduction of heat, fastens the capsule cover4at least partially on the flange5and at least partially in the bead6. However, it is also conceivable for the bead6to arise only by the bead protrusion8′ being pressed into the flange5.

FIG.4shows a schematic partial view of a sectional image of a portion capsule1according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The capsule cover4which is fastened to the flange5in the bead6at the bottom6′ of the bead6is shown. The capsule cover4is sealed on the flange5in the region of the bottom6′ of the bead6by the sealing seam4′. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the capsule cover4is not sealed to the flange5in the region of the walls6″ of the bead6.

FIGS.5A,5B, and5Cschematically show a part of the third step of the method for producing a portion capsule1according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is shown inFIG.5Ahow the sealing stamp8with the bead protrusion8′ is lowered in the direction of the bead6. The bead protrusion8′ is offset to the left in relation to the bead6here. It is shown inFIG.5Bhow the bead protrusion8′ strikes against the left wall6″ of the bead6. The basic element2and the sealing stamp8are caused to vibrate by means of shakers (not shown). During further lowering of the sealing stamp8in the direction of the bottom6′ of the bead6, the sealing stamp8is displaced to the right against the bead6by means of the pressure. In a further alternative embodiment, the basic element2is displaced to the left; in a further alternative embodiment, the basic element2is displaced to the left and the sealing stamp8is displaced to the right. The bead protrusion8′ presses the capsule cover4into the bead6. It is shown inFIG.5Chow the sealing stamp8rests for sealing purposes on the capsule cover4. The capsule cover4is fastened to the flange5in the region of the bead6at the bottom6′ of the bead6by sealing with the sealing seam4.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

1Portion capsule2Basic element2′ Capsule wall2″ Capsule bottom3Capsule interior4Capsule cover4′ Sealing seam5Flange6Bead6′ Bottom of the bead6″ Wall of the bead8Sealing stamp8′ Bead protrusion9Thickened portion10Receptacle