Nutrition container and beverage preparation system

Abstract

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a nutritional container (1) for encapsulating or containing a nutritional product. The container may be a beverage capsule and contain a beverage preparation substance, in particular an extraction material, such as ground coffee or crushed tea leaves. The container comprises a container wall comprising a multi-layer structure wherein at least one layer comprises a biodegradable material. At least one layer of the container wall has a predetermined rupture point (21). By breaking at a predetermined breaking point, the container can be prepared for a subsequent biodegradation process even if the container is not subjected to mechanical pretreatment (comminution), for example, for industrial composting processes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of nutritional containers, such as portion capsules for preparing beverages, which contain, for example, ground coffee or tea leaves, or containers for beverages, such as cups or the like. Background Art

[0002] For sustainability considerations, containers with walls made of biodegradable materials are of particular interest. However, providing biodegradable materials with the required properties is a challenge. The required properties include sufficient mechanical stability, which refers not only to mechanical stability at room temperature but also, typically, to mechanical stability at high temperatures during the preparation or holding of hot beverages or foods. In addition, providing liquid barrier properties (usually in combination with providing oxygen barrier properties) may also be important. If the container is a beverage capsule, the ability to be pierced to inject and remove liquid from the capsule may also be required. Since biodegradable materials with all these properties are not readily available, it has been proposed to manufacture containers using polymer multilayer films, which consist of multiple layers of different compositions. For example, one layer can act as an effective water barrier layer, while another layer can act as an oxygen barrier layer; and / or at least one layer ensures sufficient mechanical stability, while at least another layer has barrier properties, etc.

[0003] However, such multilayers may cause a delay in the biodegradation process because, in a complex biodegradation process, the outer layer can only enter from the outside, and the biodegradation of the inner layer first requires the disintegration of the outer layer. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a container, such as a capsule or a container, to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and improve its biodegradability. Another object of the present invention is to provide a capsule-based system for preparing beverages using such capsules.

[0005] This object is achieved by the present invention as defined in the claims.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nutritional container for encapsulating or containing a nutritional product, the container comprising a container wall having a multilayer structure, wherein at least one layer comprises a biodegradable material. At least one layer of the container wall has a predetermined breaking point.

[0007] The container may be a beverage capsule containing a beverage preparation substance, in particular an extraction material, such as ground coffee or tea leaves. Alternatively, the container may also be other nutritional containers, such as containers for holding beverages (cups, bottles, etc.), packaging for convenience foods, etc.

[0008] In the prior art, capsules or other nutrient containers with a predetermined breaking point are known, for example, from WO2017 / 065615A1, WO2014 / 195307A1 or US2010 / 084361A1, such as containers made of biodegradable materials. In the capsules of WO2017 / 065615A1 and WO2014 / 195307A1, the predetermined breaking point is used for the capsule to break under a certain pressure during the brewing process to ensure that the liquid in the capsule can flow out. US2010 / 084361A1 proposes a predetermined breaking point that allows consumers to separate the part of the material with a faster biodegradation rate from the part of the material with a slower biodegradation rate. These solutions neither solve nor achieve the above-mentioned goal of accelerating the biodegradation process of the layered container.

[0009] In contrast, according to the present invention, by damaging at the predetermined breaking point, even if the container has not been mechanically pretreated (crushed) for, for example, an industrial composting process, the container is already prepared for the subsequent biodegradation process. The damage to the container at the predetermined breaking point enhances the surface of the container wall material acted upon by the liquid and microorganisms, and in particular provides a channel for contacting the multi-layer inner layer. For example, if the capsule wall has a sandwich structure, where the two outer layers are made of a material with a relatively slow biodegradation rate and the inner layer is made of another material, then due to the lack of protection of the outer layer, the method according to the present invention makes it possible for the inner layer to disintegrate from the beginning of the biodegradation process due to the damage of the outer layer. Therefore, the biodegradation of the outer layer, which may be more difficult to disintegrate, may also be more efficient and faster because these layers can be in contact with the liquid and microorganisms from both sides.

[0010] In order to make the effect of the predetermined breaking point particularly significant, the predetermined breaking point can be arranged such that the container wall with multiple layers does not remain intact over a large area.

[0011] For example, in a set of embodiments where the nutrient container is a beverage capsule, the beverage container may include a bottom, a lid, and a circumferential side wall. Among them, one of the bottom and the lid is used to be pierced by a side injection piercing device to allow the brewing liquid (mostly hot water) to be injected into the capsule; and the other of the bottom and the lid is used to be pierced by a side extraction piercing device to allow the brewed liquid to flow out of the capsule. For example, if the capsule is generally cup-shaped, the circumferential side wall may follow a generally conical contour; if the capsule is generally cubic-shaped, the circumferential side wall may include four generally flat side wall portions, and so on. In either case, the circumferential side wall occupies a large part of the container surface area, such as at least 45% or at least 50%, or at least 55% or 60%. According to the present invention, in particular, the side wall may include at least one predetermined breaking point, and for example, multiple predetermined breaking points, while for the bottom and the lid, the predetermined breaking point is optional because the bottom and the lid are affected by perforation.

[0012] Similar considerations apply if the nutrient container is a cup or other disposable food product packaging: such nutrient containers have a bottom, and usually also a lid and a circumferential side wall that is substantially parallel to the bottom. In particular, the circumferential side wall may include a predetermined breaking point, especially a plurality of predetermined breaking points.

[0013] In an embodiment, the nutrient container has a plurality of predetermined breaking points, each breaking point extending around the container wall. In particular, the nutrient container may include a plurality of predetermined breaking points, each breaking point extending around the circumferential side wall.

[0014] In an embodiment, the configuration and arrangement of the predetermined breaking points are such that the nutrient container breaks at the predetermined breaking points when overall compressed (e.g., in a press used in an industrial recycling process). In particular, the configuration and arrangement of the predetermined breaking points are such that the container breaks when compressed between two planar pressing surfaces acting from opposite sides. For example, if the beverage container is of the above-mentioned capsule or cup type, the container may break at the predetermined breaking points when the planar pressing surfaces act on the container bottom and its opposite side (e.g., the lid side).

[0015] This contrasts with the predetermined breaking points of prior art beverage capsules, where the predetermined breaking points cause the capsule to break and the beverage to flow out when compressed. In the prior art solution, the predetermined breaking points are protected and not exposed, and no breakage occurs when a press acts to compress the entire capsule.

[0016] The container wall is made of a multi-layer polymer material and may also contain one or more non-polymer fillers. At least one layer, especially all layers, is a biodegradable layer. In an embodiment, the container wall may include a sandwich structure having two outer layers and at least one inner layer between the two outer layers.

[0017] In this document, when referring to the layered structure of a multi-layer structure, the term "outer layer" refers to the construction of the multi-layer structure itself. In the container, one of the outer layers faces the inside of the container, while the other outer layer forms the outer layer relative to the container and constitutes the container surface.

[0018] The biodegradable layer of the container may, for example, include polymers based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), cellulose ether polymers, butanediol-vinyl alcohol copolymer (BVOH), polyvinyl butyral (PVB) and / or ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), suitable polyesters, polylactic acid, etc., or any other suitable polymer material having biodegradable properties.

[0019] In this text, "biodegradable" refers to biologically degradable according to European Standard EN 13432 (as of the end of 2021). Additionally or alternatively, it can also refer to biologically degradable according to European Standard EN 14995 (as of the end of 2021). Thus, "biodegradable" refers to biologically degradable especially according to EN 13432 and / or EN 14995.

[0020] The predetermined breaking point can be located at any suitable position on the container. In an embodiment, the predetermined breaking point extends along a line around the container. In particular, the container can comprise a plurality of predetermined breaking points.

[0021] The predetermined breaking point can be provided only in one layer, or in the two outer layers of a sandwich structure, or can be provided in any sub-layer of a multi-layer structure, including the possibility that the predetermined breaking point extends through the entire container wall.

[0022] The predetermined breaking point can have any suitable structure that causes the wall (or at least one of its layers) to break (firstly) at the position of the predetermined breaking point when the container is subjected to mechanical forces.

[0023] The predetermined breaking point can for example comprise one or more of the following:

[0024] • A notch.

[0025] • A pore arrangement (confined to the interior of one or more layers, extending to the surface but not completely penetrating the corresponding layer, or extending through at least one layer, thus constituting a perforation).

[0026] • Abrasive particles dispersed in at least one layer along the predetermined breaking point. These particles are for example harder than the surrounding plastic material and have sharp features such as corners or edges. When the container is subjected to mechanical loading, the abrasive particles damage the surrounding plastic material, causing the container to break firstly at their position.

[0027] In a set of embodiments, the predetermined breaking point has a directional characteristic, i.e., if a force acts in the main direction, the container wall (or at least one of its layers) tends to break, while if the force acts in a secondary orthogonal direction, the mechanical stability is basically not affected by the predetermined point, or is affected to a lesser extent. For example, if the container is a cup, the predetermined breaking point can be such that the stability with respect to radial forces is basically not affected, so that when the cup is filled and held manually in the normal way, there is no risk of the container wall (or at least one of its layers) breaking. However, the predetermined breaking point can also be such that, if the cup is subjected to an axial force (e.g., being squashed due to pressure applied to its upper edge), it will break at the predetermined breaking point. Similarly, if the container is a beverage capsule, the predetermined breaking point can be such that the capsule can withstand the acting forces stably during transportation and / or handling, but may break due to the acting forces when being ejected from the brewing chamber after use, etc.

[0028] In particular, in such embodiments, the predetermined rupture point(s) may comprise one or more of the following:

[0029] • Oriented abrasive particles. Such oriented abrasive particles may, for example, have a needle-like structure and may be, for example, parallel to the plane defined by the capsule wall. In this orientation, they tend to break the capsule especially when a force in a particular direction (e.g., in-plane force / shearing force) acts.

[0030] • Rupture lines (rupture planes in three-dimensional space) that are inclined with respect to the plane defined by the capsule wall and not perpendicular to this plane. Similar to the oriented abrasive particles, the capsule wall along such rupture lines is not easily affected by a perpendicular force but is prone to rupture if the capsule is subjected to a shearing force.

[0031] The invention also relates to a beverage preparation system comprising a capsule, which is a container of the type described above, having multiple layers, the multiple layers comprising at least one biodegradable material and comprising at least one predetermined rupture point.

[0032] In addition to the capsule, the beverage preparation system further comprises a machine configured to use the capsule and water injected therein to brew a beverage. Such a beverage preparation system typically comprises a brewing chamber in which the capsule is received when a liquid (water) is injected into the capsule, and the brewing chamber is also configured to allow the beverage thus prepared to flow out of the capsule.

[0033] In particular, the system comprising the capsule may be configured to rupture at least one layer of the capsule at the predetermined rupture point(s) during the brewing process due to the heat input by the injected liquid and / or the mechanical force acting on the capsule during or after the brewing process when the capsule is ejected from the brewing chamber in which it is located during the brewing process.

[0034] For example, the material of the layer having the predetermined rupture point(s) may be mechanically stable at room temperature but at the temperature of the injected hot water, its strength is low enough to rupture when a moderate force is applied. In this way, the system can cause the (multi)layer(s) having the predetermined rupture point(s) to rupture during the brewing process (e.g., due to an increase in pressure during the brewing process, such as near the end of the brewing process), and / or cause the (multi)layer(s) having the predetermined rupture point(s) to rupture due to the acting force when the capsule is ejected from the brewing chamber by a corresponding mechanism. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding elements. The drawings show:

[0036] Figure 1 : An example of a capsule;

[0037] Figure 2: Multi-layer structure of the capsule;

[0038] Figure 3 : Multi-layer structure with an example of a predetermined rupture point;

[0039] Figure 4 : Capsule with a predetermined rupture point;

[0040] Figure 5 : Detailed view of a capsule with an alternative predetermined rupture point;

[0041] Figure 6 : For Figures 1 to 5 The brewing module of a coffee machine for the capsule;

[0042] Figure 7 : Coffee machine;

[0043] Figure 8 : An alternative brewing module with an alternative cup-shaped capsule; and

[0044] Figure 9 : An alternative container, namely a cup. Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

[0045] Figure 1 Shows an example of a beverage capsule. According to Figure 1 , the capsule 1 is generally cube-shaped with chamfered edges and slightly enlarged towards the top side.

[0046] The capsule includes a base body 2 and a lid 3 fastened to the base body 2 along a circumferential flange 4. The base body forms a capsule bottom 5 and a circumferential side wall 6, and the circumferential side wall 6 is closed by the flange 4 at its outer side relative to the axial direction (axis 10) and at the end located at the top in the figure. The lid arches outwards, and the lid surface 9 is generally parallel to the capsule bottom 5 and offset outwards relative to the circumferential flange 4.

[0047] The capsule is configured to be pierced during the brewing process so that liquid, especially hot water, can be injected into the capsule and the brewed beverage can be allowed to flow out of the capsule.

[0048] Figure 2 Shows the layered structure of the capsule wall. The capsule wall with a layered structure can form the base body and / or the lid. In the illustrated embodiment, the multi-layer structure has two outer layers 61, 62 made of a first biodegradable material, and an inner layer 63 made of a second biodegradable material. The first biodegradable material has corresponding properties and can be used as a liquid barrier, while the second biodegradable material can be used as an oxygen barrier.

[0049] Figure 3 Shows an example of how to achieve a predetermined rupture point (from left to right):

[0050] • Notch 69.

[0051] • Pores 64, which do not completely penetrate one of the layers, so the corresponding layer still has a barrier property. The pores 64 weaken the corresponding layer, so when mechanical force acts on the capsule, the layers will first break at the pores. In addition to the pores that do not penetrate one of the layers, there may also be pores that penetrate one of the layers, resulting in perforation of the corresponding layer.

[0052] • Abrasive particles 65 are dispersed in at least one layer along a predetermined breaking point. These particles are, for example, harder than the surrounding (e.g., biodegradable) plastic material and have sharp features such as corners or edges.

[0053] • Oriented abrasive particles 66. Such oriented abrasive particles 66 can, for example, have a needle-like structure and can, for example, be parallel to the plane defined by the capsule wall. Their function is similar to that of the abrasive particles 65 with undefined orientation. However, due to their shape and orientation, especially when a force in a specific direction (e.g., in-plane force / shearing force) acts, they tend to break the capsule. If there are problems with the mechanical stability of the capsule during transportation and handling, the oriented abrasive particles 66 may have advantages.

[0054] • A breaking surface 67, which is inclined with respect to the plane defined by the capsule wall and is not perpendicular to this plane. Similar to the oriented abrasive particles 66, the capsule wall along this breaking line is not easily affected by vertical forces (e.g., vertical forces that may be generated when the capsules collide with each other during transportation), but is easily broken if the capsule is subjected to a shearing force (e.g., the shearing force generated when the capsule is pulled out from the piercing device after the brewing process). The square arrow indicates the squeezing shearing force.

[0055] The capsule can include a kind of predetermined breaking point, such as Figure 3 shown, or a combination thereof, such as abrasive particles 65 along the contour, in combination with the oriented abrasive particles 66 and / or the breaking line 67 at the position where a shearing force is expected to be generated when the capsule is removed from the brewing chamber.

[0056] Figure 4 The possibility of the existence of multiple predetermined breaking points 21 is schematically shown, and each breaking point extends along a line. These lines surround the capsule matrix 2.

[0057] Figure 4 The principle of the arrangement of the predetermined breaking points is also very schematically shown, that is, the capsule breaks when it is squeezed by two flat squeezing surfaces 81, which act on the opposite sides of the capsule respectively, namely the bottom side and the lid side in the shown embodiment. The compressive force generated by the assumed squeezing plane will generate a shearing force at the position of the predetermined breaking point 21 and cause the capsule to break at this position.

[0058] If the arrangement of the predetermined rupture points is different, for example by a line extending around the capsule at the bottom, or if the predetermined rupture points form a characteristic pattern, and / or pressure is applied from the side, Figure 4 the principle shown also applies.

[0059] Figure 5 An alternative is shown: the predetermined rupture points 21 extend vertically along the lid 3 and the base body 2 in the region near the flange 4. The square arrows show how the shear force acts near the predetermined rupture points during the ejection of the capsule, as follows Figure 6 described.

[0060] Figure 6 An example of a brewing module correspondingly equipped in a beverage preparation machine (such as a coffee machine) is shown. The brewing module includes a brewing module housing 20, a discharge device 30 as a first brewing module component supported and guided by the housing, and an injector 50 as a second brewing module component. By means of an operating lever 60, the injector 50 can be moved between an open position and a closed position relative to the housing and the first brewing module component. In the open position, the brewing chamber is open and the operating lever is at the top, and in the closed position, the brewing chamber is closed and the operating lever is folded downwards. Figure 2 Shows the brewing module with the brewing chamber open and with a capsule 1. The capsule has been inserted through an insertion opening 61 which also defines the direction of insertion of the capsule.

[0061] During operation, the brewing chamber is closed by moving the injector 50 towards the discharge device 30, so that the capsule 1 is pierced by an injection-side piercing device 51 and an extraction-side piercing device 38. The brewing liquid flows into the capsule 1 through a pipe 52 and a perforated cut, and the extraction process takes place in the capsule 1. The brewed beverage thus formed flows out through the extraction-side perforation formed by the extraction-side piercing device 38 and a water outlet 39.

[0062] After the brewing process is completed, when the brewing chamber is opened, a recovery device 62 engages with the circumferential flange 4 when the injector 50 moves away from the discharge device 30, so as to pull the capsule out of the extraction-side piercing device, which is substantially consistent with the detailed description in WO2015 / 048914. It can be clearly seen from Figure 7 that the recovery device pulls the circumferential flange 4 in the central region, while the guide rail acts at a position closer to the corner, so that the capsule is subjected to a force acting as shown by the arrow in Figure 5 and as shown in Figure 5 the predetermined rupture points 21 (especially the rupture points with directionality) shown may cause the capsule wall to rupture.

[0063] The described brewing module is a manually operated horizontal brewing module and is suitable for Figure 1The capsule shape shown. Various variants of brewing modules are known in the art, including electric brewing modules, vertical brewing modules (where liquid is injected from the top of the capsule and exits from the bottom), brewing modules suitable for other capsule shapes, etc. The present invention can be applied to various capsule shapes and various types of brewing modules.

[0064] Figure 7 There is shown a beverage preparation machine 100, namely a coffee machine, which comprises a brewing module of the type as Figure 2 shown. Below the brewing module, the coffee machine includes a container 105 for holding used capsules. The brewing module is configured to allow a used capsule to drop into the container 105 when the brewing chamber is opened at the end of the brewing process.

[0065] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the beverage preparation machine is configured such that when the brewing chamber is opened, by movement of brewing module components and / or by downward movement of the capsule into the container 105, at least one layer of the capsule wall ruptures along a predetermined rupture point.

[0066] Figure 8 There is shown a brewing module for a cup-shaped capsule 1, which capsule has a circular cross-section and a corresponding annular circumferential capsule wall 6. Considerations including reference Figure 7 also apply to capsules having this or other shapes.

[0067] Figure 9 Finally, there is shown a different type of container, namely a cup. If the predetermined rupture points 21 (extending as a horizontal circle circumferentially along the cup wall as shown) have a directional characteristic, they may tend to rupture, for example, when the cup is subjected to an axial force (as Figure 9 shown by the square arrow), while they remain stable for radial forces so that the user can squeeze the cup after use, thereby not only reducing the space required but also accelerating the biodegradation process. Additionally, the compressive force between two hypothetical opposing squeezing surfaces acting respectively from the bottom and the top of the cup would be Figure 9 the axial force in the shown embodiment.

[0068] In this context, Figure 9 the bottom of the cup, which is not visible in , is considered to be part of the container wall in the sense of this document and may also optionally have a predetermined rupture point.

Claims

1. A nutrition container for encapsulating or containing a nutrition product, said container comprising a container wall, said container wall comprising a multi-layer structure having a plurality of layers, wherein at least one layer comprises a biodegradable material, characterized in that, At least one layer includes a predefined breaking point (21).

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein, The predefined breaking point (21) extends along at least one line around the container wall.

3. The container according to claim 1 or 2, which comprises a plurality of predetermined rupture points (21).

4. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The predefined breaking point (21) includes notches (69), an arrangement of pores (64) and / or abrasive particles (65) dispersed within the polymeric material of the container wall.

5. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The predefined breaking point (21) has a directional characteristic such that if a force acts in a main direction, at least one layer of the container wall tends to break; while if a force acts in a secondary direction orthogonal to the main direction, the predefined breaking point has substantially no effect, or a lesser effect, on the mechanical stability of the container wall.

6. The container according to claim 5, wherein, The predefined breaking point includes at least one of oriented abrasive particles (66) and breaking lines (67).

7. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container wall is made of a biodegradable material.

8. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, which is a beverage capsule (1) for containing a beverage preparation substance.

9. The container according to claim 8, which comprises a bottom (5), a lid (3) and a circumferential side wall (6), wherein, One of the lid (3) and the bottom (5) is configured to be pierced by an injection-side piercing device and to allow brewing liquid to be injected into the capsule, and the other of the bottom (5) and the lid (3) is configured to be pierced by an extraction-side piercing device and to allow the brewed liquid to flow out of the capsule, wherein the circumferential sidewall (6) includes a predefined breaking point (21) or at least one predefined breaking point (21).

10. A beverage preparation system, which comprises a beverage capsule according to claim 8 or 9, and further comprises a beverage preparation machine (100), said beverage preparation machine being configured to use said beverage capsule (1) and water injected therein to brew a beverage during a brewing process.

11. The beverage preparation system according to claim 10, which is assembled for rupturing at least one layer of the capsule wall at a predetermined rupture point during a brewing process, due to the heat input by the injected water and / or the mechanical force acting on the beverage capsule during or after the brewing process when the capsule is ejected from the brewing chamber in which it is located during the brewing process.

12. The beverage preparation system according to any one of claims 10 or 11, which comprises said injection-side piercing device (51) and said extraction-side piercing device (38), said injection-side piercing device (51) and said extraction-side piercing device (38) being arranged to pierce the capsule from opposite sides.

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