Potion Capsule

Abstract

The portion capsule (1) filled with an infusion material for producing an infusion product in a manner known per se comprises a plastic body and a lid (3) fastened thereto. The body forms a base region, a circumferential side wall and a circumferential body collar which connects the circumferential side wall towards the lid side. The lid comprises a lid collar which is welded on the inside to the body collar, whereby the body collar and the lid collar form a common collar (4) of the capsule. The body and the lid together form a capsule which encloses the infusion material. The capsule has an essentially rectangular, in particular square, horizontal cross section through the body, at least in the region of the collar which has an essentially rectangular, in particular square, horizontal cross section. The lid side collar comprises a number of ribs (50) which run at an angle, not parallel to the side wall.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the preparation of beverages and the like from brewing ingredients, such as ground coffee, contained in a capsule, and in particular to portioned capsules. [Background technology]

[0002] Extraction devices for preparing beverages from the extraction material present in portion packages are also known as, for example, coffee machines, espresso machines or tea machines. In many corresponding systems, the portion packages are designed as capsules, in which the extraction material is, for example, hermetically sealed. For the extraction, the capsule is punctured on two mutually opposing sides. The extraction liquid (generally hot water) is introduced into the first side. The extraction product is led out of the capsule on the second side. Now, depending on the beverage to be prepared and the system, a considerable pressure has to prevail inside the capsule.

[0003] Coffee portion capsules having an approximately cubic shape and made of plastic are known from WO 2010 / 118543 and WO 2015 / 096989 and, in contrast to the known beaker-like capsules, do not have a circumferential collar in the plane of one (upper) cover surface. Such a circumferential collar according to the state of the art capsule systems is necessary, inter alia, for closing the capsule by means of a foil which acts as a lid. In contrast, according to WO 2010 / 118543 and WO 2015 / 096989, an arched lid is used. Capsules manufactured according to the teaching of WO 2010 / 118543 thus have a circumferential weld blow forming a collar and between the planes defined by the cover surfaces, but whose extension / lateral projection is significantly reduced compared to the collar of the known capsules. An energy director is required for welding, said energy director being formed by a circumferential rib and can be present on the beaker (according to WO 2010 / 118543) or on the lid (according to WO 2015 / 096989). With regard to the solution according to WO 2015 / 096989, the rib is formed by a circumferential groove (flute) which is molded on the lid from the top side (thus from the side opposite to the side on which the energy director is located), for example by a thermoforming method. Thus, according to WO 2015 / 096989, a groove running in the circumferential direction is formed on the capsule with the purpose of forming the energy director.

[0004] In particular, aluminum and plastics, such as polypropylene, have become known as encapsulants. So-called bioplastics have also already been discussed as encapsulants. On the one hand, plastics produced from renewable raw materials (so-called bio-based plastics) are indicated as such. On the other hand, bioplastics are biologically degradable plastics (so-called biodegradable plastics). The plastics proposed for the production of portion capsules are biodegradable and partially contain a share of bio-based plastics.

[0005] In this specification, "biodegradable" means biologically degradable according to standard EN13432 (date: end of 2020) and "bio-based" means "non-fossil-based, renewable raw materials".

[0006] Available bioplastics, especially biologically degradable plastics, have the characteristic that they already soften at relatively low temperatures and therefore already have a certain fluidity at low temperatures (low glass transition temperature), but must be heated to fairly high temperatures until they become completely fluid (i.e. the melting temperature, as far as defined, is not particularly low). This poses a particular challenge for welding, since the transition to a very flowable state (defined in this respect by the melting temperature) is a prerequisite for reliable welding, which is why the time interval during which the material is basically flowable is greater than for conventional plastics.

[0007] Plastic capsules of the type described in WO 2010 / 118543 and WO 2015 / 096989 have proven their worth. However, their production requires a certain amount of effort. Moreover, due to the sharp ultrasonic tools used, described in WO 2015 / 096989, it is very difficult to adequately protect the diffusion barrier layer present in the plastic capsule in the area of ​​the weld. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The object of the present invention is therefore to further improve the properties of this type of capsule, in particular with regard to manufacturability, and in particular with regard to the ability to use different materials among these bioplastics. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] This object is achieved by the present invention as defined in the claims. In a manner known per se, a portion capsule filled with an infusion material for producing an infusion product comprises a plastic body and a lid fastened thereto. The body forms a base region, a circumferential side wall and a circumferential body collar that connects the circumferential side wall towards the lid side. The lid comprises a lid collar that is welded on the inside to the body collar, whereby the body collar and the lid together form the collar of the capsule. The body and the lid together form a capsule that encloses the infusion material. The capsule has an essentially rectangular, in particular square, horizontal cross section through the body, at least in the region of the collar that has an essentially rectangular, in particular square, horizontal cross section. The collar comprises a number of ribs that do not run parallel and therefore are at an angle to the side wall and extend on the lid side.

[0010] The ribs have the following functions: In twist welding (twist welding is a method known per se and not described in more detail here), the ribs serve for the engagement of the tool, which allows the rotational oscillation of the lid relative to the body, regardless of whether the ribs are produced by this tool or in a separate step.

[0011] After the welding procedure, the ribs can contribute to the stability of the connection between the body and the lid by forming a weld, whereby they act to stabilize, in particular with respect to shear forces between the body and the lid.

[0012] It has been found that such a combination of ribs and torsion welding results, firstly, in good weld strength with many plastic materials and in particular in low material deformation. Particularly advantageous is the fact that for this, a variety of materials are available for the capsules, among these also bioplastics.

[0013] Secondly, any barrier layer present remains intact. A barrier layer of a plastic capsule is a layer that is incorporated into the wall and enhances the oxygen-tightness of the capsule compared to a plastic (e.g. polypropylene or bioplastic) only structure, which allows, for example, to eliminate oxygen-sealed repackaging of the capsule. An example of a barrier layer material is EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer). Such a barrier layer can be incorporated inside the capsule material, for example, sandwiched between plastic layers. Conventional plastic welding methods with energy directors can locally destroy the barrier layer at the location of the energy director. This drawback is avoided by the ribs and the torsional welding that they enable, and despite this, the aforementioned stabilizing effect is maintained, especially with regard to shear forces.

[0014] Thirdly, these shorter welding times also offer additional advantages in terms of manufacturing technology. The realization underlying the present invention is the fact that the aforementioned advantages of ribs in a collar, which are partly related to torsion welding, result in a cross section that is actually non-circular but actually rectangular, although torsion welding requires a rotational movement (rotational oscillation).

[0015] The number of ribs can be selected according to the requirements, generally there is a larger number, for example at least 20 or at least 30 in total, or at least 40 or 60 or more. The maximum number is justified by the dimensions of the capsule, and can be, for example, 150 or 120 or 100. The width of the ribs and their distance can be of similar size to the extent that they form a rib-groove pattern. For example, the average distance between adjacent ribs can be no more than 5, 4 or 3 times their average width, whereby the width of the groove between the ribs can be no more than 4, 3 or 2 times the size of the rib itself. The relative dimensions of the ribs and the grooves between them do not have to be constant along the circumference of the capsule, but can also vary significantly, for example in the region of the (rounded) corners of the collar with ribs significantly wider than the grooves between them, and in the middle between the corners with ribs that are approximately equal in width to the grooves or significantly narrower in width.

[0016] As previously mentioned, the ribs may extend at an angle, for example substantially perpendicular, to the course of the sidewall and collar. The ribs may, for example, extend substantially radially.

[0017] "Radial" and "axial" in this specification always refer to the axis of the capsule, which runs through the center of the capsule and perpendicular to the plane defined by the collar (and generally also to the plane of the capsule base and lid). This axis is also related to the function of the capsule, in that during extraction, liquid flows axially, i.e. from the capsule base towards the capsule lid (or vice versa).

[0018] In particular, the ribs may extend from the inside of the collar to the very outside, radially outward edge.

[0019] The ribs are present on the collar on the lid side and are therefore formed in the lid collar, however they can also have the effect of welding and therefore still defining the transition between the lid collar and the body collar, itself having a specific rib-groove pattern (wave pattern), which results in a specific tooth in addition to the material fit that contributes to the aforementioned additional stabilization.

[0020] As known per se from WO 2010 / 118543 and WO 2015 / 096989, the lid is not flat but can be arched outward (with respect to the inside of the capsule) and thus axially outward, i.e. the axial end lid surface is offset axially outward with respect to the plane defined by the collar. Thus, according to this embodiment, the lid is different from a flat, for example foil-like or plate-like lid element. It is an object of three-dimensional shape. In particular, the lid can be manufactured by thermoforming or alternatively by injection molding, which can also be applied to the body.

[0021] In such an embodiment, the shape of the lid from outside to inside can comprise a lid collar, an arcuate transition area, and a central flat area forming the actual upper cover surface. The transition area can be, for example, S-shaped, or extend in a certain arc from the outer part towards the central flat area at an angle to the plane of the collar. Here, the dimensioning is selected, for example, so that the central flat area is optically dominant, for example, as large as the base surface or slightly smaller (for example, up to 10%). In particular, this flat area can be assumed to be more than 60% of the diameter and therefore at least 40% of the surface.

[0022] The lid collar generally forms a circumferential surface facing the lid side, and, if ribs are present on the lid side, said surface together with the ribs extends from the outer edge of the collar to the beginning of the arch. In an embodiment, it can be envisaged that the beginning of the arch is offset inwards compared to the part of the body side wall onto which the collar connects. Such an offset can be, for example, at least 0.2 mm.

[0023] In an embodiment, the body and / or the lid can be present as a multi-layer system, for example with bioplastic (e.g. Ecovio) / PVOH / bioplastic, where the PVOH forms a diffusion barrier layer. In particular in the case of deep-draw layer systems, a so-called tie layer, i.e. bonding layer, can be arranged between the PVOH layer and the bioplastic, so that the structure can be bioplastic / tie / PVOH / tie / bioplastic. Biodegradable tie layers are currently known and available on the market, for example as natural waxes.

[0024] As an alternative to a bioplastic design, the body and lid can also be designed from a variety of plastics, for example polypropylene, with a diffusion barrier layer.

[0025] The plastic material of the lid and the body can be the same, however the lid can also be made of a plastic of a different composition but can be welded to the body plastic.

[0026] In particular the wall thickness in the region of the body is between 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm, for example between 0.25 mm and 0.35 mm. The same may be true for the wall thickness of the lid. In one embodiment the wall thickness of the lid corresponds approximately to the wall thickness of the body.

[0027] A particular optional feature may be that the body forms a thickening in the region of the transition between the circumferential sidewall and the body collar, said thickening forming a radially inwardly projecting bead, which serves to reinforce the region of the collar.

[0028] The capsule (this also applies to all embodiments of the first aspect) can be designed such that the body and the lid together completely enclose the extraction material without any openings that are covered, for example, by foil, etc. In particular, it can be air-tight and oxygen-tight, for example by having a suitable diffusion barrier.

[0029] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals indicate the same or similar elements, and the drawings are not to scale and show elements of different sizes which partially correspond to each other in different drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 shows a capsule. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows a body for producing the capsule according to FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 shows a state of the art lid in cross section. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 shows a capsule according to the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 shows a cross section through the capsule, said cross section being only and only partially represented in the area of ​​the weld. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] The capsule according to Fig. 1 has essentially the shape of a cube with rounded edges. However, the extension increases slightly towards the top, so that in the strictly mathematical sense it has the shape of a truncated pyramid. The inclination angle of the surface (which of course means a plane perpendicular to the base surface that runs through the edge between the base surface and the respective side surface), which is the side surface in the figure, relative to the perpendicular to the base surface 5, is very small, preferably at most 2°, for example only about 1°. Furthermore, the height of the capsule above the base surface corresponds approximately to the length of the base surface edge.

[0032] The capsule comprises a body (or beaker) 2 and a lid 3 fastened thereto along a circumferential collar 4. The body 2 forms a capsule base 5 and a circumferential side wall 6 which is external with respect to the axial direction (axis 10) and which is terminated by the collar 4 at its end which is at the top of Fig. 1. The lid is arched outwards with a lid surface 9 which is external compared to the circumferential collar 4 and therefore essentially parallel to the capsule base 5 which is set at the top of Fig. 1.

[0033] Figure 2 shows the body 2 (beaker) before filling and before sealing. The body collar 41 has an extension which can be larger than the extension of the collar 4 of the finished capsule.

[0034] 3 shows a lid 3 which is manufactured like the body 2, for example by thermoforming, or also for example by injection molding. The lid has an essentially planar central region 31, a transition region 32 forming an arch, and a lid collar 42.

[0035] A capsule of the type depicted in FIG. 1, a body 2 of the type depicted in FIG. 2 and a lid 3 of the type shown in FIG. 3 are already known from the state of the art, for example from WO 2015 / 096990.

[0036] During the manufacture of the capsule, the body 2 is first filled with the brewing material, followed by the placement of the lid 3. Then ultrasonic welding, in particular torsion welding as known per se from the state of the art, is carried out. Optionally, separation of the protruding collar parts is further carried out after welding, depending on the initial extension of the body collar and the lid collar.

[0037] FIG. 4 shows an example of a capsule 1 according to the invention. It can be seen that the region of the upper collar 4, and therefore the capsule on the side of the lid collar, comprises a number of ribs 50 with grooves 51 formed between them. The ribs 50 extend radially relative to the axis 10. Deviations from the radial direction are also conceivable, for example the ribs 50 can each extend parallel to one another and perpendicular to the capsule side wall on each of the four sides. In any case, the alignment of the ribs is neither parallel to the circumferential direction (not locally parallel to the side wall, i.e. at an angle to the plane defined by the side wall locally at the location of the respective rib) nor parallel to the course of the collar. In particular, the ribs can each extend from the radially inner end to the radially outer end of the collar.

[0038] As shown in Figure 4, the ribs can be positioned relatively close to one another such that their widths and their distances are of similar scale and they form a rib groove pattern. For example, it can be envisioned that the distance between adjacent ribs (each measured from their center) is no more than four or three times their width. However, arrangements having ribs spaced further apart from one another are also contemplated.

[0039] Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-section of the capsule in the region of the collar (the region shown in dashed lines in Figure 1). The weld 70 between the body 2 and the lid 3 is represented diagrammatically by shading. It can be seen in Figure 5 that the diffusion barrier layer 70 is essentially intact up to its radially outer end (to the very left of Figure 5).

[0040] Additionally, the following optional features that are advantageous for a stable connection between the body and the lid are shown in FIG. - the start 12 of the arch of the lid is offset radially inwards compared to the outside of the circumferential side wall 6 (offset v). In this specification, the offset v is relevant compared to the thickness of the capsule wall, in particular it is at least 0.2 mm. The offset v is measured between a plane parallel to the outer surface of the body in the region of the collar 4 and passing through the position of maximum concave curvature at the transition between the lid side surface and the arch of the outer surface of the lid or body.

[0041] the body forms a thickening 21 in the region of the transition between the circumferential side wall 6 and the body collar 41, said thickening forming a bead projecting radially inwards;

[0042] The material thickness of the body is increased in the region of the body collar compared to the circumferential side wall 6, i.e. the body collar is thicker than the side wall. This also serves for reinforcement.

Claims

1. A portion capsule (1) filled with an extract material for producing an extract product, a plastic body (2) having a base area (5), a circumferential side wall (6) and a circumferential body collar (41) connecting said circumferential side wall towards the lid; a plastic lid (3) having a circumferential lid collar (42) and fastened to the body by welding the inside of the lid collar to the body collar, thereby forming a common collar (4); Equipped with - the body and the lid enclose the brewing material; - said body (2) has an essentially rectangular cross section in the region of said collar (4); - said collar (4) is provided on its outside with a number of ribs (50); - a portion capsule, characterized in that said rib (50) extends on said collar at said lid side.

2. 2. The portion capsule of claim 1, wherein said ribs (50) extend at an angle to said sidewall.

3. 3. Portion capsule according to claim 2, wherein said ribs (50) extend radially relative to an axis (10) perpendicular to the plane in which said collar (4) extends.

4. 3. Portion capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said ribs (50) extend to the radially outer edge of said collar.

5. 3. Portion capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid (3) forms an arch, whereby the lid contributes to the capsule volume, and the lid surface (9) is offset to the collar (4).

6. 6. The portion capsule according to claim 5, wherein the collar comprises a circumferential surface (8) facing the lid side and extending from the outer edge (7) of the collar (4) to the start (12) of the arch, the start (12) of the arch being offset inwards compared to the transition between the side wall (6) and the collar (4).

7. 3. Portion capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid (3) is manufactured by thermoforming.

8. 3. Portion capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the body (2) is manufactured by thermoforming.

9. 3. Portion capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid (3) and the body (2) are made of the same plastic.

10. 3. Portion capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid (3) and / or the body (2) are made of biologically degradable plastic.

11. 3. Portion capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid (3) and the body (2) are provided with a diffusion barrier layer (70).

12. 3. A portion capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the body (2) forms, in the region of the transition between the circumferential side wall (6) and the body collar (41), a thickening (21) forming a bead projecting radially inwards.

13. 3. Portion capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the number of said ribs (50) is at least 20.

14. 3. Portion capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the distance between two adjacent ribs (50) is not more than three times the average width of said ribs (50).

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