Capsules for producing beverages

Abstract

The present invention relates to a capsule for use in a beverage preparation machine, the capsule containing a soluble and / or extractable beverage ingredient, the capsule comprising a capsule body (2) defining a chamber (21), an upper membrane (3) closing an upper opening and adapted to be punctured for injection of liquid into the capsule, a lower membrane (4) arranged inside the chamber and adapted to define an ingredient chamber between the upper membrane and the lower membrane, and an opening device (5) arranged in the chamber and adapted to open the chamber by relative engagement of the opening device with the lower membrane under the effect of an increase in liquid pressure in the ingredient chamber during injection of liquid, the lower membrane being a laminated multilayer material comprising successively a vegetable parchment layer (41), an adhesive layer (42) and a layer of nonwoven material (43) comprising fibres, the fibres being biodegradable fibres, the vegetable parchment layer facing the opening device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001] [Technical field] The present invention relates to a capsule for use in a beverage preparation machine.

[0002] [Background technology] Single-serving beverage capsules are known in the art and are commonly used in beverage preparation machines for the on-demand dispensing of beverages such as coffee or tea.

[0003] To achieve this, a beverage capsule, typically having a capsule body containing beverage ingredients, is inserted into a capsule receptacle of a beverage preparation machine. The capsule receptacle is then closed, and beverage preparation begins. In the capsule receptacle, the capsule's upper membrane is punctured with a needle, allowing a fluid, typically water, to enter the capsule and interact with the beverage ingredients inside the capsule to produce the desired beverage. As the fluid fills the capsule, pressure inside the capsule increases. Once a sufficient amount of fluid has filled the capsule, a self-opening mechanism within the capsule is activated, which opens the capsule's lower membrane upon completion of the extraction of the beverage ingredients, releasing the prepared beverage. An example of the operating principle of this type of container is described in EP 1472156.

[0004] In the prior art, beverage containers of this type are usually made of plastic. Because these containers are designed for one-time use, their disposal must be controlled, as the reuse and recycling of the materials used can be difficult. Therefore, attempts have been made to replace these materials with alternatives, such as cellulose or bioplastics, which can overcome the problems associated with the disposal and / or recycling of containers after use. However, it must be taken into account that these alternative materials do not have the same material properties and advantages as regular plastic materials.

[0005] In particular, taking into consideration capsules such as those described in EP 1 472 156 and shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, capsules 1 of such type: a capsule body 2 defining a chamber 21 having an upper opening 23 closed by an upper membrane 3 adapted to be punctured for the injection of liquid into the capsule; a lower membrane 4 disposed inside the chamber and adapted to define a source material chamber between the upper membrane 3 and the lower membrane 4; an opening device 5 provided inside the capsule body and below the lower membrane, the opening device 5 being adapted to open the chamber by relative engagement between the opening device and the lower membrane under the effect of an increase in liquid pressure in the ingredient chamber during injection of the liquid; Equipped with. The opening device 5 typically comprises a plate 51 having spikes 52 with sharply pointed ends protruding from an upper surface 511 of the plate.

[0006] This bottom membrane is usually an aluminum film that can offer different properties such as: Air barrier to protect beverage ingredients within the closed capsule before beverage preparation This tearing under pressure to dispense the prepared beverage must occur when a certain pressure is reached inside the capsule, and must not create an excessively large hole inside the membrane to prevent the beverage solids (ground coffee or undissolved soluble powder) from flowing downstream.

[0007] However, aluminum is not biodegradable and if all other parts of the capsule are biodegradable, then the aluminum must also be replaced with another biodegradable material.

[0008] In addition, the aluminum membrane cannot optimally prepare different coffee beverages, such as espresso and lungo, using the same capsule structure. Both types of beverage require a crema layer on top of the coffee beverage. During espresso preparation, the volume of hot water introduced into the capsule is small, and opening of the aluminum membrane is achieved when the spike of the opening device is sufficiently sharp. However, during lungo preparation, the volume of hot water introduced into the capsule is much larger, and opening of the aluminum membrane occurs early in the beverage preparation, resulting in an insufficient amount of crema. To solve this problem, a different type of opening device is required for preparing lungo beverages, in which the spike of the opening device is less sharp. As a result, the lower aluminum membrane opens under relatively high pressure, resulting in the production of more crema.

[0009] One object of the present invention is to provide a capsule structure that can be used interchangeably to prepare different types of beverages.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a capsule structure that can be used interchangeably to prepare lungo or espresso coffee drinks.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a capsule structure made from compostable materials.

[0012] [Summary of the Invention] In a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a capsule for use in a beverage preparation machine, the capsule containing a soluble and / or extractable beverage ingredient, the capsule comprising: a capsule body defining a chamber; an upper membrane closing the upper opening and adapted to be punctured for injecting liquid into the capsule; a lower membrane disposed within the chamber to define a source material chamber between the upper membrane and the lower membrane; an opening device provided inside the chamber, the opening device adapted to open the chamber by relative engagement of the opening device with the lower membrane under the influence of an increase in liquid pressure in the source chamber during injection of liquid; Equipped with The lower membrane is A vegetable parchment layer; an adhesive layer; a nonwoven material layer comprising fibers that are biodegradable fibers; a laminated multilayer material comprising successively: The vegetable parchment layer faces the opening device.

[0013] The capsule comprises a capsule body defining a chamber for the beverage ingredients, an upper membrane closing the chamber, a lower membrane provided inside the chamber, and an opening device adapted to open the lower membrane.

[0014] The capsule body is usually a sidewall defining a chamber and extending axially between the sidewall and the upper opening; A peripheral flange projects radially outward from the upper opening, the peripheral flange having an upper surface opposite the chamber relative to the opening and a lower surface opposite the chamber.

[0015] Typically, the lower part of the capsule body is provided with an outlet through which the beverage can be dispensed.

[0016] Typically, the upper membrane is attached to the upper surface of the flange of the body.

[0017] The capsule contains a beverage ingredient, which can be a soluble or extractable beverage ingredient, held between an upper membrane and a lower membrane.

[0018] The lower membrane is a laminated multi-layer material that can be pierced by an opening device when the pressure of water introduced through the upper membrane increases in the beverage chamber.

[0019] It has been observed that the same capsule structure with a sound opening device and this lower membrane can be used to prepare espresso and lungo drinks with optimum quality, in particular lungo coffee with the required crema layer.

[0020] In addition, the membrane is advantageously compostable.

[0021] Preferably, the biodegradable fibers of the nonwoven material layer are selected from the group of fibers consisting of PLA, PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate), PHB (poly(hydroxybutyrate)), PHB(V) (poly((hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate)), PBS (poly(butylene succinate)), biopolyesters, and cellulosic fibers such as cotton, flax, wood fibers, and combinations thereof.

[0022] Preferably, the biodegradable fibers of the nonwoven material comprise heat-sealable fibers having a melting point of at least about 100°C.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the fibers of the nonwoven material consist solely of polylactic acid (PLA).

[0024] Preferably, the basis weight of the nonwoven material is between 5 and 100 g / m 2 , advantageously 20 to 40 g / m 2 , preferably about 30 g / m 2 is.

[0025] Preferably, the adhesive layer may be an acrylic adhesive.

[0026] Preferably, the basis weight of the vegetable parchment is 30 to 120 g / m 2 , advantageously 60 to 80 g / m 2 , preferably about 70 g / m 2 It could be.

[0027] Thus, during beverage preparation, this basis weight allows the pressure inside the capsule to build up before the lower membrane is pierced by the opening device, and furthermore, this basis weight allows the membrane to be pierced when the pressure is high enough.

[0028] Preferably, the vegetable parchment has a thickness of 60 to 150 μm.

[0029] The opening device is disposed within the body but outside the source material chamber, and therefore below the lower membrane.

[0030] Typically, the opening device comprises a plate with opening elements protruding from the upper surface of the plate and thus towards the lower membrane, which opening elements are designed to puncture, tear or pierce the lower membrane under the influence of the increased liquid pressure in the ingredient chamber during the injection of said liquid. Preferably, these opening elements have sharply pointed edges.

[0031] Preferably, the plate of the opening device comprises beverage discharge holes extending from the upper surface of the plate to the lower surface of the plate, the holes being located between the raised opening elements.

[0032] Preferably, the opening device is made of a biodegradable material, which may be a polymer composition comprising at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).

[0033] Preferably, the capsule body is made of a biodegradable or compostable material such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA), and / or polybutylene adipate terepthalate (PBAT).

[0034] Preferably, the top membrane is made of a biodegradable or compostable material such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA), and / or polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT).

[0035] The capsule includes a feed wall extending through the interior cross section of the chamber to define a lower subchamber for the ingredients and an upper distribution chamber for the liquid, the feed wall including small holes for dispensing the liquid evenly over the ingredients.

[0036] Such a dispenser can be a compostable film made from cellophane and polybutylene succinate (PBS).

[0037] Preferably, the capsule contains roast and ground coffee. The capsule may contain between 4g and 15g of roast and ground coffee for preparing an espresso or lungo coffee.

[0038] In a second aspect, there is provided the use of a capsule as described above for preparing espresso or lungo coffee.

[0039] In this application, the technical requirements and procedures for determining the biodegradability and compostability of materials are determined according to international standards such as EU13432 or US ASTM D6400. For example, one test requires that for a material to be considered "(industrially) compostable," at least 90% of the material in question must be biologically degraded within six months under controlled conditions. A similar testing scheme exists for the certification of home compostability.

[0040] Therefore, the entire capsule system can be disposed of in a compost pile after use, providing nutrients to the soil once the material has fully decomposed.

[0041] The above-described aspects of the invention may be combined in any suitable combination. Moreover, various features herein may be combined with one or more of the above-described aspects to provide combinations other than those specifically shown and described. Further objects and advantageous features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, detailed description, and accompanying drawings.

[0042] Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0043] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a capsule according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a laminated multilayer material of a lower membrane.

[0044] [Mode for Carrying Out the Invention] FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a capsule 1 according to the invention.

[0045] The capsule 1 comprises a capsule body 2 having one or more side walls 21 extending axially from the bottom to the top. The side walls extend towards an upper opening 23. At the upper opening 23, the body comprises a peripheral flange 24 extending radially outward from the side walls.

[0046] Generally, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 2, any cross section of the main capsule is circular from bottom to top, and the flange is also circular.

[0047] The sidewalls define a chamber 22 for containing soluble and / or extractable beverage ingredients.

[0048] The soluble beverage ingredient is a water-soluble powder ingredient and can be selected from the list of instant coffee powder, milk powder, creamer powder, instant tea powder, cocoa powder, soup powder, fruit powder or a mixture of said powders. The powders may be agglomerated or sintered.

[0049] The packaged beverage ingredient may be an ingredient that can be extracted or infused, such as roast and ground coffee or tea leaves, in which embodiment, water extracts the beverage ingredient.

[0050] The capsule comprises an upper membrane 3 fixed, sealed or attached to at least a portion of the upper surface of the peripheral flange, thus covering and closing the upper opening 23 .

[0051] The upper membrane is adapted to be punctured for injecting liquid into the capsule. Preferably, the upper membrane is pierceable by an injection needle of a beverage preparation machine, the injection needle being adapted to inject an extract under pressure into or within the chamber. Preferably, the piercing operation is performed in a single location by a water injection needle such as those described in WO 2006 / 082064 or WO 2008 / 107281.

[0052] The term "upper membrane" should be understood as the membrane that is pierced by the injection needle of the machine, in contrast to the "lower membrane" (explained below), which should be understood as the membrane located opposite the capsule 1.

[0053] The capsule comprises a lower membrane 4 which closes the lower part of the chamber 22. This lower membrane is fixed, sealed or attached to a peripheral recess 25 which extends inside the internal volume of the body.

[0054] Thus, the soluble and / or extractable beverage ingredients are enclosed between the upper and lower membranes, which define an interior space of the ingredient chamber 22, which is a chamber configured to hold the beverage ingredients for preparation of a beverage.

[0055] In one embodiment, a feed wall 6 can extend through the interior cross section of the chamber to define a lower subchamber for the raw material and an upper distribution chamber for the liquid, the feed wall comprising small holes for distributing the liquid evenly over the raw material.

[0056] The capsule comprises an opening device 5 adapted to open the chamber by relative engagement with the lower membrane 4 under the effect of an increase in liquid pressure in the chamber during injection of said liquid. The opening device 5 typically comprises a rigid plate 51 provided on its surface with opening elements 52, such as spikes bent upwards towards the lower membrane 4, which opening elements may form protrusions and recesses on the lower membrane 4 facing the opening device.

[0057] Holes 53 may be provided in the plate 51 for distributing the beverage produced in the ingredient chamber 22 to the beverage outlet 25 .

[0058] When liquid is injected into the chamber 4, the pressure increases and deforms the lower membrane 4 relative to the opening device 5 until the lower membrane is pierced, causing the beverage prepared in the capsule 1 to fall from the chamber 21 below the opening device 5. The expression "engage" may mean, for example, that the opening device or the second membrane, or both, can be moved relative to each other to bring about opening.

[0059] Typically, the capsule body comprises a lower beverage outlet 25 below the opening device 5. The lower part of the capsule body preferably extends below the opening means to hold said opening means and collect the beverage in said beverage outlet 25 for delivering the beverage out of the capsule 1, for example into a cup.

[0060] The upper membrane 3 is fixed to the flange 24 in such a way that the brewing liquid injected into the chamber 21 increases the internal pressure to the pressure required to obtain a puncture in the lower membrane 4 deformed by the opening device 5. The upper membrane 3 is therefore fixed to the flange in such a way that it does not peel off at least until a defined pressure inside the chamber is reached. This defined pressure may be at least 2 bar, preferably at least 3 bar or at least 6 bar. In this respect, this fixation prevents leakage of the capsule 1 through the interface between the flange and the upper membrane during beverage preparation.

[0061] In the state of the art, the lower membrane 4 is made of aluminum.

[0062] In the present invention, the lower membrane 4 is a multi-layer material as shown in FIG.

[0063] This multilayer material 4 is a vegetable parchment layer 41; an intermediate adhesive layer 42; and a nonwoven material layer 43, the fibers of which are biodegradable fibers.

[0064] In one preferred embodiment, the multi-layer material comprises: Vegetable parchment having a basis weight of 70 gsm, and The nonwoven material is made of PLA nonwoven fabric with a basis weight of 28 gsm.

[0065] In the capsule, the vegetable parchment layer 41 faces the opening device 5 .

[0066] In the present invention, the opening device 5 preferably comprises opening elements 52 with sharply pointed ends. In addition, the beverage discharge holes 53 preferably extend from the upper surface 511 of the plate to the lower surface 512 of the plate and are arranged between the raised opening elements 52.

[0067] When coffee is prepared using state-of-the-art capsules with a lower membrane made of aluminium and roast and ground coffee, different opening devices 5 are required depending on whether an espresso or a lungo is to be prepared.

[0068] To prepare an espresso, the opening element 52 of the opening device has a sharp, pointed end. When water is introduced through the upper membrane, the pressure inside the capsule increases, piercing the aluminum lower membrane and dispensing the coffee under pressure. Since this coffee has a short volume, the amount of crema produced is adapted to this short coffee. When preparing a lungo using such a capsule, the amount of crema produced is unreliable (too small) compared to the amount of coffee, because the pressure inside the capsule decreases when the aluminum lower membrane is pierced by the sharp opening element.

[0069] Therefore, for preparing a lungo, the capsule contains more roast and ground coffee than a capsule for preparing an espresso, and the opening element 52 of the opening device is configured to be less sharp (for example, it has the shape of a truncated cone or pyramid). When water is introduced through the upper membrane and the pressure inside the capsule increases, this less sharp opening device results in a delay in the opening of the aluminum membrane compared to an espresso opening device, allowing the pressure inside the capsule to continue to increase even after the lower membrane is pierced. As a result, a long coffee is produced, and crema is produced over a longer period of time, with the long coffee being served with an appropriate amount of crema.

[0070] Therefore, the current state of the art requires the provision of two different opening devices depending on the amount and type of coffee to be prepared.

[0071] With the capsule according to the invention, espresso coffee or lungo coffee can be prepared with the same opening device 5. The only difference between lungo capsules and espresso capsules concerns the amount of roast and ground coffee held in the capsule.

[0072] It has been observed that, whatever the coffee prepared, the pressure continues to rise in the capsule for some time after the lower membrane has been pierced by the opening device 5. This can be explained by swelling of the lower membrane, in particular the vegetable parchment, which absorbs moisture and restricts the dispensing of coffee downstream of the opening device. In particular, if the plate 51 of the opening device comprises beverage outlet holes 53 extending from the upper surface 511 of the plate to the lower surface 512 of the plate, these holes are covered by the expanded lower membrane, the effect of which is to restrict dispensing and maintain the pressure inside the capsule.

[0073] When a long coffee such as a lungo is prepared, pressure is maintained during beverage preparation for a time sufficient to obtain sufficient crema in the final coffee.

[0074] While the invention has been described with reference to the above illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that the invention as claimed is in no way limited to these illustrated embodiments.

[0075] Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, where known equivalents exist for specific features, such equivalents are incorporated as if specifically referred to herein.

[0076] As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," and similar terms should not be construed in an exclusive or exhaustive sense. In other words, they are intended to mean "including, but not limited to."

[0077] [Explanation of symbols] 1 capsule 2 capsule bodies 20 Chamber 21 Side wall 22 Raw Material Chamber 23 Upper opening 24 flange 25 Bottom exit 3 Upper membrane 4 Lower membrane 41 vegetable parchment layer 42 Adhesive layer 43 Non-woven material layer 5. Opening Device 51 Rigid Plate 52 Aperture element 53 holes 6 supply wall

Claims

1. A capsule (1) for use in a beverage preparation machine, comprising a soluble and / or extractable beverage ingredient, The aforementioned capsule, A capsule body (2) that defines the chamber (21), An upper membrane (3) fitted to close the upper opening and to be punctured for liquid injection into the capsule, A lower membrane (4) is provided inside the chamber (21) and defines a raw material chamber between the upper membrane (3) and the lower membrane, An opening device (5) provided inside the chamber, which is configured to open the chamber by relative engagement of the opening device with the lower membrane (4) under the influence of the increase in the liquid pressure inside the raw material chamber during the injection of the liquid, Equipped with, The lower membrane, A plant-based parchment layer (41) and Adhesive layer (42) and A nonwoven material layer (43) containing biodegradable fibers, It is a laminated multilayer material that continuously possesses these characteristics. The aforementioned plant parchment layer faces the opening device (5). capsule.

2. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the biodegradable fibers in the nonwoven material layer are selected from the group consisting of PLA, PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate), PHB (poly(hydroxybutyrate)), PHB(V) (poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate)), PBS (poly(butylene succinate)), biopolyester, and cellulose fibers such as cotton, flax, and wood fibers, as well as combinations thereof.

3. The capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the biodegradable fibers of the nonwoven material include heat-sealable fibers having a melting point of at least 100°C.

4. The capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fibers of the nonwoven material are composed solely of polylactic acid (PLA).

5. The basis weight of the aforementioned nonwoven material is 5 to 100 g / m². ２ , advantageously 20-40 g / m ２ Preferably 30 g / m ２ The capsule according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adhesive layer (42) is an acrylic adhesive.

7. The basis weight of the aforementioned plant parchment (41) is 30 to 120 g / m². ２ , advantageously 60-80 g / m ２ Preferably 70 g / m ２ The capsule according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plant parchment (41) has a thickness of 60 to 150 μm.

9. The capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the capsule further comprises a capsule body made of a biodegradable or compostable material such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA), and / or polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT).

10. The capsule according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an upper membrane made of a biodegradable or compostable material such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA), and / or polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT).

11. The capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the raw material chamber contains roasted and ground coffee.

12. The capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening device (5) comprises a plate (51), the plate comprising an opening element (52) rising from the upper surface (511) of the plate, the opening element (52) being designed to perforate, tear, and puncture the lower membrane (4) under the influence of the increase in the liquid pressure in the raw material chamber during the injection of the liquid, and the opening element (52) having a sharply pointed end.

13. The capsule according to claim 12, wherein the plate (51) of the opening device (5) is provided with a beverage discharge hole (53) extending from the upper surface (511) of the plate to the lower surface (512) of the plate, and the hole is located between the raised opening elements (52).

14. The capsule according to claim 13, wherein the opening device (5) is made from a biodegradable material, the biodegradable material is a polymer composition, and the polymer composition comprises at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).

15. Use of the capsule according to claim 1 or 2 for preparing espresso coffee or lungo coffee.

Images