Potion Capsule

Abstract

Portion package elements (1a;1b) for forming the walls of a portion package (1) for containing extracted material comprise at least one first layer of a first plastic material and are substantially free of aluminum particles. The portion package elements (1a;1b) may further be substantially free of soot particles. The portion package (1) comprises such portion package elements. Improvements in the sorting ability of such a portion package (1) or portion package elements (1a;1b) can be achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to preparing beverages and the like from an extraction material, such as ground coffee beans, contained in a portion package such as a portion capsule, for example. The present invention relates to a portion package for containing an extraction material and parts thereof, which parts may in particular be a portion package beaker and a portion package lid.

Background Art

[0002] Extraction devices for preparing beverages from extraction material contained in portion packages are known, for example, as coffee machines, as espresso machines, or also as tea machines. In many corresponding systems, the portion package is designed as a capsule (portion capsule) in which the extraction material is hermetically sealed, for example. For extraction, two mutually opposite sides of the capsule are punctured. As an extraction fluid, hot water is generally introduced into the first side. The extract is discharged from the capsule at the second side.

[0003] Among portion capsules, capsules whose capsule walls consist substantially of plastic are known. There is a growing need to recycle such capsules as completely as possible. A coffee portion capsule having a capsule wall of plastic material free of soot particles is known from DE102014109555, and this capsule wall comprises a white layer. Soot particles are mostly used to give capsules a dark color, but make it impossible to correctly classify each respective capsule in a waste sorting facility. DE102014109555 teaches that such misclassification can be prevented by eliminating soot particles and instead providing a white layer on the capsule wall.

[0004] However, even if the capsule walls do not actually contain soot particles and the capsules contain an additional white layer, especially as an inner layer, it has been found that there is still room for improvement in the ability of waste sorting facilities to sort capsules. In contrast, reliable recognition in such waste sorting facilities appears to depend on other factors as well. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a capsule wall and a capsule having such a capsule wall that overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and ensure, enable, or facilitate improvements in reliability, particularly in waste sorting processes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This objective is achieved by the present invention as defined in the claims. According to one aspect of the present invention, a portion package element is provided that plays a role in forming the wall of a portion package, and therefore is a portion package beaker or a portion package lid. The portion package element is characterized by comprising at least one first layer of a first plastic material and being substantially free of aluminum particles.

[0007] "Substantially free of aluminum particles" means that the aluminum content (by weight) is a maximum of 0.08%, i.e., the aluminum content is between 0% and 0.08%. In particular, the aluminum pigment content (by weight) may be a maximum of 0.08%, and especially the mass percentage of aluminum not present in the aluminum pigment is 0.01% or less. Dyes used to color the portion capsules often contain aluminum pigments, which, as described later, make classification in waste sorting facilities more difficult.

[0008] The portion packaging elements may be completely free of aluminum particles, and in all cases, the minimum possible foreign matter contamination cannot be eliminated, with the weight percentage of such contamination being, for example, 0.01% or less.

[0009] A further aspect of the present invention provides a portioning package element that plays a role in forming the wall of a portioning package, and therefore is a portioning package beaker or a portioning package lid. The portioning package element comprises at least one first layer of a first plastic material, wherein the weight percentage of aluminum pigment is up to 0.08%, and in particular up to 0.05%.

[0010] A further aspect of the present invention provides a portioning package element that plays a role in forming the wall of a portioning package, and therefore is a portioning package beaker or a portioning package lid. The portioning package element comprises at least one first layer of a first plastic material, wherein the weight percentage of aluminum is up to 0.08%, and in particular up to 0.05%.

[0011] A further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of a portion package element to enable improved reliability in a waste sorting process, wherein the portion package element comprises at least one first layer of a first plastic material, which serves to form the wall of a portion package for containing the extracted material, wherein the weight percentage of aluminum is up to 0.08%, particularly up to 0.05%, and / or the weight percentage of aluminum pigment is up to 0.08%, particularly up to 0.05%. Herein, the portion capsule element may, in particular, contain aluminum pigment.

[0012] A further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of a portion package element to enable improved reliability in a waste sorting process, wherein the portion package element comprises at least one first layer of a first plastic material, which serves to form the wall of a portion package for containing the extracted material, wherein the weight percentage of aluminum is up to 0.08%, particularly up to 0.05%, and / or the weight percentage of aluminum pigment is up to 0.08%, particularly up to 0.05%. Herein, the portion capsule element may, in particular, contain aluminum pigment.

[0013] A further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of a portion capsule element to facilitate the classification of portion capsule elements in a waste sorting facility where infrared spectroscopy, such as near-infrared spectroscopy, is used for the identification of different materials, particularly different polymer materials, wherein the portion capsule element comprises at least one first layer of a first plastic material, which serves to form the wall of a portion capsule for containing the extracted material, wherein the weight percentage of aluminum is up to 0.08%, particularly up to 0.05%, and / or the weight percentage of aluminum pigment is up to 0.08%, particularly up to 0.05%. Herein, in particular, the portion capsule element may contain aluminum pigment.

[0014] A further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of a portion capsule element to facilitate the classification of portion capsule elements in a waste sorting facility where infrared spectroscopy, such as near-infrared spectroscopy, is used for the identification of different materials, particularly different polymer materials, wherein the portion capsule element comprises at least one first layer of a first plastic material, which serves to form the wall of a portion capsule for containing the extracted material, wherein the weight percentage of aluminum is up to 0.08%, particularly up to 0.05%, and / or the weight percentage of aluminum pigment is up to 0.08%, particularly up to 0.05%. Herein, in particular, the portion capsule element may contain aluminum pigment.

[0015] A further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of a portion capsule element to facilitate the achievement of improved reliability of the classification of portion package elements in a waste sorting process, wherein the portion capsule element comprises at least one first layer of a first plastic material, which serves to form the wall of a portion package for containing the extracted material, wherein the weight percentage of aluminum is up to 0.08%, particularly up to 0.05%, and / or the weight percentage of aluminum pigment is up to 0.08%, particularly up to 0.05%, and in particular, infrared spectroscopy, such as near-infrared spectroscopy, is used in the waste sorting process for the identification of different materials, particularly different polymer materials. Herein, in particular, the portion package element may contain an aluminum pigment, and / or the weight percentage of aluminum pigment in the portion package element is up to 0.08%, particularly up to 0.05%.

[0016] A further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of a portion package for containing extractable material to facilitate the achievement of improved reliability of classification of at least one portion package element in a waste sorting process, wherein the portion package comprises at least one portion package element for forming the wall of the portion package, the element comprising at least one first layer of a first plastic material, wherein the weight percentage of aluminum is up to 0.08%, particularly up to 0.05%, and / or the weight percentage of aluminum pigment is up to 0.08%, particularly up to 0.05%, and in particular, infrared spectroscopy, such as near-infrared spectroscopy, is used in the waste sorting process for the identification of different materials, particularly different polymer materials.

[0017] A further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of a portion package for containing extracted material to reduce the probability of misclassification of portion package elements in a waste sorting process, wherein the portion package comprises at least one portion package element for forming the wall of the portion package, the element comprising at least one first layer of a first plastic material, wherein the weight percentage of aluminum is up to 0.08%, particularly up to 0.05%, and / or the weight percentage of aluminum pigment is up to 0.08%, particularly up to 0.05%, and in particular, infrared spectroscopy, such as near-infrared spectroscopy, is used in the waste sorting process for the identification of different materials, particularly different polymer materials.

[0018] The embodiments of the present invention may be combined with each other. This invention is, firstly, based on the new finding that, in addition to soot particles, aluminum particles, and especially aluminum pigments, can also cause improper classification in waste sorting facilities. Infrared light used in waste sorting facilities is scattered by aluminum pigments, and this scattering can lead to misclassification, such as the assignment of the wrong material or the inability to assign a material. In contrast, misclassification by soot particles occurs because the soot particles absorb the irradiated infrared light.

[0019] A further finding of the present invention is that improvements in sorting in waste sorting facilities are, at least largely, independent of the choice of capsule element colors; therefore, a white layer, or in particular an inner white layer, is not necessary to achieve improved sorting.

[0020] The investigation revealed that, for other reasons, in the case of capsule beakers and capsule lids that do not contain aluminum, highly reliable classification can be achieved by near-infrared spectroscopy when the aluminum pigment in the dye of the capsule beaker or capsule lid is at most about 0.4 weight percent, and the weight percentage of dye on the capsule beaker or capsule lid ("dosing") is between 4% and 22%, particularly between 6% and 18%, for example between 6% and 18% for the lid and between 11% and 17% for the beaker.

[0021] The potion package may also be a potion capsule. In one embodiment, the portion package element includes a wall, and therefore includes a portion package wall.

[0022] In one embodiment, the portion package element is a portion package beaker.

[0023] In other embodiments, the portion package element is a portion package lid. The portion package lid may have particular shape stability and is therefore not foil, for example, as some portion packages include to seal the portion package beaker.

[0024] In the embodiment, the portion packaging element is substantially free of soot particles. This effectively prevents misclassification, i.e., enables particularly reliable classification.

[0025] "Substantially free of soot particles" means that the percentage of soot particles (by mass) is at most 0.08%, i.e., the percentage of soot particles is between 0% and 0.08%. Even a percentage of soot particles as low as about 0.01% by weight can make them more difficult to detect. Portion packaging elements may also be completely free of soot particles, and it is not always possible to completely eliminate the possibility of minimal foreign matter contamination, such as a mass percentage of 0.002% or less.

[0026] In an embodiment, the first layer is substantially free of aluminum particles. In an embodiment, the first layer forms the outer layer of the portion package element. Accordingly, the first layer may form the outer layer and / or the inner layer of the portion package. In particular, the first layer may form the outer layer of the portion package. If the first layer thus contains aluminum, or in particular an aluminum pigment, its weight proportion must be correspondingly low in order to be substantially free of aluminum particles.

[0027] In an embodiment, the portion package element comprises an aluminum pigment, in particular in the first layer. In particular, the weight proportion of the aluminum pigment in the first layer relative to the portion package element may be at most 0.08%, in particular at most 0.05%.

[0028] In an embodiment, the first plastic material comprises polypropylene. Due to its mechanical and thermal properties, polypropylene can be used very effectively for the production of coffee capsule components (such as capsule beakers and capsule lids). Polypropylene can usually be effectively identified by infrared spectroscopy in waste sorting facilities.

[0029] In particular, the first plastic material may consist of at least 60 percent by weight, in particular 70 percent by weight, of polypropylene. In particular, it may consist of at least 80 percent by weight, or at least 90 percent by weight, of polypropylene.

[0030] For example, the portion package element may consist of between 60 percent by weight and 80 percent by weight of polypropylene. The same can also be applied to the portion package.

[0031] The portion package element may also include one or more additional layers, such as at least one layer of biodegradable material, in addition to the first layer.

[0032] In some embodiments, the portion package element comprises a second layer made of a second plastic material, the second plastic material being a biodegradable material. Specifically, the second layer may be adjacent to the first layer, or connected to the first layer via a further layer located between them.

[0033] The second plastic material may include, in particular, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, especially polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), or butanediol-vinyl alcohol copolymer (BVOH). These plastic materials can form an oxygen barrier, which is crucial for the quality and preservation of sensitive extractable materials, such as coffee powder. In addition, these plastic materials are water-soluble, which contributes to being environmentally friendly. The second plastic material may include, for example, at least 50 weight percent, in particular at least 70 weight percent, of a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer, such as one of those mentioned above (PVOH, EVOH, BVOH), or a mixture of at least two of these. In other embodiments, the second plastic material includes such polyvinyl alcohol copolymers between 1 weight percent and 5 weight percent.

[0034] In the embodiment, the portion package element contains such polyvinyl alcohol copolymer between 1% and 5% by weight. The same can be applied to the portion package.

[0035] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numeral indicates the same or similar elements. The following drawings are shown. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0036] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a side view of a portion package designed as a capsule. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a capsule portion package beaker according to Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the capsule portion package lid according to Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figures 4a and 4b are classification images. [Figure 5] Figures 5a and 5b are classification images. [Figure 6] Figures 6a and 6b are classification images. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is the grayscale used for coding the classification results. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0037] Some components that are not essential for understanding the present invention are not shown. The examples of embodiments described are illustrative of the subject matter of the present invention or helpful in explaining it, and are not limiting.

[0038] The portion package designed as capsule 1, as shown in Figure 1, has a cubic shape with substantially rounded edges. However, since its spread increases slightly towards the upper face, the capsule has a truncated pyramidal shape strictly mathematically. The angle of inclination that the side in the figure makes with respect to the line perpendicular to the base 5 (dashed line in Figure 1) is very small, preferably a maximum of 2°, for example, only about 1°. Furthermore, the height of the capsule above the base is approximately equivalent to the length of the edge of the base.

[0039] Capsule 1 includes a portion package beaker (or capsule beaker) 1b and a portion package lid (or capsule lid) 1a that is fixed to the beaker along a circumferential collar. The capsule beaker has a capsule bottom and circumferentially extending side walls, and the ends of the side walls (upper ends in the figure) that are outward with respect to the axial direction (parallel to the axis shown by the dashed line in Figure 1) are closed by the collar. The capsule lid 1a has a lid surface substantially parallel to the capsule bottom that is arched outward by being offset outward (and axially "vertically"), and therefore upward in Figure 1, relative to the circumferentially extending collar.

[0040] Capsule 1 is filled with an extracting material, such as coffee powder (not shown in Figure 1).

[0041] Figure 2 shows capsule beaker 1b before filling and closing. The color spread of the capsule beaker may be greater than the color spread of the finished capsule.

[0042] Figure 3 shows a capsule lid 1a, which is similar to the capsule beaker 1b but manufactured, for example, by injection molding. The capsule lid 1a includes a lid surface in the central region, a transition region that forms an arch, and a lid collar.

[0043] The type of capsule 1 shown in Figure 1, the type of capsule beaker 1b shown in Figure 2, and the type of capsule lid 1a shown in Figure 3 are already known from the prior art, for example from WO2015 / 096990.

[0044] However, the portion packages and portion package elements described herein, or the portion packages (in particular capsules) and portion package elements (in particular capsule elements), are substantially free of aluminum particles.

[0045] In the manufacturing of the capsule, first the capsule element (capsule beaker 1b) is filled with the extraction material, followed by the placement of another capsule element (capsule lid 1a). Subsequently, ultrasonic welding is performed to hermetically seal the capsule. Depending on the initial expansion of the collar of the capsule beaker and the collar of the capsule lid, optionally, the protruding collar portion is separated following the welding.

[0046] Since the capsule elements contain virtually no aluminum particles, there is less scattering of infrared light irradiated upon them. This facilitates the classification of capsule elements in waste sorting facilities where infrared spectroscopy, such as near-infrared spectroscopy, is used to identify different materials, particularly different polymer materials. For example, the capsule elements may contain a polypropylene layer that can be identified in this way.

[0047] To be substantially free of aluminum particles, the encapsulating element must contain no aluminum particles at all (excluding unavoidable trace amounts of aluminum-containing foreign matter). Alternatively, the encapsulating element may contain aluminum pigment, particularly in the polypropylene layer, but only to a very low degree. For example, in either case, the aluminum pigment constitutes at most 0.08 weight percent of the encapsulating element.

[0048] Furthermore, the capsule elements do not contain soot particles that absorb infrared light and thus cause misclassification.

[0049] We experimentally investigated the effectiveness of classification based on infrared spectroscopy, which is highly dependent on the aluminum particle content.

[0050] Figures 4a to 6b show the respective classification images obtained in the experiment. The shading patterns used for coding the classification results in this specification are shown in Figure 7. Two hatches correspond to correct classifications (polypropylene was recognized), stippling indicates incorrect assignments to other plastics (PET or PA-6), and black areas indicate cases where the near-infrared spectroscopy results could not be assigned to a plastic.

[0051] In the experiment, a group of portion package elements were investigated by near-infrared spectroscopy at a waste sorting facility. Figures 4a to 5b show capsule beakers, and Figures 6a and 6b show capsule beakers.

[0052] The portion packaging elements contained dye in a polypropylene layer. The polypropylene layer formed the outer layer of each portion packaging element.

[0053] The potion package elements did not contain soot particles. In Figure 4a, the weight percentage of aluminum pigment in the dye was 0.3%, and in Figure 4b, the weight percentage of aluminum pigment was 0.65%, but all other properties were identical.

[0054] In Figure 5a, the weight percentage of aluminum pigment in the dye was 0.27%, and in Figure 5b, the weight percentage of aluminum pigment was 0.83%, but all other properties were identical.

[0055] In Figure 6a, the weight percentage of aluminum pigment in the dye was 0%, and in Figure 6b, the weight percentage of aluminum pigment was 2.1%, but all other properties were the same.

[0056] The weight percentage of dye in each potion package element was approximately 14% (dosing for capsule beakers) and between 12% and 14% (dosing for capsule lids).

[0057] As clearly shown in Figures 4a to 6b, when the weight percentage of each aluminum pigment is lower (Figures 4a, 5a, and 6a), the rate of correct classification (hatching) is higher, but when the weight percentage of each aluminum pigment is higher (Figures 4b, 5b, and 6b), the rate of misclassification (stippling or black) is higher, specifically due to assignment to other plastics (stippling) or inability to assign a plastic (black).

[0058] From the experiment, it can be inferred that reducing the weight percentage of aluminum pigment in the dye to 0.4% or less is advantageous in order to achieve sufficiently excellent sorting capabilities in a waste sorting facility.

[0059] From the classification images shown in Figures 4a to 6b, a so-called valve map can be created, and based on the valve map, the valves of the waste sorting facility can be controlled so that materials located in the areas where the classification result indicates polypropylene can be sorted using air pulses.

Claims

1. A portion package element for forming the wall of a portion package for containing an extractable material, comprising at least one first layer of a first plastic material, wherein the portion package element is substantially free of aluminum particles.

2. The portion package element according to claim 1, wherein the weight percentage of aluminum is up to 0.08%, and more particularly up to 0.05%.

3. The portion packaging element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the weight percentage of aluminum pigment is at most 0.08%, and in particular at most 0.05%.

4. A portion package element according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is substantially free of soot particles.

5. The portion package element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first layer forms the outer layer of the portion package element.

6. The portion packaging element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first plastic material comprises polypropylene, and in particular the first plastic material comprises at least 60 weight percent, and in particular at least 80 weight percent, of polypropylene.

7. A portion package element according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a second layer made of a second plastic material, wherein the second plastic material particularly comprises at least 50 weight percent of a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer.

8. A portion package comprising a portion package element according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the portion package element is a capsule beaker or a capsule lid.

9. The portion package according to claim 8, comprising an extracting material, particularly coffee powder, airtightly packaged within the portion package.

Images