Nova Patents
EP1555219B1

Single portion cartridge for the preparation of a beverage

Abstract

This record has no abstract on file.

EP1555219B1, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 2

Term

Term ended

Expired 13 January 2025, 1.7 years ago.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
  3. Granted
  4. Expired
  5. Today

23 claims: 23 independent, 0 dependent

  1. c-en-01-0001
    Single-portion capsule for an espresso coffee machine, containing one portion of ground coffee (KP), with a filter element being arranged between the capsule base (7, 7a) and the coffee (KP), or between the capsule cover (4, 4a), the capsule base (7, 7a) and the coffee (KP), characterized in that at least the capsule base (7, 7a) is provided with a through-passage (22, 22a) which is suitable for preventing a hydraulic build-up of pressure when brewing the coffee (KP) held in the capsule, with a filter element (2, 2a) being arranged between the through-passage (22, 22a) and the coffee (KP), and with the through-passage (22, 22a) being sealed by a gas-tight film or foil (21, 21a).
  2. c-en-01-0002
    Single-portion capsule according to Claim 1, characterized in that the film or foil (21a) is arranged on the inner face of the capsule between the filter element (2a) and the capsule base (7a).
  3. c-en-01-0003
    Single-portion capsule according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the capsule comprises a cup-like lower part (1, 1a) with a cover (4, 4a) secured tightly to it, the film or foil (21, 21a) sealing the through-passage (22, 22a) being thinner than the cup-like lower part (1, 1a) of the capsule.
  4. c-en-01-0004
    Single-portion capsule according to Claim 3, characterized in that the cup-like lower part (1, 1a) --> of the capsule is dimensionally stable.
  5. c-en-01-0005
    Single-portion capsule according to Claim 4, characterized in that the film or foil (21, 21a) has a lower extensibility and/or a lower tear strength than the cup-like lower part (1, 1a) of the capsule.
  6. c-en-01-0006
    Single-portion capsule according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film or foil (21a) is a composite film or foil comprising at least two layers (32, 33).
  7. c-en-01-0007
    Single-portion capsule according to Claim 6, characterized in that at least one layer (33) is composed of metal, in particular aluminium.
  8. c-en-01-0008
    Single-portion capsule according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that at least one layer (32) of the film or foil (21a) is composed of a thermoplastic polymer, in particular of polypropylene or polyethylene.
  9. c-en-01-0009
    Single-portion capsule according to Claim 8, characterized in that the layer (32) made of the thermoplastic polymer lies on the capsule base (7a) and is welded to it.
  10. c-en-01-0010
    Single-portion capsule according to Claim 1, characterized in that the film or foil (21) is arranged on the outer face of the capsule and can be manually removed.
  11. c-en-01-0011
    Single-portion capsule according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (4, 4a) and the film or foil (21, 21a) are produced from the same material.
  12. c-en-01-0012
    Single-portion capsule according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film or --> foil (21, 21a) is a different colour from the capsule.
  13. c-en-01-0013
    Single-portion capsule according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter element (2, 2a) is of dimensionally stable design and is provided with a multiplicity of openings (8, 8a).
  14. c-en-01-0014
    Single-portion capsule according to Claim 13, characterized in that the total cross section of the openings (8, 8a) made in the filter element (2, 2a) is at least 3%, in particular at least 5%, of the average cross section of the capsule, so that the brewed coffee beverage can flow through the filter element (2, 2a) without any significant resistance and emerge from the capsule via the through-passage (22, 22a).
  15. c-en-01-0015
    Single-portion capsule according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the filter element (2) is provided with a multiplicity of channels (17) for collecting and diverting the coffee beverage emerging from the single-portion capsule.
  16. c-en-01-0016
    Single-portion capsule according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a dimensionally stable distribution element (3) is arranged between the cover (4) of the capsule and the coffee (KP) held in the capsule, and is provided with a multiplicity of openings (14) and channels (18) for uniformly distributing the brewing water (24) flowing into the single-portion capsule.
  17. c-en-01-0017
    Single-portion capsule according to Claim 16, characterized in that the total cross section of the openings (14) made in the distribution element (3) is at least 3%, in particular at least 5%, of the average cross section of the capsule.
  18. c-en-01-0018
    Single-portion capsule according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that both the --> distribution member (3) and the filter element (2) have depressions (9, 13) directed towards the interior of the capsule in order to form the distribution and collection channels (17, 18), and in that the openings (8, 14) are arranged in these collection channels (17, 18).
  19. c-en-01-0019
    Single-portion capsule according to Claim 18, characterized in that the distribution and collection channels (17, 18) extend radially outwards from, and in a circle around, the axis of symmetry.
  20. c-en-01-0020
    Single-portion capsule according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the distribution member (3) is arranged or designed in such a way that one or more puncturing means (23) can be passed through the capsule cover (4) without the distribution member (3) being pierced in the process.
  21. c-en-01-0021
    Single-portion capsule according to Claim 20, characterized in that the distribution member (3) is provided with at least one depression (15) which is directed towards the interior of the capsule and into which the puncturing means (23) can extend after they have punctured the cover (4).
  22. c-en-01-0022
    Single-portion capsule according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the statistical average value of the diameter of a single particle of the coffee to be infused is between 400 and 600 µm, and in that the diameter of a single opening (8, 14) made in the filter element (2) or distribution member (3) is less than the statistical average value of the diameter of a single particle.
  23. c-en-01-0023
    Single-portion capsule according to one of Claims 3 to 22, characterized in that the inner face of the cup-like lower part (1a) is provided with a circumferential groove (27), and in that the filter --> element (2a) arranged between the through-passage (22a) and the coffee (KP) is provided with a rim (27) which is directed towards the inner face of the capsule and on its outer face is provided with a projection (28) which encircles it in an annular fashion and fixes the filter element (2a) in the groove (27) in a clamping fashion.
Independent claims23