HK1112569B - System with capsule having sealing means - Google Patents

Description

System comprising a capsule with sealing means

Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to a beverage production system for use in connection with a capsule and a method of producing a beverage from ingredients contained within such a capsule.

Background

The background of the invention is the field of sealed capsules containing beverages or other edible (e.g. soup) ingredients. By interaction of these ingredients with the injected liquid, a beverage or other food, such as a soup, can be produced. The interaction may be a process such as extraction, modulation or dissolution. Such capsules are particularly suitable for containing ground coffee in order to produce a coffee beverage by injecting hot water under pressure into the capsule and draining the coffee beverage from the capsule.

The capsule as shown in FR 2160634 relates to a device for making a coffee beverage from a cartridge (cartridge), wherein a water injection means is placed hermetically against the upper side of the cartridge. The water injection means comprises a sealing member applied on the upper rim of the capsule.

EP 0361569 a1 does not show a sealed capsule, but shows a coffee filter unit that is not sealed when placed in a coffee machine but simply press-fitted in the cartridge housing so that water can be poured onto the filter paper provided at the upper side of the opening of the coffee filter unit. To avoid water splashing beyond the upper edge of the filter unit, the peripheral portion of the filter paper is sandwiched between the outer edge of the wall of the coffee filter unit and the peripheral wall of the machine. This design is a device for filtering beverages at atmospheric pressure, which is not adapted to withstand the typical water filling pressure prevailing in the capsule, e.g. above 3 bar or even higher, when e.g. espresso is produced.

FR 2617389 describes a capsule-based coffee machine in which a capsule to be extracted is placed on a capsule holder. The capsule holder is then bayonet-rotated, wherein the final rotational position depends on the torque exerted by the user on the handle for turning the capsule holder. Thus, the machine itself does not have a defined closed position, since the final closed position depends on the amount of torque applied by the user. Thus, the seal between the capsule and the machine is not defined by the design of the machine, but is arbitrarily dependent on the user's manipulation of the machine. Generally, the higher the applied rotational force, the more clearance can be compensated for. However, such systems have some drawbacks. First, it requires the closure device to be completely sealed by hand and not be assisted by mechanical, electrical or hydraulic means. It requires the user to screw the capsule holder onto the machine with a certain amount of force, and then the user may have difficulty unscrewing the capsule holder. Furthermore, the sealing is difficult to control and the capsule holder may not be sufficiently sealed so that pressure leakage may occur.

Contrary to the rotary bayonet closure according to FR 2617389, the invention relates to a machine in which the closure and sealing of the machine parts around the capsule is not an arbitrary function of the force of the user, but depends on a certain state of the setting of the capsule within the machine.

This is the case, for example, in machines in which the final phase of the closing movement is substantially axial (i.e. translational or curvilinear) rather than rotational.

Systems and methods for obtaining fluid food from ｃA capsule containing ｃA substance are known from the prior art, for example from EP- ｃA-512470 (corresponding application to US 5402707). The machine of EP- ｃA-512470 is exemplified by ｃA bayonet closure.

The capsule 101 shown in fig. 1 has a frustoconical cup 102 which can be filled with, for example, roast and ground coffee 103 and is closed by a foil-like tear face cover 104 welded and/or crimped on a flange-like rim extending laterally from the side wall of the cup 102. The capsule holder 111 comprises a flow grid 112 with a concave-convex surface member 113.

The capsule holder 111 is housed in its support 115 having a side wall 124 and an aperture 127 for the passage of the extracted coffee beverage.

As can be seen from fig. 1, the extraction system further comprises a water injector 107 having a water inlet channel 120 and a capsule cartridge 108 having an internal recess with a shape substantially corresponding to the outer shape of the capsule. The capsule magazine 108 comprises, on its exterior, a spring 122 which holds a ring 123 for releasing the capsule when extraction is completed.

In operation, the capsule 101 is placed in the capsule holder 111. The water injector 107 pierces the upper surface of the cup 102. The lower tear face 104 of the capsule rests on the radially arranged members 113 of the capsule holder 111.

Water is injected through the passage 120 of the water injection means 107 and impacts the coffee bed 103. The pressure inside the capsule 101 increases and the tear face 104 gradually follows the shape of the radial opening concave-convex part 113. Such radially opening reliefs may be replaced by pyramidal reliefs or reliefs of other shapes. When the constituent material of the tear face reaches its breaking stress, the tear face tears along the relief member. The extracted coffee flows through the apertures of the flow grate 112 and is recycled back into the receptacle (not shown) below the apertures 127.

The principle of the extraction method according to the invention is summarized as follows:

-inserting the initially sealed capsule into the capsule holding means;

-then associating capsule holding means with water injection means of the machine, so that the capsule magazine (108 in figure 4) overlaps the sealed capsule;

-forming at least one opening in a first wall of the capsule for the introduction of water under pressure;

the water injected under pressure into the capsule through the openings in the first wall interacts with the ingredients contained in the capsule as it traverses the interior of the capsule and then leaves the capsule through the at least one opening/perforation formed in the second wall.

The ingredient within the capsule constitutes a "bottleneck" of the flow path of the water and thereby causes a pressure drop between the upstream and downstream sides of the liquid flow through the capsule, which pressure drop may even increase during the interaction between the liquid and the ingredient, e.g. due to expansion of the ingredient. Accordingly, it must be ensured that the water flow actually only passes through the interior of the capsule (arrow a1), and that no water will flow from the water injection means into the space between the capsule cartridge 108 and the exterior of the capsule 101 and to the drain hole 127 of the device. The arrows a2 illustrate this undesirable water flow path. In other words, any water flow outside the capsule 101 must be prevented by sealing engagement arranged in the interspace between the capsule cartridge 108 and the capsule 101 and in the flow path between the water injection means and the beverage discharge hole. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, such sealing engagement may be achieved at least to some extent by a clamping engagement between the capsule cartridge 108, the flange-like rim of the side wall of the capsule 101 and the capsule holder 111, 115.

In case the sealing engagement does not work properly and water flows outside the capsule, a pressure will not build up inside the capsule sufficient to tear the tear face, or the pressure will not tear the tear face completely, resulting in poor extraction of the substance. In this case, the water will be drained from the beverage production device without interacting or sufficiently interacting with the ingredients contained in the capsule under sufficient pressure conditions.

New machines are currently commercially available which are based on an axial closing movement and no longer on a bayonet closure. These machines offer greater convenience to the user, they can be assisted mechanically, electrically or hydraulically for easier closing, and they can be made of less expensive materials (e.g. plastics). For example, several patents such as EP 0604615, EP 1090574, EP 1327407, WO 2004/071259 or WO 2005/004683 describe different closing principles.

Thus, the user cannot control the degree of tightening of the closure around the capsule. Satisfactory results result as long as the inherently defined closing state of the device performing the axial closing movement works correctly. However, if for different reasons (due to wear, aging, clogging with solid residues, etc.) the seal has been broken or its efficiency decreases over time, or if the closing position is misaligned (horizontally deviating from the ideal closing position, for example due to wear, fatigue or manufacturing tolerances), there is a risk that there is no tight seal or even a gap between the enclosing member and the capsule.

According to the prior art, the sealing engagement is achieved by covering the inner wall and/or the pressing edge of the capsule box with a rubber elastic joint. In other words, according to the prior art method, the sealing engagement is ensured by a fixing structure fixed to or attached to the beverage production device. The drawback is that after intensive use (i.e. over a large number of extraction cycles) the stationary sealing means are worn and the extraction conditions of the beverage are deteriorated, thus having a negative effect on the quality of the beverage.

In particular, any "leakage" outside the capsule will reduce the pressure build-up inside the capsule. On the other hand, sufficient extraction pressure is a key factor in the quality of espresso coffee.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an improvement in a system comprising:

an enclosing member of the beverage production device, which enclosing member is receivable for the capsule and transferable from an open state to a predefined defined closed state,

-a capsule having a sealing member providing an effective fluid-tight configuration of the capsule each time the capsule is engaged by the enclosing member, such that water enters the capsule through a controlled fluid path through the capsule when the enclosing member has been closed around the capsule in said defined closed state, and

a beverage production device with means for injecting pressurized water inside the capsule.

The invention is particularly aimed at improving the compensatory sealing engagement between the enclosing member and the outer surface of the capsule.

It should be noted that the present invention relates in particular to an improvement of the capsule, so that ｃA beverage production device of the prior art with built-in sealing means, such as shown in EP- ｃA-512470, can also be used with the capsule according to the present invention.

This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims develop further the central idea of the invention.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a system comprises:

-a capsule-based beverage production device, and

-a capsule for containing a beverage ingredient.

The beverage production device is provided with:

-means for injecting a pressurized liquid into the capsule,

-means for draining the beverage from the capsule, and

an enclosing member which is transferable from an open state to a defined closed state, wherein the enclosing member encloses an outer surface of the capsule.

A sealing member associated with the capsule; the sealing member is compressible when engaged by the enclosing member in the closed state and the sealing member is effective to compensate for a gap between the enclosing member and the capsule; without the sealing member of the capsule, this gap would be present when the enclosing member is in its defined closed position.

The seal is resilient under compression and is engaged by the enclosing member in the closed state.

The enclosing member may be arranged such that, in the final phase of its transfer movement from the open state to the closed state, it performs a substantially axial (e.g. linear or curved but not rotational) relative movement with respect to the capsule without relative rotation of the capsule.

The enclosing member is arranged relative to the capsule such that the capsule stays substantially in place during the transfer movement from the open state to the closed state.

The sealing member is arranged to exert a biasing force against a cooperating pressing surface of the beverage production device.

The thickness of the seal is sufficient to compensate for a range of gap variations. Preferably the thickness of the seal (when not in use) is 0.5-5mm, preferably 1-3mm, measured in the main direction of the compression force.

The pressing surface has a rectilinear and/or frustoconical profile when viewed in a radial cross-sectional view.

The pressing face may have a corrugated profile when viewed in side view.

The profile of the pressing surface may have corrugations.

The sealing engagement may thus be designed to be effective only when the enclosing member exerts a minimum compressive force on the capsule, but to be automatically released as long as the compressive force is below said minimum compressive force.

Grooves may be provided in the circumference of the enclosing member, which grooves serve as air inlet channels for supplying air through these grooves and the loose sealing engagement between the capsule and the enclosing member.

The seal may be made of a rubber elastic material.

The sealing member may be made of the constituent material of the capsule, such as a polymeric material.

The capsule may comprise a first and a second wall element which are connected to each other in a gastight manner in the region of the flange-like rim so as to form a sealed interior for the ingredient.

The seal may be provided at least in the transition area of one of the flange-like rim and the wall element.

The sealing member is arranged on the wall between the flange-like rim and the location on the capsule where the water injection means is introduced.

The capsule may comprise a cup-shaped base and an enclosing member.

The seal may be present on the flange-like rim and a portion of the side wall of the base body.

The seal may be an integral part of one of the wall elements.

The seal may be separable from the wall element.

The seal has the shape of an O-ring or a ring with an L-shaped cross-section.

The seal may be connected to one of the wall elements using an adhesive or by welding or by pinching or crimping or a combination thereof.

The enclosing member may comprise additional sealing means adapted to assist the sealing engagement between the enclosing member and the capsule.

The sealing pressure acting at the sealing joint may have a radial and/or axial component with respect to the central axis of the capsule.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing a beverage, the method comprising the steps of:

-placing the capsule in the beverage production device while an enclosing member of the beverage production device is in an open state,

the capsule is provided with sealing means on its outer surface, which sealing means are elastic under compression,

-causing the enclosing member to be transferred from the open state to a defined closed state, while in the final stage of the transfer movement the enclosing member engages and biases the sealing means of the capsule,

-letting the pressurized liquid enter the capsule from the at least one opening in the first wall member and letting the liquid leave the capsule through the at least one opening in the second wall member.

When the enclosing member is in its defined closed state, the sealing means of the capsule may compensate for any gap between the enclosing member and the capsule, which would be present if there were no compensation effect of the sealing means of the capsule.

In a final stage of the transfer movement, the enclosing member may at least partially compress the sealing means of the capsule.

The sealing engagement of the enclosing member and the sealing means of the capsule withstands an internal pressure in the range of 2-20 bar, preferably 4-15 bar.

The term "co-operating pressing surface" as used herein is typically part of a beverage production device. It may be a surface of an enclosing member, which is typically part of the device, which covers at least one side of the capsule when the device is closed to enclose the capsule. The term "internal pressure" refers to a relative pressure above ambient atmospheric pressure, which may be measured during extraction within the fluid conduit of the fluid injection device before the fluid inlet in the capsule (but downstream of any check valve).

Drawings

Other advantages, features and objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings.

Figure 1 shows an extraction capsule known from EP- ｃA-512470;

figure 2 shows a first embodiment of the invention in which a capsule is placed on a capsule holder but has not yet reached its closed position in a beverage production device;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of FIG. 2;

figure 4 shows the first embodiment in a state in which the capsule has reached its closed position between the bell member and the capsule holder;

figure 5 shows a perspective view of the capsule holder, the bell member and the capsule according to the first embodiment in a position in which the capsule has not yet reached its closed position;

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the second embodiment;

FIG. 9 is the second embodiment in a state where the capsule has reached its closed position;

FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment in which the sealing member of the capsule is part of the capsule side wall;

FIG. 11 is a detailed view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 shows a sealing engagement according to a third embodiment;

fig. 13 shows a fourth embodiment in which the sealing member is part of a top wall member of the capsule;

fig. 14 shows the fourth embodiment in a final state.

Detailed Description

The first embodiment is explained in detail below with reference to fig. 2.

It should be noted that the invention will be explained hereinafter with reference to a specific design of the capsule, i.e. a design in which the capsule comprises a cup-shaped base body and a closing foil member. However, it is to be understood that other designs of the capsule are possible, for example a capsule having a lens form, wherein two substantially matching and opposing walls (e.g. foils) are sealed at e.g. an annular edge. A capsule according to the invention typically comprises at least two opposing wall members which are connected to each other at the edges to form a sealed flange-like rim area, thereby enclosing a sealed interior.

The capsule is inserted into the beverage production device while still being sealed.

In contrast to the prior art, this embodiment also shows a capsule holder 13 with relief elements 12 designed to tear and pierce the foil member 5 of the cup-shaped base body 4 closing the capsule 1. It should be noted that other tearing elements than this relief element are also conceivable.

Tearing of the foil member may occur, for example, as soon as the pressure within the capsule exceeds a threshold value. It should be noted that the relief elements may have any protruding shape that is capable of causing (partial) tearing of the foil member. By way of example only, pyramids, needles, ridges, columns, elongated ribs may be mentioned.

In an alternative embodiment, the foil member 5 may be replaced by a wall which can be pierced against the at least one relief element before water is injected into the capsule, for example due to the closing of the machine around the capsule.

The capsule 1 contains an ingredient 3, wherein the ingredient 3 is selected such that a beverage is produced when liquid enters the area of the top wall 17 of the capsule 1 and interacts with such ingredient 3. Preferred ingredients are for example ground coffee, tea or any other ingredient with which a beverage or other liquid or viscous food (e.g. soup) can be produced.

Fig. 2 shows a state in which such a capsule has been placed on the capsule holder 13 (while still being sealed), the foil member 5 rests against the relief element 12 side of the capsule holder 13, and the cup-shaped base body 4 of the capsule 1 has been partly surrounded by the circumferential wall 25 of the enclosing member 9 of the beverage production device. The shown enclosing member is bell shaped. Other shapes are also possible, wherein the design of the inner contour (recess) of the enclosing member as a whole is adapted to substantially match the contour of the capsule 1.

It should be noted that the shown foil member 5 is not completely flat due to the defined overpressure in the capsule, which overpressure is generated by introducing e.g. a protective gas when producing the filled capsule.

Surrounding the (bell) member 9 there is also included an annular support skirt 18, the function of which will be explained below, external threads 19 for mounting the bell member on a beverage production apparatus and a water inlet 20 for supplying liquid, for example hot water under pressure, to the water injection device 14, which is releasably mounted (screwed) on the bell member 9.

It should be noted that the thread 19 is only an example of a connection means, which is a releasable or permanent connection means.

Other components of the beverage production device, such as mechanisms for moving the bell member and eventually the capsule holder, are known from the prior art in the field of capsule-based espresso machines.

The water injection means comprise at least one perforation element (blade, pin, etc.) 24 designed to form at least one opening in the top wall 17 of the capsule 1 when the capsule holder 13 and the bell member 9 are moved close to each other, e.g. by a manually operated or an automatic mechanism. A passage (not shown in the drawings) traverses the perforating element 14 so that water can be supplied to the interior of the capsule 1 once the perforating element 14 has penetrated into the interior of the capsule 1 (see fig. 4).

The capsule 1 comprises said top wall 17, a side wall 7 and a flange-like rim 6, wherein the foil member 5 is sealed to said flange-like rim 6 to hermetically close the cup-like base body 4 of the capsule 1. Also, other designs for the capsule may be used as long as the capsule can be sealed and contain the ingredients. For example, the capsule may include one or more filters. A bottom filter may be placed in contact with the inner surface of the foil member 5 and/or a top filter may be placed in at least partial contact with the inner surface of the base body 4.

According to the invention, the outer surface of the capsule 1 presents a dedicated sealing member 8. The seal 8 may be resilient due to the material used and/or the geometry of the seal 8.

Furthermore, the sealing member 8 may be integral with the capsule 1 or a separate member. In the latter case, the sealing element is releasably mounted on the base body 4 or is fixed thereto by welding or by means of an adhesive.

In case the sealing member 8 is a separate member attached to the capsule 1, it may be mounted on the capsule as one integral piece. Alternatively, it may be applied in the form of a fluid or viscous body, and may be applied to the outer surface of the capsule and then cured (e.g. polymerized) immediately, as is the case, for example, with silicone.

If an elastic material is used for the sealing member 8, a rubber elastic material is preferably used. The term "rubber-elastic" refers to any suitable material having rubber elasticity, including but not limited to synthetic rubber, silicone, plastic, latex, gum, or others. Particularly suitable materials are: EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), NBR (acrylonitrile butadiene rubber), TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) or silicone rubber. These materials have particularly good bending, compression characteristics and can withstand high temperatures without cracking.

In case the material of the sealing member is the same as the material used for the capsule (e.g. metal such as aluminium, or plastic), preferably the elastic properties of the sealing member are obtained by the geometry of the sealing member.

In the embodiment according to fig. 2, the seal 8 is resiliently deflectable due to the lip form. The sealing member is made of the same material as the capsule, preferably plastic. It may be a member integral with the base 4 of the capsule 1.

A flexible free lip 8 extends from the outer edge of the flange-like rim 6 and is inclined outwardly. In the embodiment shown, the flexible lip is an edge of the side wall of the capsule base, which edge is bent over an angle of more than about 90 degrees, preferably between 95 and 175 degrees.

It should be noted that such deflectable sealing member 8 may be placed at any position on the capsule 1 as long as the position is suitable for an outer sealing engagement of the sealing member 8 and the enclosing member 9 between the water injection means 14 and the perforations in the foil member 5. The sealing member 8 may also be arranged on an area of the top wall 17 of the capsule 1 surrounding the water injection means 14 when the water injection means 14 protrudes inside the capsule 1. The sealing member 8 may also be arranged to cover different parts of the capsule (bottom, side walls, flange-like rim).

As can be seen in detail in fig. 3, the bell member 9 according to this embodiment does not comprise any dedicated elastic seal. But the bell member may optionally also comprise an (additional) resilient sealing member.

The diverging inclined sealing surface 15 of the bell member 9 is designed to cooperate with the resiliently deflectable sealing member 8 of the capsule 1. The inclination (direction) of the sealing surface is opposite to the inclination (direction) of the free flexible lip constituting the seal.

Depending on the form and material of the sealing member 8 of the capsule 1, the mating surface of the bell member 9 may have any shape, position and orientation suitable for sealing engagement with the sealing member 8 of the capsule 1.

Fig. 4 shows a state in which the bell member 9 and the capsule holder 13 are in closing pressure engagement and the pyramidal relief elements 12 of the capsule holder 13 have created openings in the foil member 5 of the capsule 1 as a result of water entering the interior of the capsule and building up a pressure therein.

The closed state shown in fig. 4 is an inherent setup state defined by the machine design rather than by user manipulation.

In order to pass from the open state of the enclosing member 9 shown in fig. 2 to the closed state shown in fig. 4, the enclosing member performs a substantially linear relative movement with respect to the capsule 1. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the capsule 1 does not perform any displacement during the closing process but stays in place. However, alternatively or in addition to the displacement of the enclosing member 9, the capsule 1 may also perform a substantially linear movement.

In the shown example, the capsule 1 is not rotated relative to the enclosing member 9.

Upon insertion of the capsule, the blade element 24 of the water injection means 14 creates perforations 16 in the top wall 17 of the capsule 1. When a sufficient fluid pressure has been established within the capsule, the beverage produced with the ingredients contained within the capsule may be expelled from the small interstices between the relief elements 12 and the surrounding foil member 5.

In the state shown in fig. 4, the resiliently deflectable sealing member 8, i.e. the flexible lip, of the capsule 1 is biased against the respective inclined sealing surface 15 of the enclosing member 9. The annular support skirt 18 now covers the end of the flange-like rim 6 of the capsule 1 to ensure that the sealing member 8 and the capsule are also held in place when the sealing surface 15 of the bell member applies a certain pressure to the sealing member 8.

Indeed, the lip seal 8 represents an example of a structure for providing a self-reinforcing sealing engagement. Water from the water injection means will be pressurized in the gap between the exterior of the capsule and the enclosing member and will eventually reach the lip seal. The lip seal will block the water flow as it is biased against the sealing surface of the ring. This blocking effect will cause the pressure on the upstream side of the seal to rise, which in turn will result in the seal being pressed more firmly against the sealing surface, thereby creating a stronger sealing joint with a greater pressure at the sealing joint.

In the embodiment of fig. 5, a groove 22 is provided in the circumference of the capsule holder 13, which groove 22 serves to drain water that may settle or accumulate on the upper surface of the capsule holder 13 or drip from the capsule before the capsule is taken out.

Thus, the enclosing member 9 may have circumferential corrugations when viewed in side view as in fig. 5, the grooves being merely examples.

The seal is designed to compensate/fill such wrinkles in the closed state of the enclosing member 9. However, even without clearly predictable wrinkles, there is always a risk that the sealing engagement between the capsule 1 and the enclosing member 9 is gapped and/or not tight enough, for example due to manufacturing tolerances, poor pivoting, wear or fatigue of the beverage production device components. In accordance with the present invention, the seal is sufficiently compressed to compensate for any foreseeable and/or otherwise unforeseeable gaps that may exist.

When viewed in a radial cross-sectional view as in fig. 4, the rim profile of the enclosing member 9, i.e. the pressing surface, is free from radial corrugations. Instead, the radial profile of the pressing surface exhibits a rectilinear and/or frustoconical profile or a combination thereof. The pressing surface according to the invention is therefore designed to compress or move the seal slightly.

Fig. 6 shows an embodiment which substantially corresponds to a variant of the first embodiment of fig. 2. The sealing member 8 according to this embodiment is compressible and/or movable (i.e. can "flow" slightly when pressurized by the enclosing member). Which covers a part of the side wall 7 and the area between the outer end of the flange-like rim 6 of the capsule 1 and said side wall 7. (the sealing member may also cover only a portion of the side wall 7 of the base body 4 of the capsule 1.) the sealing member 8 according to this embodiment has an asymmetrical, i.e. L-shaped, cross-section.

Alternatively, the sealing member 8 may have other shapes, such as a membrane applied to the capsule, an O-ring, etc.

When the capsule 1 is in the position shown in fig. 4 and then the holder 13 is opened after the beverage production process has been completed, there is a risk that the capsule 1 is still sucked in the bell member 9 due to the "vacuum effect" without falling down. As shown in fig. 8, the present invention provides a mechanism that ensures that the sealing engagement between the capsule 1 and the bell member 9 is only present when the bell member 9 is in abutting engagement with the capsule holder 13, but will automatically release to allow air to enter the space between the top wall 17 and the side wall 7 of the capsule 1 and the inner wall of the bell member 9.

As can be seen from fig. 8, especially in the case where the sealing member 8 covers a portion of the side wall 7 of the capsule 1, the annular front face of the bell member 9 may have a recess 21 which serves as an air intake channel for the feed air. Said grooves allow air to enter when the biasing force between the bell member 9 and the capsule holder 13 is released. Thereby, air flows into this space, and the user can more easily take out the capsule 1. Eventually, the capsule 1 can even automatically fall from the bell 9.

Fig. 9 shows a state of the second embodiment in which the front face 23 of the bell member 9 is in sealing engagement with the sealing member 8 of the capsule 1.

Figures 10 to 12 show a third embodiment of the invention in which the elasticity of the sealing member is caused by the geometry of the capsule itself. In the embodiment shown, the sealing member has the shape of a step 26, i.e. the diameter of the side wall 7 of the capsule 1 increases abruptly. It should be noted that the geometric forms are not limited to the steps shown, but other forms are also possible as long as they achieve the elastic or at least deformable properties of the seal.

The stepped seal 26 according to this embodiment is only one example of a hollow seal (as opposed to, for example, the "filled" seal 8 in fig. 6-9 according to the second embodiment). When the seal acquires elasticity due to geometry, it is common for the seal to deflect (here inward and downward deformation of the step). On the other hand, when the elastic properties are due to the material used and a "filled" seal is used, compression and/or displacement of the material typically occurs.

The sealing surface 15 according to this embodiment is inclined. So that the sealing pressure has a first component radially inwards and a further component in axial direction (downwards in fig. 12).

As can be seen in particular from fig. 12, the foil member 5 can be wrapped around the rim of the capsule (see reference numeral 27).

Fig. 13 and 14 show a fourth embodiment in which the seal is an O-ring 11. The O-ring is geometrically arranged on and preferably fixed to the top wall 17 of the capsule 1. This is only an example of providing a sealing member outside the capsule at the side facing the water injection means and to be perforated to form the water inlet to the capsule 1.

The O-ring 11 is arranged peripherally around the area where the water injection means 14 pierces the top wall 17 of the capsule 1. The seal 11 is thus compressed by the bottom 28 of the enclosing member 9 and held in place by the upper end of the circumferential side wall 25 of the enclosing member 9 (see fig. 14).

It should be noted that the bottom 28 may be substantially flat or inclined to ensure that a sufficiently watertight interface is formed with the sealing member 11 when the device is closed and the capsule is fully engaged within the enclosing member 9.

As an alternative to the O-ring 11, a deflectable lip seal (e.g. like the lip 8 according to the first embodiment, see fig. 2) may also be placed, which protrudes from the top wall 17 of the capsule 1, i.e. the wall facing the water injection means 14.

In any event, the bottom 28 will exert an axial compressive force on the seal 11.

In case, for example, an O-ring is placed on the side wall 7 of the capsule 1, the radial component of this compression force dominates.

List of labels

1 capsules

2 beverage production facility (coffee machine)

3 component (A)

4 first wall element (e.g. cup-shaped base of capsule)

5 second wall element (e.g. foil member)

6 flange-like rim

7 side wall of base body

8 sealing element

9 enclosing member (e.g. bell shaped member)

10 transition region

11O-ring

12 concave-convex element

13 Capsule holder

14 water injection device

15 envelope (bell) sealing surface of member

16 perforation in a first wall (e.g. bottom wall) of the capsule

17 Top wall of Capsule

18 annular support ring for enclosing (bell) member

19 screw thread for mounting an enclosing (bell) member

20 water inlet of enclosing (bell-shaped) member

21 envelope the recess in the annular front face of the (bell) member

22 recess in support ring of capsule holder

23 envelope the annular front face of the (bell) member

24 perforation element (blade) of water injection device

25 envelope the circumferential wall of the (bell-shaped) member

26 step seal

27 winding of foil member

28 bottom wall of the enclosing member

Claims (29)

1. A system, comprising:

-a capsule-based beverage production device, and

-a capsule for containing a beverage ingredient,

wherein the beverage production device (2) is provided with:

-means for injecting a pressurized liquid into the capsule (1),

-means for discharging the beverage from the capsule (1), and

-an enclosing member (9) being transferable from an open state to a defined closed state, wherein the enclosing member (9) encloses an outer surface of the capsule (1), characterized in that,

a sealing member (8, 11, 26) associated with the capsule (1),

said sealing member (8, 11, 26) is compressible when engaged by the enclosing member (9) in the closed state and is effective to compensate for a gap between the enclosing member and the capsule (1); without the sealing member of the capsule (1), said gap would be present when the enclosing member (9) is in its defined closed position.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal is elastic under compression when engaged by the enclosing member (9) in the closed state.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the seal is effective to resist a relative pressure above ambient atmospheric pressure of at least 5 bar.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the seal is effective to resist a relative pressure above ambient atmospheric pressure of at least 10 bar.

5. System according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the enclosing member (9) is arranged such that in the final phase of its transfer movement from the open state to the closed state it performs a substantially axial relative movement with respect to the capsule (1) without relative rotation of the capsule (1).

6. System according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the enclosing member is arranged relative to the capsule such that the capsule (1) stays substantially in place during the transfer movement from the open state to the closed state.

7. System according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the sealing member (8, 11, 26) is arranged to exert a biasing force against a cooperating pressing surface of the beverage production device.

8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the pressing surface has a rectilinear and/or frustoconical profile when viewed in a radial cross-section.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the extrusion face has a corrugated profile when viewed in side elevation.

10. System according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the sealing member (8, 11) is made of any suitable material having rubber elasticity.

11. System according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sealing member (8, 26) is made of the material of which the capsule (1) is made.

12. System according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the system comprises a first and a second wall element, which wall elements are connected to each other in a gastight manner in the region of the flange-like rim so as to form a sealed interior for the beverage ingredient.

13. System according to claim 12, wherein the seal (8) is provided at least in a transition area (10) of one of the flange-like rim (6) and the wall element.

14. System according to claim 12, wherein the sealing member (8, 11) is arranged on the wall between the flange-like rim and the location on the capsule where the water injection means is introduced.

15. System according to claim 12, wherein the seal (8) is present on the flange-like rim (6) and a part of the side wall (7) of the first wall element (4).

16. System according to claim 12, characterized in that the seal (8, 26) is an integrated part of one of the wall elements (4, 5).

17. System according to claim 12, characterized in that the seal (8, 11) is separate from the wall element (4, 5).

18. System according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the seal (8, 11) has the shape of an O-ring (11) or a ring (8) with an L-shaped cross-section.

19. System according to claim 17, characterized in that the seal (8, 11) is connected to one of the wall elements (4, 5) using an adhesive or by welding or by pinching or crimping or a combination thereof.

20. System according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the sealing engagement is only effective when the enclosing member (9) exerts a minimum pressure on the capsule (1), but is automatically released as long as the pressure is below said minimum pressure.

21. System according to any of claims 1-4, wherein a groove (2i) is provided in the circumference of the enclosing member (9), said groove (21) serving as an air inlet channel for supplying air through said groove (21) and the loose sealing engagement between the capsule (1) and the enclosing member (9).

22. System according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the enclosing member (9) comprises additional sealing means adapted to assist the sealing engagement between the enclosing member (9) and the capsule (1).

23. System according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the sealing pressure acting on the sealing joint has a radial and/or axial component with respect to the central axis of the capsule (1).

24. A method for producing a beverage, the method comprising the steps of:

-placing the capsule (1) in a beverage production device with an enclosing member of the beverage production device in an open state,

characterized in that the capsule is associated with sealing means which are compressible and the method further comprises:

-transferring the enclosing member from the open state to a defined closed state while in a final stage of the transfer movement the enclosing member engages and biases the sealing means of the capsule, wherein the sealing means of the capsule (1) compensate for any gap between the enclosing member (9) and the capsule (1) when the enclosing member (9) is in its defined closed state, which gap would be present if there were no compensation of the sealing means of the capsule (1),

-letting the pressurized liquid enter the capsule (1) from at least one opening in the first wall member (4) and letting the liquid leave the capsule (1) through at least one opening in the second wall member (5).

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the sealing means is resilient under compression when engaged by the enclosing member (9) in the closed state.

26. Method according to claim 24, wherein the opening in the first wall member (4) is separated from the opening in the second wall member (5) by a pressure-tight sealing engagement of an element of the beverage production device with the sealing means (8, 11, 26) of the capsule (1), such that liquid can only flow through the capsule (1) and not outside the capsule (1).

27. Method according to claim 26, wherein the enclosing member (9) at least partially compresses the sealing means of the capsule in the final stage of the transfer movement.

28. Method according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the sealing engagement of the enclosing member (9) and the sealing means of the capsule withstands a pressure in the range of 2-20 bar.

29. Method according to claim 26 or 27, wherein said pressure-tight sealing engagement is formed by sealing means (8, 11, 26) of the capsule (1), which sealing engagement is not present when using a capsule (1) without such sealing means (8, 11, 26).