RU-2861467-C2 - BEVERAGE CAPSULE SYSTEM WITH CAPSULE EJECTOR

RU2861467C2RU 2861467 C2RU2861467 C2RU 2861467C2RU-2861467-C2

Abstract

FIELD: food industry. SUBSTANCE: present invention relates to the field of beverage preparation with a system including a single-serving container containing a beverage ingredient, and a device including an extraction chamber into which the container can be inserted, in which the contents of the container can be extracted, and from which the container can be removed. The device comprises an upstream and a downstream capsule-enclosing part (1, 2) configured for relative translational movement between an open position for inserting and/or removing a capsule (3) and a closed position for forming an extraction chamber (5) enclosing the capsule during extraction. An insertion portion (4) for inserting the capsule into the device is configured to position the capsule so that the lid faces a downstream piercing device (12). A capsule holder (11) is attached to a peripheral region (13) located downstream of the part, wherein a central portion (131) of the peripheral region is located downstream of the enclosing part. The downstream planar piercing device (12) and a socket (21) of the upstream enclosing part form the extraction chamber (5), an open end edge (211) of the socket formed by the upstream enclosing part faces/rests on the central portion (131) of the peripheral region of the downstream enclosing part, and wherein the peripheral region (13) of the downstream enclosing part is configured to pivot about a lower transverse axis (YY') and in the upstream direction. EFFECT: providing the device with a proper seal around the capsule to ensure suitable extraction conditions. 15 cl, 15 dwg

Inventors

VYUANO, Dide
KOLLEP, Aleksandr
TSURKHER, Reto Markus
EJZENBART, Aleks

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20221219
Priority Date: 20211221

Claims (20)

1. A device for extracting a beverage ingredient by feeding an extraction liquid, such as heated water, into a capsule,
wherein said capsule (3, 3') contains:
a capsule body (31), wherein said capsule body contains:
a side wall (311) and a bottom wall (313) forming a chamber, said chamber extending axially between the bottom and the upper end (3111) of the side wall, said upper end forming an upper opening (312),
a circumferential annular flange (314) of the housing, projecting radially outward from the upper end (3111) of the side wall, wherein said flange of the housing comprises an upper surface opposite the chamber relative to the opening,
wherein said capsule body contains a beverage ingredient,
a flat top cover (32) attached to the upper surface of the circumferential flange, said flat top cover covering the upper opening of the capsule body,
wherein the said device contains:
an upstream and a downstream capsule-enclosing portion (1, 2) which is configured to be relatively movable along a longitudinal axis (XX') between an open position for inserting and/or removing a capsule (3) and a closed position for forming an extraction chamber (5) enclosing the capsule during extraction,
wherein the upstream portion (2) forms a socket (21) and comprises an upstream device (22) for piercing to open the bottom wall (313) of the capsule and a liquid injector (25),
wherein the downstream portion (1) forms a plate transverse to the longitudinal axis (XX'), said plate comprising:
a stationary downstream device (12) for piercing the plane to open the lid (32) of the capsule,
a peripheral region (13), said peripheral region surrounding a stationary downstream device for puncturing a plane,
an insertion section (4) for inserting a capsule into the device, said insertion section being configured to position the capsule so that the flat top cover faces the downstream piercing device (12), and
while in the closed position:
the central portion (131) of the peripheral region of the downstream enclosing portion, the downstream device (12) for piercing the plane and the socket (21) of the upstream enclosing portion form an extraction chamber (5), and
the edge (211) of the open end of the socket formed by the upstream enclosing part faces the central part (131) of the peripheral region of the downstream enclosing part,
wherein the peripheral region (13) of the downstream enclosing part is configured to rotate around an axis (YY'), said axis being transverse to the longitudinal axis (XX') and located at the bottom of the upstream enclosing part, wherein the peripheral region is configured to rotate in the direction of the upstream enclosing part (2).
2. The device according to the preceding claim, wherein the downstream plane piercing device is circular and the central portion of the peripheral region of the downstream enclosing portion forms an annular region.
3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, in which the upstream capsule-enclosing part (2) comprises pulling devices (261a, 261b) configured to engage with the upper parts (136a, 136b) of the peripheral region (13) of the downstream capsule-enclosing part when the upstream capsule-enclosing part (2) is moved from the closed position to the open position for removing the capsule (3).

Description

The field of technology to which the invention relates The present invention relates to the field of beverage preparation with a system comprising a single-portion container containing a beverage ingredient and a device comprising an extraction chamber into which the container can be inserted, in which the contents of the container can be extracted and from which the container can be removed. State of the art Single-serve containers for automatic beverage preparation include containers of various designs, which may be relatively soft or flexible, such as capsules, and made of any material, recyclable or non-recyclable, biodegradable or non-biodegradable, such as aluminum, plastic, filter paper. One of the challenges associated with beverage extraction systems using these capsules is handling the capsule within the extraction device, specifically closing the chamber around the capsule to perform the extraction process, and then properly removing the capsule from the chamber. Typically, the user must place the capsule in the housing, and then the device closes manually or automatically around the capsule. It's important to position the capsule correctly so that the device closes properly around it and forms a proper seal to ensure proper extraction conditions. Incorrect positioning can damage the capsule and thus affect extraction conditions. Loading should also be as quick as possible and not require excessive manipulation. As a result, once the drink is prepared, the capsule should be easy to remove without the risk of misorientation and blocking the device. EP 1859714 and WO 2013/026844 describe beverage preparation systems and means using soft or flexible capsules within an extraction device. These capsules have certain features: - capsules are made of aluminum or plastic, - the capsules have a symmetrical shape relative to the plane containing the capsule flange, - the capsules always have the same shape, size and volume, and the extraction chamber is designed to accept this single type of capsule shape. WO 2020/089404 describes another system for extracting beverages from soft or flexible capsules, which has other features: - the capsules have an asymmetric shape relative to the plane containing the capsule flange, - various capsules of different shapes and volumes can be used, and the extraction chamber is designed to receive these different capsules. The extraction device comprises an extraction chamber, the size of which can be adapted to the shape and volume of the capsule being inserted. Due to the asymmetric shape and the use of capsules of different sizes, it is not possible to use the extraction devices of the above systems, which are designed for symmetrical capsules of the same size. Additionally, to protect the environment, it is now necessary to use capsules made from biodegradable and/or compostable materials, particularly those made primarily of paper. These new materials exhibit specific properties and, therefore, pose specific challenges during beverage preparation and capsule handling in the extraction device. In particular, the natural properties of the paper from which the capsule is made can lead to significant changes in the capsule's properties when comparing these properties at the moment of insertion into the extraction device and at the moment of removal, i.e., after the liquid has been introduced into the cavity. A dry capsule does not have the same mechanical properties as a wet capsule. The material is rigid when dry, but becomes extremely soft when wet. As a result, handling the capsule before liquid delivery differs from handling it after. In particular, handling the capsule becomes significantly more difficult when wet, as the material is so soft that it is difficult to push out and remove from the extraction device. Some parts of the capsule become brittle, increasing the risk of rupture or opening, leading to contamination of the device's internal components. The aim of the invention is to solve at least the existing problems described above. Disclosure of invention In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for extracting a beverage ingredient by feeding an extraction liquid, such as heated water, into a capsule, wherein the said capsule contains: - a capsule body, wherein said capsule body contains: . a side wall and a bottom wall forming a chamber, said chamber extending axially between the bottom and the upper end of the side wall, said upper end forming an upper opening, . a circumferential annular flange projecting radially outward from the upper end of the side wall, said flange comprising an upper surface opposite the chamber relative to the opening, wherein said capsule body contains a beverage ingredient, And - a flat top cover attached to the upper surface of the circumferential flange, wherein said flat top cover covers the upper opening of the capsule body, And wherein the said device contains: - an upstream and a downstream capsu