Single serve capsule having a liquid distributor

Abstract

The invention relates to a single serve capsule having a capsule body, the walls and bottom of which delimit an interior in which a drink or food substance is provided, which is dissolved and/or extracted by means of a liquid, which is introduced into the single serve capsule, wherein a liquid distributor, which distributes a liquid supply at least partially over the cross section of the single serve capsule, is provided in the interior, in particular downstream of the liquid supply.

1 . A single serve capsule ( 1 ) having a capsule body ( 3 ), the wall ( 9 ) and base ( 5 ) of which delimit an interior space ( 10 ) provided with a beverage/food substance ( 11 ) which is dissolved and/or extracted by means of a liquid which is introduced into the single serve capsule, characterized in that the interior space, in particular downstream of a liquid supply ( 7 ), is provided with a liquid distributor ( 6 ) which at least partially distributes the liquid supply over the cross section of the single serve capsule. 
     
     
         2 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the liquid distributor ( 6 ) has a base area ( 16 ) with recesses ( 14 ) through which the liquid flows and is distributed in the process. 
     
     
         3 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base area of the liquid distributor is arranged at a distance from that surface of the beverage/food substance ( 11 ) which faces said base area and/or from the cover ( 2 ). 
     
     
         4 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 2  or  3 , characterized in that a side wall or side wall portions which preferably runs/run substantially parallel to the wall ( 9 ) of the capsule body ( 3 ) is/are provided on the periphery of the base area ( 16 ). 
     
     
         5 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 4 , characterized in that the side wall/the side wall portion faces or faces away from the beverage/food substance. 
     
     
         6 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 4  or  5 , characterized in that a form-fitting means ( 17 ) and/or a friction-fitting means ( 18 ) which interacts in a form-fitting and/or friction-fitting manner with the wall ( 9 ) of the capsule body ( 3 ) is provided on the side wall/the side wall portion. 
     
     
         7 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid distributor and/or the wall of the capsule body and/or the cover have a predetermined breaking means ( 17 ) which breaks, preferably when the liquid flows in, and, as a result, the liquid distributor which is initially positionally fixed in the single serve capsule becomes movable. 
     
     
         8 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid distributor is provided in the form of a membrane which is deformed when the liquid flows in. 
     
     
         9 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid distributor has portions ( 20 ,  21 ) composed of different materials and/or material thicknesses. 
     
     
         10 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in one of  claims 4 - 9 , characterized in that the side wall is deformed when the liquid flows in and/or by a puncturing means penetrating the single serve capsule. 
     
     
         11 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid and/or a puncturing means which opens the single serve capsule moves the liquid distributor at least in sections in the direction of the beverage/food substance ( 11 ). 
     
     
         12 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in one of  claims 2 - 11 , characterized in that the recesses ( 14 ) are arranged obliquely with respect to the base area and/or have different diameters and/or are distributed nonuniformly on the base area and/or have a constant diameter. 
     
     
         13 . A liquid distributor ( 6 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the liquid distributor is provided from a sintered material or in the form of 3-D printing. 
     
     
         14 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in one of  claims 1 - 13 , characterized in that the height (D) thereof is provided in such a manner that said single serve capsule fills the space between the beverage/food substance ( 11 ). 
     
     
         15 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in one of  claims 1 - 14 , characterized in that the liquid distributor is compressed. 
     
     
         16 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a seal ( 24 ) is provided on the periphery of said single serve capsule. 
     
     
         17 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 16 , characterized in that the seal ( 24 ) interacts with a projection ( 19 ) on the capsule wall ( 9 ). 
     
     
         18 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid distributor has a multiplicity of recesses ( 14 ) which are arranged on one or more reference circles. 
     
     
         19 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 18 , characterized in that the recess are provided in the outer and/or in the inner region of the liquid distributor. 
     
     
         20 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid distributor is connected in an integrally bonded manner to the beverage/food substance ( 11 ) and/or to the capsule body ( 3 ), in particular by adhesive bonding. 
     
     
         21 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 20 , characterized in that the adhesive is water-soluble. 
     
     
         22 . The single serve capsule ( 1 ) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a layer with a swelling means which swells on contact with the liquid is provided between the cover film and the beverage/food substance ( 11 ). 
     
     
         23 . A system consisting of a brewing chamber ( 25 ) into which a single serve capsule as claimed in one of the preceding claims is inserted, and with a brewing piston ( 26 ) which closes the brewing chamber and on which is provided a puncturing means with which the capsule is opened, characterized in that the puncturing means displaces the liquid distributor within the single serve capsule and, in the process, changes the position of the beverage/food substance ( 11 ). 
     
     
         24 . The system as claimed in  claim 23  or the preamble of patent  claim 23 , characterized in that a punch ( 29 ) is provided on the brewing piston ( 26 ), said punch displacing the liquid distributor within the single serve capsule and, in the process, changing the position of the beverage/food substance ( 11 ). 
     
     
         25 . The system as claimed in  claim 24 , characterized in that the punch ( 29 ) is fixedly connected to the brewing piston or is provided so as to be movable relative thereto. 
     
     
         26 . A method for producing a beverage or food, in which a liquid flows through a single serve capsule ( 1 ) and, in the process, dissolves and/or extracts a beverage/food substance ( 11 ), wherein the liquid is distributed over the cross section of the single serve capsule by a liquid distributor which is provided upstream of the beverage/food substance, characterized in that the liquid distributor is deformed and/or moved before the liquid flows there through and/or while the liquid flows there through. 
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in the preamble of patent  claim 26 , characterized in that an integrally bonded connection between the beverage/food substance ( 11 ) and/or the capsule body ( 3 ) and the liquid distributor is dissolved when a liquid flows through the single serve capsule. 
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 26  or  27 , characterized in that the water pressure moves the liquid distributor. 
     
     
         29 . A method for producing a beverage or food, in which a liquid flows through a single serve capsule ( 1 ) and, in the process, dissolves and/or extracts a beverage/food substance ( 11 ), characterized in that a connection between particles of the beverage/food substance, which connection was produced by an adhesive, is dissolved again as the flow passes through the beverage/food substance. 
     
     
         30 . A method for producing a beverage or food, in which a liquid flows through a single serve capsule ( 1 ) and, in the process, dissolves and/or extracts a beverage/food substance ( 11 ), characterized in that the position of the beverage/food substance ( 11 ) within the single serve capsule is changed before and/or during production of the beverage.