Capsule for producing a beverage

Abstract

The invention concerns a capsule for use in a beverage preparation machine, said capsule containing a soluble and/or extractable beverage ingredient, said capsule comprising:—a capsule body (2) defining a chamber (21),—a top membrane (3) closing the top opening, and adapted to be punctured for liquid injection into the capsule, and—a bottom membrane (4), provided inside the chamber (21) so as to delimit between the top membrane (3) and said bottom membrane an ingredient chamber, and—an opening device (5) provided inside the chamber and adapted to open the chamber by relative engagement of said opening device with the bottom membrane (4) under the effect of the liquid pressure increase in the ingredient chamber during injection of said liquid, wherein said opening device (5) is made of a biodegradable material, and said biodegradable material is a polymeric composition, said polymeric composition comprising:—at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA),—at least one or more nucleants,—at least one or more mineral fillers.

1 . A capsule for use in a beverage preparation machine, said capsule containing a soluble and/or extractable beverage ingredient,
 said capsule comprising:   a capsule body defining a chamber,   a top membrane closing the top opening, and adapted to be punctured for liquid injection into the capsule, and   a bottom membrane, provided inside the chamber so as to define between the top membrane and said bottom membrane an ingredient chamber, and   an opening device provided inside the chamber and adapted to open the chamber by relative engagement of said opening device with the bottom membrane under the effect of the liquid pressure increase in the ingredient chamber during injection of said liquid,   wherein said opening device is a moulded piece made of a biodegradable material, and said biodegradable material is a polymeric composition, said polymeric composition comprising:   at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA),   at least one or more nucleants, and   at least one or more mineral fillers.   
     
     
         2 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric composition comprises at least one polyhydroxyalkanoate containing repeating units of formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where: 
         Ri is selected from the group consisting of —H, C 1 -C 12  alkyls, C-C 16  cycloalkyls, and C 2 -C 12  alkenyls, 
         n is zero or an integer of from 1 to 6, preferably is 1 or 2. 
       
     
     
         3 . A capsule according to  claim 2 , wherein the polymeric composition comprises at least one polyhydroxyalkanoate, wherein Ri is methyl or ethyl. 
     
     
         4 . A capsule according to  claim 2 , wherein the polyhydroxyalkanoate is a copolymer or terpolymer containing repeating units of formula (I) in combination with at least one repeating unit deriving from comonomers that are able to copolymerize with hydroxyalkanoates. 
     
     
         5 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric composition comprises at least one plasticizer selected from the group consisting of:
 poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG),   acetyl-tri-n-butyl citrate (ATBC),   isosorbide diester (ISE),   sorbitol,   glycerol,   acetylated monoglycerides,   epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO),   triethyl citrate (TEC),   tri(ethyleneglycol)bis(2-ethyl hexanoate) (TEG-EH),   tributylcitrate (TBC),   1,3,2,4-dibenzylidene sorbitol,   1,3-p-methylbenzylidene-2,4-benzylidenesorbitol,   bis (stearylureide) hexane,   1,3,2,4-di (p-methylbenzylidene) sorbitol,   1,3,2,4-dibenzylidenesorbitol,   and mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         6 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric composition comprises at least one nucleant selected from the group consisting of boron nitride, talc, hydroxyapatite, zinc stearate, nanocrystalline cellulose, montmorillonite nano clay, single wall carbon nanotube, multi wall carbon nanotube, cyanuric acid, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, fatty acid amines, fatty acid metal salts, pentaerythritol, di-pentaerythritol, urea derivatives, sorbitol-based compounds, sodium benzoate and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric composition comprises a quantity of nucleants of at least  0 . 1 % in weight. 
     
     
         8 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric composition comprises at least one mineral filler selected from the group consisting of talc, wollastonite, mica, silica, calcium carbonate, kaolin, and nano clays. 
     
     
         9 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric composition comprises a quantity of mineral fillers of at least 5% in weight, preferably at most 40% in weight. 
     
     
         10 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric composition comprises at least one functional additive selected from the group consisting of:
 pentaerythrole tetrakis (3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate),   octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate,   tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite,   1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)benzene,   2,4-bis[(octylthio)methyl)]-o-cresol,   2,2t-dihydroxy-4,4t-dimethoxy-benzophenon,   ethylene bis(oxyethylene) bis-(3-(5-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-m-tolyl) propionate,   octadecyl-[3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyfeyl)propionate,   2t, 3-bis[[3-[3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl]propionyl]]propionohydrazide,   beeswax,   carnauba wax,   candelilla wax,   sumac wax (Japanese wax),   berry wax,   paraffin wax,   silicone and its derivatives,   magnesium hydroxide,   calcium stearate   and mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         11 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric composition comprises at least one viscosity modifier and/or compatibilizer selected from the group consisting of:
 dicumyl peroxide (DCP),   tert.butylperoxybenzoate (TBPB),   hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI),   multifunctionalized styrene-co-glycidyl methacrylate oligomer (Joncryl®),   triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC),   benzoyl peroxide (BPO),   methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI).   
     
     
         12 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening device comprises a plate, said plate comprising opening elements rising from the upper surface of the plate, said opening elements being designed to pierce, tear, puncture the bottom membrane under the effect of the liquid pressure increase in the ingredient chamber during injection of said liquid. 
     
     
         13 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening elements present sharp pointed ends. 
     
     
         14 . A capsule according to  claim 12 , wherein the plate of the opening device comprises beverage evacuation holes extending from the upper surface of the plate to the lower surface of the plate, and said holes being positioned between the rising opening elements. 
     
     
         15 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom membrane is a laminated multilayer material comprising successively:
 a vegetable parchment layer, and   an adhesive layer, and   a non-woven material layer comprising fibres, wherein said fibres are biodegradable fibres, and   wherein the vegetable parchment support faces the opening device.   
     
     
         16 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the capsule body comprises a bottom wall and said bottom wall is made integral with the opening device.