Beverage capsule

Abstract

A capsule for use in a coffee machine having a brew chamber is formed from a ductile metal such as aluminium. The capsule has a generally frusto-conical form with an upper surface and a lower surface, an annular flange being provided at the lower surface. An annular seal is provided on the annular flange having first and second layers, wherein the first layer comprises long, well-bound fibres of a cellulose material.

1 . A capsule for use in a coffee machine having a brew chamber, which capsule has a generally frusto-conical form with an upper surface and a lower surface, with an annular flange being provided at the lower surface, wherein an annular seal is provided on the annular flange, wherein the annular flange comprises a cellulose material that deforms non-elastically in use, and wherein the annular seal comprises first and second layers, the first layer comprising the cellulose material and the second layer comprising an adhesive for attaching the annular seal to the annular flange. 
     
     
         2 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular seal further comprises a laminated layer on the first layer. 
     
     
         3 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular seal is provided with an annular groove or a concave rib. 
     
     
         4 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the first layer of the annular seal is formed from chemical (sulphate) pulp or CTMP (chemi-thermomechanical pulp). 
     
     
         5 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular seal includes a layer of a liquid heat sealable adhesive. 
     
     
         6 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is starch-based biodegradable adhesive having a melting point of around 140 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         7 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular seal is made from a non-coated board or only is only coated on one side, and ink is applied to a non-coated side of the annular seal. 
     
     
         8 . The capsule according to  claim 7 , wherein a pattern is applied to the non-coated side of the annular seal. 
     
     
         9 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular seal has a tear resistance of 3000-5000 mN and an internal bond strength of greater than or equal to 90 J/m 2 . 
     
     
         10 . A capsule for use in a coffee machine having a brew chamber, which capsule has a generally frusto-conical form with an upper surface and a lower surface, with an annular flange being provided at the lower surface, wherein an annular seal is provided on the annular flange, wherein the annular seal comprises a cellulose material that deforms plastically in use, wherein the annular seal comprises first and second layers, wherein the annular seal has an edge wick less than 5 mm in an edge wick test with hot water at 95° C. for 10 minutes, wherein the first layer of the annular seal is formed from chemical (sulphate) pulp or CTMP (chemi-thermomechanical pulp), and wherein ink is applied to a non-coated side of the annular seal. 
     
     
         11 . A capsule for use in a coffee machine having a brew chamber, which capsule has a generally frusto-conical form with an upper surface and a lower surface, with an annular flange being provided at the lower surface, wherein an annular seal is provided on the annular flange, wherein the annular seal comprises first and second layers, wherein the first layer of the annular seal comprises a cellulose material that deforms plastically in use, wherein the second layer comprises an elastically compressible material, and wherein the annular seal has an edge wick less than 5 mm in an edge wick test with hot water at 95° C. for 10 minutes, wherein the first layer of the annular seal is formed from chemical (sulphate) pulp or CTMP (chemi-thermomechanical pulp), and wherein ink is applied to a non-coated side of the annular seal. 
     
     
         12 . The capsule according to  claim 10 , wherein the annular seal further comprises a third layer, which is an adhesive layer for attaching the annular seal to a rim of the capsule. 
     
     
         13 . The capsule according to  claim 12 , wherein the third layer of the annular seal is comprised of a liquid heat sealable adhesive. 
     
     
         14 . The capsule according to  claim 12 , wherein the adhesive layer includes a starch-based biodegradable adhesive having a melting point of around 140 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         15 . The capsule according to  claim 10 , wherein a pattern is applied to the non-coated side of the annular seal. 
     
     
         16 . The capsule according to  claim 10 , wherein the annular seal is laminated over a top of a print layer so that, in use, the ink of the print layer of the annular seal is not in direct contact with the brew chamber of the coffee machine. 
     
     
         17 . The capsule according to  claim 10 , wherein the annular seal has a tear resistance of 3000-5000 mN and an internal bond strength of greater than or equal to 90 J/m2. 
     
     
         18 . The capsule according to  claim 10 , wherein the annular seal is provided with an annular groove for receiving a brewhead of the coffee machine and thereby provide a sealing engagement. 
     
     
         19 . The capsule according to  claim 10 , wherein the annular seal is provided with an annular protrusion for engaging with a brewhead of the coffee machine and thereby provide a sealing engagement. 
     
     
         20 . The capsule according to  claim 18 , wherein the annular flange is provided with a groove that corresponds to the annular groove of the annular seal.