TW201600053A - System for producing a tea beverage - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a single serve capsule for producing tea, comprising a capsule body with a capsule base and a filling side. A cavity for accommodating a powdered or liquid tea granulate is formed between the capsule base and the filling side, a filter element is arranged between the tea granulate and the capsule base, and said filter element comprises a filter structure which is arranged in the region of the capsule base.

Description

System for producing tea beverages

The present invention relates to a system for producing a tea beverage, the system comprising a brewing chamber and a component capsule having a cavity containing tea particles, wherein the component capsule is designed in the brewing chamber and The liquid flows through the brewing chamber and the component capsules, and in the process extracts and/or desorbs the tea particles and thus produces a tea beverage.

Such systems are known from the prior art and are used, for example, to produce so-called fruit teas. To this end, dried fruit pieces, dried peels and/or herbs are provided in the ingredient capsules. However, the system known from the prior art has the disadvantage that the constituent capsules are often clogged or even broken when brewing a tea beverage.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system that does not exhibit the disadvantages of the prior art.

This object is achieved by a system for producing a tea beverage, the system comprising a brewing chamber and a component capsule having a cavity containing tea particles, The ingredient capsule is designed in the brewing chamber and the liquid flows through the brewing chamber and the ingredient capsule, and in the process extracts and/or desorbs the tea particles and thus produces a tea beverage, wherein the tea The particles are designed such that the average volumetric flow rate of the liquid is at least 1.3 squared.

According to the invention, the system consists of a brewing chamber and a component capsule.

The component capsules for the production of tea beverages are preferably in the shape of a truncated cone or cylinder and are produced, for example, from a thermoformed plastic film or by using a plastic injection molding process. The component capsule typically has a capsule base, a cavity having an open fill side, and a set of loop edges on which the cover film or foil is sealed or adhesively bonded. The existing cavity is filled with tea granules before the cover film or foil is placed on the edge of the collar. A filter element supported on the capsule base is preferably arranged between the tea granules and the capsule base, the filter element preventing particles from entering the tea beverage. The tea granules are in particular materials for the production of fruit tea and/or herbal tea, ie preferably dried flesh pieces and/or peels and/or may each be in a unitary form and/or in a comminuted form, in particular milled. The form is contained in the tea-like substance. The particles typically have a large number of different ingredients which are specifically included as a mixture. For example, the granules comprise granules of fruit, especially apples and/or oranges, pulp and/or peel, which may be included in milled or unmilled form. Lemongrass, ginger or any other substance that can produce fruit tea is also a preferred component of such tea granules.

Prior to the extraction process, the ingredient capsules are preferably sealed to the environment in a manner that is substantially free of aroma. However, the component capsule need not be sealed, but may also be provided in a sealed bag prior to use, followed by, for example, manually opening the sealed bag, and/or covering with a film or foil, possibly at the capsule base and/or Or covering the opening present in the area, the film or foil is pulled apart and/or punctured prior to production of the tea.

The brewing chamber, which is part of the corresponding automatic machine, comprises, for example, two parts which can be separated and joined together, and thus open and correspondingly close the brewing chamber. A component capsule is inserted into the brewing chamber to prepare a tea beverage. After or during the closing process of the brewing chamber, it is preferred to open the capsule on its closed bottom side by means of an open mandrel, the open mandrel being arranged in the brewing chamber, and sealing the brewing After the chamber, the filling side of the component capsule is touched by means of one or more piercing means (the filling side is sealed by a sealing film or foil). The hot water is then delivered under pressure to the ingredient capsule. Water flows through the tea granules and extracts and/or dissolves the materials required to produce the beverage with the tea granules. The tea beverage produced in this way leaves the ingredient capsule and is collected in a container. The temperature of the hot water is preferably from 90 ° C to 100 ° C. The hot water at the input port of the component capsule is preferably supplied at a pressure of 10-20 bar. The volumetric flow rate of the hot water is preferably continuous, but may also be intermittent.

According to the invention, the tea particles are now provided such that the average volumetric flow rate has a square of at least 1.3. In this case, the average volumetric flow rate is the tea beverage yield (measured in millimeters) obtained divided by the time (measured in seconds) required to produce the beverage. It has now surprisingly been found that as long as this lower limit is met, it is ensured that the ingredient capsules are not clogged and/or broken during the tea production process. This average volumetric flow rate is for example influenced by the swelling index of the tea particles, the weighed components, the volume of the cavity and/or the particle size distribution Dv50.

The Dv50 of the tea particles is preferably from 300 to 1,000, preferably from 350 to 900 μm.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tea particles have a swelling index of from 1.8 to 4.0, preferably from 2.0 to 3.8. The swelling index is determined by giving a certain amount of tea granules, and then adding several times the volume of tea particles at a temperature of 100 ° C to the tea granules. Adding water The tea particle volume was determined before and after, and the quotient formed by the measurement gave the swelling index. Since tea granules always swell when added with water, their quotient is always greater than one.

The weighing component of the granules is preferably from 0.4 to 7, preferably from 0.5 to 5 gram per ingredient. This amount has proven to be convenient for the production of 150-250 ml, preferably 180-220 ml tea beverages.

The volume of the cavity is preferably 20-30 ml, particularly preferably 22-26 ml, and most preferably 23.5-24.5 ml.

Preferably, a filter element is provided in the cavity, the filter element preferably having a felt structure. The filter element prevents particles from entering the finished beverage. The mat structure is particularly preferably between 600 and 1500 grams per square meter, preferably between 1000 and 1400 grams per square meter, and most preferably between 1200 and 1300 grams per square meter. The mass per unit area of rice. The thickness of the filter element is preferably between 0.8 and 3.3 mm, particularly preferably between 1.1 and 3.0 mm and very preferably between 1.2 and 1.4 mm. The mat structure is in particular a knitted mat structure. Preferably, the filter element comprises at least a mat structure and a support structure (in particular a woven fabric structure), wherein the mat structure is particularly preferably a partial section comprising at least the volume of the support structure. The mat structure preferably extends across the entire cross-section of the support structure, but particularly preferably a sub-region that spans only the height of the support structure. The mat structure is preferably attached to the support structure in an interlocking, force fit and/or adhesive manner. Preferably, the filter element has two or more mat structures which are preferably separated from each other by the support structure. The thickness of the two mat structures may be the same or different. The mat structure facing the tea particles is preferably thinner than the mat structure facing the capsule base and vice versa. The surface of the mat structure is preferably treated, in particular heat treated, for example to be fixed Loose fiber. The filter element having a mat structure is preferably inserted only into the capsule, in particular onto the base of the capsule. However, the filter element is in particular adhesively connected to the capsule, in particular to the base of the capsule. The puncture device can enter the filter element when the component capsule is punctured. A plurality of mat members having one or more mat structures and a support structure are preferably arranged in the capsule to be positioned on each other and possibly connected to each other. A filter element having the mat structure is produced, for example, by providing a woven fabric structure comprising longitudinal and transverse threads. In order to construct a mat, in particular a knitted mat, it is preferred to select a fiber unit from 0.8 to 7 dtex. The individual fibers are combined with each other to form a mat and/or the mat is anchored in the support structure preferably by a knitting production process. In this case, the needle with the reverse barb is pierced into the existing fiber bag at high speed and pulled out again. Due to the barbs, the fibers are entangled with each other and/or entangled with the support fabric by means of a large number of loops formed.

According to a preferred embodiment, the capsule base has a prefabricated output opening, and the prefabricated output opening is preferably sealed using a film or foil, wherein the film or foil particularly preferably has a pull tab. The film or foil is pulled by hand. However, the film or foil can also be pierced by a puncture device in the brewing chamber. The output opening preferably has a cross-sectional area of the size such that no significant pressure loss occurs when the finished beverage exits the output opening, even if a puncture device is present in the output opening. The tea beverage is preferably under conditions of substantially no pressure downstream of the filter element, i.e., at ambient pressure. The outlet opening preferably has a diameter of between 10 and 14 mm.

The filter element preferably spans the output opening.

1‧‧‧ ingredient capsule

2‧‧‧Capsule body

3‧‧‧Capsule base

3a‧‧‧ Inside of the capsule base

3'‧‧‧Edge area of the capsule base

4‧‧‧ Filling side

5‧‧‧ collar edge

6‧‧‧ Cover film or foil

7‧‧‧Filter components

7'‧‧‧Edge area of the filter element

7”‧‧‧Central area of the filter element

8‧‧‧ brewing chamber

9‧‧‧First brewing chamber components

10‧‧‧Second brewing chamber components

11‧‧‧Seal

12‧‧‧Close the piston

13a‧‧‧Puncture components

13b‧‧‧ puncture components

14‧‧‧Preparation of liquid supply devices

15‧‧‧ brewing bell body

16‧‧‧Open mandrel

17‧‧‧Exit groove

18‧‧‧Draining devices

19‧‧‧Puncture spikes

20‧‧‧ dent

21‧‧‧ Protrusion

22‧‧‧Preparation of liquid flow

23‧‧‧ brewing bell base

100‧‧‧ cavity

101‧‧‧Tea granules

102‧‧‧ sidewall area

107‧‧‧Export opening

108‧‧‧ Film or foil

109‧‧‧ Pull off the tab

A number of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and are described in more detail in the following description. The drawings are described by way of example only and are not limiting of the general concepts of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a component capsule according to a first embodiment of the invention, which is designed for the preparation of tea.

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section through a component capsule in a closed brewing chamber according to a first embodiment of the invention

Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section through a component capsule located in a closed brewing chamber in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view through a component capsule having a pre-formed opening (in this case in the capsule base area)

The same parts in the respective figures are always provided with the same reference numerals and are therefore also generally referred to or referenced only once at a time.

Figure 1 shows a capsule 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention component. The component capsule 1 comprises a capsule body 2 in the form of a truncated cone and having a closed capsule base 3 and having a set of ring edges 5 arranged on its filling side 4, a cover film Or the foil 6 is welded or adhesively bonded to the edge of the collar. Thus, a cavity 100 is provided between the capsule base 3 and the cover film or foil 6, which cavity is preferably sealed in a manner that does not leak air and aroma and contains powdery or capsular or leaves Beverage substance 101. In the present case, the beverage substance 101 comprises a substance for the production of fruit tea, which substance may be presented in a unitary form and/or in a comminuted form, in particular in the form of fine granules. In this case, the filter element 7 having a mat structure is arranged on the inner side 3a of the closed capsule body base 3, that is, in the cavity 100. The filter element 7 is loosely located on the inner side 3a of the capsule base 3 or is attached to the inner side 3a of the capsule body base 3 in a fixed, preferably adhesive, manner. In a second variant, the filter element 7 is attached in an adhesive manner along a ring to the capsule base 3, in particular only in the edge region 3' of the capsule base 3.

Figure 2 shows a capsule according to an embodiment of the present invention, component embodiment shown in FIG. 1, wherein the capsule components are arranged in a closed brewing chamber 2 in FIG. 8. The brewing chamber 8 comprises a first brewing chamber element 9 and a second brewing chamber element 10, wherein the first brewing chamber element 9 is provided for insertion of the component capsule 1 such that the first brewing chamber element It can be moved relative to the second brewing chamber element 10, or vice versa. A seal 11 is arranged between the two brewing chamber elements 9, 10. The first brewing chamber element 9 basically comprises a closing piston 12, a preparation liquid supply means 14 and the sealing member 11, the closing piston having a plurality of piercing elements 13a, 13b for opening the cover film or foil of the component capsule 1. Slice 6. The second brewing chamber element 10 basically comprises a brewing chamber body 15 and a beverage drain 18 partially surrounding the component capsule 1 and having an open mandrel 16 which is arranged On the base of the brewing chamber bell 15 and in this case a plurality of outlet recesses 17 are provided. For the purpose of receiving an ingredient capsule 1, it is in the brewing chamber 8 (not shown) in the closed state and the open state illustrated, in the open state of the first and second brewing chamber elements 9, 10 system with one another It is spaced apart to ensure supply of the ingredient capsule 1, and in this closed state, a preparation process for producing a beverage using the ingredient capsule 1 can be performed. In the closed state, the brewing chamber 8 is sealed in a sealed manner. Upon and/or after the brewing chamber 8 has moved from the open state to the described closed state, the cover film or foil 6 is pierced by the piercing elements 13a, 13b, the result of which is the preparation of a liquid, in particular a hot brewing water. The preparation liquid supply device 14 is passed under pressure and into the cavity 100 of the component capsule 1. Furthermore, when the brewing chamber 8 is closed, the capsule base 3 is here pierced by a piercing device in the form of an opening mandrel 16, as a result of which an output opening 107 is produced in the component capsule 1 so that the produced tea can The component of the beverage discharge device 18 exits the component capsule 1 through the output opening. To facilitate delivery of the beverage liquid, the opening mandrel 16 has such output grooves 17 on its outer casing surface. In this illustration, the base 3 of the component capsule 1 located in the brewing chambers 9, 10 is pierced by the opening mandrel 16 of the second brewing chamber element, and the filter element 7 above the puncture point is slightly raised And it may be touched by the puncture nail 19 of the open mandrel 16 but not pierced. This is achieved in particular by the fact that the central region 7 ′ of the mat structure is not bonded to the capsule base 3 in a bonded manner but the filter element 7 is only bonded in the edge region 3 ′ of the capsule base 3 . Attached to the capsule base 3, as a result of which the filter unit is only raised from the capsule base 3 due to mechanical contact with the spikes of the open mandrel 16 and thus remains intact (that is to say touched by the open mandrel 16 but The capsule base 3 and the filter element 7 remain in contact with one another and in particular remain bonded to one another in the edge region 3 ′ of the capsule base 3 and in the edge region 7 ′ of the filter element 7 in an adhesive manner. As a result, no beverage substance 101 enters the beverage discharge device 18 from around the filter element 7.

Figure 3 shows a capsule 1 according to the embodiment of the component of the second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the second embodiment is basically the first embodiment is similar to FIG. 2 shows the capsule 1 and the same components as the display in the closed brewing chamber In the room 8. However, compared to the first embodiment, the component capsule 3 has a projection 21 which is directed towards a recess 20 in the brewing chamber base 3a (the projection 21 thus points in the opposite direction to the filling side 4) and the opening mandrel 16 The protrusion is pierced in the puncture area of the open mandrel 16 without penetrating the filter element 7 during this process. It is therefore not necessary to lift the filter element 7 away from the capsule base 3. In order to produce the beverage, the brewing chamber 8 is closed again after the ingredient capsule 1 is inserted into the brewing chamber 8. During this closing process, the cover film or foil 6 of the component capsule 1 is pierced by the piercing means 13a, 13b and after the first and second brewing chamber elements 9, 10 are combined and sealed (by means of the seal 11) The liquid inlet 14 provides brewing water. During the closing process of the brewing chamber, the opening mandrel 16 is likewise provided with an opening in the base 3 of the component capsule 1. The filter element 7 located above the puncture point matches the penetration depth of the piercing spike 19 of the open mandrel 16 in terms of its thickness and tear resistance, with the result that the filter element 7 is preferably not pierced. As an alternative, the filter 7 is located above the protrusion 21 of the capsule base 3, which is located in the recess of the brewing bell base 23, and the opening mandrel 16 only penetrates the protrusion 21 of the capsule base 3 and is not as far as the filter element 7 . This liquid (hot water in the case of tea making) then flows into the capsule 1. In the capsule, the liquid flows through the tea particles 101 and extracts and/or dissolves the substances required to produce the beverage using the tea particles 101. Reference numeral 22 shows the flow of liquid in the cavity 100 through the tea particles 101. The obtained beverage then flows through a filter element 7 arranged between the tea granules 101 and the capsule base 3, which prevents the components of the tea granules 101 from entering the resulting beverage in the form of granules and via the use in the capsule base 3 The opening formed by the opening mandrel 16 and further into the collection vessel (e.g., a cup or pan) via the outlet groove 17 in the opening mandrel 16.

Figure 4 shows a sectional view through the capsule 1 according to the composition of a further embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is substantially similar to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, in which the component capsule 1 of the present embodiment is fitted with a permanent output opening 107 in the capsule base 3, which is first sealed by a film or foil 108. In this case, the film or foil 108 preferably has a pull tab 109 to pull the film or foil 108 off by hand. The capsule base 3 is not pierced by means of the external piercing device 16, but this is also a possible embodiment. Rather, when the ingredient capsule 1 is inserted into the brewing chamber 8, the film or foil 108 is simply removed from the capsule base 3 by means of the pull-off tab 109, and the brewing process can then be started directly without The capsule base 3 is pierced. However, the membrane or foil 108 can also be retained on the component capsule and pierced by the piercing device. The filter element spans the output opening 107, which preferably has a size such that no significant pressure loss of the outflow beverage occurs at the output opening, even when the piercing device is in the opening. This also applies if the open mandrel is in the output opening.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the piercing device 16 can bend, touch and/or penetrate the filter element when the piercing device penetrates the capsule, i.e., the filter element can be at least bonded, for example Among the plurality of sections connected to the base of the capsule, it can be provided to be supported on the base over a large surface area as far as possible and/or can be bent.

The invention is further explained below with reference to the accompanying tables.

In this form:

QZ[-] is the swelling index, the number of ml of wet tea substance / the number of ml of dried tea substance

time required to achieve the desired yield _Preparation t [s]

Yield [ml] is the amount of tea collected

Dv50 [μm] is the average particle size of tea particles

Q[ml/s] is the average volume flow rate = yield / t _preparation

Claims (10)

A system for producing a tea beverage, the system comprising a brewing chamber and a component capsule having a cavity (100) containing tea particles, wherein the component capsule is designed in the brewing chamber and the liquid flow Passing the brewing chamber and the component capsule, and extracting and/or desorbing the tea particles (101) in the process and thereby producing a tea beverage, characterized in that the tea particles are designed such that the average volume flow rate The square is at least 1.3. The system of claim 1, wherein the particles have a Dv50 of from 300 to 1000, preferably from 350 to 900 μm. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tea particles have a swelling index of from 1.8 to 4.0, preferably from 2.0 to 3.8. A system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the particles have a weighing component of from 0.4 to 7.0, preferably from 0.5 to 5.0 g. A system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the volume of the cavity is 20-30 ml. A system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a filter element (7) is designed in the cavity (100), the filter element preferably having a mat structure. The system of claim 6 is characterized in that the mat structure has a mass per unit area of between 600 and 1500 grams per square meter, particularly preferably between 1000 and 1400 grams per square. Between meters, and extremely preferably from 1200 to 1300 grams per square meter. A system according to any one of claims 6 and 7, wherein the filter element has a thickness of between 0.8 and 3.3 mm, particularly preferably between 1.1 and 3.0 mm. Between and very preferably between 1.2 and 1.4 mm. A system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the capsule base (3) has an output opening (107) which is preferably sealed using a film or foil (108), wherein The film or foil (108) particularly preferably has a pull tab (109) for pulling the film or foil away by hand. A system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tea granules comprise apple granules in the form of milled and/or unmilled, and/or lemongrass and/or ginger.