WO2019192848A1

WO2019192848A1 - Capsule with injector insert

Info

Publication number: WO2019192848A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/057098
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nihan Dogan; Inès Magniet
Original assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA; Nestle SA
Current assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA; Nestle SA
Priority date: 2018-04-03
Filing date: 2019-03-21
Publication date: 2019-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 2020-10-03

Abstract

The invention proposes a capsule (1) for use in a beverage preparation device, the capsule containing nutritional ingredients for producing a nutritional liquid upon interaction with liquid fed into the capsule, the capsule (1) comprising a capsule body (2), an injector insert (3) and a top membrane (4), wherein the capsule body (2) comprises an essentially cup-shaped ingredients compartment (5) and a laterally extending support seat (6) for supporting the injector insert (3), and wherein the injector insert (3) is an integrally formed part arranged essentially transversally within the capsule body (2) and comprises at least one open receiving compartment (7) for receiving injection means (20a,20b) for liquid and/or gas of the beverage preparation device and outlet means (8) for communicating the at least one receiving compartment (7) with the ingredients compartment (5) of the capsule.

Description

Capsule with injector insert

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of capsules for beverage preparation in a beverage preparation device by mixing liquid with a nutritional substance held in the capsule. In particular, the invention relates to the field of preparation of nutritional liquids such as infant formula.

Background and object of the invention

Capsules for the preparation of nutritional liquids such as infant formula are already available on the market. Such capsules usually hold a predefined amount of nutritional ingredients for preparing a single-serve portion of nutritional liquid such as infant formula upon reconstituting with liquid such as water. These capsules are usually designed for being used in conjunction with a beverage preparation device designed to inject liquid into the capsule and subsequently inject pressurized air in order to empty the capsule. Accordingly, a ready-to-feed single serve portion of nutritional liquid is provided.

EP 2 427 067 B1 for example relates to a capsule comprising a separate filter insert having a liquid inlet, a gas inlet and a fluid outlet for injecting liquid and gas into a compartment of the capsule containing nutritional ingredients. The liquid inlet is positioned such as to supply liquid through a filter membrane of the filter insert so that contaminant in the provided liquid may be removed. The gas inlet that enables filling of the ingredient compartment with pressurized air so as to empty the capsule after injection of water thereto is arranged to bypass the filter membrane .

A drawback of this capsule is the provision of a large amount of parts within the capsule that leads to a complex manufacturing process.

CN 106388596 A relates to a capsule for preparing a nutritional product comprising a fluid insert in the shape of a hollow column that extends inside the capsule and that is disposed essentially perpendicularly to a closing top lid of the capsule. The hollow column is provided with a water inlet and a water outlet whereby the water inlet is sealed by the top lid. The water inlet is also designed for having gas injected into the capsule after injection of the water.

This capsule suffers the drawback that the vertically arranged hollow column for providing liquid and air to the capsule does not enable optimized dissolution of the ingredients within the capsule and complete emptying of the capsule cannot be guaranteed. Furthermore, the provided structure leads to an increased pressure concentration at the centre of the lid during preparation of the nutritional liquid which may lead to deflection and/or leakage of the lid of the capsule.

The present invention addresses the drawbacks of the prior art and aims at providing an enhanced capsule that enables a facilitated manufacturing process and which provides means for guaranteeing an optimized dissolution and emptying of the capsule without deflection and/or leakage of its parts. This object is achieved by means of the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims develop further the central idea of the present invention.

Summary of the invention

The invention relates to a capsule for use in a beverage preparation device, the capsule containing nutritional ingredients for producing a nutritional liquid upon interaction with liquid fed into the capsule, the capsule comprising a capsule body, an injector insert and a top membrane, wherein the capsule body comprises an essentially cup-shaped ingredients compartment and a laterally extending support seat for supporting the injector insert, and wherein the injector insert is an integrally formed part arranged essentially transversally within the capsule body and comprises at least one open receiving compartment for receiving injection means for liquid and/or gas of the beverage preparation device and outlet means for communicating the at least one receiving compartment with the ingredients compartment of the capsule.

According to the invention, a facilitated capsule structure is provided. Thereby, the injector insert is a single integral part, i.e. not made from a plurality of parts. The transversal orientation of the injector insert enables an optimized arrangement of the injector insert with respect to the ingredients cup such as to enable for an optimized dissolution and efficient emptying of the capsule. The invention further provides a very stable structure during injection of liquid to the capsule by means of the dedicated support seat which is preferably integrally formed with a sidewall of the cup-shaped ingredients compartment. Accordingly deflection of the injector insert and/or the top membrane during contact of the capsule is effectively prevented .

It should be understood that the injector insert is void of any filter means such as for example and antimicrobial filter. Further, the essential transversal orientation of the injector insert relates to the extension of the injector insert in an essentially horizontal direction within the capsule .

The injector insert is preferably integrally formed of a single material. The injector insert may be formed from plastic material e.g. by means of injection molding.

The injector insert preferably extends transversally adjacent to the top membrane of the capsule. Thereby, the injector insert is preferably at least partially in direct contact with the top membrane. The injector insert is preferably sealed by the top membrane. The injector insert may be pre-fabricated and assembled to the capsule body by means of a dedicated assembly step.

The capsule body is preferably formed from plastic material, e.g. by injection molding. The capsule body and the support seat are preferably integrally formed form the same material.

The support seat is preferably arranged off-set to the cup shaped ingredients compartment of the capsule body when seen in top view. The support seat is in particular off-set to a central axis Z of the cup-shaped ingredients compartment. The support seat is in particular not concentrically arranged to the central axis Z of the ingredients compartment. The support seat preferably extends only in one lateral direction of the capsule body. The support seat preferably extends essentially parallel to the top membrane of the capsule. The support seat is preferably situated at an uppermost rim portion of the capsule body. The support seat is preferably formed in an essential arc-shaped or half-moon shaped form when seen in top view. The support seat preferably comprises a planar bottom support surface on which the injector insert rests within the capsule.

The at least one open receiving compartment of the injector insert is preferably sealed by the top membrane. It should be understood that "open" in the sense of this application relates to a compartment that is void of any dedicated lid or covering part of the injector insert that covers the receiving compartment in top view. Accordingly, receiving of the injection means such as a liquid and/or air injector of a beverage preparation device is facilitated.

The at least one receiving compartment preferably extends essentially longitudinal within the injector insert. The receiving compartment is thus orientated essentially parallel to the top membrane of the capsule, i.e. it does not extend in essential vertical direction within the capsule body. The receiving compartment may be of essentially linear form in top view. The width of the receiving compartment is preferably within the range of 1 to 10mm, preferably between 3 and 8mm. The length of the receiving compartment is preferably within the range of 5 to 30mm, preferably within the range of 15 to 25mm. The depth of the receiving compartment is preferably within the range of 2 to 15mm, preferably within the range of 4 to 8mm. The injector insert may as well comprise two or more open receiving compartments. The respective open receiving compartments are preferably arranged in series in longitudinal direction of the injector insert. Thereby, the respective open receiving compartments preferably each comprise outlet means for communicating the respective receiving compartment with the ingredients compartment of the capsule body. The respective receiving compartments preferably differ in their volume. In a preferred embodiment, the first receiving compartment preferably designed for receiving liquid comprises a volume which is at least two times, more preferably at least three times larger than the volume of the second compartment preferably designed for receiving gas. In a preferred embodiment, a first receiving compartment may be of essentially longitudinal shape and a second receiving compartment may be of essentially circular shape when seen in top view.

The respective open receiving compartments are preferably separated by one or more partition walls. The respective partition wall (s) may be designed to open at a certain pressure during the liquid and/or gas injection into the injector insert. Thereby, at least part of the further open receiving compartments may be designed for holding additional nutritional ingredients. The partition walls may be of linear and/or curved shape when seen in top view.

The aforementioned open receiving compartments are preferably all closed-off by the top membrane of the capsule.

The outlet means of the injector insert are preferably formed by an opening or an outlet duct within a bottom or sidewall portion of the injector insert. The outlet means is preferably a single opening provided to enable a fluid communication between the respective open receiving compartment of the insert and the ingredients compartment of the capsule. The outlet means may as well be formed by a plurality of openings within the injector insert. Each open receiving compartment may comprise its own outlet means.

The respective outlet means are preferably arranged off-set to a central axis Z of the ingredients compartment of the capsule. At least part of the respective outlet means may be designed to provide a swirling movement of liquid provided to the ingredients compartment.

The top membrane of the capsule is preferably a thin piercable and/or tearable membrane. The membrane is preferably designed to be pierced by a dedicated injection means such as an injector needle for providing liquid and/or air to the capsule. The membrane may be made e.g. from aluminum .

In an alternative embodiment, the top membrane may be a rigid top membrane which is preferably provided with an area of reduced thickness covering at least in part the open receiving compartment ( s ) of the injector insert. The top membrane in such embodiment may be made from plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

In another preferred embodiment, the injector insert may be formed integrally with the top membrane of the capsule. Thereby, the open receiving compartment ( s ) of the injector insert are preferably closed-off by a dedicated additional membrane such as e.g. a piercable and/or tearable sticker foil . In a preferred embodiment, the capsule body is provided with an internal opening mechanism designed to open an outlet bottom membrane of the capsule upon pressure build-up within the capsule. The outlet bottom membrane of the capsule is preferably a thin membrane that opens, e.g. by tearing or rupturing, under rise of pressure within the ingredients compartment of the capsule. The bottom membrane may be made e.g. from aluminum. Opening of the membrane may be the result of the interaction of the membrane with protruding opening elements formed in a bottom portion of the capsule and which are covered by the membrane.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a beverage production system, comprising a capsule as described here- above and a beverage preparation device. The beverage preparation device as such is known in the prior art and comprises at least means for supplying liquid and/or gas to the capsule, a pump and/or a heating unit. The beverage preparation device further preferably comprises means for receiving and supporting the capsule in the device. The device is preferably designed for providing pressurized fluid such as liquid and/or gas to the capsule.

The beverage preparation device is preferably equipped with a gas and liquid injector means. The gas and liquid injector means is preferably at least one needle element designed for piercing the top membrane of the capsule and to be received in the open receiving compartment ( s ) of the injector insert. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a separate injector means for gas and liquid to be provided to the capsule, e.g. in the form of dedicated needle elements. The beverage preparation device is preferably designed for providing liquid and gas to the capsule in sequence. The nutritional ingredients provided in the capsule are preferably designed for reconstituting a single-serve portion of infant formula upon interaction with liquid such as water provided to the capsule. The ingredients are preferably present in dry powdered form. The ingredients may however as well be present in different form such as in liquid form.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features, advantages and objects of the present invention will become apparent for a skilled person when reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the figures of the enclosed drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a capsule

according to the invention in perspective top view;

Fig. 2 shows the capsule of Fig. 1 in sectional side

view;

Fig. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the injector

insert of the capsule according to the invention in perspective top view;

Fig. 4 shows the injector insert of Fig. 3 in

perspective bottom view;

Fig. 5 shows the capsule of Fig. 1 together with a

preferred embodiment of an injection plate of a beverage preparation device according to the invention in perspective top view; Fig. 6 shows the capsule and the injection plate of Fig. 5 in sectional side view;

Fig. 7 shows an alternative preferred embodiment of the injector insert of the capsule according to the invention in perspective top view;

Fig. 8 shows the injector insert of Fig. 7 in perspective bottom view;

Fig. 9a-9c show another preferred embodiment of the injector insert according to the invention in perspective top and bottom view as well as in perspective top view when inserted into the capsule ;

Fig. lOa-lOc show another preferred embodiment of the injector insert according to the invention in perspective top and bottom view as well as in perspective top view when inserted into the capsule ;

Fig. lla-llc show another preferred embodiment of the injector insert according to the invention in perspective top and bottom view as well as in perspective sectional side view when inserted into the capsule;

Fig. 12a and 12b show a further preferred embodiment of the injector insert according to the invention in perspective top view alone and in top view when inserted into the capsule; Fig. 13a and 13b show a further preferred embodiment of the injector insert according to the invention in perspective top view alone and in perspective sectional side view when inserted into the capsule ;

Fig. 14a-14c relate to a further preferred

embodiment in which the injector insert is integrally formed with the top membrane of the capsule according to the invention;

Fig. 15a-15d relate to a further preferred

embodiment in which the injector insert is integrally formed with the top membrane of the capsule according to the invention.

Detailed description of the figures

Fig. 1 and 2 relate to a preferred embodiment of a capsule 1 according to the invention. Fig. 3 and 4 relate to a more detailed view of a preferred embodiment of the injector insert 3 as will be described here below.

The capsule 1 comprises a capsule body 2, an injector insert 3 and a top membrane 4 (not shown for clarity in fig. 1) . The capsule 1 preferably consists of the aforementioned parts only. In addition, the capsule 1 may comprise an outlet membrane 14 (see fig. 2) arranged at a bottom portion of the capsule 1. The outlet membrane is preferably arranged to cover protruding opening elements 13 provided in the bottom portion of the capsule 1 and open under pressure increase within the capsule, preferably by means of interaction of the membrane 14 with the opening elements 13. The outlet membrane is preferably connected to and/or sealed to a circumferential planar bottom portion 13a surrounding the opening elements 13.

The capsule body 2 comprises an essentially cup-shaped ingredients compartment 5 and a laterally extending support seat 6 for supporting the injector insert 3. The support seat 6 extends to a single lateral side of the capsule only.

The capsule body 2 is preferably an integral part made e.g. by means of injection molding. The capsule body 2 is preferably made from plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The above-mentioned opening means 13 are preferably formed integrally in the bottom portion of the body 2. The body 2 further comprises a preferably centrally arranged outlet duct 15b for draining the resulting nutritional liquid from the capsule. The outlet duct 15b is preferably arranged opposite to an inlet face 15a of the capsule 1, which is preferably constituted by the top membrane 4.

The laterally extending support seat 6 is integrally formed with the capsule body 2 and the ingredients compartment 5 of the capsule. The support seat 6 is preferably arranged at an uppermost rim portion of the capsule body 2 and is preferably formed as recess or cut-out provided in the capsule body 2. The support seat 6 is arranged laterally off-set to the cup shaped ingredients compartment 5 and in particular laterally off-set to a central axis Z thereof when seen in top view. The support seat 6 is thus laterally extending away from the rest of the capsule body 2 at a top portion thereof.

The support seat 6 is of essentially arc-shaped or half-moon shaped form. The seat 6 comprises a preferably planar bottom surface 6a and a sidewall portion 6b integrally formed with the body 2 of the capsule. The planar bottom surface 6a preferably extends essentially parallel to the top membrane 4. The sidewall portion 6b is preferably a continuous planar wall portion which is of rounded form in top view. The seat 6 preferably comprises at least one or more protruding engagement means 6c for engaging at least a portion of the injector insert 3 when provided to the support seat 6. The engagement means 6c may be a connecting hook or nose formed in the sidewall portion 6b of the seat 6. The injector insert 3 may be provided with at least one or a plurality of dedicated conformably shaped counterparts for being engaged by the engagement means 6c.

The injector insert 3 is an integrally formed part that is arranged essentially transversally within the capsule body 2. This means that the injector insert 3 extends essentially parallel to the top membrane 4 of the capsule. Further, the extension of the injector insert 3 in said transversal direction is preferably larger than its vertical extension, i.e. in a direction parallel to axis Z of the capsule 1.

The injector insert 3 is preferably shaped such as to be received and supported within the support seat 6 of the capsule 1. Thereby, the injector insert 3 may comprise a substantially flat circular body portion 16; a portion of which is at least housed in the support seat 6 and which is preferably conformably shaped thereto. An outer circular wall portion 3b is preferably conformably shaped to the inner wall portion 6b of the support seat. At least part of the lower essentially circular bottom portion 3a is conformably shaped to the bottom portion 6a of the support seat 6. The outer wall portion 3b may comprise at least one or preferably a plurality of engagement means 3c to engage with the correspondingly arranged engaging means 6c of the support seat 6.

The injector insert 3 preferably further comprises support means 17 such as a support ridge extending from the lower bottom portion 3a of the injector insert. The support ridge 17 is preferably conformably shaped to the inner side wall of the body 2 in order to additionally support the injector insert 3 within the capsule 1. In particular, the support ridge 17 is situated in parallel and adjacent to the inner side wall of the capsule body 2 when the injector insert 3 is placed in the capsule body.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 4, the injector insert 3 further comprises one open receiving compartment 7 designed to receive injection means 20a, 20b for liquid and/or gas of the beverage preparation device (see fig. 6) . The open receiving compartment 7 is preferably in the form of a longitudinal channel. The receiving compartment 7 is preferably formed as continuous recess in the body of the injector insert.

The receiving compartment 7 is preferably arranged to extend from the flat circular body portion 16 to a protruding portion 16a of the injector insert 3. The receiving compartment 7 thus extends from the support seat 6 to the ingredients compartment 5 of the capsule 1 (when seen in top and/or in side view) .

The width b of the receiving compartment 7 is preferably within the range of 1 to 10mm, preferably between 3 and 8mm. The length 1 of the receiving compartment is preferably within the range of 5 to 30mm, preferably within the range of 15 to 25mm. The depth t of the channel is preferably within the range of 2 to 15mm, preferably within the range of 4 to 8mm.

The injector insert 3 further comprises outlet means 8 for enabling a fluid communication between the receiving compartment 7 and the ingredients compartment 5 of the capsule. The outlet means 8 is preferably formed by an opening or outlet duct arranged at the bottom of the receiving compartment 7. The diameter of the outlet opening is preferably within the range of 0.2 to 2mm, preferably between 0.5 and 1.5mm. Instead of the shown single opening, the outlet means 8 may as well comprise at least two or more openings .

The outlet means 8 are preferably arranged off-set to the central axis Z of the ingredients compartment 5 of the capsule 1. The outlet means 8 may be formed by a bore or opening comprise a central axis that is arranged essentially parallel to the central axis Z of the ingredients compartment .

The top membrane 4 of the capsule 1 is preferably a piercable thin membrane that is arranged to cover the capsule body 2 and the injector insert 3 provided thereto. The top membrane 4 is preferably connected to and/or sealed to an upper rim portion 2a of the capsule body 2. The membrane 4 may additionally be connected to and/or sealed to the injector insert 3. Thereby, the top membrane 4 closes-off the open receiving compartment 7 of the injector insert 3. The top membrane 4 together with the support seat 6 thus holds the injector insert 3 in place within the capsule 1.

Fig. 5 and 6 relate to the capsule according to Fig. 1 to 4 when being engaged by a beverage preparation device according to the invention (not shown) . The beverage preparation device which is known as such may comprise an injection plate 20 which is designed to selectively contact a fluid inlet face 15a of the capsule 1. Thereby, the injection plate 20 is preferably arranged in parallel to the top membrane 4 of the capsule 1 when the capsule 1 is engaged by the beverage preparation device (see Fig. 6).

The injection plate 20 of the device preferably comprises the injection means 20a, 20b of the device, which are designed for providing liquid and/or gas to the capsule 1. The injection means 20a, 20b are preferably needle elements which protrude from a lower surface of the injection plate 20. The needles may be equal or differ in their design and shape and are designed to pierce the top membrane 4, thus opening the inlet face 15a of the capsule.

In a preferred embodiment, the beverage preparation device will receive the capsule, e.g. in a dedicated receiving means such as a drawer or the like. Subsequently, the injection plate 20 will be lowered onto the top membrane 4 in order to open the top membrane 4 by means of the protruding injection means 20a, 20b. The injection plate 20 preferably comprises sealing means 20c that seal locally, i.e. in direct vicinity, about the circumference of the respective injection means 20a, 20b. As alternative or in addition, the injection plate 20 may as well comprise sealing means that contact e.g. the upper rim portion 2a of the capsule in a fluid-tight manner.

After the injection means 20a, 20b are connected to the capsule 1 and are thus received in the receiving compartment 7, the device preferably provides first liquid to the receiving compartment 7 by means of its liquid injection means 20b. The liquid will enter the receiving compartment 7 and will be led to the ingredients compartment 5 via the outlet opening 8 of the compartment 7. The liquid will then interact with the ingredients held in the compartment 5 in order to reconstitute a nutritional beverage. Upon rising pressure within the compartment 5, the outlet membrane 14 will open or tear, e.g. by means of interaction with the provided opening means 13 of the capsule. The nutritional beverage may then be drained from the capsule via the outlet duct 15b. After a preferably predetermined amount of liquid such as water has been supplied to the capsule, the liquid provision will be stopped. The device may then provide gas to the receiving compartment 7 and thus to the ingredients compartment 5 via the gas injection means 20a. Any remaining liquid may thus be emptied from the capsule 1. After the beverage preparation process, the capsule 1 may be removed from the beverage preparation device in order to insert a new capsule for consecutive beverage preparation.

Fig. 7 and 8 relate to another preferred embodiment of the injector insert 3 according to the present invention. Thereby, the insert 3 essentially corresponds to the insert 3 as shown in the embodiment in fig. 1-6, but instead of one open receiving compartment 7 it comprises two open receiving compartments 7a, 7b arranged in series in the longitudinal direction of the insert. The compartments 7a, 7b are arranged in the substantially flat circular body portion 16 of the insert and are at least partially extending into the protruding portion 16a of the injector insert 3.

The respective receiving compartments 7a, 7b preferably differ in their volume. Thereby, a first receiving compartment 7a is preferably of longitudinal form and preferably extends at least partially from the flat circular body portion 16 to the protruding portion 16a of the insert 3. The second receiving compartment 7b is preferably of essentially circular form when seen in top view and is preferably situated completely within the protruding portion 16a of the injector insert 3 when seen in top view. A separation wall 9 of preferably essentially circular shape separates the two compartments 7a, 7b. Each compartment 7a, 7b is equipped with its own outlet means 8a, 8b arranged it the bottom of the respective compartment.

The first receiving compartment 7a preferably comprises a volume which is at least two times, more preferably at least three times larger than the volume of the second compartment 7b. The first compartment 7a is preferably designed for receiving liquid from the respective injection means 20b of the device and the second compartment 7b is preferably designed for receiving gas from the receptive injection means 20a of the device. Due to the separation wall 9, the risk of a contact of in particular the air injection means 20a of the device with liquid is reduced to a minimum extent.

The length LI of the first compartment 7a is preferably between 5-30mm, preferably between 15-20mm. The diameter d of the second compartment 7b is preferably between 2 and 10mm, preferably between 4 and 6mm. The width b and depth t of the compartment preferably corresponds to the compartment as described with regards to the embodiment in fig. 1 to 6.

Fig. 9a to 9c relate to another preferred embodiment of the injector insert 3 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the open receiving compartment 7 is essentially formed as previously described with respect to the embodiment of Fig. 1 and 2. Thereby, the receiving compartment 7 may comprise a vertical partition support 21 arranged in vicinity to an end portion 23a of the receiving compartment 7 that is arranged opposite to the end portion 23b at which the outlet means 8 are arranged. The vertical partition support 21 may be of slightly rounded shape such as to contact and/or support an injection means 20a, 20b of the beverage preparation device inserted at the corresponding end portion of the receiving compartment. The partition support 21 preferably still enables a fluid communication between the respective end portions 23a, 23b of the receiving compartment 7. In particular, a free space 21a is preferably provided between the partition support 21 and the inner sidewalls of the compartment 7.

Instead of the essentially flat circular body portion 16 as previously described, the insert 3 comprises preferably three extending arms 18a, 18b, 18c for supporting the insert 3 within the support seat 6 of the capsule 1. The extending arms 18a-c preferably each comprise dedicated engagement means such as an upwardly protruding hook or nose 19 for engaging with engagement means 6c of the support seat 6.

Fig. 10a to 10c relate to another preferred embodiment of the injector insert 3 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the insert 3 has the form of a transversally arranged beam that is arranged to extend from the support seat 6 to an opposing sidewall portion 5a of the capsule body 2. Thereby, the insert comprises a longitudinal compartment 7 equipped at one end with support means such as a protruding ridge 22 that is designed to rest on a step 5b provided preferably as circumferential step in the sidewall of the capsule body 2. The beam-shaped insert 3 further comprises arms 18a, 18b that extend sidewards of the compartment 7 and which arms are designed to support the insert within the support seat 6 of the capsule as shown in fig. 10c. The longitudinal compartment 7 of the insert 3 is divided into two open compartments 7a, 7b by a dedicated partition wall 9. The two compartments are thus arranged essentially transversal to the capsule interior. In the shown embodiment, only the first compartment 7a arranged to extend from the support seat 6 is provided with dedicated outlet means 8 in the form of an opening in the bottom of the compartment. The second compartment 7b may however as well be provided with an opening. The compartment 7b may be arranged to hold additional nutritional ingredients. In this case, the partition wall 9 may be designed to open at a certain liquid pressure within the compartment 7a. For this purpose, the partition wall 9 may comprise weakened zones that enable an opening of the partition wall 9 due to water being injected under pressure into the compartment 7a.

Fig. 11a to 11c relate to another preferred embodiment of the injector insert 3 according to the present invention. Therein, the insert also comprises two open receiving compartments 7a, 7b arranged essentially transversally with respect to the capsule 1 when assembled thereto. The two compartments 7a, 7b are divided by a partition wall 9. Each of the two compartments has its own outlet means 8a, 8b. Thereby, the outlet means 8a of the first compartment 7a may be formed in an angled wall section 9a of the partition wall 9 as shown in fig. 11c. Accordingly, the outlet means 8a extends preferably at an angular orientation with respect to the axis Z of the capsule. The outlet means 8b of the second compartment 7b are preferably formed in a planar bottom portion thereof and essentially extend in parallel to the axis Z of the capsule 1. The first compartment 7a may comprise a centrally arranged support 22 for receiving injection means 20b of the beverage preparation device. The first compartment 7a is preferably designed to comprise a larger volume than the second compartment 7b. The first compartment 7a is preferably designed to receive the injection means 20b for liquid being fed to the capsule. The second compartment 7b is preferably designed to receive the injection means 20a for gas being fed to the capsule.

As shown in fig. 11c, the top membrane 4 is arranged to cover both compartments 7a, 7b of the injector insert 3. Thereby, the top membrane 4 is also sealed about the circumference of the first and second compartments 7a, 7b of the injector insert 3 as indicated by sealing line 27.

Fig. 12a and 12b relate to a further preferred embodiment of the injector insert 3 according to the invention. Thereby, the injector insert essentially corresponds to the insert as described with reference to Fig. 11a to 11c. The outlet means 8a of the first compartment 7a according to this embodiment are however designed to induce a swirling movement of liquid provided to the ingredients compartment 5 as shown by arrows A1 and A2 in Fig. 12b. This is obtained by the outlet means 8a being arranged to provide liquid from the compartment 7a to the ingredients compartment 5 at an angular direction when seen in top view. Thereby, the orientation of the outlet means 8a is preferably chosen such that the liquid is provided in a direction essential tangential to the curved capsule body interior walls as indicated by arrow A1 in Fig. 12b.

Fig. 13a and 13b relate to a further preferred embodiment of the injector insert 3 according to the invention. The injector insert essentially corresponds to the insert as described with reference to Fig. 11a to 11c above. Thereby, the insert 3 comprises additional compartments 7c and 7d that are arranged adjacent to the first compartment 7a. The compartments 7c and 7d are designed for holding additional nutritional ingredients and are separated from the first compartment 7a by means of partition walls 10. The partition walls 10 are designed to open at a certain pressure during the liquid injection into the first compartment 7a. For this purpose, the partition walls 10 may comprise weakened zones 28. After opening of the these partition walls 20, any additional ingredients provided in the compartments 7c, 7d may interact with liquid provided to the injector insert 3 and may be delivered from the respective compartments into the main ingredient compartment 5 by means of the outlet means 8a of the compartment 7a. Notably, all of the open compartments 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d are covered by the top membrane 4 as shown in Fig. 13b.

Fig. 14a to 14c relate to an alternative embodiment of the injector insert 3 according to the invention. In this embodiment, the injector insert 3 is integrally formed with the top membrane 4a. The top membrane 4a in this embodiment is thus a rigid top membrane made preferably of plastic material. The top membrane 4a and the injector insert 3 may be formed integrally by means of injection molding.

The injector insert 3 comprises an essentially transversally arranged open compartment 7 being formed as recess in the top membrane 4a. At the end portions 23a and 23b the recess may be of enlarged width or diameter compared to the rest of the open compartment. Accordingly, sufficient space is provided for receiving the dedicated injection means 20a, 20b of the beverage preparation device within the compartment 7. The respective end portions 23a, 23b are in fluid connection by means of an interconnecting channel 23c formed in the compartment. At least at the end portion 23b the bottom portion of the compartment comprises an outlet opening 8 for enabling a fluid connection between the compartment 7 and the ingredients compartment 5 of the capsule.

The injector insert 3 further comprises a preferably circumferentially provided support ridge 24 designed to engage with the circumferential rim portion 2a of the capsule

I and/or the support seat 6.

The top of the compartment 7 is preferably closed-off respectively sealed with an additional membrane 12 such as e.g. a tearable sticker foil. This additional membrane 12 is designed to be pierced by the injection means 20a, 20b of the beverage preparation device.

Fig. 15a to 15d relate to an alternative embodiment of the injector insert 3 being integrally formed with the top membrane 4a as described above with respect to Fig. 14a to 14c.

In this embodiment, the top membrane 4a is a continuous rigid membrane. Accordingly no additional membrane 12 as in the aforementioned embodiment is required. The top membrane 4a preferably comprises weakened areas 11 at the position where the injection means 20a, 20b of the beverage preparation device are intended to pierce the membrane 4a. These areas

II comprise a reduced material thickness compared to the rest of the membrane. The membrane 4a is preferably made from plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene. At its lower side the membrane 4a is provided with a preferably circumferentially provided support ridge 24 designed to engage with the circumferential rim portion 2a of the capsule 1 and/or the support seat 6.

The injector insert 3 is integrally formed with the top membrane 4a. In the present embodiment the injector insert comprises two receiving compartments 7a, 7b that are arranged in series essentially in a transverse direction when the injector insert 3 is provided on the capsule body 2.

The first receiving compartment 7a is designed such as to engage the bottom portion 6a of the support seat 6. Thereby, the planar bottom portion of the support seat 6 may comprise a protruding engagement ring 25 which is designed to engage a lower opening 26 of the receiving compartment 7a. At the lateral side wall of the receiving compartment 7a, an outlet opening 8a is provided (see fig. 15c) . In an alternative embodiment shown in Fig 15d, the outlet opening 8a is provided in the protruding engagement ring 25.

The second receiving compartment 7b is situated laterally off-set from the first receiving compartment 7a. Further, the second receiving compartment 7b is situated laterally off-set from the central axis Z of the ingredients compartment 5 of the capsule 1. The second receiving compartment 7b may be essentially of tubular shape and may comprise a lower bottom opening 8b that enables a fluid communication of the injection means 20a and the ingredients compartment 5 of the capsule 1.

Claims

1. A capsule (1) for use in a beverage preparation device, the capsule containing nutritional ingredients for producing a nutritional liquid upon interaction with liquid fed into the capsule,

the capsule (1) comprising a capsule body (2), an injector insert (3) and a top membrane (4),

wherein the capsule body (2) comprises an essentially cup-shaped ingredients compartment (5) and a laterally extending support seat (6) for supporting the injector insert (3), and

wherein the injector insert (3) is an integrally formed part arranged essentially transversally within the capsule body (2) and comprises at least one open receiving compartment (7) for receiving injection means (20a, 20b) for liquid and/or gas of the beverage preparation device and outlet means (8) for communicating the at least one receiving compartment (7) with the ingredients compartment (5) of the capsule.

2. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the injector insert (3) is void of filter means such as an antimicrobial filter.

3. The capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support seat (6) is arranged off-set to the cup-shaped ingredients compartment (5) of the capsule body (2) when seen in top view.

4. The capsule according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support seat (6) extends essentially parallel to the top membrane (4) of the capsule.

5. The capsule according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the injector insert (3) is integrally formed of a single material, e.g. by means of injection molding.

6. The capsule according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the injector insert (3) comprises two or more open receiving compartments (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) .

7. The capsule according to claim 6, wherein the respective open receiving compartments (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) are separated by one or more partition walls (9,10) .

8. The capsule according to claim 7, wherein the respective partition wall (s) (10) is/are designed to open at a certain pressure during the liquid and/or gas injection into the injector insert (3) .

9. The capsule according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the respective open receiving compartments (7c, 7d) are designed for holding additional nutritional ingredients.

10. The capsule according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the respective open receiving compartments (7a, 7b) each comprise outlet means (8a, 8b) for communicating the respective receiving compartment (7a, 7b) with the ingredients compartment (5) of the capsule body.

11. The capsule according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the respective open receiving compartments are closed-off by the top membrane (4) of the capsule.

12. The capsule according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet means (8, 8a, 8b) of the injector insert (3) are arranged off-set to a central axis (Z) of the ingredients compartment (5) .

13. The capsule according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet means (8, 8a, 8b) are at least partially arranged to provide a swirling movement of liquid provided to the ingredients compartment (5) .

14. The capsule according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the top membrane (4) is a piercable thin membrane or a rigid top membrane (4a) provided with an area of reduced thickness (11) covering the open receiving compartment ( s ) of the injector insert (3) .

15. The capsule according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the injector insert (3) is integrally formed with a rigid top membrane (4a) of the capsule and wherein the open receiving compartment ( s ) of the injector insert (3) are closed-off by a dedicated additional membrane (12) such as e.g. a tearable sticker foil.

16. The capsule according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the capsule is provided with an internal opening mechanism (13) opening an outlet bottom membrane (14) of the capsule upon pressure build-up within the capsule.

17. A beverage production system, comprising the capsule (1) according to any of the preceding claims and a beverage preparation device comprising means (20) for supplying a liquid and/or gas to the capsule.