Capsule for food preparation

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a capsule ( 1 ) for use with a food preparation machine, comprising rigid side walls ( 2 ) with peripheral upper edges ( 3 ), a top wall ( 4 ) extending from said upper edges, and a bottom wall ( 5 ), said walls defining a chamber ( 6 ) that contains an ingredient, said capsule being adapted for receiving a fluid injected through a needle ( 7 ) extending from a needle plate ( 8 ) of the machine, said needle plate being adapted to rest onto the upper edges when said capsule is adapted in a functional position into said machine, said fluid and said ingredient being mixed for the preparation of a food product, characterized in that said capsule comprises sealing means ( 9 ) disposed on said peripheral upper edges so that said means realize a liquid-tight seal between said capsule and said needle plate, at least at the time said capsule is adapted in a functional position into said food preparation machine.

1 . A capsule for use with a food preparation machine, the capsule comprising rigid side walls with peripheral upper edges, a top wall extending from the upper edges, and a bottom wall, the walls defining a chamber that contains at least one soluble and/or extractable ingredient, the capsule being adapted for receiving an extraction fluid injected through an injection needle extending downwardly from a needle plate of the machine, the needle plate being adapted to rest onto the upper edges when the capsule is adapted in a functional position into the food preparation machine, the fluid and the ingredient being mixed into the chamber for the preparation of a food product, the capsule comprising a sealing member located at least onto the peripheral upper edges so that the sealing member creates a liquid-tight seal between the capsule and the needle plate, at least at the time the capsule is adapted in a functional position into the food preparation machine. 
     
     
         2 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is located along the entire periphery of the peripheral upper edges. 
     
     
         3 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member protrudes upwardly at least partially above the plan containing the peripheral upper edges. 
     
     
         4 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises a rubber-like O-ring seal. 
     
     
         5 . A capsule according to  claim 4 , wherein said O-ring seal is integrally co-injection molded together with the capsule side walls and upper edges. 
     
     
         6 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises a channel running along the entire surface of the peripheral upper edges. 
     
     
         7 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises a coating made of a flexible material, the coating being disposed as a continuous band along the whole periphery of the edges. 
     
     
         8 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the top wall is a membrane pierceable by the injection needle, which is located in alignment with the peripheral upper edges. 
     
     
         9 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the top wall is located, at least partially, along a lower plan compared to the plan containing the peripheral upper edges of the capsule, thus defining a closed headspace in between the top wall and the lower surface of the machine's needle plate, the headspace being of a sufficient height to accommodate the injection needle without piercing the capsule top wall, when the capsule is adapted in a functional position into the food preparation machine. 
     
     
         10 . A capsule according to  claim 9 , wherein the top wall comprises a single opening for creating a jet of extraction fluid into the capsule chamber when fluid is injected through the injection needle into the headspace between the capsule and the needle plate. 
     
     
         11 . A capsule according to  claim 9 , wherein the top wall comprises a plurality of openings for creating a spray of extraction fluid into the capsule chamber when fluid is injected through the injection needle into the headspace between the capsule and the needle plate. 
     
     
         12 . A system for preparing a food product, the system comprising:
 a food preparation machine, adapted to accommodate a capsule containing at least one ingredient, the machine comprising a supply of extraction fluid, and an injector for injecting the fluid into the capsule, the injector comprising at least one needle carried by a needle plate;   a capsule comprising rigid side walls with peripheral upper edges, a top wall extending from the upper edges, and a bottom wall, the walls defining a chamber that contains at least one soluble and/or extractable ingredient, the capsule being adapted for receiving an extraction fluid injected through an injection needle extending downwardly from a needle plate of the machine, the needle plate being adapted to rest onto the upper edges when the capsule is adapted in a functional position into said food preparation machine; and   the capsule comprises a sealing member located on the peripheral upper edges so that the sealing member creates a liquid-tight seal between the capsule and the needle plate, at least at the time the capsule is adapted in a functional position into the food preparation machine.   
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the sealing member is located along the entire periphery of the peripheral upper edges. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the sealing member protrudes upwardly at least partially above the plan containing the peripheral upper edges. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the sealing member comprises a rubber-like O-ring seal. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 15 , wherein the O-ring seal is integrally co-injection molded together with the capsule side walls and upper edges. 
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the sealing member comprises a channel running along the entire surface of the peripheral upper edges. 
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the sealing member comprises a coating made of a flexible material, the coating being disposed as a continuous band along the whole periphery of the edges.