Capsule with enhanced product delivery system

Abstract

The invention relates to a capsule ( 1 ) for insertion in a beverage production machine adapted to supply pressurized liquid into the capsule ( 1 ), the capsule ( 1 ) comprising at least one compartment ( 13 ) containing nutritional ingredients ( 14 ) for the preparation of a nutritional composition in combination with the supplied liquid, the capsule ( 1 ) further comprising a product delivery system ( 15 ) arranged at an outlet face ( 8 ) of the capsule ( 1 ) and designed for delivery of the nutritional composition, the product delivery system ( 15 ) comprising one or several plurality of perforating elements ( 16 ) designed to perforate a membrane ( 17 ) arranged between the compartment ( 13 ) and the outlet face ( 8 ) of the capsule ( 1 ) as a result of the pressure of liquid exerted in the compartment, wherein the perforating elements ( 16 ) each comprise three blade members ( 21 ) extending from a common axis (A).

1 . A capsule for insertion in a beverage production machine adapted to supply pressurized liquid into the capsule, the capsule comprising:
 at least one compartment containing nutritional ingredients for the preparation of a nutritional composition in combination with the supplied liquid;   a product delivery system arranged at an outlet face of the capsule and designed for delivery of the nutritional composition;   the product delivery system comprising a membrane arranged between the compartment and the outlet face of the capsule and at least one perforating element designed to perforate the membrane as a result of the pressure of liquid exerted in the compartment; and   the perforating element comprises three blade members extending from a common axis.   
     
     
         2 . A capsule according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the product delivery system comprises a plurality of perforating elements.   
     
     
         3 . A capsule according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the blade members of the perforating elements extend from their common axis to an equal extent.   
     
     
         4 . A capsule according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the blade members of the perforating elements are arranged at an equal angular distance to each other.   
     
     
         5 . A capsule according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the perforating elements are arranged around a rotational axis of the product delivery system.   
     
     
         6 . A capsule according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the perforating elements are arranged at an equal angular distance with respect to a rotational axis of the product delivery system.   
     
     
         7 . A capsule according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the perforating elements are arranged at an equal distance to the membrane.   
     
     
         8 . A capsule according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the perforating elements are arranged at a distance to the membrane which is between 0 and 0.5 mm.   
     
     
         9 . A capsule according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the width of the perforating elements is essentially constant.   
     
     
         10 . A capsule according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein an upper cutting edge of the perforating elements defined by the blade members is arranged parallel to the membrane of the capsule.   
     
     
         11 . A capsule according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the product delivery system comprises essentially arch-shaped barrier elements protruding from a bottom portion of the product delivery system and provided radially offset relative to the perforating elements, the distance between the barrier elements and the membrane being greater than a distance between the perforating elements and the membrane.   
     
     
         12 . A capsule for insertion in a beverage production machine adapted to supply liquid into the capsule, the capsule comprising:
 at least one compartment containing nutritional ingredients for the preparation of a nutritional composition in combination with the supplied liquid;   a product delivery system arranged at an outlet face of the capsule and designed for delivery of the nutritional composition; and   the product delivery system comprising a plurality of non-rotation symmetric outlet openings formed in the outlet face of the capsule.   
     
     
         13 . Capsule according to  claim 12 , wherein the openings are arranged around a common center axis coincident with the central axis of the compartment. 
     
     
         14 . A capsule according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein a width of the outlet openings is narrowed towards the rotational axis of the product delivery system.   
     
     
         15 . A capsule according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the outlet openings comprise an essentially petal-shaped form in top view.   
     
     
         16 . A capsule according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the outlet openings are separated from each other by a barrier member extending from a central bottom portion of the product delivery system.   
     
     
         17 . A beverage production system comprising:
 a capsule comprising at least one compartment containing nutritional ingredients for the preparation of a nutritional composition, a product delivery system arranged at an outlet face of the capsule and designed for delivery of the nutritional composition, the product delivery system comprising a membrane arranged between the compartment and the outlet face of the capsule and at least one perforating element designed to perforate the membrane as a result of the pressure of liquid exerted in the compartment; and the perforating element comprises three blade members extending from a common axis; and   a beverage production machine designed for accommodating the capsule in a dedicated brewing chamber, the beverage production machine further comprising:   a pump for supplying liquid to the capsule,   a control unit for controlling at least the pump of the device,   an opening member which is designed to interact with an inlet face of the capsule; and   the opening member is arranged to supply a liquid received from the pump to the inside of the capsule.