Device and capsule for preparing a drink

Abstract

The invention relates to a capsule associated with the perforating device of a machine used to prepare drinks by injecting water into the capsule. The capsule includes a side wall and a base forming a self-supporting shell, an upper wall enclosing a sealed volume inside the shell that contains a substance to be extracted, and a filter membrane in the sealed volume disposed on the base. The base has a peripheral portion and a central portion, the central portion extending beneath the peripheral portion with a depth and having a low wall portion configured to be perforated or cut by the perforating device in order to create one or more outlets for the drink flowing through the filter membrane. The peripheral portion comprises flow channels extending radially from the low wall portion to the side wall and being disposed between the support spokes to support the filter membrane.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A capsule for preparing a beverage by injecting water into the capsule, the capsule including a side wall and a bottom wall forming a self-supporting shell, an upper wall enclosing a sealed volume within the shell containing a substance to be extracted, and a filter membrane inside the sealed volume positioned on a bottom wall, wherein the bottom wall includes a peripheral portion and a central portion extending below the filter membrane at a non-zero depth and including a lower wall portion configured so as to be perforated or sectioned by a perforating device of a machine for preparing a drink by injecting water into the capsule in order to create one or more escape passages for the flow of the beverage passing through the filter membrane, the peripheral portion including flow channels extending radially from the lower wall portion toward the side wall, interposed between the support rays extending to the level of the filter membrane and forming supports for the filter membrane against the pressure of the water injected into the capsule and pressing on the substance contained in the capsule. 
     
     
         17 . The capsule according to  claim 16 , wherein the support rays and the flow channels form a corrugated surface, the generating lines of the corrugations extending essentially radially from the central portion to the side wall. 
     
     
         18 . The capsule according to  claim 16 , wherein a ratio between a diameter (D3) of the central portion relative to a diameter (D4) of the peripheral portion lies between 3/10 and 3/12. 
     
     
         19 . The capsule according to  claim 16 , wherein the angle of inclination (a) of the flow channels relative to the filter membrane lies between 13° and 23°. 
     
     
         20 . The capsule according to  claim 16 , wherein a ratio H3/D3 of a depth H3 of the central portion relative to a diameter D3 of the central portion is between 2/5 and 3/5. 
     
     
         21 . The capsule according to  claim 16 , wherein radially inward ends of the support rays surround a low chamber allowing the lower wall portion to be perforated and the perforating device to penetrate into the capsule. 
     
     
         22 . The capsule according to  claim 16  associated with a perforating device, wherein the perforating device includes a perforating member for opening the bottom of the capsule, the perforating member including a blade having a circular, or essentially circular, shape configured to section an opening in the lower wall portion of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         23 . The capsule associated with a perforating device according to  claim 22 , wherein the blade includes perforation points in the form of saw teeth. 
     
     
         24 . The capsule associated with a perforating device according to  claim 22 , wherein the perforating member is mounted on the free end of a tubular support forming a central flow passage. 
     
     
         25 . The capsule associated with a perforating device according to  claim 22 , wherein the blade includes an interruption so that the blade does not cover the full circle, configured so that the lower wall portion that is sectioned is not completely detached from the rest of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         26 . The capsule associated with a perforating device according to  claim 22 , wherein the perforating device includes a plunger positioned in the central passage. 
     
     
         27 . The capsule associated with a perforating device according to  claim 26 , wherein the plunger is movable axially in the direction A perpendicular to the filter membrane configured to bear on the filter membrane after perforation of the bottom wall of the capsule. 
     
     
         28 . The capsule associated with a perforating device according to  claim 26 , wherein the plunger includes a grille for passage of the liquid through the plunger. 
     
     
         29 . The capsule associated with a perforating device according to  claim 22 , wherein the perforating device includes a base having a corrugated surface with rays and troughs configured for seating and positioning the bottom of the capsule. 
     
     
         30 . The capsule associated with a perforating device according to  claim 22 , wherein the maximum insertion depth (H1) into the capsule of a perforating member of the perforating device relative to the lower wall portion is between 0.7 and 0.9 times the depth (H3) of the central portion.