Beverage Capsule And Process And System For Making Same

Abstract

A beverage capsule is provided for use in a beverage preparing machine. A system and process for making the beverage capsule is also provided. The beverage capsule includes a body defining an interior space having an opening. A filter is disposed in the body to define an ingredients chamber and an extraction chamber. The filter has an air flow permeability of at least 400 L/s·m2. Ingredients are disposed in the ingredients chamber and a cover is dispensed over the opening to seal the interior space. The filter includes a vent region between the top surface of the ingredients and the bottom surface of cover for venting gas through said filter between said ingredients chamber and said extraction chamber. An alternate embodiment includes air flow channels defined in a side wall of body.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A beverage capsule for use in a beverage preparing machine, the beverage capsule comprising:
 a body having a side wall extending from an end wall to an opening to define an interior space having a volume in the range of 30 cc to 100 cc, said opening being surrounded by a flange;   a filter disposed in said body to define an ingredients chamber and an extraction chamber, said filter having an air flow permeability of at least 400 L/s·m2;   ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber for preparing a consumable product;   a cover disposed over said opening to said body for sealing said interior space; and   a vent region defined in said filter around said ingredients chamber between a top surface of said ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber and a bottom surface of said cover, wherein said top surface of said ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber is spaced between 25 mm from said bottom surface of said cover when said capsule is disposed on said end wall, said vent region being constructed and arranged for venting gas through said filter between said ingredients chamber and said extraction chamber.   
     
     
         2 . A beverage capsule as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said filter has a basis weight in the range of 40 to 150 gsm. 
     
     
         3 . A beverage capsule as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said vent region has a surface area no less than 3 cm2. 
     
     
         4 . A beverage capsule as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said vent region is disposed between 0-5 mm below said bottom surface of cover. 
     
     
         5 . A beverage capsule as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a headspace cavity having a volume is defined between said top surface of said ingredients in said ingredients chamber and a bottom surface of said cover, and wherein the ratio of said volume of said headspace cavity to the volume of said interior space is in the range of 5% to 35%. 
     
     
         6 . A process for making a beverage capsule for use in a beverage preparing machine, the process comprising the steps of:
 sealing a filter to a body for the beverage capsule to define an ingredients chamber and an extraction chamber, said filter having an air flow permeability of at least 400 L/s·m2, said body having a side wall extending from an end wall to an opening to define an interior space having a volume in the range of 30 cc to 100 cc, said opening being surrounded by a flange, wherein a vent region is defined in said filter around said ingredients chamber between a top surface of desired ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber and a bottom surface of a cover for covering said opening, said vent region being constructed and arranged for venting gas through said filter between said ingredients chamber and said extraction chamber;   depositing a desired volume of desired ingredients into said ingredients chamber, wherein said top surface of said ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber is spaced between 2-5 mm from said bottom surface of said cover when said capsule is disposed on said end wall;   replacing a substantial volume of air within said interior space with an inert gas; and   sealing a cover to said body to cover said opening.   
     
     
         7 . A process as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said vent region has a surface area of no less than 3 cm2. 
     
     
         8 . A process as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said vent region is disposed between 0-5 mm below said bottom surface of cover. 
     
     
         9 . A process as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the spacing between a top surface of said ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber and a bottom surface of said cover is between 2-5 mm. 
     
     
         10 . A capsule for use in a machine for preparing consumable products from capsules, the capsule comprising:
 a body having a side wall extending from an end wall to an opening to define an interior space having a volume in the range of 30 cc to 100 cc, said opening being surrounded by a flange;   a filter disposed in said body to define an ingredients chamber and an extraction chamber, said filter having an air flow permeability of at least 400 L/s·m2;   ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber for preparing a consumable product;   a cover disposed over an opening to said body for sealing said interior space;   a vent region defined in said filter between a top surface of said ingredients and a bottom surface of said cover, said vent region being adapted for venting gas through said filter between said ingredients chamber and said extraction chamber; and   a headspace cavity having a volume is defined between said top surface of said ingredients in said ingredients chamber and a bottom surface of said cover, wherein the ratio of said volume of said headspace cavity to the volume of said interior space is in the range of 5% to 35%.   
     
     
         11 . A capsule as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said vent region has a surface area of no less than 3 cm2. 
     
     
         12 . A beverage capsule as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said vent region is disposed between 0-5 mm below said bottom surface of said cover. 
     
     
         13 . A beverage capsule as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the spacing between a top surface of said ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber and a bottom surface of said cover is between 2-5 mm when said capsule is disposed on said end wall.