Single Serve Capsule For Preparing A Beverage In A Beverage Preparation Machine, And Method For Producing A Single Serve Capsule

Abstract

The invention relates to a single serve capsule for preparing a beverage in a brewing chamber of a beverage preparation machine, wherein the single serve capsule has a base element having a hollow space for receiving a beverage raw material, and a capsule cover that closes the hollow space, wherein the base element comprises a capsule bottom, a peripheral flange and a capsule wall that extends between the capsule bottom and the peripheral flange, wherein the flange has a sealing element which is integral with the flange and is in the form of a sealing bead oriented away from the capsule cover, wherein the sealing bead comprises an inner flank and an outer flank, wherein the flange has a first flange region between the capsule wall and the inner flank and a second flange region between the outer free end of the flange and the outer flank, and wherein the capsule cover is fastened along a first peripheral fastening face in the first flange region and along a second peripheral fastening face in the second flange region.

1 . A single serve capsule for preparing a beverage in a brewing chamber of a beverage preparation machine, comprising:
 a) a base element comprising:
 i. a cavity for receiving a beverage raw material; 
 ii. a capsule base; 
 iii. an encircling flange; and 
 iv. a capsule wall extending between the capsule base and the encircling flange; and 
   b) a capsule lid closing the cavity;
 wherein the encircling flange has a sealing element which, in a form of a sealing crimp that points away from the capsule lid, is configured integrally with the encircling flange; 
 wherein the sealing crimp comprises an inner shoulder and an outer shoulder; 
 wherein the encircling flange between the capsule wall and the inner shoulder has a second flange region, and between an outer free end of the encircling flange and the outer shoulder has a second flange region; 
 wherein the capsule lid along a first encircling fastening face is fastened in the first flange region, and along a second encircling fastening face is fastened in the second flange region; 
 wherein a transition region extends between the inner shoulder and the outer shoulder; and 
 wherein the transition region in a radial direction has an extent of about 0.05 mm to about 0.20 mm. 
   
     
     
         2 . The single serve capsule as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the outer free end of the encircling flange is rolled up, in such a manner that the outer free end forms an encircling bead, wherein the encircling bead relative to the encircling flange has a vertical extent of more than zero on one or both sides of the encircling flange, wherein the vertical extent of the bead on a side of the encircling flange that faces away from the capsule lid is less than the vertical extent of the sealing crimp, and/or wherein the vertical extent of the encircling bead on a side of the encircling flange that faces the capsule lid is less than on the side of the encircling flange that faces away from the capsule lid. 
     
     
         3 . The single serve capsule as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner shoulder as well as the outer shoulder in relation to a horizontal plane running through the first flange region and through the second flange region are aligned at an angle of more than 80 to less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The single serve capsule as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first encircling fastening face and the second encircling fastening face each have a substantially horizontal extent. 
     
     
         5 . The single serve capsule as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first encircling fastening face and the second encircling fastening face are vertically spaced apart from one another, and wherein the first encircling fastening face has a smaller vertical spacing from the capsule base than the second encircling fastening face. 
     
     
         6 . The single serve capsule as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the vertical spacing between the first encircling fastening face and the second encircling fastening faces is less than three times a thickness of the encircling flange in a region of the first encircling fastening face and/or the second encircling fastening face. 
     
     
         7 . The single serve capsule as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first encircling fastening face and the second encircling fastening face are provided in such a manner that there is no fluid connection between the cavity of the single serve capsule and a cavity present between the capsule lid and the sealing crimp. 
     
     
         8 . The single serve capsule as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner shoulder and the outer shoulder are configured so as to be mutually symmetrical. 
     
     
         9 . The single serve capsule as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the transition region is configured so as to be curved, or has a transition plane which extends parallel to the first flange region and/or to the second flange region. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The single serve capsule as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base element is integrally made of aluminum. 
     
     
         12 . The single serve capsule as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the single serve capsule in a region of the capsule base has a filter. 
     
     
         13 . A system for preparing a beverage comprising:
 a) a beverage preparation machine; and   b) the single serve capsule as claimed in  claim 1 ;   wherein the beverage preparation machine has a brewing unit having a first brewing chamber part and a second brewing chamber part;   wherein the first brewing chamber part and/or the second brewing chamber part are/is movable relative to the other brewing chamber part between a converged position, in which the first brewing chamber part and the second brewing chamber part form a closed brewing chamber, and an open position, in which the first brewing chamber part and the second brewing chamber part are mutually spaced apart for inserting or ejecting the single serve capsule;   wherein the first brewing chamber part comprises a receptacle element for at least partially receiving the single serve capsule and the second brewing chamber part comprises a closure element for the receptacle element;   wherein in the closed position the encircling flange of the single serve capsule is received in a form-fitting and sealing manner between a peripheral region of the receptacle element and the closure element.   
     
     
         14 . The system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein a sealing contour for engaging in a sealing manner with the sealing crimp is configured in the peripheral region of the receptacle element;
 wherein the sealing contour comprises an encircling depression and, configured adjacent to the encircling depression, an encircling sealing projection, wherein the encircling depression in a radial direction is preferably outside the encircling sealing projection, and wherein an outer sealing projection shoulder forms an inner wall of the encircling depression, and/or wherein in the closed position the sealing projection engages in the first flange region and the sealing crimp engages in the encircling depression in such a manner that the sealing projection shoulder conjointly with the inner shoulder in a radial cross section configure a linear contact.   
     
     
         15 . A method for producing the single serve capsule as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising:
 in a first step, generating the base element having the capsule base,   the encircling flange, and the capsule wall which extends between the capsule base and the encircling flange;
 in a second step or in the first step, molding the sealing crimp in the encircling flange; 
 in a third steps, filling the cavity of the base element at least with a beverage raw material; 
 in a fourth step, closing the base element with the capsule lid; 
   wherein the capsule lid along a first fastening face and along a second fastening face is fastened to the encircling flange.   
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the fourth step comprises at least one first sub-step and one second sub-step, wherein in the first sub-step sealing, by a heat sealing tool, takes place along the second fastening face, and wherein in the second sub-step sealing, by a heat sealing tool, takes place along the first fastening face and/or the second fastening face. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein in a further sub-step of the fourth step, prior to the first sub-step, the capsule lid is generated from a strip stock. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the first step comprises a first sub-step, a second sub-step, and a third sub-step, wherein in the first sub-step a basic shape is generated from a strip stock, wherein in the second sub-step a preform is generated in such a manner that the base element is formed from the basic shape, wherein in the third sub-step a bead is formed from the outer free end of the encircling flange, wherein the molding of the sealing crimp takes place in the second sub-step or the third sub-step. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein in a fifth step, which takes place after the first step and prior to the third step, a filter is incorporated in the cavity and fastened to the base element in a region of the capsule base. 
     
     
         20 . An installation for producing a single serve capsule, having a forming station for forming a base element, a filling station for filling a cavity of the base element with at least one beverage raw material, and a closing station for closing the base element with a capsule lid, wherein the closing station is a heat sealing station for closing a single serve capsule with a capsule lid for producing the single serve capsule as claimed in  claim 1 , having at least one first heat sealing tool, wherein the first heat sealing tool is configured to seal the capsule lid to the encircling flange along the second fastening face, and wherein the first heat sealing tool or a second heat sealing tool is configured to seal the capsule lid to the encircling flange along the first fastening face and/or the second fastening face. 
     
     
         21 . The installation as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the first heat sealing tool and/or the second heat sealing tool each comprise at least one sonotrode and at least one receptacle element, wherein the receptacle element has an open cavity for receiving the single serve capsule, wherein the receptacle element furthermore has at least one counter-holding means, wherein the counter-holding means, on a side of the encircling flange that faces away from the capsule lid, in a region of the first fastening face and/or of the second fastening face, is configured to provide a counterforce to a force exerted by the sonotrode. 
     
     
         22 . The installation as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the receptacle element has at least one counter-holding means in a region of the first fastening face, wherein an upper face of the counter-holding means is disposed so as to be at least 0.05 mm higher in comparison to an upper face of the counter-holding means of the first heat sealing tool and/or of the second heat sealing tool in a region of the second fastening face. 
     
     
         23 . The installation as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the sonotrode of the first heat sealing tool and/or of the second heat sealing tool has a heat-discharging means which is centrically disposed. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled)