Capsule for producing a beverage and method for manufacturing a capsule

Abstract

Capsule (1) for use in a beverage preparation machine, said capsule comprising: ⋅ a capsule body (2) defining a chamber (21), said capsule body comprising: ⋅ one or more side walls (22), said walls extending axially towards a top opening (23), and ⋅ a circumferential flange (24) that extends radially outward from the one or more side walls, and ⋅ a top membrane (3) attached to at least a part of the upper surface (241) of the said circumferential flange and closing the top opening, and adapted to be punctured for liquid injection into the capsule, the top membrane and the flange extending globally along a common plane (P), and ⋅ a bottom membrane (4), provided inside the chamber (21) so as to delimit between the top membrane (3) and said bottom membrane an ingredient chamber, and ⋅ an opening device (5) provided inside the chamber and adapted to open the chamber.

1 . A capsule for use in a beverage preparation machine, said capsule containing a soluble and/or extractable beverage ingredient, said capsule comprising:
 a capsule body defining a chamber, said capsule body comprising:   one or more side walls, said walls extending axially towards a top opening, and   a circumferential flange that extends radially outward from the one or more side walls, and   a bottom beverage outlet,   and   a top membrane attached to at least a part of the upper surface of the said circumferential flange and closing the top opening, and adapted to be punctured for liquid injection into the capsule, the top membrane and the flange extending globally along a common plane, and   a bottom membrane, provided inside the chamber so as to delimit between the top membrane and said bottom membrane an ingredient chamber, and   an opening device provided inside the capsule body and adapted to open the ingredient chamber by relative engagement of said opening device with the bottom membrane under the effect of the liquid pressure increase in the ingredient chamber during injection of said liquid,   wherein the upper surface of said flange comprises at least one circumferential transverse fixing section, said fixing section extending transversely to the common plane, and   wherein the top membrane is attached at least to said fixing section.   
     
     
         2 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the transverse fixing section can comprise at least one circumferential recess and/or at least one circumferential protrusion around the top opening. 
     
     
         3 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one circumferential transverse fixing section is positioned between the radially inward end of the flange and the radially outward end of the flange. 
     
     
         4 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one circumferential transverse fixing section extends by a length of at least 0.2 mm. 
     
     
         5 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one circumferential transverse fixing section extends by a width of at least 0.8 mm, preferably at most 2 mm, and is preferably comprised between 0.8 and 1.8 mm. 
     
     
         6 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one circumferential transverse fixing section comprises at least one radially inward end and at said radially inward end the circumferential transverse fixing section extends transversely to the common plane by an angle of at least 10°, preferably at most 45°. 
     
     
         7 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential transverse fixing section comprises at least one recess, said recess extending transversely to the common plane and from the upper surface of the flange inside the flange, and
 wherein the bottom of the said recess presents a round concave shape.   
     
     
         8 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein a radially inward side and a radially outward side of said recess present straight surfaces. 
     
     
         9 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the top membrane is fixed to the transverse fixing section by heat sealing. 
     
     
         10 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the capsule body and the top membrane are made of the same recyclable plastic, such as polypropylene. 
     
     
         11 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the capsule body and the top membrane are made of compostable and/or biodegradable material. 
     
     
         12 . A method for manufacturing a capsule, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a capsule body defining a chamber, said capsule body comprising:   one or more side walls, said walls extending towards a top opening, and a circumferential flange that extends radially outward from the one or more side walls, said flange extending along a plane, and   a bottom outlet,   wherein an upper surface of said flange comprises at least one circumferential transverse fixing section, said fixing section extending transversely to the plane, introducing an opening device inside the capsule body,   attaching a bottom membrane inside the capsule body and above the opening device,   filling the capsule body with beverage ingredient, and   fixing a top membrane to the upper surface of the flange of the capsule body by applying heat to the top membrane positioned along the flange with a heating die, wherein the heating die presents a shape complementary to the transverse fixing section of the flange and heats and presses the top membrane in the at least one transverse fixing section of the capsule.