Capsule for the preparation of a beverage

Abstract

A capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage preparation device ( 10 ), comprising: a cup-shaped body ( 1 ), a cover ( 2 ) for closing the cup-shaped body ( 1 ), and an annular flange ( 3 ) for the cover ( 2 ) to seal thereon: wherein the cup-shaped body ( 1 ) comprises: a bottom wall ( 4 ), a tubular lateral wall ( 5 ) and the flange ( 3 ); wherein the bottom wall ( 4 ) comprises: at least a fluid injection portion ( 7 ), suitable for being pierced by a piercing member ( 12 ) of the beverage preparation device ( 10 ), and at least a surrounding portion ( 13 A, 13 B) surrounding said first fluid injection portion ( 7 ); wherein the cup-shaped body ( 1 ) comprises a cellulose pulp layer ( 14 ) made of cellulose pulp, and an oxygen barrier liner ( 15 ); wherein the stiffness of the cellulose pulp layer ( 14 ) of said fluid injection portion ( 7 ) is greater than the stiffness of the cellulose pulp layer ( 14 ) of said surrounding portion ( 13 A, 13 B); wherein said cellulose pulp layer ( 14 ) of the fluid injection portion ( 7 ) comprises ultrasonically stiffened cellulose pulp, and wherein the density of the ultrasonically stiffened cellulose pulp of the fluid injection portion ( 7 ) is increased with respect to the density of the cellulose pulp of said surrounding portion ( 13 A, 13 B).

1 . A capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage preparation device, comprising: a cup-shaped body, a cover for closing the cup-shaped body, and an annular flange for the cover to seal thereon;
 wherein the cup-shaped body comprises: a bottom wall, a tubular lateral wall and the flange;   wherein the bottom wall comprises: at least a fluid injection portion, suitable for being pierced by a piercing member of the beverage preparation device, and at least a surrounding portion surrounding said first fluid injection portion;   wherein the cup-shaped body comprises a cellulose pulp layer made of cellulose pulp, and an oxygen barrier liner;   the stiffness of the cellulose pulp layer of said fluid injection portion is greater than the stiffness of the cellulose pulp layer of said surrounding portion,   said cellulose pulp layer of the fluid injection portion comprises ultrasonically stiffened cellulose pulp, and   wherein the density of the ultrasonically stiffened cellulose pulp of the fluid injection portion is increased with respect to the density of the cellulose pulp of said surrounding portion.   
     
     
         2 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the difference between the density D 1  of the fluid injection portion and the density D 2  of the surrounding portions is a value comprised between 0.1% of D 1  and 20% of D 1 , that is:
   0.1%  D 1≤( D 1− D 2)≤20%  D 1.
 
 
     
     
         3 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonically stiffened cellulose pulp of the fluid injection portion comprises one or more features selected from the group consisting of:
 the amount of the hydrogen bonds and/or the hornification value of the fibres of the ultrasonically treated cellulose pulp of the fluid injection portion is increased with respect to the amount of the hydrogen bonds and/or the hornification value of the non-ultrasonically treated fibres of the cellulose pulp of the surrounding portion, surrounding said fluid injection portion;   the orientation of the fibres of the fibres of the ultrasonically treated cellulose pulp of the fluid injection portion is different from the orientation of the non-ultrasonically treated fibres of the cellulose pulp of the surrounding portion, surrounding said fluid injection portion; and   the water retention value of the fibres of the ultrasonically treated cellulose pulp of the fluid injection portion is decreased with respect to the water retention value of the non-ultrasonically treated fibres of the cellulose pulp of the surrounding portion, surrounding said fluid injection portion.   
     
     
         4 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein only the cellulose pulp layer of the cup shaped body is ultrasonically stiffened, the oxygen barrier layer of the cup shaped body not being ultrasonically treated. 
     
     
         5 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the cup-shaped body  1  is made of cellulose pulp comprising cellulose fibres in a percentage ranging from 80% to 100% by weight. 
     
     
         6 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the ultrasonically stiffened cellulose pulp layer of said fluid injection portion is decreased by 20%-70%, with respect to the thickness of the cellulose pulp layer of the surrounding portion. 
     
     
         7 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen barrier liner comprises a thermoformable polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the cellulose layer of the cup shaped body, its oxygen barrier liner and/or the cover are made of home compostable materials. 
     
     
         9 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein said capsule is a single use coffee capsule. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled)