JPH06315437A - Drink package - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable water to flow in a predetermined flow pattern to achieve uniform water distribution for coffee in a package for tea or the like, by forming a top and a bottom of the package with layers of water permeable materials and forming many areas having the water impermeability and many areas having the varying water permeability in the layer. CONSTITUTION: This semirigid beverage package 1 is formed by a top 2, a bottom 3 and a side wall 4 of water permeable materials. The top 2 is extended out of the side wall 4 to form a rim or flange 5. Impermeable areas 6 for the flow of water are formed in the bottom 3. Thus, water flow through the portion of bottom 3 between the impermeable areas 6 which are so arranged as to form a flow pattern to achieve immediate uniform wetting of the total contents 7 of the package 1 by the flow of water. The package 1 is formed by heat- sealable materials such as polypropylene non-woven fabric.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to beverage packages, and more particularly to beverage packages containing tea leaves or ground coffee beans intended to provide tea or coffee infusions, respectively.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A process for preparing fresh tea or coffee comprises the steps of contacting tea leaves or roast and ground coffee beans with hot water and separating the beverage from the tea leaves or ground coffee beans. Various methods of preparing fresh tea or coffee are well known. For example, tea is traditionally prepared in a teapot. In that case, the tea leaves are soaked in boiling water and left until pouring from the pot. Fresh tea or coffee is ground by roasting and ground coffee beans packed in a filter by passing hot water continuously and collecting the coffee in a jug or other receiver, or roasted and ground. It can be prepared by percolation, which involves continuously recirculating water to the coffee beans.

It has previously been proposed to seal fresh roast and ground coffee beans or tea leaves in individual air-impermeable packages. For example, there is known a cartridge or capsule containing closely packed ground coffee beans for some coffee brewing machines, commonly referred to as "espresso" machines. In coffee brewing processes using these coffee brewers, a coffee cartridge is placed in a coffee brewing chamber and hot water is typically passed through the cartridge under pressure, thereby extracting a rich coffee ingredient from the ground coffee beans. It is done and coffee is completed.

Cartridges containing roasted and ground coffee beans, in which hot water flows under gravity, are also known. This general type of cartridge is the first British patent
397116.

The cartridges used in the "espresso" machine and the cartridges through which the water passes by gravity are filled with coffee beans and a filter is located below them. To prepare coffee from these cartridges, water is typically injected through a needle into the coffee bean containing cartridge. The cartridge is filled with water, which is collected through a filter in a cup or other receiver.

US Pat. No. 4,446,158 discloses a flat frame having an open central portion, a filter layer covering and secured to the top and bottom surfaces of the frame, and within the frame between its spider-like central portion. Disclosed is a disposable beverage production container and filter unit containing coffee beans contained within a formed compartment.

US Pat. Nos. 4,996,066 and 5,0026.
No. 76 describes a cassette for preparing a beverage such as coffee for use with a liquid receiver having an internal clamping flange. The cassette includes a plurality of ribs extending across the ring and connecting the interior of the cassette at multiple points.

It is also known to package tea leaves or ground coffee beans in so-called tea bags or coffee bags, which involves wrapping the tea leaves or ground coffee beans generally between two pieces of filter material, It seals the edges of the material into a bag.

Both the cartridges or capsules containing the tightly packed roast and ground coffee beans and the tea bags or coffee bags in order to obtain a beverage of suitable strength from the cartridges, capsules or bags, It has the disadvantage that the tea leaves or roast and ground coffee beans must be uniformly infiltrated so that a uniform extraction of the tea leaves or roast and ground coffee beans contained therein takes place. . It is known that the extraction efficiency from roast and ground coffee beans depends on the uniformity of the water flow from the start of the leaching process. As soon as the coffee beans have infiltrated, their volume increases, so that any space in the coffee beans is filled with the expanded coffee beans and then the water flow is regulated by the coffee bean bed. However, this state cannot be reached unless the coffee bean bed is uniformly moistened. Measures must be taken to ensure that the water stream is evenly distributed in the dried coffee bean bed.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage package in which the water stream is evenly distributed in the dried coffee bean bed.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] This time, the present inventors have proposed a beverage package in which the flow path of water that enters and passes through the beverage ingredients is predetermined, and tea leaves or roasted and ground coffee beans. We have developed a beverage package that controls the infiltration of broth and thus the extraction of tea leaves or roast and ground coffee beans to produce the beverage.

Accordingly, the present invention is a semi-rigid beverage package containing one or more beverage ingredients, comprising a top surface, a bottom surface and sidewall portions, the top surface and the bottom surface being the same or different. Of at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the package having an area impermeable to water flow or having varying permeability therein, It provides a beverage package which, in use, allows water to pass through the package in a predetermined flow pattern to immediately infiltrate the entire contents of the package.

The flow pattern of water through the package is
Not only by providing a region on the top surface of the package that is impermeable to water or of varying permeability, but additionally or additionally, is impermeable to water or of varying permeability. It can also be controlled by providing a transparent area on the bottom surface of the package. By limiting the flow pattern of the beverage as it exits the package, the pressure drop across the package increases in the direction of normal flow of water through the package, which causes water to flow at right angles to the direction of normal flow. Spread to fill the package.

The top and bottom surfaces of the package are made of the same or different water permeable materials, preferably heat sealable water permeable synthetic materials. Examples of suitable water-permeable synthetic materials include polypropylene nonwoven fabrics sold under the trademark COROVIN, polyester nonwoven fabrics sold under the trademark REMAY and nylon web nonwoven fabrics sold under the trademark CEREX. Melt blown
(melt blown) Polypropylene can also be used. Other materials that can be used include cellulosic materials coated with heat activated substances, or polyethylene or polypropylene apertured films.

The regions of the top and / or bottom of the package that are impermeable to water flow may be formed by applying heat to a water-permeable synthetic material that is heat-sealable in a predetermined pattern. it can. When this treatment is performed at a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the synthetic material, the synthetic material is melted and fused into one. The impermeable region can also be formed by laminating a suitable material on the top and / or bottom of the package in a predetermined pattern.

The side wall of the package may be formed of a water-permeable material, but preferably a water-impermeable material or a water-permeable material whose permeability is modified. Thus, the flow of water through the sidewalls of the package is controlled, thus improving the flow of water through the package. Suitable examples of the water-impermeable material forming the side wall are polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, etc., or a water-permeable material that has been heat and pressure treated.

The beverage package of the present invention can be used in different situations, for example as a one-cup filter utilizing gravity, in a beverage preparation carried out in a plunger using the Cafetiere system or in a low pressure using a pressure pump pot. Can be used in the preparation of beverages.

The beverage packages of the present invention can be manufactured in different sizes to accommodate different tastes. For example, a package containing about 30 grams of roast and ground coffee beans will produce about 5 cups of coffee, about 20
A package containing gram of roasted and ground coffee beans could make 3 cups of coffee, and a package containing about 7 grams of roasted and ground coffee beans could make 1 cup of coffee.

Next, a method of forming the beverage package of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of a beverage package according to the first aspect of the invention; FIG. 2 shows the first aspect of the invention.
Figure 3 shows a side view of a beverage package according to an embodiment;
Figure 4 shows a plan view of the bottom surface of a beverage package according to the first aspect of the invention; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the beverage package according to the first aspect of the invention taken along line A-A of Figure 1; And FIG. 5 shows a side wall portion of a beverage package according to the second aspect of the invention; FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the beverage package according to the second aspect of the invention; and FIGS.
7E shows a beverage package according to the third aspect of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a beverage package according to the present invention is shown generally at 1.

The package comprises a top surface 2 and a bottom surface 3 connected by a side wall 4. The upper surface portion has a rim or flange 5 extending beyond the side wall portion. The flange is also seen in the plan view of FIG. 3 and the cross-sectional view of the package shown in FIG.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the base part 3
Has a region 6 that is impermeable to the flow of water therethrough. Thus, the water flows only in the area of the base part between the areas 6 and 6.

As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4, the beverage package of the present invention is filled with a beverage component designated by the reference numeral 7, eg, roast and ground coffee beans.

The beverage packages shown in FIGS. 1-4 are molded using heat sealable materials.
The base portion 3 and the side wall portion 4 of the package are made by deforming a heat-sealable material using heat and pressure and press-forming it into a desired shape.
The material is held above its normal molding temperature for a predetermined time and cooled when it is in the shape of a molding machine. If polypropylene is used, the molding of the base and side walls can be carried out at a temperature of 130 ° C. and a pressure of 80 bar for 9 seconds.

The area labeled 6 on the base is 137 ° C. to melt the web to form the water impermeable area 6.
Subject to a higher temperature (melting point of polypropylene) or higher.

Then, the molded body composed of the base 3 and the side wall portion 4 of the package is filled with roasted and ground coffee beans 7, and the upper surface 2 of the package is heat-sealed to the upper end of the side wall 4 to form the package. The package is complete.

The molding of polypropylene on the base 3 and the side walls 4 in a single operation results in a semi-rigid structure, which allows the package to be very tightly packed with beverage ingredients.

It has been found that the water-impermeable region of the base 3 of the capsule can also be corrugated, which helps to increase the hardness of the package.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a second embodiment of a beverage package according to the present invention.

The beverage package is shown schematically at 10 and has a top surface 11, a bottom surface 12 and a side wall portion 13.

As shown in FIG. 5, the sidewalls are made of a non-breathable material to improve the flow of water through the coffee bean bed. The non-breathable material can be produced by using a water-permeable material and heating or pressing all or part of the surface thereof. This side wall is also semi-rigid. As shown in FIG. 5, the sidewall 13 is shaped to have an inwardly extending rim or flange 14 at its lower portion and an outwardly extending rim or flange 15 at its upper portion. These rims or flanges have a bottom surface 12 and a top surface 1, respectively.
It is equipped to heat seal to 1.

The top surface 11 and bottom surface 12 of the beverage package of this embodiment are the top surface 2 of the beverage package shown in FIGS.
And about the same as the bottom surface 3. Accordingly, the bottom surface comprises regions 15 which have been rendered water impermeable by a suitable heat treatment of the material forming the base 12. As shown, the beverage package is filled with beverage ingredient 16.

As a first operation, the bottom surface 12 of the beverage package is sealed to the rim 14 of the sidewall 13 and then the desired amount of the beverage ingredient 16 is placed in the package and the upper surface 11 is placed on the rim 15 of the sidewall 13. It can be seen that the seal completes the package.

Referring to FIGS. 7A-7E, a beverage package comprising a top surface 21, a bottom surface 22 and a sidewall 23 is shown generally at 20. The upper surface 21 has a water impermeable central portion 24. As shown in FIG. 7E, the beverage package is roughly divided into two compartments 25 and 26. The compartment is defined by a conical portion 27 made of a water permeable material located between the top surface 21 of the beverage package and the bottom surface 22 of the beverage package.

As can be seen in FIGS. 7A-7D, the beverage package components are stacked together in the order shown and the top surface of the beverage package 21 is heat-sealed to the rim 28 of the side wall 23 and the base 22. The combination of cones 27 is heat sealed to the lower ring rim 29 of sidewall 23.

As shown in FIG. 7E, when the beverage package is used with water flowing upwards, the upper surface 2
A water impermeable central portion 24 of 1 diverts the flow of water through the package in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Providing the package with separate compartments 25 and 26 helps prevent the beverage ingredients contained within the package from remaining unextracted, and allows different compartments to contain different beverage ingredients.

As shown in FIG. 7E, the side wall 23 of the beverage package is made of a water impermeable material so that the flow of water through the beverage package is uniform.

The beverage package of the present invention comprises any desired beverage ingredients such as roast and ground coffee beans, tea leaves, chocolate powder, and powdered milk or creamer, sugar and / or artificial sweeteners according to their respective tastes. Can be included.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the top surface of a beverage package according to the first aspect of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a beverage package according to the first aspect of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a bottom plan view of a beverage package according to the first aspect of the invention.

4 shows a sectional view of the beverage package according to the first aspect of the invention, taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows a side wall portion of a beverage package according to the second aspect of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a beverage package according to the second aspect of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a beverage package according to the third aspect of the invention.

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Alec Thomas Newman Oxfordshire, Bunbury, Warmington, Greenways (no address), England (72) Inventor Paul Sarkuld, Worcestershire, UK 7A4Ax , Redditch, Marpool Drive 22

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A semi-rigid beverage package comprising a top, bottom and sidewall portions containing one or more beverage ingredients, wherein the top and bottom are the same or different water permeable materials. At least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the package is made up of the above layers and has a region therein that is impermeable to water flow or has various permeabilities, whereby it is in use. A beverage package in which water passes through the package in a predetermined flow pattern and immediately infiltrates the entire contents of the package. 2. The package of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom surfaces are made of the same or different heat-sealable water permeable material. 3. A package according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the top and / or bottom is made of multiple layers of the same or different heat sealable water permeable materials. 4. The package according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the heat-sealable material is polypropylene nonwoven fabric or meltblown polypropylene, polyester nonwoven fabric or nylon nonwoven fabric. 5. The sidewall is made of a water impermeable material,
The package according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. The package according to claim 1, which contains tea leaves or roast and ground coffee beans. 7. The package of claim 1 substantially as described below and described with reference to Figures 1-4, or Figures 5 or 6, or Figures 7A-7E of the accompanying drawings.