EP0226133B1 - Infusion bag for making beverages especially coffee - Google Patents

Abstract

An infusion bag for making beverages from extractable substances includes first and second subchambers that are connected to each other at their upper and lower transverse edges. A rigid actuating handle having a rigid transverse web, is connected to the subchambers and permits the subchambers to be subjected to up and down movements so that infusion of the extractable substances can occur in a very short time.

Description

The invention relates to infusion bags made of filter material, in particular filter paper, for the production of beverages in a container made of extractable substances, in particular ground roasted coffee, legs connected to one another at the upper end by U-shaped folding of the double-layered filter paper with partial chambers for receiving a partial portion of the roasted coffee or the like are formed.

With certain extractable substances, in particular with ground roasted coffee, it has so far not been possible to prepare high-quality beverages with the aid of infusion bags. The reason for this is that in order to extract the roasted coffee sufficiently, water must flow through the coffee portion to ensure sufficient extraction. On the other hand, a sufficiently dense filter paper is required in order to largely prevent solid particles from escaping from the infusion bag into the beverage.

The invention has for its object to make an infusion bag available, which is particularly suitable for the quick preparation of coffee beverages from roasted coffee, without a reduction in quality compared to conventionally prepared coffee beverages.

To solve this problem, the infusion bag according to the invention is characterized in that the partial chambers are connected with their upper edges (together) to a rigid actuating handle in such a way that, by moving the actuating handle up and down, the partial chambers are supported in opposite transverse movements supported on a container base (cup base) To run.

The invention is based on the finding that an infusion bag for the preparation of, in particular, coffee beverages must be designed such that a "pumping movement" which is not usual for the preparation of beverages with the aid of infusion bags can be transmitted to the infusion bag with the aid of the actuating handle that a flow-through effect and thus a short-term effective extraction is achieved by this movement.

The infusion bag is therefore designed according to the invention so that by moving up and down the largely rigid actuating handle between closed partial chambers with partial portions, a cavity that changes in shape and size is created - pump chamber. Water flows through these through the movement described and exits again, namely through the subchambers. Due to the up and down movement of the operating handle, a deformation pressure is exerted on the infusion bag supported on the container base (cup base), which leads to an enlargement and reduction of the cavity (pumping chamber) and thus to the formation of underpressure and overpressure therein.

The partial chambers are connected to one another or to the actuating handle at the upper and lower transverse edges, so that a variable cavity is formed as a pump chamber between the chambers.

The effect sought with the invention can be improved in that the cavity (pump chamber) formed between the partial chambers is provided on the open sides with sealing tabs which act as a check valve during the up and down movements of the operating handle. As a result, a higher internal pressure can build up in the pump chamber, which forces the flow of water through the subchambers to the outside.

An infusion bag designed in this way is produced according to the invention from two simply designed blanks made of filter material (filter paper). The subchambers are closed all around by welding or adhesive seams. An outer blank is formed with a greater width than an inner blank, in such a way that a lateral strip protrusion is formed which, after being folded over, forms the sealing flaps (valve tabs).

According to the invention, the partial chambers are kept at a greater distance from one another in the lower region, namely by a strip of filter material free of roasted coffee, preferably formed by a correspondingly wide lower transverse seam. As a result, the subchambers can make larger transverse movements to one another during the pumping movements.

Further features of the invention relate to the design of the infusion bag and to the manufacture of the same.

Exemplary embodiments of the infusion bag according to the invention and of devices for producing the same are shown schematically in the drawings.

• Fig. 1 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines (Kaffee-) Aufgußbeutels in perspektivischer Darstellung,
• Fig. 2 einen Vertikalschnitt bzw. eine Seitenansicht des Aufgußbeutels gemäß Fig. 1,
• Fig. 3 eine Phase der Zubereitung eines (Kaffee-) Getränkes in Seitenansicht bzw. im Vertikalschnitt,
• Fig. 4 eine andere Phase der Getränkezubereitung in einer Darstellung analog zu Fig. 3,
• Fig. 5 bis Fig. 10 verschiedene Phasen bei der Zubereitung eines (Kaffee-)Getränkes mit einem anderen Ausführungsbeispiel eines Aufgußbeutels, jeweils im Vertikalschnitt bzw. in Seitenansicht und im Horizontalschnitt,
• Fig. 11 ein Zwischenprodukt für die Herstellung eines Aufgußbeutels gemäß Fig. 5-10 im Grundriß,
• Fig. 12 einen Querschnitt zu der Darstellung gemäß Fig. 11,
• Fig. 13 eine Fertigungs-Zwischenstellung eines Aufgußbeutels im Querschnitt,
• Fig. 14 eine Querschnitts-Darstellung des fertiggefalteten Aufgußbeutels aus Zuschnitten gemäß Fig. 11,
• Fig. 15 eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Aufgußbeutels im Querschnitt analog zu Fig. 13,
• Fig. 16 den fertiggefalteten Aufgußbeutel zu dem Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß Fig. 15,
• Fig. 17 eine Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Aufgußbeuteln in der Ausführung gemäß Fig. 15 und 16 in stark vereinfachter Darstellung,
• Fig. 18 Verfahrensschritte und (schematisch) ein anderes Ausführungsbeispiel einer Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Aufgußbeuteln, ebenfalls in vereinfachter Darstellung.

It shows:

• 1 shows an embodiment of a (coffee) infusion bag in a perspective view,
• 2 shows a vertical section or a side view of the infusion bag according to FIG. 1,
• 3 a phase of the preparation of a (coffee) drink in side view or in vertical section,
• 4 shows another phase of beverage preparation in a representation analogous to FIG. 3,
• 5 to 10 different phases in the preparation of a (coffee) drink with another embodiment of an infusion bag, each in vertical section or in side view and in horizontal section,
• 11 shows an intermediate product for the production of an infusion bag according to FIG. 5-10 in plan view,
• 12 is a cross section to the representation of FIG. 11,
• 13 shows an intermediate production position of an infusion bag in cross section,
• 14 is a cross-sectional view of the finished, infusion bag made of blanks according to FIG. 11,
• 15 shows a further embodiment of an infusion bag in cross section analogous to FIG. 13,
• 16 shows the finished, infusion bag for the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 15,
• 17 shows a device for producing infusion bags in the embodiment according to FIGS. 15 and 16 in a very simplified representation,
• Fig. 18 method steps and (schematically) another embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing infusion bags, also in a simplified representation.

The shown infusion bags made of sealable filter paper are primarily intended for the preparation of coffee beverages from ground roasted coffee. Each infusion bag consists of several, namely two sub-chambers 20 and 21 which each serve to hold a portion 22 and 23 of roasted coffee. The total amount of roasted coffee corresponds to the portion of coffee required to produce a coffee beverage, in particular a portion of a cup. For this preferred area of application for the preparation of a single portion of the coffee beverage in a cup 24, the total portion of ground roasted coffee is approximately 7.5 g.

The subchambers 20 and 21 are formed by chamber walls 25 and 26 or 27 and 28 made of filter material, in particular filter paper. The chamber walls 25 ... 28 are laterally connected to one another by side seams 29 and 30 and above and below by transverse seams 31 and 32, so that the partial chambers 20, 21 have an internal volume of sufficient dimension. The partial chambers 20 and 21 are connected to one another in the region of the lower transverse seams 32. The upper transverse seams 31 are fastened to an actuating member, namely an actuating handle 33.

The actuating handle 33 is designed such that, when handling the infusion bag, a certain pressure can be exerted on the structure consisting of the subchambers 20, 21 without any significant deformation of the actuating handle 33 occurring. For this purpose it is preferably made of plastic, e.g. Hard PVC. The actuating handle 33 can be punched out as a shaped piece, for example from plate material. To grip the infusion bag, the operating handle 33 is provided with a circular widening 34 at the upper end. For connection to the subchambers 20 and 21 and for the transverse stiffening of the infusion bag, the actuating handle 33 is provided at the lower end with a crossbar 35 which extends approximately over the width of the subchamber 20, 21. The upper transverse seams 31 are connected to the transverse web 35, in particular welded or glued to the outer sides thereof.

The handling of the infusion bag designed in this way results above all from FIGS. 3 and 4. The infusion bag is gripped in the area of the widening 34 of the actuating handle 33 and immersed in the area of the partial chambers 20, 21 in the cup 24 filled with hot water. The lower edge of the partial chambers 20 and 21, namely the interconnected transverse seams 32, are supported on the cup base 36. By moving the operating handle 33 up and down, the halves of the infusion bag formed from the partial chambers 20, 21 are moved in opposite directions to one another. Here, a cavity comes into effect, which is formed between the units consisting of the subchambers 20 and 21 and which acts as a pumping chamber 37. This is changed in size and shape during the up and down movements of the operating handle 33. When the infusion bag is immersed in the brewing water or by being supported on the cup base 36, the relatively narrow pump chamber 37 in the starting position (FIG. 2) is widened, as a result of which brewing water not only flows into the pump chamber 37 via the free, open sides, but also through the partial chambers 20, 21 through. With further movement, namely with the movement of the actuating handle 33 up to the cup base 36, the pump chamber 37 is reduced again, as a result of which the water that has penetrated flows laterally and outwards through the partial chamber 20, 21 (FIG. 3). With the renewed upward movement, the water flows in the opposite direction, as shown in FIG. 4.

By means of several such “pumping movements” it is achieved that within a short time the sub-chambers 20 flow optimally through the brewing water and the partial portions 22, 23 are accordingly extracted.

In order to improve the flow through the subchambers 20, 21, measures are provided in accordance with the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 5 ff., Which prevent or reduce drainage through side openings 38 and 39 during the phase of downsizing the pump chamber 37 filled with water. For this purpose, in this improved embodiment in the area of the side openings 38, 39 between the subchambers 20, 21, shut-off flaps 40, 41 and 42, 43 are installed and arranged so that when pressure is applied to the outside in the pumping chamber 37 urgent brewing water can be moved into a closed position (Fig. 6). The butterfly valves 40 ... 43 therefore act like check valves.

In the exemplary embodiments shown, the shut-off tabs 40 ... 43 - made of paper, plastic or the like - are attached with outer edges to the upright side seams 29 and 30 of the partial chambers 20, 21, specifically on the side facing the pump chamber 37. The attachment is such that in the starting position when the infusion bag is folded flat, the shut-off tabs 40 ... 43 are also folded flat between the partial chambers 20, 21, bearing against the facing inner chamber walls 26 and 27. When the infusion bag expands during the pumping movements, namely when Filling the pump chamber 37 with brewing water, the shut-off flaps 40 ... 43 are moved into a position in which they are connected on the one hand to the side seams 29 and 30 and on the other hand lie against one another with free, inner sealing lips 44, 45 approximately in the central plane of the pump chamber 37 . This closed position of the shut-off flaps 40 ... 43 is favored or stabilized in that the shut-off elements in question converge at the bottom and at the top, namely are bound between the transverse seams 31 and 32.

By blocking the side openings 38, 39, the water can no longer with the subsequent reduction in the volume of the pump chamber 37 predominantly flow out through the side openings 38, 39, but increasingly passes through the partial chambers 20, 21 with the effect of an accelerated effective extraction (FIGS. 5 and 6).

During the subsequent upward movement of the actuating handle 33, that is to say after the pump chamber 37 has largely been emptied, the subchambers 20, 21 come into a relative position to one another in which water flows into the pump chamber 37 from the outside, specifically via the side openings 38, 39. The shut-off flaps 40 ... 43 are moved in the direction of the inner chamber walls 26, 27, so that the inflow effect takes place unhindered (Fig. 7 and 8).

After the pumping chambers 37 have been filled with brewing water, namely after the actuating handle has reached the upper end position, the side openings 38, 39 are closed again by the shut-off tabs 40 ... 43 due to the internal pressure building up in the pumping chamber 37 (FIGS. 9 and 10) .

Filter bags also in the embodiment according to FIGS. 5-10 can be economically produced on an industrial scale. In the design according to FIGS. 11-14, the partial chambers 20, 21 including shut-off flaps 40... 43 consist of two cuts 46 and 47 made of filter paper. The blank 46 on the outside in the finished infusion bag is dimensioned with a larger width than the blank 47 on the inside, such that blank strips 48 and 49 protrude laterally beyond the inner blank 47 in an intermediate position according to FIGS. 11 and 12. The blanks 46 and 47 are connected in this position by the side seams 29 and 30 and by the transverse seams 31 and 32, the latter combined to form a common transverse seam of double width, after the partial portions before or during the connection of the blanks 46, 47 to one another 22, 23 was filled into the subchambers 20, 21 that were formed. The cut strips 48, 49 are then folded over against the free side (inside) of the inner cut 47 (FIG. 13) when the structure is elongated. This creates the shut-off tabs 40 ... 43, the cutting strips 48, 49 being dimensioned such that they extend approximately to the middle of the partial chambers 20, 21.

Alternatively, the inner blank 47 can also be formed with a larger width, with the blank strips on the edge being folded inwards in order to form the shut-off tabs 40 ... 43, as described.

Now the infusion bag which has been completed so far is folded over in the region of the immediately adjacent lower transverse seams 32, so that the subchambers 20, 21 lie directly adjacent to one another. The upper transverse seams 31 are now connected to one another or to the actuating handle 33. The shut-off flaps 40 ... 43 automatically move into the effective position in this folding process.

An embodiment of the infusion bag which is also particularly suitable for large-scale industrial production is shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, each in the cross section of a partial chamber 20, 21. The blanks 46 and 47 of the same width or the same size are made in the manner described by welding or gluing connected to one another to form the partial chambers 20, 21 and to accommodate the partial portion 22, 23. In addition, material strips 50, 51 are applied to the (later) inner side or to the inner blank 47 and in the region of the longitudinal side seams 29 , 30 connected to the blank 47. The strips of material 50, 51 - made of paper, plastic or the like - are so wide that they extend almost to the central plane of the partial chambers 20, 21.

The continuous structure designed in this way is then severed in the region of adjacent transverse seams 32, so that units, for example in the embodiment of FIG. 11, are produced - without cutting strips 48, 49. Folding in the area of the lower transverse seams 32 creates the infusion bag, to which the actuating handle is still to be attached.

The production of such infusion bags can be carried out as shown schematically in FIG. 17. The web-like material for forming the blanks 46 and 47 is continuously drawn off from bobbins 52 and 53. In the area of mutually opposing shaping rollers 54 and 55, the webs are brought together and connected with one another to form the side seams 29, 30 and the transverse seams 31 and 32, the coffee portions or partial portions 22, 23 being simultaneously introduced into the partial chambers 20 via a filling funnel 56 , 21 can be filled from above.

On the side of the web for the blanks 47, another material web 57 of the same width runs in, which is connected in the region of the shaping rollers 54, 55 to the facing web for the blanks 47. Before that, the material web 57 is severed in the longitudinal center by a fixed knife 58, so that the material strips 50, 51 are continuously formed from the material web 57. Accordingly, largely finished infusion bags filled with partial portions 22, 23 are manufactured in a work station, which only have to be cut to length and connected to the actuating handle.

18 shows details of the manufacture of infusion bags from a continuous material hose 59 from (sealable) filter paper in individual process stages LVI. The material hose 59 is formed on a tubular filler nozzle 60 from a flat, strip-shaped material web 61 and at the same time is provided with a hose seam (not shown) running in the longitudinal direction of the material hose 59 in a conventional manner.

The material hose 59 is moved in sections on the filler nozzle 60, namely pulled downwards. During a standstill phase, a portion 22/23 of the roasted coffee is filled into the material hose 59 via the filler nozzle 60. Thereafter, a transverse seam 31 or 32 is made between successive partial portions 22, 23 in the area below the filling nozzle 60 to produce the partial chambers 20, 21. Furthermore, the material hose 59 is severed in the area of the (upper) transverse seam 21, so that elongated Formations with two filled partial chambers 20, 21 arise.

After being folded over into a horizontal position in accordance with method step 11, these are folded in a U shape in the area of the lower or middle transverse seam 32 (method step 111). The operating handle 33 is fed in from above, in such a way that the transverse web 35 reaches the area between the upper (half) transverse seams 31. A new sealing is carried out in the area of the transverse seams 31 by means of sealing members 62, connecting them to the transverse web 35 of the actuating handle 33.

The infusion bag is now completed in accordance with process stage IV. The actuating handle 33 is then pivoted via an intermediate position according to V into a packable position VI and in contact with one of the subchambers 20, 21. Then the finished infusion bag is wrapped in an aroma-tight film packaging.

Claims (12)

1. Infusion bag of filter material, in particular filter paper, for making beverages in a container from extractable substances, in particular ground roasted coffee, with legs which are connected to one another at the upper end and have subchambers for accommodating one subportion each of the roasted coffee or the like being formed by folding the double-layered filter paper in a U-shape, characterized in that the subchambers (20, 21), with their upper edges, are connected (together) to a rigid actuating handle (33) in such a way that, by up and down movement of the actuating handle, the subchambers (20, 21) execute oppositely directed transverse movements while supported on a container bottom (cup bottom 36).

2. Infusion bag according to Claim 1, characterized in that the subchambers (20, 21), at their upper transverse edge (transverse seam 31), are connected to the actuating handle (33) and, in the area of lower edges (transverse seams 32), are connected to one another.

3. Infusion bag according to Claim 2, characterized in that the two subchambers (20, 21) of approximately the same size consist of a common complete blank or of two individual blanks (46, 47) which are connected at their edges by welded or bonded seams (side seams 29, 30; transverse seams 31, 32), with the subchambers (20, 21) being divided relative to one another by transverse seams (32) (two located next to one another).

4. Infusion bag according to Claim 1 and one or more of the further Claims, characterized in that the actuating handle (33) is made with a transverse web (35) which extends over the width of the subchambers (20, 21) or the blanks (46, 47), with their upper transverse seams (31) being connected to the transverse web (35).

5. Infusion bag according to Claim 4 and one or more of the further Claims, characterized in that the actuating handle (33), with the transverse web (35), consists of one workpiece, in particular of relatively rigid plastic (polyamide).

6. Infusion bag according to Claim 2 and one or more of the further Claims, characterized in that the subchambers (20, 21), in the area of their lower connection, are at a distance from one another for forming a section free of roasted coffee, in particular by a corrdspondingly wide lower transverse seam (32).

7. Infusion bag according to Claim 3 and one or more of the further Claims, characterized in that a hollow space (pumping chamber 37) which is variable in shape and volume is formed between the subchambers (20, 21), which hollow space, in the area of side openings (38, 39), is provided with shut-off members (shut-off flaps 40, 41, 42, 43) closing at increased internal pressure.

8. Infusion bag according to Claim 7 and one or more of the further Claims, characterized in that a shut-off flap (40 to 43) extending approximately up to the centre plane of the subchambers (20, 21) is in each case attached to each side seam (29, 30) of the subchambers (20, 21), with adjacent shut-off flaps (40, 41) and (42, 43) bearing against one another with sealing lips (44, 45) upon increased pressure in the pumping chamber (37).

9. Infusion bag according to Claim 3 and one or more of the further Claims, characterized in that the subchambers (20, 21) are formed from two blanks (46, 47), with the outer blank (46) having a larger width than the inner blank (47) while blank strips (48, 49) are formed which form the shut-off flaps (40 to 43) by folding over towards the inner blank (47) and by subsequent folding of the blanks (46, 47), connected to one another in the area of transverse seams (32).

10. Infusion bag according to Claim 3 and one or more of the further Claims, characterized in that the subchambers (20, 21) are formed from two blanks (46, 47) of the same width, with material strips (50, 51) being laterally fixed to the free side of the inner blank (47), in particular connected to the side seams (29, 30), with the material strips (50, 51) forming shut-off flaps (40 to 43) after folding of the blanks (46, 47) in the area of the transverse seams (32).

11. Infusion bag according to Claim 10, characterized in that the blanks (46, 47) are formed from continuous material tracks, with the material strips (50, 51) likewise being formed from a continuous material track by central cutting of the latter and attaching to the blank (47).

12. Method of manufacturing an infusion bag according to Claim 2, characterized in that a continuous tube is formed from sealable filter material (filter paper) and roasted coffee is poured in in portions in the longitudinal direction, with in each case a transverse seam (31 and 32 resp.) being attached between successively filled portions, and that, by transversely directed parting cuts in the area of the transverse seam 31, sections are made of in each case two subchambers (20, 21) and are folded in a U-shape in the area of the transverse seam (32) lying between the subchambers (20, 21), and that finally an actuating handle (33) of thermally weldable material with a transverse web (35) is inserted between the upper transverse seams (31) on the edge side and is connected to the latter by renewed thermal sealing.

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