US20120251671A1 - System, capsule and method for preparing a beverage - Google Patents

Abstract

A system including a capsule is usable for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product. The system includes a substantially rigid circumferential wall, a bottom closing the circumferential wall at a first end, and lid of a flexible sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous material closing the circumferential wall at a second, open, end opposite the bottom. The circumferential wall, the bottom and the lid enclose an inner space include the extractable product, and the lid includes an impermeable outer circumferential area and an exit area being enclosed by said impermeable outer circumferential area such that, in use, the prepared beverage is drained from the capsule through the exit area. The invention further relates to a method for preparing said beverage using the above system.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
• This application is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/NL2009/050821, filed Dec. 30, 2009, which claims priority to European Patent Application No. 09163008.7, filed Jun. 17, 2009, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
• The present invention relates generally to the field of The invention relates to a system for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, comprising an exchangeable capsule, and an apparatus comprising a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, and a fluid dispensing device for supplying an amount of a fluid, such as water, under pressure to the exchangeable capsule, wherein the exchangeable capsule comprises a circumferential wall, a bottom closing the circumferential wall at a first end, and a lid closing the circumferential wall at a second end opposite the bottom, wherein the wall, bottom and lid enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product, wherein the fluid dispensing device is arranged for supplying the fluid to the extractable product through the bottom for forming the beverage, wherein the receptacle comprises a support surface, and wherein the capsule is arranged to at least partly abut against the support surface for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule through the lid and through the support surface, wherein the lid comprises a flexible sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous material and the system comprises an outlet which, in use, is in fluid communication with the lid for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule and supplying the beverage to a container such as a cup.
• Such a system using a capsule of which the lid comprises openings for draining prepared beverage from the capsule and supplying the beverage to a container is known per se. These capsules are known as open capsules, since the capsule itself has perforate or porous sections, thus, prior to use, being open to ambient atmosphere (although the open capsule can be contained in an e.g. airtight outer package). When using the open capsule in the apparatus of the system in the extended position, thus the position ready to supply fluid to the extractable product in the capsule, the open capsule is positioned in the receptacle, wherein the lid of the capsule faces the support surface and the bottom of the capsule faces the fluid dispensing device.
• A drawback of the abovementioned system using an open capsule is that during fluid supply under pressure already prepared beverage may bypass the outlet of the system after passing the sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous lid. This means that part of the prepared beverage, possibly mixed with air available between the lid and the outlet of the system, may try to pass between the capsule and the support surface even though the capsule is pressed against the support surface.
SUMMARY
• It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a system according to the above described type, wherein the advantages of the known system are maintained and the disadvantages of the known system are at least partly overcome. More in particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a system for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage wherein the risk of bypassing of the prepared beverage after passing the sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous material is minimized.
• Thereto, according to a first aspect of the invention, the above described system is characterized in that the lid comprises an impermeable outer circumferential area and an exit area being enclosed by said impermeable outer circumferential area such that the prepared beverage is drained from the capsule through the exit area.
• By providing an impermeable outer circumferential area around an exit area intended for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule, the prepared beverage is actively forced to pass the exit area and subsequently the outlet of the system. Consequently, the risk of prepared beverage trying to pass between the lid of the capsule and the support surface of the receptacle is minimized. Thus, instead of for instance pressing the receptacle to the support surface with a higher pressing force, the system according to the present invention may more exactly guide the prepared beverage from the capsule towards the outlet of the system.
• Preferably, according to a further aspect of the invention, the flexible sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous material is a flexible foil, such as a polymeric film, at least partly provided with a plurality of exit openings. Such flexible foil may for instance be a multilayer foil of polyethyleneterephthalate (PET-P) and chlorinated polypropylene (CPP) and according to further aspect of the invention comprise a first layer of PET-P with a thickness of approximately 15 μm and a second layer of CPP of approximately 30 μm. The multilayer foil may also comprise a first layer of PET-P with a thickness of approximately 12 μm and a second layer of CPP of approximately 30 μm.
• In further elaboration of the invention, the plurality of exit openings is provided in a centre area of the lid, wherein the impermeable outer circumferential area of the lid does not comprise any exit opening. Hence, the lid comprising the exit area and the impermeable outer circumferential area can be provided in a simple manner.
• In an alternative embodiment of the invention, on a side of the lid facing the support surface of the system, an additional substantially annular sealing member may be provided that forms the impermeable outer circumferential area of the lid. Such an annular sealing member can be easily attached to an outer surface of the lid after attaching the lid to the capsule. According to a further aspect of the invention, the lid and the annular sealing member may be of the same material. For instance an annular sealing member of the multilayer foil as described before may be connected, for instance by means of an adhesive or sealing it, to an outer side of the lid of the multilayer foil.
• In another embodiment of the invention, it is also possible that the annular sealing member is of a resilient material such as a plastic, for instance PE or a rubber. The annular sealing member may be connected to a side of the lid facing the support surface of the receptacle by means of a suitable adhesive. Such a resilient sealing member can be used to advantage because upon closing of the receptacle, thus pressing the capsule against the support surface, the sealing member may be impressed a little thereby providing a tight seal between the lid and the support surface.
• In order to further prevent the bypass between the support surface and the capsule it is advantageous according to a further aspect of the invention if the impermeable outer circumferential area extends from the circumferential wall radially inward, preferably over a radial distance between 1 mm-5 mm from the circumferential wall. Such a dimension of the impermeable outer circumferential area provides sufficient prevention against bypass of the prepared beverage and at the same time provides a sufficiently large exit area suitable to drain the prepared beverage from the capsule.
• In further elaboration of the invention, the capsule preferably comprises an outwardly extending rim, wherein the lid is attached to the outwardly extending rim. Such a rim may have a radial length at a side facing the lid of approximately 0.2 mm±0.025 mm. Alternatively, such a rim may have a radial length at a side facing the lid of approximately 4.7 mm±0.1 mm The radial length can be defined as the dimension of the rim between an inner side of the circumferential wall of the capsule and the outer circumferential edge of the rim. Due to such a rim the upper part of the receptacle can easily press the capsule and thus the lid against the support surface of the receptacle upon displacement of the upper part of the receptacle towards the support surface.
• According to another embodiment of the invention, the exit area may comprise 75-170 openings such as 100-170 openings, preferably 90-150 openings such as 110-150, more preferably 100-125 openings. Alternatively, the exit area may have approximately 145 openings. An opening diameter may be between 0.4 mm±0.05 mm and 0.2 mm±0.05 mm, preferably approximately 0.3 mm±0.05 mm. Due to said openings, the prepared beverage will leave the capsule with a desired speed such that the preparation time will not be too long, for instance no more than 40 seconds, preferably no more than 30 seconds. Such openings with such diameters also prevent roasted and ground coffee particles from leaving the capsule.
• Optionally, the bottom of the capsule is permeable to liquid. Preferably, the bottom of the capsule is perforate and/or porous.
• The invention further relates to a capsule according toclaim15, wherein the capsule may be a capsule of the above described system. The invention further relates to the use of a capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage in an apparatus of such a system.
• The invention also relates to a method for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, comprising: providing an exchangeable capsule, comprising a circumferential wall, a bottom closing the circumferential wall at a first end, and a lid closing the circumferential wall at a second end opposite the bottom, wherein the wall, bottom and lid enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product, providing an apparatus comprising a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, a fluid dispensing device for supplying an amount of a fluid, such as water, under pressure to the exchangeable capsule, and an outlet which, in use, is in fluid communication with the capsule for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule and supplying the beverage to a container such as a cup, wherein the receptacle comprises a support surface, and wherein the capsule at least partly abuts against the support surface for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule through the lid and through the support surface, wherein the lid comprises a flexible sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous material and the apparatus comprises an outlet which is in fluid communication with the lid for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule and supplying the beverage to a container such as a cup, wherein the lid comprises an impermeable outer circumferential area and an exit area being enclosed by said impermeable outer circumferential area such that the prepared beverage is drained from the capsule through the exit area, wherein the method further comprises supplying the fluid to the extractable product for preparing the beverage.
• Such a capsule and such a method provide similar advantages and effects as described with the system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The invention will now be further elucidated by means of, non-limiting, examples referring to the drawing, in which
• FIG. 1 shows a system for preparing a beverage according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a system according to the invention;
• FIG. 3 shows a partial schematic cross sectional view of a capsule according to the invention; and
• FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross sectional view of a second embodiment of a capsule according to the invention.
• It is noted that identical or corresponding elements in the different drawings are indicated with identical or corresponding reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
• FIG. 1 shows asystem1 for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product according to a first embodiment of the invention. Thesystem1 comprises an apparatus4 comprising an exchangeableopen capsule2. The apparatus4 comprises areceptacle3 for holding the exchangeableopen capsule2. Commonly, thereceptacle3 has a shape at least partly complementary to the shape of thecapsule2. The apparatus4 further comprises afluid dispensing device5 for supplying an amount of a fluid, such as water, under a pressure, of e.g. 9 bars, to theexchangeable capsule2.
• The exchangeableopen capsule2, as provided in thereceptacle3 of the apparatus4, comprises a substantially rigidcircumferential wall6, abottom7 closing thecircumferential wall6 at afirst end8, and a lid9 closing thecircumferential wall6 at asecond end10 opposite thebottom7. Thecircumferential wall6, thebottom7 and the lid9 enclose aninner space11 comprising the extractable product. Preferably, the extractable product comprises an amount of roasted and ground coffee. In this example, theexchangeable capsule2 comprises an amount of extractable product, e.g. approximately 5.0-6.5 grams of roasted and ground coffee, preferably of approximately 5.2.grams±0.15 grams, suitable for preparing a single portion of the beverage, preferably a single cup of the beverage, e.g. from 30-200 ml of the prepared beverage.
• In the shown embodiment of thesystem1, thebottom7, more specifically anentrance area15 thereof, of thecapsule2 is adapted to, in use, being pierced by bottom piercing means12 to provide apierced opening13 in thebottom7. In use, fluid from thefluid dispensing device5 is provided viabore14 through the piercedopening13 in theinner space11 of the capsule.
• According to the invention, the lid9 of thecapsule2 comprises a flexible sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous material, in this embodiment a flexible foil such as a polymeric film with a plurality ofopenings23 through which the beverage can drain from thecapsule2. The flexible foil may be a multilayer foil of a polyethyleneteraphtalate (PET-P) layer of approximately 15 μm and a chlorinated plypropylene (CPP) layer of approximately 30 μm. Alternatively, The flexible foil may be a multilayer foil of a PET-P layer of approximately 12 μm and a chlorinated CPP layer of approximately 30 μm. Furthermore, the lid comprises an impermeable outercircumferential area30 that encloses anexit area32. Theexit area32 is adapted to drain prepared beverage from thecapsule2 to theoutlet26 of thesystem1. Such a construction of the lid9 prevents prepared beverage from bypassing theoutlet26 of the system (indicated by arrows40) by guiding the prepared beverage through theexit area32 and subsequently trough theoutlet26.
• The impermeable outercircumferential area30 of the lid9 is formed by an additional substantially annular sealingmember31 that is attached to the side of the lid9 facing thesupport surface3b, for instance by gluing, welding and the like. In the shown embodiment, the annular sealing member is of a resilient material such as a plastic, for instance PE or a rubber. Theannular sealing member31 extends from thecircumferential wall6 radially inward, preferably over a radial distance L (seeFIG. 3) between 1 mm-5 mm from thecircumferential wall6. Thecapsule2 comprises an outwardly extendingrim24 to which the lid9 is attached, for instance by gluing, welding and the like. Aradial length1 of the rim24 (seeFIGS. 3 and 4) at a side facing the lid9 is approximately 4.7 mm±0.1 mm.
• The apparatus4 further comprises lid piercing means22, here embodied as protrusions, intended for piercing the lid of a prior art closed capsule (not shown). According to the invention, the lid9 is sufficiently strong and sufficiently stiff not to be pierced by the lid piercing means22 of thesystem1 under the influence of the pressure inside thecapsule2. Under influence of the pressure inside thecapsule2, lid9 may deform against the lid piercing means22, but it may not tear, rupture or be pierced by the lid piercing means, the lid9 may stay intact under influence of the pressure. The bottom piercing means12 and the upper part3aof the receptacle as shown inFIG. 1 are in an extended position thereby pressing thecapsule2 against thesupport surface3bof thereceptacle3.
• Thesystem1 as shown inFIG. 1 is operated as follows for preparing a cup of coffee, wherein the extractable product is roasted and ground coffee.
• Thecapsule2 is placed in thereceptacle3. The upper part3aof thereceptacle3 is extended towards thesupport surface3bof thereceptacle3. Due to the displacement of the upper part3aof the receptacle, the extended bottom piercing means12 are activated to pierce thebottom7 of thecapsule2 in order to provide anopening13 in the bottom7 as shown inFIG. 1. Upon displacement of the upper part3aof the receptacle, therim24 of thecapsule2 and thus also the lid9 connected thereto is pressed against thesupport surface3bof thereceptacle3 of the apparatus4. Then the fluid, here hot water under pressure, is supplied to the extractable product in theinner space11 through theopening13 via thebore14 provided in the piercing means12. The water will wet the coffee grounds and extract the desired substances to form the coffee beverage. The prepared coffee will drain from thecapsule2 through theexit area32 of the lid9 being guided by means of the impermeable outercircumferential area30 towardsopenings26 of thesupport surface24, and may be supplied to a container such as a cup (not shown).
• InFIG. 2, asystem1 according to the invention is shown. For the sake of clarity, only the elements that differ from thesystem1 as shown and described withFIG. 1 will be described here in detail.
• Theopen capsule2 comprises, according to the second embodiment of the invention, anentrance filter15 in thebottom7 of thecapsule2. Theentrance filter15 comprises an amount ofopenings17 for supplying fluid from thefluid dispensing device5 of the apparatus4 to theinner space11 of the capsule. Thus, the fluid is supplied to the extractable product via the plurality of entrance openings, which causes the extractable product to be wetted over substantially the entire cross section of thecapsule2. Hence, a very homogeneous supply of fluid to the extractable product is obtained. It will be appreciated that thus thebottom7 is perforate and hence permeable to liquid. Alternatively, the bottom might be porous.
• The open capsule has a height h1 of approximately 23.7 mm±0.2 mm seen in an axial direction. Consequently, theentrance filter15 in thebottom7 is not pierced by the bottom piercing means12 of thesystem1 of the invention. The thickness t of the bottom7 may be approximately 0.7 mm±0.05 mm.
• During preparing of the beverage, the fluid from thefluid dispensing device5 enters thecavity44 provided between thereceptacle3 and theopen capsule2 through thebore14. Theentrance filter15 is adapted to drain fluid from thecavity44 to theinner space11 of theopen capsule2 for extracting desired substances from the extractable product.
• Thus, more in general, in the example ofFIG. 1, thebottom7 comprises an entrance area16, formed by theentrance filter15 which is positioned at a distance from the bottom piercing means12. The apparatus4 is arranged for bringing thefluid dispensing device5 in fluid connection with the entrance area for supplying the fluid to the extractable product for preparing the beverage. In another (not shown) embodiment of the invention, theentrance filter15 may be formed by a filtering paper, a flexible foil or the like material.
• Thecircumferential wall6 of thecapsule2 shown inFIG. 2 may e.g. comprise a plastics material and may be formed by e.g. injection moulding, vacuum-forming, thermoforming or the like. Also, in the example ofFIG. 2, thecircumferential wall10 is frusto-conical, but other shapes are also possible. For example, the circumferential wall may be cylindrical or pyramidal. In thecapsule2 according to thesystem1 of the invention, the impermeable outercircumferential area30 is part of the lid9 of the flexible foil which part does not comprise any exit opening. The impermeable outercircumferential area30 may be formed by temporarily melting part of the perforated lid9 such that theopenings23 that are located near thecircumferential wall6 closed. The impermeable outercircumferential area30 may instead be provided by only providingopenings23 in theexit area32 of the lid. Thus, the impermeable outercircumferential area30 is provided in an easy manner. This integrated impermeable outercircumferential area30 may comprise similar dimensions and materials as the annular sealingmember31 as described withFIG. 1.
• InFIGS. 3 and 4, two further embodiments of thecapsule2 according to the invention are shown. Saidcapsules2 can be used in asystem1 according to the invention. For the sake of clarity, only the elements that differ from thesystem1 as shown and described withFIGS. 1 and 2 are described here in detail. The capsule ofFIG. 3 comprises anentrance filter15 as described with thecapsule2 as shown inFIG. 2 and an impermeable outer circumferential sealingmember30 as described with thecapsule2 as shown inFIG. 1. The capsule ofFIG. 4 comprises a bottom7 intended to be pierced upon use as described with thecapsule2 as shown inFIG. 1 and an integrated impermeable outercircumferential area30 as described with thecapsule2 as shown inFIG. 2.
• In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific examples of embodiments of the invention. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
• It is for instance possible that the entrance area of the capsule comprises different kinds of entrance filters. The capsule and parts thereof may be made of various materials, or various combinations of various materials. Also, the capsule may have various shapes. For example, the circumferential wall of the capsule may have any shape such as cylindrical, frustoconical or polygonal, such as hexagonal or octagonal. Also the bottom and the lid may have various shapes, including non flat shapes. Furthermore the receptacle may have different constructions as long as the upper part of the receptacle can be displaced to and retracted from the support surface such that the capsule can be pressed against the support surface and subsequently be released. The apparatus of the system can also have different support surfaces, for instance without protrusion but with a substantially flat surface or with surface having a three dimensional pattern or the like. The apparatus furthermore can have different fluid dispensing device adapted to supply fluid to the inner space of the capsule in different ways.
• However, other modifications, variations and alternatives are also possible. The specifications, drawings and examples are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.
• In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word ‘comprising’ does not exclude the presence of other features or steps then those listed in a claim. Furthermore, the words ‘a’ and ‘an’ shall not be construed as limited to ‘only one’, but instead are used to mean ‘at least one’, and do not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims (19)

1. A system for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, comprising:

an exchangeable capsule, and

an apparatus comprising a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, and a fluid dispensing device for supplying an amount of a fluid, such as water, under pressure to the exchangeable capsule,

wherein the exchangeable capsule comprises a circumferential wall, a bottom closing the circumferential wall at a first end, and a lid closing the circumferential wall at a second end opposite the bottom, wherein the wall, bottom and lid enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product,

wherein the fluid dispensing device is arranged for supplying the fluid to the extractable product through the bottom for forming the beverage,

wherein the receptacle comprises a support surface, and wherein the capsule is arranged to at least partly abut against the support surface for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule through the lid and through the support surface,

wherein the lid comprises a flexible sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous material and the system comprises an outlet which, in use, is in fluid communication with the lid for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule and supplying the beverage to a container such as a cup,

wherein the lid comprises an impermeable outer circumferential area and an exit area being enclosed by said impermeable outer circumferential area such that the prepared beverage is drained from the capsule through the exit area.

2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the flexible sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous material is a flexible foil, such as a polymeric film, at least partly provided with a plurality of exit openings.

3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the flexible foil is a multilayer foil of polyethyleneterephthalate (PET-P) and chlorinated polypropylene (CPP).

4. The system ofclaim 3, wherein the foil comprises a first layer of polyethyleneterephthalat (PET-P) with a thickness of approximately 15 μm and a second layer of chlorinated polypropylene (CPP) of approximately 30 μm.

5. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the plurality of exit openings is provided in a centre area of the lid, wherein the impermeable outer circumferential area of the lid does not comprise any exit opening.

6. The system ofclaim 2, wherein on a side of the lid facing the support surface of the system an additional substantially annular sealing member is provided that forms the impermeable outer circumferential area of the lid.

7. The system ofclaim 6, wherein the lid and the annular sealing member are of the same material.

8. The system ofclaim 6, wherein the annular sealing member is of a resilient material such as a plastic, for instance PE or a rubber.

9. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the impermeable outer circumferential area extends from the circumferential wall radially inward, preferably over a radial distance between 1 mm-5 mm from the circumferential wall.

10. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the capsule comprises an outwardly extending rim, wherein the lid is attached to the outwardly extending rim.

11. The system ofclaim 8, wherein a radial length of the outwardly extending rim at a side facing the lid is approximately 4.7 mm±0.1 mm.

12. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the exit area comprises 75-170 openings, preferably 90-150, more preferably 100-125 openings, wherein an opening diameter is between 0.4 mm±0.05 mm and 0.2 mm±0.05 mm, preferably approximately 0.3 mm±0.05 mm.

13. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the bottom of the capsule is permeable to liquid.

14. The system ofclaim 13, wherein the bottom of the capsule is perforate and/or porous.

15. A capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, comprising:

a substantially rigid circumferential wall,

a bottom closing the circumferential wall at a first end, and

lid of a flexible sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous material closing the circumferential wall at a second, open, end opposite the bottom,

wherein the circumferential wall, the bottom and the lid enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product,

wherein the lid comprises an impermeable outer circumferential area and an exit area being enclosed by said impermeable outer circumferential area such that, in use, the prepared beverage is drained from the capsule through the exit area.

16. The capsule ofclaim 15, wherein the capsule is the capsule of the system according toclaim 1.

17. A use of a capsule for preparing a beverage using the apparatus of the system ofclaim 1.

18. A method for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, comprising:

providing an exchangeable capsule, comprising a circumferential wall, a bottom closing the circumferential wall at a first end, and a lid closing the circumferential wall at a second end opposite the bottom, wherein the wall, bottom and lid enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product,

providing an apparatus comprising a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, a fluid dispensing device for supplying an amount of a fluid, such as water, under pressure to the exchangeable capsule, and an outlet which, in use, is in fluid communication with the capsule for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule and supplying the beverage to a container such as a cup,

wherein the receptacle comprises a support surface, and wherein the capsule at least partly abuts against the support surface for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule through the lid and through the support surface,

wherein the lid comprises a flexible sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous material and the apparatus comprises an outlet which is in fluid communication with the lid for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule and supplying the beverage to a container such as a cup,

wherein the lid comprises an impermeable outer circumferential area and an exit area being enclosed by said impermeable outer circumferential area such that the prepared beverage is drained from the capsule through the exit area,

wherein the method further comprises supplying the fluid to the extractable product for preparing the beverage.

19. The method ofclaim 18, wherein the fluid dispensing device is arranged for supplying the fluid to the extractable product through the bottom for forming the beverage.

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