AU2022404691A1 - A capsule for the preparation of a beverage - Google Patents
A capsule for the preparation of a beverage Download PDFInfo
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- AU2022404691A1 AU2022404691A1 AU2022404691A AU2022404691A AU2022404691A1 AU 2022404691 A1 AU2022404691 A1 AU 2022404691A1 AU 2022404691 A AU2022404691 A AU 2022404691A AU 2022404691 A AU2022404691 A AU 2022404691A AU 2022404691 A1 AU2022404691 A1 AU 2022404691A1
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- Prior art keywords
- capsule
- cup
- bottom wall
- beverage
- shaped body
- Prior art date
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- 239000002775 capsule Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 93
- 235000013361 beverage Nutrition 0.000 title claims abstract description 61
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 34
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 28
- 229920002678 cellulose Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 239000001913 cellulose Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 19
- 239000011105 molded pulp Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000004621 biodegradable polymer Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 229920002988 biodegradable polymer Polymers 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000003856 thermoforming Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 229920002472 Starch Polymers 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000011049 filling Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 229920000098 polyolefin Polymers 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000008107 starch Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 235000019698 starch Nutrition 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000011121 hardwood Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 229920002522 Wood fibre Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920000728 polyester Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 23
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 10
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 8
- 229920003043 Cellulose fiber Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 239000003085 diluting agent Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000004629 polybutylene adipate terephthalate Substances 0.000 description 4
- -1 polybutylene succinate Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 239000004631 polybutylene succinate Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229920002961 polybutylene succinate Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 238000004064 recycling Methods 0.000 description 4
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 3
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004372 Polyvinyl alcohol Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910002090 carbon oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 238000009264 composting Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000032798 delamination Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
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- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000004626 polylactic acid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920002451 polyvinyl alcohol Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 235000014347 soups Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 2
- ORTVZLZNOYNASJ-UPHRSURJSA-N (z)-but-2-ene-1,4-diol Chemical compound OC\C=C/CO ORTVZLZNOYNASJ-UPHRSURJSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241000609240 Ambelania acida Species 0.000 description 1
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- 244000025254 Cannabis sativa Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000012766 Cannabis sativa ssp. sativa var. sativa Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000012765 Cannabis sativa ssp. sativa var. spontanea Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 244000298479 Cichorium intybus Species 0.000 description 1
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- 229920000742 Cotton Polymers 0.000 description 1
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- 244000082204 Phyllostachys viridis Species 0.000 description 1
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- 235000021307 Triticum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 240000008042 Zea mays Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000005824 Zea mays ssp. parviglumis Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000002017 Zea mays subsp mays Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000010905 bagasse Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011425 bamboo Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000033228 biological regulation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000009120 camo Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000005607 chanvre indien Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000019219 chocolate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229920000891 common polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920001577 copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000012792 core layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000005822 corn Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000006071 cream Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000013365 dairy product Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000004090 dissolution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000013350 formula milk Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000015203 fruit juice Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000011487 hemp Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001802 infusion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000013336 milk Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000008267 milk Substances 0.000 description 1
- 210000004080 milk Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002243 precursor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 235000013570 smoothie Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000011122 softwood Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005507 spraying Methods 0.000 description 1
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- 235000015192 vegetable juice Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000013311 vegetables Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
- B65D85/804—Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ, i.e. without having been previously removed from the package
- B65D85/8043—Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Apparatus For Making Beverages (AREA)
Abstract
The invention is directed to a capsule (1) for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage preparation machine (10) comprising: - a cup-shaped body, being a solid of revolution with a bottom wall (2), lateral walls (3), and a peripheral rim (4) extending outwardly at the top edges of said lateral walls (3), - a closing membrane (5) attached to the rim (4) for closing the cup-shaped body (1) and forming a closed chamber containing a beverage ingredient, wherein the bottom wall (2) is adapted to be pierced by a water-injection piercing member (12) of the beverage preparation machine (10), and wherein said cup-shaped body comprises an outer layer of moulded cellulose pulp (6) and an inner layer of polymeric liner film (7) having barrier properties to oxygen and/or moisture, said barrier liner film (7) being attached to said moulded pulp outer layer (6), characterized in that: said capsule (1) further comprises a rigid holding insert (8) inside said closed chamber, positioned in a stationary manner relative to the cup-shaped body, said insert (8) comprising a ring-shaped portion (9) that holds said liner film (7) against said moulded pulp layer (6) along the circumference of at least one portion of said bottom wall (2).
Description
A CAPSULE FOR THE PREPARATION OF A BEVERAGE
Daniel (NMN) ABEGGLEN
Nicola (NMN) GALAFFU
Field of the invention
The present invention concerns a capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage preparation machine and a method for manufacturing said capsule. The capsule comprises a cup-shaped body made at least partially of cellulose pulp.
Background of the invention
Containers or capsules made of cellulose pulp are known in the field of beverage preparation machines. Materials made of cellulose pulp are also known which are capable of maintaining the qualities of the beverage substance in the capsule, at least for a certain period of time. Single-use capsules for preparing a beverage in a beverage preparation machine are also known.
These cellulose pulp-made single-use capsules provide a potential reduced environmental impact compared to capsules made of other materials.
Known cellulose pulp made capsules are used in beverage preparation machines which comprise a brewing chamber adapted to enclose the capsule during the beverage preparation process as shown in figure 2, and an injection element adapted to inject water in the capsule for the preparation of the beverage. Generally, the water injection element comprises at least one needle, or as illustrated in figure 2, a set of piercing blades.
In order to ensure freshness of the beverage precursor ingredient contained in the capsule, over the entire shelf life of said capsule (which can be up to 12 months, sometimes even 18 months, or more), oxygen and/or moisture barrier liner films have been developed, which are attached to the inner surface of the cupshaped body made of cellulose pulp.
Unfortunately, in the known paper capsules, it was found that when the water injection element pierces the dedicated portion of the cup-shaped body of the capsule, and penetrates the wall made of cellulose pulp, said injection element pushes onto the barrier liner film which leads to a detachment of said barrier liner from the cellulose pulp wall, as illustrated with an arrow in figure 2. This is due to the fact that the pulp and the liner film are not extremely rigid materials, and therefore the force applied from the outside towards the inside of the capsule, mechanically deforms at least part of the capsule wall and impairs the attachment between the pulp and the liner film.
In this case, the so-called "delamination" of the liner film from the layer of cellulose pulp leads to a partial piercing of the liner (as depicted in figure 2), or even sometimes to no piercing of the liner at all. In any case, it was found that this delamination and poor piercing of the liner leads to blocking of the beverage preparation machine during extraction, and/or blocking of the capsule inside said beverage preparation machine, because the water flow from the beverage machine into the capsule and through the ingredient does not occur or only very partially.
The present invention aims at improving the attachment of the oxygen barrier liner in capsules, made at least partially of cellulose pulp, for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage preparation machine.
Summary of the invention
The invention meets the above aims with a capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage preparation machine comprising:
- a cup-shaped body, being a solid of revolution with a bottom wall, lateral walls, and a peripheral rim extending outwardly at the top edges of said lateral walls,
- a closing membrane attached to the rim for closing the cup-shaped body and forming a closed chamber containing a beverage ingredient, wherein the bottom wall is adapted to be pierced by a water-injection piercing member of the beverage preparation machine, and wherein said cup-shaped body comprises an outer layer of moulded cellulose pulp and an inner layer of polymeric liner film having barrier properties to oxygen and/or moisture, said barrier liner film being attached to said moulded pulp outer layer.
According to the invention, the capsule further comprises a rigid holding insert inside said closed chamber, positioned in a stationary manner relative to the cup-shaped body, said insert comprising a ring-shaped portion that holds said liner film against said moulded pulp layer along the circumference of at least one portion of said bottom wall.
Advantageously, the capsule according to the present invention comprises circumferential clipping means at the internal surface of said cup-shaped body, for clipping said rigid holding insert.
The circumferential clipping means can be a circumferential groove, a circumferential protrusion, or even a combination of both.
In one embodiment of the invention, said rigid holding insert comprises a conical ring having a cross-section profile identical to the profile of the bottom wall portion to which it is affixed, such that the entire external surface of said conical ring is in contact with the inner surface of said bottom wall.
In another embodiment of the invention, the conical ring can advantageously - but not necessarily - comprise a plurality of holes having a diameter comprised between 500 pm and 2 mm.
In any case, the conical ring has a preferred thickness comprised between 300 pm and 3 mm, preferably between 1 and 2 mm.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the rigid holding insert further comprises a set of spokes extending from the ring-shaped portion inwardly to a central point, from which a pillar extends towards the central point of the bottom wall, the tip of said pillar holding said liner film against said moulded pulp layer.
The characteristics of the rigid holding insert, in the different embodiments described above, can be considered separately, but one can also combine some, or all of them.
In any of the embodiments described above, the rigid holding insert can be made of: compressed cellulosic pulp, cardboard, a biodegradable polymer, starch, compressed hard wood fibres, a polyolefin, a polyester, or a combination thereof.
The present invention is further directed to the use of a capsule as described above, in a beverage preparation machine, for the preparation of a beverage. In one preferred, but not limiting example, the beverage is coffee, that is prepared from a roast and ground coffee ingredient contained in the capsule.
The present invention is further directed to a method for producing a beverage capsule as described above, characterized in that it comprises the steps of, in order:
- forming a cup-shaped body by moulding a cellulose pulp layer in a mould, said cup-shaped body being a solid of revolution with a bottom wall, lateral walls, and a peripheral rim extending outwardly at the top edges of said lateral walls,
- thermoforming a barrier liner film into the cup-shaped body such that said barrier liner film is attached to the interior surface of the moulded pulp layer,
- filling said capsule body with a beverage ingredient,
- closing the filled capsule with a closing membrane by sealing said membrane onto the rim.
According to the invention, said method further comprises the step of, between the thermoforming and filling steps above, overmoulding by injection a rigid holding insert inside said closed chamber, positioned in a stationary manner relative to the cup-shaped body, said insert comprising a ring-shaped portion that holds said liner film against said moulded pulp layer along the circumference of at least one portion of said bottom wall.
Preferably, a rigid holding insert in a beverage capsule manufactured according to the method of the invention, is made of: a biodegradable polymer, starch, compressed hard wood fibres, a polyolefin, a polyester, or a combination thereof.
The bottom wall of the capsule is suitable for being pierced by a piercing member of the beverage preparation machine.
According to the invention, the lateral walls of the cup-shaped body are made of cellulose pulp.
According to a preferred embodiment, the barrier liner comprises one or more of the following polymers:
a biodegradable polymer selected within the list of: polybutylene succinate (PBSA / bioPBS), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), starch, cellulose derivates, polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalcanoates (PHA), or a combination thereof; a biodegradable modified or functionalized polyolefin; a polymer selected within the list of: butenediol vinyl alcohol copolymer (BVOH), polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) or a combination thereof; a biodegradable modified or functionalized polyolefin; a biodegradable polymer selected within the list of: polybutylene succinate (PBSA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), starch, cellulose derivates, polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalcanoates (PHA) or a combination thereof.
The oxygen barrier liner preferably comprises a polymer of fossil or non-fossil origin, or a BioSource polymer.
Preferably, the oxygen barrier liner preferably comprises at least a common polymer.
A preferred multilayer barrier liner comprises a core layer having oxygen and/or moisture barrier properties, surrounded by a sealing layer for sealing said barrier liner to the cellulose pulp material.
Preferably, the capsule of the invention is a single use coffee capsule.
In the context of the invention, the term "cellulose pulp" refers to a pulp comprising cellulose fibres in a percentage ranging from 80% to 100% by weight.
The term "cellulose fibres" refers to fibres having a wood and/or a wood free origin. The fibres, by way of non-limiting examples, are: hard wood cellulose fibres, soft wood cellulose fibres, wheat fibres, corn fibres, bagasse fibres,
bamboo fibres, hemp fibres, cotton fibres, other similar vegetable or plant fibres, or a combination thereof.
The closing membrane is made in a known material, preferably it is a polymeric film membrane.
The closing membrane may be flat, or be slightly convex (with convexity oriented outwardly with reference to the capsule), or concave.
As generally known from prior art capsules of the same type, the closing membrane is sealed onto a sealing layer of the cup-shaped body opening, in order to close it after filling with an ingredient. The sealing layer is located on the upper surface of a peripheral rim of the capsule that extends outwardly from the upper edges of the capsule lateral walls.
Preferably, the barrier to oxygen for both the closing membrane and the cup-shaped body is selected to provide a sufficient shelf life depending on the nature of the beverage ingredients. For coffee, for example, the shelf life expected may be of 12 months.
Preferably, the cup-shaped body, its oxygen barrier liner and/or the closing membrane of the capsule are made of home compostable materials. The capsules according to the invention are normally meant to be recycled in recycling processes that are organized at official recycling facilities according to national regulations (for instance in paper recycling streams, or in general garbage recycling or treatment streams).
However, in case the capsule is placed in nature, in a household compostable waste or in a landfill, said capsules are manufactured with materials that are naturally ready to be degraded by bacteria and in conditions of temperature and humidity that are naturally present in nature. In this way, it is ensured that such capsules will not stay in nature and will naturally disappear within a short period of
time (a few weeks in principle) within the conditions defined by home composability standards.
More precisely, home composability is now well defined on a national level and mainly based on international standard EN 13432; therefore, they do not require to be further defined in-depth in the present specification. Materials or products compliant with these standards can be recognized by a conformity mark stating their home composability. Some examples of home composability certifications at a national level include, but are not limited to, the following. The certifier TUV AUSTRIA BELGIUM offers such a home composability certification scheme, and DIN CERTCO offers a certification for home composability according to the Australian standard AS 5810. Italy has a national standard for composting at ambient temperature, UNI 11183:2006. In November 2015, the French Standard "NF T 51-800 Plastics - Specifications for plastics suitable for home composting" was introduced. This standard is covered in the DIN CERTCO scheme.
The preparation of the beverage is obtained by mixing of the fluid substance with an ingredient contained in the capsule. Preferably, the ingredients are chosen within the list of roast and ground coffee, compacted or not, soluble powder coffee or leaf tea. Dairy ingredients (e.g., milk or creamer) could also be provided, as well as chocolate, fruit juices, soups, vegetable juices, bouillons, smoothies, purees, coulis, creams, chicory, barley, culinary aid, soup ingredient, infant formula or a combination thereof, in powdered soluble form, liquid concentrated form having various viscosities or in gel form.
Most preferably, the beverage ingredient is roast and ground coffee.
The capsule of the invention may typically interact with a beverage and/or food preparation machine, such as by being fed with a diluent (e.g., hot, cold or ambient water) in the container; such diluent mixes, or interacts otherwise, with the beverage ingredients. With the expression "mixing of the
diluent with the beverage ingredient(s)" it is meant that all the ingredients contained in the capsule are in a form which is compatible with a generic mixing operation (dissolution, extraction or infusion) with the diluent to obtain the beverage product. Machines of this type are for example those used for the extraction of Nespresso® capsules.
Preferably, the cavity delimited by the capsule body and the closing membrane of the capsule is essentially oxygen-free and the empty space is preferably (but not necessarily) saturated with an inert gas such as nitrogen, carbon oxide and combinations thereof. Preferably, the capsule has an internal pressure of gas above atmospheric pressure, due to the gas contained in the coffee and emanating in the cavity after sealing, such as carbon oxide and dioxide.
Brief description of the drawings
Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the description of the presently preferred embodiments which are set out below with reference to the drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a capsule to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a partial sectional view of a capsule of the prior art in a brewing chamber of a beverage preparation machine;
Figures 3A and 3B are respectively a perspective view of a first embodiment of a holding insert, and a schematic sectional view of a capsule with said insert placed therein according to the invention;
Figures 4A and 4B are respectively a perspective view of a second embodiment of a holding insert, and a schematic sectional view of a capsule with said insert placed therein according to the invention;
Figures 5A and 5B are respectively a perspective view of a third embodiment of a holding insert, and a schematic sectional view of a capsule with said insert placed therein according to the invention;
Figure 6 is a schematic enlarged sectional view of an insert being overmoulded in a beverage capsule according to the invention.
Detailed description of the invention
In figure 1 is depicted a capsule 1 according to the invention comprising a cup-shaped body, being a solid of revolution with a bottom wall 2, lateral walls 3, and a peripheral rim 4 extending outwardly at the top edges of said lateral walls 3.
The capsule further comprises a closing membrane 5 (illustrated in figure 3B) attached to the rim for closing the cup-shaped body and forming a closed chamber containing a beverage ingredient.
Like capsules of the prior art, the capsule 1 according to the invention is adapted to be placed within the brewing chamber of a beverage preparation machine, as depicted in figure 2. The brewing chamber comprises a cupshaped brewing cavity 11 to hold the capsule 1 and a dispensing piercing plate 13 the surface of which is equipped with a plurality of truncated pyramid-shaped piercing members, onto which the closing membrane 5 is pierced when the pressure of water injected within the closed capsule by the beverage machine, reaches a predetermined pressure. More precisely, when the capsule is placed therein and the brewing chamber is closed in the functional configuration of the beverage machine, the bottom wall 4 of the capsule is pierced by a set of water-injection piercing members 12 of the beverage preparation machine. In the embodiment shown in figure 2, the water-injection piercing members of the beverage machine take the form of piercing blades 12. During preparation of a beverage, the blades 12 inject water under pressure within the closed chamber, which mixes with the beverage ingredient contained therein, such that a beverage is prepared. Simultaneously, the water pressure within the capsule increases, which causes the closing membrane 5 to deflect outwardly, hence contacting the truncated pyramid-shaped piercing
members of the piercing plate 13, until said closing membrane 5 is pierced. Upon piercing of the closing membrane 5, the beverage prepared within the capsule can flow out towards a beverage path of the machine (not described in greater detail therein), until it flows to a consumer cup.
The capsule cup-shaped body is generally a hollow solid of revolution, i.e. it is symmetrical around a vertical symmetry axis (as illustrated with a dotted line in figures 1, 3B and 4B).
The bottom wall 2 has a concave shape has shown in figures 2 to 6.
As illustrated in figures 2, 3B, 4B and 5B, the cup-shaped body of the capsule 1 is made of a first outer layer of moulded cellulose pulp 6, and a second inner layer of polymeric liner film 7 having barrier properties to oxygen and/or moisture. The barrier liner film 7 is attached to the moulded pulp outer layer by thermoforming it from a flat film, by a conventional thermoforming process. Alternatively, the barrier liner layer could be applied with a spray coating technique.
According to the main principle of the present invention, the capsule 1 further comprises a rigid holding insert 8 inside the capsule closed chamber. Said insert comprises a ring-shaped portion 9 that holds the liner film 7 against the moulded pulp layer 6 along the circumference of at least one portion of said bottom wall 2.
As depicted in figures 3B, 4B and 5B, the insert 8 is designed to be positioned in a stationary manner relative to the cup-shaped body.
The insert 8 illustrated in the drawing and described in the following exemplary embodiments if manufactured from a biodegradable polymer, for instance a starch-based polymer.
In a first embodiment illustrated in figure 3A, the ring-shaped portion 9 of the rigid insert 8 is a conical ring having a cross-section profile identical
to the profile of the bottom wall portion to which it is affixed, such that the entire external surface of said conical ring is in contact with the inner surface of said bottom wall as depicted in figure 3B.
Also as illustrated in figure 3B, the insert 8 is placed within the capsule after forming the outer layer of pulp 6 of the cup-shaped body and thermoforming the barrier liner 7 therein, but before filling it with a beverage ingredient and closing it, and such that said insert 8 remains stationary therein. More precisely, the cup-shaped body of the capsule 1 is designed such that it comprises circumferential clipping means at its internal surface, for clipping said rigid holding insert 8. As shown in figure 3B, said circumferential clipping means is constituted by a circumferential protrusion 14 having a smallest diameter that is less than the greater diameter of the ring-shaped insert 8, with a dimensional difference between the two that allows insertion of the ring-shaped insert into the bottom portion of the cup-shaped capsule body, while maintain it in place therein once it is clipped.
In a second embodiment of the invention, depicted in figure 4A, the rigid holding insert 8 comprises a set of spokes 16, extending from the ringshaped portion 9 inwardly to a central point 17. From said central point 17, a pillar 18 extends towards the central region 19 of the bottom wall 2. The tip 20 of said pillar 18 holding the liner film 7 against the moulded pulp layer 6 in this central region 19 of the bottom wall 2, as shown in figure 4B.
This second embodiment is advantageous because it allows to hold the liner 7 against the pulp layer 6 in two different regions of the capsule bottom wall 2 as can be seen in figure 4B: first along the periphery of the ringshaped portion 9, and second at the central region 19 of said bottom wall 2. In between these two regions, a space is left for arranging the piercing blades of the machine when the latter pierce the capsule for a beverage preparation.
In a third embodiment of the invention, represented in figures 5A and 5B, the insert 8 comprises a conical ring-shaped portion 9, similar to that of the first embodiment described above, but which further comprises a plurality of holes 21 having a diameter comprised between 500 pm and 2 mm. These holes serve to allow pierceability of the holder insert by the water injection blades of the machine, and also these holes allow water to circulate between the two sides of the rigid insert 8.
In the first and third exemplary embodiments described above, the conical ring 9 has a thickness of about 1 mm.
In figure 6 is illustrated an alternative embodiment of a capsule 1 with a rigidifying insert 8 according to the invention, which being manufactured by a method of overmoulding by injection a rigid ring-shaped insert 8 after the cupshaped pulp layer 6 has been formed and the inner barrier liner layer 7 has been thermoformed therein. In this case, the cup-shaped body of the capsule 1 does not need clipping means for the insert 8, as was described above, because due to the overmoulding process, the insert 8 is "sealed" onto the surface of the barrier liner layer 7 in a stationary way.
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments of the capsules described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention covered by the appended claims.
Claims (14)
1. A capsule (1) for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage preparation machine (10) comprising:
- a cup-shaped body, being a solid of revolution with a bottom wall (2), lateral walls (3), and a peripheral rim (4) extending outwardly at the top edges of said lateral walls (3),
- a closing membrane (5) attached to the rim (4) for closing the cup-shaped body (1) and forming a closed chamber containing a beverage ingredient, wherein the bottom wall (2) is adapted to be pierced by a water-injection piercing member (12) of the beverage preparation machine (10), and wherein said cupshaped body comprises an outer layer of moulded cellulose pulp (6) and an inner layer of polymeric liner film (7) having barrier properties to oxygen and/or moisture, said barrier liner film (7) being attached to said moulded pulp outer layer (6), characterized in that: said capsule (1) further comprises a rigid holding insert (8) inside said closed chamber, positioned in a stationary manner relative to the cupshaped body, said insert (8) comprising a ring-shaped portion (9) that holds said liner film (7) against said moulded pulp layer (6) along the circumference of at least one portion of said bottom wall (2).
2. The capsule (1) according to claim 1, which further comprises circumferential clipping means (14) at the internal surface of said cup-shaped body, for clipping said rigid holding insert (8).
3. The capsule (1) according to claim 2, wherein said circumferential clipping means is a circumferential groove or a circumferential protrusion (14).
4. The capsule (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 2 or 3, wherein said rigid holding insert (8) comprises a conical ring (9) having a crosssection profile identical to the profile of the bottom wall portion to which it is affixed, such that the entire external surface of said conical ring (9) is in contact with the inner surface of said bottom wall (2).
5. The capsule (1) according to claim 4, wherein said conical ring (9) comprises a plurality of holes (21) having a diameter comprised between 500 pm and 2 mm.
6. The capsule (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 4 or 5, wherein said conical ring (9) has a thickness comprised between 300 pm and 3 mm, preferably between 1 and 2 mm.
7. The capsule (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 2 or 3, wherein said rigid holding insert (8) further comprises a set of spokes (16) extending from the ring-shaped portion (9) inwardly to a central point (17), from which a pillar (18) extends towards the central region (19) of the bottom wall (2), the tip (20) of said pillar (18) holding said liner film (7) against said moulded pulp layer (6).
8. The capsule (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said rigid holding insert (8) is made of: compressed cellulosic pulp, a biodegradable polymer, starch, compressed hard wood fibres, a polyolefin, a polyester, or a combination thereof.
9. Use of a capsule (1) according to any claims 1 to 8 in a beverage preparation machine (10) for the preparation of a beverage.
16
10. A method for producing a beverage capsule according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises the steps of, in order: forming a cup-shaped body by moulding a cellulose pulp layer in a mould, said cup-shaped body being a solid of revolution with a bottom wall (2), lateral walls (3), and a peripheral rim (4) extending outwardly at the top edges of said lateral walls (3), thermoforming a barrier liner film into the cup-shaped body such that said barrier liner film is attached to the interior surface of the moulded pulp layer, filling said capsule body with a beverage ingredient, closing the filled capsule with a closing membrane (5) by sealing said membrane onto the rim (4), characterized in that said method further comprises the step of, between the thermoforming and filling steps above, overmoulding by injection a rigid holding insert (8) inside said closed chamber, positioned in a stationary manner relative to the cup-shaped body, said insert (8) comprising a ring-shaped portion (9) that holds said liner film (7) against said moulded pulp layer (6) along the circumference of at least one portion of said bottom wall (2).
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein according to claim 1, which further comprises circumferential clipping means (14) at the internal surface of said cup-shaped body, for clipping said rigid holding insert (8).
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said circumferential clipping means is a circumferential groove or a circumferential protrusion (14).
13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 11 or
12, wherein said rigid holding insert is a conical ring (9) having a cross-section profile
17 identical to the profile of the bottom wall portion to which it is affixed, such that the entire external surface of said conical ring is in contact with the inner surface of said bottom wall (2).
14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 10 to
13, wherein said rigid holding insert (8) is made of: a biodegradable polymer, starch, compressed hard wood fibres, a polyolefin, a polyester, or a combination thereof.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP21213101.5 | 2021-12-08 | ||
EP21213101 | 2021-12-08 | ||
PCT/EP2022/084402 WO2023104712A1 (en) | 2021-12-08 | 2022-12-05 | A capsule for the preparation of a beverage |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
AU2022404691A1 true AU2022404691A1 (en) | 2024-05-02 |
Family
ID=78825109
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
AU2022404691A Pending AU2022404691A1 (en) | 2021-12-08 | 2022-12-05 | A capsule for the preparation of a beverage |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
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AU (1) | AU2022404691A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2023104712A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP2230195B1 (en) * | 2009-03-19 | 2018-04-25 | Nestec S.A. | Capsule with filtering insert for preparing a coffee beverage |
EP2559636A1 (en) * | 2011-08-19 | 2013-02-20 | Nestec S.A. | An in-mould labelled capsule for beverage preparation |
PT3513000T (en) * | 2016-09-14 | 2022-02-24 | Varden Process Pty Ltd | Dispensing capsule and method and apparatus of forming same |
-
2022
- 2022-12-05 AU AU2022404691A patent/AU2022404691A1/en active Pending
- 2022-12-05 WO PCT/EP2022/084402 patent/WO2023104712A1/en active Application Filing
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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WO2023104712A1 (en) | 2023-06-15 |
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