WO2013150553A1 - Pre-packaged portion for powder products, particularly suitable for the preparation of beverages - Google Patents

Pre-packaged portion for powder products, particularly suitable for the preparation of beverages Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2013150553A1
WO2013150553A1 PCT/IT2012/000099 IT2012000099W WO2013150553A1 WO 2013150553 A1 WO2013150553 A1 WO 2013150553A1 IT 2012000099 W IT2012000099 W IT 2012000099W WO 2013150553 A1 WO2013150553 A1 WO 2013150553A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
container body
packaged
cross
section
projecting
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IT2012/000099
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Alessandro Doria
Original Assignee
Espressocap S.P.A.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Espressocap S.P.A. filed Critical Espressocap S.P.A.
Priority to PCT/IT2012/000099 priority Critical patent/WO2013150553A1/en
Publication of WO2013150553A1 publication Critical patent/WO2013150553A1/en

Links

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
    • B65D85/8061—Filters

Definitions

  • Pre-packaged portion for powder products particularly suitable for the preparation of beverages
  • the present invention relates to pre-packaged charges for powder products which are suitable for the preparation of beverages, whether they are soluble or extractable products.
  • the pre-packaged charge is formed and immediately filled with the suitable product; however, this technique does not allow for the use of a very wide range of materials and greatly limits the forms suitable for this type of processing lines.
  • the body of the container body of the pre-packaged charges is formed first with the most varying techniques and materials, and the most commonly used materials are often thermoplastic materials.
  • the pre-formed containers are then fed to the packaging line, where they will be filled with the appropriate product and provided with a suitable closure plane.
  • the greatest d ifficulty experienced at the filling equipment is the delivery of the em pty container body of the pre-packaged capsules.
  • these container bodies are generally stacked on each other and , if they are too deep, they can get stuck to each other, especially if the surface of their side wall is not sufficiently tilted or if it is continuously tilted .
  • pre-packaged charges having various d iscontinuities in the inclination of their side wall require mould ing d ies which are more com plex and therefore more expensive, and their use in espresso machines requires to appropriately mod ify said espresso machines in order to ensure a correct operation thereof.
  • a further problem is the d ifficulty of properly position ing a layer of filter material on the bottom wall of the container body.
  • This filter material which is preferably used when the powder prod uct being extracted is not soluble as in the case of the espresso coffee powder, is inserted into the container body im med iately before the powder prod uct and , when pressed against the bottom wall with suitable means, it often tends to be arranged on the bottom wall of the container body in an undesirable manner for the subsequent extraction step.
  • an aim of the present invention is to provide a pre-packaged charge provided with a container body which is easy to be stacked in a stack and subsequently fed from said stack to the charge packag ing equipm ent so as to m inim ize the above- described problems at the packaging equipment.
  • a further aim is to provide a pre-packaged charge whose container body has arranged therein a layer of filter material which is in contact with the bottom wall thereof and properly arranged within said container body.
  • a n object of the present invention is a pre-packaged charge for powder prod ucts, particularly for the preparation of beverages, com prising a container body made substantially of a plastic material and having a continuous side wall substantially circular in cross- section and a bottom wall , there being provided at least one member axially projecting from said bottom wall towards the interior of said container body.
  • said axially projecting mem ber has a cross-section m uch smaller than the m idd le cross- section of said container body.
  • its cross- section will be less than 1 /6, and preferably less than 1 /1 0, of the m idd le cross-section of the container body.
  • the projecting mem ber contributes to keep the lateral surfaces of two consecutive conta i ner bod ies in a stack spaced from each other, and from the other side, it provides a mthel new contact surface.
  • the projecting mem ber extends i nside said container body preferably to a height at least equal to half the height of said container body.
  • said projecti ng mem ber is a pin projecting from the central axis of the wall of said container body towards the interior of said container body.
  • the container body will be typically a container body whose height is at least half of the m idd le cross-section , since the problem to which the present invention aims to provide a solution is more often encountered especially with this type of containers.
  • Another object of the invention is a pre-packaged charge of the above-described type, further com prising a filter mem ber made of paper, fabric or other materials which are permeable to liquids and capable of filteri ng solids, said filter mem ber having a cross-section substantially sim ilar to that of said container body and being provided with an axial through-hole adapted for cooperating with said projecting element.
  • Fig . 1 is a sectional side view of the pre-packaged charge accord ing to the present invention ;
  • Fig . 2 is a sectional side view of a pre-packaged charge of coffee powder as depicted in Fig . 1 , which is stacked with another pre-packaged charge.
  • Fig . 1 is a sectional side view of the pre-packaged charge according to the present invention.
  • Said pre-packaged charge 1 of coffee powder or the like comprises a container body 10 which is substantially cylindrical in shape and adapted for accommodating the coffee powder or the like, and a suitably shaped bottom wall 11 having at least one member 13 axially projecting towards the interior of said container body 10.
  • the projecting member 13 has a height equal to at least half the height of the container body 10 so as to ensure that the pre-packaged charges 1 can be extracted during the filling step.
  • Said projecting member 13 is located in a substantially central position with respect to the bottom wall 11 and allows to mitigate the problems at the manufacturing plant as described above.
  • the bottom wall has an outwardly facing cavity 111 in which recesses 140 are formed at the top of which there are provided axial slits 110.
  • a layer 12 of filter material is arranged in the container body 10. Furthermore, the layer 12 of filter material is simple and fast to be positioned.
  • said layer 12 of filter material provides a through-hole which allows the same to be fitted onto the projecting member 13 until it reaches the bottom wall 11.
  • a suitable means such as a shaped spindle or the like, pushes the outer side edges of the layer 12 of filter material against the wall of the cavity 111; if a projecting element 13 able to cooperate with the through-hole of the layer 12 of filter material were not provided, this operation would usually be prone to errors even of quite substantial magnitude when the filter material is positioned, resulting in an impaired operation of the pre-packaged charge.
  • the so-constructed pre-packaged charge brilliantly solves this problem by allowing the filter material arranged within the container body to be positioned in a more correct manner.
  • Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of a pre-packaged charge of coffee powder as depicted in Fig. 1, which is stacked with another pre-packaged charge.
  • the pre-packaged charges 1 are stacked one inside the other, and the depth of penetration of one pre-packaged charge 1 into the other is controlled by the length of said projecting member 13.
  • the projecting member 13 has a length equal to at least half the height of the container body 1 0 and ensures that the pre-packaged charges 1 can be extracted d uring the filling phase because it prevents the pre-packaged charges 1 to penetrate one into the other through a depth sufficient to allow the interlocking thereof.
  • said projecting member 1 3 ensures that the pre-packaged charges 1 can be extracted when they are stacked along the filling line and , at the same time, it preserves their functionality.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Making Beverages (AREA)

Abstract

Pre-packaged charge (1) for powder products, particularly for the preparation of beverages, comprising a container body (10) made substantially of a plastic material and having a continuous side wall substantially circular in cross-section and a bottom wall (11), there being provided at least one member (13) axially projecting from said bottom wall (11) towards the interior of said container body (10).

Description

Pre-packaged portion for powder products, particularly suitable for the preparation of beverages
TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to pre-packaged charges for powder products which are suitable for the preparation of beverages, whether they are soluble or extractable products.
In many areas now, the preparation of hot or cold beverages, and particularly the preparation of coffee, makes use of machines which employ pre-packaged charges containing the soluble or extractable powder product intended for the preparation of a given beverage.
In some cases, the pre-packaged charge is formed and immediately filled with the suitable product; however, this technique does not allow for the use of a very wide range of materials and greatly limits the forms suitable for this type of processing lines.
In most cases, the body of the container body of the pre-packaged charges is formed first with the most varying techniques and materials, and the most commonly used materials are often thermoplastic materials. The pre-formed containers are then fed to the packaging line, where they will be filled with the appropriate product and provided with a suitable closure plane.
The problem arises along the manufacturing line of said pre-packaged charge, particularly at the filling eq uipment, where said capsules are filled with coffee powder or the like.
The greatest d ifficulty experienced at the filling equipment is the delivery of the em pty container body of the pre-packaged capsules.
I n fact, these container bodies are generally stacked on each other and , if they are too deep, they can get stuck to each other, especially if the surface of their side wall is not sufficiently tilted or if it is continuously tilted .
This causes problems such as jams along the line , resulting in both the suspension of the manufacturing activity and the halt of the plant in order to restore the normal operating cond itions.
This results in a red uced prod uctivity and efficiency of the plant, with a consequent increase in manufacturing costs.
Cu rrently, there are pre-packaged charges having container bod ies with surfaces of the side wal l which are ti lted or provided with various d iscontinuities in the inclination thereof.
These solutions are effective for the above- described problem , but they add com plications to the manufacturing process of the pre-packaged charges.
For exam ple, pre-packaged charges having various d iscontinuities in the inclination of their side wall require mould ing d ies which are more com plex and therefore more expensive, and their use in espresso machines requires to appropriately mod ify said espresso machines in order to ensure a correct operation thereof.
A further problem is the d ifficulty of properly position ing a layer of filter material on the bottom wall of the container body.
This filter material , which is preferably used when the powder prod uct being extracted is not soluble as in the case of the espresso coffee powder, is inserted into the container body im med iately before the powder prod uct and , when pressed against the bottom wall with suitable means, it often tends to be arranged on the bottom wall of the container body in an undesirable manner for the subsequent extraction step.
Accord ingly, an aim of the present invention is to provide a pre-packaged charge provided with a container body which is easy to be stacked in a stack and subsequently fed from said stack to the charge packag ing equipm ent so as to m inim ize the above- described problems at the packaging equipment. A further aim is to provide a pre-packaged charge whose container body has arranged therein a layer of filter material which is in contact with the bottom wall thereof and properly arranged within said container body.
Therefore , a n object of the present invention is a pre-packaged charge for powder prod ucts, particularly for the preparation of beverages, com prising a container body made substantially of a plastic material and having a continuous side wall substantially circular in cross- section and a bottom wall , there being provided at least one member axially projecting from said bottom wall towards the interior of said container body.
Advantageously, said axially projecting mem ber has a cross-section m uch smaller than the m idd le cross- section of said container body. Particularly, its cross- section will be less than 1 /6, and preferably less than 1 /1 0, of the m idd le cross-section of the container body.
I n this way, from one side, the projecting mem ber contributes to keep the lateral surfaces of two consecutive conta i ner bod ies in a stack spaced from each other, and from the other side, it provides a m inimal new contact surface.
The projecting mem ber extends i nside said container body preferably to a height at least equal to half the height of said container body.
Preferably, said projecti ng mem ber is a pin projecting from the central axis of the wall of said container body towards the interior of said container body.
I n add ition , the container body will be typically a container body whose height is at least half of the m idd le cross-section , since the problem to which the present invention aims to provide a solution is more often encountered especially with this type of containers.
Another object of the invention is a pre-packaged charge of the above-described type, further com prising a filter mem ber made of paper, fabric or other materials which are permeable to liquids and capable of filteri ng solids, said filter mem ber having a cross-section substantially sim ilar to that of said container body and being provided with an axial through-hole adapted for cooperating with said projecting element.
Fig . 1 is a sectional side view of the pre-packaged charge accord ing to the present invention ;
Fig . 2 is a sectional side view of a pre-packaged charge of coffee powder as depicted in Fig . 1 , which is stacked with another pre-packaged charge.
Fig . 1 is a sectional side view of the pre-packaged charge according to the present invention.
Said pre-packaged charge 1 of coffee powder or the like comprises a container body 10 which is substantially cylindrical in shape and adapted for accommodating the coffee powder or the like, and a suitably shaped bottom wall 11 having at least one member 13 axially projecting towards the interior of said container body 10.
The projecting member 13 has a height equal to at least half the height of the container body 10 so as to ensure that the pre-packaged charges 1 can be extracted during the filling step.
Said projecting member 13 is located in a substantially central position with respect to the bottom wall 11 and allows to mitigate the problems at the manufacturing plant as described above.
The bottom wall has an outwardly facing cavity 111 in which recesses 140 are formed at the top of which there are provided axial slits 110. A layer 12 of filter material is arranged in the container body 10. Furthermore, the layer 12 of filter material is simple and fast to be positioned.
Advantageously, in fact, said layer 12 of filter material provides a through-hole which allows the same to be fitted onto the projecting member 13 until it reaches the bottom wall 11. At this point, a suitable means, such as a shaped spindle or the like, pushes the outer side edges of the layer 12 of filter material against the wall of the cavity 111; if a projecting element 13 able to cooperate with the through-hole of the layer 12 of filter material were not provided, this operation would usually be prone to errors even of quite substantial magnitude when the filter material is positioned, resulting in an impaired operation of the pre-packaged charge. The so-constructed pre-packaged charge brilliantly solves this problem by allowing the filter material arranged within the container body to be positioned in a more correct manner.
Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of a pre-packaged charge of coffee powder as depicted in Fig. 1, which is stacked with another pre-packaged charge.
Assuming that like numbers correspond to like elements, from the figure it can be deduced how the projecting member 13 ensures that the pre-packaged charges 1 can be extracted.
The pre-packaged charges 1 are stacked one inside the other, and the depth of penetration of one pre-packaged charge 1 into the other is controlled by the length of said projecting member 13.
In fact, the projecting member 13 has a length equal to at least half the height of the container body 1 0 and ensures that the pre-packaged charges 1 can be extracted d uring the filling phase because it prevents the pre-packaged charges 1 to penetrate one into the other through a depth sufficient to allow the interlocking thereof.
The advantages of using said projecting member 1 3 are evident, since said projecting member ensures that the pre-packaged charges 1 can be extracted when they are stacked along the filling line and , at the same time, it preserves their functionality.
I n fact, the shape, the size and the main structural characteristics of the pre-packaged charge 1 of coffee powder or the like remain unchanged , with enormous constructive and operational advantages.
For exam ple, it is not necessary to adapt the espresso coffee machines to the new type of prepackaged charges of coffee powder or the like accord ing to the present invention , since the size and shape thereof do not change.

Claims

1. Pre-packaged charge for powder products, particularly for the preparation of beverages, comprising a container body made substantially of a plastic material and having a continuous side wall substantially circular in cross-section and a bottom wall, there being provided at least one mem ber axially projecting from said bottom wall towards the interior of said container body.
2. Pre-packaged charge accord ing to claim 1 , wherein said axially projecting mem ber has a cross-section much smaller than the middle cross-section of said container body.
3. Pre-packaged charge accord ing to claim 2 , wherein the cross-section of said projecting mem ber is less than 1 /6, and preferably less than 1 /1 0 , of the m idd le cross-section of the container body.
4. Pre-packaged charge accord ing to any one of the preced ing claims 1 to 3, wherein the projecting mem ber extends inside said container body preferably to a height at least eq ual to half the height of said container body.
5. Pre-packaged charge accord ing to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 4, wherei n said projecting member is a pin projecting from the central axis of the wall of said container body towards the interior of said container body.
6. Pre-packaged charge accord ing to any one of the preced ing claims 1 to 5 , wherein the heig ht of said container body is at least half of its m idd le cross- section .
7. Pre-packaged charge according to any one of the preced ing claims 1 to 6 , characterized in that said prepackaged charge is further provided with a filter mem ber made of paper, fabric or other materials which are permeable to liquids and capable of filtering solids, said filter mem ber having a cross-section substantially sim ilar to that of said container body and being provided with an axial through-hole adapted for cooperating with said projecting element.
PCT/IT2012/000099 2012-04-06 2012-04-06 Pre-packaged portion for powder products, particularly suitable for the preparation of beverages WO2013150553A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IT2012/000099 WO2013150553A1 (en) 2012-04-06 2012-04-06 Pre-packaged portion for powder products, particularly suitable for the preparation of beverages

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IT2012/000099 WO2013150553A1 (en) 2012-04-06 2012-04-06 Pre-packaged portion for powder products, particularly suitable for the preparation of beverages

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2013150553A1 true WO2013150553A1 (en) 2013-10-10

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015189770A1 (en) * 2014-06-12 2015-12-17 Espressocap S.P.A Pre-packaged charge for a powdered food material for the preparation of beverages
EP3007994B1 (en) * 2013-06-13 2019-07-03 Goglio S.p.A. Cartridge for soluble products with sealing member

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1289610A (en) * 1961-02-23 1962-04-06 Orplast Advanced filter for brewing coffee and other infusions
WO2011124990A1 (en) * 2010-04-09 2011-10-13 Gino Rapparini Capsules for obtaining infusions such as espresso or beverages from water-soluble products and corresponding machines using same

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1289610A (en) * 1961-02-23 1962-04-06 Orplast Advanced filter for brewing coffee and other infusions
WO2011124990A1 (en) * 2010-04-09 2011-10-13 Gino Rapparini Capsules for obtaining infusions such as espresso or beverages from water-soluble products and corresponding machines using same

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3007994B1 (en) * 2013-06-13 2019-07-03 Goglio S.p.A. Cartridge for soluble products with sealing member
WO2015189770A1 (en) * 2014-06-12 2015-12-17 Espressocap S.P.A Pre-packaged charge for a powdered food material for the preparation of beverages

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