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

Definitions

• the subject of the present invention is a single-use container for the preparation of beverages of the type including the characteristics mentioned in the preamble of the main claim.
• the invention relates to single-use containers for soluble powders or granules of freeze-dried foodstuffs.
• Said containers are insertable into machines, both professional and domestic, for the preparation of espresso coffee and other hot drinks by means of the use of hot water under pressure.
• This choice is determined not only by the predominant consumption of coffee compared with the other beverages, but also by the greater technical difficulty involved in the production of espresso coffee of high quality.
• the main drawback resulting from the structure of this type of containers is the difficulty of ensuring their complete emptying, after the beverage has been produced, because of the reduced overall dimensions of the outflow areas, determined by the associated use of espresso coffee powders, as described above.
• a second drawback lies in the need to prevent interference of the container with the members of the machine into which it is inserted, both when it deforms and when it splits owing to the effect of the internal pressure.
• the problem underlying the present invention is that of providing a single-use container for beverages that is particularly designed to find application in machines for the production of the same beverages, and which is structurally and functionally designed to remedy all the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the prior art cited.
• FIG. 1 is a plan view of the single-use container of figures 1 and 2;
• FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV in figure 3;
• - figures 5 and 6 are two sectional views of the single-use container of figures 1 and 2, in two different stages of use;
• - figures 7 to 12 are views corresponding, respectively, to figures 1 to 6 of a constructional variant of a single-use container produced according to the invention;
• FIG. 13 is a plan view of a further constructional variant of a single- use container produced according to the invention.
• FIG 14 is a perspective view, corresponding to figures 1 and 8, of a constructional variant of a single-use container produced according to the invention.
• the container 1 comprises a cup-shaped element Ia, of polypropylene or another plastics material for foodstuffs, on which are defined a mouth 2, a cylindrical side wall 3 and a closed base 4, convex towards the mouth 2.
• the mouth 2 is defined by an annular rim surface 5, projecting outside the cup-shaped element, on which a permeable circular membrane
• a circular foil 107 of aluminium provided with two diametrically opposed holes 130a, 130b (see figure 7) is secured on the rim surface 5 of the mouth 2
• the base 4 is provided, on the surface 8a facing towards the mouth, with two diametral indentations 9a, 9b, constituting weakening lines for preferential yielding.
• the base 4 On the surface 8b opposed to the surface 8a, the base 4 is provided with a circular weakening line 10 for preferential yielding, constituting a hinge to facilitate the opening of the base 4.
• the indentations 9a, 9b and 10 subdivide the base into four portions lla,b,c,d, which, defining four equal circular sectors, are hereinafter referred to as quadrants. Each of these, on the opposite side from the mouth 2, has at least one raised portion spaced from the indentations 9a, 9b, for at least a portion thereof, and spaced from the rim of the base 4.
• the raised portion may be of any shape whatsoever, provided that it projects towards the outside of the cup-shaped element Ia.
• a single raised portion constituted by a corresponding cylindrical appendage 12a,b,c,d, extending in an axial direction X of the cup-shaped element Ia.
• the appendages 122a,b,c,d are placed closer to the centre of the base 104 than the corresponding appendages 112a,b,c,d.
• a third constructional example shown in Figure 13, on each of said quadrants lla,b,c,d there is a single raised portion, constituted by a corresponding rib 212a,b,c,d, aligned along a corresponding radius of the base of the container 1.
• the base 4 has one annular raised portion 300 projecting towards the outside of the cup-shaped element Ia and spaced from the rim of the base 304.
• each of said appendages 12a,b,c,d is placed in an almost mid-position between the centre and the perimeter of the base 4 and angularly equidistant from the indentations 9a, 9b.
• the presence of the appendages 12a,b,c,d subdivides the base 4 into a central zone 4a, circular in plan, and a peripheral zone 4b, annular in plan.
• a mass 14 of powder or granules of a soluble foodstuff such as, for example, freeze-dried tea or soup.
• the structure of the single-use container 1 allows it to be inserted into a seat (not shown) of a machine for the production of beverages, generally comprising a surface 13 supporting the container 1 and/or being an inlet for the beverage delivery pipelines.
• the surface 13 may be either continuous or discontinuous, a possible grille configuration being included, for example.
• the pressure of the fluid 15 deforms the base 4, which tends to assume a flat configuration, facilitated by the peripheral zone of greater deformability, owing to the presence of the circular weakening line 10.
• the initial deformation of the base 4 causes the appendages 12a,b,c,d to bear on the surface 13.
• the central zone 4a of the base 4 can deform further until two diametral splits 17a, 17b, corresponding respectively to the indentations 9a, 9b, are formed, allowing the emergence of the beverage 15.
• the formation of the diametral splits 17a, 17b is facilitated by the presence of the appendages 12a,b,c,d which, by bearing on the surface 13 as a result of the initial deformation of the base 4, constitute a fulcrum for the further deformation of the central zone 4a.
• the appendages 112a,b,c,d and 122a,b,c,d stand up from the base 104 in such a way that their free ends are almost lying on the surface defined by the edge of the base 4, so as to touch, or in any case come very close to, a surface 113, which constitutes a seat for the support of the container 1 and/or an inlet for the beverage delivery pipelines.
• This constructional solution makes it possible to localise the deformation of the base 104, due to the increase in the pressure in the container 1, at the indentations 9a, 9b.
• This deformation brings about the formation of the two diametral splits 117a, 117b, at a recess 116, comprised between the base 104, the surface 13 and the appendages 122a,b,c,d.
• the annular raised portion 300 makes it possible to localise the deformation in central zone of the base 304.
• the presence of the appendages 12a,b,c,d, or of the appendages 112a,b,c,d and 122a,b,c,d guarantees the correct splitting of the base 4, or of the base 104, and the opening of the quadrants lla,b,c,d, preventing interference with any surface 13 of a machine for producing beverages into which the container 1 may be inserted.
• the invention achieves the predetermined aims, offering, with respect to the prior art, a container for beverages that is particularly designed for applications with soluble foodstuffs.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=38007443

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (6)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 2006
  • 2006-08-11 IT IT000308A patent/ITPD20060308A1/it unknown
• 2007
  • 2007-07-30 EP EP07788051A patent/EP2049417A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-07-30 WO PCT/EP2007/057854 patent/WO2008017608A1/en active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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