EP2337753B1 - Capsule for preparing a beverage - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention is in the field of the preparation of beverages, eg coffee-based, by extraction of a concentrated dose, eg ground coffee, contained in a capsule. It relates more particularly to the doses used for this purpose as well as devices using such doses.

State of the art

Capsules and machines operating according to the aforementioned principle have existed for many decades.

Licences US 2,899,886 , US 2,968,560 , US 3,403,617 and US 3,607,297 describe devices where the capsule is initially perforated in several places, then traversed by water under pressure.

The capsule described in the patent CH 605 293 or in the patent EP 0 242 556 B1 has a membrane in its lower part. Water under pressure is initially introduced into the upper part of the capsule, after piercing said capsule by means of a cutting element (eg a blade), which causes the capsule to swell, mainly at the level of the capsule. of the membrane. From a certain pressure, the membrane tears, thus allowing the flow of a water-coffee mixture.

Other capsules with a membrane are described in the following patent documents: EP 0 468 079 A , EP 0 806 373 A , EP 0 554 469 A .

Other capsules of the prior art are described in the documents EP 1364605 A1 , EP 1 944 248 A1 and EP 1 557 373 A1 .

General presentation of the invention

The present invention has several improvements over prior art capsules.

For this purpose, it relates to a capsule according to claim 1.

One of the advantages offered by the present invention lies in the ability to provide liquid flow passages of sufficiently large section. This is particularly true for capsules made of a biodegradable material. It tends to swell in the presence of liquid. In the absence of a zone of weakening of sufficiently large section the piercing of the capsule by a cutting element does not allow a sufficient flow of liquid through the pierced zone.
By providing the capsule according to the invention with a zone of weakening of wide section, the presence of a flow space is guaranteed.

Detailed exposition of the invention

• La figure 1 illustre un premier exemple de capsule selon l'invention
• La figure 2 illustre une variante de la partie supérieure de la capsule de la figure 1
• Les figures 3 illustre une autre variante de la partie supérieure de la capsule de la figure 1
• La figure 4 présente l'intérieur de la capsule de la figure1
• La figure 5 illustre un agrandissement d'une partie de l'intérieur de la capsule de la figure 1
• La figure 6 illustre un enfoncement sur la face externe de la paroi latérale
• La figure 7 présente un deuxième exemple de capsule selon l'invention.
• La figure 8 présente un troisième exemple de capsule selon l'invention.
• Les figures 9 et 10 illustrent la zone d'affaiblissement disposée sur la face interne de la paroi supérieure
• Les figures 11 et 12 illustrent la rupture de la zone d'affaiblissement.

The invention is described in more detail below by means of non-limiting examples illustrated by the following figures:

• The figure 1 illustrates a first example of capsule according to the invention
• The figure 2 illustrates a variant of the upper part of the capsule of the figure 1
• The figures 3 illustrates another variant of the upper part of the capsule of the figure 1
• The figure 4 presents the inside of the capsule of the figure 1
• The figure 5 illustrates an enlargement of a part of the inside of the capsule of the figure 1
• The figure 6 illustrates a depression on the outer face of the side wall
• The figure 7 presents a second example of capsule according to the invention.
• The figure 8 presents a third example of capsule according to the invention.
• The Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the weakening zone arranged on the inner face of the upper wall
• The Figures 11 and 12 illustrate the break in the weakening zone.

1. 1. Capsule
2. 2. Paroi latérale
3. 3. Paroi supérieure
4. 4. Paroi inférieure
5. 5. Evidement
6. 6. Elément rigidifiant paroi supérieur
7. 7. Elément rigidifiant paroi latérale
8. 8. Elément rigidifiant bord supérieur
9. 9. Protubérance interne
10. 10. Bourrelet
11. 11. Zone d'affaiblissement
12. 12. Elément perçant

List of numerical references used in the figures:

1. 1. Capsule
2. 2. Side wall
3. 3. Upper wall
4. 4. Bottom wall
5. 5. Of course
6. 6. Upper wall stiffening element
7. 7. Sidewall stiffening element
8. 8. Upper section stiffening element
9. 9. Internal protrusion
10. 10. Bead
11. 11. Zone of weakening
12. 12. Piercing element

1. a) Renforcement de la partie supérieure de la capsule par une architecture dite « poutraison », « renfort » ou « charpente » qui a pour but de renforcer la capsule à la pression de l'eau ainsi que lors de sa perforation. Il est également possible d'obtenir une structure renforcée au moyen de plis de matière. La renforcement de la rigidité peut également être obtenu par une architecture de type « poutraison » ou « charpente » concave à la capsule (voir figure 2).
   Avec cette structure, il est possible de diminuer la quantité de matière utilisée, p.ex. de matière biodégradable, des matières fines type PET, métal, ou tout autre matière à base des dérivés du pétrole.
2. b) L'intérieur de la capsule présente des éléments internes saillants ou une collerette circonférentielle qui ont pour fonction d'éviter un coincement lors de l'empilement des capsules à vide, préalablement à leur remplissage en usine. Ces mêmes éléments saillants offrent par ailleurs un renfort latéral de la capsule. (voir figure 4).
3. c) A l'extérieur de la capsule, en regard de chaque élément saillant ou d'une collerette circonférentiel, un évidement est créé ce qui permet de renforcer les parties latérales de la capsule par effet de charpente, tout en économisant de la matière, et permet notamment d'utiliser de la matière biodégradable et des matières fines type PET, métal, ou tout autre matière dérivée du pétrole. Le renfort latéral de la capsule peut aussi être créé par des plis de la matière (voir figures 5-6).
4. d) La partie latérale extérieure de la capsule présente des pants qui peuvent s'étendre jusque vers la partie inférieure de la capsule ou à une certaine distance sur la hauteur. Dans cette variante également, il est donc possible d'économiser de la matière tout en renforçant les parties latérales de la capsule (voir figures 7-8).

It should be noted in particular the following characteristics related to the capsule according to the invention:

1. a) Reinforcement of the upper part of the capsule by an architecture called "beam", "reinforcement" or "framework" which aims to strengthen the capsule to the pressure of the water and during its perforation. It is also possible to obtain a reinforced structure by means of folds of material. The reinforcement rigidity can also be obtained by a concave type of "beam" or "frame" architecture (see figure 2 ).
   With this structure, it is possible to reduce the amount of material used, eg biodegradable material, PET-type fine materials, metal, or any other material based on petroleum derivatives.
2. b) The interior of the capsule has protruding internal elements or a circumferential collar whose function is to avoid jamming during stacking of the vacuum capsules, prior to filling them in the factory. These same projecting elements also provide lateral reinforcement of the capsule. (see figure 4 ).
3. c) On the outside of the capsule, facing each projecting element or a circumferential collar, a recess is created which reinforces the lateral parts of the capsule by structural effect, while saving material, and in particular makes it possible to use biodegradable material and fine materials such as PET, metal, or any other material derived from petroleum. The lateral reinforcement of the capsule can also be created by folds of the material (see Figures 5-6 ).
4. d) The outer lateral part of the capsule has pants which can extend as far as the lower part of the capsule or at some distance over the height. In this variant also, it is therefore possible to save material while strengthening the lateral parts of the capsule (see Figures 7-8 ).

In summary, all reinforcement systems mentioned above can be rigid with less material used and use advantageously biodegradable materials or any other material of the type (PET, Metal), or any other material derived from petroleum.

The inner upper part of the capsule is provided with a bead of material at the piercing elements of the capsule (see figure 4 ).
On the blanks of the bead are arranged crack primers. When a piercing element exerts sufficient pressure at the bead, the crack primers burst, which has the effect of allowing water to penetrate into the capsule (see FIG. Figures 9-12 ).

The invention is not limited to the illustrated examples.

Any reinforcing structure can be envisaged.

Preferably, the capsule is formed of a biodegradable material.

Advantageously, the biodegradable material may be of plant origin.

• Amidon (> 70 %), fibres, protéines, lipides, glycérine d'origine végétale, résines biodégradables.

According to one variant, the material comprises the following components:

• Starch (> 70%), fiber, protein, lipids, vegetable glycerin, biodegradable resins.

• Amidon (> 70 %), fibres, protéines, lipides, résine biodégradable, colorant minéral.

According to another variant, the material comprises the following components:

• Starch (> 70%), fiber, protein, lipids, biodegradable resin, mineral dye.

Finally, note that the capsule according to the invention can also be used with devices of the state of the art which are provided with blades for introducing water into the capsule.

Claims (5)

1. Capsule (1) for preparing a beverage, for example coffee, comprising a hollow element intended to contain a portion, e.g. of ground coffee, said hollow element comprising a side wall (2), a top wall (3) and a bottom wall (4) comprising an extraction membrane; the top wall (3) comprising on its internal face a weakened zone (11) designed to undergo a movement when an external element (12) applies force to it, thus offering a passage via which liquid can flow between the outside and the inside of the capsule (1), characterized in that said weakened zone is in the form of beading the edges of which are of a thickness less than the mean thickness of the top wall and the cross section of the weakened zone can be greater than the cross section of said external element.
2. Capsule according to claim 1, comprising lateral cavities with which internal protrusions are associated.
3. Capsule according to either of the preceding claims, comprising elements which reinforce its rigidity.
4. Capsule according to claim 3, in which said reinforcing elements are positioned on the top wall of the capsule.
5. Capsule according to claim 3 or 4, in which said reinforcing elements are positioned on the side wall of the capsule.

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