EP2757055A1 - Capsule et système de préparation de boisson - Google Patents

Capsule et système de préparation de boisson Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2757055A1
EP2757055A1 EP13000249.6A EP13000249A EP2757055A1 EP 2757055 A1 EP2757055 A1 EP 2757055A1 EP 13000249 A EP13000249 A EP 13000249A EP 2757055 A1 EP2757055 A1 EP 2757055A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
capsule
central axis
inlet wall
wall
sunken portion
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP13000249.6A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Luca Doglioni Majer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tuttoespresso SRL
Original Assignee
Tuttoespresso SRL
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tuttoespresso SRL filed Critical Tuttoespresso SRL
Priority to EP13000249.6A priority Critical patent/EP2757055A1/fr
Publication of EP2757055A1 publication Critical patent/EP2757055A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • B65D85/8049—Details of the inlet

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a capsule, or cartridge, for preparing beverage, such as coffee, from a dose of one or more products contained inside the capsule, by means of a beverage production device (brewing device) and to the system formed by said capsule and said brewing device. More particularly, the invention relates to a disposable capsule that, in use, is opened for the injection of brewing liquid by piercing means of the brewing device.
  • Beverage capsules comprise a container portion that houses a dose of at least one extractable product, generally ground coffee, but also tea herbal extracts and similar products.
  • the capsules also comprise a portion that interacts with a brewing device to prepare the required beverage.
  • the typical brewing device comprises a boiler, an enclosing member, or receptacle, intended to cooperate with the capsule and a pump or similar means so that the brewing liquid, usually but not exclusively hot water under pressure, can be fed to the capsule for the extraction of the beverage from the dose of product contained therein.
  • a capsule is placed into the receptacle of the brewing device and is fed with the brewing liquid, such as hot water.
  • the injected liquid passes through the capsule and thus creates by dissolving the soluble solids contained in the foodstuff or solubilising the powder contained in the capsule or otherwise diluting the liquid concentrate contained therein.
  • the injection of the liquid inside the capsule allows for the constitution of the beverage from the ingredient enclosed therein.
  • the beverage thus formed exits the capsule to reach a beverage collector or outlet spout and then a cup or a container.
  • the injection of the brewing liquid may be obtained by providing a surface of the capsule where holes are present, usually these holes being placed on the water inlet surface of the capsule.
  • This solution results in coffee powder to be spilled outside the capsule during handling or transport and in general in a faster oxidization of the foodstuff.
  • the inlet means i.e. the at least one opening for the brewing liquid to penetrate into the capsules, is created on an inlet surface of the capsule, preferably its inlet wall when the capsule is used.
  • the brewing device is provided, usually at its water inlet wall, with piercing means, usually in the form of one or more protruding parts, such as needles or blades, that are moved with respect to the capsule (or viceversa) for perforating the inlet surface or inlet wall of the capsule, generally the piercing means protrude, at least in part, through the inlet surface. Openings, or holes, formed by the piercing means allow the passage of the brewing liquid inside the capsule.
  • Feeding of brewing hot water by piercing the water inlet wall of the capsule is a method well known in the art and is disclosed in several prior art documents.
  • US2778739 discloses a package for beverage infusion having a body and an upper cover that is pierced by protruding elements of the brewing device.
  • a similar concept is disclosed in US2968560 and US3607297 .
  • Capsules made of plastics can be difficult to perforate so that full piercing of the capsule wall is not achieved, thereby no brewing liquid e.g. hot water can be injected in the capsule, or only a partial perforation is achieved, thus providing an irregular and unsatisfactory distribution of the brewing liquid inside the capsule and equally irregular quality of the beverage in the cup.
  • capsules especially of capsules made of materials softer than aluminium, such as standard thermoplastic materials, e.g. PE or PP polymers, or degradable plastics or so called bio-materials, e.g. PLA.
  • standard thermoplastic materials e.g. PE or PP polymers
  • degradable plastics e.g. PLA
  • plastic capsules For facilitating the perforation by piercing means of the brewing device plastic capsules have been provided with reinforcing members, for example as disclosed in the international patent application WO2011/027259 .
  • WO2011/027259 discloses a capsule having reinforcing means provided on its lateral wall in the form of a plurality of circular ribs, or an annular protruding member, and similar.
  • EP2287090 discloses a capsule having a water inlet wall provided with a section thinner than the rest of the wall, in the position where the piercing elements of the brewing apparatus will impinge, so as to facilitate the penetration of blades of the water injection device.
  • Such thinning of the walls allows, though, for the deformation of the walls.
  • reinforcement ribs are provided, too, extending both on the inlet wall and on the side wall of the capsule, thus avoiding undesired deformation of the capsule when piercing means of the brewing device exert a perforation force on the inlet wall of the capsule.
  • reinforcing members that are disposed on the water inlet wall of the capsule need to be dimensioned, positioned and oriented in an accurate manner so as to not be impinged by the piercing means of the capsule.
  • these ribs be contacted by the piercing blades of the brewing device, they would prove very hard if not impossible to perforate due to the additional material that determines an increase of the thickness of the inlet wall of the capsule in correspondence of the ribs.
  • WO2010/041179 shows a sealed capsule having a water inlet wall and a lateral wall (see fig.2 ) wherein a sunken portion is provided on the water inlet wall; the sunken portion extends on the inlet wall only and ends at the beginning of the lateral wall (see fig. 5 and 6 ).
  • This sunken portion of the wall is intended to be a reinforcing element that cooperates with a corresponding radial ridge on inlet wall.
  • the reinforcing effect of the sunken portion is nevertheless extremely limited.
  • the sunken portions disclosed in WO2010/041179 are not provided with a correspondent protrusion inside the hollow body of the capsule, i.e. the sunken portions only provides for a locally reduced thickness of the inlet wall.
  • WO2012/080501 discloses a capsule where the water inlet wall, or base - to use the terminology adopted in the document - is provided with a reinforcement zone arranged circumferentially on the base as a plurality of recesses; all the recesses are located and contained within the base.
  • the recesses have two walls forming an angle of about 90 degrees with each other, wherein one of the walls is vertical, i.e. is parallel to the rotational vertical axis of the capsule and the other is substantially horizontal.
  • the reinforcing effect of this structure is very limited, actually non-existent if the capsule is thermoformed, so that the amount of deformed and not-opened capsules is very high and the opening of the capsule is not carried out in a reliable way.
  • Another aim is to provide a consistently opposing wall to the blades used for piercing the water inlet wall, so that the piercing may be controlled and repeatable, in a manner that allows for consistent pressure and therefore constant quality of the final drink preparation.
  • Another aim of the present invention is to provide adequate reinforcement to the area where the inlet means need to penetrate the capsule wall, yet minimising the increase of capsule material needed to achieve such objective.
  • Another aim of the present invention is to provide a capsule that can be produced in a simple manner without the need of providing precut openings on the inlet wall of the capsule or a portion of reduced thickness on the inlet wall of the capsule depending on the position of the piercing means of the brewing device.
  • capsule of the present invention that is a capsule for the preparation of a beverage from a dose of a product, according to claim 1.
  • a further object of the invention is a system for beverage preparation according to claim 14.
  • Preferred embodiments are object of the depending claims.
  • the present capsule may be manufactured in plastics, bio-plastics, so-called “green”-plastics (that is plastics derived from renewable sources).
  • the capsule can be produced by injection molding or by thermoforming.
  • the capsule may be provided with a layer that acts as a barrier to oxygen and gas permeation.
  • a suitable known barrier material is e.g. EVOH, that can be e.g. present as a multilayer structure with polypropylene such as PP-EVOH-PP or with polystyrol and polyethylene, such as PS-EVOH-PE; these materials are cheaper and better recyclable than aluminium.
  • the multilayer structure may be a laminate to be used in thermoforming; alternatively, the multilayer structure is obtained by co-injection moulding of the capsule body; co-injection of coffee capsules is a technique commonly known to the skilled person and is not an object of the present invention. Such technique is commercially available.
  • the barrier may be also provided externally as a coating.
  • Suitable coatings are those available from e.g. NanolokTM PT ADV-7 and the PVD or PECVD coatings.
  • Coatings can be applied by spraying or by dipping, suitable coatings, especially nanocoatings, can be obtained from a composition including kaolin clay or silicate nanoparticles and polymers, optionally as an aqueous composition.
  • Such compositions are e.g. concentrated nanocomposite dispersion which includes a silicate filler and a matrix polymer dispersed in an aqueous medium such as those disclosed e.g. in WO2009/114071 , WO2006/115729 , WO2008/147380 , WO2009/114072 , US8309230 .
  • a further type of barrier can be obtained by adding suitable nanocomposite to the plastic material as disclosed e.g. in WO2007/106671 .
  • the capsule according to the invention comprises a lateral wall, a water inlet wall and a lower wall forming a hollow body where foodstuff is contained and having a substantially central axis.
  • the inlet wall of the capsule is intended to be perforated by suitable piercing means provided on the beverage preparation device (i.e. a brewing device) provided in which the capsule is inserted.
  • the capsule comprises at least one sunken portion arranged within said water inlet wall of the capsule.
  • the at least one sunken portion is completely contained in the inlet wall of the capsule.
  • the at least one sunken portion of the capsule comprises at least one surface that lies on a plane or it contains at least one axis maintaining a constant angle of inclination ( ⁇ ) with respect to said central axis of the capsule or with respect to a vertical axis parallel to the central axis. Moreover, the at least one surface extends between the closest and the farthest end parts of the sunken portion with respect to said central axis of the capsule.
  • the lateral wall comprises a peripheral end from which the inlet wall extend towards the central axis of the capsule, and the farthest end part of the sunken portion is adjacent or correspondent to the peripheral end of the lateral wall.
  • the inclination of the at least one surface of the sunken portion is measured by means of the corresponding inclination of the plane or the axis (straight line) directed towards and/or intersecting the central axis of the capsule, or a vertical axis parallel to the central axis of the capsule.
  • said plane or said at least one axis are directed towards and/or intersect the central axis of the capsule or a vertical axis parallel to the central axis.
  • the at least one surface of the sunken portion that maintains a constant inclination angle with respect to the central axis of the capsule, or a vertical axis, is the bottom surface of the sunken portion.
  • each sunken portion comprises at least one surface, preferably "oblique”, i.e. inclined, forming an additional surface, preferably a bottom surface of the sunken portion that is angled with respect to a vertical axis (i.e. the central axis of the capsule or an axis parallel to it) with a constant inclination.
  • said surface of the sunken portion is preferably flat, in fact, said surface lies on a plane or it contains at least one straight line (axis).
  • the at least one surface of the sunken portion maintains a constant angle of inclination with respect to the central axis of the capsule, or to an axis parallel to it, along its complete extension.
  • sunken portion, or recess on the water inlet wall results, as mentioned, in a greater rigidity than in known capsules. This effect is further enhanced in the preferred embodiment of the invention, where the sunken portion, or recess, has at least one surface, preferably a bottom surface, having a constant angle of inclination with respect to the central axis of the capsule.
  • the surface is angled with respect to central axis of the capsule or with respect to a vertical axis parallel to said central axis forming preferably an acute angle ⁇ (visible in figures 2 , 4 and 8 ) with the vertical, i.e. with respect to a direction parallel to the central axis A of the capsule, or (which is the same) with the central axis of the capsule.
  • angle ⁇ is comprised in the range 10° - 75°, preferably 25°-60°, most preferably about 35°-50°.
  • the at least one surface of the sunken portion extends between the closest and the farthest end parts of the sunken portion, with respect to the central axis of the capsule.
  • the at least one surface extends from the closest end part of said sunken portion with respect to the central axis of the capsule, to the farthest end part of said sunken portion from said central axis of the capsule.
  • end part of the sunken portion closest to the central axis of the capsule is meant the at least one point, or area, of the sunken portion nearest to the central axis of the capsule.
  • end part of the sunken portion farthest from the central axis is meant the most distant at least one point, or area, of the sunken portion from the central axis of the capsule.
  • the farthest end part of the sunken portion is adjacent or correspondent to the peripheral end of the lateral wall from which the inlet wall extend. Again, the sunken portion are completely contained in the inlet wall and do not extend on the lateral wall of the capsule, and in particular below the peripheral end of the lateral wall.
  • the sunken portions, or recesses end at a distance from the central axis, so as to leave an area of the inlet wall where the perforation by the brewing device blades can be carried out.
  • the sunken portions may have different depths, however, because there is a protrusion for each sunken portion, or recess, in the interior of the capsule body, the greater is the volume of the sunken portions, the smaller will be the volume of the capsule body available for storing coffee or other product. It has to be understood that sunken portions comprise at least one surface so as to provide a kind of "corrugation" with continuity in the inlet wall of the capsule.
  • the sunken portion can be seen as the "removal" of a portion of volume of the capsule in the water inlet wall; thus, the surface of the inlet wall is modified and "sinks" below its original level to rise again to the original level and shape.
  • Exemplary shapes of the removed volume are prisms or portions of prisms, preferably a prism selected from triangular, parallelepiped, cylinder and hexagonal base prisms, or other prisms having a base formed by a regular or irregular polygon.
  • the number of sunken portions, or recesses is selected from prime numbers, preferably their number is selected from 5, 7, 11 or 13. This was found to be advantageous especially in a system where the number of blades or perforating elements in the brewing device is 3 or otherwise an odd number.
  • the presence of one or more sunken portions in correspondence of, and preferably completely contained in, the water inlet wall allows to obtain a stiffening of this area, thus avoiding undesired deformation when, in use, a perforation force is exerted on the inlet wall of the capsule by piercing means of the brewing device.
  • At least one surface of the sunken portion that maintains a constant angle of inclination with respect to a vertical axis, and in particular with respect to the central axis of the capsule, preferably along its complete extension.
  • the at least one surface extends and maintains its inclination between two end parts of the sunken portion.
  • the at least one surface extends between the closest and farthest end parts of the sunken portion, with respect to the central axis of the capsule.
  • the known capsules for example of the type described in the above mentioned patent application WO2012/080501 , are provided with a plurality of recess extending on the inlet (base) wall of the capsule and comprising two or three surfaces, which are angled one to another, forming the bottom wall of the recces. Therefore, in the capsule according to WO2012/080501 , the inclination of the surface of the sunken portion, and in particular the inclination of the bottom surface of the sunken portion is not constant along its complete extension between the closest and the farthest part of the sunken portion with respect to the central axis of the capsule.
  • the presence of two or more walls of the bottom surface, which are angled to each other, increases the production complexity and the weight of the capsule.
  • the presence of two or more walls of the bottom surface of the recess (sunken portions) leads to undesired reduction of the internal volume of the capsule, thus also reducing the quantity of the beverage preparation or brewing product that can be contained therein.
  • the capsule according to the invention provides a reliable and effective reinforcement of the water inlet wall and the presence of a surface that maintains its inclinations, particularly between two opposite parts of sunken portion, avoids undesired complexity of the capsule production and reduction of its internal volume.
  • the shape of the sunken portions according to the invention allows to obtain a reliable perforation of the inlet wall of the capsule without using precut openings on the inlet wall.
  • said one or more sunken portions are radially arranged with respect to the central axis of the capsule.
  • the capsule comprises a plurality of sunken portions arranged with constant spacing within the inlet wall, thus providing a corrugation or ondulation of portions of the inlet wall.
  • the zones of the capsule that are not provided with sunken portions represent 20-80%, preferably 30%-80%, most preferably 30% - 60% of the inlet wall.
  • the water inlet wall of the capsule is substantially dome-shaped. It has to be noted that the substantially dome shape of the inlet wall can be obtained, according to different possible embodiments, by means of a curved surface or by means of two or more flat surfaces arranged inclined one to another in order to provide such substantially dome shape.
  • the inlet wall is formed by a curved line, having substantially a circular or elliptic shape, or by two or more straight lines inclined one to another.
  • the straight lines can be for example arranged to be tangent to a circular or elliptic line.
  • the water inlet wall can be formed by only one flat surface arranged inclined with respect to the central axis, i.e. to form a conical surface. Furthermore, it has to be noted that the inlet wall can be formed by a combination of curved and flat surfaces.
  • the water inlet wall of the capsule comprises one or more change of inclinations along it extension from said central axis to said lateral wall.
  • Said change of inclination of the inlet wall along its extension is preferably measured with respect to the central axis of the capsule or with respect to an axis parallel to it.
  • the thickness of the sunken portion is equal to the thickness of the water inlet wall outside said sunken portion.
  • the expression "thickness of the sunken portion” is intended as the thickness of the capsule surface in correspondence of the sunken portion, and in particular as the thickness of the at least one surface of the sunken portion. Moreover, according to other possible embodiments, the thickness of the water inlet wall and/or of said at least one sunken portion is equal or reduced with respect to the thickness of the lateral wall.
  • At least part of the water inlet wall of the capsule comprises a piercing area provided between the sunken portions and the vertex of inlet wall, i.e. the area of the inlet wall in correspondence of the central axis of the capsule.
  • the piercing area or areas are provided with a reduced thickness with respect to the thickness of inlet wall outside said perforation area.
  • the perforation area and the sunken portions cooperate in order to allow the effective perforation of the inlet wall of the capsule.
  • the present invention also relates to a system comprising the capsule and a brewing device provided with means for piercing the capsule, preferably in correspondence of its water inlet wall.
  • the brewing device also feeds a brewing liquid, preferably hot water under pressure, inside the capsule.
  • the brewing device is, generally, further provided with an enclosing element, or receptacle intended to house at least part of the capsule during the beverage preparation process.
  • the at least one piercing area is contacted and perforated by said piercing means of said brewing device.
  • the at least one piercing area is arranged along a path corresponding to the path along which are arranged said piercing means of the brewing device.
  • sunken portions of the capsule according to the present invention are not configured so as to provide a thickness increase of the inlet wall and also of the lateral wall of the capsule. Moreover, sunken portions according to the invention provide a stiffening of the capsule without use of reinforcing members formed as an addition of material on the inlet wall and/or on the lateral wall, thus improving the environmental friendliness of such capsule, compared to existing reinforcing means.
  • Figures 1 - 11 show the capsule 1 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, for the preparation of a beverage, such as coffee, tea, hot and cold drinks, or any other liquid foodstuff, from a pre-determined amount of an extractable or soluble or dilutable product, either liquid or solid, contained inside the capsule.
  • a beverage such as coffee, tea, hot and cold drinks, or any other liquid foodstuff
  • the dose of product comprise a powder product, such as coffee powder or tea leaves, which are brewed by means of brewing liquid, preferably hot water under pressure, that is injected into the capsule for obtaining the desired beverage.
  • the capsule according to the invention is used into a beverage preparation device (i.e. a brewing device) provided with an enclosing element, or receptacle (not shown in the figures) intended to house at least part of the capsule during the beverage preparation process.
  • the brewing device is further provided with blades or other means for piercing the capsule, preferably in correspondence of the water inlet wall of the capsule (inlet wall) in order to feed the brewing liquid, preferably hot water under pressure, inside the capsule.
  • the capsule 1 used in combination with the brewing device forms a system for the beverage preparation according to the invention.
  • the enclosing element of the brewing device is moved with respect to the capsule 1, or vice versa, so that a seal-tight engagement with the capsule 1 can be obtained and the piercing means can be brought in contact with the capsule for its perforation, in particular with a piercing area 30 of the inlet wall 3 of the capsule.
  • the brewing device and the way it is operated are known per se in the art and is not an object of the present invention.
  • the capsule 1 comprises a lateral wall 2 that includes portions 2a, 2b, 2d , a water inlet wall 3 and a lower wall 4, said walls defining a hollow body 5 where the dose of product is located.
  • the water inlet wall 3 is the inlet surface of the capsule and is intended to be perforated by the piercing means of the brewing device (not shown) to obtain inlet openings allowing the passage of the brewing liquid into the capsule.
  • the lower wall 4 allows the exit of the brewed beverage from the capsule into a container and, as will be disclosed in greater detail later, the outlet means of the capsule, i.e. the elements allowing the exit of the brewed beverage, can be made in different ways.
  • the capsule 1 has a substantially cup-shape, or frustoconical shape, with a central axis A (vertical axis), in other words, in the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the lateral wall 2 is not parallel to the central axis A and the hollow body 5 is closed by the lower wall 4 at one end and by the inlet wall 3 at the opposite end of the lateral wall with respect to the lower wall 4.
  • the lateral wall 2 is formed by a substantially straight line and the water inlet wall 3 is formed by a curved line (see for example figures 2 , 4 , 5 and 8 ).
  • the water inlet wall 3, in a cross sectional view of the capsule is formed by a curved line, to form a substantially dome shape, as will be disclosed in greater detail later.
  • the lateral wall 2 comprises a peripheral end 2c from which the water inlet wall 3 extends towards the central axis A.
  • the peripheral end 2c of the lateral wall 2, from which the inlet wall 3 extends is identified by the circular line 2c.
  • the lateral wall 2 can be provided with different thickness along its extension between the inlet wall 3 and the lower wall 4.
  • lateral wall 2 is divided by lines 7 into a lower portion 2a and an upper portion 2b; the lower portion 2a of the lateral wall 2 is provided with a greater thickness with respect to the thickness of the upper portion 2b of the lateral wall 2.
  • the thickness of the inlet wall 3 is the same as that of the upper portion 2b of the lateral wall.
  • the thickness of the lateral wall 2 and of the inlet wall 3 is comprised in the range 1.5mm - 0.15mm, and preferably in the range 1mm - 0.2mm.
  • the thickness t1 (see figures 2 and 5 ) of the inlet wall 3 and of the upper portion 2b of the lateral wall 2 is 0.25mm.
  • the thickness t2 of the lower portion 2a of the lateral wall 2 is 0.5mm.
  • Figure 5 shows a preferred embodiment of the capsule, equal to that disclosed in figure 1 - 4 except for the lower portion 2a of the lateral wall 2 that is provided with a constant thickness t2.
  • the portion 2d of the lateral wall next to the flange-like rim portion of the capsule has an increased thickness with respect to the lower portion 2a of the lateral wall 2.
  • the lower portion 2a of the lateral wall 2 is provided with a greater thickness with respect to the thickness of the upper portion 2b of the lateral wall 2.
  • portions 2a and 2b of the lateral wall may have different inclination with respect to the vertical (i.e. longitudinal) axis A of the capsule.
  • Figures 7 - 9 show a further embodiment of the capsule 1 wherein the lower portion 2a of the lateral wall 2 is provided with a constant thickness.
  • the lower portion 2a of the lateral wall 2 is provided with a greater thickness with respect to the thickness of the upper portion 2b of the lateral wall 2.
  • water inlet wall 3 of the capsule extends from the central axis A towards the lateral wall 2 of the capsule so that the capsule upper portion is closed by the inlet wall 3.
  • the water inlet wall 3 extends from the central axis A up to the peripheral end 2c of the lateral wall 2.
  • the water inlet wall 3 can be at least partially flat and/or convex and/or tapered, in other words, the inlet wall 3 can be shaped in different manner in order to facilitate both the insertion of the capsule into the receptacle of the brewing device and also the perforation of the inlet wall 3 by piercing means of the brewing device.
  • the water inlet wall 3 of the capsule is substantially dome-shaped.
  • the substantially dome shape of the inlet wall 3 can be obtained, according to different possible embodiments, by means of a curved surface or by means of two or more flat surfaces arranged inclined one to another in order to provide a substantially dome shape.
  • the capsule comprises a dome shaped water inlet wall formed by a substantially circular surface having a substantially flat top portion 3a.
  • the inlet wall 3 is formed by a curved line, having substantially a circular or elliptic shape, except for the top portion 3a that is substantially flat.
  • the substantially dome shape of the water inlet wall 3 is obtained by flat surfaces 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e inclined to each other.
  • the inclined flat surfaces 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e of the inlet wall 3 correspond to straight lines inclined one to another.
  • the flat surfaces/straight lines can be arranged to be tangent to a circular or elliptic line in order to form a substantially dome shaped surface.
  • the inlet wall 3 can be formed by a combination of curved and flat surfaces, according to further possible embodiments.
  • these different shapes determine different volumes of ingredient inside the capsule's body and thus may be chosen depending on the desired ingredient volume required without affecting the underlying strengthening effect generated by the principles embedded in the invention of the present application.
  • the thickness of the water inlet wall, 3, is such as to allow an easy perforation by the device piercing members (e.g. blades, not shown); additionally, in the shown preferred embodiment the same - reduced - thickness extends along the lateral wall 2 until junction lines 7, where the lateral wall increases to provide greater rigidity to its lower portion 2a.
  • the water inlet wall 3 of the capsule comprises at least one piercing area 30, which will be disclosed later in greater details.
  • piercing area 30 is provided between said central axis (A) of the capsule and at least one sunken portion 10 on the inlet wall 3.
  • Said piercing area or areas 30 is pierced by piercing means of the brewing device extending along a predetermined path for perforating said capsule to provide a path for a brewing liquid into the said capsule.
  • the piercing area or areas 30 of the capsule provided on the inlet wall 3 extends at least in part along a path corresponding to the path along which the piercing means of the brewing device are arranged.
  • the capsule according to the present invention is further provided with at least one, preferably a plurality of sunken portions 10 arranged within the inlet wall 3; in other words, the capsule is provided with at least one sunken portion 10 forming a corrugation in correspondence of the inlet wall 3. It has to be noted that the at least one sunken portion 10 defines a modification of the shape of the inlet wall 3 and according to a preferred embodiment the at least one sunken portion 10 is completely contained within the inlet wall 3.
  • the sunken portions 10 are completely contained in the water inlet wall 3, in fact, they do not extend on the lateral wall 2 and in particular, they do not extend below the peripheral end 2c of the lateral wall 2.
  • the at least one sunken portion 10 comprises at least one surface 12 that lies on a plane P or it contains at least one axis B maintaining a constant angle of inclination ⁇ with respect to the central axis A of the capsule or with respect to a vertical axis parallel to the central axis A.
  • the angle of inclination ⁇ of the surface 12 of the sunken portion 10 is measured by means of the corresponding angle of inclination of the plane P or of the axis (straight line) B.
  • the plane P or the at least one axis B of the surface 12 are directed towards and/or intersect the central axis A of the capsule or a vertical axis parallel to the central axis A.
  • the thickness of inlet wall 3, lateral wall's upper portion 2b and sunken portions 10 is constant; however the invention includes embodiments with different thickness in different areas of the walls.
  • to each sunken portion 10 corresponds a protrusion 11 inside the hollow body 5 of the capsule, i.e. sunken portions 10 of the capsule form a modification of the inlet wall of the capsule providing a correspondent protrusion inside the capsule.
  • the sunken portion 10 can be seen as the "removal” of a portion of volume of the capsule within the inlet wall 3; thus, the wall is modified and it "sink” below its original level to rise again to the original level and shape.
  • Exemplary shapes of the removed volume are prisms or portions of prisms, preferably a prism selected from triangular, parallelepiped, cylinder and hexagonal base prisms or prisms having a base formed by a regular or irregular polygon. So that the at least one surface 12 of the sunken portion 10 "belongs” to at least a portion of a prism used, in designing, to "remove” a volume of the capsule.
  • the sunken portion 10 is obtained by a "removal" of volume from a cylinder the sunken portion 10 comprises only one continuous surface 12 (see the embodiment shown in figure 6 ).
  • the sunken portion is obtained by a removal of volume from a prism with different shape such as parallelepiped or hexagonal prism, the sunken portion is formed with two or more surfaces 12 (see the embodiment shown in figure 6a ).
  • the sunken portion 10 comprises at least one inclined surface 12 with respect to the vertical, i.e. with respect to the central axis (A) or to an axis parallel to it.
  • the at least one surface 12 of the sunken portion 10 that maintains a constant angle of inclination with respect to the central axis A of the capsule or a vertical axis is the bottom surface 12 of the sunken portion 10.
  • each sunken portion comprises at least one surface 12, preferably "oblique”, i.e. inclined, forming an additional surface, preferably a bottom surface of the sunken portion 10 that is angled with respect to a vertical axis (i.e. the central axis A of the capsule or an axis parallel to it) with a constant inclination.
  • a vertical axis i.e. the central axis A of the capsule or an axis parallel to it
  • the surface 12 of the sunken portion 10 is preferably flat, in fact, said surface lies on a plane P or it contains at least one straight line B (axis).
  • the at least one surface 12 of the sunken portion 10 maintains a constant angle of inclination ⁇ with respect to the central axis A of the capsule, or to an axis parallel to it, along its complete extension.
  • the inclined surface 12 forms an acute angle ⁇ (visible in figures 2 , 4 and 8 ) with the vertical, i.e. with respect to a direction parallel to the central, vertical rotational axis, i.e. the longitudinal axis A of the capsule, or, more simply, with axis A, as shown in figures 2 , 4 and 8 .
  • the acute angle ⁇ is comprised in the range 10° - 75°, preferably 25°-60°, most preferably about 35°-50°.
  • the surface 12 of the sunken portion 10, and preferably the bottom surface extends between the closest and the farthest end parts 10a, 10b of the sunken portion 10, with respect to the central axis A of the capsule.
  • the at least one surface 12 extends from the closest end part 10a of the sunken portion 10 with respect to the central axis A, to the farthest end part 10b of the sunken portion 10 from said central axis A of the capsule.
  • end part 10a of the sunken portion 10 closest to the central axis A of the capsule is meant the at least one point, or area, of the sunken portion 10 nearest to the central axis A of the capsule.
  • end part 10b of the sunken portion farthest from the central axis A is meant the most distant at least one point, or area, of the sunken portion 10 from the central axis of the capsule.
  • the farthest end part 10b of the sunken portion 10 is adjacent or correspondent to the peripheral end 2c of the lateral wall 2.
  • the at least one point, or area, of the sunken portion 10 farthest from the central axis A is adjacent or correspondent to the peripheral end 2c of the lateral wall 2.
  • the farthest end 10b of the sunken portion 10 is adjacent to the peripheral end 2c of the lateral wall 2.
  • the sunken portion 10 can extend up to the peripheral end 2c of the lateral wall 2, thus the farthest end part 10b of the sunken portion corresponds to the peripheral end 2c of the lateral wall 2.
  • each sunken portion 10 is formed by an inclined surface 12 that is provided with two lateral surfaces 12'.
  • the inclined surface 12 is substantially flat and is inclined with respect to the vertical, and the angle ⁇ formed between the inclined surface 12 and the vertical, i.e. a direction parallel to the central axis A, is an acute angle.
  • the lateral surfaces 12' of the sunken portion 10 are preferably arranged on a plane passing through the central axis A of the capsule, however different orientation of the lateral surface 12' can be provided depending on the shape of the sunken portion 10.
  • the sunken portions 10 are radially arranged with respect to the central axis A of the capsule, and preferably the capsule comprises a plurality of sunken portions 10 arranged with constant spacing within the inlet wall 3, thus providing an uniform stiffening of this wall of the capsule.
  • the sunken portions 10 are dimensioned so as to provide a constant "full-empty" alternation within the water inlet wall 3, i.e. a constant alternation of sunken portion 10 (empty) and portion of the inlet wall 3 where no sunken portion are present (full).
  • the number and the dimensions of the sunken portions 10 can be different, without affecting the effect of strengthening the capsule to improve its piercing.
  • the number of sunken portions 10 is increased with respect to the embodiments shown in figures 1 - 6 .
  • the sunken portions 10 are narrower than the sunken portions 10 of the embodiment shown in figures 1- 6 .
  • the width w (see figure 7 ) of the inclined surface 12 of the sunken portions 10 is reduced with respect to the embodiments shown in figures 1 - 6 .
  • Figures 1-9 show an even number of sunken portions, namely six sunken portions in figures 1-6 and twelve sunken portions in figures 7-9 .
  • the number of sunken portions may be selected from prime numbers, preferably from 5, 7, 11 and 13; figure 10 shows a capsule with eleven sunken portions.
  • the choice of a prime number for the number of sunken portions results in an increased random positioning of the capsule within the receptacle of the brewing device where the capsule is housed to be pierced, with respect to the piercing elements present in the said receptacle. This increase in the random positioning of the capsule with respect to the piercing elements will enhance the consistent opening of the water inlet holes in the water inlet wall and thus improve the functioning of the system.
  • the thickness of the sunken portion 10 is equal to the thickness of the inlet wall 3 outside said sunken portion and/or of the lateral wall 2, although other thicknesses can be adapted, accordingly to the specifications of the material used for the manufacturing of the capsule.
  • thickness of the sunken portion is intended as the thickness of the section of the capsule wall in correspondence of the sunken portion, and in particular as the thickness of the at least one surface 12 of the sunken portion 10.
  • At least the upper portion of the lateral wall 2b has the same thickness of the inlet wall 3 and/or of the sunken portion 10.
  • the thickness of the sunken portion 10 is equal to the thickness t1 (see figures 2 and 5 ) of the inlet wall 3 and of the upper portion 2b of the lateral wall 2 and is 0.25mm.
  • the thickness t1 (and also the thickness of the sunken portion) may be comprised in the range 1.5mm - 0.15mm.
  • the sunken portions 10 provided on the capsule surface on the water inlet wall 3 provide an effective reinforcement of the capsule thus avoiding undesired deformation thereof by piercing means of the brewing device, without the need of ribs produced by an addition of material, that is a thicker portion of the surface of the capsule, in correspondence of the inlet wall and/or of the lateral wall.
  • the at least one piercing area 30 of the inlet wall 3 is provided between the vertex of the inlet wall 3, corresponding to the central axis A of the capsule and the sunken portions 10 arranged, preferably completely, within the inlet wall 3.
  • the at least one piercing area 30 of the inlet wall 3 is provided between said central axis A of the capsule and the end part 10a of the at least one sunken portion 10 on the inlet wall 3.
  • end part of the sunken portion 10 is used herein to indicate where the sunken portion 10 ends on the inlet wall 3, i.e. the closest part to central axis A of the capsule, shown with reference 10a in the figures.
  • the side of the sunken portion opposite to end 10a is the end part 10b, and as mentioned above, the surface 12 connects end parts 10a and 10b and extends between them maintaining its angle of inclination ⁇
  • the thickness of said piercing area 30 is lower than the thickness of the inlet wall 3 outside the piercing area 30.
  • the one or more piercing area 30 forms at least one circular line or at least one annular path.
  • the circular line or the annular path can be continuous or discontinuous, i.e. forming one or more discrete piercing portions arranged along a circular line or an annular path.
  • sunken portions 10 provided on the capsule surface on the inlet wall 3 also provides, in comparison to designs bearing the same mass of material, a more solid construction for the body of the capsule, which in turn proves advantageous during bulk storage or manipulation of the capsule by the filling machine or by the end-user.
  • the thickness of the inlet wall and/or of said at least one sunken portion 10 is equal or reduced with respect to the thickness of the lateral wall 2.
  • the thickness of the inlet wall 3 is equal to the thickness of the sunken portion 10, i.e. the thickness of the surfaces 12, 12', and is equal to the thickness of upper portion 2b of the lateral wall 2.
  • at least portion 2b of the lateral wall 2 can have the same thickness of the inlet wall 3 and/or of the sunken portion 10.
  • lower wall 4 i.e. the outlet wall, or the wall comprising the outlet from which the beverage exits the capsule, is a separate element which is connected to the lower portion of the capsule body 5, in order to close the capsule.
  • any suitable constraint means of the lower wall 4 to the capsule body 5 can be used, and in other possible embodiments the lower wall 4 may be produced in one piece with the capsule's lateral wall.
  • the lower wall may be produced in different material with respect to the capsule material, for example, the lower wall 4 may be a preferably non porous membrane, for instance an aluminium or a laminated foil, preferably a laminated foil including aluminium.
  • suitable materials are a paper filter, a non-woven fabric or a cap in thermoplastic or similarly rigid or semirigid material provided with holes, as already known in other capsules for the production of beverage.
  • the outlet means may comprise one or more opening on the surface of the capsule, self-perforating elements that are broken under mechanical and/or pressure force acting on the capsule, or one or more holes that are produced by piercing means of the brewing device.
  • outlet means may include open passages.
  • outlet means 13 i.e. elements allowing the extraction of the brewed beverage from the capsule.
  • the capsule is provided with outlet means in the form of one self-perforating element 13 located on lower wall 4.
  • the self-perforating element 13 is protruding from the lower surface of bottom wall 4, and is defined by grooves, or lines with reduced thickness, that are breakable under the action of the mechanical force exerted by the brewing device and/or the force exerted by the water fed into the capsule.
  • This type of self-perforating elements is described in detail in application WO2007/063411 , in the name of the present applicant, to which reference is made for further details.
  • the shown embodiment has one, centrally located, element 13 forming a central outlet for the brewed in the form of a circumference; other embodiments can have a plurality of smaller outlets located in different positions, e.g. peripherally or radially.
  • outlet means has a plurality of protrusions, but the reduced thickness periphery of the rib is replaced by a cut area of the wall, along three sides of the outlet, the hinge portion being still present; additionally, in this embodiment the outlets can protrude both outwardly and inwardly with respect to wall 4.
  • the above mentioned outlet elements can be opened under the action of the mechanical force, or by means of the brewing liquid pressure, or as a result of the combined action of the brewing liquid pressure with the mechanical force exerted by the brewing device, or by hydraulic force exerted by the pump.
  • outlet means can be provided, i.e. the extraction of the beverage from the capsule can be obtained, for example, by perforating the capsule by suitable piercing means of the brewing device; in another embodiment, the outlet means is a water-soluble membrane.
  • the capsule is produced in food-grade materials, for example polypropylene or PLA (polylactic acid), that is also resistant both to high temperature and pressure of the brewing liquid injected in its inside during the beverage preparation process or aptly softening under typical operating temperatures, in order to increase the sealing properties of the sealing means usually, but not necessarily, manufactured in the same plastic part, such as in the case of materials and methods readily available to the skilled in the art.
  • food-grade materials for example polypropylene or PLA (polylactic acid)
  • PLA polylactic acid
  • the capsule 1 may be provided with a plurality of ribs 8 protruding from the internal surface of the water inlet wall 3.
  • the ribs 8 are preferably arranged in a radial manner from the central portion of the inlet wall 3, substantially from the central axis A. Ribs 8 provided in the central part of the internal surface of the inlet wall are visible in figure 9 .
  • the one or more piercing area 30 is preferably arranged between the sunken portions 10 and the ribs 8. More in detail, the one or more piercing area 30 are arranged on the inlet wall 3 between the end part 10a of the sunken portion 10 and the end part 8a of the ribs 8.
  • the thickness of the piercing area 30 can be lower than the thickness of the inlet wall 3 outside the piercing area 30.
  • the capsule is provided with vertical lugs 9 protruding from the internal surface of the lateral wall 2 and intended to impede the capsules from stacking during the production process. Thickness, shape and radius of such lug(s) will vary depending on the chosen manufacturing methods, to be selected amongst the ones mentioned earlier, as it can easily inferred by the skilled in the art.
  • vertical lugs 9 extend on both the inlet and lateral walls 3 and 2, vertical lugs 9 can be obviously provided only on the lateral wall 2 of the capsule.
  • At least one sealing element 20 is provided on the flange-like rim 21 of the capsule, i.e. the portion of the capsule designed to be brought in contact with the receptacle, and in particular with the lower edge of the receptacle, i.e. the pressing portion of the receptacle, for providing the sealing engagement.
  • the sealing member is produced in one piece with the capsule and is shaped as at least one element protruding from the flange-like rim 21 of the capsule.
  • the at least one sealing member of the capsule comprises at least one circular protrusion arranged on the flange-like rim of the capsule.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Making Beverages (AREA)
EP13000249.6A 2013-01-17 2013-01-17 Capsule et système de préparation de boisson Withdrawn EP2757055A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP13000249.6A EP2757055A1 (fr) 2013-01-17 2013-01-17 Capsule et système de préparation de boisson

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP13000249.6A EP2757055A1 (fr) 2013-01-17 2013-01-17 Capsule et système de préparation de boisson

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EP2757055A1 true EP2757055A1 (fr) 2014-07-23

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US9144343B2 (en) 2012-06-22 2015-09-29 Touch Coffee & Beverages, Llc Beverage brewing system
WO2016012562A1 (fr) * 2014-07-25 2016-01-28 Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. Capsule, système de préparation de boisson et procédé de formation d'une boisson
EP2995577A1 (fr) * 2014-09-11 2016-03-16 La Boutique del Caffe' S.r.l. Capsule hermétique et de compatibilité universelle
WO2016075318A1 (fr) * 2014-11-14 2016-05-19 Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. Procédé de formation de capsule de boisson, capsule de boisson et système de préparation de boisson
WO2016075321A1 (fr) * 2014-11-14 2016-05-19 Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. Procédé de formation d'une capsule de boisson, capsule de boisson, système de préparation de boisson et ensemble d'outils
GB2548013A (en) * 2016-02-25 2017-09-06 Gort-Barten Leslie Beverage capsule
EP3265404B1 (fr) 2015-03-02 2019-01-30 Luigi Lavazza S.p.A. Capsule pour la preparation des boissons
US10273076B2 (en) 2013-05-17 2019-04-30 Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. Beverage preparation system, a capsule and a method for forming a beverage
US10730691B2 (en) 2013-05-17 2020-08-04 Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. Beverage preparation system, a capsule and a method for forming a beverage
US10960453B2 (en) 2014-11-14 2021-03-30 Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. Method of forming a cup-shaped body for a beverage capsule
CN113412227A (zh) * 2019-02-08 2021-09-17 诺威德尔塔咖啡贸易工业有限公司 复合材料胶囊以及侧部和基部增强的结构构造
US11273975B2 (en) 2018-03-05 2022-03-15 Nootrie Ag Capsule for preparing a beverage

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WO2012080501A1 (fr) 2010-12-17 2012-06-21 Delica Ag Capsule, système et procédé pour la préparation d'une boisson
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EP2476633A1 (fr) * 2010-12-17 2012-07-18 Delica AG Capsule, système et procédé de préparation d'une boisson

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US9463921B2 (en) 2012-06-22 2016-10-11 Touch Coffee & Beverages, Llc Beverage brewing system
US9149150B2 (en) 2012-06-22 2015-10-06 Touch Coffee & Beverages, Llc Beverage brewing system
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US9481508B2 (en) 2012-06-22 2016-11-01 Touch Coffee & Beverages, Llc Beverage brewing system
US10273076B2 (en) 2013-05-17 2019-04-30 Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. Beverage preparation system, a capsule and a method for forming a beverage
US10730691B2 (en) 2013-05-17 2020-08-04 Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. Beverage preparation system, a capsule and a method for forming a beverage
GB2528663A (en) * 2014-07-25 2016-02-03 Koninkl Douwe Egberts Bv A capsule, a beverage preparation system and a method for forming a beverage
WO2016012562A1 (fr) * 2014-07-25 2016-01-28 Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. Capsule, système de préparation de boisson et procédé de formation d'une boisson
EP2995577A1 (fr) * 2014-09-11 2016-03-16 La Boutique del Caffe' S.r.l. Capsule hermétique et de compatibilité universelle
WO2016075321A1 (fr) * 2014-11-14 2016-05-19 Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. Procédé de formation d'une capsule de boisson, capsule de boisson, système de préparation de boisson et ensemble d'outils
WO2016075318A1 (fr) * 2014-11-14 2016-05-19 Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. Procédé de formation de capsule de boisson, capsule de boisson et système de préparation de boisson
US10960453B2 (en) 2014-11-14 2021-03-30 Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. Method of forming a cup-shaped body for a beverage capsule
EP3265404B1 (fr) 2015-03-02 2019-01-30 Luigi Lavazza S.p.A. Capsule pour la preparation des boissons
GB2548013A (en) * 2016-02-25 2017-09-06 Gort-Barten Leslie Beverage capsule
US11273975B2 (en) 2018-03-05 2022-03-15 Nootrie Ag Capsule for preparing a beverage
CN113412227A (zh) * 2019-02-08 2021-09-17 诺威德尔塔咖啡贸易工业有限公司 复合材料胶囊以及侧部和基部增强的结构构造

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