EP3733556A1

EP3733556A1 - Tea capsule

Info

Publication number: EP3733556A1
Application number: EP17936369.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gerard ALMELA VIDAL
Original assignee: AMV CAPS S L; Amv Caps SL
Current assignee: AMV CAPS S L; Amv Caps SL
Priority date: 2017-12-28
Filing date: 2017-12-28
Publication date: 2020-11-04
Also published as: EP3733556A4; WO2019129895A1

Abstract

Capsule for infusions, made up of a frustoconical-shaped container (1), open through the larger base, incorporating a closure membrane (2) in the mouth that is fixed on a peripheral wing (3) projected outwards, which has an O-ring (4) at the edge, wherein the peripheral wing (3) has a bend (5) defining a projection towards the rear portion of the capsule and wherein the projection of the bend (5) does not exceed the O-ring (4).

Description

Technical field

The present invention is related to the presentation of products intended for preparing infusions and particularly to the capsules containing a dosed quantity of product for preparing infusions in machines especially designed for that function, proposing a capsule of this type with advantageous features for use thereof with improved fastening and sealing in machines for preparing infusions.

State of the art

Among the presentation and marketing options for products intended for preparing infusions, such as coffee and others, one solution that is currently very much in practice is the presentation of infusion products housed in capsules containing a dosed quantity of the corresponding infusion product.
In this sense, a conventional type of capsules containing infusion products are capsules made up of a small frustoconical container made of aluminium foil or plastic, open through the larger base, closed by a membrane fixed on the mouth, a dosed quantity of the infusion product being housed inside the container.
Said capsules are intended for use thereof in machines especially designed for preparing infusions, in which a liquid is heated, generally water, which is projected under pressure on the closure membrane of the capsule, so that it penetrates inside, wherein the hot liquid is impregnated with the substance of the infusion product, the product thus impregnated being later discharged, for consumption, through an outlet to the outside of the machine.
There are machines for preparing infusions with said capsules, which have a head provided with needles, by means of which the closure membrane of the mouth of the capsule container is perforated so that the hot liquid penetrates inside the capsule and comes into contact with the infusion product contained therein.
For this operation, the capsules must be held in a specific position inside the machine for preparing infusions, which is defined by the capsules themselves, since the shape thereof establishes that they can only be introduced in the machine in the correct position. However, in addition, the fastening of the capsules must be sealed, so that the function of the infusion is carried out effectively by means of the hot liquid.
For a sealed fastening of the capsules in the machines for preparing infusions, the capsules made of plastic are defined around the mouth of the capsule container with a peripheral wing made of a plastic material that is softer than the rest of the body of the container, which makes the constructive embodiment of said capsules complicated and expensive; while the capsules made of aluminium sheet are defined with a peripheral wing around the mouth of the capsule container, a covering of an elastic material being applied on said wing, in the form of paint, for the function of sealing gasket.
A solution of this type, proposed in document ES2546900B1 , by the same holder of the present invention, consists of arranging a ring of elastic material on the peripheral wing of the mouth of the capsule container, by means of which a more effective function of the sealing gasket is achieved than with the simple covering of an elastic layer in the form of paint and at the same time the peripheral wing of the mouth of the capsule container is more rigid and less susceptible to suffering deformations or damage in the storage and use of the capsules. However, in the embodiment contemplated in said document, the peripheral wing of the mouth of the capsule container is of a flat configuration, which leads to a possible defect in the effectiveness of the fastening and sealing of the capsule when used in machines for preparing infusions.

Object of the invention

In accordance with the invention, an infusion capsule is proposed, with an embodiment that provides features that improve the fastening and sealing conditions for use in machines for preparing infusions, with respect to the embodiments of conventional capsules.
The capsule object of the invention comprises a frustoconical container made of aluminium sheet, open through the larger base, with a peripheral wing on the edge of the mouth, on which a closure membrane is fixed, said peripheral wing possessing in the outer edge thereof an O-ring, while the peripheral wing has a bend that defines a projection towards the rear portion of the capsule, on which an accessory layer of elastic material is preferably arranged, wherein the projection of the bend has smaller dimensions than that of the O-ring, such that the bend does not exceed the O-ring.
With this, a configuration of the capsule is achieved which facilitates positioning and fastening in the machines for preparing infusions, due to the 0-ring and the bend of the peripheral wing of the mouth of the container, while, on the other hand, the layer of elastic material incorporated on the bend of the peripheral wing ensures, in turn, an effective sealed fastening of the capsule in use thereof in machines for preparing infusions.
For all these reasons, the capsule of the invention arises from features that make it advantageous and give it a life of its own and a preferred character over conventional capsules of the same type that are used for preparing infusions in machines of said function.

Description of the figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a capsule for infusions made according to the object of the invention.
Figure 2 is a diametrical cross-sectional view of the capsule of the preceding figure.
Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of a cross section of the peripheral wing of the mouth of the capsule container, the layer of elastic material arranged on the bend of said wing being appreciated.
Figure 4 is a detail like that of the preceding figure, in the positioning phase of the capsule with respect to a fastening part of a machine for preparing infusions.

Detailed description of the invention

The object of the invention relates to a capsule for infusions, of those used in machines for preparing infusions, wherein a pressurised liquid is projected so that it penetrates the capsule and is impregnated with the substance of an infusion product contained inside the capsule.
The capsule comprises a frustoconical-shaped container (1) of aluminium sheet, open through the larger base, on the mouth of which a closure membrane (2) is arranged, housing a dosed quantity of infusion product inside.
The container (1) has around the mouth thereof a peripheral wing (3) projecting outwards and on which the closure membrane (2) is fixed, establishing a blockage that keeps the infusion product with the aroma thereof confined within.
The peripheral wing (3) has an O-ring (4) on the outer edge, to facilitate positioning and fastening of the capsule in the machines for preparing infusions, said peripheral wing (3) further possessing a bend (5) defining a projection towards the rear portion of the capsule, which more effectively favours the fastening of the capsule in the machines for preparing infusions, therefore improving the function of infusion preparation.
The projection of the bend (5) that protrudes towards the rear portion of the capsule has a dimension that in the projection thereof towards said rear portion does not protrude from the O-ring (4), so that an adequate fastening of the capsule in the machine is guaranteed.
Preferably the bend (5) is arranged on the peripheral wing (3) in continuity with the frustoconical shape of the container (1), such that the bend (5) is arranged in proximity to the container (1) and away from the O-ring (4).
Additionally, the bend (5) is arranged occupying a surface smaller than or equal to half of the peripheral wing (3), which results in a better fastening of the capsule in the machine.
According to a practical embodiment, the bend (5) is envisaged in a triangular shape, which favours the precision of the positioning of the fastening in the machines for preparing infusions; without this embodiment being limiting, since in general, for the indicated function, the shape of the bend (5) may be any that defines a projection towards the rear portion of the peripheral wing (3).
An accessory layer (6) made of elastic material is further arranged on the rear portion of the bend (5), which further ensures the sealing closure of the capsule with respect to a fastening part (7) in the machines for preparing infusions, the fastening part (7) of the machine exhibiting a reciprocal shape to the bend (5) to ensure adequate coupling between said fastening part (7) of the machine and the peripheral wing (3) of the capsule.
Preferably the accessory layer (6) of elastic material only covers the bend (5) and even more preferably the accessory layer (6) of elastic material fully covers the bend (5). In this way, the elastic material is not arranged on the peripheral wing (3) nor on the frustoconical shape of the container (1), which improves the sealing of the capsule with respect to a fastening part (7).
Between the bend (5) and the frustoconical shape of the container (1) a valley is defined that is aligned with the peripheral wing (3), that is, said valley is at the same height as the peripheral wing (3).

Claims

A capsule for infusions, made up of a frustoconical-shaped container (1), open through the larger base, incorporating a closure membrane (2) in the mouth that is fixed on a peripheral wing (3) projected outwards, which has an O-ring (4) at the edge, characterised in that the peripheral wing (3) has a bend (5) defining a projection towards the rear portion of the capsule, wherein the projection of the bend (5) does not exceed the O-ring (4).
The capsule for infusions, according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the bend (5) is arranged on the peripheral wing (3) in continuity with the frustoconical shape of the container (1).
The capsule for infusions, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bend (5) is arranged occupying a surface which is smaller than or equal to half of the peripheral wing (3).
The capsule for infusions, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an accessory layer (6) made of elastic material is arranged on the rear portion of the bend (5) of the peripheral wing (3).
The capsule for infusions, according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the accessory layer (6) of elastic material only covers the bend (5).
The capsule for infusions, according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the accessory layer (6) of elastic material fully covers the bend (5).
The capsule for infusions, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that between the bend (5) and the frustoconical shape of the container (1) a valley is defined that is aligned with the peripheral wing (3).
The capsule for infusions, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bend (5) of the peripheral wing (3) has a triangular shape.