EP3844083A1 - Capsule - Google Patents

Capsule

Info

Publication number
EP3844083A1
EP3844083A1 EP19769240.3A EP19769240A EP3844083A1 EP 3844083 A1 EP3844083 A1 EP 3844083A1 EP 19769240 A EP19769240 A EP 19769240A EP 3844083 A1 EP3844083 A1 EP 3844083A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
opening
capsule
dispensing
conduit
preparation
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Withdrawn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
EP19769240.3A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Andrea Bartoli
Davide CAPITINI
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.)
Sarong SpA
Original Assignee
Sarong SpA
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 Sarong SpA filed Critical Sarong SpA
Publication of EP3844083A1 publication Critical patent/EP3844083A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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
    • B65D85/8052—Details of the outlet
    • 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
    • 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

  • This invention relates to capsules or containers for preparing a final preparation in an automatic dispensing machine.
  • the invention relates to a sealed single-dose, single-use capsule containing an initial preparation which is able to make, interacting with a pressurised fluid, typically water or milk, the final preparation, such as, for example, a drink, or a soup.
  • a pressurised fluid typically water or milk
  • the final preparation such as, for example, a drink, or a soup.
  • the initial preparation is preferably a food preparation.
  • the initial preparation can be percolatable, or soluble, or freeze-dried, or dehydrated, or concentrated. Alternatively, if it is, for example, an syrup or a cream, the initial preparation may be a concentrate.
  • the initial preparation in the final preparation, can be optionally dissolved or diluted with a hot or cold liquid, typically water or milk.
  • Capsules for beverages are known which can be used in dispensing machines.
  • the prior art capsules are single-use and single-dose containers comprising an outer casing, made of a plastic material which is impermeable to liquids and gases and having a glass or cup shape.
  • the casing has a bottom wall and a side wall defining a cavity equipped with an upper opening through which an initial preparation can be inserted from which a beverage can be obtained.
  • the upper opening is hermetically sealed by a covering element, typically a film containing aluminium or a multilayer plastic film, in such a way as to seal inside the cavity of the container the initial preparation.
  • the covering of capsule can be perforated by injection means of the dispensing machine to allow the introduction of pressurised liquid, typically water, with which to prepare the beverage.
  • the bottom wall of the casing can also be provided with a lower opening, hermetically sealed by a closing element, which can be perforated by extraction means of the dispensing machine, so as to allow the beverage to be dispensed.
  • prior art capsules for beverages which are able to dispense the beverage directly in a use container (cup, glass, etc.) without the need for perforating by the extraction means of the dispensing machine.
  • These prior art capsules allow the beverage to be obtained by percolating the liquid through the initial preparation (typically coffee) or by the dissolving of the preparation itself (for example tea, herbal tea, etc.) and they comprise the interaction of the initial preparation contained in the capsule with a liquid introduced into it, for preparing the beverage directly inside the capsule and dispensing the beverage formed in this way.
  • capsules for beverages allow the dispensing of a viscous food preparation in a use container, in which is also supplied with hot water, or cold water, to dilute the food preparation in the glass and thus obtain a beverage.
  • the capsule shown in patent document W0200507781 1 contains a syrup (concentrate coffee, chocolate or fruit syrup) which comes out of a covering element of the capsule which, when the capsule is compressed, breaks at a sealing portion, allowing the food preparation to be poured in the use container.
  • a capsule for a beverage containing two different ingredients is known from patent application WO2014102701 in the name of the same Applicant, which shows a cavity containing an initial preparation to be joined with a pressurised fluid to obtain a final preparation and a nozzle, inside of which is contained a solid product, which may be soluble or non soluble, which is dispensed directly in the use container in an initial dispensing step.
  • the solid product is in fact contained in a dispensing conduit, inside the nozzle, which is in communication by means of dispensing openings with the cavity of the capsule.
  • the solid product is dispensed to the use container.
  • the solid product may consist of elements made of fragments, for example biscuits or crispy bread, chocolate drops or dry fruit in grains or whole, or they can be selected from among a plurality of elements which are also non- homogeneous, such as cereals and sweeteners.
  • the initial preparation is joined to the fluid introduced into the cavity and the final preparation is dispensed through the dispensing conduit.
  • the food product obtained in the use container is therefore the result of the joining of the final preparation and of the solid product.
  • the solid product contained in the nozzle is dispensed during the initial dispensing step and receives the final liquid preparation during the dispensing.
  • each element of the solid preparation has a greater dimension than the dispensing openings, to avoid contaminating, in a non-operating configuration of the capsule, the initial preparation contained in the cavity, especially if an initial preparation contained in the cavity has a liquid component, for example a preparation consisting of a syrup, or a concentrate.
  • the preparation with the liquid component cannot be contained in the nozzle since in the non-operating configuration of the capsule the preparation could already join with the initial product contained in the cavity.
  • An aim of this invention is to improve the prior art capsules for beverages or fluid foodstuffs, in particular sealed single-use and single-dose capsules, containing an initial preparation which is soluble, freeze-dried, dehydrated, concentrated, percolatable so as to interact with a fluid, typically hot water under pressure, for preparing a corresponding final preparation in an automatic dispensing machine.
  • Another aim of the invention is to provide a sealed, single-use and single dose capsule which is able to form in a use container a final food product starting from an initial preparation and from a further initial preparation without the need to use two different capsules in succession.
  • a different aim of the invention is to obtain a capsule which is extremely versatile, which is able to satisfy the tastes of several different consumers and which is inexpensive to make.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a capsule for beverages according to the invention in a non-operating configuration, wherein the capsule comprises predetermined compliance lines for allowing the capsule to be compressed and crushed along a direction A almost parallel to a longitudinal axis of the capsule 1 ;
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the capsule of Figure 1 , wherein the capsule comprises a cavity, which contains an initial preparation, and a nozzle, which comprises a conduit, designed to receive a device for injecting a fluid, and a further conduit, designed to receive a further device for injecting a further fluid, wherein the further conduit contains a further initial preparation and has a respective dispensing opening at which a filtering wall is located;
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the capsule of Figure 1 in a step of opening of the capsule, wherein the capsule passes from the non operating configuration to a dispensing configuration;
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the capsule of Figure 1 , in a step of injecting fluid in the cavity to obtain a final preparation starting from the initial preparation, when the further initial preparation is still retained in the further conduit;
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of the capsule of Figure 1 , in a step of dispensing final preparation in which the capsule is compressed along a longitudinal axis of the capsule, when the further initial preparation is still retained in the further conduit;
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of the capsule of Figure 1 , in a further dispensing step, in which the capsule is further compressed along the longitudinal axis of the capsule, and in a further step of injecting further fluid in the further conduit to obtain a further final preparation, to be joined in the use container with the further final preparation and thereby make a final product;
  • FIG. 7 is a view from below of the capsule of Figure 1 ;
  • FIG. 8 shows a cross section of a version of the capsule of Figure 1 , in the non-operating configuration, wherein the cavity contains the initial preparation and the further conduit contains a further initial preparation made with elements in fragments and the respective dispensing opening does not have the filtering wall;
  • FIG. 9 is a cross-section view of the capsule of Figure 8 in the step of opening of the capsule, wherein the capsule passes from the non operating configuration to the dispensing configuration, in which the further initial preparation is dispensed by gravity in the use container;
  • FIG. 10 is a cross-section view of the capsule of Figure 8, in the step of injecting fluid F in the cavity, to obtain in the cavity the final preparation, when the further initial preparation has already been dispensed completely in the use container;
  • FIG. 1 1 is a cross-section view of the capsule of Figure 8, wherein the step of injecting fluid F in the cavity continues and the capsule is in the dispensing step, in which the capsule is compressed along the longitudinal axis of the capsule and the final preparation is joined in the use container to the further initial preparation for making the final product;
  • FIG. 12 is a cross-section view of the capsule of Figure 8, in the further dispensing step, wherein the capsule is further compressed for the purpose of waste disposal;
  • FIG. 13 is a cross section view of a version of the capsule of Figure 1 , in which the capsule is without the compliance lines and wherein the nozzle, the further conduit of which is provided with the filtering wall, is designed to be moved by the further device for injection of fluid between a non-position position in which the capsule is in the non-operating configuration, to a dispensing position, wherein the capsule is in the dispensing configuration;
  • FIG. 14 is a cross-section view of the capsule of Figure 13, in a step of injecting a fluid F in the cavity to obtain the final preparation, when the further initial preparation is still retained in the further conduit and the capsule is still in the non-operating configuration;
  • FIG. 15 is a cross-section view of the capsule of Figure 13, in the dispensing configuration, wherein the nozzle has been moved into the dispensing position of the capsule, and it is also in a step of injecting the further FF fluid, wherein both the final preparation and the further final preparation for making the final product is dispensed simultaneously in the use container.
  • Figures 1 to 12 show a capsule 1 according to the invention which can be used in an automatic dispensing machine.
  • the capsule 1 shown in Figure 1 in a non-operating configuration, comprises an outer casing 2, or container, having an axis S of longitudinal extension, for example an axis of symmetry.
  • the casing 2 is made, for example, by injection moulding or by thermoforming a thermoformable sheet material, in particular, a multilayer plastic material which is impermeable to liquids and gases and suitable for contact with the foods, as described below.
  • the casing 2 is substantially frustoconical in shape, that is to say, in the form of a glass or cup.
  • the casing 2 includes a base wall 201 and a side wall 202, defining an open cavity 203, and a flanged edge 204, which extends from the side wall 202 and surrounds, in particular, the cavity 203.
  • the side wall 202 is divergent starting from the base wall 201 to the flanged edge 204.
  • the cavity 203 is for containing a initial preparation P, which is suitable for being mixed with a fluid F, preferably a hot liquid under pressure, inserted in the cavity 203 in a step of injecting the fluid F, to obtain a respective final preparation FP.
  • a fluid F preferably a hot liquid under pressure
  • the initial preparation P is, for example, a food product which is soluble, freeze-dried, dehydrated, concentrated, percolatable, in powder form- for example coffee; alternatively, the initial preparation P can be, for example, a food product in leaf form - for example tea.
  • the initial preparation P is to be mixed with water, preferably hot and under pressure, to obtain a final preparation, such as a beverage (for example, coffee, barley coffee, tea, or herbal tea) or a vegetable broth, in which the initial preparation P is optionally dissolved or diluted.
  • the casing 2, shown in Figures 1 to 12, can be compressed and/or crushed and is therefore deformable from the non-operating configuration, wherein the capsule has not yet been used and is still not deformed, to a dispensing configuration, wherein the capsule 1 has been opened in an opening step by means of a partial crushing and is able to dispense.
  • the side wall 202 comprises predetermined compliance lines 205, to allow the casing 2 to be compressed and/or crushed and/or deformed along a direction A substantially parallel with the axis of symmetry S.
  • the casing 2 which is compressible, allows the volume of the casing 2 to be progressively reduced, reducing a distance between the base wall 201 and the flanged edge 204 during a step of dispensing the final FP preparation, as described below.
  • the opening step if the casing 2 is deformable and compressible, corresponds to a step for crushing the casing.
  • the compliance lines 205 may have a helical shape (not illustrated), or they may be made in the in the shape of an accordion or of a bellows and arranged in a portion, as shown in Figures 1 to 12, of the side wall 202 adjacent to the base wall 201. According to an embodiment, not illustrated, of the capsule 1 , further compliance lines can be optionally provided in the side wall 202 to facilitate the complete compression of the capsule 1 if it is appropriate to provide, for example, at the end of dispensing the capsule, a final step of completely crushing the capsule 1 in which the capsule is further deformed and compressed to a configuration with minimum volume, in order to dispose of the capsule 1 as waste.
  • the capsule 1 comprises a covering element 3 which is fixed to the flanged edge 204 of the capsule 1 for hermetically closing the cavity 203 and isolating the initial preparation P from the outside environment.
  • the covering element 3 is, for example, a film containing aluminium or a multi layer plastic film, as described below.
  • the base wall 201 comprises an outlet opening 206.
  • the capsule 1 also comprises a closing element 4 fixed in a partly detachable manner, as described in more detail below, to the base wall 201 .
  • Both the covering element 3 and the closing element 4 are made with selected materials, for example, plastic multilayer poly-laminates, in such a way as to maintain over time the initial preparation P contained in the capsule from humidity and oxygen.
  • multilayer plastic materials can, for example, contain aluminium or a different barrier layer, for example polyethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) or polyvinyl chloride (PVDC).
  • EVOH polyethylene vinyl alcohol
  • PVDC polyvinyl chloride
  • the casing 2 can be chosen from among one of the following materials of a first list:
  • PET Polyethylene terephthalate
  • the above-mentioned materials of the first list can be able to provide a barrier to oxygen and/or water.
  • Both the covering element 3 and the closing element 4 can comprise at least one layer comprising a material chosen from among one of the following materials of a second list:
  • the covering element 3 and/or the closing element 4 can comprise at least two layers, wherein each layer can comprise at least one of the materials of the second list (for example PET/PVDF, PET/Aluminium).
  • the covering element 3 and/or the closing element 4 can comprise at least three layers, wherein each layer can comprise at least one of the materials of the second list (for example PP/EVOH/PP, PP/EVOH/PE, PP/EVOH/PA).
  • the casing 2 is made of compostable material, it is advantageous that the covering element 3 and the closing element 4 are also made of a compostable material. In this way, the capsule 1 could be disposed of as organic waste.
  • the capsule 1 also comprises a nozzle 5 fixed to the covering element 3.
  • the nozzle 5 extends through the outlet opening 206 and comprises a first end 501 and a second opposite end 502, between which extends an outer wall 503.
  • the nozzle 5 is therefore made as a rigid, elongate tubular element, which is at least partly housed in the cavity 203 and is provided with the outer wall 503.
  • the first end 501 comprises an inlet opening 504 to receive a device 6 for injecting fluid F.
  • the inlet opening 504 is positioned, in other words, to engage with the injection device 6 of the dispensing machine which is able to dispense the fluid F.
  • the second end 502 comprises a dispensing opening 505 to allow the the final preparation FP to come out in a use container 7 in a dispensing step.
  • the use container 7 may be a cup, as shown in Figures 3 to 6 and Figures 13 to 15 or a plate, preferably a bowl, as shown in Figures 9 to 12.
  • the nozzle 5 comprises a conduit 506 which extends from the inlet opening 504 to the dispensing opening 505.
  • the outer wall 503 of the nozzle 5 is configured for feeding to the cavity 203 the fluid F received from the inlet opening 504 in a step of injecting the fluid F and for discharging the final preparation FP from the cavity 203 to the dispensing opening 505 during the step of dispensing the final preparation FP.
  • the nozzle 5, shown in Figures 3 to 12, of the capsule 1 in effect comprises at least one supply opening 507 located in the outer wall 503 for feeding to the cavity 203 the fluid F received from the inlet opening 504, during the step of injecting the fluid F.
  • the supply opening 507 is in flow connection with the inlet opening 504 in the conduit 506.
  • the nozzle 5 also comprises at least one discharge opening 508 positioned in said outer wall 503 for discharging the final preparation FP from the cavity 203 to the dispensing opening 505 when the capsule 1 is in the step for dispensing the final preparation FP.
  • the discharge opening 508 is in flow connection with the dispensing opening 505 in the conduit 506.
  • the conduit 506 therefore comprises a first part 506a which extends from the inlet opening 504 to the supply opening 507, for feeding to the cavity 203 the fluid F received from the inlet opening 504.
  • the conduit 506 also comprises a second part 506b which extends from the discharge opening 508 to the dispensing opening 505, to allow the final preparation FP to come out.
  • the first part 506a is distinct from the second part 506b and is separated from the second part 506b by a partition 515 positioned transversally to the axis of longitudinal extension A of the capsule 1.
  • the second end 502 of the nozzle 5 comprises a further dispensing opening 509.
  • the nozzle 5 comprises, in effect, a further conduit 510 which contains a further initial preparation PP.
  • the further initial preparation PP can also be a food product of the same type as the initial preparation P, that is to say, a food product which is soluble, freeze-dried, dehydrated, concentrated, percolatable, or in powder form, which, if joined to a liquid, is able to obtain a further final preparation.
  • the further initial preparation, PP can, however, also be dispensed directly in the use container 7 in a further dispensing step, as described below.
  • the initial preparation in a solid formulation, can be soluble or not soluble, consisting of elements made of fragments, for example biscuits or crispy bread, chocolate drops or dry fruit, in grains or whole.
  • the further initial preparation PP can also be chosen from among a plurality of elements which are also non-homogeneous, such as, for example, crispy bread and a freeze-dried preparation.
  • the further conduit 510 is separated from the conduit 506 and extends up to the further dispensing opening 509 to allow the the further preparation PP to come out, separately from the final preparation FP in the further dispensing step.
  • conduit 506 and the further conduit 510 are separate from each other, advantageously the preparation P contained in the cavity 203 is always separate from the further preparation PP contained in the further conduit 510.
  • the further conduit 510 is coaxial with and inside the conduit 506. If the further conduit 510 is a tubular conduit, the conduit 506 is an annular conduit positioned between the further conduit 510 and the outer wall 503 of the nozzle 5.
  • the conduit 506 and the further conduit 510 are side by side and have respective longitudinal axes of extension parallel to each other.
  • a suitable space is formed in this way for containing the further initial preparation PP inside the nozzle 5.
  • the further conduit 510 is a blind conduit from which the further preparation PP comes out by gravity into the use container 7.
  • the further preparation PP is a solid preparation, consisting of elements in fragments, which is joined to the final preparation FP, for example a vegetable broth, dispensed in the use container 7, for example a bowl, to make a vegetable soup with crispy bread.
  • the further conduit 510 can be extended up to the first end 501 of the nozzle 5, as shown in Figures 8 to 12, or can have a length less than the conduit 506, according to a version not illustrated.
  • the first end 501 of the nozzle 5 comprises a further inlet opening 513 to receive a further injection device 8 for injecting a further fluid FF.
  • the further initial preparation PP can in fact also be joined to the further fluid FF for making a further final preparation FFP.
  • the further inlet opening 513 is positioned, in other words, to engage with the further injection device 8 of the dispensing machine, which is able to dispense the further fluid FF.
  • the further conduit 510 extends from the further inlet opening 513 to the further dispensing opening 509.
  • conduit 506 is coaxial with and inside the conduit 506, the conduit 506 is annular and the injection device 6 is configured for engaging in the annular conduit 506.
  • the inlet opening 504 and the further inlet opening 513 are delimited respectively by an inlet edge 504a and a further inlet edge 513a.
  • the covering element 3 is fixed both to the inlet edge 504a and to the further inlet edge 513a.
  • the inlet opening 504 is also annular and is delimited externally by the inlet edge 504a, which is annular and corresponds to a top wall of the outer wall 503.
  • the inlet opening 504a is delimited internally by the further inlet edge 513a, which is also annular, which delimits the further inlet opening 513.
  • the further inlet edge 513a is positioned inside the inlet edge 504a and the injection device 6 is positioned to engage with the inlet edge 504a and with the further inlet edge 513a.
  • the conduit 506 and the further conduit 510 are kept separate when the capsule is in the non-operating configuration, avoiding the undesired passage of fluid between the conduit 506, which is supplied with the fluid F, and the further conduit 510, which is supplied with the fluid FF.
  • the covering element 3, fixed to the nozzle 5 acts in conjunction to keep in position inside the cavity 203 the above-mentioned nozzle 5.
  • the further conduit 510 can be provided with a filtering wall 51 1 , positioned at the dispensing opening 509, which can be provided with a single opening (not illustrated) or a plurality of openings 512, for retaining the further initial preparation PP in the further conduit 510, in the non-operating configuration of the capsule, if the grain size of the further product PP is greater than the dimensions of the openings 512.
  • the filtering wall 51 1 is also positioned to modify an outlet flow of a further final preparation FFP from the further conduit 510, obtained by joining the further initial preparation PP with the further fluid FF in the further dispensing step, if the further initial preparation PP is intended to be combined with a liquid, for the purpose of the dissolving the further initial preparation PP.
  • the further initial preparation PP can be powdered milk, with a particle size larger than the dimensions of the openings 512, designed to be combined with hot water under pressure before being dispensed.
  • the presence of the filtering wall 51 1 means that milk is obtained in a liquid formulation from the powdered milk inside the further conduit 510 and that, in addition, a milky foam is generated during the passage of the milk in the liquid formulation through the openings 512 when hot water is supplied under pressure to cause the further final preparation FFP to come out of the further conduit 510 in the further dispensing step.
  • the base wall 201 of the capsule 1 comprises an annular inner portion 207 which surrounds the outlet opening 206.
  • the nozzle 5 is inserted in the outlet opening 206 and is configured to slide in a sealed fashion in the outlet opening 206 so that the final preparation FP comes out of the capsule 1 exclusively through the dispensing opening 505 of the nozzle 5 when the capsule 1 is in the dispensing configuration.
  • the further initial preparation PP, or the further final preparation FFP, or the further final FFP preparation if the further initial preparation PP has been joined with a further pressurised fluid also comes out of the nozzle 5 exclusively through the further dispensing opening 509.
  • the nozzle 5 also comprises an outer flange 514 which peripherally surrounds the second end 502. When the capsule 1 is in the non operating configuration, the outer flange 514 comes into contact with the inner annular portion 207 of the base wall 201 , which surrounds the outlet opening 206.
  • the base wall 201 is not flat but is shaped and comprises a recess 208 which contains the outlet opening 206 and the inner annular portion 207.
  • the recess 208 houses the outer flange 514 when the capsule is in the non-operating configuration.
  • the closing element 4 is fixed to an annular portion 209 of the base wall 201 , which is flat and surrounds the recess 208, in such a way that the outer flange 514 is positioned between the inner annular portion 207 and the closing element 4, when the capsule is in the non operating configuration.
  • the dispensing opening 505 is annular and surrounds the further dispensing opening 509.
  • the dispensing opening 505 is delimited externally by a dispensing edge, which corresponds to the outer flange 514 and internally by an inner dispensing edge 509a, which is also annular, which delimits the further dispensing opening 509.
  • the inner dispensing edge 509a is positioned inside and is coaxial with the outer flange 514.
  • the capsule 1 comprises the closing element 4 fixed in a partly detachable manner to the base wall 201.
  • the closing element 4 for example in the shape of a disc, comprises a joining edge, for example annular, 401 by which it is fixed to the base wall 201 .
  • the closing element 4 can be easily detached from the base wall 201 automatically by means of the nozzle 5, in the opening step, when the casing 2 is partly crushed, or by means of the pressure of the air contained inside the cavity 203 which is pushed in turn externally by the introduction of the fluid F in the capsule 1 during the injection step.
  • the closing element 4 can also be easily detached from the base wall 3, in detail from the outer annular portion 209, by a user manually before inserting the capsule 1 in the dispensing machine, and in this case there is, according to a preferred embodiment, an elongate tab 403 as shown in Figures 1 , 2, 7, 8 and 1 1 and 12 extending outwards starting from a connecting portion of the joining edge 401.
  • the closing element 4 provided with or without the tab 403, made of plastic material, or aluminium, is sealable, for example thermally or by ultrasound, and the joining edge 401 is in particular fixed to the outer annular portion 209 of the base wall 201 for a first stretch 404 by means of a blocking fixing, for example a blocking sealing, and for a second stretch 405 by means of a detachable fixing, for example a detachable sealing.
  • a blocking fixing for example a blocking sealing
  • a detachable fixing for example a detachable sealing.
  • the blocking fixing 404 requires a force greater than the detachable fixing 405 to detach the joining edge 401 from the base wall 201 , so as to promote the detachment of the second stretch 405 of the joining edge 401 before the detachment of the first stretch 404, when the closing element 4 is pushed by the outer flange 514 to detach from the base wall 201 during the dispensing step.
  • the closing element 4 detaches from the base wall 201 at the second stretch 405.
  • the term“detachable fixing” refers to the fact that the closing element 4 detaches easily from the base wall 201 to which it is fixed, for example sealed by heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing, when it is subjected to traction.
  • the closing element 4 can easily detach from the base wall 201 thanks to a heat seal resin suitable for contact with food.
  • the resin depending on its nature, can be applied to the closing element 4, to the base wall 201 or to both, by means of a plurality of application methods such as, for example and without limiting the scope of the invention, a so- called“extrusion coating” of polyolefin resins, a glue coupling of polyolefin film, a spreading of heat sealing lacquer, and the co-extrusion of multi layer film.
  • the heat seal of the closing element 4 and of the base wall 201 by means of the detachable heat-sealant resin generates a joining edge 401 which seals but which can be easily detached.
  • the first stretch 404 extends in a first angular interval of between 80° and 100°, in particular preferably 100°, and the second stretch 405 extends in a second angular interval explementary to the first angular interval, in other words, the first stretch 404 and the second stretch 405 extend for the entire joining edge 401.
  • the second stretch 405, which is fixed by detachable fixing, comprises detachment promoting means to facilitate a gradual and progressive separation of the joining edge 401 from the base wall 201 , which comprise at least one detachment portion 406, at which the second stretch 405 is substantially“V” or wedge-shaped.
  • the detachment promoting means comprise a plurality of detachment portions 406 spaced at equal angular intervals in the second stretch 405, as shown in Figure 7, for distributing the effectiveness of the detachment along the entire second stretch 405.
  • the first stretch 404 fixed in a non-detachable manner by the blocking fixing, is free of the detachment promoting means and therefore, even though both the blocking fixing and the detachable fixing allow the closing element 4 to be fixed in a removable manner to the base wall 201 , the first stretch 404 fixed with blocking fixing requires a greater force with respect to the second stretch 405 fixed with detachable fixing to allow detachment of the first stretch 404 in advance of the second stretch 405.
  • the closing element 4 is pushed by the outer flange 514 to detach from the base wall 201 in the opening step, to move the capsule 1 from the non-operating configuration to the dispensing configuration.
  • the first stretch 404 remains connected to the base wall 201 and acts as a hinge element about which the portion of the closing element 4 comprising the second stretch 405 of the joining edge 401 can rotate, away from the base wall 201.
  • the tab 403 can be present and in that case there can be only one detachment portion 406 positioned in the second stretch 405 along an axis of symmetry S of the tab 403, that is to say, on the opposite side relative to the tab 403.
  • the closing element 4 comprises a further joining edge 402 by which the closing element 4 is fixed in addition to the further dispensing edge 509a by means of a further detachable fixing, for example a peelable sealing.
  • the closing element 4 is therefore fixed, in this case, both to the outer annular portion 209 of the base wall 201 and to the further dispensing edge 509a of the nozzle 5.
  • the further conduit 510 is hermetically sealed by the covering element 3, at the further inlet edge 513a, and by the closing element 4 at the further dispensing edge 509a.
  • the further conduit 510 is therefore able to maintain the further preparation PP contained therein in the non-operating step of the capsule 1 and prevents any contamination between the initial preparation P contained in the cavity 203 and the further initial preparation PP contained in the further conduit 510.
  • the further joining edge 402 is advantageous especially if one of the two preparations P, or PP, contained in the capsule 1 is a liquid formulation but it can also be advantageously used if the initial preparation P or the further initial preparation PP is a powder formulation.
  • the further joining edge 402 can be easily detached from the further dispensing edge 509a in a further injection step, by introducing the further fluid FF, not illustrated, for example, pressurised air, in the further conduit 510 through the further inlet opening 513.
  • the further inlet fluid FF is dispensed in the further injection step only in order to detach the further joining edge 402 from the further dispensing edge 509a and can be the same further inlet fluid FF dispensed by the further injection device 8 in the further dispensing step but can be different, for example pressurised air.
  • the further step of injecting the further fluid FF in the further conduit 510 must precede the step of opening the capsule, in which the capsule passes from the non-operating configuration to the dispensing configuration, to allow the outer flange 514 to partly detach the closing element 4 from the base wall 201.
  • the side wall 202 of the capsule 1 is deformable and compressible along predetermined lines of compliance 205 to allow the casing 2 to be compressed or crushed in a direction A parallel to the longitudinal axis of the capsule 1 when the capsule 1 is in the dispensing step.
  • the outer flange 514 of the nozzle 5 is far from the inner annular portion 207 and pushes away from the base wall 201 , towards the outside, the closing element 4 and therefore opens the capsule 1 to allow a subsequent dispensing of the final preparation FP.
  • the capsule 1 differs from the capsules described above since the side wall 202 of the capsule 1 does not have compliance lines 205.
  • the nozzle 5 can, in effect, be moved by the further injection device 8 so that the outer flange 514 pushes the closing element 4 towards the outside.
  • the nozzle 5 could be moved by the injection device 6.
  • the nozzle 5 is moved between a non-operating position in which the outer flange 514 makes contact with the inner annular portion 207 of the base wall 201 when the capsule 1 is in the non-operating configuration, and a dispensing position, in which the outer flange 514 is far from the inner annular portion 207 and pushes the closing element 4 away from the base wall 201 ( Figure 15) for positioning the capsule in the dispensing configuration.
  • the capsule 1 described in Figures 13 to 15 differs from the capsules 1 described previously also in that the nozzle 5 comprises at least one flow opening 516 located in the outer wall 503 of the nozzle 5, which is configured both to supply to the cavity 203 the fluid F received from the inlet opening 504 in the step for injecting the fluid F and to discharge the final preparation FP from the cavity 203 to the dispensing opening 505 when the capsule is in the dispensing configuration.
  • the flow opening 516 performs the function both of the supply opening and the discharge opening.
  • the nozzle comprises at least one supply opening and a discharge opening which are different from each other.
  • the conduit can comprise the first part, extending from the inlet opening to the supply opening, and the second part, extending from the discharge opening to the dispensing opening, as described above.
  • the use of the capsule 1 according to the invention in an automatic dispensing device comprises inserting the capsule in the non-operating configuration in the dispensing device, in particular in a special cavity of the dispensing device.
  • the dispensing device can be part of a more complex dispensing machine.
  • the further conduit 510 contains a further initial preparation PP, such as, for example, powdered milk and herein also the closing element 4 is fixed in addition to the further dispensing edge 509a by the further detachable fixing, for keeping the product P and the further product PP separate from each other.
  • the further injection step not illustrated, is provided for the capsule 1 in which the further pressurised fluid FF is dispensed by the further injection device 8, for detaching the closing element 4 from the further dispensing edge 509a.
  • the further pressurised fluid FF initially dispensed can be, for example, pressurised air.
  • the step of opening of the capsule 1 follows, wherein the casing 2 is partly crushed and the nozzle 5 slides in the outlet opening 207 in such a way that the outer flange 514, pushing the closing element 4 outwards, detaches the closing element 4 itself at least partly to open the capsule 1 and place the latter in the dispensing configuration.
  • the detachment promoting means 406 facilitate the gradual and progressive separation of the joining edge 401 of the closing element 4 from the base wall 201 at the second stretch 405 fixed by a detachable fixing.
  • the portion of the closing element 4 comprising the second stretch 405 rotates away from the base wall 201 about the first stretch 404, which is still connected to the base wall 201 since it is fixed by means of blocking fixing, which acts as a hinge line of the closing element 4.
  • the capsule 1 After the capsule 1 has been positioned in the dispensing configuration, it follows a step of injecting fluid F in the conduit 506. Through the supply opening 507, the fluid F is fed to the cavity 203 to obtain the final FP preparation, as shown in Figure 4. If the initial preparation P consists of tea leaves, there can be an infusion step in the cavity 203 for the duration necessary to develop the aromas required by the type of tea.
  • the side wall 202 can be further compressed during the dispensing step, thanks to the compliance lines 205.
  • the casing 2 can be further deformed until reaching the minimum volume and simultaneously the pressurised fluid F can be dispensed to the cavity 203 to further dilute the final preparation FP to be supplied to the use container 7. It should be noted that, in the meantime, thanks to the presence of the filtering wall 51 1 , the further preparation PP is still contained in the second conduit 510.
  • the further FF fluid can be pressurised water.
  • the further final preparation FFP is dispensed to the use container 7 through the openings 512 of the filtering wall 511 in the further dispensing step and, during this passage, a foam is created which is superposed, in the use container 7, on the final preparation FP thus providing in the use container 7 a final product obtained from two different preparations, with different consistencies, and superposed on each other.
  • the final preparation FP is coffee and the further final preparation is milky foam, a cappuccino can be obtained in the use container 7.
  • the fluid F under pressure, or the further fluid FF can therefore interact, respectively, with the initial preparation P and with the further initial preparation PP, for example by diluting it and dissolving it, to gradually form a respective final preparation FP and a respective further final preparation FFP diluted and/or dissolved which come out through the annular dispensing opening 505 and the further dispensing opening 509, pushed by the pressurised liquid F and by the further pressurised liquid FF.
  • the fluid F, or the further fluid FF, under pressure is air
  • the initial preparation P or the further initial preparation PP are pushed through the outlet opening and dispersed into the air introduced.
  • the pressure and temperature of the fluid F or of the further fluid FF must be suitably adjusted according to the type and composition of the initial preparation P, or the further initial preparation PP.
  • the nozzle 5 is free of the filtering wall 51 1 and that the closing element 4 is not fixed to the further dispensing edge 509a by the further detachable fixing.
  • both the initial preparation P and the further initial preparation PP are without the liquid component and the further initial preparation PP is made with elements in fragments with a large grain size, there is no risk of contamination, when the capsule is in the non-operating configuration, between the food preparation P contained in the cavity 203 and the further initial preparation PP contained in the further conduit.
  • the further dispensing step is followed by the step of injecting fluid F in the conduit 506 for supplying the fluid F to the cavity 203 through the first part 506a of the conduit 506, as shown in Figure 10, and discharging in the second part 506b of the conduit 506 the final FP preparation, as shown in Figure 1 1 , in the step of dispensing the final FP preparation.
  • the fluid F may be hot water under pressure. If the initial preparation P is a freeze- dried soup, there can be a step of joining the fluid F in the cavity 203 with the initial preparation P for the duration necessary to rehydrate the freeze- dried soup.
  • the casing 2 can be further deformed until reaching the minimum volume and simultaneously the pressurised fluid F can be dispensed to the cavity 203 to further dilute the final preparation FP to be supplied to the use container 7 up to a configuration for minimum crushing of the casing 2, for example for the purpose of waste disposal.
  • the side wall 203 does not have predetermined compliance lines 205 since the capsule 1 is not deformable, and wherein, for example, the cavity 203 contains an initial viscous preparation P such as, for example, concentrated viscous chocolate, and the further conduit 510 contains a further initial preparation PP, such as, for example, powdered milk
  • the nozzle 5 is provided with the filtering wall 511 and that the closing element 4 is fixed to the further dispensing edge 509a by means of the further detachable fixing to avoid possible contamination between the initial preparation P and the further initial preparation PP.
  • the step of injecting the fluid F in the conduit 506 is provided.
  • the pressurised fluid F is supplied to the cavity 203 to obtain the final preparation FP, as shown in Figure 14.
  • the dispensing machine comprises a vent nozzle (not shown) and the vent nozzle perforates the covering element 3 before the injection device 6 dispenses pressurised fluid F in the cavity 203.
  • step of injecting the fluid F is followed by a further step for injecting further fluid under pressure FF, which is dispensed by the further injection device 8, to detach the closing element 4 from the further dispensing edge 509a.
  • a step of moving the nozzle 5 After having detached at least partly the closing element 4 from the base wall 201 there is a step of moving the nozzle 5.
  • the latter is in fact moved by the further injection device 8 from the non-operating position to the dispensing position towards the closing element 4 during the step for opening the capsule 1 , in such a way that the outer flange 514, pushing the closing element 4 outwards, detaches the closing element 4 at least partly to open the capsule 1 and place the capsule 1 in the dispensing configuration .
  • the above applies with reference to the detachment promoting means 406 which facilitate the gradual and progressive separation of the joining edge 401 of the closing element 4 from the base wall 201.
  • the final preparation FP comes out of the flow opening 516 to be discharged from the cavity 503 to the dispensing opening 505 and be supplied to the use container 7.
  • the further fluid FF can be supplied to the further conduit 510 in the further injection step to obtain the further final preparation FFP in the further conduit 510, which is dispensed during the further dispensing step.
  • the use container 7 can be supplied both with the final preparation F and the further final preparation FFP, which can therefore be mixed in the use container to form the final product.
  • the dispensing step and the further dispensing step can be simultaneous with each other. In this case, two separate respective final preparations are obtained from two initial preparations, which are mixed together in the final product obtained from them.
  • the capsule 1 it is possible to easily dispense in a use container 7 a final product obtained from two separate initial preparations.
  • the initial preparation P and the further initial preparation PP can be joined to a fluid and optionally to a further fluid FF to obtain, respectively, a final preparation FP and a further final preparation FFP, which can be dispensed simultaneously or in successive steps to the use container 7.
  • a final preparation FP and a further final preparation FFP which can be dispensed simultaneously or in successive steps to the use container 7.
  • the capsule 1 according to the invention is able to dispense in the use container 7 a final product in which the further final FFP preparation is superposed on and has a different consistency with respect to the final preparation FP, or wherein the final FP preparation is joined with and superposed on the initial preparation PP, which falls by gravity in the use container 7. It is possible to obtain a cappuccino with a milky foam or a soup with pieces of crispy bread.
  • the further conduit 510 present in the nozzle 5 which can be a blind conduit having only a further dispensing opening 509, or a conduit having the further dispensing opening 509 and the further inlet opening 513 to which a further injection device 8 can be engaged, it is possible to obtain a plurality of different final products in the use container 7, in relation to the type of fluid F or the further fluid FF supplied respectively to the conduit 506 and to the further conduit 510.
  • the further joining edge 402 of the closing element 4 which can be fixed in a detachable manner to the further dispensing edge 509a and thanks to the fact that the covering element 3 is joined to the inlet edge 504a and to the further inlet edge 513a, the further conduit 510 containing the further initial preparation PP is separated and sealed relative to the cavity 203 containing the initial preparation P.
  • the capsule 1 passes from the non-operating configuration to the dispensing configuration in which the nozzle 5 pushes towards the outside the closing element 4, during a step of dispensing the capsule 1.
  • This opening step is provided both if the capsule 1 can be compressed and deformed, since it is provided with predetermined compliance lines 205, and if the nozzle 5 can be moved towards the closing element 4 by the injection device 6, or the further injection device 8.
  • conduit 506 can be equipped with the partition 515 to define the first part 506a of the conduit 506, for supplying the fluid F to the cavity 203 and the second part 506b, for dispensing the final product FP to the use container 7 but alternately the conduit 506 can be without the partition 515 and provided with the flow opening 516 through which the fluid F can be supplied from the cavity 203 or the final preparation dispensed from the cavity 203 to the use container 7.
  • the capsule 1 according to the invention can therefore be easily designed, with regard to the casing 2 or the nozzle 5.

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

Abstract

L'invention concerne une capsule (1) comprenant un boîtier (2), qui inclut une paroi de base (201), comprenant une ouverture de sortie (206), et une paroi latérale (202), définissant une cavité (203) destinée à contenir une préparation initiale (P) devant être jointe à un fluide (F) pour obtenir une préparation finale (FP) ; un bord à bride (204) s'étendant à partir de la paroi latérale (202). La capsule comprend un élément de couverture (3) fixé au bord à bride (204) afin de fermer hermétiquement la cavité (203) et un élément de fermeture (4) fixé d'une manière au moins partiellement amovible à la paroi de base (201) afin de fermer hermétiquement l'ouverture de sortie (206). La capsule comprend également une buse (5) fixée à l'élément de couverture (3) qui s'étend à travers l'ouverture de sortie (206). La buse (5) comprend : une première extrémité (501) et une seconde extrémité (502) qui sont opposées l'une à l'autre, entre lesquelles s'étend une paroi externe (503), la première extrémité (501) comprenant une ouverture d'entrée (504) destinée à recevoir un dispositif (6) pour l'injection de fluide (F) et la seconde extrémité (502) comprenant une ouverture de distribution (505) pour permettre à la préparation finale (FP) de sortir dans un récipient d'utilisation (7) ; un conduit (506) qui s'étend de l'ouverture d'entrée (504) à l'ouverture de distribution (505), la paroi externe (503) étant configurée pour alimenter la cavité (203) en fluide reçu de l'ouverture d'entrée (504) dans une étape d'injection du fluide (F) et pour évacuer la préparation finale (FP) de la cavité (203) vers l'ouverture de distribution (505) dans une étape de distribution de la préparation finale (FP). La buse (5) comprend un autre conduit (510) contenant une autre préparation initiale (PP) ; l'autre conduit (510) étant séparé du conduit (506) et s'étendant jusqu'à une autre ouverture de distribution (509) dans la seconde extrémité (502) pour permettre à l'autre préparation initiale (PP) de sortir, séparément de la préparation finale (FP) dans une autre étape de distribution.
EP19769240.3A 2018-08-30 2019-08-08 Capsule Withdrawn EP3844083A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT201800008257 2018-08-30
PCT/IB2019/056749 WO2020044146A1 (fr) 2018-08-30 2019-08-08 Capsule

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3844083A1 true EP3844083A1 (fr) 2021-07-07

Family

ID=64316782

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19769240.3A Withdrawn EP3844083A1 (fr) 2018-08-30 2019-08-08 Capsule

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3844083A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2020044146A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8215228B2 (en) * 2008-12-18 2012-07-10 Whirlpool Corporation Liquid flow control and beverage preparation for a refrigerator
US8950315B2 (en) * 2010-11-15 2015-02-10 Conair Corporation Brewed beverage appliance and method
IT1403541B1 (it) * 2011-01-31 2013-10-31 Sarong Spa Macchina erogatrice per bevande
EP2945885B1 (fr) * 2012-12-27 2018-03-14 Sarong Societa' Per Azioni Capsule pour boissons

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2020044146A1 (fr) 2020-03-05

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