ES2561304T3 - Capsule to prepare a drink - Google Patents

Abstract

A capsule for preparing a beverage of the type comprising a cup-shaped body (2), closed on the upper side by a lid (3), in which case a plurality of chambers (7 and 8) of infusion, each of which is provided with a respective area for the water flow inlet and each of which is provided with a respective area for the infusion outlet; in which case said infusion chambers (7 and 8) are concentric and sealed in a fluid tight manner, one with respect to the other; said cup-shaped body (2) has a cylindrical side wall (4) and a base wall (5); at least one intermediate wall (6) that divides the interior of said cup-shaped body (2) in said infusion chambers (7 and 8), which are present inside the cup-shaped body (2) and are made as a single piece together with said base wall (5), from which it extends parallel to said side wall (4); said base wall (5) has a plurality of first through holes (13 and 14); wherein a plurality of annular projections (15 and 16) originating from the outer face of said base wall (5) and extending downward, separate some of said first holes (13) from other said first holes (14) , to define a plurality of areas for infusion output; said output areas are provided one for each of said infusion chambers (7 and 8); said cover (3) has a plurality of second through holes (25 and 26); and wherein said cover (3) has a plurality of annular thickening (18 and 21) that separate some of said second holes (25) from other said second holes (26) to define a plurality of areas for water flow inlet , said input areas are provided one for each of said infusion chambers (7 and 8); characterized in that said annular thickening (18) is formed along the peripheral edge of said lid (3) and with the lid (3) mounted inside the capsule (1) rests against an annular projection (24) obtained on the face internal of the lateral wall (4) near the upper end thereof; and said annular thickening (21) is concentric with respect to said annular thickening (18) and with the cap (3) mounted inside the capsule (1) ends near the upper end of said intermediate wall (6).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Capsule to prepare a drink Technical field

The present invention relates to a capsule for preparing an infusion type beverage.

5 Background of the invention

In general terms, when someone wishes to prepare an infusion drink that is formed by mixing at least two products (for example, to prepare a cappuccino which, as is well known, consists of coffee and foamy milk) a capsule or a chamber is used in which the products are already mixed or a capsule in which there are two defined cameras, one for each product and one of them is superimposed on the other. For the two capsules in use, located in the chambers, hot water is channeled under pressure in the upper chamber to create a first infusion with the first product and then the first infusion is channeled through the openings to the second chamber to mix with the second product in order to create the drink. It seems obvious that if coffee and milk are used as products, the beverage resulting from the capsule is not a real cappuccino but rather a coffee with normal milk. In fact, a real cappuccino includes a separate preparation of coffee and milk foam that is then always poured separately into a cup.

EP-A1-1 704 803 (TUTTOESPRESSO) describes a method for dispensing a beverage from a beverage dispensing apparatus, which includes a cartridge according to the preamble of the revindication 1 and a beverage collection unit for dispensing a beverage from the cartridge to a beverage container; The method ensures that the beverage is dispensed from the cartridge to the container along at least two separate dispensing devices 20 to dispense a beverage from a cartridge.

WO 2007/093355 (SAMAR TECHNOLOGIES LTD.) Describes an apparatus for producing an infusion of an aromatic beverage comprising a capsule containing the powder of one or more aromatic essences with which the infusion is prepared, which is capable of associating with a vending device having at least a first and second vending route that are hydraulically separated from each other and means of forced positioning between the capsule and the vending device.

Disclosure of the invention

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a capsule for preparing a beverage that does not have the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention, a capsule is provided for preparing a beverage of the type comprising a cup-shaped body, closed in its upper part with a lid, characterized in that inside it has a plurality of infusion chambers, each provided with a respective area for the entry of water flow and each provided with a respective area for the exit of the infusion.

Brief description of the drawings

To better understand the invention, an embodiment is described herein only by way of illustration and not by way of limitation with the aid of the attached figures, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views according to different angles of a capsule; Y

Figure 3 is a perspective, partial and sectional view of a capsule inserted in a percolation chamber. Best way to make the invention

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a capsule comprising a cup-shaped body 2, closed on its upper side with a lid 3 in the form of a disk, all indicated with 1. The body 2 shaped Cup has a side wall 4 with a cylindrical shape and a base wall 5. An intermediate wall 6, which divides the interior of said cup-shaped body 2 into two infusion chambers 7 and 8, is present inside the cup-shaped body 2 and is an integral part with the base wall 5, of which extends parallel to the side wall 4. The chamber 7 is delimited at the bottom by a central portion 11 of the base wall 5 and laterally by the inner face of the intermediate wall 6. The chamber 8 is concentric with respect to the chamber 7 and is delimited at the bottom by an annular portion 12 of the base wall 5 and laterally by the external face of the intermediate wall 6 and by the internal face of the lateral wall 4. In the central portion 11 of the base wall 5 a first exit area is obtained, which is defined in this mode by a plurality of through holes 13, distributed according to a plurality of circumferences. In the annular portion 12 of the base wall 5 a second outlet area 50 is obtained which is defined in this mode by a plurality of through holes 14, distributed according to a

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circumference. Two annular projections 15 and 16, originate from the outer face of the base wall 5 and extend downwards. The projection 15 is adjacent to the intermediate wall 6 and delimits the first exit area already mentioned. While the projection 16 is substantially a continuation of the lower end of the side wall 4, together with the projection 15 delimits the second exit area already mentioned. The side wall 4 at its upper end has an annular edge 17 with a thickness greater than the remaining part of the same wall 4; the edge 17 extends from the outer face of the wall 4.

The cover 3 has two annular thickening 18 and 21 defining two portions 22 and 23 in the cover 3. The thickening 18 is formed along the peripheral edge of the cover 3 and, with the cover 3 mounted, rests against a projection Annular 24 obtained on the inner side of the lateral wall 4 near its upper end. The thickening 21 is concentric with respect to the thickening 18 and with the cover 3 mounted it ends near the upper end of the intermediate wall 6. In the portion 22, which is central and that is delimited by the thickening 18, a first entrance area is defined. In the portion 23, which is annular and which is delimited between the two thickenings 22 and 23, a second entrance area is defined. The first inlet area has a plurality of through holes 25, evenly distributed, and the second inlet area has a plurality of through holes 26, evenly distributed along the portion 23.

As can be seen, with the lid mounted inside the capsule 1, the two chambers 7 and 8 are defined which are separated from each other and which close together in a fluid-tight manner; each chamber 7 and 8 houses a predetermined amount of a respective infusion. The chamber 7 is delimited at the bottom by the portion 11 of the base wall 5, laterally by the inner face of the intermediate wall 6 and at the top by the portion 22 of the cover 3. It should be noted that after assembling the lid 3, the peripheral edge of the portion 22 near the thickening 21 rests against the upper end of the intermediate wall 6, thereby obtaining a substantial seal in a fluid tight manner between the chamber 7 and the chamber 8.

The chamber 8 is delimited at the bottom by the portion 15 of the base wall 5, laterally by the outer face of the intermediate wall 6 and by the inner face of the side wall 4 and on the upper side by the portion 23 of the lid 3. It can be emphasized that the inner side of the side wall 4 is slightly widened upwards and the diameter of the lid 3 is such that after assembling the peripheral edge of the lid 3 it is pressed hard on the inner face of the wall 4 side to obtain a seal in a tight manner to the chamber fluid 8.

In essence, the capsule 1 has two separate chambers 7 and 8 sealed in a fluid tight manner with respect to each other and each chamber 7 and 8 has a respective area for the entrance of a fluid and a respective area for the exit of a fluid.

With reference to Figure 3, when the capsule is being used, it is inserted into a percolation element 30 which comprises a cup-shaped lower body 31 having a base wall 32 and a cylindrical side wall 33. The element 30 also comprises a plate 34 covering the upper edge of the side wall 33. The element 30 thus defines a percolating chamber 35 delimited at the bottom by the inner face of the base wall 32, laterally by the inner face of the side wall 33 and on the upper side by the inner face of the plate 34 of coverage. As can be seen from Figure 3, as the capsule 1 is inserted into the percolating chamber 35, the plate 34 is pressed on the thickening 18 and 21 creating a seal between the two input areas defined in step 3 of the capsule 1. The plate 34 is also pressed against the upper edge of the side wall 33, the edge 17 of the capsule 1. In this way a seal is obtained from the percolating chamber 35 outwards. Finally, it can always be seen in Figure 3 that projections 15 and 16 rest against the inner face of the base wall 32 of the body 31 whereby a seal is obtained in a fluid tight manner between the two mentioned outlet areas of the capsule 1, and from them towards the defined space between the external surface of the capsule 1 and the percolating chamber 35.

In the plate 34, two through holes 36 and 37 are obtained, of which the hole 36 at a lower end that will be in correspondence with the portion 22 of the cover 3 and therefore of the first mentioned entrance area of the capsule 1. In particular, the hole 36 is obtained aligned with the longitudinal axis of the chamber 35 and, therefore, of the capsule 1. The hole 37 has a lower end that corresponds to the portion 23 of the lid 3 and therefore of the second aforementioned inlet area of the capsule 1. The base wall 32 of the body 31 also has two through holes 38 and 41, of which the hole 38 has an upper end that corresponds with the first exit area already mentioned of the capsule 1 and a lower end leading out of the percolating chamber 35. In particular, the hole 38 is obtained aligned with the hole 36. The hole 41 has an upper end that corresponds to the second exit area already mentioned of the capsule 1 and a lower end that leads out of the chamber 35 of percolation In particular, hole 41 is obtained aligned with hole 37.

If the holes 36 and 37 are fed with a respective and separate water flow, it is possible to define two different channels, one for each infusion injected into the capsule 1. The first channel provides the hole 36, the chamber 7 and the hole 38. The second channel provides the hole 37, the chamber 8 and the hole 41. The division of the channels includes the possibility of feeding the two channels at the same time so that, once they find the corresponding infusion, the two water flows are mixed then in a container placed under item 30 of

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percolation By the division of the channels a first water flow can conduct along the first channel and then a second water flow along the second channel so that the second flow that passes through the second infusion falls into the container which already contains the first flow of water that passes through the first infusion. Ultimately, the two infusions can be mixed in the aforementioned container or while they are being channeled in the container itself or in subsequent times.

It is evident that it is possible to define within the capsule 1 a greater amount of cameras and this allows not only the possibility of using multiple infusions (one per camera) but also deciding with the same capsule 1 which mixture of infusions can constitute the beverage. In fact, it can be expected to select which channels must be fed with the corresponding water flow, with which flow rate and at what temperature.

Another variant may provide the absence of thickening 21 in the lid 3 and, therefore, the flow of water to the inlet areas of the capsule 1 can provide a single hole between the holes 36 and 37 since the main feature is to provide two different exit areas from capsule 1, one for each infusion.

Finally, it should be summarized that in some or all of the infusion chambers in the respective outlet areas, a respective filter can be installed to prevent infusion leakage.

From the above described, the numerous advantages achieved with the embodiment of the present invention are evident.

In particular, a capsule with several chambers is supplied (one infusion per chamber, which allows a channeling of a water flow for each chamber of the capsule. It seems obvious that if, for example, an infusion by coffee powder and the second infusion is defined by powdered milk or liquid milk, the beverage obtained is a real cappuccino and not a coffee with normal milk.It should be emphasized that it is possible to select the flow rate of water for each channel; the flow rate depends the amount and extent of the holes 25 and 26 obtained in the cover 3. It also seems clear that with the infusion chambers having an annular development, the layer can be installed in the percolating element without the need to have a direction of redefined installation Finally, for capsules with a number of cameras of more than two units, it is possible to select which cameras will be occupied by the water flow.

Claims (2)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 1. A capsule for preparing a beverage of the type comprising a cup-shaped body (2), closed on the upper side by a lid (3), in which case a plurality of chambers (7 and 8 is present inside) ) of infusion, each of which is provided with a respective area for the entry of water flow and each of which is provided with a respective area for the exit of the infusion; in which case said infusion chambers (7 and 8) are concentric and sealed in a fluid tight manner, one with respect to the other; said cup-shaped body (2) has a cylindrical side wall (4) and a base wall (5); at least one intermediate wall (6) that divides the interior of said cup-shaped body (2) into said infusion chambers (7 and 8), which are present inside the cup-shaped body (2) and are made as a single piece together with said base wall (5), from which it extends parallel to said side wall (4); said base wall (5) has a plurality of first through holes (13 and 14); wherein a plurality of annular projections (15 and 16) originating from the outer face of said base wall (5) and extending downward, separate some of said first holes (13) from other said first holes (14) , to define a plurality of areas for infusion output; said exit areas are provided one for each of said infusion chambers (7 and 8); said cover (3) has a plurality of second through holes (25 and 26); and wherein said cover (3) has a plurality of annular thickening (18 and 21) that separate some of said second holes (25) from other said second holes (26) to define a plurality of areas for water flow inlet , said entry areas are provided one for each of said infusion chambers (7 and 8); characterized in that said annular thickening (18) is formed along the peripheral edge of said lid (3) and with the lid (3) mounted inside the capsule (1) rests against an annular projection (24) obtained on the face internal of the lateral wall (4) near the upper end thereof; and said annular thickening (21) is concentric with respect to said annular thickening (18) and with the cap (3) mounted inside the capsule (1) ends near the upper end of said intermediate wall (6). 2. A capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that said cap (3) rests against said intermediate walls (6) to define a fluid tight seal between said infusion chambers (7 and 8).