FR3069231B1 - METHOD FOR OPENING A FOOD CAPSULE - Google Patents

Abstract

Method and device for opening the operculum of a food capsule (8.2) by means of a circular serrated blade (8.3), comprising relative movements of pressure and rotation (8.7, 8.8) of said food capsule by relative to said circular serrated blade, said relative pressure movement having the effect of piercing said lid at least partially by means of said circular serrated blade, said relative rotational movement having the effect of cutting and / or tearing said lid by means of said circular serrated blade.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and a device for opening and cleaning a food capsule, and more particularly of a capsule containing a food powder from which a substance can be extracted under pressure for the manufacture of a drink.

For several years, pods for extracting a substance under pressure have been marketed, in particular for their use in suitable coffee machines. Today, three large families of pods exist, called soft pods, hard pods and capsules. The pods represent a typical example of over-packaged products which pose the problem of their environmental impact.

In the case of flexible coffee pods, the roasted coffee powder is contained in a pocket made from filter paper. It is possible to recycle them according to the composting process, without having to separate the elements which constitute them beforehand, that is to say the coffee powder and the filter paper. The hard pods consist of a rigid cup, for example made from plastic or aluminum, and not closed with filter paper. It is easy for the consumer to tear the filter paper with a knife to gain access to the coffee powder, to empty it of most of the coffee which it contains and then to throw the dish in a suitable selective sorting bin.

The capsules, on the other hand, consist of a rigid or semi-rigid cup, often made from plastic or aluminum and closed with a rigid or semi-rigid seal, often made of plastic, aluminum or a composite. containing either or both of these materials. The size of these capsules is today approximately 3.6 cm for the diameter of the base, which is also the diameter of the cover. Their height is approximately 3.2 cm. These dimensions may change in the future. The structure of these capsules pauses a real problem for their opening by the consumer who therefore does not know how to easily separate the elements of the capsule (cup and lid) from the food powder it contains (coffee or other), for their separate recycling . In a context of increasing commitment of the countries of the world in environmental protection, there is therefore the risk for the manufacturers of these capsules and the corresponding machines of a reduction in their market shares for the benefit of manufacturers of soft pods or pods hard which are more easily recyclable. Despite the strong incentive to innovate presented by this commercial risk, no satisfactory solution has been proposed to date for the recycling of capsules.

The company OUTPRESSO-USA (http://www.outpresso-usa.com/store.html) proposed by the past a tool which made it possible to exert on the capsule a strong pressure to turn it over and thus empty it. its content. The pressure to be exerted was very strong which made it difficult to use the tool. This is undoubtedly the reason why this tool is no longer sold. In addition, this tool was bulky.

An experimental tool has also been proposed for cutting the lid of metal capsules from a NESPRESSO type capsule (http: //www.thingiverse.eom/thing: 723702). It uses a cutting element consisting in the case of this prototype in cutter blades trapped between two cylinders, an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder; the cylinders are fitted one inside the other so as to trap the cutter blades between their facing surfaces. Once the cap of the capsule has been cut by the cutter blades, the side of the outer cylinder which is opposite the cutter blades is used to extract the coffee powder. The outer cylinder surface is for this purpose grooved so as to present a relief for hanging the coffee powder. However, this tool remained in the prototype state because the cutter blades used to cut the cover presented a risk of injury aggravated by a health hazard since the blades which must be brought into contact with a wet environment risk rusting. Cutter blades are objects that are dangerous to leave in a kitchen within the reach of children. In addition, the fluted part used to empty the coffee with this prototype required strong pressure to penetrate the coffee grounds. A large quantity of coffee filled the grooves, reducing the grip of the tool in the coffee. For all of these reasons, the capsule manufacturers have not developed a tool according to this principle, despite the increasingly pressing commercial interest in solving the problem of recycling capsules for user speakers.

Faced with the lack of a technical solution to offer the consumer to recycle the capsules himself, the Nespresso company has more recently launched a campaign to collect used capsules (https://www.nespresso.com / entreprise/recyclage-cafe-machines.html), taking care of the separation operations of the dish, the lid, and the coffee. The complexity for the consumer and the cost generated for Nespresso do not ensure to date that a significant quantity of capsules can be thus recovered for the selective recycling of the elements constituting these capsules.

It therefore still exists, despite an increasingly massive consumption of these capsules, and although the problem has been known for many years by their manufacturers, the need to offer consumers of these capsules a simple and risk-free solution allowing them to open a food capsule by means of a cutting element, in order to then be able to separate the capsule and the cover on the one hand and the coffee on the other hand, with the aim of depositing them in sorting bins selective adapted.

The problems remaining to be resolved relate firstly to the identification of a suitable cutting element, an additional problem remaining that of the effective removal of the food powder contained in the capsule. This food powder may be coffee but capsules containing other food powders cause the same recycling problem. For example, the company Dolce Gusto already offers machines that use capsules and can produce hot or cold drinks, coffee, short, long, latte, cappuccino, chocolates, or even tea. Other food powders exist.

There is also the need to propose the cutting element of a tool and a corresponding method which are adapted to the capsules currently most widely used, and whose structure and material characteristics may differ according to the manufacturers (Nespresso, Ethical Coffee, Sara Lee, etc.).

There is also the need for a tool and a method for cleaning the marc contained in the capsule, which is not specific for example of the type of food powder contained in the capsule.

The invention aims to improve the situation by overcoming the drawbacks of the previously known solutions.

It provides for this purpose a method of opening a food capsule comprising the steps of presenting the lid of said food capsule opposite a cutting element, generating a relative movement of said food capsule relative to said cutting element, said relative movement consisting of a relative pressure movement and a relative rotation movement, said relative pressure movement having the effect of at least partially piercing said cover by means of said cutting element, said relative rotation movement having for effect of at least partially cutting, or at least partially tearing said cover by means of said cutting element, said relative movement being any combination of said relative pressure movement and said relative rotational movement, said relative movement being obtained by the sole displacement of said food capsule or by the sole displacement of said element cutting element, or by combined movements of said food capsule and said cutting element, characterized in that the cutting element comprises a circular serrated blade which is integral or essentially integral with a guide body.

It further provides a method in which said circular serrated blade is produced from a flexible serrated blade which is folded back in said guide body. The material and the thickness of the flexible serrated blade can be chosen according to the number of lids it will have to cut. The blade is then a consumable that the user will have to replace when it is worn out.

It also proposes a method in which said circular serrated blade is produced from a material belonging to the group comprising a metal or a plastic in the general sense of the term, or more precisely a polyethylene terephthalate, or more precisely a Polycarbonate or more precisely a Poly-methyl methacrylate.

In addition, the method can be such that said circular serrated blade and said guide body are fixed to a packaging capable of containing said food capsule or else integrated into an element of a machine intended to use said food capsule.

The method can be such that said cover is made from a group comprising aluminum or plastic or a composite material containing at least one of these materials. Said serrated blade can also be integrated into one of the constituent elements of a machine intended to use said food capsules, said constituent element being able to be integral with or detachable from said machine. The invention also proposes a method in which the cover is not structured.

The invention also provides a method which comprises a step of aligning said cover of said capsule with the interior of an enveloping profile and then a step of inserting said capsule inside said enveloping profile, the so-called enveloping profile being integrated into said guide body and the inside diameter of said enveloping profile being essentially close to but greater than the largest diameter of said cover, said alignment and insertion steps essentially having the function of pre-aligning the axes of symmetry of said cover and of said circular serrated blade before said pressure and rotation movements.

The method may also have a step of cleaning a food powder contained in said capsule by means of an extractor, said extractor being integral, in a removable or non-removable manner with said guide body, said extractor being provided with arms extractor and an extractor head whose profile is able to match the internal shape of the cup of said food capsule, the said extractor being perforated.

The invention also provides a tool for cutting the cover of a food capsule, said tool comprising a cutting element capable of piercing and cutting and / or tearing the central cover disc of said food capsule, characterized in that said cutting element is a circular serrated blade secured or essentially secured to a guide body.

The invention also provides a tool whose circular serrated blade is made from a flexible serrated blade which is folded back in said guide body.

The invention also provides a tool whose circular serrated blade is made from a material belonging to the group comprising a metal or a plastic in the general sense of the term or more specifically Polyethylene terephthalate, or more precisely a Polycarbonate or more precisely a Poly-methyl methacrylate.

The invention also provides a tool which includes an extractor attached to said guide body, said extractor being provided with extractor arm and an extractor head, the profile of said extractor head being able to fit the internal shape of the cup of said food capsule and said extractor being perforated.

The invention also provides a tool such that the circular serrated blade is fixed to a package capable of containing said food capsule or else integrated into an element of a machine intended to use said food capsule.

The invention also provides a tool whose guide body is provided with an enveloping profile, said enveloping profile being integrated with said guide body and the inside diameter of said enveloping profile being essentially close to but greater than the largest diameter of said cover, the axis of symmetry of said enveloping profile being essentially aligned with the axis of symmetry of said circular serrated blade, said circular serrated blade being completely included in the interior volume of said guide body defined by said enveloping profile.

The circular serrated blade of the tool or method may have a tab to assist in removing the circular serrated blade from the guide body.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below and the appended drawings, very schematic, in which:

Figure 1 schematically illustrates the cross section of a food capsule according to a known structure.

FIG. 2 illustrates three food capsules represented on the cover side, the covers being according to three known structures.

FIG. 3 illustrates in a three-dimensional perspective a first embodiment of a device according to the invention.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a circular serrated blade from a flexible serrated blade.

FIG. 5 illustrates, before their assembly, a guide body and a circular serrated blade.

FIG. 6 illustrates a guide made up of a guide body and a circular serrated blade which have been assembled, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the steps of a method according to the invention consisting in presenting the cap of a capsule opposite a guide consisting of a guide body and a circular serrated plastic blade, then in press the guide against the cover to pierce the cover.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates another step of a method according to the invention consisting of, following the piercing according to the method of FIG. 7, cutting and / or tearing of the cover by relative rotation of the body of guide relative to the capsule.

FIG. 9 illustrates, after piercing and / or cutting and / or tearing of the cover, according to the methods of FIGS. 7 and / or 8, another step according to the method of the invention consisting in cleaning the grounds of a capsule by means of a tool made up of the guide to which an openwork extractor provided with an extractor tip for cleaning was attached.

FIG. 10 illustrates a device for opening and cleaning a capsule according to a second embodiment of the invention, in which the tool used in the method of FIG. 9 is integrated into a stopper of a coffee machine.

FIG. 11 illustrates, according to a third embodiment of the invention, the integration of a guide body and a circular serrated plastic blade in a package that can contain capsules.

The accompanying drawings may not only serve to complete the invention, but also contribute to its definition, if necessary.

Figure 1 very schematically shows a sectional view of a food capsule, for example, a coffee capsule, according to known art. The capsule 1 consists of a cup 1.1 and a lid 1.2, the assembly defining an interior volume in which coffee powder 1.3 is placed. The cup 1.1 essentially has the shape of a truncated cone, of axis of revolution 1A1A 'perpendicular to the cover, and the largest diameter of which is located on the side of the cover 1.2. The capsule itself may not have strictly axial symmetry. The axis of revolution 1A1A ′ is therefore the axis of a truncated cone whose shape would approximate the shape of the capsule. An annular flat is made on the side of the larger diameter of the cup, thus creating a cup edge 1.4. The lid 1.2 is held by gluing on this edge of the cup 1.4.

Figure 2 shows the lids of three capsules which have lids of different structures. In 2.1 is shown a smooth cover based on aluminum whose axis of revolution essentially coincides with the axis of revolution 1A1A 'of the capsule 1. The smooth cover based on aluminum 2.1 comprises a peripheral ring 2.2 whose the surface is suitable for bonding to the edge of the cup 1.4. The smooth aluminum-based lid 2.1 also has a central smooth lid plate 2.3 which is essentially smooth. In the context of this description, a smooth cover may have a residual roughness which may have an aesthetic function or help the representation of a mark or other reasons, excluding the function of making the material significantly more robust. operculum, this last function being represented, horn we will see, in relation to element 2.4. The cover 2.1 is produced, on all of its parts 2.2 and 2.3, by an aluminum-based sheet, that is to say made of aluminum alone or in the form of a composite containing aluminum. The aluminum-based sheet has a thickness thick enough to guarantee the robustness of the capsule but also thin enough to be able to pierce when the capsule is used in a suitable coffee machine, which injects a liquid under pressure, for example water.

In 2.4 is shown a structured cover based on aluminum whose axis of revolution essentially merges with the axis of revolution 1A1A 'of the capsule 1. The structured cover based on aluminum 2.4 comprises a ring device 2.5 whose surface, smooth or structured, is suitable for bonding to the edge of the cup 1.4. The lid 2.4 also has a central structured lid disk 2.6, which is structured. The structuring of the central disc of structured cover 2.6 can be carried out for example by stamping an aluminum-based sheet. It is alternatively possible to produce sheets based on aluminum which are inhomogeneous in thickness or in density or in hardness, or by providing them with a mesh weft, to induce a structuring reinforcing the robustness of these structured sheets. Those skilled in the art of aluminum-based sheets know many other methods. The essential characteristic of a 2.4-based structured operculum is to benefit from a greater robustness of the central 2.6 operculum disc while using typically thinner aluminum films, therefore less expensive, than those which are necessary in the absence of structuring, as in element 2.1.

In 2.7 is shown a plastic perforated cover whose axis of revolution essentially merges with the axis of revolution 1A1A 'of the capsule 1. The plastic perforated cover 2.7 has a peripheral ring 2.8 whose surface, essentially smooth or possibly perforated, is suitable for bonding or melting at the edge of the cup 1.4. The plastic perforated cover 2.7 also has a central perforated cover disc 2.9, pierced with a network of holes, which has been shown organized according to a regular grid. The production of holes in the central disc with a perforated cover 2.9, prior to the use of the capsule in a coffee machine, is justified by the fact that the pressure supplied by a coffee machine would be insufficient to pierce the cover in plastic in the absence of holes, in particular because the plastic of the plastic hole 2.7 is too thick.

Figure 3 very schematically shows a first embodiment of a device according to the invention. Tool 3.8 and consisting of a guide 3.1 and an extractor 3.5. The guide 3.1 comprises a guide body 3.2, optionally provided with an enveloping profile 3.4. A circular serrated blade 3.3 is attached or integrated into the guide body 3.2. It is important to note that in the context of this description, the only essential function of a guide body is to be integral or essentially integral with said circular serrated blade 3.3, that is to say that any movement of said body guide results in an identical or essentially identical movement of the circular serrated blade. "Essentially integral" must be understood within the framework of this description by the fact that a residual play can be tolerated in the way in which the guide body 3.2 and the circular serrated blade 3.3 are attached together; the possibility of a slight movement of one with respect to the other of these two elements can therefore remain without harming the use of the guide 3.1 to cut and / or tear a cover 1.2. Different guide bodies can be defined comprising different means for making said guide body and said circular serrated blade integral, these means being able to be removable or non-removable. The integration of said enveloping profile 3.4 to said guide body 3.2 is optional. When they are all present, the circular serrated blade 3.3, the guide body 3.2 and its enveloping profile 3.4 have essentially annular shapes which have approximately the same axis of revolution, that is to say approximately the same axis of symmetry. These three elements 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 are integral. However, it is not necessary for the enveloping profile 3.4 or the guide body 3.2 to have strictly annular shapes, in particular for reasons of ergonomics or aesthetics. It is advantageous that the circular serrated blade has the shape closest to a ring to facilitate the opening of the cover according to the method which will be described in the following. The tool 3.8 is provided, in this first embodiment to be manipulated by the user of the coffee machine, after the capsule has been used to obtain a liquid coffee.

In the method according to one aspect of the invention, the user holds the tool 3.8 to press the capsule 1 side seal against the teeth of the circular serrated blade 3.3, so that the teeth of the blade serrated circular 3.3 sink into the thickness of the cover 1.2. The internal shape of the guide body 3.2, and in particular that of its enveloping profile 3.4, are adapted to help the user to superimpose approximately the axis of revolution of the capsule 1A1A ', as previously defined in relation to FIG. 1, with the essentially common axis of revolution of the circular serrated blade 3.3, of the enveloping profile 3.4 and of the guide body 3.2.

After complete or partial piercing of the cover 1.2 of the capsule 1 by the teeth of the circular serrated blade 3.3, the user rotates the capsule 1 relative to the guide 3.1 along the axis which is approximately common to the capsule 1 and with circular serrated blade 3.3. This makes it possible to obtain a cutout of the cover lying approximately on a circle corresponding to the annular shape of the circular serrated blade 3.3. The method according to the invention includes numerous variants which depend in particular on the dexterity of the user to handle the tool 3.8. The user of the tool 3.8 may be more or less accustomed to performing the actions of pressing the circular serrated blade 3.3 against the cover 1.2, and rotating them relative to each other around their axes of revolution. basically superimposed. In other words, the method according to the invention includes all variants where the pressure exerted is not sufficient for all the blades of the circular serrated blade 3.3 to completely pierce the cover 1.2 or for the rotational movement to be not sufficiently complete to allow total cutting of the cover 1.2. According to other variants of the method according to the invention, the actions of pressing the cover 1.2 against the circular serrated blade 3.3, then of rotating them relative to each other around their approximately superimposed axes of symmetry can be actions carried out more or less completely and in any sequence. According to still other variants of the method according to the invention, the use of the device 3.8 can lead to tearing rather than cutting the cover 1.2, or can lead to cutting or tearing the cover only partially, not allowing using a tool 3.8 to completely clear a central area of the cover 1.2. Nevertheless, the tool 3.8 according to the invention is capable of significantly facilitating the opening of the capsule 1 by cutting or partially or completely tearing its lid 1.2.

In a possible variant and not shown of implementation of the guide 3.1, it can be integrated into a coffee machine which is also provided with a capsule receptacle capable of receiving a used capsule and present its cover in look of the circular serrated blade 3.3. In this variant, the role of the user is essentially to place the used capsule in the suitable receptacle of the coffee machine, the relative movements for pressing and turning the circular serrated blade 3.3 relative to the cover 1.2 can be generated automatically. by the coffee machine according to a program that can be activated by the user. The advantage of this variant lies in better control of the relative movements of the capsule 1 and of the serrated blade 3.3, which makes it possible to greatly improve the success rate in opening the capsule. Another advantage is that the risk of cutting is even lower for the user and that his fingers are less dirty. Of course, such a system increases the manufacturing cost of the coffee machine which must incorporate the appropriate mechanism.

As we have seen, the enveloping profile 3.4 has the function of facilitating the centering of the capsule relative to the circular serrated blade 3.3. The internal shape of the guide body 3.2 is also able to limit the penetration depth of the circular serrated blade 3.3 in the cover 1.2 when they are pressed against each other. The enveloping profile 3.4 may also be able to keep the user's fingers away from the teeth of the circular serrated blade 3.3, thereby ensuring the desired safety condition. The shape of the guide 3.1, which will be described more precisely in relation to FIGS. 5 and 6, is adapted to receive the circular serrated blade 3.3, which will itself be described more precisely in relation to FIG. 4. The fixing of the blade circular serrated 3.3 inside the guide body 3.2 can be provided by all kinds of known means such as crimping, bonding, or other means. Depending on the type of fastening used, for example in the case of bonding, it may be advantageous to create a relief stop (not shown) on the internal surface of the guide body 3.2, in order to be hooked in a corresponding notch in the circular serrated blade 3.3, in order to avoid detachment thereof by shearing, for example if it is glued, during the rotation of the guide relative to a capsule. Alternatively, said circular serrated blade 3.3 may not be glued but only inserted into the guide body 3.2 so that it can be easily replaced when it is worn. The stop then serves simply to prevent said circular serrated blade 3.4 from rotating in the guide body.

As will be clarified in connection with Figures 4, 5 and 6, it is advantageous to use a circular serrated blade 3.3 formed from a flexible serrated blade. However, it is possible to make the circular serrated blade by any other means (machining of a block of material, molding, etc.).

The material used to make the circular serrated blade 3.1 can be of various types, for example metal, rigid cardboard, plastic or other materials. For reasons of price, it may for example be advantageous to choose a metal already mass produced for the production of soda cans. The type of material used can be chosen according to health safety criteria. For example, the circular serrated blade may be made of plastic for the tool 3.8 intended to be handled by the user. On the contrary, it may be made of metal in the case where the circular serrated blade 3.3 is integrated into a coffee machine, as we have seen previously.

The diameter of the circular serrated blade 3.3 can advantageously be provided to be slightly less than the diameter of the central discs of cover 2.3, 2.6 or 2.9 of the capsule 1. For example, a margin can be provided so that the diameter of circular serrated blade 3.3 is a few millimeters smaller than the diameters of the central discs of cover 2.3, 2.6 or 2.9 of cover 1.2. In this way the teeth of the circular serrated blade 3.3 can pierce the cover 1.2 without encountering any obstacle, for example without meeting the edge of the cup 1.4 or the ends of the conical wall of the cup 1.1 closest to the cover 1.2. It should be noted that the method according to the invention does not prevent the user from cutting or tearing all or part of the peripheral ring of cover 2.2, 2.5 or 2.8, even if this ring does not constitute discomfort to the extraction of coffee.

Optionally, an extractor 3.5 can be attached to the guide 3.1, to complete the tool 3.8. The extractor 3.5 is attached to a suitable side of the guide 3.1, that is to say a side which does not make impossible the previously defined operations of piercing and cutting or tearing of the lid 1.2 of a capsule 1 to by means of the serrated circular blade 3.3. FIG. 3 represents an extractor 3.5 positioned at the end of the guide body 3.2 which is opposite to the circular serrated blade 3.3. This arrangement has the advantage that the extractor 3.5 allows better holding of the tool 3.8 by the user when cutting the cover 1.2 with the tool 3.8. In an advantageous embodiment, the extractor 3.5 has three extractor arms 3.6 which concur in a helical shape, and which are spaced apart at their attachments to the guide body 3.2, but which join at their opposite ends to form a tip of extractor 3.7, creating a perforated extractor. In the context of this description, an extractor is perforated if it is traversed right through by an empty cavity, the coffee powder thus being able to pass through the extractor by penetrating by one of the ends of said cavity and emerging by another end of this cavity. The use of a perforated extractor makes it possible to prevent the coffee grounds from clumping around the extractor arms 3.6 and also makes it possible to minimize the amount of material used for the manufacture of the extractor 3.5. The helical shape created by the three extractor arms 3.6 can be optionally right or left to adapt it to right-handed or left-handed users. Figure 3 shows the example of an extractor with three arms, even if a different number of arms can be chosen. However, experience has shown that the use of four or more arms makes it more difficult for the extractor to penetrate the coffee grounds. It has also been found that a three-arm extractor is particularly ergonomic because it allows the extractor to be grasped with three fingers during the step of cutting the cover with the tool 3.8. The perforated part of the extractor 3.5 can be optimized in its shape and dimensions, in particular so that the solidity of the extractor remains sufficient. To this end, FIG. 3 represents an extractor 3.5 for which the transverse dimensions of the extractor arms 3.6 are slightly increased at the level of their contacts with the extractor tip 3.7.

Many means exist for attaching the extractor 3.5 to the guide body 3.2. This can be done by screws or by gluing. It is also possible to integrate into the extractor 3.5 a threaded crown secured to the extractor arms 3.6 at their ends opposite to the extractor tip 3.7. This threaded crown can be adapted to be screwed inside the guide body 3.2. Attachment by a bayonet mechanism is also possible. In the latter two cases, it is easy to separate the guide 3.1 from the extractor 3.5, in particular for cleaning the tool 3.8 after use. Alternatively, it is preferable to produce together by molding, the extractor 3.5 and the guide body 3.2, in particular its enveloping profile 3.4 and possibly the circular serrated blade 3.3. Tool 3.8 can therefore also be obtained in a single molding operation. Three-dimensional lithography can also be used to produce all or part of the elements of tool 3.8. Other manufacturing means exist.

4 shows a preferred embodiment of the circular serrated blade 3.3, in which a flexible serrated blade 4.1 is folded to form the circular serrated blade 3.3, which is shown in references 4.2 and 4.3 in Figure 4. In Within the framework of this description, a flexible serrated blade is said to be “folded” when its flexibility is used to give it, from an essentially linear initial shape, a new essentially annular shape. The action of folding back can be described in different ways, for example, by the actions of bending, bending or other qualifiers. In 4.2 is shown in top view the annular shape of the circular serrated blade, which is shown in profile in 4.3. One day 4.4 may remain, corresponding to the space remaining between the ends of the flexible serrated blade 4.1 after it has been folded. In order to increase the robustness of the circular serrated blade 4.2, it may be advantageous to attach these ends by an additional element, not shown, for example a length of adhesive tape. Also not shown, it may also be preferred, to implement a partial covering of the ends of the flexible serrated blade 4.1 once it has been folded, to attach its ends together by gluing, stapling, fusion or any other means. As Figure 4.1 suggests, a wide variety of tooth profiles can be used for the circular serrated blade 4.3, for example in order to optimize its piercing and cutting qualities, its robustness or even facilitate its manufacture. It is not necessary that the teeth of a flexible serrated strip 4.1 all have the same profile, the same dimensions; the spacing of these teeth may also be irregular. In the case where the circular serrated blade 3.3 is intended to be replaced after wear, it may be advantageous to provide the flexible serrated blade 4.1 with a tab 4.5 to be folded into the guide body 3.3 so as not to prevent piercing and cutting and / or tearing of the cover 1.2 by the circular serrated blade 3.3. Said tab 4.5 can be used to assist in the extraction of the circular serrated blade 3.3 from the guide body 3.2, in order to replace it with a new unused circular serrated blade.

Numerous comparative tests have been carried out with flexible bands in different materials. Surprisingly, it has been discovered that plastic materials, for example those used for the manufacture of water bottles, are suitable for cutting and / or tearing the central discs of smooth aluminum-based lids 2.3. These tests more specifically showed that circular serrated plastic blades 4.3 could be reused to open several dozen capsules fitted with smooth aluminum-based lids 2.1. This observation is all the more surprising since the first tests carried out with circular serrated plastic blades 4.3 had shown that they deteriorate very quickly when they are used to open capsules provided with structured aluminum-based lids. 2.4; other tests of these plastic circular serrated blades 4.3 for removing paper lids from hard pods showed that the lids' paper was crushed by plastic teeth, making it difficult to separate the lid and the coffee grounds. Still other tests confirmed that circular serrated blades 4.3 of plastic were not suitable for piercing or cutting out perforated plastic lids 2.7, these latter lids being too robust.

For example, not limiting plastic materials for making circular serrated blades 4.3 suitable for cutting smooth aluminum lids 2.1, and for which regularly positive results have been obtained, we can cite Polyethylene terephthalate, or PPT, which is used for the manufacture of water bottles. Conclusive tests have also been obtained with Polycarbonates (PC) or Poly methyl methacrylate. In general, numerous flexible serrated blades 4.1 made of plastics of varied composition and thickness may be suitable according to this preferred embodiment of the invention.

A wide variety of methods can be used to create the teeth of a flexible serrated plastic blade 4.1. Good results have been obtained at the cutting edge of the teeth of the flexible plastic serrated blades 4.1 by means of serrated scissors. Other means can be considered as laser cutting or molding or other methods known to those skilled in the art of industrial cutting. Some of these methods have the advantage of manufacturing compatible with mass production of flexible serrated blades. For example, many flexible serrated blades can be obtained by extruding plastic to form several hundred meters of a long non-serrated strip, then creating the teeth by one of the many known means, for example cutting with a serrated chisel, then by cutting the long serrated strip thus obtained. It is thus possible to easily produce a very large number of flexible serrated blades 4.1 of plastic whose length is limited to a few centimeters so that once folded the circular serrated blades 4.3 of plastic have a diameter suitable for piercing the disc center of smooth cover 2.3 of a smooth cover based on aluminum 2.1.

It should be noted that each method for manufacturing a circular serrated blade 4.3 has advantages and disadvantages which are specific to it in terms of efficiency for cutting a cover 1.2 as well as in terms of the cost of manufacturing and the desired longevity for circular serrated blades 4.3. It is for example possible to apply a programmed obsolescence policy where the robustness of the circular serrated blade 4.3 is provided to support only a limited number of capsule openings.

5 shows, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a circular serrated plastic blade 5.4, before its assembly with a guide body 5. Figure 6 shows the same elements after their assembly. The guide body 5, which is shown in section in FIGS. 5 and 6, is more particularly provided with a groove 5.2 for receiving the circular serrated plastic blade 5.4 and helping to maintain it in an essentially annular form. Indeed, under the effects of friction between the cover 1.2 and the circular serrated plastic blade 5.4, the latter may tend to leave its annular shape. FIG. 6 shows the circular serrated plastic blade 5.4 after its insertion into the groove 5.2 of the guide body 5. The retention of the circular serrated plastic blade 5.4 in the guide body 5 can be achieved by gluing, by crimping, by local laser fusion or other means which may involve local deformation of one or other of the circular serrated plastic blade 5.4, of the guide body 5, or of these two elements. Alternatively, the circular serrated plastic blade 5.4 can be simply fitted into the guide body 5 to facilitate replacement by the user, for example by pulling on the tab 4.5, which has not been shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the circular serrated strip shown in FIG. 6 is completely included in the interior volume defined by the enveloping profile 5.1. This means in Figure 6 that the tips of the teeth of the circular serrated blade 5.4 do not protrude from the upper edges of the enveloping profile 5.1 to limit the risk of injury to the user. As has been said in connection with FIG. 3, in the context of this description, the only essential function of a guide body is to be essentially integral with said circular serrated blade 3.3, whatever the process used to ensure that these two elements are integral. In particular, in one possible embodiment, the circular serrated blade 5.4 and the guide body 5 may form only one element.

The guide body 5 also includes an enveloping profile 5.1 and a support 5.3. The enveloping profile has the same alignment and protection functions previously described in relation to element 3.4 of Figure 3. The function of the support 5.3 will be better understood in relation to Figures 7 and 8. Figure 7 shows a capsule 7.2, the cover of which is presented so as to face the end of the guide body 7.1 which carries the circular serrated plastic blade 7.3. The guide body 7.1 has an enveloping profile 7.6 whose internal dimensions allow the capsule-side capsule to be inserted into the guide body 7.1. The user must present the capsule 7.2 so that its axis of revolution 7A7A 'is approximately superimposed on the axis of revolution 7B7B' of the enveloping profile 7.6. As was said above in relation to FIG. 3, the guide body 7.1 and the circular serrated plastic blade 7.3 are also adapted to present axes of revolution which are approximately superimposed on the axis of revolution 7B7B 'of the enveloping profile. 7.6. The internal dimensions of the cavity formed by the enveloping profile 7.6 must be greater than the external dimensions of the peripheral ring of cover 7.5 so that the enveloping profile 7.6 does not prevent the insertion of the capsule 7.2 into the guide body 7.1. The enveloping profile 7.6 can form a complete or discontinuous cylindrical cavity forming only portions of a cylindrical wall, as will be seen in relation to FIG. 11, or have other forms as well.

The guide body 7.1 is also provided with a support whose role will be better understood in relation to Figures 7 and 8 where the elements in 7.4 and 8.4 represent the support in question. FIG. 8 represents the capsule 8.2 after its insertion into the guide body 8.1, and of its enveloping profile 8.6. The peripheral ring of the cover 8.5 is brought into contact with the support 8.4. In the direction defined by the axis 7B7B 'in Figure 7, the height of the support 7.4 relative to the height of the teeth of the circular serrated plastic blade 7.3, is adapted so that these teeth have completely pierced the lid when the peripheral ring of the cover 8.5 and the support 8.4 are in contact on at least three points of their surfaces. The user of the guide body 8.1 can proceed in two stages. First insert the capsule 7.2 into the guide body 7.1 to obtain said contact, as represented by arrow 7.7, then rotate the capsule around its axis of revolution as represented by arrow 8.7, while keeping the body fixed guide 8.1 The first step ensures by pressing the piercing of the lid by the teeth of the circular serrated plastic blade 7.3. The second step makes it possible to cut out the cover entirely or in any case sufficiently after an appropriate rotation of the capsule 8.2 relative to the guide body 8.1. As mentioned above, it is not necessarily easy for a user to scrupulously follow the two steps in the chronology which has just been presented by way of example. In practice, a user can try to turn before pressing to pierce or perform the two operations at the same time. The method according to the invention is therefore not strictly limited to a precise sequence for exerting the pressure movement to pierce the cover or to exercise the rotational movement to cut or tear the cover. These movements can also be incomplete leading to a capsule torn according to undefined contours rather than cut according to well controlled curves. The method according to the invention also does not require that all the teeth of the circular serrated plastic blade 8.3 have pierced the cover. The process can also be terminated without any part of the cover being completely detached from the capsule. Finally, the method can be implemented by keeping one or the other of the capsule 7.2 and the guide body 7.1 stationary, or by moving both. In other words, the step of pressing can be carried out by the only movement represented by the arrow 7.7 of the capsule 7.2, or the only movement represented by the arrow 7.8 of the guide body 7.1, or by these two movements together ; analogously, the rotation step can be carried out by the only rotation 8.7 of the capsule 8.2 or the only rotation 8.8 of the guide body 8.1 or by these two rotations. As said, the process according to the invention, with the result of at least partially opening the capsule 7.2, is capable of significantly facilitating the extraction of the coffee which it contains, for example by means of a extractor 3.5. It should be noted that in this embodiment according to the invention, the guide body 7.1 and the circular serrated blade 7.3 are integral with one another: in the context of this invention; a rotation or a translation of the guide body 7.1 caused by a user is inseparable from a corresponding rotation or translation of the circular serrated blade 7.3. However, in another embodiment of the invention not shown, the guide body 3.3 could itself be movable relative to a not shown guide body support that the user would hold. For example, the user could with one hand hold the guide body support containing the guide cops and with the other actuate a mechanism which moves in translation only or in rotation alone, or in translation and rotation of the body of guide relative to this guide body support. It is important to note once again that in the context of this description, the only essential function of the guide body is to be essentially integral with said circular serrated blade, so as to facilitate the holding of the latter by the user, or by the drive movement of a machine. A guide body 5 may not be provided with a groove 5.2, a support 5.3 or an enveloping profile 5.1. In particular, in the absence of groove 5.2, the circular shape of the circular serrated blade 5.4 can be obtained before making it essentially integral with said guide body, for example by making said circular serrated blade in a rigid material or else from a flexible serrated blade with both ends attached.

Figure 9 shows a device according to the invention in which an extractor 9.2 has been attached to the guide 9.1, opposite the circular serrated plastic blade 9.4. In 9.7 is shown a thread which can be used to fix to the guide body 9.3 the end of the extractor 9.2 which is opposite to the extractor tip 9.6. The extractor 9.2 is suitable for extracting the coffee grounds 9.8 from the capsules once their cover initially located in 9.9 has been cut or torn or partially cut or partially torn by means of the circular serrated plastic blade 9.4. The extractor 9.2 can be removably attached to the guide 9.1, for example by screwing as shown in 9.7, but other means are possible, whether they are removable (screwing, bayonet, etc.) or fixed (bonding, crimping, molding-assembly of the extractor 9.2 and the guide body 9.3, etc.). Tool 9.10 can therefore be entirely or partially removable or non-removable.

In a preferred embodiment of one of the additional aspects of the invention, the shape of the extractor tip 9.6 allows it to fit fairly well inside a capsule 9.13 in order to extract the content more easily by a rotational movement represented by the arrow 9.12. For example, the extractor tip 9.6 may have a casing which is of a conical profile close to the conical profile of the internal surface of the cup 9.11. It is also advantageous to give the extractor arms 9.5 an essentially hollowed out helical shape, as has already been described in relation to FIG. 3.

Figure 10 shows a second embodiment of a device according to the invention in which a tool 10.1, similar to those presented in Figures 3 or 9, is adapted to be integrated by screwing into the body of a plug 10.2 of the water tank of a coffee machine so as to form a unit 10.3 which fits into the coffee machine. More generally, it is possible to conceive that the tool 9.10, or the guide 9.1 and the extractor 9.2 taken separately, can be integrated into a coffee machine. A wide variety of integration modes is possible, including screwing into any part of the coffee machine or depositing the tool 9.10 or the guide 9.1 or the extractor 9.2 in a suitable receptacle (s) (s) of a coffee machine, or other means of integration as well.

Figure 11 shows a third embodiment of the invention in which the guide 11.1 is integrated, for example by gluing, to a packet or packaging 11.4 adapted to contain food capsules. In the embodiment presented, the guide body 11.5 is provided with an enveloping profile 11.2 whose walls are discontinuous, defining an incomplete cylindrical cavity. This discontinuous cavity remains, however, capable of allowing a pre-alignment making it possible to present the cover 1.2 of a capsule 1 opposite a circular serrated plastic blade 11.3 situated inside said incomplete cylindrical cavity. Said discontinuous enveloping profile 11.2 can be obtained as shown in fig 11 by means of four corner feet possibly connected by a common base, the assembly forming the guide body 11.5 which is fixed to one face of the package 11.4. The circular serrated plastic blade 11.3 is integrated on said common base or, in the absence of this common base, directly fixed to the surface of the package 11.4 by gluing, crimping, stapling or other known means. Many means can be defined to assemble on a package 11.4 the guide 11.1, that is to say the guide body 11.5 preferably provided with its enveloping profile and the circular serrated plastic blade 11.3. There are generally a wide variety of solutions for integrating into a package 11.4 all or part of the elements of a guide 11.1, for example, in relation to FIG. 5, the functions of the enveloping profile 5.1, of the groove 5.2, of the support 5.3 and the circular serrated plastic blade 5.4. Even if FIG. 11 shows the guide body 11.5 and the circular serrated plastic blade 11.3 as elements added to the package 11.4, in another embodiment of the invention not shown, these elements may be preexisting, it that is to say provided during the production of the surfaces to be used to form a packet of capsules. This can be implemented by providing suitable grooves, dug in one of the surfaces of said package, to form an enveloping profile with a function similar to the enveloping profile 5.1, a functional groove similar to the groove 5.2, and a functional support similar to support 5.3.

The method proposed according to the invention can be implemented with a tool 3.8, 9.10 or 11.1, less bulky than the tool of the crushing solution of the prior art. The method according to the invention requires much less effort than that required by the crushing tool of the prior art because it suffices to incise the cover rather than expelling it by pressing on the capsule.

The preferred method, which uses a circular serrated plastic blade 7.3 presents no health risk or even injury unlike the solution of the prior art using cutter blades possibly oxidized. The proposed guide structure 7.1 also provides, thanks to the presence of the enveloping profile 7.6, protection against the risk of injury to the user. Finally, in certain embodiments of the invention, the circular serrated blade can be easily inserted or removed from the guide body by means of an optional tongue attached to the circular serrated blade, to allow its replacement by the user when it is worn out.

The method and the device according to the invention are suitable for opening and extracting the marc of food powders contained in food capsules. The preferred solution which uses a circular serrated plastic blade 7.3 is particularly suitable for smooth aluminum capsule capsules 2.1. The method and the tool remain usable for capsules provided with a structured aluminum-based cover 2.4 or a perforated plastic cover 2.7. For example, it is possible to integrate a guide 3.1 mini of a circular serrated blade 3.3 of metal inside a coffee machine, to cut the lid of a capsule provided with a perforated plastic lid 2.7 . The method and the tool according to the invention could therefore more generally be used for other food capsules provided with lids different from those shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2.

The embodiments presented and the means described for their implementation can not be interpreted as limitations to the scope of the claims, as set out. The invention is not limited either to the embodiments of the device or of the method previously described and which are presented here only by way of example of implementation of the invention. The invention encompasses in particular all the variants that a person skilled in the art will be able to envisage within the scope of the claims below.

Claims (7)

1. A method of opening a food capsule comprising the steps of, presenting the cover (1.2, 2.1) of said food capsule (1, 7.2, 8.2) opposite a cutting element, generating a relative movement of said food capsule (7.2, 8.2) relative to said cutting element, said relative movement consisting of a relative pressure movement (7.7, 7.8) and a relative rotational movement (8.7, 8.8), said relative pressure movement having for effect of at least partially piercing said lid by means of said cutting element, said relative rotational movement having the effect of at least partially cutting out, or at least partially tearing said lid by means of said cutting element, said relative movement being a combination any of said relative pressure movement and said relative rotational movement, said relative movement being obtained by the sole movement (7.7, 8.7) of said food capsule or by the only movement (7.8, 8.8) of said cutting element, or by combined movements of said food capsule and said cutting element, characterized in that, the cutting element comprises a circular serrated blade (3.3,4.2,4.3 , 5.4, 7.3, 8.3, 9.4,11.3) which is integral with a guide body (3.2, 5, 7.1, 8.1, 9.3, 11.5), and that the said process also comprises a step of cleaning a powder food contained in said capsule by means of an extractor (3.5, 9.2), said extractor being integral (9.7), in a removable or non-removable manner from said guide body (3.2, 9.3), said extractor (3.5, 9.2) being provided extractor arm (3.6, 9.5) and an extractor head (3.7, 9.6), the profile of which is adapted to match the internal shape of the cup (9.11) of said food capsule (9.13), said extractor ( 3.5, 9.2) being openwork. 2. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that said circular serrated blade is produced from a flexible serrated blade (4.1) which is folded (4.2, 4.3) in said guide body. 3. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that said circular serrated blade is produced from a material belonging to the group comprising a metal or a plastic in the general sense of the term, or more precisely a Polyethylene terephthalate, or more precisely a Polycarbonate or more precisely a Poly-methyl methacrylate. 4. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that said circular serrated blade (11.3) is fixed to a package (11.4) capable of containing said food capsule, or else integrated (10.3) to an element (10.2) of a machine intended to use said food capsule. 5. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that said cover is made from a group comprising aluminum or plastic or a composite material containing at least one of these materials. 6. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that said cover is not structured (2.1). 7. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that it further comprises a step of aligning said cover of said capsule with the interior of an enveloping profile (3.4, 5.1, 7.6, 8.6, 11.2) then a step d insertion of said capsule inside said enveloping profile, said enveloping profile being integrated into said guide body (3.2, 5, 7.1, 8.1, 11.5) and the inside diameter of said enveloping profile being greater than the largest diameter of said cover 1.2, said alignment and insertion steps having the function of pre-aligning the axes of symmetry of said cover and of said circular serrated blade before said pressure and rotation movements.