LU92799B1 - Capsule for the preparation of a drink - Google Patents

Abstract

Capsule for receiving a substance for the preparation of a beverage with a coffee or infusion machine to be held by a piston during the passage of the extracting liquid after the drilling of the bottom by the pins of the piston. The injected plastic cap has a bottom (1) and a side wall (3) which is generally in a truncated cone and a rim (4) covered by a cover (5) after loading the substance into the capsule. The side wall (2) is formed of a single truncated cone between the flange (3) and the bottom (1) open (12), formed of a flattened ring (11), connected to the side wall (2) . The side wall (2) is covered with a label (23) and the open bottom (1) including its crown (11) is covered with a sealed cover (14), inside the bottom. - Figure 2A

Description

"Capsule for the preparation of a drink"

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a capsule for receiving a substance for the preparation of a beverage when the capsule is installed in the housing of a machine type coffee machine or infusion to be held by a piston during the passage extracting liquid through the capsule and the substance it contains, after the piercing of the bottom by the pins of the piston, the injected plastic capsule having a bottom and a side wall generally forming a truncated cone and a rim covered by a lid after loading the substance into the capsule. State of the art

There are many embodiments of capsules for coffee or infusion machines. All aim to allow the preparation of a quality drink.

However, the quality of the drink obtained depends not only on the quality and nature of the product used for its preparation (coffee, infusion) but also importantly, the preservation of the product in the capsule and its protection against air ambient.

Indeed, the capsules are generally made of plastic which is more or less porous by nature. There are certainly these plastics impermeable to gases and to protect the contents of the capsule, but they are relatively expensive and difficult to inject.

Another solution to protect the contents of a capsule is to wrap it in an oxygen-tight package. But this solution multiplies the number of waste, that is to say the packaging, the capsule and its various components so that its manufacture is relatively expensive, even if the packaging is automated. Then there is the problem of pollution by the amount of components put in the trash.

Such a capsule in a package is not very practical use, because it must first open the packaging which in principle, waterproof, does not open easily. In addition, the product thus packaged is relatively large per unit, which represents a transport cost and a carbon footprint.

Purpose of the invention

The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of known capsules and proposes to develop a sealed capsule made with simple means, economically, which is easy to manufacture and use and allows the sale to the unit while reducing the volume of the packaged product and that of the waste after use of the product.

DESCRIPTION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION For this purpose the invention relates to a capsule of the type defined above, characterized in that the side wall is formed of a single truncated cone between the rim and the bottom, the bottom is flat, formed of an inner ring, connected to the side wall and surrounding a central opening, the side wall is covered with a waterproof label and the open bottom including its inner ring is covered with a sealed inner cover.

The capsule according to the invention whose opening is closed by an aluminum seal, is sealed even if the plastic of the capsule does not have a good seal. The sealed label completely covers the side wall of the capsule and the seal covers the bottom including the crown by joining the label covering the side wall.

As the top of the capsule is closed by an aluminum lid, the entire capsule thus surrounded is perfectly sealed which ensures the proper preservation of the product inside the capsule.

The packaging has a small footprint to the single volume of the capsule. The capsule is particularly convenient to use since there is no packaging or overwrap to open and it can go directly into the coffee machine. The waste produced is limited to the single capsule.

The capsule can be made very aesthetic by printing the label covering the entire side wall and the lid of the bottom. The placement of the label is very simple since the side wall is a frustoconical surface extending between the underside of the rim and the bottom edge so that the label covers the entire lateral surface. The film may advantageously be provided with a decoration and / or indications, such as a mark, a logo, a reference identifying the product, a date of manufacture and other useful indication.

The decoration of the side wall and the bottom makes it possible to personalize series of capsules, to play on the aesthetics, and to vary it according to different criteria. Finally, as the capsule is waterproof in itself, it can be distributed to the unit, which allows a mix of capsules at the time of purchase depending on the variety of coffees or infusions that the consumer can choose.

According to another characteristic, the sealed label and seal are integrated by injection molding in the wall and the bottom of the capsule.

According to another advantageous characteristic, the sealed label and seal are made of an aluminum film. This film can be printed perfectly to receive a decoration and / or technical information. It may also receive laser inscriptions such as the expiry date or other mentions of identifications variable from one capsule to another or from one batch of capsules to another.

According to an advantageous characteristic, if the capsule has a shape of revolution, the central opening of the bottom is preferably circular.

According to another feature, the bottom has a peripheral peripheral edge constituting a support for stacking empty capsules on the brackets inside the capsules. These consoles oriented in the direction of the generatrix of the surface of the truncated cone also constitute reinforcements which transmit the forces exerted on the cover, itself attached to the crown of the bottom towards the side wall so as to avoid crushing. of the capsule and its deformation in case of unusual resistance of the seal to the piercing by the pin or pins of the machine.

Particularly advantageously, the inner ring defining the opening of the bottom has a flat outer surface and a frustoconical inner surface so that the edge of the cap can be attached to the frustoconical inner surface to join the flat surface of the opening. in which appears the seal without requiring spacers or radial reinforcements that could interfere with the passage of the pin or pins of the machine. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a capsule as defined above, this method being characterized in that a mold is produced for a capsule having a truncated cone side wall provided with a rim to the large base of the truncated cone and whose flat top of the bottom of the capsule is in the form of an inner ring delimiting a central opening, - the mold consisting of a portion having a cavity in the form of the frustoconical side wall of the capsule, the bottom of the cavity corresponding to the bottom of the capsule being provided with a surface in relief to form the opening of the bottom of the capsule and the other part of the mold is a core defining the inner surface of the capsule, placed in the mold cavity a form label corresponding to the development of the frustoconical side wall and on the core, the lid is placed then the mold is closed and the plastic material is injected.

This manufacturing process is extremely simple and results in a capsule not only perfectly waterproof while being carried out in a single operation but which is used simply without risk of jamming of the capsule in the machine that prepares the drink.

As the lid covering the bottom is placed in the mold before the injection, this lid is integrated in the bottom of the hot outlet capsule that by cooling, the lid will not only be attached to the inner surface of the crown of the bottom but will also be stretched, which favors the drilling by the pins of the piston of the machine.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the inner surface of the conical wall comprises brackets limiting the depression of the interlocking of a capsule. This makes it possible to group batches of capsules by fitting them after their manufacture to provide them to the roasters who load the capsules with the coffee powder or the infusion powder.

In summary, the capsule according to the invention offers multiple advantages of reducing pollution by waste, shelf life of the product in the capsule and the possibility of a very great diversity of appearance by the aesthetics given to the capsule through the printing of the label film covering the sidewall of the capsules. drawings

The present invention will be described hereinafter in more detail with the aid of an example of a capsule shown in the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a capsule according to the invention, in position FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the interior of the capsule before its filling and closing, FIG. 2A is an axial sectional view of the capsule of FIG. 1, FIG. 2B is a top view of FIG. the capsule of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is the development of a label covering the frustoconical wall of a capsule, FIG. 4A is a sectional view of the portion of the capsule of the bottom without the lid and without the 4B is a view similar to that of FIG. 4A with the label and the cap, FIG. 5A is a sectional view of the lower part of an injection mold, closed but empty, FIG. 5B is a sectional view like that of FIG. 5A with the implementation of the label and the seal, before injection, Figure 6 is an axial sectional view of the interlocking of two empty capsules.

Description of an embodiment of the invention

According to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the subject of the invention is a capsule 100 intended to receive a substance such as a coffee or tea powder for the preparation of a beverage. This capsule 100 is installed in the housing of a coffee machine or infusion. It is held by a piston provided with pins to pierce the bottom of the capsule 100. The other side of the capsule covered by a cap is crossed by the pin or pins injecting water to impregnate the powder. The machine known per se is not represented.

The capsule 100 generally has a shape of revolution or more generally it is symmetrical in rotation with respect to its axis XX. Although this example has a capsule having a conical shape of revolution, that is to say of circular section, this shape can also be symmetrical in rotation, with a polygonal section. The orientation chosen conventionally in the different figures does not correspond to an imposed orientation or that of the introduction of the capsule 100 in the machine. By language convention, the small base or top of the frustoconical shape is the bottom 1 and the large base, bordered by the rim 3, is called above. Thus, in Figure IA, the capsule is shown in the inverted position relative to the position of the capsule in the other figures.

The capsule 100 consists of a frustoconical volume delimited by the bottom 1 and a frustoconical wall 2 formed of a single truncated cone with a right generatrix between the bottom 1 and the flange 3 surrounding the opening of the top of the capsule.

The flat bottom 1 is formed of an inner ring 11 connected to the side wall 2 and surrounding a central opening 12 delimited by the inner edge 111 of the ring 11. The opening 12 left free by the central ring 11 corresponds to the surface for which the capsule 100, whatever its orientation about the axis xx when it is placed in the cavity of the machine, meets the pins that pierce the bottom.

The bottom 1 is covered by a cover 14 attached to the ring 11, the inner side of the capsule, which will be pierced by the pins.

The upper edge of the frustoconical lateral wall 2 is connected to the flange 3 whose upper face 31 is smooth (FIG. 1B). The lower face (Figure IA) is surrounded by a stiffening ring 32 and an outer ring 33 itself surrounding the sealing lips 34 cooperating with the sealing means of the piston of the machine (Figure 2A).

According to FIGS. 1B, 2A, 2B, the inner surface of the frustoconical wall 2 comprises close to the bottom, consoles 21 whose top is a bearing surface 211 in a plane perpendicular to the axis XX to receive the lower edge 22 of the frustoconical wall 2 of a nested capsule.

FIG. 2A shows schematically by broken lines, the label 23 surrounding the frustoconical lateral wall 2 as well as the operculum 4 closing the top of the capsule and the inner lid 14 covering the crown 11 and the central opening 12 of the bottom 1. These different waterproof cover elements are represented at a distance from the surfaces they cover. In reality, they are applied to them. The label 23 and the seal 14, sealed, are preferably elements formed from an aluminum wire, where appropriate printed. The label 23 covering the side wall 2, is advantageously provided with a decorative printing, if necessary personalized, also comprising indications, such as the origin, a production number, a date or other information relating to the content of the capsule.

FIG. 2B is a view from above of the capsule 100 revealing the inside of the capsule without the lid 14 and the brackets 21. This view of the capsule 100 shows the inner ring 11 with the inclined shape of the frustoconical crown 112 the inner edge 11 and the central orifice 12.

Figure 3 shows the flat development of a label 23 which is a circular ring sector. The label 23 has a surface 231 printed or decorated. The developed form of the label 23 corresponds exactly to the development of the frustoconical surface of the wall 2 so that the homologous edges, for example "radial" 232a, b meet exactly on a generatrix of the side wall 2 of the truncated cone for its tightness. The edges 232a, b are not necessarily radial but may have a different pattern, provided that the homologous edges are of complementary shape so that they meet on the wall 2 without leaving an interval that would constitute a non waterproof. The decorative pattern 231 is preferably such that there is continuity on the periphery of the wall 2. The inner cover 14 covering the bottom 1 is an aluminum film which may include inscriptions and / or information or it constitutes an advertising or decorative surface. The lid 14 is placed in the cavity of the mold before injection of the capsule. The inner lid 14, flat, is applied against the crown 11 to join the inside of the capsule, the line of the lower edge (outer side) of the label 23 covering the side wall 2. The lid 4 covering the top and closing the capsule is put in place and fixed to the flange 3 once the capsule loaded with the product.

FIG. 4A shows on an enlarged scale an axial section of the lower part of the capsule 100 without the label 23 or the cover 14 highlighting the structure of the bottom 1 with its inner ring 11 and its inner edge 111 which joins the wall lateral 2 by a frustoconical crown 112 very flared. Under this ring 112 is the lower edge 22 of the side wall 2.1e below 113 of the ring 11 is plane. The lower edge 22 in the form of recess allows precise stacking of empty capsules 100a, 100b as shown in Figure 6, avoiding the bottom of a capsule slips over a console and thus blocks the capsule in the capsule that receives it. This section also highlights the reinforcements made by the consoles 21 combined with the inner ring 11 so that the side wall 2 resists the thrust of the pins piercing the cap 14 without deforming the side wall 2 at the risk of jamming the capsule in the machine.

FIG. 4B, which is a section like that of FIG. 4A, shows the label 23 covering the side wall 2 to the lower edge 22 as well as the inner lid 14 attached to the frustoconical crown 112 to the edge 111 and covering the central opening 12. The lid 14 heated by the temperature of the injection mold retracts with cooling when the injected capsule is demolded so that the portion of the lid covering the central opening 12 is stretched, which is advantageous for the appearance and also to facilitate drilling by the pins of the machine.

FIGS. 5A, 5B show an empty injection mold 200, empty (FIG. 5A) and the same mold closed, empty, but with the label 23 and the seal 14 placed before the injection of the material ( Figure 5B). The empty part of the injection mold 200 bears the same references as the corresponding parts of the capsule with the suffix A.

The injection mold 200 according to this example consists of a portion with the cavity 210 corresponding to the shape of the outer surface of the capsule and a raised portion forming the core 250 giving the shape of the inner surface of the capsule. The fixing means of the label 23 and the cover 14 in the mold, for example by depression, are not shown.

The cavity 210 has a bottom 211 whose central portion 12A is raised to form the central orifice 12 since the cover 14 will be inside and not outside the capsule. The edge of the bottom 211 has a peripheral relief 22A to make the edge 22 of the capsule. This sharp-edged outward relief forms a shoulder for accurately positioning the lower edge of the label 23 (Figure 5B).

The core 250 has a peripheral wall set back from the thickness of the wall 2 of the capsule to be injected to form a gap 2A. The bottom 251 of the core is set back from the top of the relief 12A of the cavity 250 to take into account the thickness of the lid. The core 250 further has recesses 21A to form the brackets 21.

The underside 251 is surrounded by the frustoconical shape 112A to achieve the thickness of the frustoconical crown 112 at the lower edge 22 and the peripheral relief 22A.

FIG. 5B shows the closed mold 200 after placement of the label 23 and the lid 14. The label 23 is supported by its lower edge against the relief 22A and the lid 14 is clamped between the bottom 251 of the core and the top of the raised portion 12A of the cavity so that it is sufficient to fix the outer edge 141 of the cover 14 against the frustoconical surface 212A of the core 250 so that the material does not pass between the edge 141 operculum 14 and the frustoconical surface 12A of the core 250.

FIG. 5B shows that the entire surface of the capsule is thus covered by the label 23 and the cover 14 ensuring the hermidity of the capsule.

It should also be noted that the cover 14 is clamped between the core 250 and the bottom 12A of the cavity 210 so that it is effectively put to the temperature of the mold to then have the retraction of the cover 14 and its setting in tension by the cooling of the mold outlet capsule.

The method of manufacturing a capsule 100 with the mold described above consists in producing a capsule mold for injecting it.

Before injection of the capsule, the label 23 is fixed in the cavity of the mold and the inner lid 14 is fixed on the core, each time in the respective position of the label 23 and the lid 14 on the capsule once completed.

The holding in place of the two elements 23, 14 is for example by depression to avoid local detachment of one or other of the elements and passage of the material to be injected under the label film or the cap.

After the closure of the mold 200, the plastic material is injected.

The mold 200 usually comprises several sets such as that described above, that is to say, several cavities and as many associated cores.

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing the interlocking of two capsules 100a, b. The capsules are nested after their manufacture and before filling. NOME NCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS (Without literal references) 100 Capsule 1 Bottom of capsule 11 Inner crown 111 Inner edge 112 Frustoconical crown 113 Flat outer surface 12 Central opening 14 Inner opening of bottom 141 Edge of operculum 2 Frustoconical lateral wall 21 Console 211 Support surface 22 Bottom edge 23 Label 231 Printed surface 232a, b Label edges 3 Capsule flange 31 Upper surface 32 Rigidizing ring 33 Outer ring 34 Sealing lips 4 Capsule top cover 200 Injection mold 210 Cavity 211 Bottom 212A Frustoconical surface 250 Core 251 Underside of core 2A Interval 12A Relief of cavity bottom 2 IA Hollow 22A Peripheral relief 112A Frustoconical surface

Claims (8)

1 °) Capsule for receiving a substance for the preparation of a beverage when the capsule is installed in the housing of a machine type coffee machine or infusion to be held by a piston during the passage of the liquid extractor to through the capsule and the substance it contains, after drilling the bottom by the pins of the piston. the injected plastic capsule having a bottom (1) and a side wall (3) generally forming a truncated cone and a flange (4) covered by a cover (5) after loading the substance into the capsule, capsule characterized in that - the side wall (2) is formed of a single truncated cone between the flange (3) and the bottom (1), - the bottom (1) is flat, formed of a inner ring (11), connected to the side wall (2) and surrounding a central opening (12), the side wall (2) is covered with a waterproof label (23) and the open bottom (1) including its crown interior (11) is covered by a sealed inner cover (14). 2 °) Capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the label (23) and the lid (14) are integrated by the injection molding of the capsule. 3 °) capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the central opening (12) of the bottom (1) is circular. 4 °) Capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the label (23) and the lid (14) are made of an aluminum film. 5 °) Capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom (1) comprises a peripheral edge (22) reentrant constituting a stacking support of empty capsules. 6 °) Capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner ring (11) has an outer surface (113), flat, and a frustoconical inner surface (112). 7 °) Capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner surface of the conical wall (2) comprises brackets (21) limiting the depression of the interlocking of a capsule. 8) method for manufacturing a capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a mold (200) is produced for a capsule (100) having a side wall (2) truncated cone provided with a flange (3) at the large base of the truncated cone and whose flat top of the bottom (1) of the capsule is in the form of an inner ring (11) delimiting a central opening (12), the mold (200) ) consisting of a portion having a cavity (210) in the form of the frustoconical side wall of the capsule, the bottom of the cavity corresponding to the bottom (1) of the capsule being provided with a raised surface (12A) for forming the opening (12) of the bottom of the capsule and the other part of the mold is a core (250) defining the inner surface of the capsule, is placed in the cavity of the mold a label (23) of shape corresponding to the development of the frustoconical lateral wall (2) and on the core (250), the lid (14) is placed and the soft and we inject the plastic material.