MXPA01008153A - Sealed cartridge for making a beverage - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealed cartridge, provided to be extracted under pressure, containing a substance (15) for preparing a beverage, comprising a dish (9) with a bottom (10) and a side wall (11), having substantially the shape of a frustum of a cone, and a circular edge with a diameter greater than the bottom, and a cover (12) welded to the periphery of the edge of the dish, in which the cover (12) consists of a flexible material which is impermeable to oxygen,chosen from the group consisting of aluminium, an aluminium/plastic composite, an aluminium/plastic/paper composite, pure or multi-layer plastic, the said cartridge not comprising a filter or a weakening zone and the cover being intended to be torn only through the effect of the force of the extraction fluid when extraction starts, the said cartridge comprising, in the dish at the level of the bottom, a means (13) guaranteeing the seal when it is open.

Description

SEALED CARTRIDGE TO PREPARE A DRINK The present invention relates to a sealed cartridge, which is provided to be extracted under pressure, which contains a substance for preparing a beverage selected from roasted and ground coffee, tea, instant coffee, a mixture of ground coffee and instant coffee, a chocolate-based product, or any other dehydrated edible substance, comprising a plate with a bottom and a side wall, which has substantially the shape of a truncated cone, and a circular edge with a larger diameter than the bottom, and a cover welded to the periphery of the plate edge, which cover consists of a flexible material which is impermeable to oxygen, which is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, an aluminum / plastic composite, an aluminum / plastic / paper composite, plastic without mixing or multiple layers, the cartridge does not comprise a filter or a weakening zone and the cover is intended to be torn only by the effect of by force of the extraction fluid when the extraction begins.

The sealed cartridge described above is the subject of patent EP 512,468, in the name of the applicant. This cartridge is extracted with the device that is the subject of patent EP 512,470. This extraction takes place in the following manner: the cartridge is inserted inside a cartridge holder and into an extraction chamber. This extraction chamber comprises a needle which will pierce the bottom of the plate and, when the pressure in the cartridge increases, the cover will be subjected to protruding elements and to emptying the coffee from the extraction device. When the process reaches a certain level, the cover reaches its breaking voltage and opens, allowing the coffee to flow towards the cup. At the end of the extraction, it is possible to remove the cartridge from the extraction system to place the next one in it. When the cartridge is removed, there is a hole in the bottom of the plate and this hole allows waste water and ground coffee to escape. This coffee leak causes a problem, because it fouls part of the extraction machine.

The aim of the present invention is to improve a cartridge that is provided for the same type of extraction as mentioned above and that does not lead to leakage of grindings or any other solid substance when the cartridge is changed.

The present invention relates to a sealed cartridge according to the preamble of claim 1, which comprises, in the plate at the bottom level, a means that ensures retention of the solid substance when it is opened.

This involves having, in each cartridge, a non-return system for the coffee grinds or for any other solid substance extracted in the cartridge. This system must adapt to the current construction of the extraction head.

The means for ensuring the retention of the solid substance are selected from a group consisting of a cloth, a valve and a foam, the media being placed, adhesively bonded or sealed to the bottom of the cartridge. The three media mentioned above are acceptable first in terms of cost, and second because they are easy to produce, allow easy opening by the injection needle, are satisfactorily resistant to hot water and provide a satisfactory closure after extraction, it is say, when the cartridge is removed.

The fabric used can be any type of fabric, woven or non-woven, made of plastic fibers, vegetable fibers or animal fibers. the used fabric is preferably made of polypropylene, polyester or polyurethane having a thickness of between 15 and 100 microns. The cloth is sealed by heat at the bottom of the plate.

The valve used can be of any type, for example, a flexible plastic disk with a notch in. Cross shape, that is, with four branches. It is also possible to have a valve with a notch of three branches or six branches. The valve can be joined by adhesion or heat sealed, but it is also possible to simply place it on the bottom of the plate. This valve is preferably made of polypropylene or polyethylene.

The foam used is made of a flexible plastic, for example from FUE (polyurethane) or EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer). It is sealed by heat at the bottom of the plate.

The cover is welded by heat or embossed to the periphery of the plate. In this way, a cartridge that can withstand pressures that can fluctuate up to 15 bar in the extraction system is obtained.

The cartridge is filled with a substance for the preparation of a beverage, as mentioned above. This substance is preferably roasted and ground coffee.

I Plate I is understood to mean a rustoconic, hemispherical or frustopyramidal element. Naturally, the bottom of the plate does not have to be flat.

The main body of the cartridge, namely the plate, in a frusto-conical shape and of a semi-rigid nature, may consist of a selected material of aluminum having a thickness of 20 to 100 m, a pure or multi-layer plastic, a composite of cardboard / aluminum / plastic and a cardboard / plastic compound.

The cartridge cover, which is flexible in nature, can be made of a material selected from aluminum with a thickness of 15 to 60 μm and a multilayer material comprising either paper of 20 to 60 g / m2, plastic of a thickness of 20 to 60 μm. and aluminum with a thickness of 5 to 20 μm ... or EVOH or PVDC with a thickness of 5 to 30 μm and plastic (PP, PE or PA) of 20 to 100 μm. or PET (5 to 30 μm) and plastic (PP, PE) from 20 to 100 μm, or PET that is metallized or equipped with a layer that forms an effective barrier, such as Si02.

The size of the cartridge according to the invention may vary according to the volume of coffee to be prepared. The measure of coffee can vary between 5 and 20 g, the diameter of the cartridge is between 2.5 and 6 c and the thickness of the coffee bed between 10 and 40 m.

The rest of the description is given with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the cartridge according to the state of the art; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the cartridge according to the invention, in a first representation; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the cartridge according to the invention, in a second embodiment; Y Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the cartridge according to the invention, in a third embodiment.

The cartridge 1 includes a plate 2 with a bottom 5 and a lateral wall 6 of f rustoconical shape. The cartridge contains toasted coffee 3 and is sealed by means of a cover 4 made of aluminum. This cover is welded to the periphery 7 of the edge of the plate. When the extraction is carried out, the needle pierces the bottom of the cartridge in zone A, allowing the extraction liquid to percolate inside the coffee. At the end of the extraction, the coffee grinds sprout from the opening in zone A. The objective of the present invention is to prevent the grindings from sprouting. To this end, there are at least three different solutions.

The solution in Figure 2 is to provide a layer (13) of fabric made of polyester-in the cartridge 8 having a plate 9 with a bottom 10 and a side wall 11 and a cover 12. This layer is welded to the overhang 14 of the cartridge. The coffee bed 15 is deposited on the cloth 13. The advantage of this cloth is that the needle punctures it easily and, at the end of the extraction, its flexibility and its elasticity allow it to close again when the needle is removed from the cartridge and the grinds do not exit through the opening 16. A cartridge is thus provided which ensures a satisfactory cleaning of the extraction system.

Figure 3 provides a second solution in the form of a cartridge with a non-return device. The cartridge 17 comprises a plate 18 with a bottom 19 and a side wall 20, together with a cover 21 welded to the periphery 22 of the plate. A valve 23 is joined by adhesion near the bottom 19. The coffee bed 24 is deposited in this valve. This valve has, for example, a notch in the form of a cross, which allows a satisfactory opening and closing again satisfactorily when the extraction needle is inserted and removed. It also allows a satisfactory retention of coffee grinds. It is also possible to place the valve of Figure 3 on the cartridge of Figure 2 and vice versa and it is possible to weld the fabric layer of Figure 2 on the cartridge of Figure 3 Figure 4, finally, shows a cartridge 25 comprising a plate 26 with a bottom 27 and a side wall 28 and a cover 29 The bottom of the cartridge includes a layer bonded by foam adhesion made of flexible plastic 30 The coffee bed 31 it is deposited on this foam It is easily perforated and has a satisfactory ability to close again when the extraction needle is removed. The foam of Figure 4 can also be placed in the cartridge according to Figure 3

Claims (6)

1. - Sealed cartridge, which is provided to be extracted under pressure, which contains a substance for the preparation of a beverage that is selected from roasted and ground coffee, tea, instant coffee, a mixture of ground coffee and instant coffee, a product based on of chocolate or any other dehydrated edible substance, comprising a plate with a bottom and a side wall having substantially the shape of a truncated cone, and a circular edge with a diameter greater than the bottom, and a cover welded to the periphery of the edge of the plate, the dual cover consists of a flexible material which is impermeable to oxygen, selected from the group consisting of aluminum, an aluminum / plastic composite, a composite of aluminum- ^ plastic / paper, pure plastic or multi-layer , the cartridge does not comprise a filter or a weakening zone and the cover is intended to be torn only by the effect of the force of the extraction fluid when the extraction begins, characterized in that it comprises, in the plate at the level of the bottom, means that ensure the retention of the solid substance when it is open.

2. Sealed cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the means that ensure the retention of the solid substance are selected from the group consisting of a cloth, a valve and a foam, the media are placed, joined by adhesion or sealed to the bottom of the cartridge.

3. Cartridge according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover is welded or embossed on the edge of the plate.

4. - Cartridge according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the plate is made of a material selected from aluminum that has a thickness of 20 to 100 μm, a pure plastic or multi-layer, a cardboard / aluminum composite / plastic and a cardboard / plastic compound.

5. Cartridge according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cover is made of a material selected from aluminum with a thickness of 15 to 60 μ and a multilayer material comprising either paper of 20 to 60 g / m2, plastic with a thickness of 20 to 60 μm and aluminum with a thickness of 5 to 20 μm. , or EVOH or PVDC with a thickness of 5 to 30 μm, and plastic (PP, PE or PA) of 20 to 100 μm, or PET that is metallized or equipped with a layer that forms an effective barrier, such as Si02.

6. - Cartridge according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it has a diameter between 2.5 and 6 cm and a height of 10 to 40 mm.