NZ238935A

NZ238935A - Sealed cartridge with a lower face and a filter spaced therefrom

Info

Publication number: NZ238935A
Application number: NZ238935A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Olivier Fond; Petr Masek
Original assignee: Nestle Sa
Priority date: 1990-07-27
Filing date: 1991-07-11
Publication date: 1994-06-27
Also published as: DK0468079T3; JP2784282B2; NO912910D0; ZA915420B; FI913270A0; NO912910L; CA2046558A1; MX9100373A; ES2091780T3; GR3021816T3; AU8032891A; PT98458B; PT98458A; ATE142974T1; FI96738B; EP0468079A1; DE69028628T2; JPH04236920A; AU655184B2; BR9102993A

Abstract

The invention relates to a closed cartridge (1), provided in order to be extracted under pressure, containing ground roasted coffee (5), comprising a dish (2) with a lateral wall having substantially the shape of a frustum of a cone, an upper face with a diameter greater than the lower face (7), and, on the said lower face (7), a filter (4), the said lower face being detached from the said filter and the upper face comprising an edge (6) with an annular bead on which a cover (3) is welded.

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> 23 8 9 J5 Priority C...AMrSQ. Ccffif,!cliJ S,.. :'f;.v.". r. ci^?, ftklWJ.??;. &f£#9.4?$> pJfc!:cr-'V-n Drtr:' .!!!!! P.O. J3'jrr.c!, No: .... /;, lz.1t JUL1991S > Patents Form No. 5 J NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A SEALED CARTRIDGE FOR THE PREPARATION OF A BEVERAGE AND A PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR ITS PRODUCTION WE, SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE S.A., a Swiss company of Entre-deux-Villes, Vevey, SWITZERLAND hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - 1 - (followed by page la) 238935 A sealed cartridge for the preparation of a beverage and, a process and apparatus for its production This invention relates to a sealed cartridge which is designed to be extracted under pressure and which contains a substance for the preparation of a beverage, comprising a cup with a lateral wall substantially frus-toconical in shape and an upper face larger in diameter .. than the lower face. There are several reasons for the use of coffee capsules- 4 flAY;994 or cartridges, above all in the field of espresso type coffees which are extracted under pressure, namely: hygiene, optimal storage of the coffee, ease of use, better control of the quality of the coffee obtained and good reproducibility of the extraction conditions. Among the number of capsules available, only sealed capsules which open under the pressure of the water injected respond more completely to the arguments listed above. These capsules are distinguished by their opening system. The capsules according to NZ Patent Specification No. 185867 comprise weakened zones which tear preferentially under the effect of pressure. This solution has the disadvantage of increasing the complexity and price of the capsule because the materials used have to be treated very precisely to ensure that the capsules open correctly and reproducibly. The cartridge according to the present invention is much lower in price and much easier to produce, but can still be used as a cartridge for the preparation of an espresso coffee, i.e. in which coffee is extracted under a pressure of 2 to 20 bar. The present invention relates to a sealed cartridge which is designed to be extracted under pressure and which contains a substance for the preparation of a beverage, the cartridge comprising a cup with a lateral wall substantially frustoconical or frustoellipsoidal in shape, a lower face comprising a flat central zone, a shoulder and a peripheral edge and an upper face larger in diameter than (followed"by page 2) the lower face and comprising a flange with an annular bead and a lid welded to the flange, the cartridge further comprising a substantially flat filter extending between the lateral wall, the filter being welded around the periphery of the lower face of the cup and being separate from the central zone by the shoulder of the lower face. By separate is meant that the filter and the lower face 5 are not in contact and are separated by a distance of the order of 1 mm. This separation allows the formation - during extraction of the cartridge - of a collecting compartment which increases in volume during the increase in pressure in the capsule, providing for effec-10 tive removal of the coffee extract and thus promoting good extraction. The filter and the lower face are only in contact at the edge of the filter and the lower face. Frustoconical in the context of the invention means both 15 frustoconical in the strict sense and also frustoel- lipsoidal, frustospherical or even cylindrical. The cartridge according to the invention may be extracted by the process and with the device according to 20 the applicants' NZ Patent Specification No. 238938 titled "A process and a device for the extraction of sealed cartridges". -4 MAY i994 f-V -v , r 25 The annular rim folded upwards or downwards provides for high imperviousness by compression between a cartridge holder and an extraction device during the extraction process. 30 The cartridge is filled with a substance for the prepa ration of a beverage. This substance is preferably roasted and ground coffee, but may also be tea, instant coffee, a mixture of ground coffee and instant coffee or a chocolate-flavoured product. 35 The cartridge according to the invention is made of aluminium or of a plastic compatible with foods. Where - 3 - 23 aluminium is used, the wall thickness of the cup is between 50 and 120 urn and preferably between 70 and 80 ]im. Where plastic is used, the wall thickness of the cup is between 300 and 500 um. 5 Since the filter has to be capable of withstanding considerable variations in pressure, it should have a greater thickness than the cup, namely of the order of 100 to 300 ]im and preferably of the order of 200 um 10 where it is made of aluminium and in the range from 300 to 1,000 ym where it is made of plastic. The filter according to New Zealand Patent Specification No. 226384. The cartridge according to the invention may vary in 15 size according to the volume of coffee to be prepared. The dose of coffee contained in the cartridge may vary from 5 to 20 g, the diameter of the cartridge is from 2.5 to 6 cm and the thickness of the layer of coffee between 10 and 25 mm. 20 In one embodiment of the cartridge according to the invention, the filter is welded to the lower face, particularly in the case of a cartridge made entirely of aluminium. Welding is carried out by heat sealing, the 25 parts to be welded comprising a heat sealing lacquer on their opposite faces. The weld seam is between 1 and 3.5 mm wide, irrespective of the diameter of the cartridge,so that the cartridge obtained is well capable of withstanding pressures of up to 20 bar. The lower face is sepa-30 rate from the filter to avoid welding of the filter over its entire surface. In a second embodiment of the car- . tridge according to the invention, the lower face is ' welded to the filter, particularly in the case of a plastic cartridge. In this case, welding is carried otj^ 35 by heat sealing or by ultrasonic welding. c c , v Where aluminium is used, the cup is formed by stamping whereas, in the case of plastic, it is formed by injection moulding or thermoforming. To facilitate opening of the cartridge during extraction, a weakened zone may - 4 - 238935 dlso be provided in the central zone of the lower face or an opening to which a closure is welded may be provided in this central zone. 5 The invention thus provides a cartridge which is resis tant to high pressures during extraction and which thus enables a coffee with all characteristics of an espresso to be obtained. 10 The invention also relates to a process for the produc tion of these capsules (or cartridges). Starting out with a preformed cup of aluminium or plastic, the filter is placed on and welded to the lower face, the cup is filled with roasted and ground coffee and, after tamp-15 ing, the lid is welded to the upper flange of the cup. Welding of the filter is carried out by heat sealing where the cartridge is made of aluminium and by heat sealing or ultrasonic welding where the cartridge is made of plastic. After the cup has been filled, its up-20 per flange may also be subjected to a cleaning step be fore the lid is applied. The capsules pass from one stage to the other by a step-by-step feed system in a linear or circular movement, depending on the construction of the machine. The filters placed in the bottom of 25 the cup are prepared on a parallel or perpendicular line. They are prepared by piercing holes in a moving strip of aluminium or plastic and then cutting out the filter from the strip. The cup is filled with the coffee in an inert gas atmosphere, for example or nitrogen, 30 C02. The process according to the invention may be carried out in a single step on a production line or even in two steps, namely: preparation of the cup with the filter 3 5 and then filling with coffee and fitting of the lid. Finally, the invention also relates to a device for carrying out the process. This device comprises a - 5 - 238935 piercing tool and a tool for cutting out the filter from a strip of aluminium, the cutting tool also being used for applying and welding the filter to the inner wall of the cup passing directly below the cutting tool, a dos-5 ing and tamping station for the roasted and ground cof fee and a station for welding the lid to the upper face of the cup. The machines performing these operations may be construc-10 ted with stations arranged either in the line or around a rotary lugle. As mentioned above, the cup is moved from one station to the next by a step-by-step feed system. 15 Upstream of the tool for welding the filter, the device further comprises a system for folding the annular bead around the upper flange of the cup and, downstream of the coffee dosing and tamping station, a system for 20 cleaning the upper flange of the cup. Cleaning is advan tageously carried out by suction or sweeping. The invention is described in more detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, where-25 in: Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates the cartridge according to the invention. 30 Figure 2 diagrammatically illustrates a second embodi ment. Figure 3 diagrammatically illustrates a third embodiment. 35 Figures 4 and 5 diagrammatically illustrate the device for making the capsules according to the invention. The cartridge (1) comprises a cup (2) with a frustoconical wall in which a filter (4) is welded. The roasted and ground coffee (5) to be extracted is placed on the filter. The cartridge is closed by a lid (3) which forms the upper face. The upper flange (6) of the cup comprises an annular bead which is turned downwards to enable the cartridge to be firmly held in the extraction system. The lower face (7) is not in direct contact with the filter (4) and forms a collecting compartment (8) ensuring good extraction of the coffee. The filter (4) is welded to the lower face (7) around the periphery (9) of the face (7). The shoulder (10) effectively separates the filter from the face (7). Figure 2 shows a cartridge (11) comprising a cup (12) of which the wall is frustoellipsoidal in shape and contains ground roasted coffee (16). The upper flange (13) comprises an annular bead (14) turned downwards which establishes imperviousness during extraction of the cartridge. A curved lid (15) is welded to the flange (13). A filter (19) is welded to the periphery (18) of the similarly curved lower face (17) of the cartridge, forming a collecting compartment (20) of which the function was explained in the foregoing. The cartridge shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are made of aluminium or plastic. The cartridge shown in Fig. 3 is made of plastic. The cartridge (21) comprises a cup (22) having a frustoconical wall. The cup comprises an upper flange (23) to which a lid (24) is welded. The roasted and ground coffee (25) rests on a filter (26) which forms an integral part of the cup (22). The lower face (27) is welded to the periphery (28) of the filter. The collecting compartment (29) provides for good extraction of the cartridge and the separation (30) at the upper - 7 - 23 8 9 35 flange (23) guarantees high imperviousness during extraction of the cartridge. Figures 4 and 5 show the device for making the cartridges. The production of the filters (32) at the station (31) comprising a roll of aluminium foil or plastic film (33) arranged on a drum (35) will be described first. The aluminium foil (36) passes between a piercing head (37) and a matrix (38) and a cutting tool (39) and a matrix (40). The rest of the aluminium foil is wound onto the shaft (41) in the form of a roll (34) after passing around the return roller (42). The station for fitting the filter (32) comprises a feeder (44) for the cups (43) which deposits the cups onto a step-by-step feed system (45) (not shown), a folding press (46) with its supporting matrix(47), the cutting tool (39) - which may also be used as a system for fitting and welding the filter (32) - with its supporting matrix (48) and, finally, a feeder (49) for containers (43) plus filters comprising a piston (50). The machine operates as follows: The feeder (44) deposits the cups (43) one after the other onto the step-by-step feed system (45). The cup arrives in the supporting matrix (47) which ascends in the direction of the arrow (51) while the folding press (46) descends in the direction of the arrow (52) to fold the annular bead (53) onto the cup. The cup is released by the return of the folding press (46) and the descent of the supporting matrix (47). The cup is moved towards the tool (39) for fitting and welding the filter. It will be considered before production of the filter (32). The drum (35) delivers the aluminium foil (36) in the direction of the arrow (54). The piercing head (37) with the needles (55) ascends in the direction of the arrow (56) while the matrix (38) with bores (57) descends in the direction of the arrow (58) to pierce the foil (36). - 8 - 23 8 9 3 5 The filter thus formed from the foil advances to the cutting tool (39). The precision with which the holes pierced are centred in relation to the cutting tool (39) is guaranteed by a feed system comprising a detection system known per se, for example based on a photoelectric cell (not shown). The filter is cut out by descent of the tool (39) in the direction of the arrow (59) as far as the fixed matrix (40). The cutting tool (39) causes the filter to descend, places it in the cup and comprises an annular heating system enabling the filter to be welded in the bottom of the cup. After the filter has been cut out, the remainder of the aluminium foil is wound onto the shaft (41). The cup with its filter is introduced into the feeder (49) by ascent of the piston (50) in the direction of the arrow (60). The system (61) for dosing the coffee (Fig. 5) comprises a passage (62) for the arrival of the roasted and ground coffee, a tamping system (63) and a support (64). The station (65) for fixing the lid comprises a welding head (66) and a support (67). The system operates as follows: The feeder (49) deposits the cups (43) with their filters (32) onto the step-by-step feed system (68). The support (64) ascends while the coffee dosing system (61) descends and surrounds the cup (48). The coffee (69) is dosed through the passage (62) and the tamping system (63) descends so that the coffee is flush with the level of the upper flange of the cup. The filled capsule is released and arrives at the lid fixing station where it is held between the welding head (66) and the support (67. The lid (71) is welded to the upper flange of the capsule by means of the annular heating system (70) of the welding head (66). The cartridge is then released and is taken to the packing station for wrapping. </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> 238935 WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A sealed cartridge which is designed to be extracted under pressure and which contains a substance for the preparation of a beverage, the cartridge comprising a cup with a lateral wall substantially frustoconical or frustoellipsoidal in shape, a lower face comprising a flat central zone, a shoulder and a peripheral edge and an upper face larger in diameter than the lower face and comprising a flange with an annular bead and a lid welded to the flange, the cartridge further comprising a substantially flat filter extending between the lateral wall, the filter being welded around the periphery of the lower face of the cup and being separate from the central zone by the shoulder of the lower face.

2. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the filter is welded to the lower face.

3. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lower face is welded to the filter.

4. A cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cartridge is made of aluminium or plastic.

5. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the cup has a thickness of 50 to 120 nm where it' is made of aluminium and a thickness of 300 to 500 pm where it is made of plastic. -4MAY'994

6. A cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the filter has a thickness of 100 to 300 Vim where it is made of aluminium and a thickness of 300 to 1,000 urn where it is made of plastic.

7. A cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the said cartridge has a diameter of 2.5 to 6 cm and a thickness of 10 to 25 mm.

8. A cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the central zone of the lower face comprises a weakened zone. - 10 - 238935

0. A cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the central zone of the lower face comprises an opening to which a closure is welded.

10. A process for the production of the cartridge claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the substantially flat filter is welded around the periphery of the lower face of the cup, and is separate from the lower face, the cup is filled with roasted and ground coffee and, after tamping, the lid is welded to the flange.

11. A process as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the filter is prepared by piercing holes in a moving strip of aluminium or plastic after which the filter is cut out from the strip.

12. A process as claimed in claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the cup is filled with coffee in an atmosphere of nitrogen or

13. A device when used for carrying out the process claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the device comprises a piercing tool, and a cutting, fitting and welding tool for cutting out the filter from a strip of pierced aluminium and for fitting and welding the filter to the lower wall of the cup which passes directly beneath the cutting, fitting and welding tool, a dosing and tamping station for supplying the roasted and ground coffee and a welding station for welding the lid to the upper face of the cup.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the cup is moved by a step-by-step system.

15. A device as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that, upstream of the cutting, fitting and welding tool, the device comprises a folding press for folding the annular bead around the upper flange of the cup. ■ j -4 MAY 1994; 238935 -li-

16. A sealed cartridge as claimed in claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the Drawings.

17. A process for the production of a cartridge, as claimed in claim 10, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the Drawings.

18. A device as claimed in claim 13, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4 & 5. SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE S.A By Their Attorneys BALDWIN SON & CAREY </div>