RU2693508C1 - Disposable capsule for cooked brew preparation machines - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: satisfaction of vital human requirements.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a disposable capsule for brewed coffee making machines, said capsule (100) comprising a cup-shaped hollow body (110) configured to receive a measured dose of the product, cover (120) tightly fixed on flange (114) of said housing, and distributing-collecting insert (200) extending in axial direction from base (111) to upper part (113) of said housing and comprising bowl-shaped portion (210) located next to said upper part (113), disk-like section (220) located on said base (111), and rod-shaped section (230), which connects said cup-like section with said disk-shaped section. Bowl-shaped section (210) comprises multiple through holes (211) formed in radial direction, and disk-shaped section (220) comprises multiple through holes (221) formed in axial direction.

EFFECT: disclosed is a disposable capsule for machines for preparing brewed beverages.

10 cl, 9 dwg

Description

The technical field to which the invention relates.

The present invention relates generally to the preparation of brewed beverages, such as coffee, tea, herbal teas and the like, starting with disposable capsules, in particular, disposable, single-dose or multi-dose capsules for machines for preparing brewed beverages.

Prior art

Disposable capsules used in machines for dispensing brewed beverages, contain granular or powdered product, such as, for example, coffee. It is known that a beverage is obtained by means of a “brewing” method, which consists of forcing a liquid to brew through a capsule with a granular product. Liquid for brewing, usually water, is supplied under pressure and at high temperature. The brewing liquid that flows out of the capsule, enriched with the aroma of the granulated product, is the desired beverage that passes into the dosing machine and is fed from the dosing nozzle, for example, into a cup.

Known disposable capsules contain a cup-shaped hollow body, the open upper part of which is provided with a flange on which a lid, usually formed by a gas-tight film, is located. This film compacts the cavity of the bowl-shaped body to ensure that the granular or powdery product contained in it is preserved for a long time.

During the brewing process, the capsule is installed in the brewing chamber and then pierced with special piercing elements, both in the lower part of the bowl-shaped body and in the upper part, sealed with a gas-tight film. The apertures thus obtained allow the flow of fluid through the capsule from one of its ends to the opposite end. Depending on the type of dispensing machine, the liquid may be directed from the bottom of the bowl to the top or in the opposite direction.

The usual technical task of the known capsules is to maximize the brewing of the beverage, which is particularly dependent on the uniformity of the flow of the brewing liquid through the cup-shaped body. The way in which a drink is brewed also affects its flavor and, thus, the reproducibility of its organoleptic properties.

The problem is especially felt when handling capsules that open under the influence of pressure from the brewing fluid, and it is impossible to ensure the formation of uniform holes in the desired positions. Large openings can actually cause a flow of granulated product along with a beverage, while small openings can inhibit the flow of brewing fluid, thus slowing down the brewing process.

The solution to these technical problems is described in European patent EP 1344722 B2, which describes a disposable capsule containing dispensing elements for the brewing liquid and / or collecting elements for the brewed beverage, these elements being provided with a plurality of axial holes and many protruding elements and are located on one or both the ends of the capsule in the axial direction. Distributing and collecting elements, respectively, are located between the film sealing the upper part of the capsule and the measured dose of the granulated product contained in it, as well as between the last and the lower part of the bowl-shaped body.

The dispensing and collecting elements for the brewing liquid prevent the loss of powdered coffee regardless of the number and size of the holes formed in the upper part and in the lower part of the capsule, by means of a machine that receives it. Distributing and collecting elements also provide the movement of both the brewing liquid and the brewed beverage due to the presence of protruding elements that form the channels.

Dispensing elements for brewing liquid and collecting elements for brewed beverage maximize the brewing of the beverage and solve problems related to the size of the inlet and outlet holes formed in the capsule for the brewing liquid. However, they are additional elements that influence the total cost of a capsule in terms of manufacturing and assembly.

In addition, to accommodate the dispensing and collecting elements, the disposable capsule housing must have a suitable size. This makes the design of the capsule body complex and affects the equipment for its manufacture, as well as the assembly and packaging equipment of the capsules.

Summary of Invention

Therefore, the technical problem underlying and solved by the present invention is the creation of a disposable capsule for dispensing machines brewed drinks, which allows you to eliminate the disadvantages mentioned above with reference to the prior art.

This problem is solved by using a disposable capsule according to claim 1. Preferred features of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The capsule in accordance with the invention is provided with an insert extending axially from its open top to its base or bottom. At the upper end of the capsule, the insert contains a glassy portion having a plurality of radial holes.

At the opposite end, i.e. at the base or bottom of the capsule, the insert contains a disc-shaped area, the peripheral edge of which rests on the bottom of the capsule. On the disc-shaped portion, a plurality of through holes are formed in the axial direction. Disc-shaped area is made with the possibility of education with the lower part of the capsule cavity, which serves as a collection for brewed drink.

The glass-shaped section and the disk-shaped section are connected by means of a rod-like section and form a single whole with it.

During the brewing of the beverage, the brewing liquid is taken in a glass-like area, it flows through its radial holes, thus uniformly and evenly reaching the granular product contained in the capsule that surrounds the rod-like portion of the insert.

The main advantage proposed by the invention is the provision of the manufacture of a single element that serves both as a dispensing element for the brewing liquid and as a collecting element for the brewed beverage. Such a dispensing-collecting element can be installed into the hollow body of a disposable capsule simply and quickly, since it only rests against the bottom of the capsule.

Compared with disposable capsules containing separate dispensing element for brewing liquid and collecting element for brewed beverage, the presence of a single multi-purpose insert also provides the advantage of simplifying equipment for the manufacture and assembly of capsule elements as a whole.

Consequently, the time for manufacture and assembly, as well as the total cost of assembling the capsule, is reduced.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the glass-like portion of the insert comprises a flange that, in the assembled configuration of the capsule, is aligned with the upper part of the body of the capsule. The flange is tightly fixed on the lid of the disposable capsule, so that the glass-like portion forms a chamber with the lid adapted to receive the brewing liquid by means of a piercing-injection element of the machine for dispensing the brewed beverage.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the flange of the glass-like portion of the insert extends radially to the peripheral wall of the capsule body, where it engages sealably with an annular groove formed therein. In this case, a direct connection between the flange of the glass-shaped section and the lid is not necessary, since the chamber intended for receiving liquid for brewing is formed by the glass-shaped section, the insert flange, the section of the peripheral wall of the capsule body located between the flange and the lid and the lid itself.

Both embodiments of the invention provide for the collection of brewing liquid supplied by the injection unit of the brewing beverage machine, in order to optimize the distribution of the brewing liquid to the granular product contained in the capsule.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the edges of the radial holes formed in the cup-shaped portion of the insert may be predominantly tapered, thus creating directional effects of the respective brewing fluid flows on the granular product.

Additional advantages, features and methods of implementing the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description of its embodiments, which are disclosed as non-limiting examples.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section of a capsule in accordance with the invention;

- figa - view of the element of figure 1;

- figure 2 is a perspective view of the insert capsules of figure 1;

- figure 3 is a view in longitudinal section of a capsule in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention;

- Fig.4 is a perspective view with a spatial separation of the elements of the capsule according to Fig.3;

- figures 5 and 6 are views in perspective with a spatial separation of the elements of the capsule insert according to figure 3 as a whole and in a partial section, respectively;

- Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views showing the collecting portion of the capsule of Figure 3 as a whole and in partial section, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a disposable capsule in accordance with the invention is usually denoted by reference numeral 100.

The capsule 100 contains a hollow cup-shaped body 110, configured to receive a measured dose of the product in a granular or powdered form (not shown), for example, coffee.

The hollow body 110 includes a base or a lower part 111, a peripheral wall 112 and an open upper part 113, on the peripheral edge of which a flange 114 is formed. The upper part 113 of the capsule is closed by a lid 120 sealed to the flange 114 of a hollow body 110, for example, with a film made from polylaminate, which serves to seal the cavity of the housing 110 to ensure storage of the granular or powdered product contained in it for a long time.

In accordance with the invention, the capsule 100 further comprises an insert 200 located in the cavity of the housing 110.

The insert 200 extends axially from the base 111 to the upper part 113 of the body 110.

As, in particular, shown in figure 2, the insert 200 contains a glass-shaped section 210, located near the upper part 113 or on the upper part 113, a disk-shaped section 220, located near the base 111 or on the base 111 of the housing 110, and the rod-shaped section 230 connecting the glass portion 210 to the disc-shaped portion 220.

As shown in FIGS. 1a and 2, the glass-shaped portion 210 comprises a plurality of radial through holes 211 formed in its peripheral wall and a flange 212 connected to its upper edge. The disc-shaped portion 220 includes a plurality of through holes 221 formed in the axial direction.

The diameter of the rod-shaped portion 230 may preferably differ depending on the type of capsule in which the insert 200 is intended to be installed, as well as on the type and expected amount of the granulated product.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the insert 200 is designed so that the flange 212 of the glass portion 210 is aligned with the upper part 113 of the housing 110 of the capsule 100. In addition, in the assembled configuration of the capsule 100, the flange 212 is sealed with a lid 120, so that the glass portion 210 forms with the latter a chamber 213 configured to receive a brewing liquid by means of a piercing-injection element of a machine for dispensing brewed beverages (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 1, 1a, and 2, the disc-shaped portion 220 may, for example, have a frusto-conical shape configured to form, with a substantially flat base 111 of the body 110 of the capsule 100 of the cavity 222, suitable for collecting a brewed beverage.

Alternatively, the disc-shaped portion may be flat and form a cavity 222 by means of spacer elements, for example, ribs formed at the base 111 of the housing 110 of the capsule 100.

During the beverage brewing stage, the brewing liquid fills the chamber 213 and flows out of it through the radial through holes 211 of the glass-shaped portion 210, thus reaching the granular product contained in the capsule 100, which is located around the rod-shaped portion 230 of the insert 200. The brewing fluid wets the granular product in a uniform and uniform way to ensure brewing of the drink.

The through holes 211 can advantageously contain one or more cone-shaped sections of the respective peripheral edges, which provides for the creation of directional effects of the respective brewing liquid flows on the granular product contained in the body 110 of the capsule 100.

As shown, for example, in the detailed view of FIG. 1a, each through hole 211 has a rectangular shape, the base side of which is tapered and has a surface inclined from the bottom of the glass-shaped portion 210 to the top 113 of the housing 110 of the capsule 100. This configuration provides flow direction brewing liquids flowing from chamber 213 to the upper part 113 of housing 110 of the capsule 100 in order to obtain a “rain-like” effect of brewing the granulated product.

It should be understood that, depending on the type of granulated product and the recipe of the brewed beverage, different configurations of the cone-shaped sections of the through holes 211 can be created, for example, to create turbulence in the capsule body and to obtain the result of mixing between the granular product and the brewing liquid or to accelerate the liquid flow. for brewing and creating the effect of deeper penetration into the granular product.

The brewed beverage obtained from the granulated product is collected in the lower part of the housing 110 of the capsule 100 in the cavity 222 formed between its base 111 and the disc-shaped portion 220 of the insert 200 and flows out of the base 111 through one or more openings, for example, formed by means of piercing elements after entering capsules to the brewing unit of the brewing beverage preparation machine (not shown) or made as one piece in the body of the capsule and suitably compacted by means of removable or refractory calcinations protective films.

A filtering element (not shown) can advantageously be fixed to the surface of the disc-shaped portion 220 for accessing the base 111 of the housing 110 of the capsule 100, and the filtering element is designed to prevent the loss of particles of the granular product from the through holes 221. These particles can actually go out capsules along with the brewed beverage, thus degrading its quality.

As shown in FIGS. 3-6, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the glassy portion 210 of the dispensing-collecting insert 200 extends radially to the peripheral wall 112 of the housing 110 of the capsule 100, where the flange 212 engages sealably with the annular groove 115 formed therein.

In this case, the chamber 213, designed to receive liquid for brewing, is formed by a glass-shaped section 210 and the flange 212 of the insert 200, together with a section of the peripheral wall 112 of the housing 110 of the capsule 100 located between the flange 212 and the cover 120.

As in the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, also in this embodiment of the invention, the radial openings 211 of the cup-shaped portion may advantageously contain one or more conical sections of the respective peripheral edges, which provide directional effects of the respective brewing liquid streams to the granular product, contained in the housing 110 of the capsule 100.

Like the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the disc-shaped portion 220 has a frusto-conical shape, which rests on the periphery of the base 111, also in the frusto-conical form, of the housing 110 of the capsule 100, thus forming a cavity 222.

A protective film 300, such as a multilayer film containing an aluminum layer, may be located on the periphery of the base 111 to seal the internal cavity of the body 110 of the capsule 100 to preserve the granular product contained therein for a long time.

To ensure the supply of the brewed beverage from the base of the capsule, it is therefore necessary to pierce the protective film 300, and for this purpose the disc-shaped section 220 contains one or more sharp elements 223, for example, having a pyramid-like shape, which protrude from its surface facing the base 111 of the housing 110 capsules 100. The sharp elements 223 preferably extend to the protective film 300.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the rod-like element 230 of the insert 200 can be disassembled in the axial direction and comprises a first section 231 connected to a glass-shaped section 210, and a second section 232 connected to a disk-shaped section 220, the first and second sections being installed telescopically in each other and have corresponding cylindrical mating forms. The first and second sections 231, 232 of the rod-like element 230 can be connected respectively to the glass-shaped section 210 and the disk-shaped section 220, or, more advantageously, can be made in one piece with them, as in the illustrated embodiment.

This design of the insert 200 provides a simple filling of the capsule cavity with a granular product. In the assembled configuration of the capsule 100, in fact, the upper opening 113 is closed by the glass portion 210.

The design of the insert 200 also provides the use of the brewing fluid as a pressing means for pressing the sharp elements 223 to the film 300 during the brewing step and forming a plurality of apertures therein for supplying the brewed beverage, as will be described in detail below.

As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the first section 231 includes a through hole 231a formed in the lower part, while the second section 232 is provided with a base 232a formed by a wall located at an intermediate height between its free end and the disk-shaped section 220 .

In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the first section 231 is telescopically mounted to the second section 232. As shown, in the assembled configuration, the first section 231 abuts against the stop 232b, which is axially spaced away from the base 232a of the second section 232, which serves as restrictive element for the first section 231.

It should be understood that the second section 232 can alternatively be mounted in a telescopic manner to the first section 231, and in this case, in the assembled configuration, the second section 232 can abut against the abutment formed by one or more radial protrusions formed in the first section 231. However, the latter configuration is less preferred than the first configuration disclosed above, since it has an increased complexity of design.

During the infusion stage, the infusion liquid supplied under pressure to the capsule 100 is taken into the glass-like portion 210 of the insert 200, then passes through the first portion 231 and reaches the base 232a of the second portion 232, thereby exerting pressure on it. Under pressure from the brewing fluid, the second portion 232 of the rod-like element 230 is thus displaced in a telescopic manner relative to the first portion 231 and moves axially towards the base of the capsule, causing the disc-shaped portion 220 pressed by the second portion 232 to deform towards the base 111 of the housing 110 of the capsule 100, thus piercing the protective film 300 by means of its sharp elements 232. The deformation of the disc-shaped portion 220 occurs in the field of elastic deformation d due to its truncated cone shape.

The brewing liquid simultaneously flows out of the glass-shaped portion 210 through the radial holes 211 formed therein, thus obtaining a drink from the granular product, the drink is collected in the cavity 222 and flows out of the capsule 100 through the holes formed in the protective film 300.

It should be understood that the presence of a rod-shaped portion 230, which can be disassembled in the axial direction, and which is made as disclosed above, is not a distinctive feature of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-6. This feature can, in fact, also be combined with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the cup-shaped portion 210 of the insert 200 sealed with the cap 210 of the capsule 100.

In the region between the protective film 300 and the bottom of the capsule 100, the collecting element 400 is preferably located.

As, in particular, shown in Fig.7 and 8, the collecting element 400 has a flat, for example, disc-shaped form and contains many protruding elements 410, which face the protective film 300 and serve as opposing elements for the sharp elements 223 of the disc-shaped section 220 for limiting its movement in the axial direction. The protruding elements 410 also form, together with the protective film 300, a plurality of collecting channels for the brewed beverage.

The collecting member 400 further comprises a plurality of through holes 411, formed axially to drain the brewed beverage flowing out of the capsule, and also a branch 412 having a tubular hollow shape that extends to the base 111 of the bowl-shaped body 110 and engages with an outlet 116, which can be sealed with an additional puncturing film or removable cover (not shown). Through holes 411 and branch 412 provide the exit and direction of the brewed beverage from the capsule 100.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the collecting element 400 may be made integrally at the base 111 of the body 110 of the capsule 100, for example, by means of an injection molding method.

The present invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments. It should be understood that there may be other embodiments relating to the same inventive idea, as determined by the scope of the legal protection of the claims set forth below.

Claims (16)

1. Disposable capsule (100) for machines for making brewed drinks, containing: i) a cup-shaped hollow body (110) configured to receive a measured dose of a granular or powdered product; ii) a cover (120) sealed on the flange (114) of said housing (110); iii) distribution-collecting box (200), moreover, said insert (200) extends axially from the base (111) to the upper part (113) of the said housing (110) and comprises a section (210) located near the said upper part (113), a disk-shaped section (220) located near the said base (111), and a rod-shaped section (230) that connects said section (210) near the upper part (113) with the said disk-shaped section (220) near the base (111), and moreover, the area (210) near the upper part (113) contains many through holes (211), formed in the radial direction, and the disc-shaped section (220) near the base (111) contains many through holes (221), formed in the axial direction, characterized in that the region (210) near the upper part (113) is a glass-shaped section, and the disc-shaped section (220) is located on the base (111). 2. The capsule (100) according to claim 1, in which the cup-shaped portion (210) of the insert (200) further comprises a flange (212) located on its upper edge, said flange (212) being fixed on said cover (120) and forming with a lid (213) for receiving liquid for brewing. 3. The capsule (100) of claim 1, in which the cup-shaped portion (210) of the insert (200) further comprises a flange (212) at its upper edge, with said flange (212) radially extending to the peripheral wall (112) of the housing (110 ) the capsule (100) and engages with the possibility of compaction with a groove (115) formed in the circumferential direction on it, with the glass-shaped portion (210), the flange (212) and the peripheral wall portion (112) located between the flange (212) and the lid (120) of the capsule (100), form with the lid (120) a chamber (213) designed to receive liquid for the brew ivania 4. Capsule (100) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, in which the disc-shaped section (220) of the insert has the shape of a truncated cone. 5. Capsule (100) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, in which the disc-shaped portion (220) of the insert has a flat shape. 6. Capsule (100) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-5, in which said insert (200) further comprises a filtering element, said filtering element being located on the surface of the disc-shaped portion (220) facing the base (111) of the housing (110) of the capsule (100). 7. Capsule (100) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-6, in which the rod-shaped section (230) of the insert (200) is made of a first section (231) connected to a glass-shaped section (210), and a second section (232) connected to a disk-shaped section (220), said first and the second sections (231, 232) are made with the possibility of assembling with each other and installing a telescopic image into each other in the working configuration of the capsule and have corresponding cylindrical mating forms. 8. The capsule (100) according to claim 7, in which the first section (231) of the rod-shaped section (230) contains a through hole (231a) formed in its lower part, and the second section of the rod-like section (230) is provided with a base (232a) formed by a wall located between its free end and the disc-shaped section (220), and the general configuration of the rod-like element is such that when using the first section (231) rests against the base (232a) of the second section (232), which thus serves as a restrictive element for the first portion (231). 9. Capsule (100) according to claim 8, in which the base (111) of said body (110) has the shape of a truncated cone, and moreover, the protective film (300) is fixed along the periphery of the base (111), and the disc-shaped portion (220) of the insert ( 200) contains many sharp elements (223), which protrude from the surface facing the base (111) of the body (110). 10. Capsule (100) according to claim 9, further comprising a collecting element (400) located in said truncated-conical base (111), wherein said collecting element (400) contains a plurality of protruding elements (410) configured to contact a protective film (300), a plurality of through holes (411) formed in the axial direction, and a branch (412) having a hollow tubular shape, said branch (412) extending in the axial direction towards the truncated-conical base (111) and engages with the outlet (116), obra called in it.

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