US20160229624A1 - Capsule For Beverages - Google Patents
Capsule For Beverages Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20160229624A1 US20160229624A1 US15/029,877 US201415029877A US2016229624A1 US 20160229624 A1 US20160229624 A1 US 20160229624A1 US 201415029877 A US201415029877 A US 201415029877A US 2016229624 A1 US2016229624 A1 US 2016229624A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- capsule
- side wall
- base
- closing element
- fixed
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
- B65D85/804—Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ, i.e. without having been previously removed from the package
- B65D85/8043—Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents
- B65D85/8064—Sealing means for the interface with the processing machine
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
- B65D85/804—Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ, i.e. without having been previously removed from the package
- B65D85/8043—Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23F—COFFEE; TEA; THEIR SUBSTITUTES; MANUFACTURE, PREPARATION, OR INFUSION THEREOF
- A23F5/00—Coffee; Coffee substitutes; Preparations thereof
- A23F5/24—Extraction of coffee; Coffee extracts; Making instant coffee
- A23F5/26—Extraction of water-soluble constituents
- A23F5/262—Extraction of water-soluble constituents the extraction liquid flows through a stationary bed of solid substances, e.g. in percolation columns
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
- A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
- A47J31/40—Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea
- A47J31/407—Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
- B65D77/003—Articles enclosed in rigid or semi-rigid containers, the whole being wrapped
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
- B65D77/10—Container closures formed after filling
- B65D77/20—Container closures formed after filling by applying separate lids or covers, i.e. flexible membrane or foil-like covers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2313/00—Connecting or fastening means
Definitions
- the invention relates to capsules or containers for preparing products, for example beverages, in automatic dispensing machines.
- the invention relates to a single-dose and disposable sealed capsule containing an initial product such as, for example, powder coffee or an infusion product that is able to make a final product by interacting with pressurised fluid.
- an initial product such as, for example, powder coffee or an infusion product that is able to make a final product by interacting with pressurised fluid.
- the known capsules for use in dispensing machines are disposable and single-dose containers comprising an outer casing, made of plastics impermeable to liquids and to gases and having a beaker or cup shape.
- FIG. 3 shows a capsule 1 as disclosed in application ITMO2013A000214 of the same applicant.
- the casing indicated by 2 , has a base wall 3 and a side wall 4 defining an open cavity 5 into which a product P can be inserted, for example ground coffee or tea, from which the beverage can be obtained.
- a flange-shaped rim 7 is connected to the side wall 4 , extends therefrom and is arranged around an upper opening of the cavity 5 .
- the upper opening is hermetically sealed by a cover element 8 , typically an aluminium or plastics film, that is fixed to the edge 7 of the casing 2 so as to seal the product P inside the container.
- the base wall 3 of the capsule 1 further has an opening, for example circular, bounded by an annular base rim 3 a onto which a further cover element 25 is fixed, that is made of a material that is similar to the material of the cover element 8 .
- the capsule is perforable to enable the pressurised liquid, typically water, to be delivered, and the obtained coffee beverage to exit.
- the further cover element 25 and cover element 8 are respectively perforable by a suitable pressurised fluid injecting arrangement and an extraction arrangement of a dispensing machine to enable the pressurised liquid to be delivered and the beverage to be extracted.
- the capsule can also be inserted into dispensing machines of known type in which the cover element 8 and the further cover element are respectively perforable by a pressurised fluid injecting arrangement and an extracting arrangement of a dispensing machine.
- both the cover element 8 and the further cover element 25 are made of an easily perforable material that causes the capsule to be able to be used with great flexibility of use in dispensing machines, regardless of whether the cavity faces upwards or downwards.
- the capsules are usually filled with the initial product P by means of a manufacturing process that supplies the thermoformed casings to a filling station and subsequently supplies these filled casings to a welding station to seal the cavity by welding the cover element to the flange rim of the capsule, the further cover element having been already fixed to close the base rim 3 a .
- an inert gas such as nitrogen is delivered to replace the air to maintain the organoleptic properties of the initial product P unaltered owing to the inhibiting and bacteriostatic action of the gas used.
- ground coffee is supplied to each casing, it is known that after roasting and grinding the coffee continues to be transformed even in the presence of the inert gas, releasing over time carbon dioxide and aromas in a ratio that is inversely proportionate to the time that has elapsed since roasting. For this reason, the ground coffee is usually subjected to a degassing step in storage silos, which is necessary for freeing the coffee from the carbon dioxide that is naturally released by the coffee.
- capsules of known type can be filled with ground coffee that has not been subjected to the degassing step or has not been subjected to the degassing step is an efficient manner.
- the coffee can release carbon dioxide and can thus cause an unexpected increase of the pressure inside the capsule, which may cause deformations or an undesired swelling of the cover element and/or of the further cover element but which can even compromise the wholeness of the capsule, usually at the further cover element.
- the excessive pressure can in fact cause tearing of the further cover element and the separation thereof from the base wall of the capsule, the further cover element being connected to the base wall by a welding rim that depends on the dimensions, which are often reduced, of the base wall.
- One object of the present invention is to improve known capsules for beverages, in particular capsules that are usable in known dispensing machines, ensuring the wholeness of the capsule regardless of the initial product with which it is filled.
- Another object is to devise a capsule that can be filled also with initial products that are able to release a gas after filling without the wholeness thereof being compromised over time.
- a further object is to devise a capsule in which a closing element is fixed to a flange rim and a further closing element is fixed to the base wall, in which the further closing element does not separate from the base wall when subjected to pressure.
- a still further object is to obtain a capsule that is cheap and easy to make.
- a capsule for beverages is provided according to the independent claim and one or more of the claims appended thereto.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section, with parts removed for the sake of clarity, of a capsule according to the invention
- FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged schematic cross section of a base wall of the capsule in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic cross section of a known capsule for beverages.
- a capsule 1 for beverages according to the invention for producing a final product, in particular a hot beverage, for example coffee, barley, herbal tea, tea, chocolate, etc, by injecting a hot pressurised fluid F inside the capsule.
- a hot beverage for example coffee, barley, herbal tea, tea, chocolate, etc
- the capsule 1 of the invention comprises an outer casing or container 2 , in turn comprising a base wall 3 and a side wall 4 defining an open cavity 5 and that is suitable for containing an initial product P, for example a soluble or percolable food product to be combined with a fluid, typically water, to obtain a final product.
- the base wall 3 and the side wall 4 define a body of the capsule 1 substantially in the form of a beaker or cup.
- the base wall 3 is flat and in particular of circular shape.
- the casing further comprises a flange rim 7 connected to the side wall 4 and extending therefrom, arranged around an upper opening of the cavity 5 .
- the flange rim 7 is further opposite the base wall 3 and faces outside with respect to the cavity 5 .
- the base wall 3 of the capsule has an opening 30 , for example circular, bounded by a base rim 3 a , for example annular, extending up to the side wall 4 of the capsule and comprises an annular wall 31 that extends around the opening 30 inside the cavity 5 and defines a recessed portion of the base wall 3 , made in a single body with the base wall 3 .
- the annular wall 31 has an inner end provided with a respective rim 31 a facing a symmetry axis A of the capsule 1 , that bounds a hole 32 substantially of the same size as the opening 30 .
- the annular wall 31 defines in this manner a through conduit having the opening 30 that is an outer end opening, i.e. facing the outside of the capsule, on the side opposite the hole 32 of the inner end.
- the rim 31 a of the annular wall 31 faces the portion of the cavity 5 intended for receiving the initial product P and contributes, if the base wall 3 of the capsule 1 is intended in use to be perforated by an injecting arrangement of the dispensing machine and the initial product is powder coffee, to maintaining said coffee powder compacted, avoiding preferential fluid paths being created therein that may give rise to a beverage of poor quality. It is in fact known that the pressurised fluid injected into the capsule has to be distributed as uniformly as possible in the initial product in order to be able to extract therefrom aromatic components to be transferred to the beverage, above all if the initial product is powder coffee.
- the through conduit defined by the annular wall 31 achieves in use a guiding element of an injecting arrangement of the dispensing machine.
- the casing 2 is made by forming a sheet of thermoformable plastics (not shown) that is suitable for the process of preparing the final product from the initial product P, for example able to withstand temperatures up to 100° C. and pressures up to 5 bar without deformation.
- Such a sheet of plastics 100 can have a thickness comprised between 15 micron and 1600 micron, in particular between 400 micron and 1200 micron and is made of polyolefins, for example polypropylene PP and/or polyethylene PE and/or polyamide PA.
- polyolefins for example polypropylene PP and/or polyethylene PE and/or polyamide PA.
- the sheet material can comprise a first layer of material, in particular suitable for contacting and/or conserving the initial product P, for example made of polypropylene PP that is impermeable to humidity, a second layer of material that is not in contact with the initial product P made of a material that is impermeable to gases, in particular to oxygen and optionally also to humidity, also known as a barrier layer, and a third external layer of material.
- a first layer of material in particular suitable for contacting and/or conserving the initial product P, for example made of polypropylene PP that is impermeable to humidity
- a second layer of material that is not in contact with the initial product P made of a material that is impermeable to gases, in particular to oxygen and optionally also to humidity, also known as a barrier layer
- a third external layer of material for example made of polypropylene PP that is impermeable to humidity
- the barrier layer interposed between the first and the third layer, ensures the complete insulation of the cavity 5 from the outer environment, in particular if the first layer is permeable over time to oxygen.
- the barrier layer has a thickness comprised between 2 micron and 100 micron, in particular between 15 micron and 70 micron, and is made, for example, of ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), which is gas-impermeable only to the oxygen or polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), which is gas-impermeable to both oxygen and humidity.
- EVOH ethylene vinyl alcohol
- PVDC polyvinylidene chloride
- the first and third layer are made of the same material, for example polypropylene PP and are coupled with the barrier layer interposed therebetween.
- These layers can have the same thickness (for example 350 micron), or different thicknesses (for example the first layer can have a thickness of 500 micron whereas the third layer can have a thickness of 300 micron).
- the first layer is a support and is made of polypropylene PP
- the second layer is the barrier layer (EVOH or PVDC)
- the third layer is an extruded layer of polypropylene PP or polyethylene PE, with a thickness of 15 micron, which is coupled with the first and the second layer during the process of manufacturing the sheet material.
- the sheet material both according to the first and the second embodiment, is thus selected so as to protect over time the initial product P contained in the capsule from humidity and oxygen.
- the capsule further comprises a cover element 8 fixed to the rim 7 of the casing 2 to seal hermetically the capsule 1 , i.e. the open cavity 5 and thus preserve the product P.
- the cover element 8 comprises a film of aluminium or a plastic film provided with a barrier layer that is perforable by an extracting arrangement of the final product or by an injecting arrangement of the initial fluid F of the dispensing machine.
- the cover element 8 is fixed to the rim 7 of the casing 2 by thermal or ultrasound welding or by gluing.
- the cover element 8 is fixed to the casing 2 by locking thermowelding, in the sense that this thermowelding ensures that the capsule conserves over time the initial product P in ideal conditions when stored during storage.
- a closing element 26 which is similar to the cover element 8 and is perforable by an injecting arrangement of the fluid F or by an extracting arrangement of the final product, is fixed to the further rim 3 a outside the base wall 3 , to hermetically seal the opening 30 .
- the closing element 26 is fixed to the annular rim 3 a by thermal or ultrasound welding or by gluing and in particular the closing element 26 is fixed to the casing 2 by locking thermowelding in a joining portion 33 .
- the thickness of the cover element 8 and/or of the closing element 26 is expressed in grammage and is comprised between 5 and 120 g/m 2 .
- the closing element 26 has greater dimensions than the base wall 3 and is also fixed to the side wall 4 to remain joined to the capsule even in the presence of a pressure increase inside the capsule, as will be seen below.
- the base rim 3 a defines a base edge 34 with the side wall 4 and that the closing element 26 extends beyond the base edge 34 and is superimposed on the side wall 4 along the entire base edge 34 , and namely angularly all around with respect to the symmetry axis A of the capsule.
- the closing element 26 is superimposed and fixed to the side wall for at least one strip of 2 mm measured from the base edge 34 , in particular for 2.5 mm, but can be fixed to the side wall 4 for the entire side wall 4 .
- the closing element 26 is disc-shaped and the base wall is circular and flat, or a polygon that can be inscribed in a circle, the closing element 26 has a greater diameter than the base wall 3 .
- the side wall 4 comprises a first portion 4 a connected to the base edge 34 and a second portion 4 b defining with the first portion a side edge 35 .
- the second portion 4 b extends up to the flange rim 7 , as shown in FIG. 1 .
- first portion 4 a is of frustoconical shape and has a first tilt, which is greater than a second tilt of the second portion 4 b , which is also of frustoconical shape.
- the first and the second tilt are measured with respect to the symmetry axis A of the capsule.
- the side wall 4 and thus the body of the capsule could be shaped differently and not have frustoconical portions but for example truncated-pyramid portions that can be inscribed into frustoconical portions.
- the first portion could be truncated-pyramid and the second portion could also be truncated-pyramid, both, for example, with an octagonal base but with a different tilt.
- the side wall 4 of the capsule could also comprise a plurality of frustoconical or truncated pyramid portions with a gradually decreasing tilt and thus comprise a plurality of side edges.
- the closing element 26 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as associated with the casing 2 having a specific shape, the casing 2 could be shaped otherwise, with regard to the base wall 3 , the side wall 4 or the flange rim 7 , and everything said previously with regard to the closing element 26 would continue to be valid.
- closing element 26 is fixed to the base rim 3 a and to the side wall 4 by thermowelding.
- the closing element 26 is fixed to the side wall 4 in the entire first portion 4 a .
- the joining portion 33 by means of which the closing element 26 is thermowelded to the capsule 1 extends in the annular base rim 3 a , which is flat, and in the first portion 4 a of the side wall 4 , oblique to the base rim 3 a , through the base edge 34 up to the side edge 35 .
- the joining portion 33 is stressed only obliquely at the first portion 4 a , after the base rim 3 a has been separated, because the closing element 26 continues to be pushed mainly perpendicularly at the opening 30 by the pressure inside the capsule.
- a capsule can also be filled with an initial product that releases gas inside the capsule, because both the cover element 8 and the closing element 26 can withstand high pressure without compromising the wholeness of the capsule.
- the capsule can also be filled with coffee that has not been completely degassed, because the higher pressure that may develop inside a capsule is less than the pressure at which the closing element 26 separates from the capsule.
- the capsule of the invention thus remains sealed even after a time has elapsed since the filling thereof, regardless of the initial product with which the capsule is filled (ground coffee degassed or not or tea) and regardless of the moment at which it is consumed by the user.
- each capsule becomes cheaper because it is no longer necessary to subject the ground coffee to a degassing step but it is possible to fill the capsules with coffee that has just been roasted and ground.
Abstract
Description
- This application is a national phase of PCT International Application No. PCT/1B2014/065358 filed Oct. 16, 2014. PCT/IB2014/0065358 claims priority to IT Application No. MO2013A000297 filed Oct. 17, 2013. The entire contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.
- The invention relates to capsules or containers for preparing products, for example beverages, in automatic dispensing machines.
- In particular, the invention relates to a single-dose and disposable sealed capsule containing an initial product such as, for example, powder coffee or an infusion product that is able to make a final product by interacting with pressurised fluid.
- The known capsules for use in dispensing machines are disposable and single-dose containers comprising an outer casing, made of plastics impermeable to liquids and to gases and having a beaker or cup shape.
-
FIG. 3 shows acapsule 1 as disclosed in application ITMO2013A000214 of the same applicant. - The casing, indicated by 2, has a
base wall 3 and aside wall 4 defining anopen cavity 5 into which a product P can be inserted, for example ground coffee or tea, from which the beverage can be obtained. A flange-shaped rim 7 is connected to theside wall 4, extends therefrom and is arranged around an upper opening of thecavity 5. The upper opening is hermetically sealed by acover element 8, typically an aluminium or plastics film, that is fixed to theedge 7 of thecasing 2 so as to seal the product P inside the container. - The
base wall 3 of thecapsule 1 further has an opening, for example circular, bounded by anannular base rim 3 a onto which afurther cover element 25 is fixed, that is made of a material that is similar to the material of thecover element 8. - The capsule is perforable to enable the pressurised liquid, typically water, to be delivered, and the obtained coffee beverage to exit. In particular, the
further cover element 25 andcover element 8 are respectively perforable by a suitable pressurised fluid injecting arrangement and an extraction arrangement of a dispensing machine to enable the pressurised liquid to be delivered and the beverage to be extracted. - Alternatively, the capsule can also be inserted into dispensing machines of known type in which the
cover element 8 and the further cover element are respectively perforable by a pressurised fluid injecting arrangement and an extracting arrangement of a dispensing machine. - In other words, both the
cover element 8 and thefurther cover element 25 are made of an easily perforable material that causes the capsule to be able to be used with great flexibility of use in dispensing machines, regardless of whether the cavity faces upwards or downwards. - The capsules are usually filled with the initial product P by means of a manufacturing process that supplies the thermoformed casings to a filling station and subsequently supplies these filled casings to a welding station to seal the cavity by welding the cover element to the flange rim of the capsule, the further cover element having been already fixed to close the
base rim 3 a. During this fixing of the cover element, into each capsule an inert gas such as nitrogen is delivered to replace the air to maintain the organoleptic properties of the initial product P unaltered owing to the inhibiting and bacteriostatic action of the gas used. - Nevertheless, if ground coffee is supplied to each casing, it is known that after roasting and grinding the coffee continues to be transformed even in the presence of the inert gas, releasing over time carbon dioxide and aromas in a ratio that is inversely proportionate to the time that has elapsed since roasting. For this reason, the ground coffee is usually subjected to a degassing step in storage silos, which is necessary for freeing the coffee from the carbon dioxide that is naturally released by the coffee.
- One problem of capsules of known type is that they can be filled with ground coffee that has not been subjected to the degassing step or has not been subjected to the degassing step is an efficient manner. In these capsules, the coffee can release carbon dioxide and can thus cause an unexpected increase of the pressure inside the capsule, which may cause deformations or an undesired swelling of the cover element and/or of the further cover element but which can even compromise the wholeness of the capsule, usually at the further cover element.
- The excessive pressure can in fact cause tearing of the further cover element and the separation thereof from the base wall of the capsule, the further cover element being connected to the base wall by a welding rim that depends on the dimensions, which are often reduced, of the base wall.
- The problem of the release of carbon dioxide is known not only for coffee, as said previously, but also for certain types of partially fermented tea, which may thus continue to ferment, releasing carbon dioxide also after the capsules have been filled. Also in this case, a filled capsule may break, due to the excessive build-up of pressure inside the capsule.
- This problem is even greater if it is considered that after the capsules have been filled with the initial product P and packaged they may be stored for a long time in warehouses waiting to be distributed to consumers. A capsule may also break after the capsule has been purchased by a consumer and can thus cause damage in an uncontrolled manner.
- One object of the present invention is to improve known capsules for beverages, in particular capsules that are usable in known dispensing machines, ensuring the wholeness of the capsule regardless of the initial product with which it is filled.
- Another object is to devise a capsule that can be filled also with initial products that are able to release a gas after filling without the wholeness thereof being compromised over time.
- A further object is to devise a capsule in which a closing element is fixed to a flange rim and a further closing element is fixed to the base wall, in which the further closing element does not separate from the base wall when subjected to pressure.
- A still further object is to obtain a capsule that is cheap and easy to make.
- According to a first aspect of the invention, a capsule for beverages is provided according to the independent claim and one or more of the claims appended thereto.
- The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some embodiments thereof by way of non-limiting example, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section, with parts removed for the sake of clarity, of a capsule according to the invention; -
FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged schematic cross section of a base wall of the capsule inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross section of a known capsule for beverages. - With reference to
FIG. 1 , there is illustrated acapsule 1 for beverages according to the invention, for producing a final product, in particular a hot beverage, for example coffee, barley, herbal tea, tea, chocolate, etc, by injecting a hot pressurised fluid F inside the capsule. - It is pointed out that for uniformity with the prior art capsule disclosed in
FIG. 3 , the same numeric references are assigned to the same components. - The
capsule 1 of the invention comprises an outer casing orcontainer 2, in turn comprising abase wall 3 and aside wall 4 defining anopen cavity 5 and that is suitable for containing an initial product P, for example a soluble or percolable food product to be combined with a fluid, typically water, to obtain a final product. Thebase wall 3 and theside wall 4 define a body of thecapsule 1 substantially in the form of a beaker or cup. According to one embodiment, thebase wall 3 is flat and in particular of circular shape. - The casing further comprises a
flange rim 7 connected to theside wall 4 and extending therefrom, arranged around an upper opening of thecavity 5. Theflange rim 7 is further opposite thebase wall 3 and faces outside with respect to thecavity 5. - The
base wall 3 of the capsule has anopening 30, for example circular, bounded by abase rim 3 a, for example annular, extending up to theside wall 4 of the capsule and comprises anannular wall 31 that extends around theopening 30 inside thecavity 5 and defines a recessed portion of thebase wall 3, made in a single body with thebase wall 3. - The
annular wall 31 has an inner end provided with arespective rim 31 a facing a symmetry axis A of thecapsule 1, that bounds ahole 32 substantially of the same size as the opening 30. Theannular wall 31 defines in this manner a through conduit having the opening 30 that is an outer end opening, i.e. facing the outside of the capsule, on the side opposite thehole 32 of the inner end. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , therim 31 a of theannular wall 31 faces the portion of thecavity 5 intended for receiving the initial product P and contributes, if thebase wall 3 of thecapsule 1 is intended in use to be perforated by an injecting arrangement of the dispensing machine and the initial product is powder coffee, to maintaining said coffee powder compacted, avoiding preferential fluid paths being created therein that may give rise to a beverage of poor quality. It is in fact known that the pressurised fluid injected into the capsule has to be distributed as uniformly as possible in the initial product in order to be able to extract therefrom aromatic components to be transferred to the beverage, above all if the initial product is powder coffee. The through conduit defined by theannular wall 31 achieves in use a guiding element of an injecting arrangement of the dispensing machine. - The
casing 2 is made by forming a sheet of thermoformable plastics (not shown) that is suitable for the process of preparing the final product from the initial product P, for example able to withstand temperatures up to 100° C. and pressures up to 5 bar without deformation. - Such a sheet of plastics 100 can have a thickness comprised between 15 micron and 1600 micron, in particular between 400 micron and 1200 micron and is made of polyolefins, for example polypropylene PP and/or polyethylene PE and/or polyamide PA.
- In detail, the sheet material can comprise a first layer of material, in particular suitable for contacting and/or conserving the initial product P, for example made of polypropylene PP that is impermeable to humidity, a second layer of material that is not in contact with the initial product P made of a material that is impermeable to gases, in particular to oxygen and optionally also to humidity, also known as a barrier layer, and a third external layer of material.
- The barrier layer, interposed between the first and the third layer, ensures the complete insulation of the
cavity 5 from the outer environment, in particular if the first layer is permeable over time to oxygen. The barrier layer has a thickness comprised between 2 micron and 100 micron, in particular between 15 micron and 70 micron, and is made, for example, of ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), which is gas-impermeable only to the oxygen or polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), which is gas-impermeable to both oxygen and humidity. - According to a first embodiment (not shown) of the sheet material, the first and third layer are made of the same material, for example polypropylene PP and are coupled with the barrier layer interposed therebetween. These layers can have the same thickness (for example 350 micron), or different thicknesses (for example the first layer can have a thickness of 500 micron whereas the third layer can have a thickness of 300 micron).
- According to a second embodiment (not shown), the first layer is a support and is made of polypropylene PP, the second layer is the barrier layer (EVOH or PVDC) and the third layer is an extruded layer of polypropylene PP or polyethylene PE, with a thickness of 15 micron, which is coupled with the first and the second layer during the process of manufacturing the sheet material.
- The sheet material, both according to the first and the second embodiment, is thus selected so as to protect over time the initial product P contained in the capsule from humidity and oxygen.
- The capsule further comprises a
cover element 8 fixed to therim 7 of thecasing 2 to seal hermetically thecapsule 1, i.e. theopen cavity 5 and thus preserve the product P. Thecover element 8 comprises a film of aluminium or a plastic film provided with a barrier layer that is perforable by an extracting arrangement of the final product or by an injecting arrangement of the initial fluid F of the dispensing machine. - The
cover element 8 is fixed to therim 7 of thecasing 2 by thermal or ultrasound welding or by gluing. In particular, thecover element 8 is fixed to thecasing 2 by locking thermowelding, in the sense that this thermowelding ensures that the capsule conserves over time the initial product P in ideal conditions when stored during storage. - A closing
element 26, which is similar to thecover element 8 and is perforable by an injecting arrangement of the fluid F or by an extracting arrangement of the final product, is fixed to thefurther rim 3 a outside thebase wall 3, to hermetically seal theopening 30. As already said for thecover element 8, the closingelement 26 is fixed to theannular rim 3 a by thermal or ultrasound welding or by gluing and in particular the closingelement 26 is fixed to thecasing 2 by locking thermowelding in a joiningportion 33. - The thickness of the
cover element 8 and/or of theclosing element 26 is expressed in grammage and is comprised between 5 and 120 g/m2. - According to the invention, the closing
element 26 has greater dimensions than thebase wall 3 and is also fixed to theside wall 4 to remain joined to the capsule even in the presence of a pressure increase inside the capsule, as will be seen below. - It should be noted that the
base rim 3 a defines abase edge 34 with theside wall 4 and that theclosing element 26 extends beyond thebase edge 34 and is superimposed on theside wall 4 along theentire base edge 34, and namely angularly all around with respect to the symmetry axis A of the capsule. - The closing
element 26 is superimposed and fixed to the side wall for at least one strip of 2 mm measured from thebase edge 34, in particular for 2.5 mm, but can be fixed to theside wall 4 for theentire side wall 4. - If the
closing element 26 is disc-shaped and the base wall is circular and flat, or a polygon that can be inscribed in a circle, the closingelement 26 has a greater diameter than thebase wall 3. - The
side wall 4 comprises afirst portion 4 a connected to thebase edge 34 and asecond portion 4 b defining with the first portion aside edge 35. Thesecond portion 4 b extends up to theflange rim 7, as shown inFIG. 1 . - It should be noted that the
first portion 4 a is of frustoconical shape and has a first tilt, which is greater than a second tilt of thesecond portion 4 b, which is also of frustoconical shape. The first and the second tilt are measured with respect to the symmetry axis A of the capsule. - Nevertheless, it is pointed out that the
side wall 4 and thus the body of the capsule could be shaped differently and not have frustoconical portions but for example truncated-pyramid portions that can be inscribed into frustoconical portions. For example, the first portion could be truncated-pyramid and the second portion could also be truncated-pyramid, both, for example, with an octagonal base but with a different tilt. - Optionally, the
side wall 4 of the capsule could also comprise a plurality of frustoconical or truncated pyramid portions with a gradually decreasing tilt and thus comprise a plurality of side edges. - In other words, although the
closing element 26 is shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 as associated with thecasing 2 having a specific shape, thecasing 2 could be shaped otherwise, with regard to thebase wall 3, theside wall 4 or theflange rim 7, and everything said previously with regard to theclosing element 26 would continue to be valid. - We have said that the
closing element 26 is fixed to thebase rim 3 a and to theside wall 4 by thermowelding. - In detail, the closing
element 26 is fixed to theside wall 4 in the entirefirst portion 4 a. In other words, the joiningportion 33 by means of which theclosing element 26 is thermowelded to thecapsule 1 extends in the annular base rim 3 a, which is flat, and in thefirst portion 4 a of theside wall 4, oblique to thebase rim 3 a, through thebase edge 34 up to theside edge 35. - Experimentally, it has been verified that the
closing element 26 remains joined to the capsule even in the presence of a pressure increase inside the capsule because the joiningportion 33 placed at thebase rim 3 a separates at pressure of about 2 bar whereas the joiningportion 33 placed in theside wall 4 remains unchanged up to 4.5 bar, a pressure beyond which thecasing 2 of thecapsule 1 is torn together with the closingelement 26. - In detail it has been verified that:
-
- at 0.5 bar the
closing element 26 shows a swelling but the joiningportion 33, placed in thebase rim 3 a and in thefirst portion 4 a, remains unchanged; - at 1 bar the joining
portion 33 placed in thebase rim 3 a starts to separate but the joining portion placed in thefirst portion 4 a remains unchanged; - at about 2 bar the joining
portion 33 placed in thebase rim 3 a separates but the joining portion placed in thefirst portion 4 a remains unchanged; - up to 4.5 bar the joining
portion 33 in thefirst portion 4 a remains unchanged; - beyond 4.5 bar the
closing element 26 and thecasing 2 are torn by excessive pressure but the thermowelding in the joiningportion 33 through which theclosing element 26 is joined to thecapsule 1 remains unchanged.
- at 0.5 bar the
- Up to 4.5 bar, it is thus ensured that a circumferal rim of the
closing element 26 remains joined to the capsule, in particular to theside wall 4 thereof, by locking thermowelding ensuring the wholeness of the capsule even at high pressures. - It has in fact been observed that the pressure released inside the
cavity 5 of the capsule stresses theclosing element 26 perpendicularly at theopening 30 and this causes the joining portion to be pushed in a direction that is orthogonal to the welding plane in thebase rim 3 a. - Nevertheless, the joining
portion 33 is stressed only obliquely at thefirst portion 4 a, after thebase rim 3 a has been separated, because theclosing element 26 continues to be pushed mainly perpendicularly at theopening 30 by the pressure inside the capsule. - Owing thus to the fact that the
closing element 26 is fixed both to thebase rim 3 a and to theside wall 4, a capsule can also be filled with an initial product that releases gas inside the capsule, because both thecover element 8 and theclosing element 26 can withstand high pressure without compromising the wholeness of the capsule. - It follows that the capsule can also be filled with coffee that has not been completely degassed, because the higher pressure that may develop inside a capsule is less than the pressure at which the
closing element 26 separates from the capsule. The capsule of the invention thus remains sealed even after a time has elapsed since the filling thereof, regardless of the initial product with which the capsule is filled (ground coffee degassed or not or tea) and regardless of the moment at which it is consumed by the user. - Further, the process of manufacturing each capsule becomes cheaper because it is no longer necessary to subject the ground coffee to a degassing step but it is possible to fill the capsules with coffee that has just been roasted and ground.
Claims (10)
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ITMO2013A000297 | 2013-10-17 | ||
IT000297A ITMO20130297A1 (en) | 2013-10-17 | 2013-10-17 | CAPPULE FOR BEVERAGES |
PCT/IB2014/065358 WO2015056202A1 (en) | 2013-10-17 | 2014-10-16 | Capsule for beverages |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20160229624A1 true US20160229624A1 (en) | 2016-08-11 |
Family
ID=49683934
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US15/029,877 Abandoned US20160229624A1 (en) | 2013-10-17 | 2014-10-16 | Capsule For Beverages |
Country Status (11)
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US (1) | US20160229624A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3057886B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP6797682B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR102240605B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN105658543B (en) |
AU (1) | AU2014335706B2 (en) |
BR (1) | BR112016007413B1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2925686C (en) |
ES (1) | ES2648919T3 (en) |
IT (1) | ITMO20130297A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2015056202A1 (en) |
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ES2680630T3 (en) | 2014-01-03 | 2018-09-10 | Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. | Interchangeable supply container for a beverage dispensing machine, dispenser, pump unit and manufacturing method |
WO2016067128A1 (en) | 2014-10-29 | 2016-05-06 | Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa' Cooperativa | Apparatus and method for manufacturing a capsule for infusion products. |
EP3134331B1 (en) | 2015-05-15 | 2018-07-11 | Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. | A capsule, a system for preparing a potable beverage from such a capsule and use of such a capsule in a beverage preparation device. |
CN111674736B (en) | 2015-05-15 | 2022-06-17 | 皇家戴维艾格伯茨有限公司 | Capsule and system for preparing a potable beverage from such a capsule |
RU2710763C2 (en) | 2015-05-15 | 2020-01-13 | Конинклейке Дауве Егбертс Б.В. | Capsule, system for preparing drink suitable for drinking from similar capsule and use of such capsule in beverage preparation device |
CN107848702B (en) | 2015-05-15 | 2020-08-04 | 皇家戴维艾格伯茨有限公司 | Capsule, system for preparing a potable beverage from such a capsule and method of use of such a capsule in a beverage preparation device |
CA2985975A1 (en) | 2015-05-15 | 2016-11-24 | Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. | A capsule, a system for preparing a potable beverage from such a capsule and use of such a capsule in a beverage preparation device |
KR102596448B1 (en) | 2015-05-15 | 2023-10-30 | 코닌클리케 도우베 에그베르츠 비.브이. | Capsules, systems for producing drinkable beverages from such capsules and use of such capsules in beverage preparation devices |
EP3368447B1 (en) | 2015-10-27 | 2020-04-22 | Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. | Capsule, system and method for preparing a beverage |
NL2016780B1 (en) | 2016-05-13 | 2017-11-16 | Douwe Egberts Bv | A capsule, a system for preparing a potable beverage from such a capsule and use of such a capsule in a beverage preparation device |
NL2016779B1 (en) | 2016-05-13 | 2017-11-16 | Douwe Egberts Bv | A capsule and a system for preparing a potable beverage from such a capsule |
NL2019254B9 (en) | 2016-10-07 | 2018-09-10 | Douwe Egberts Bv | A capsule, a system for preparing a potable beverage from such a capsule and use of such a capsule in a beverage preparation device |
EP3372528A1 (en) * | 2017-03-10 | 2018-09-12 | ITC Packaging, S.L.U. | An in-mould labelled container for preparing drinks |
NL2019253B1 (en) | 2017-07-14 | 2019-01-28 | Douwe Egberts Bv | Assembly of a capsule and a brew chamber, brew chamber, beverage preparation machine, capsule and use of a capsule. |
CN108313542A (en) * | 2018-04-04 | 2018-07-24 | 叶辛 | A kind of coffee capsule |
CA3107163C (en) * | 2018-07-27 | 2023-03-14 | K-Fee System Gmbh | Method for producing a portion capsule for preparing a beverage in a beverage production machine, portion capsule, and method for producing a beverage with a beverage production machine and a portion capsule |
DE102018218592A1 (en) * | 2018-10-30 | 2020-04-30 | Säntis Packaging Ag | Opening unit |
BR112021014689A2 (en) * | 2019-02-08 | 2021-09-28 | Novadelta - Comércio E Indústria De Cafés, Lda | CAPSULE OF HETEROGENEOUS MATERIAL AND SIDE AND REINFORCED BASE STRUCTURAL CONFIGURATION |
IT201900005014A1 (en) * | 2019-04-03 | 2020-10-03 | Flo Spa | CAPSULE FOR THE PREPARATION OF BEVERAGES |
IT201900005002A1 (en) * | 2019-04-03 | 2020-10-03 | Flo Spa | CAPSULE FOR THE PREPARATION OF BEVERAGES |
IT201900019424A1 (en) * | 2019-10-21 | 2021-04-21 | Sarong Spa | CAPSULE |
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- 2014-10-16 ES ES14802164.5T patent/ES2648919T3/en active Active
- 2014-10-16 JP JP2016524103A patent/JP6797682B2/en active Active
- 2014-10-16 CN CN201480056728.4A patent/CN105658543B/en active Active
- 2014-10-16 EP EP14802164.5A patent/EP3057886B1/en active Active
- 2014-10-16 AU AU2014335706A patent/AU2014335706B2/en active Active
- 2014-10-16 WO PCT/IB2014/065358 patent/WO2015056202A1/en active Application Filing
- 2014-10-16 US US15/029,877 patent/US20160229624A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2014-10-16 CA CA2925686A patent/CA2925686C/en active Active
- 2014-10-16 BR BR112016007413-0A patent/BR112016007413B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2014-10-16 KR KR1020167010301A patent/KR102240605B1/en active IP Right Grant
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN105658543B (en) | 2017-10-20 |
AU2014335706B2 (en) | 2017-12-14 |
CA2925686A1 (en) | 2015-04-23 |
ES2648919T3 (en) | 2018-01-08 |
KR102240605B1 (en) | 2021-04-16 |
EP3057886A1 (en) | 2016-08-24 |
JP6797682B2 (en) | 2020-12-09 |
ITMO20130297A1 (en) | 2015-04-18 |
BR112016007413A2 (en) | 2017-08-01 |
EP3057886B1 (en) | 2017-08-23 |
WO2015056202A1 (en) | 2015-04-23 |
BR112016007413B1 (en) | 2021-03-23 |
KR20160074497A (en) | 2016-06-28 |
CN105658543A (en) | 2016-06-08 |
CA2925686C (en) | 2021-11-30 |
JP2016539675A (en) | 2016-12-22 |
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