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
  • B65D85/8052—Details of the outlet

Definitions

• Closed capsule for the preparation of beverages comprising a food substance dispersible in water.
• the invention relates to a capsule intended for use in the preparation of a hot drink by the introduction of water comprising a water-dispersible food substance such as soluble coffee or the like.
• the invention relates more particularly to a capsule with improved opening and conservation.
• capsules are generally not properly designed to prepare drinks from soluble substances. They are intended for certain types of espresso type machines specially designed to receive them and allow them to be opened.
• US Patent 5,472,719 relates to one of these methods. It is a preparation method using capsules comprising a bottom capable of undergoing a deformation of a certain amplitude without tearing until reaching one or more perforating elements of a collector. The opening of the bottom of the capsule does not take place at the time of placement in the collector but only after sufficient deformation of the bottom of the capsule and in contact with these perforating elements in response to an internal increase in pressure in the capsule. The opening is adjusted so as to intervene when a sufficient extraction pressure of the order of 10-12 bars has been reached. It is not necessary to reach such pressures for soluble materials.
• a single longer central perforating element can therefore be arranged so as to release the substance after sufficient deformation of the bottom.
• the piercing elements tend to cause irregular tearing of the bottom of the capsule. This results in an irregularity in the definition of the flow space and therefore a modification of the shear forces which generates the formation of the foam.
• Patent EP 0 524 464 B1 relates to a flexible extraction cartridge comprising an integrated stiffening element.
• the cartridge can be a closed cartridge, the top of which is pierced by a needle for the introduction of water and the bottom of which opens under the effect of the pressure in the extraction device.
• the cartridge can comprise three parts including a flexible membrane, a flexible body in frustoconical shape and an additional stiffening shirt which largely covers the flexible body.
• Such a configuration has the same drawbacks as capsules of the same type, the opening of which is based on tearing under the effect of internal pressure.
• Such a capsule is moreover complex to manufacture, uses unnecessary extra thicknesses of materials and requires the parts to be connected by welding and / or bonding techniques which can cause problems in the choice of materials.
• the capsule is therefore emptied of its content by flow by means of a drain element with forced introduction.
• a criticism commonly formulated according to this principle of mixing 'in situ' lies in the poor dispersion or dissolution and the low production of foam, in particular, when it is a coffee-based drink.
• the capsules using this mixing principle is known from patent EP 0 125 215 Bl.
• the liquid mixture thus formed is emptied by breaking a central pre-incised area formed in the bottom of the capsule by means of a forced insertion drain element such as a piston.
• a forced insertion drain element such as a piston.
• the piston crosses the pre-incised area to form an opening.
• the beverage flows into the limited space created between the surface of the drain element and the circumference of the complementary opening and / or through a flow channel formed in the drain element itself communicating with the inside the capsule.
• One problem is that the complete breaking of the pre-incised area can lead to the release of small pieces of plastic which mix with the drink.
• the capsule must be completely covered with an overwrap comprising moisture and oxygen barrier films forming a sealed plastic vacuum bag.
• an overwrap comprising moisture and oxygen barrier films forming a sealed plastic vacuum bag.
• Such an overpack makes the capsule bulky and inconvenient to use.
• the overwrap conforms to the shape of the capsule and is therefore often difficult to remove.
• Overwrapping also generates an additional step in the production chain, increases the material cost and, consequently, increases the overall cost of the capsule.
• the present invention relates to an improvement of a capsule, in particular, suitable for emptying by forced introduction of a emptying element.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a simple, effective and inexpensive solution to these problems.
• the invention thus relates to a capsule comprising a portion of water-dispersible food substance for the preparation of a drink by mixing with a quantity of water inside the capsule and draining the mixture outside by means of a device comprising a forced drain element inside the capsule, the capsule comprises a first surface adapted to be traversed by a flow of water entering the capsule and a second surface adapted to release the mixture formed at the inside the capsule.
• the capsule comprises a body formed from a first material, which is provided with a bottom in which is inscribed the second surface for emptying the mixture and the side walls.
• the drain bottom comprises at least one opening with the predefined shape and dimensions intended to adapt to the shape and dimensions of at least one drain element with forced insertion and the opening in the bottom is closed in a moisture-tight manner by a shutter membrane covering the opening, which can be torn off made of softer material and lower breaking strength compared to the material of the body.
• a configuration of this type provides a satisfactory solution to all of the problems posed in the context of an 'in situ' mixture of dispersible material for the production of drinks and, in particular, for emptying by means of '' a forced entry element. More specifically, the formation of pieces of capsule material is avoided since the closure function of the opening is treated by a tearable and not breakable material, the nature of which is more appropriate with respect to the material constituting the body of the capsule.
• the body it may be made of a material which is preferably more rigid, therefore capable of supporting the introduction of the draining element and capable of supporting the internal pressure during the production of the mixture.
• the drain opening being predefined in its shape and dimensions, it can be properly released during the introduction of the drain element of the device. There is thus a greater regularity of the passage surface formed at the interface between the opening and the drain element; which allows better control of the flow of the mixture and better quality foam formation and greater regularity.
• the flow is more regular and reproducible from one capsule to another.
• the dissolution is better controlled in the capsule and the release of dry or not fully dissolved matter or lumps is avoided.
• the closure membrane is of size less than or equal to the size of the drain bottom so as to limit the use of the material for the membrane and thus achieve a more economical tight closure.
• the membrane comprises a flexible polymer and / or metallic sheet which is thinner than the body thickness of the capsule.
• the sheet must be tearable under the effect of the introduction of the drain element.
• the tear-off can be a function of the design of the drain element itself; it may have a more or less cutting or piercing shape as required. However, the tear-off will be assessed relative to the non-tearability or the low tearability of the body itself.
• the term "tearable” is therefore understood in its broad sense as encompassing any form of rupture of the cut, tear, puncture, puncture, etc. type, with the exception of those which can apparently reveal discrete pieces of material.
• the flexible membrane comprises a sheet comprising a layer of aluminum or aluminum alloy.
• this sheet is a laminate comprising an additional layer of polymer support. The purpose of such a layer is to prevent the release of aluminum particles in the mixture.
• Such a laminate has the property of tearing cleanly and also that of being a barrier to humidity and, preferably, to air, thus making the opening completely sealed.
• the membrane comprises a thickness which allows a clean tear, clearing the opening of the body enough to create a passage surface suitable for the creation of foam and the flow of the liquid and while having a sufficient barrier effect. . In this, the thickness is between 0.1 and 5 tenths of a millimeter, preferably 1 and 3 tenths of a mm.
• the opening of the body preferably forms a relatively compact circular, elliptical, square or regular or irregular polygonal section.
• the opening has a section smaller than the surface of the drain bottom and preferably central with respect thereto. If necessary, the opening can be divided into several separate discrete holes corresponding to the arrangement of drain elements separate from the device.
• the structure of the capsule can be variable.
• the capsule body has the form of a cup comprising a bottom for emptying the mixture through the opening after tearing of the membrane.
• the cup extends by substantially rigid side walls adapted to maintain the available volume of the capsule without bending.
• the first surface suitable for the introduction of water is formed by a cover which is attached in a substantially sealed manner to the edges of the cup.
• the cup is of sufficient size to receive the desired dose of substance; for example of the order of 1 to 25 grams of substance.
• the cup is closed on open by a lid.
• the second so-called "emptying" surface of the capsule has a bottom from which extends the opening of predefined dimensions and shape, more particularly adapted to the forced passage of the element for emptying the prepared mixture.
• the opening can take different forms depending on the shape of the drain element.
• the size of the opening is not critical as such. It can vary from 10 to 300 mm 2 .
• the opening and the draining element are of substantially complementary shape; the emptying element being of substantially identical or slightly smaller size so as to create a passage surface for a controlled flow of the foam and then of the liquid mixture and also so as to avoid any significant mechanical interaction which may lead to abrasion of body parts of matter.
• the principle is that the emptying takes place between the surface of the element introduced into the opening and the opening itself or, alternatively, in conduits or channels formed in the element itself.
• the flexibility of the sealing membrane means that the emptying element can push back and clear the membrane sufficiently towards the interior of the enclosure by sufficiently clearing the opening. The formation of a restricted passage is decisive to obtain a good quality foam in the drink.
• Such a passage has the effect of creating shear forces in the liquid flow to form more foam. Foam creation is also affected by speed of passage and internal pressure factors. It has been determined that a total passage area of between 5 and 15 mm 2 , preferably 8-10 mm 2 for a pressure of the order of 2-3 bars is necessary to create a quality foam for making coffee, cappuccinno, latte, chocolate or similar drinks.
• the capsule body includes the capsule portion which defines the interior capacity to receive the substance to be mixed.
• the capsule is preferably made of formable material.
• formable material is meant a material which has the capacity to assume a defined self-supporting form.
• the material can be formed by different techniques such as by injection, injection-molding, hot compression, rotational molding, blowing, extrusion or any combination.
• the body must be resistant to the internal pressure created. Such a pressure can generally vary from 1 to 5, bars, more precisely from 1.5 to 2.5 bars.
• a formable capsule is by nature semi-rigid or rigid so that it can be easily placed in a pressure chamber of a beverage preparation machine and resist plastic deformation inside it. A machine of this type is, for example, described in patent EP 0 125 215, the content of which is incorporated into the present application by reference. The capsule can thus borrow different geometries and dimensions depending on the capacity of the chamber to receive the capsule.
• the body is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, polyester, polyvinylidene chloride, EVOH and combinations of one or more of these plastics.
• the most suitable material seems to be polypropylene for its nutritional properties and the absence of chemical salting out.
• the body can have a thickness of between 0.5 and 3 mm, preferably 1 and 1.5 mm. Such a thickness proves necessary to ensure a certain shape, pressure resistance and a sufficient barrier function to oxygen and humidity.
• the body may be provided with a cover provided with predefined channeling means allowing the passage of water within the enclosure of the capsule.
• These channeling means can be holes oriented in an orientation favoring the creation of turbulence inside the capsule allowing the passage of hot water.
• the external surface of the cover is provided with a peelable sealing means covering said channeling means.
• the sealing means of the surface of the cover may preferably be a membrane sealed or glued, peelably, on the edges of the cover.
• the cover can thus advantageously be connected to the body by forced mechanical connection such as by embedding. It is not necessary to provide a perfectly sealed connection since the sealing is perfectly achieved by the membrane which covers the connection between the cover and the body.
• the sealing means is a membrane which is sealed or peeled off peelably on the upper edges of the body when the cover is recessed in a housing of the body.
• the sealing means of the cover is a membrane comprising at least one moisture barrier layer so as to prevent the introduction of moisture through the channeling means.
• the membrane must also include at least one bonding layer having a peelability relative to the surface to which it is applied; the cover or the body.
• the sealing means can also consist of several discreet peelable self-adhesive pieces placed at the location of the channeling means on the cover.
• the membrane can advantageously be of identical nature to that closing the opening of the cup, with the difference that it must be able to be removed by peeling before introduction of the capsule into the device.
• the cup is covered by a flexible cover consisting of a first internal membrane pre-perforated with holes suitable for the introduction of water inside the capsule and a second external sealing membrane covering the first internal membrane which is peelable with respect to the first internal membrane.
• the cover is sealed by the external membrane, at least to humidity, which avoids providing an overpack around the capsule.
• the membrane can be conveniently removed by pulling on it and thus uncovering the pre-perforated inner membrane.
• the cover consists of a hermetic membrane, comprising a moisture barrier film, perforable and directly sealed on the edges of the cup.
• the cover is made of a material flexible sealed on the edges of the body and suitable for being pierced by needles or other equivalent elements of the preparation device. In this case, any overwrapping is also avoided because the perforable membrane acts as a barrier against moisture.
• the dispersible substance in the capsule can be of a variety. It can be soluble or quasi-soluble powders of coffee, cocoa, tea, dairy product, ferments, soup, fruit or plants or any combination possible.
• Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional representation of a capsule also showing the drain element of the device
• Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional representation of a capsule of the invention also showing the drain element
• Fig. 3 is a representation from below of the capsule of FIG. 2;
• Fig. 4 is a schematic sectional representation of a capsule of the invention according to another embodiment
• a capsule is visible in FIG. 1 through the reference 10. It has a body part 11 formed by a cup proper 12. The body 11 is closed by a cover 13 covering the cup 12. The two elements 12, 13 meet on peripheral edges 14 which can be connected by any suitable mechanical means or by chemical adhesion or sealing or plastic.
• the cup contains a predetermined dose of soluble substance such as freeze-dried or atomized coffee powder or a mixture of coffee powder and milk.
• the cover has holes 16, for example two holes, for the passage of hot water under pressure when filling the internal cavity as defined by the cover and the cup.
• the body 11 forms a substantially rigid or semi-rigid element capable of taking place in a sealed preparation chamber whose shape is suitable for receiving said body.
• the cup On its lower surface or bottom, the cup comprises an opening means 17, such as a non-sealed precut patch, partially attached to the rest of the bottom of the cup.
• the patch has precut lines.
• the opening is widened at the level of the precut lines by an element of the piston type 20, at least part of which is introduced into the enclosure of the capsule.
• the emptying is done by flow of the soluble mixture along the surface of the element and possibly through channels formed in the piston itself (not shown).
• a flexible overwrap 18, 19 completely covers the external surface of the capsule. It must be provided to ensure the conservation of the capsule.
• This overwrap may include a preformed cup cover pocket 18, a cover cover sheet 19 which are assembled by sealing at a joint plane 20 located around the edges 14 of the body.
• the overpack is generally a polymeric moisture and oxygen barrier material, multi-layer of the PS / EVOH / PE type or the like.
• the overwrap is generally placed by a "shinpack" machine, creating a vacuum between the capsule and the overpack. A vacuum is created and the sheet 19 is sealed on the pocket 18.
• FIGS. 2 and 3 A first embodiment of the invention is visible in FIGS. 2 and 3.
• the identical references in FIG. 1 denote identical or equivalent parts.
• the cup comprises a bottom 110 and sides 111.
• the sides 111 terminate on the side of the surface of water introduction via a lip-shaped edge 112.
• the cup thus forms a self-supporting reservoir for receiving the dispersible food substance.
• the cup On the side of the drain bottom 110, the cup is provided with an opening 21 with the predefined shape and dimensions.
• the opening is in the bottom plane.
• the opening has a regular internal edge 210, with closed section, defining precisely the section of the opening.
• the opening is thus adapted to the passage of a drain element 20 of the device.
• suitable shape is meant more particularly that the opening and the draining element are of substantially complementary shapes and. of close dimensions so as to create a restricted controlled passage between the surface of the emptying element and the periphery of the opening.
• the opening has a preferably circular shape whose diameter is between 5 and 15 mm.
• the opening is closed by a tearable membrane 22 entirely covering the opening in a sealed manner.
• the membrane is of sufficient size to overflow around the periphery of the opening and to be attached to the external edges 220 situated on the external surface of the drain bottom by any connection means suitable such as sealing or adhesion by means of an adhesive.
• the membrane can also be injected by over-injection on the body.
• the membrane can be placed either on the outer edges 220 or on the inner edges 221.
• the membrane is designed to be of breaking strength less than the resistance of the body, in particular of the bottom portion of the dome.
• the membrane is made of tearing material but does not constitute discrete pieces separable from the part attached to the body. It is thus also preferred to choose a means of connection of the membrane which is of rupture strength greater than the resistance of the membrane itself, so as to avoid the membrane from detaching entirely from the body and risking being entrained in the flow of the liquid.
• the body 11 is covered by a cover 13 made of rigid or semi-rigid plastic.
• the cover forms the water introduction surface.
• the cover includes holes 130 for the controlled passage of water.
• the number, the arrangement of the holes, their section and their orientation are predefined in the cover to ensure optimal conditions for mixing inside the capsule.
• the number of holes is preferably between 2 and 6, preferably 2 and 4, and are oriented in an inclined manner through the cover so as to create a swirling effect of the fluid inside the cover and promote dissolution of the substance.
• a peelable sealing membrane 23 covering the cover 13 and sealed on the body.
• the cover is preferably of section smaller than the spacing of the edges 112 of the body so as to leave an apparent sealing edge area 113 of the body.
• the cover can advantageously be assembled with the body by forced mechanical embedding, leaving visible the sealing area 113.
• the cover has a thinned edge 131 extending inwards by a thicker base portion 132.
• the edge 112 of the body comprises a peripheral clearance 114 for accommodating the thinned edge 131 of the cover so that the external surface of the cover is positioned substantially flush with the sealing edge 113 of the body or at least set back inward relative to it.
• the membrane 23 is provided on the outer side of the cover 13 and sealed on the body.
• the cover can thus preferably be attached to the body around the periphery of the sealing zone 113; the connection being thus protected from the external environment by the covering of the membrane 23.
• the cover can thus be engaged by forced embedding inside the body so as to form a rapid and economical connection requiring no equipment special bonding or sealing.
• the forced connection can be established either between the thinned portion 131 and the housing 114 or between the base portion 132 and the interior of the sides 11 of the body.
• one can also provide a bonding or a fusible joint between the cover and the body, if necessary.
• the sealing membrane of the cover 23 is made of a moisture-proof material such as aluminum or plastic, whether or not lined with a plastic film of the EVOH type or the like.
• Fig. 2 also shows a drain element 20 of the beveled configuration preparation device allowing a cleaner tear.
• the introduction of the drain element is done forcibly before or during the introduction of water into the capsule.
• the emptying element can be fixed in the preparation enclosure and the perforation of the membrane 22 takes place during the manual positioning of the capsule in the enclosure.
• the draining element can be mobile and move to perforate the membrane 22 after the capsule has been placed in the preparation enclosure.
• the invention can avoid an expensive and non-biodegradable barrier overwrap completely covering the capsule.
• the user can simply delaminate the membrane 23 before use and place the capsule in the preparation chamber of a machine suitable for this use.
• the sealing membrane 23 can also be connected by a peelable adhesive bead 50 directly to the cover 13.
• the cover 13 and the cup 12 are attached together by means of connection strong enough to resist peeling of the membrane.
• the cover is secured in place to the body by means of waterproof adhesive connection 51 and resistant to tearing such as a waterproof adhesive joint or any equivalent means.
• Fig. 4 shows another embodiment in which the cover of the capsule body is replaced by a single air-impermeable membrane 50.
• the membrane can be pierced by means of piercing means such as needles or points of the device to allow the introduction of a determined quantity of water inside the capsule.

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Citations (4)

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• 2001
  • 2001-04-03 EP EP01108406A patent/EP1247756B1/fr not_active Revoked
  • 2001-04-03 ES ES01108406T patent/ES2232538T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-04-03 AT AT01108406T patent/ATE283808T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-04-03 DE DE60107535T patent/DE60107535T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2002
  • 2002-03-28 AU AU2002256725A patent/AU2002256725A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-03-28 WO PCT/EP2002/003601 patent/WO2002081327A2/fr not_active Application Discontinuation

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