WO2013038111A2

WO2013038111A2 - Individual-dose refill for a food product and machine for producing same

Info

Publication number: WO2013038111A2
Application number: PCT/FR2012/052046
Authority: WO
Inventors: Manuelle SIMONDI
Original assignee: MATEO, José
Priority date: 2011-09-14
Filing date: 2012-09-13
Publication date: 2013-03-21
Also published as: ITAL20110015U1; FR2979904A1; WO2013038111A3

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a single-dose refill (1) of a food product for preparing a beverage, such as a coffee or the like. It comprises a part shaped as a half-shell (11) and a closure (22) in the form of a sheet, the half-shell (11) having an end flange (111) to which said closure (22) is irreversibly attached, said half-shell (11) and said closure (22) being made of a biodegradable material. Also claimed is a machine (200) for producing a single-dose refill (1) comprising a chassis (201) bearing a carriage (210) provided with a preform cutting punch (213), through which there travels a dishing punch (215) for dishing said preform in order to obtain a part shaped as a half-shell (11), such that the cutting and dishing operations are located at one and the same workstation.

Description

Unit dose refill for a food product

and machine for its manufacture

The present invention belongs to the field of products for the preparation of drinks, and more particularly to that of refills placed in devices dedicated to this preparation.

It relates to a single-use refill of a food product for the preparation of a drink. It also relates to a machine for the manufacture of such a refill. Finally, it relates to a method for obtaining such a refill.

The present invention more particularly relates to a unit dose refill for a food product, for the preparation of a beverage, such as coffee, tea, chocolate or the like. The refill includes a portion designed for housing the food product. This portion is shaped as a half-shell and has an opening adapted for the prior insertion of the food product within the half-shell.

The opening of the refill is further closed by a closure element in such a way that said opening is irreversibly closed. More specifically, the irreversible term is intended to indicate a definitive closure, that is to say that once the closure element is placed in the closed state, it is not possible to open the refill without causing him any damage. What has just been described is a current configuration of a single-dose container known in the state of the art. This container is suitable for the containment of the food product which is in particular soluble and in powder form. The food product is, for example, ground coffee, broken tea, powdered chocolate or the like.

The container, commonly known as a capsule, is filled with ground coffee, or one of the aforementioned analogous ingredients. The container is intended to be inserted in a device such as a percolator, to obtain a drink, different depending on the ingredient contained in the capsule used. Such a device generally allows the passage of hot water under pressure through the capsule itself. Such a hot water passage allows the supply of the drink, thanks to the mixture between the water and the ingredient present inside the capsule. In general, the capsule consists of a half-shell element for housing the coffee, and has an opening on one side which is closed by a closure element. The half-shell and the closure element are traversed by the water, which allows the supply of the drink. The most common systems available on the market provide for the realization of the half-shell element of a plastic or other material that is not biodegradable. The half-shell element is filled with the food product and is closed by irreversible closure with a plastic sheet or with another coupled half-shell. Once the capsule inserted in the device, it is perforated which allows the passage of water for the preparation of the drink.

Given these characteristics, a capsule of this type has a significant disadvantage with regard to its disposal after use, due to the fact that the various materials that compose it are not separable, forcing the user to treat after use as non-recyclable waste.

To solve this problem, it has been proposed a single-dose container which comprises a half-shell element of plastic material and a removable cover element, which allows the filling of the half-shell element with the coffee powder, the closing the opening, then removing the removable cover element once the capsule has been used, to make the reusable plastic half-shell element.

This solution, however, does not allow for an ideal cleaning of the half-shell element and the coffee powder residue. In addition, the high temperatures and the actual operation of the device damage the plastic half-shell element, making it unusable after a few uses.

The invention achieves the above objectives by providing a unit dose refill comprising a half-shell and a closure member, wherein said half-shell shell having in the vicinity of said opening an end flange, on which is fixed said closure member, said half-shell and said closure member being made of a biodegradable material. The refill according to the invention is therefore made entirely of biodegradable material, containing the ingredient to prepare the chosen beverage. Such a material must also meet all the requirements of the use for which it is intended, in the first place be suitable for the preparation of a drink percolation, usually hot, and compatible with the health of consumers. Such a material may in particular be made based on cellulosic raw material, for example from pulp or from materials derived from the recovery of vegetable waste, woven or non-woven, such as crepe paper, filter paper, or other.

In this case, the material used to manufacture the unit dose is conveniently in the state of flexible film. It is necessary to cut pieces of adequate size and shape them to obtain a three-dimensional object, while their ability to stretch plastic is negligible. In doing so, it is imperative to respect the integrity of the piece during its shaping, otherwise the refill will tear and no longer play its role as a retender of the food product.

The techniques for shaping rigid plastic refills of known type are based on the processes of plastics (essentially thermocompression) which can not be used here. For metal capsules, on the other hand, a stamping process is used to obtain, which consists of plastically deforming a sheet of flat and thin sheet metal to obtain the desired shape. This operation is carried out using a high-power stamping press equipped with special tools, which comprises three main pieces, namely, i) a matrix, recessed, which matches the outer shape of the piece, ii) an embossed punch, which conforms to its internal shape by reserving the thickness of the sheet, and iii) a blank holder surrounding the punch, which is applied against the periphery of the die and serves to wedge the sheet during the application of the punch. These methods applied to metals can not be transposed to the forming of a flexible film, fragile, and not subject to plastic deformation, such as the film of biodegradable material. The obtaining of biodegradable refills has thus been found to be conditioned by the development of a method of manufacturing refills from a film of biodegradable material and a machine capable of implementing it. This is one of the aims of the present invention, which is achieved by providing a machine for the manufacture of single dose refills. According to the technological option adopted, a machine has been designed to form a three-dimensional refill by stamping a non-plastic and fragile material.

To do this the machine comprises cutting means associated with stamping means, which come into action successively on the same workstation. The cutting means are dedicated to obtaining a preform from a strip of biodegradable material that feeds the machine. The stamping means are intended to transform the thus cut flat piece constituting the preform into a half-shell which will receive the food product before closure by a closure element, preferably also a biodegradable material.

Such a machine meets a number of requirements, arising from the nature of the material (film) and its final destination: it must not tear or damage the film, it must not degrade it by the temperature or the fact too high humidity. Toxic substances should not be used.

It must also operate at a high rate to have satisfactory productivity. This last requirement is difficult to reconcile with the imperative of integrity of the film and the formed refill, because the film feeding the machine must be pulled to be placed in line with the cutting and forming members, without being damaged. despite the tension. A significant tension is also due to the relatively large depth, especially when the refill adopts a frustoconical shape, similar to that of conventional metal capsules. The productivity imperative faces another type of problem, arising from the lightness of the material. Indeed, when a piece of material is cut in the film, the slightest air flow generated by the operation of the machine and the movement of its organs can cause the piece out of its treatment area. However, for the forming to be successful, it is obvious that the preform must keep a defined position relative to the forming members. For example, for a frustoconical from a disc of biodegradable material, the disc must be perfectly centered at the time of stamping. In addition, such a disk has a relatively slow falling speed given its low mass compared to its surface. Another slowing factor of the process, which is solved by the invention, is the reduced rate of fall of the preform when it has to move under the effect of its own weight.

There is therefore a need not satisfied by the state of the art to provide not only a unit dose refill capable of solving the problems described above caused by the common containers known in the prior art, but also a machine for the manufacture of such a refill and a method for obtaining such a refill.

The production of parts constituting the single-dose refill according to the present invention with a biodegradable material, thanks to the machine specially designed for this purpose, allows their easy removal without polluting the environment.

In addition, as will be seen below, the half-shell shape, adapted to house the food product, allows use by common equipment known in the state of the art for the distribution of coffee, the half shell that can be made according to the desired profile which can vary from a simple rectilinear profile, for example truncated cone, to more complex curvilinear profiles.

According to a possible embodiment, the half-shell may consist of a "cup" element, which has a substantially parabolic longitudinal section. According to another embodiment, the half-shell adapted to contain the foodstuff may have a frustoconical shape that widens in the direction of said opening. In the embodiment which provides a half-shell shaped into a truncated cone, the half-shell comprises a small base which constitutes the underside of the refill, a large base which constitutes the opening and oblique sides which diverge in the direction of the opening itself.

Advantageously, in order to reduce the bulk and to allow a high security of the closure of the refill, the closure element has a shape corresponding to the end flange of the half-shell. In addition, the closure element, made of biodegradable material such as the half-shell, is preferably constituted by a flexible plate element, namely a sheet of biodegradable material, which allows the passage of water and then extraction of the drink from the food product contained in the refill.

One can use a known method to join together each of the biodegradable material elements that constitute the refill, but preferably the closure element is attached to the half-shell by thermo-welding of at least a portion of the closure member on the end flange of said half-shell. This hot welding can be easily obtained using an adhesive such as those used in the manufacture of coffee filters (at least one side of the film can in this case be fusible), or without adding glue, by the adhesion of components present in the biodegradable material, for example starch. According to a preferred embodiment, the biodegradable material consists of filter paper or a similar material. The use of this material optimizes the passage of water inside the refill. In particular, one embodiment provides for the use of vegetable filter paper. Different grades of filter paper can be used, selected from the range offered by specialized or specially defined manufacturers. It will be possible to choose an identical or different paper for the half-shell and for the closure element. It will be ensured in particular that the closure element is sufficiently thick so that it resists the pressure induced by the percolator (which may be of the order of 15 to 18 bar), so that it is not pierced prematurely. . We will preferably choose a paper of high density, of the order of 35 g. m ^"2 or more, which will retain the water having penetrated the dose for a few seconds without tearing, before letting it flow (or more exactly to let the drink flow) .We will prefer for the half-shell a material giving it sufficient stiffness so that it retains its shape after manufacture until its use. for this reason, be chosen preferably also a high density paper, around 35 g. m ^"2 or more.

In general, we will use filter papers whose density is between 30 g. m ^"2 and 60 g m ^-2 . For example, a single-dose refill according to the invention can be produced using a filter paper half-shell of approximately 35 g. m ^"2 and an element filter paper closure of approximately 40 g. m ^"2. Any other quality of biodegradable material meeting the specifications specified above fillers can also be used and is specifically part of the present invention. Advantageously, it is possible to provide on the outer surface of the half-shell one or several folds formed of the same material as the half-shell, in order to stiffen the refill.These folds are folded on themselves by being flattened and advantageously allow the adaptation of the internal volume of the half-shell according to the amount of product food placed in it.

According to one embodiment of the refill, there is provided in combination with the half-shell, a rigid element or container adapted to surround the outer surface of the half-shell, which rigid element has a shape corresponding to the shape of the half -shell. The rigid element can receive and house the half-shell to support it when inserting the single-dose refill in a dispensing device drinks prepared with the food product contained in the refill.

In order to increase the compatibility and complementarity between the rigid element and the half-shell, it is possible to provide that the rigid element has an end flange to cooperate with the end flange of the half-shell. Preferably, the rigid element is made of plastics material.

The refill in biodegradable material, can be easily separated from the rigid element after delivery of the drink. In this way, the rigid member is suitable for recycling as ordinary plastic waste, while the used refill, which is completely biodegradable, can be composted.

It is specified that the refill can be of any size and the length, width and thickness measurements of the half-shell and the closure element can vary depending on the quantity of coffee or the ingredient to be introduced. , or depending on the device used for the preparation of the drink. The same considerations apply to the rigid element provided in combination with the refill. It will thus be possible to choose and adapt the dimensions of the single-dose refill according to the invention to the dimensions provided for in existing percolators used by drink consumers. A machine according to the present invention is a machine for the manufacture of such a single-dose refill that fits into a production line comprising different workstations. It comprises means for supplying biodegradable material, more particularly means for supplying a strip of said material. It is mainly recognizable in that it comprises a chassis carrying a carriage provided with a cutting punch through which circulates a stamping punch. The stamping punch cooperates with a matrix of complementary shape to form a half-shell of biodegradable material. The matrix is an integral part of a means of transport which makes it possible to bring the half-shell thus formed to the next station.

It is particularly advantageous in terms of size and speed of execution that the cutting and stamping operations are located in one and the same station, which facilitates by decreasing the manipulations and makes such a machine efficient and competitive. In particular, it overcomes the difficulties associated with the rapid movement of the preform and the control of its correct placement.

The cutting punch is advantageously shaped as a tubular ring forming a cutting blade. This results in obtaining a preform arranged disc which is particularly advantageous for a final achievement of a single-dose refill comprising a frustoconical half-shell.

Preferably, the cutting punch is movable in translation between an upper position in which the cutting punch overhangs a strip of a biodegradable material and a lower position in which the cutting punch cooperates with a cutting plate mounted on the frame, to separate a preform from the web of biodegradable material. The cut is advantageously made by shearing between the cutting punch and the edge of a circular opening formed in the cutting plate. The preform, once separated from the strip of material, falls by gravity into the bottom of the circular opening, without being able to shift laterally. These arrangements allow high rates of manufacture of the preform from simple and fast movements of the carriage, combined with minimal displacement of the preform. Preferably, the stamping punch is movable between a resting position in which the stamping punch overhangs the strip of material (or the preform) and a stamping position in which a stamping punch head is introduced to the inside of a matrix by driving with it the preform, the matrix being constitutive of a means of transport of the single-dose refill during manufacture. These provisions are such that the stamping of the preform is carried out without having to move the die after cutting of said preform, or to move the preform laterally, the die being disposed under the latter which is thus received by gravity at the entrance of the preform. the matrix. These provisions allow a high rate.

A ring is preferably interposed between the cutting plate that includes the frame and the die, to form a funnel for guiding the preform. The ring is preferably made of polytetrafluoroethylene and has an inner upper edge which is tapered. These provisions are intended to ensure a symmetrical descent of the preform inside the matrix without wagering of the preform. The ring advantageously constitutes a guiding member of the preform.

The stamping punch is advantageously equipped with a heating means, which facilitates the formation and folds of the half-shell and their adhesion on the outer surface thereof, especially when the biodegradable material is glued or fusible.

The frame is advantageously carrying a roll of biodegradable material constituting the half-shell. These arrangements further increase the compactness of the machine which allows in a reduced volume to produce at a high rate the single dose refills of the present invention.

A method for obtaining such a single-dose refill is mainly recognizable in that the method comprises a step of cutting a strip of biodegradable material to obtain a preform, which is followed by a step of stamping the preform for forming a half-shell, the cutting step and the stamping step being performed in the same workstation.

The method advantageously comprises a step of heating the preform which is simultaneous with the stamping operation of the preform. These provisions facilitate the forming folds of the half-shell, which prevents tearing of the biodegradable material during the formation of the half-shell.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent on reading the description which will be given of exemplary embodiments, in relation to the figures of the appended plates, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a single-dose refill of the present invention,

- the FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a rigid element provided in combination with the single-dose refill illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the single-dose refill partially housed inside the rigid element illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 to 8 are diagrammatic sectional views of a machine for manufacturing single-dose refills illustrated in FIG. 1, according to respective successive steps,

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a constituent ring of the machine illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 8,

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a stamping punch constituting the machine illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 8.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a single dose refill 1 for a food product, such as coffee or the like. The food product may consist not only of ground coffee or its derivatives but also of other soluble powdered or granulated food products, such as broken tea, powdered chocolate or the like.

The single-dose refill 1 comprises a part 1 1 able to contain the food product. The part 1 1 consists of an element which is shaped as a half-shell 1 January. The half-shell 1 1 has an opening 12 for the insertion of the food product inside said half-shell 1 January. There is also provided a closure member 22 in the form of a sheet, for closing said opening 12. The half-shell 1 1 has in the vicinity of the opening 12 an end flange 1 1 1 on which is fixed the closure member 22. The half-shell 1 1 and the closure member 22 are made of a biodegradable material, preferably filter paper or similar materials. More particularly, the half-shell 11 may be constituted by a "cup" -shaped element. According to another embodiment of the half-shell 1 1, the latter has a frustoconical shape which widens towards the opening 12.

The closure member 22, consisting of a sheet-like planar member, has a shape corresponding to the end flange 11 1. More particularly, the closure element 22 has a shape and dimensions intended to cover the opening 12 of the single-dose refill 1 and the end collar 11, so that the closure element 22 can be fixed in such a way that optimal at the end collar 1 1 1 of the half-shell 1 1.

More particularly still, the closure element 22 is fixed to the end collar 11 of the half-shell 11 by a process of heat-sealing at least a part of the closure element 22, in particular of the part corresponding to the end collar 1 1 1 during the superposition of the closure member 22 with the end collar 1 1 1 itself.

According to one embodiment, it is possible to provide on the outer surface of the half-shell 1 1 one or more folds 1 12 formed of the same material as the half-shell 1 January. Said folds 1 12 are folded on themselves and are provided to allow an adaptation of the internal volume of the half-shell 1 1 with respect to a quantity of food product placed inside thereof. Said folds 12 may be formed during the process of producing the single dose refill 1, or they may be the result of the action of the heat inherent in the heat-sealing of the closure element 22 on the end flange 1 1 1 of the half-shell 1 1.

In Figure 2, there is shown a view of the rigid element 3 that can be provided in combination with the single-dose refill 1 object of the present invention. The rigid element 3 is adapted to surround the outer surface of the half-shell 1 1 and has a shape corresponding to the shape of said half-shell 1 January. Said rigid element 3 has a support function of the single-dose refill 1.

In particular, the rigid element 3 has a shape that allows the establishment of the half-shell 1 1 and, as shown in Figure 2, has a frustoconical shape, which has an isosceles trapezoidal section in a longitudinal plane, with the smallest base corresponding to the underside of the rigid element 3, and with the oblique sides diverging towards the open face 31 of the rigid element 3, which allows the housing of the single dose refill 1.

In Figure 2, an alternative embodiment of the rigid element 3 provides that on the bottom of said rigid element 3 are formed one or more holes 33 adapted to allow the passage of water through the rigid element 3 and through the single-dose refill 1 object of the present invention for the preparation of the beverage, in particular coffee. In particular, it is possible for the holes 33 to be provided beforehand on the bottom of the rigid element 3 and / or for the holes 33 to be made by the coffee supply device in which the single-dose refill 1 is inserted in combination with the rigid element 3. In addition, the rigid element 3 has an end flange 32 which cooperates with the end collar 1 1 1 of the half-shell 1 1, during the insertion of the single dose refill 1 to the inside the rigid element 3, as illustrated in FIG.

From the foregoing, it is notable that the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described and illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example, but also includes models which make it possible to achieve identical utility using the same innovative concept. In particular, the single-dose refill 1 and the rigid element 3 are illustrated in a circular-section shape, but this does not exclude different shapes, which are considered to be an integral part of the present invention.

Therefore, it is understood that the invention can be declined and modified, as a whole and in its particular aspects, according to the specific needs and convenience of manufacture and use, within the framework of technical and functional equivalents , all without departing from the above-mentioned innovative concept and hereinafter claimed.

In Figures 4 to 8, a machine 200 of the present invention for the manufacture of such a single-dose refill 1 comprises a frame 201 comprising a plurality of workstations, including a first forming station of the half-shell 1 1. The machine 200 is for example arranged in a circular carousel comprising a plurality of sectors each forming a workstation.

The first workstation consists of a cutting station of a preform 202 from a strip 203 of the biodegradable material constituting the half-shell 1 1 and a stamping station of said preform 202 for form the half-shell 1 1. The first station is advantageously able to perform the two operations mentioned above, namely the cutting of the strip 203 of the biodegradable material to form the preform 202 and the stamping of the preform 202 to form the half-shell 1 January. The first station is located above a transport means 204 of the single dose refill 1 of the first workstation to a second workstation succeeding the first workstation.

The biodegradable material is in particular stored in the form of a roller 205 carried by the frame 201. The band 203 of biodegradable material is unwound from the roller 205 to feed the first station via a feed device comprising for example return pulleys of the band 203 of biodegradable material. The biodegradable material, preferably consisting of filter paper, is flexible and capable of being delivered from the roll 205 to a cutting plate 206 of the band 203 of biodegradable material.

The frame 201 is provided with holding means 207 of the band 203 of degradable material so as to immobilize the latter during the cutting operation. The holding means 207 comprise, for example, bearing members 208 associated with springs 209 which enclose the band 203 of biodegradable material between the holding means 207 and the cutting plate 206. These arrangements allow immobilization of the band 203 of biodegradable material and avoid tearing of the latter during the cutting operation of the preform 202. The frame 201 comprises a carriage 210 which is vertically movable from the implementation of a central piston 21 1. The carriage 210 slides along uprights 212 of the frame 201 and is able to move alternately between an upper position and a lower position. For this purpose, the chassis is provided with a motor means, such as an electric motor or the like, to allow the carriage 210 to move. The carriage 210 is provided with at least one cutting punch 213 of the belt 203 of biodegradable material. According to the variant illustrated, the carriage 210 is provided with two cutting punches 213 to accelerate a production rate of preforms 202.

In Figure 4, the carriage 210 is shown in the upper position in which the cutting punch 213 overhangs the band 203 of biodegradable material and wherein the holding means 207 are inactive. In FIG. 5, the carriage 210 is shown in the lower position in which the cutting punch 213 comes into contact with the strip 203 of biodegradable material to cut the latter and form the preform 202. The cutting plate 206 has a circular opening 223 through whose vertical edge 222 adopts the shape of the preform to be cut, and will cooperate with the cutting punch 213 to slice the band 203 by shearing.

The holding means 207 are activated so that the springs 209 are compressed to maintain the band 203 of biodegradable material immobile against the cutting plate 206. The movement of the carriage 210 is carried out in a short period of time, in particular of the 0.5 seconds order, to allow rapid cutting of the preform 202. The cutting punch 213 is preferably of circular conformation to provide a preform 202 having the shape of a disc. The holding means 207 are inactivated. Once the cut is made, the carriage 210 returns to the upper position, as shown in FIG. 6, while the preform 202 falls by gravity into the opening 223 of the tray 206 above a die 214 disposed under the tray. 206. The edge 222 of the opening 223 ensures perfect centering of the preform 202. Its low height allows a fast placement. The cutting punch 213 is shaped as a tubular ring forming a cutting blade allowing passage therethrough of a stamping punch 215, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The latter is intended to push the preform 202 to the inside of the die 214 so as to form the latter in half-shell 1 1. The die 214 is of frustoconical conformation so as to produce a correspondingly shaped half-shell 11. The stamping punch 215 comprises a head 216 which is also of frustoconical conformation, complementary to that of the die 214 to allow the formation of the half-shell 11. The die 214 is provided with an upper rim 217 equipped with a ring 218, in particular made of polytetrafluoroethylene or similar material, to facilitate a symmetrical sliding of the preform 202 inside the die 214 prior to its deformation by the punch stamping 215. In FIG. 9, the ring 218 has an inner upper edge 219 which is tapered to facilitate the reception of the preform 202 within the die 214. The ring 218 finally has a funnel-shaped shape to facilitate an introduction of the preform 202 inside the matrix 214. It is thus possible to form a deep shell (for example 24 mm) and of reduced diameter (frustoconical 18 mm to 26 mm for example), without tearing the paper.

The die 214 is disposed within a reduced spacing such that a distance between the cutting punch 213 in the lower position and the ring 218 is as small as possible. These arrangements allow rapid movement of the preform 202, in particular of the order of 0.2 seconds, to avoid a slowing down of the rate of formation of the half-shell 1 1 and to prevent inadvertent movement of the preform 202, by example due to a stream of air to which the preform 202 is naturally sensitive because of its lightness. These arrangements finally allow the preform 202 to be disposed opposite and in line with the head 216 of the stamping punch 215. Finally, such proximity prevents the preform 202 from being skewed or cut. This proximity allows a centered and homogenous descent of the preform 202 inside the matrix 214. The matrix 214 is for example constituted of one of the cells that comprises in plurality a carousel tray.

During the stamping operation, the stamping punch 215 descends from a rest position to a stamping position so as to drive the preform 202 to the bottom of the die 214 and to shape the preform 202 in half. shell 1 1. This operation is facilitated by the formation of the folds 1 12 which are folded and flattened between the die 214 and the stamping punch 215 to be folded on themselves. The folds are arranged in a random manner, but surprisingly, the result is a symmetrical half-shell 1 1 is the result of a shaping of the preform 202 from the formation of the folds 1 12 without the need for a plastic deformation of the preform 202.

The circular shape of the preform 202 ensures the possibility of forming a half-shell 1 1 including filter paper dimensions imposed by the market of single-dose refills 1 by avoiding that the filter paper is torn at the time of the stamping operation . More particularly, the disc conformation of the preform 202 is optimized for obtaining a half-shell 1 1 of a considerable depth, in particular of the order of 24 mm, and for a fairly small width, in particular frustoconical of the order of 26mm x 18mm, considering the low elasticity of the filter paper which naturally tends to tear during a stretching operation. At the end of the stamping operation, the stamping punch returns to its initial position as illustrated in FIG. 8, which represents a new start step, similar to the step illustrated in FIG. 4 after the tape has been advanced. 203 to be cut on the cutting plate 206. The advancement of the paper is obtained in particular from the implementation of an appropriate delivery means, such as an electric motor or the like, which is for example able to implement movement two co-operating rollers for driving the band 203 of biodegradable material.

To facilitate the stamping operation, the stamping punch 215 is provided with a heating means 220, of the electrical resistance type or the like, as illustrated in FIG. 10. According to a preferred embodiment of the operation of FIG. stamping, the stamping punch 215 exerts a pressure of the order of 20 kg / m ² in a short time, of the order of 1 second, and at a temperature of the order of 70 ° C. The temperature of the stamping punch 215 is likely to be different from that stated because of the relationship between the material used and the heating temperature. The heating of the stamping punch 215 facilitates the formation of the folds 12 and adhesion of the latter to the outer surface of the half-shell 11, especially when the biodegradable material is a pre-filtered or preferably naturally impregnated filter paper. hot adhesives. It is notable that such sizing of the filter paper is not necessary to reinforce the rigidity of the half-shell 1 1 and that the heating of the material is sufficient to facilitate handling thereof and optimizes subsequent operations.

The head 216 of the stamping punch 215 is provided with an end flange 221 which compresses the preform 202 against the die 214 to form the end collar 11 of the half-shell 11.

The cutting and stamping step is followed by additional steps to obtain the single-dose refill 1. Each of the following steps is performed after advancing a respective step of the transport means 204 of the single-dose refill that equips the circular carousel. The cutting and stamping step is followed by a step of filling the half-shell 1 1 with the ingredient corresponding to the beverage capsule to be manufactured. For example, the half-shell 1 1 is filled with coffee powder which is poured inside the half-shell 1 1 with a worm fed by a hopper.

The filling step is followed by a step of compacting the powder using a plunger piston and cleaning the end flange 1 12 of the half-shell 1 1 to remove dispersed powder grains. Such cleaning is in particular carried out using a system sucking the end flange 1 12 of the half-shell 1 1, in particular with the aid of a sucker delimited by two nested cylinders.

The cleaning step is followed by a step of bonding a lid, preferably made of paper, to seal the opening 12 of the half-shell 1 January.

The lid is made from a strip of biodegradable material. A heating piston is brought into contact with the band facing the end collar 1 12. The heating piston is placed at the desired temperature and for a period of time of the order of 1 second on the lid to allow adhesion of the band and the end flange 1 12 of the half-shell 1 1, to glue the lid which is at this stage constitutive and integral with a paper band.

The bonding step and followed by a step of separating the cap of the strip from which the latter is derived, in particular with the aid of a cutting punch.

The uncoupling step is followed by a collection step of the capsule thus completed, in particular from an inclination of the die 214 and a compressed air thrust. The cell of the matrix thus released capsule is able to be replaced under the frame 200 to resume a manufacturing cycle of an additional capsule.

Claims

Claims.

Single-dose refill (1) of a food product for the preparation of a drink, the single-dose refill (1) comprising a part (1 1) adapted to contain the food product, said part (1 1) being shaped into a half- shell and comprising an opening (12) adapted for the insertion of the food product inside the half-shell (1 1), the single-dose refill (1) being provided with a closing element (22) in the form of a sheet, for closing said opening (12), such that said opening (12) is closed in an irreversible manner, characterized in that the half-shell (1 1) presents in the vicinity of said opening (12) a terminal flange (1 1 1), terminal flange (1 1 1) on which said closing element (22) is fixed, said half-shell (1 1) and said closing element (22) being constituted made of biodegradable material.

Single-dose refill (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said half-shell (1 1) is constituted by an element shaped in the shape of a cup which has a substantially parabolic longitudinal section, or frustoconical shape.

Single-dose refill (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the closure element (22) has a shape and dimensions capable of covering the opening (12) and the terminal flange (1 1 1 ).

Single-dose refill (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said closure element (22) is fixed to said half-shell (1 1) by heat welding of at least one zone of said closure element ( 22) on said terminal flange (1 1 1).

Single-dose refill (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said biodegradable material consists of filter paper.

Single-dose refill (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said half-shell (1 1) and said closing element (22) are made of filter paper of identical or different density, between 30 g. m ^"2 and 60 g. m ^"2 . Single-dose refill (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one fold (1 12) is provided on an exterior surface of said half-shell (1 1), the fold (1 12) being formed from the same material as the half-shell (1 1), the fold (1 12) being folded back on itself to adapt an internal volume of said half-shell (1 1) in relation to a quantity of food product which is introduced there.

Single-dose refill (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a rigid element (3) surrounds the exterior surface of said half-shell (1 1), the rigid element (3) having a shape corresponding to the shape of said half-shell (1 1), said rigid element (3) constituting a means of supporting the single-dose refill (1).

Single-dose refill (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that said rigid element (3) comprises an end flange (32) capable of cooperating with the end flange (1 1 1) of the half-shell (1 1) .

Machine (200) for manufacturing a single-dose refill (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the machine (200) comprises a chassis (201) carrying a carriage (210) provided with a cutting punch (213) through which a stamping punch (215) circulates.

Machine (200) according to claim 10, characterized in that the cutting punch (213) is shaped into a tubular ring forming a cutting blade.

Machine (200) according to one of claims 10 and 1 1, characterized in that the cutting punch (213) is movable in translation between an upper position in which the cutting punch (213) overhangs a strip (203) of a biodegradable material and a lower position in which the cutting punch (213) separates a preform (202) from the strip (203) of biodegradable material.

Machine (200) according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the stamping punch (215) is movable between a rest position in which the stamping punch (215) overhangs the preform (202) and a stamping position in which a head (216) of the stamping punch (215) is introduced inside a matrix (214) constituting d a means of transport (204) for the single-dose refill (1).

Machine (200) according to claim 13, characterized in that a ring (218) is interposed between a cutting plate (206) which comprises the frame and the die (214) to form a funnel for guiding the preform (202). ).

15.- Machine (200) according to claim 15, characterized in that the ring (218) is made of polytetrafluoroethylene and has an internal upper edge (219) which is beveled.

16. - Machine (200) according to any one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the stamping punch (215) is equipped with a heating means.

17. - Machine (200) according to one of claims 10 to 16, characterized in that the frame (201) carries a roll of biodegradable material constituting the half-shell (1 1).

18. - Method for obtaining a single-dose refill (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a step of cutting a strip of biodegradable material to obtain a preform which is followed by a step of stamping the preform to form a half-shell, the cutting step and the stamping step being carried out in the same work station.

19. - Method for obtaining a single-dose refill (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a step of heating the preform (202) which is simultaneous with the stamping operation of said preform .