WO2020240432A1

WO2020240432A1 - Single-dose capsule for machines delivering infused beverages, in particular coffee

Info

Publication number: WO2020240432A1
Application number: PCT/IB2020/055019
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gaetano Pagano
Original assignee: Imper S.P.A.
Priority date: 2019-05-31
Filing date: 2020-05-27
Publication date: 2020-12-03
Also published as: IT201900007713A1

Abstract

A disposable capsule (1), configured for use in a beverage preparation machine by supplying an infusion or mixing fluid in the capsule itself, said capsule (1) comprising : ■ a main body (100), having: - a containment region (110), configured to receive preparations in granular or liquid form to be infused or mixed with the fluid; and - a dispensing region (120), carrying an outlet duct (122) configured for dispensing the final beverage; ■ soluble milk (11) received within said containment region (110); ■ a pod-shaped wrapper (10) made of a material permeable to the infusion or mixing fluid, housed within said containment region (110) and containing granular coffee to be infused (12), wherein, in use, the fluid dissolves the soluble milk (11) and passes through the pod- shaped wrapper (10) so as to infuse the granular coffee (12) and to dispense cappuccino.

Description

WO 2020/240432 (^{Rule 1 2}·³) 18 June 2020 PCT/IB2020/055019 M

1

SINGLE-DOSE CAPSULE FOR MACHINES DELIVERING INFUSED

BEVERAGES, IN PARTICULAR COFFEE

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of the disposable capsules containing a food preparation, for example in liquid form and/or in powder/granules, and configured for use in a machine for dispensing extemporarily beverages.

The invention capsule is specifically suitable for use in machines for dispensing hot beverages, such as coffee, cappuccino and the like.

Background of the invention

Disposable capsules to obtain beverages starting from a preparation in form of syrup, liquid concentration or in powder/granules are known. Such capsules are used in dispensing machines working by infusion or mixing. Among the latter, the most widespread ones currently supply extemporarily coffee or products derived starting from a preparation in powder contained in a disposable or single-dose capsule.

The capsules at issue typically include a sealed cavity, inside thereof the preparation in one of the above-mentioned forms is received. The final beverage is obtained by inserting the capsule in an infusion chamber of a compatible machine. The latter makes a unilateral or bilateral hole in the capsule and typically at a cover, bottom, sealing film thereof, so as to allow the passage of a liquid flow through the capsule itself. Such liquid mixes or infuses with the preparation. Depending upon the type of the dispensing machine and of the capsule, the liquid can proceed from the top of the capsule itself towards the bottom or in the opposite direction.

When one has to prepare a beverage providing two ingredients, for example a cappuccino based upon coffee and milk, the latter generally are dispensed by the machine independently, in particular the coffee by infusion by means of one of the above-mentioned capsules and the milk through a reservoir of the machine itself. These dispensing modes are quite complex, they request a separate supply and a distinct management of the ingredients and, generally, increase the time for preparing and dispensing the final beverage as well as the complexity of the machine and of the process.

There are on the market some capsules which are arranged to receive two different types of preparations, with the purpose of producing indeed a final beverage formed by two infused and/or mixed ingredients. However, even in this case, against a greater complexity of the capsule, the dispensing modes and thus the quality and the organoleptic properties of the final beverage are not wholly optimized and repeatable. Therefore, the capsules of known art of the just mentioned type can be still improved with respect to the required compromise between different requirements, in particular the allowed infusion or mixing modes,- and then the organoleptic properties of the final beverage - the reliability and repeatability of the preparation process, the structural simplicity and the disposability of the used capsule.

Summary of the invention

The technical problem placed and solved by the present invention is then to provide a disposable capsule for machines for dispensing beverages by infusion or mixing allowing to meet one or more of the above-mentioned requirements with reference to the known art.

Such problem is solved by a disposable capsule according to claim 1 .

Preferred features of the present invention are set forth in the depending claims.

The invention capsule has a main body which receives inside thereof two different preparations or ingredients. In particular, a first preparation preferably is soluble and a second preparation typically is granular o in powder and it is intended for an infusion.

Advantageously, the first preparation is directly housed within the main body of capsule without additional containment means.

The second preparation is contained in a pod body arranged rested upon, or partially integrated in, the first preparation. In a preferred embodiment, the first preparation is soluble milk in powder and the second preparation is granular or powder coffee to be infused. Advantageously, the above-mentioned pod body is made of different materials, in particular two different types of NWF (Non-Woven Fabric) having respective properties of permeability or porosity and then different filtering capability.

In particular, in a preferred embodiment variant, the upper portion of the pod body - that is the portion which is more directly exposed to the flow of fluid entering the capsule - is made of a first material selected to result to be more easily penetrated by the above-mentioned flow, then with greater permeability or porosity, whereas the lower portion - that is the one mainly crossed by the fluid coming out from the pod body - is made of a second material selected so as to have greater filtering power, that is less porosity or permeability.

In case of first soluble preparation, the capsule allows a dynamic dispensing on the basis of which:

^■ upon entering the fluid, the dispensing of the first soluble preparation takes place;

^■ subsequently - or however with a time lag - when the first preparation is wholly or almost wholly dissolved, the pod adheres, or approaches, to the bottom of the capsule - that is to the outlet portion of the beverage - and a second phase activates, represented by the dispensing of the infused portion of the beverage and based upon the complete crossing of the pod by the fluid.

As just mentioned, during the beverage preparation process, after the fluid inletting, the pod inside the capsule can translate downwards - that is in the direction and way of the flow - as it is rested, or“buoyant / floating”, on the first preparation which is gradually dissolving or compacting.

In the mentioned configuration - and in particular thanks to the possibility of the pod to translate within the main body of capsule - the pod itself can act as stopper, or barrier or closure element, at the end of dispensing, so as to avoid the dripping of the residual fluid volume contained in the capsule.

As said above, the first preparation can be of soluble type and the second preparation of granular type or powder type, the latter terms herein being meant as synonym. Other advantages, features and use modes of the present invention will result evident from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, shown by way of example and not for limitative purposes.

Brief description of the figures

The figure of the enclosed drawings will be referred to, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a view in longitudinal section of a disposable capsule according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

With reference to the above-mentioned figures, a disposable, and in the present case even single-use, capsule according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is designated as a whole with 1 .

The capsule 1 is apt for use in a machine for preparing beverages, in which the capsule is crossed, in use, by an infusion or solution fluid. In the present embodiment - and as it will be illustrated in greater details hereinafter - the capsule 1 is filled-in, during packing, with two preparations or ingredients, in particular a coffee powder 12 received within a pod-shaped wrapper 10 and suitable to infusion and a soluble ingredient 1 1 , in particular milk.

Still, as it will be illustrated in greater details hereinafter, the final beverage, in particular a macchiato or a cappuccino, is prepared by mixing the soluble ingredient 1 1 with the infused ingredient 12.

Embodiment variants can provide that the invention capsule is packed with different ingredients than the mentioned ones, in particular with preparations in liquid form, for example syrups, and/or with a different preparation in granular form.

The capsule 1 first of all comprises a hollow main body 100. Advantageously, the latter is made as one single piece, its various portions resulting to be integral to one another. The main body 100 is obtained, for example, by moulding, injection or co-injection. In particular, the main body 100 can be implemented by means of the method described in WO2017/103952.

In the present example, the main body 100 has a substantially tapered shape. In particular, it has a substantially circular overall geometry and mainly truncated-conical shape, extending longitudinally according to an axis L. The main body 100 of the present example is substantially shaped like a cup.

Preferably, the axis L is also an axis of symmetry of the main body 100 and, generally, of the capsule 1. The infusion or solution fluid crosses the capsule 1 substantially in direction L and way designated with an arrow V, that is, in the present example, from top to bottom.

In the present embodiment, the main body 100 defines a containment region of the ingredients having an inner seat or compartment and which is designated with 1 10.

The main body 100 further has a mouth or infusion or solution fluid inlet region 130, which in the herein considered example is an upper region , and a dispensing region 120, which is a lower, or bottom, region in the present example. Preferably, the main body 100, in said overall tapered shape, has section decreasing towards the dispensing region 120.

More in details, the main body 100 is defined by a side skirt 1 1 1 , by a shaped base 1 12, substantially corresponding to the above-mentioned dispensing region 120, and by a peripheral transverse flange 101 projecting outwardly and which defines the periphery of a filling mouth of the above-mentioned region 130.

On the peripheral flange 101 the fastening of an element of hermetic closure 600, impermeable to liquids and gases, is provided. Similarly to the known art, such closure element 600 can result to be pierceable by a corresponding device of the machine for preparing beverages upon the use of the capsule 1 .

Said closure element 600 can be in form of a membrane, film, poly-coupled material, pellicle or other element in sheet, in particular laminated. In the present embodiment, the closure element 600 is configured to be torn or however detached from components of the dispensing machine, to allow the inlet of fluid, typically hot or cold water under pressure, within the main body 100 and then the preparation of the beverage.

In the present example, the mouth region 130, in longitudinally intermediate position, has a falling abutment edge 131 , or step, thereat the transverse section of the main body 100 shrinks in a stepped way. Such transverse step 131 further defines engagement, resting or abutment means for a peripheral flange 142 of the above- mentioned pod-shaped wrapper 10.

In general terms, the step 131 , by its external profile, can be functional (even) to the housing needs in a capsule-holder or infusion chamber of the machine.

The dispensing region 120 has an outlet duct 122, arranged centrally in the present example, configured for dispensing the final beverage. The outlet duct 122 is in communication with a chamber 121 for pre-collecting, or infusing/mixing, the beverage being prepared. The chamber 121 has a substantially toroidal configuration and it is arranged, in the present example, circumscribed to the outlet duct 122. Advantageously, the pre-collection chamber 121 has a bottom wall 125 with tilted development with respect to the dispensing direction and in agreement with the direction V, which promotes the conveying and the collection of the beverage.

The chamber 121 can allow a post-infusion or post-mixing phase which improves the organoleptic properties of the final beverage and/or can stabilize the flow features before dispensing through the duct 122.

In the present embodiment, the pre-collection chamber 121 is implemented in form of an undercut of the dispensing region 120, as portion of the shaped base 1 12. Between the pre-collection chamber 121 and the duct 122 a raised portion 123 of the base 1 12 is obtained, configured like a crown and equipped with one or more transverse channels 124, or slots, preferably with radial extension, placing indeed in flow communication the chamber 121 and the channel 122. Advantageously, the passage section of such channels 124 is calibrated to allow a regular, for example laminar, flow towards the outlet duct 122.

In the arrangement of the present example, the chamber 121 and the portion 123 substantially define two concentric crowns, with the pre-collection chamber 121 arranged circumscribed to the raised portion 123.

Within the containment region 1 10, the capsule 1 , as said above, receives a first soluble ingredient 1 1 , in particular milk in powder, and a second ingredient 12, the latter in turn contained in the above-mentioned pod-shaped wrapper 10, which is permeable to the fluid. Still as said before, in the present example the second ingredient 12 is granular coffee to be infused. In the arrangement of the present example, the first ingredient 1 1 and the pod-shaped wrapper 12 are received in longitudinally aligned portions of said containment region 1 10. In other words, the first ingredient 1 1 and the pod-shaped wrapper 10 which receives the second ingredient 12 are arranged aligned according to the direction L. As shown, the pod-shaped wrapper 10 is rested, or in abutment, onto the first ingredient 1 1 . Moreover, in the present example the pod-shaped wrapper 10 is partially received within the first ingredient 1 1 , resting thereupon and being partially circumscribed thereby for a longitudinal extension, that is by sinking partially in the first ingredient 1 1 .

Advantageously for the purpose of the dispensing, the pod-shaped wrapper 10 occupies a portion of said containment region 110 near the filling mouth 130 and fluid supply of the main body 100 and the first ingredient 1 1 occupies a portion of the containment region 1 10 near the dispensing region 120.

The pod-shaped wrapper 10 has a transversally elongated shape. It is formed by a first portion shaped like a hollow or cup 13, which houses in its concavity the second ingredient 12, and by a second substantially flat portion 14, in particular shaped like a disk or membrane, closing a mouth of the first portion 13. The first portion 13 has a substantially tapered, in particular truncated-conical, longitudinal development, with section decreasing towards the dispensing region 120 of the main body 100.

The first portion 13 is connected, for example welded, at a mouth peripheral flange 141 of the portion 14, defining together with it the above-mentioned peripheral transverse flange 142 of the pod-shaped wrapper 10 projecting radially. The latter, as already said, rests upon the internal face of the stepped portion 131 of the main body 100. The flange 142 can be simply rested or connected, for example by welding, on the stepped portion 131 of the main body 100. In each case, advantageously the pod shaped wrapper 10 has a floating arrangement within the capsule, as it can move longitudinally therethrough, from the mouth region 130 towards the dispensing one 120, after the fluid inflow in the capsule itself and the gradual dissolving or compaction of the first ingredient 1 1 .

Thanks to the presence of the projecting flange 142 and of the tapered form of the first portion 13, between the flange 142 itself and the first ingredient 1 1 a substantially toroidal space 144 remains defined which is useful for the purposes of the flow, as described hereinafter. The first and the second portion 13 and 14 of the pod-shaped wrapper 10 are made of different materials, in particular of materials with different filtering properties. In the present example, the first portion 13 is made of a first material, preferably of the NWF type, with first degree of porosity or fluid permeability and the second portion 14 is made of a second material, preferably of the NWF type, having a second degree of porosity or permeability higher than that of the first material. In this way, the material of the second portion 14 favours the inlet of infusion fluid in the wrapper 10, whereas the material of the first portion 13 exerts a more forced filtering action of the portion of beverage being dispensed.

The capsule 1 further comprises a filtering element 300 housed in the containment region 1 10 and having substantially discoidal shape. The filtering element 300, too, has a transverse dish-like portion 310 and a peripheral flange 320, which raises from the dish-like portion 310 in longitudinal direction L and way opposite to the dispensing one. The flange 320 engages an inner surface of the side skirt 1 1 1 of the main body 100, so as to determine the fact of keeping in position the filtering element 300, for example thanks to the elastic radial deformation of the flange 320 itself.

A crown portion 31 1 raises longitudinally from the dish-like portion 310, in intermediate position and opposite direction with respect to the dispensing one. The crown portion carries one or more passage openings 301 for the fluid.

The crown portion 31 1 is arranged faced on the pre-collection chamber 121 , from the side longitudinally opposite thereof with respect to a membrane 400 which will be described hereinafter. Therefore, the pre-collection chamber 121 of the main body 100 and the raised portion 31 1 of the filtering element 300 define two faced crown portions, extending in longitudinally opposite direction and substantially overlapped in their transverse extension.

The filtering element 300 indeed is arranged in abutment on the membrane 400, with its own crown portion 31 1 spaced apart with respect to the membrane itself.

The membrane 400 separates the containment region 1 10 and the dispensing region 120 of the main body 100 and it is configured to be selectively torn by the fluid pressure which is established within the main body 100 during the preparation of the beverage or by dedicated perforating or detaching means. In an embodiment variant, the membrane 400 can be arranged with weakening or pre-tearing areas. Advantageously, the membrane 400 is attached in a sealed manner, in particular welded, for example hot welded, at a perimetral or peripheral region of the base 1 12 or of the side skirt 1 1 1 of the main body 100.

In the present embodiment, the membrane 400 hermetically separates the containment region 1 10 and the dispensing region 120.

In an embodiment variant, a discoidal filter, known on itself, is applied or rested on the membrane 400, on the side of the containment region 1 10.

The filtering element 300 can be implemented by injection or moulding, preferably it is of single-material type and, advantageously, can result to be compostable.

Advantageously, the main body 100 can result to be single-material from the mouth region and as far as the section for fastening with the membrane 400 and then multi material, structural and as barrier, according to what described in WO2017/103952.

As mentioned above, during the use of the capsule 1 in the machine for dispensing beverages the closure element 600 fastened on the peripheral flange 101 is torn or detached and the infusion and solution fluid is supplied under pressure within the mouth region 130. From here, the fluid flows both within the pod-shaped wrapper 10 through the dish-like portion 14 thereof and through the first ingredient 1 1 , in particular by flowing laterally to the pod-shaped wrapper 10 in the space 144 and then through the ingredient 1 1 itself.

The infusion phase through the granular ingredient 12 and, typically with a time lag, the complete solution phase of the first ingredient 1 1 thus take place.

The beverage being prepared flows through the opening(s) 301 and the fluid pressure, in particular at about 10 bar, can determine a localized or distributed perforation or tearing, of the membrane 400 and then the inflow of beverage within the pre-collection chamber 121. From here, through the channels 124, the beverage flows in the duct 122 and is dispensed towards outside of the capsule, directly in a food container or in additional ducts of the machine.

The dispensed beverage then is obtained by mixing the two ingredients 1 1 and 12, respectively dissolved and infused.

It is to be noted that, as the first ingredient 1 1 is gradually dissolved by the fluid and flows towards the duct 122, the pod-shaped wrapper 10 can descend through the capsule, that is it can move in direction L and way V from the mouth region 130 towards the dispensing region 120, by abutting on the filter element 300. In this sense, the phase for preparing the beverage is dynamic, both for the engagement time sequence of the two ingredients by the fluid, and for the motion of the pod-shaped wrapper 10 within the main body of capsule 100.

Once in abutment on the filtering element 300, the pod-shaped wrapper 10 can act even as anti-dripping element, or stopper.

The invention capsule allows to optimize the residence or transit time of the infusion/mixing liquid in the capsule itself, to the advantage of quality, aroma and taste of the final beverage.

This is obtained even thanks to the configuration of the capsule, which provides the above-mentioned chamber 121 for pre-collecting the beverage. Such chamber 121 can be made selectively accessible to the infusion or mixing liquid depending upon the establishment of a pressing regime inside the main body 100 of the capsule induced by the dispensing itself, which can determine the tearing of the above-mentioned membrane 400 placed near the dispensing portion 120 of the capsule itself.

The structure of the capsule further allows the use of biomaterials and, generally, compostable materials, at least for the main body of the capsule itself.

The structure of the capsule further allows to simplify the disintegrating processes for meeting specific requirements of compostability or disposal.

The present invention has been sofar described with reference to preferred embodiments. It is to be meant that other embodiments may exist belonging to the same inventive core, as defined by the protective scope of the herebelow reported claims. Component numbers of Fiaures

I - Capsule

L - Longitudinal axis of the capsule

V - Dispensing / crossing direction of the capsule

I I - First, preferably soluble, preparation or ingredient

12 - Second preparation or ingredient, preferably to be infused

10 - Pod-shaped wrapper

13 - Lower portion of the pod-shaped wrapper

14 - Upper portion of the pod-shaped wrapper

141 - Peripheral flange of the upper portion 14

142 - Peripheral flange of the pod-shaped wrapper

144 - Flow space interposed between pod-shaped wrapper and main body 100

100 - Main body

I I I - Side skirt of the main body

1 12 - Shaped base of the main body

1 10 - Containment, or receiving, region of the main body

120 - Dispensing region of the main body

130 - Mouth region of the main body

101 - Peripheral flange of the main body

131 - Engagement transverse step of the main body

121 - Pre-collection chamber

125 - Tilted bottom wall of the pre-collection chamber

122 - Outlet duct

123 - Raised crown of the shaped base

124 - Connecting channels between pre-collection chamber and outlet duct

300 - Discoidal filtering element

310 - Transverse dish-like portion of the filtering element

31 1 - Raised crown portion of the filtering element

320 - Longitudinal peripheral flange of the filtering element

301 - Openings of the filtering element

400 - Internal membrane

600 - Upper closure membrane or film of the capsule

Claims

1. A disposable capsule (1 ),

configured for use in a beverage preparation machine by supplying an infusion or solution fluid in the capsule itself,

said capsule (1 ) comprising:

^■ a hollow main body (100) substantially shaped like a cup and extending in a longitudinal direction of development (L) which corresponds to a direction of introduction of the infusion or solution fluid, which hollow main body (100) has:

- a containment region (1 10), configured to receive preparations in granular or liquid form to be infused or solved with the fluid; and

- a dispensing region (120), integral with said containment region (1 10) and carrying an outlet duct (122) configured for dispensing the final beverage;

^■ a first soluble ingredient (1 1 ), in particular soluble milk, which is received within said containment region (1 10);

^■ a pod-shaped wrapper (10) made of a material permeable to the infusion or solution fluid, which pod-shaped wrapper (10) is housed within said containment region (1 10);

^■ a second granular ingredient (12), in particular granular coffee to be infused, which is contained within said pod-shaped wrapper (10),

said first (1 1 ) and second (12) ingredients being received in longitudinally aligned portions of said containment region (1 10), the overall arrangement being such that, in use, the infusion or solution fluid dissolves the first ingredient (1 1 ) and passes through said pod-shaped wrapper (10) by infusing the second ingredient (12), so as to allow the dispensing of a beverage obtained by mixing said first (1 1 ) and second (12) ingredient, in particular a beverage like macchiato or cappuccino.

2. The disposable capsule (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said pod-shaped wrapper (10) is placed resting on said first ingredient (11 ).

3. The disposable capsule (1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said pod-shaped wrapper (10) is partially housed within, or circumscribed by, said first ingredient (1 1 ).

4. The disposable capsule (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said pod-shaped wrapper (10) containing the second ingredient (12) is arranged interposed between a mouth or fluid inlet region (130) of said main body (100) and the first ingredient (1 1 ).

5. The disposable capsule (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said pod-shaped wrapper (10) occupies a portion of said containment region (1 10) in the vicinity of a filling mouth (130) and fluid inlet of said main body (100) and said first ingredient (1 1 ) occupies a portion of said containment region (1 10) in proximity of said dispensing region (120).

6. The disposable capsule (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said pod-shaped wrapper (10) has a peripheral flange (142) arranged resting on or connected to a stepped portion (131 ) of said main body (100).

7. The disposable capsule (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said pod-shaped wrapper (10) has a first (13) and a second (14) portion made of different materials, in particular a first material, preferably of the NWF type, with a first degree of porosity or fluid permeability and a second material, preferably of the NWF type, having a second degree of porosity or fluid permeability lower than said first degree of porosity or permeability.

8. The disposable capsule (1 ) according to the previous claim, wherein said second portion (14) is substantially shaped like a hollow or cup and it houses in its concavity the second ingredient (12) and said first portion (13) is substantially shaped like an element for closing said second portion (14).

9. The disposable capsule (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first ingredient (1 1 ) is directly received in said main body (100) without interposition of further wrappings.

10. The disposable capsule (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said dispensing region (120) carries a chamber (121 ) for pre-collecting the beverage being prepared with a substantially toroidal configuration, in communication with said outlet duct (122) and preferably arranged circumscribed to said outlet duct (122).

11. The disposable capsule (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a discoidal filtering element (300) disposed within the containment region (1 10), which discoidal element (300) has a raised crown portion (31 1 ) carrying one or a plurality of passage openings (301 ) for the fluid.

12. The disposable capsule (1 ) according to claims 10 and 1 1 , wherein said crown portion (31 1 ) of said discoidal filtering element (300) is arranged facing said pre collection chamber (121 ).

13. The disposable capsule (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a membrane (400) for separating said containment region (1 10) and said dispensing region (120), which preferably hermetically separates said containment region (1 10) and said dispensing region (120) and for example configured to be torn by the fluid pressure which is established within the hollow main body (100) during the preparation of the beverage.

14. The disposable capsule (1 ) according to claim 13 when dependent upon claim 1 1 or 12, wherein said discoidal filtering element (300) is arranged in abutment on said membrane (400) and said crown portion (31 1 ) is raised with respect to said membrane (400).

15. The disposable capsule (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said hollow main body (100), at its own mouth (130), comprises a peripheral transverse flange (101 ) and wherein an element (600) for closing hermetically the capsule (1 ) is provided, attached in a sealed manner to said peripheral transverse flange (101 ).

16. The disposable capsule (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, which is of single-dose type.