WO2024039255A2

WO2024039255A2 - Capsule for preparing a beverage

Info

Publication number: WO2024039255A2
Application number: PCT/PT2023/050022
Authority: WO
Inventors: António MOURA DE CASTRO GANDRA
Original assignee: Bicafé – Torrefacção E Comércio De Café, Lda
Priority date: 2022-08-19
Filing date: 2023-07-19
Publication date: 2024-02-22
Also published as: WO2024039255A3; PT118166A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a capsule (1) entirely made of plastic, for preparing a beverage, which contains an extractable powdered food product, comprising a body (2), comprising a cylindrical side wall (3), which extends through an inverted substantially frustoconical wall (10), which extends through a low-height cylindrical side wall (11), which ends in a rim (12) shaped like a circular crown, the top of the capsule body being closed by a sealing film, welded to said rim (12), and the bottom of the body (2) of the capsule (1) being formed by a circular bottom wall (7), which centrally has a cylindrical wall (9) of small diameter, with ribs (8), whose interior communicates with the interior of the capsule (1). Said circular bottom wall (7) of the body (2), internally presents a complex shape, which establishes, together with a second film, a labyrinth circuit for filtering and discharging a beverage.

Description

DESCRIPTION

“Capsule for preparing a beverage”

[0001] The present invention relates to a capsule, entirely made of plastic, for preparing a beverage, which contains an extractable powdered food product, which allows the preparation of a beverage by passing water under pressure through it. This extractable powdered food product can be soluble or of the type that can be extracted by infusion, such as, for example, roasted coffee in powder.

[0002] In particular, this invention relates to a capsule of the type described in patents EP1574452, EP1604915 and EP1808382. A capsule which, when used in a suitable beverage preparation machine, can produce a beverage in a cup placed under the capsule. This type of capsule prevents contact between the extractable powdered food product and the ambient air until it is used in the preparation of a beverage, preventing contamination of the extractable powdered food product. The beverage preparation machine perforates the closure element to inject water into the capsule. In the capsules of the prior art, the flow of the beverage is achieved due to its interior including an oxygen barrier made of aluminium film which, after the injection of water into the interior of the capsule, is dilated and is ruptured by contact with fixed contact elements, arranged inside the capsule. In particular, the fixed contact elements have pyramid-shaped tips that allow the aluminium foil to be ruptured when expanded.

[0003] In prior art capsules of the type described in the above-mentioned patents, the beverage is discharged from the capsule into the cup without contact with any part of the beverage preparation machine. For this purpose, the body of the thermoformed capsule is cup-shaped, i.e. frustoconical, the top of which ends in a rim with a circular crown shape, on which a sealing film is placed and whose bottom is dome shaped, moulded by injection, with a tubular shaped central part extending out and surrounding the discharge hole to guide the beverage as it is dispensed, ensuring it is correctly oriented into the cup.

[0004] The capsule of the present invention, when compared to other prior art capsules on the market, like capsules of the type described in patents EP1574452, EP1604915 and EP 1808382, but not described in any patent document, does not have the existing outer skirt in such capsules. The capsule of the present invention also has the important advantage of not using aluminium for the functioning of the capsule nor the need to use filter paper, being used in the bottom of the capsule according to the invention labyrinthine circuits for carrying out the filtering of the beverage and therefore ensure that no residues of the extractable powdered food product pass into the cup.

[0005] The capsule according to the present invention for preparing a beverage, is comprised of a body substantially comprising a cylindrical side wall, which extends through an inverted frustoconical wall, which in turn extends through a small height cylindrical side wall, which ends in a rim in the form of a circular crown, the top of the capsule being closed by a sealing film, welded to said rim, said cylindrical side wall ending in a circular bottom wall, which

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) externally has a plurality of radial triangular ribs, which end in a central area delimited by the outside of said small diameter cylindrical wall, the interior of which communicates with the interior of said capsule, with at least a first film and a second film being arranged inside it, which together with the side wall of the body delimit a chamber, which is intended to contain an extractable powdered food product.

[0006] Said cylindrical side wall extends inwardly beyond the intersection with the inverted frustoconical wall and has at the top of said extension a plurality of grooves, said inverted frustoconical wall having a plurality of triangular ribs in the vicinity of each of said grooves. [0007] The first film is welded to the top of the extension of the cylindrical side wall and to each of the said triangular ribs inside the inverted truncated conical wall, and delimits, together with the sealing film, a first empty chamber of small dimensions.

[0008] Said circular bottom wall of the body has a complex shape inside, which is defined, starting from the cylindrical side wall towards the centre, by a flat shoulder shaped like a circular crown, followed by a recessed part of complex configuration of the circular bottom wall, comprising a first circular zone, in which a plurality of pointed pyramidal formations are disposed, between which a plurality of rectangular ribs are disposed, the side of which pointing towards the inside is rounded, the said first circular zone being followed by a first flat circular gap, followed by a second circular zone, comprised by a plurality of first substantially rectangular crenelations of small dimensions, said second circular zone being followed by a second flat circular gap, followed by a third circular zone, comprised by a plurality of second crenelations substantially trapezoidal of larger dimensions than the first crenelations of the second circular zone, said third circular zone being followed by a flat third flat circular gap, followed by a fourth circular zone comprised by a plurality of third crenelations and a plurality of fourth crenelations substantially trapezoidal of larger dimensions than the second crenelations of the third circular zone, said third crenelations being grouped in a plurality of groups and each of said groups being separated by at least one of fourth crenelations, the fourth circular zone being followed by a fifth circular zone, coinciding with the top of said small diameter cylindrical wall, in the central part of which a compact cylindrical body is arranged, which is connected to the top of this small diameter cylindrical wall by at least three support ribs, said first, second, third and fourth crenelations all proj ecting at the same height from said circular bottom wall and defining labyrinth circuits between them.

[0009] The second film is welded to the flat shoulder of the circular bottom wall and to the tops of the first, second, third and fourth crenelations and to the top of said support ribs.

[0010] The second film between said flat shoulder of the circular bottom wall and the second circular zone has a plurality of zones of weakness, said second film and said second, third and fourth circular zones defining labyrinth circuits therebetween.

[0011] The first, second and sealing films are made of one or more layers of plastic, which may be made of different plastics.

[0012] The capsule for preparing a beverage according to the present invention can be used in the same type of beverage preparation machines that use the aforementioned prior art

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) capsules, but have a different shape from said capsules, and aims to solve the following problems: reduce the amount of plastic used in the production of each capsule, due to the reduction of its dimensions; make capsule recycling easier and more environmentally friendly, using only plastic on the entire capsule including the films; reduce the amount of water consumed in the preparation of each beverage; make packages of several capsules smaller due to the reduction of capsule dimensions.

[0013] The resolution of the indicated problems is achieved by means of a capsule for preparing a beverage as described in the present description and claimed in the appended claims.

[0014] Other features and advantages of this invention will be evident in the detailed description below, with reference to the non-limiting preferred embodiment of a capsule for preparing a beverage, represented in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a capsule for preparing a beverage realized according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of the capsule of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through the main axis of the capsule of Figure 1, where the sealing film, the first film and the second film are visible.

Figure 4 is a top view of the circular bottom wall of the capsule of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a top view of the circular bottom wall of the capsule of Figure 1, with the second film welded, in which the areas of weakness are represented in black.

[0015] Figures 1 and 2 show the capsule 1, which is comprised of a body 2 substantially comprising a cylindrical side wall 3, which extends through an inverted frustoconical wall 10, which in turn extends through a small height cylindrical side wall 11, which ends in a rim 12 in the form of a circular crown. The top of the capsule is closed by a sealing film 4, welded to said rim 12 in the form of a circular crown. The cylindrical side wall 3 ends in a circular bottom wall 7, which externally has eight radial triangular ribs 8, which end in a central area delimited by the outside of the small diameter cylindrical wall 9, whose interior communicates with the interior of the capsule 1.

[0016] Figure 3 shows the capsule 1 in section, made of polypropylene (PP). Inside the respective body 2, a first film 5 and a second film 6 are disposed, which together with the cylindrical side wall 3 delimit a chamber 34, which is intended to contain an extractable powdered food product. Said sealing film 4, said first film 5 and said second film 6 are constituted by at least two layers different from each other, i.e., a layer of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the other layer of cast Polypropylene film (PPCast).

[0017] It is visible in Figures 3 that the cylindrical side wall 3 extends internally for a small distance beyond the intersection with the inverted truncated conical wall 10 and at the top of said extension 30 has ten grooves 31. Said inverted truncated conical wall 10 has ten triangular ribs 33 close to each of said grooves 31. The first film 5 is welded to the top of the extension 30 of the cylindrical side wall 3 and to each of the said triangular ribs 33 inside the inverted frustoconical wall 10, and delimits, together with the sealing film 4 a first empty chamber of small dimensions.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) [0018] In Figure 4, a front view of the interior of the circular bottom wall 7 of the body 2 is shown, which presents a complex conformation, which defines, from the inside of the cylindrical side wall 3 of the body 2, towards the centre, a flat shoulder 13 in the form of a circular crown, followed by a recessed part of the circular bottom wall, comprising a first circular zone 14, in which twenty-four pointed pyramidal formations 15 are arranged, between which are arranged twenty -four rectangular ribs 16, the side of which pointing inwards is rounded. Said first circular zone 14 is followed by a first flat circular gap 17, followed by a second circular zone 18, comprised by thirty-six substantially rectangular crenelations 19 of small dimensions. Said second circular zone 18 is followed by a second flat circular gap 20, followed by a third circular zone 21, comprised by thirty-six second substantially trapezoidal crenelations 22 of larger dimensions than the first crenelations 19 of said second circular zone 18. Said third circular zone 21 is followed by a third flat circular gap 23, followed by a fourth circular zone 24, constituted by eighteen third and fourth substantially trapezoidal crenelations 25 and 26 of larger dimensions than the second crenelations 22 of the third circular zone 21, which are grouped in two groups of four third crenelations 25, and two groups of three third crenelations 25 and separated from each other by four fourth crenelations 26 of larger dimensions. Said fourth circular zone 24 is followed by a fifth circular zone 27 coinciding with the top of said small diameter cylindrical wall 9, in whose central part a compact cylindrical body 28 is arranged, which is connected to the top of said small diameter cylindrical wall 9 by four support ribs 29. Said first 19, second 22, third 25 and fourth 26 crenelations all project at the same height from said circular bottom wall 7 and determine labyrinthine circuits among themselves.

[0019] In Figure 5, is another top view of the circular bottom wall 7, in which the second film 6 is visible, which is welded to the flat shoulder 13 of the circular bottom wall 7 and to the tops of the first 19, second 22, third 25 and fourth 26 crenelations, and to the top of said support ribs 29. Said second film 6 between said flat shoulder 13 of the bottom wall 7 and the second circular zone 18 has twelve substantially rectangular weakening zones 32 with rounded minor sides. The second film and said second 18, third 21 and fourth 24 circular zones define labyrinthine circuits among themselves.

[0020] The extractable powdered food product is roast and ground coffee. The beverage prepared in this way is, for example, an espresso coffee.

[0021] It should be noted that, for clarity regarding the drawings, the extractable powdered food product is not shown in the figures. The extractable powdered food product must be contained in the chamber 34 formed between the first film 5 and the second film 6.

[0022] The capsule 1 according to this invention works as follows. The capsule 1 is inserted into the beverage preparation machine, the capsule being fixed to the machine by said rim 12, to which said sealing film 4 is welded, the same being perforated by the perforating member of said machine, which perforates the sealing film 4 and injects water under pressure, which passes through the first film 5, which forms a barrier, and passes only through the grooves 31, reaching the chamber 34 where the water reaches the roasted and

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) ground coffee and passes through it, extracting the aromatic substances from the roasted and ground coffee.

[0023] The water loaded with the aromatic substances of the roasted and ground coffee then passes under pressure and pass through the said weakening zones 32 and passes through the labyrinthine circuits, defined in the said inner part of the circular bottom wall, which completely separate and retain the roasted and ground coffee from the rest of the beverage and promote foam formation. The beverage is then discharged through said small diameter cylindrical wall 9 into a cup.

[0024] The invention makes it possible to provide an alternative capsule to the prior art capsules cited above, which can be used in the same beverage preparation machines that use the prior art capsules, and makes possible to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0025] An exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described. This example is merely illustrative of the invention. Many variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0026] List of numeric references

1 Capsule.

2 Body.

3 Cylindrical side wall.

4 Sealing film.

5 First film.

6 Second film.

7 Circular bottom wall

8 Radi al tri angul ar rib .

9 Small diameter cylindrical wall.

10 Inverted frustoconical wall.

11 Small height cylindrical side wall.

12 Rim.

13 Flat shoulder.

14 First circular zone.

15 Spiky pyramidal formations.

16 Rectangul ar rib s .

17 First flat circular gap.

18 Second circul ar zone .

19 First Crenelations.

20 Second flat circular gap.

21 Third circular zone.

22 Second crenelations.

23 Third flat circular gap.

24 Fourth circular zone.

25 Third crenelations.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Fourth crenelations. Fifth circular zone. Compact cylindrical body. Support ribs. Extension. Grooves. Zones of weakening. Triangular ribs. Chamber.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

Claims

1 - Capsule (1) for preparing a beverage, which is comprised of a body (2) substantially comprising a cylindrical side wall (3), which extends through an inverted frustoconical wall (10), which in turn it extends through a small cylindrical lateral wall (11), which ends in a rim (12) shaped like a circular crown, the top of the capsule being closed by a sealing film (4), welded to said rim (12), said cylindrical side wall (3) ending in a circular bottom wall (7), which externally has a plurality of radial triangular ribs (8), which end in a central area delimited by the outside of said small diameter cylindrical wall (9), the interior of which communicates with the interior of said capsule (1), at least a first film (5) and a second film (6) being disposed inside it, which, together with the side wall of the body, delimit a chamber for containment (34), which is intended to contain an extractable powdered food product, characterized in that: said cylindrical side wall (3), made of plastic, extends internally beyond the intersection with the inverted frustoconical wall (10) and has at the top of said extension (30) a plurality of grooves (31), said inverted frustoconical wall (10) having a plurality of triangular ribs (33) in the vicinity of each of said grooves (31); the first film (5), made of plastic, is welded to the top of the extension (30) of the cylindrical side wall (3) and to each of the aforementioned triangular ribs (33) inside the inverted frustoconical wall (10), and together with the sealing film (4) delimits an empty first small chamber; the said circular bottom wall (7) of the body (2) has internally a complex shape, which is defined, starting from the cylindrical side wall (3) towards the centre, by a flat shoulder (13) shaped like a circular crown, followed by a recessed part of complex conformation of the circular bottom wall (7), comprising a first circular zone (14), in which a plurality of pointed pyramidal formations (15) are disposed, between which a plurality of rectangular ribs (16), the side of which pointing towards the inside is rounded, said first zone (14) being followed by a first flat circular gap (17), followed by a second circular zone (18), comprised by a plurality of substantially rectangular first crenelations (19) of small dimensions, said second circular zone (18) being followed by a second flat circular gap (20), followed by a third circular zone (21), comprised by a plurality of second crenelations (22) substantially trapezoidal of larger dimensions than the first crenelations (19) of the second circular zone (18), said third zone (21) being followed by a third flat circular gap (23) followed by a fourth circular zone (24) comprised by a plurality of third crenelations (25) and fourth crenelations (26) substantially trapezoidal of larger dimensions than the second crenelations (22) of the third zone (21), said third crenelations (25) being grouped in a plurality of groups and each of said groups being separated by at least one of fourth crenelations (26), the fourth zone (24) being followed by a fifth zone (27) coinciding with the top of said small diameter cylindrical wall (9), in the central part of which a compact cylindrical body (28) is arranged, which is connected to the top of this small diameter cylindrical wall (9) by at least three ribs

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) of support (29), said first, second, third and fourth crenelations (19, 22, 25, 26) projecting all at the same height from said circular bottom wall (7) and defining labyrinth circuits between them; the second film (6), made of plastic, is welded to the flat shoulder (13) of the circular bottom wall (7) and to the tops of the first, second, third and fourth crenelations (19, 22, 25, 26), and to the top of said compact cylindrical body (28) of said support ribs (29); the second film (6) between said flat shoulder (13) of the circular bottom wall (7) and the second zone (18) circular have a plurality of weakening zones, defining said second film and said second (18), third (21) and fourth (24) zones between each other labyrinth circuits; said first (5) and said second (6) films delimiting between them a chamber (34) intended to contain the extractable powdered food product; said sealing films are constituted by one or more plastic layers, which can be constituted by different plastics.

2 - Capsule (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said extension (30) has ten grooves (31) and said inverted frustoconical wall (10) has ten triangular ribs (33) close to each of said grooves (31).

3 - Capsule (1) according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said circular bottom wall (7) of the body (2) has internally a complex shape, which is defined, starting from the cylindrical side wall (3) towards the centre, by a flat shoulder (13) shaped like a circular crown, followed by a recessed part of the circular bottom wall (7), comprising a first circular zone (14), in which twenty-four pointed pyramidal formations (15) are arranged, between which are arranged twenty-four rectangular ribs (16), the side of which pointing inwards is rounded, said first zone (14) being followed by a first flat circular gap (17), followed by a second circular zone (18) comprised by thirty-six first substantially rectangular crenelations (19) of small dimensions, said second circular zone (18) being followed by a second flat circular gap (20), followed by a third circular zone (21) comprised by thirty-six second crenelations (22) substantially trapezoidal of larger dimensions than the first crenelations (19) of said second circular zone (18), said third zone (21) being followed by a third flat circular gap (23) followed by a fourth zone (24) comprised by eighteen crenelations (25 and 26) substantially trapezoidal of larger dimensions than the second crenelations (22) of the third zone (21), the third and fourth crenelations (25 and 26) being grouped, in two groups of four third crenelations (25), and two groups of three third crenelations (25) and separated from each other by four fourth crenelations (26) of larger dimensions.

4 - Capsule (1) according to Claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that said body (2) is made of polypropylene (PP), said sealing film (4), said first film (5) and the second film (6) are made up of at least two layers, one layer consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the other layer consisting of cast polypropylene film (PPCast).

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)