Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1
CAPSULE FOR PREPARING A BEVERAGE BY INJECTION
The present invention relates to a capsule for preparing beverages.
Capsules for preparing beverages by injection, within the capsule
itself, of a pressurized fluid, for example to prepare coffee in espresso
5 machines or the like, are currently known in the background art.
Usually these capsules comprise a cup-shaped body which in turn
comprises a side wall that is substantially frustum-shaped and delimits an
inlet and a blind bottom.
These known capsules have a chamber for containing a food substance
for preparing the beverage, said chamber being delimited by the cup-shaped
body and by a membrane for the closure thereof, which is applied at the
opening, in order to close it.
In the background art there are many types of capsules which are
compatible with existing and commercially available machines, each having
15 its own particular characteristics.
One shared drawback of existing capsules is related to the wall
thickness of the cup-shaped body: it cannot in fact have an excessively low
thickness, since it must withstand the stresses of the pressurized water that
is
injected into the internal chamber of the capsule. The provision of a
relatively high wall thickness, however, entails some scarcely desirable
consequences: first of all, the cost (linked to the material) of the capsule
is
relatively high; secondly (since the outside diameter is often constrained by
compatibility requirements), an increase in the thickness of the body wall
entails a reduction of the dimensions of the chamber; thirdly, it is not
possible to choose freely the preferred production methods, since some of
them would entail a wall thickness reduction; in the specific case of this
last
drawback, it should be considered that commercially available plastic
capsules are usually manufactured by injection molding.
Another drawback that is observed in known machines relates to the
30 distribution of the water inside the chamber: in some machines, in fact,
the
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bottom of the capsules is pierced by injection needles of the machine, which
inject the water under pressure into the capsule in a direction which goes
from the blind bottom of the capsule to the upper sealing membrane, which
tears in order to allow the outflow of the beverage (interfering with abutment
parts of the machine); the Applicant has observed that this drawback of
known capsules entails the forming of preferential channels which do not
allow to wet evenly the content of the capsule, with a consequent worsening
of the quality of the beverage.
Another drawback is related to known capsules which are internally
provided with a filtering element: such element is in fact usually provided
proximate to the blind bottom of the capsule, at which blind bottom the
pressurized water injection needles penetrate.
In these capsules there is the risk that the injection needle, by passing
through or piercing the blind bottom, may make contact with the filter, with
the consequence of piercing the filter or displacing it from its seat; this
may
cause a contamination of the injection needles with the beverage preparation
substance contained in the capsule, with the consequence that the subsequent
preparation of a beverage different from the already-prepared beverage may
be contaminated.
In these capsules, moreover, there is the problem of the uneven
wetting of the content of the capsule due to the forming of preferential
channels in the beverage.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a capsule for preparing
a beverage that solves the technical problem described above, obviates the
drawbacks and overcomes the limitations of the background art, allowing to
have available a capsule that is thinner yet capable of withstanding the
stresses of the pressurized water.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a
capsule that can be manufactured with methods other than the injection
molding of the plastic body.
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Another object of the invention is to provide a capsule that has
optimum water distribution.
Another object of the invention is to provide a capsule that exhibits
fewer contamination problems during successive preparations of different
beverages.
A further object of the invention is to provide a capsule that is capable
of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.
Another object of the invention is to provide a capsule that is easy to
provide and economically competitive if compared with the background art.
This aim, as well as these and other objects which will become better
apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a capsule according to claim 1,
optionally provided with one or more of the characteristics of the dependent
claims.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become
better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive
embodiment of a capsule, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with
the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a capsule according to the
invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of the capsule of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a sectional view of the capsule of Figure 1, inserted in a
seat in the condition for use;
Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views of enlarged-scale details of the
capsule of the preceding figures;
Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views, respectively from above and
from below, of the filter of the capsule of the preceding figures;
Figure 8 is a top plan view of the filter of the preceding figure;
Figure 9 is a lateral elevation view of the filter of the preceding figure;
Figure 10 is a sectional perspective view of the filter of the preceding
figure;
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Figures 11 and 12 are sectional views of the capsule in two successive
steps of use, respectively before and after the insertion of an injection
needle;
Figure 13 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of Figure 12.
5
With reference to the figures, the capsule
for preparing a beverage by
injecting, inside the capsule, a fluid under pressure, designated generally by
the reference numeral 1, comprises a cup-shaped body 2.
In turn, the cup-shaped body 2 comprises a side wall 3 which is
substantially frustum-shaped and delimits an opening 6 and a blind bottom
10
4, which are arranged at end faces of the
frustum formed by the side wall 3;
preferably, the opening 6 is located at the larger end face, while the blind
bottom 4 is arranged at the smaller end face.
The opening 6 is closed by a closure membrane (not shown), in order
to delimit an internal containment chamber 7 which is configured to contain
15 a food substance for preparing the beverage, for example coffee in powder,
instant coffee, chocolate, tea, chamomile, preparations for herbal teas, and
the like.
It is useful to specify that in the present description and in the
accompanying claims, the term blind bottom 4 designates the planar wall
20
that lies on a plane that is parallel to the
closure membrane and which closes
the cup-shaped body on one side (downward in the figures).
Preferably, the body 2 is made of plastic material, more preferably
made of compostable plastic material with a function of impermeableness to
gases and/or made of PP-EVOH-PP material, so as to preserve the integrity
25 of the food substance contained in the capsule, for example avoiding its
oxidation.
Preferably, the body 2 is provided by thermoforming.
This allows to provide thin wall thicknesses, for example comprised
between 200 and 400 microns, which however, by virtue of the
30 particularities that will be described hereinafter, have such mechanical
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characteristics as to give the body 2 a rigidity that is sufficient to
withstand
the injection of a fluid (for example hot water) under pressure without the
occurrence of deformations of such an extent as to compromise the
functionality of the capsule 1.
5 Advantageously, the side wall 3 of the cup-shaped body 2 is
substantially smooth, i.e., it does not have external protrusions or ridges.
In some embodiments, the cup-shaped body 2 comprises an annular
flange 11 which protrudes radially from the body at its opening 6.
In these embodiments, the closure membrane 5 of the opening 6 is
coupled to the annular flange 11, for example heat-sealed or bonded by
adhesive.
The membrane 5 is preferably made of compostable barrier material
or for example aluminum + lacquer or bather polypropylene.
Optionally, the cup-shaped body 2 furthermore has an internal
circumferential reinforcement ridge 12 which is proximate to the annual
flange 11 and is constituted in practice by one end of the cup-shaped body 2
that is thicker than the rest of the cup-shaped body 2.
As is evident in the detail of Figure 5, the internal circumferential
reinforcement ridge 12 identifies in the cup-shaped body 2 a first frustum-
shaped portion 13, which is proximate to the opening 6 and has a diameter
that increases toward the opening 6 and a second frustum-shaped portion 14,
which is proximate and adjacent to the first frustum-shaped portion 13, with
a diameter that increases toward the blind bottom 4, so that the first and
second frustum-shaped portions 13, 14 together provide a converging-
25 diverging duct portion.
It should be noted in particular that the cup-shaped body 2
substantially has a first wall thickness that is the same for the entire body
2
except for the circumferential ridge 12, where the thickness increases as
described above and for the annular flange 11, which have a respective wall
30 thickness that is greater than the first thickness.
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In the preferred embodiments, the annular flange 11 has, on a lower
face thereof (i.e., directed toward the plane on which the blind bottom 4
lies), a distal annular groove 71 which is open towards the plane on which
the blind bottom 4 lies and which in practice surrounds the side wall 3 at the
height of the opening 6; said distal annular groove 71 preferably has a
substantially rectangular cross-section.
Preferably, the annular flange 11 comprises, on the same lower face,
between the distal annular groove 71 and the side wall 3 proximate to the
opening 6, also a proximal annular groove 72, which also is open toward the
plane on which the blind bottom 4 lies and which in practice also surrounds
the opening 6. Such proximal annular groove 72 has a substantially wedge-
shaped cross-section and is adapted to accommodate, during use, one end of
a cylindrical wall B1 of an apparatus for preparing beverages which is used
to keep in position the capsule 1.
In some embodiments (not shown), there is only the proximal annular
groove 72 and not the distal annular groove 71, which has the same
characteristics as the proximal annular groove 72 that has just been
described.
Preferably, between the side wall 3 and the blind bottom 4, the body 2
has an annular narrower region 15, at which there are one or more undercuts
16 which protrude radially toward the inside of the capsule 1.
The undercuts 16 are extended discontinuously, since they are
provided at predefined angular positions of the annular narrower portion 15,
being preferably positioned so that they are distributed uniformly on said
annular narrower portion 15.
More preferably, the undercuts 16 are arranged so as to be alternated
at angular positions so as to be mutually equidistant.
This helps to further improve the strength of the capsule 1 according
to the invention.
According to the invention, the capsule 1 also comprises an internal
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filter 17 which is proximate to the blind bottom 4.
In the embodiments in which the undercuts 16 are present, the internal
filter 17 is in practice interlocked below the undercuts 16, which thus also
act as stop elements for the filter 17, mechanically blocking the spacing of
5 the filter from the blind bottom 4.
The internal filter 17 is preferably arranged between the blind bottom
4 and the undercuts 16, inserted by pressing in position by virtue of the
elastic deformation of the undercuts 16 during the insertion step.
Advantageously, the internal filter contributes to provide structural
10 solidity to the capsule 1 and at the same time, as will become better
apparent
hereinafter, is configured so as to allow to perforate the blind bottom 4
without being damaged and contrasting any deformations of the capsule
during perforation.
In greater detail, the internal filter 17 comprises a bottom wall 18
15 arranged in contact with the blind bottom 4 of the capsule, and in said
bottom wall 18 there is a circumferential distribution groove 19 that is open
toward the blind bottom 4. The distribution groove 19, in other words, is a
concavity that is extended along a circumference and is directed toward the
blind bottom 4.
20 The overall shape of the bottom wall 18 of the filter 17 provides
for a
central region 18A, which is substantially circular and is surrounded by the
distribution groove 19, which is arranged concentrically thereto. The central
region 18A, which in turn comprises a substantially annular contact wall,
which (in the assembled condition of the capsule) is in contact with the blind
25 bottom 4; the contact wall therefore surrounds a central circular concavity
181 and a central separation space is formed between the latter and the blind
bottom 4.
According to the invention, as is evident from Figure 4, the internal
filter 17 substantially rests on the blind bottom 4 (preferably only with the
30 central region 18A), so as to form between it, the blind bottom 4 and
the side
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wall 3 a lower chamber 91 that has a base with an annular plan shape. In
other words, the lower chamber 91 is delimited by the internal filter 17 (and
more precisely by its bottom wall 18), by the blind bottom 4 and by the side
wall 3.
5
The lower chamber 91 is adapted to be crossed
by one or more
injection elements Al (typically injection needles Al), allowing them to
perforate the blind bottom (as shown in particular in Figure 13).
Advantageously, the lower chamber 91 can be crossed by the
pressurized liquid injected by the injection elements Al, facilitating its
uniform distribution.
In particular, in the condition for use, the lower chamber 91 is crossed
by the injection elements Al at the distribution groove 19.
In greater detail, in the preferred embodiments, including the one
shown, a frustum-shaped portion 18B with a cylindrical shoulder 18C is
arranged concentrically around the distribution groove 19. The frustum-
shaped portion 18B is formed by a wall which is inclined with respect to the
contact wall of the central region 18A, which protrudes radially outward. In
the preferred embodiments, the inclined wall that forms the frustum-shaped
portion 18B is inclined with respect to the contact wall (which is parallel to
the blind bottom 4 since it is constituted by the lower face of the central
region 18A) by an angle comprised between 35 and 45 . In these
embodiments, the cylindrical shoulder 18C is substantially perpendicular
with respect to the contact wall and to the blind bottom 4.
In the assembled capsule condition, as shown in particular in Figure 4,
the frustum-shaped portion 18B rests only partially on an internal abutment
stuface 3a of the side wall 3; in this manner at least part of the frustum-
shaped portion 18B is spaced from the underlying blind bottom 4 and
therefore the lower chamber 91 extends not only below the distribution
groove 19 but also below part of the frustum-shaped portion 18B and,
30
ultimately, the blind bottom 4 is in contact
only with the contact wall of the
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central region 18A.
In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, a connecting portion 18D
is comprised between the distribution groove 19 and the frustum-shaped
portion 18C and comprises a connecting wall which is directed toward the
5 blind bottom 4 and is parallel to the contact wall of the central region
18A
and is arranged at a different level from the latter so as to be spaced from
the
blind bottom 4; the connecting wall of the connecting portion 18D has an
annular shape.
In particular, the function of the distribution groove 19 is clearly
noticeable in Figures 4, 12 and 13: at an annular region, it spaces the filter
17 from the blind bottom 4, so that when the injection elements (needles) Al
of the machine (arranged along a circumference that is contained in the
annular region defined by the projection of the distribution groove 19 on the
blind bottom 4) perforate the blind bottom wall 4 to inject the pressurized
water into the capsule 1, they face the distribution groove 19, avoiding
making contact with the filter 4, thus avoiding the risk of displacing it in
the
capsule 1; furthermore, advantageously the injection elements (needles) Al
of the machine do not risk making contact with the substance or food
preparation contained in the containment chamber 7, avoiding the
20 contamination of said needles.
According to a preferred characteristic, the internal filter 17 comprises
at least one, preferably a plurality of (three in the example shown)
distribution holes 20 (which are preferably circular) which connect the
distribution groove 19 to the containment chamber 7, in order to introduce
the pressurized fluid in the containment chamber 7, and are thus provided at
the distribution groove 19.
The distribution holes therefore provide a fluid connection between
the lower chamber 91 and the containment chamber 7.
In the preferred embodiments, these distribution holes 20 are
preferably arranged along a circumference that is concentric with respect to
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the filter 17, which is also circular in plan view, and are angularly
equidistant.
Preferably, the filter 17 also comprises a plurality of feeding openings
21 configured to introduce the pressurized fluid in the containment chamber
7; for this purpose, the feeding openings 21 connect the containment
chamber to the distribution groove 19 and are provided thereat.
The feeding openings 21, therefore, provide a fluid connection of the
lower chamber 91 with the containment chamber 7.
Even more preferably, each feeding opening 21 is arranged between
two distribution holes 20, so that the feeding openings 21 and the
distribution holes 20 are arranged so as to be alternated along the same
circumference, as in the illustrated example, in which there are three feeding
openings 21 which are alternated with three distribution holes 20.
Preferably, the feeding openings 21 have an elongated shape along the
circumference and even more preferably, as in the illustrated embodiment,
have the shape of an annular portion (a part of an annulus delimited by two
radii). In other embodiments, the feeding openings 21 have a rectangular
shape.
Advantageously, the feeding openings 21 and the distribution holes 20
are substantially coplanar, being provided on a same surface that has the
shape of an annulus, and have an axis that is substantially perpendicular to
the blind bottom 4 and to the closure membrane of the opening 6.
By virtue of the refinements described above, the creation of
preferential paths for the water in the containment chamber 7 is avoided,
making its diffusion more uniform and allowing the water to wet the food
substance in the containment chamber 7 in an overall uniform manner.
Figure 6 shows the upper wall (which is opposite the bottom wall 18)
of the internal filter 17. The upper wall comprises: at the center, a central
hollow at the central region 18A; around the central hollow and at the
distribution groove 19, a raised sector which is extended along an annulus
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which is concentric to the central hollow, the raised sector being arranged at
a first height, along the raised sector there being the distribution holes 20
and (when present) the distribution openings; around the raised sector,
concentrically thereto and at the frustum-shaped portion 18C and at the
connecting portion 18D, a circumferential hollow, which in turn is
surrounded by the cylindrical shoulder 18C (the frustum-shaped portion 18C
and the connecting portion 18D in practice constitute respectively the bottom
and a side wall of said circumferential hollow). It should be noted that in
the
illustrated embodiment the bottom of the circumferential hollow is at a
higher level than the bottom of the central hollow and that the cylindrical
shoulder extends to a height that is greater than the first height of the
raised
sector.
It is specified that in the present description the term height is used to
intend the distance from the plane on which the blind bottom 4 of the
capsule 1 lies.
The internal filter 17 also is made of plastic material, more preferably
compostable plastic material with a function of impermeableness to gases
and/or made of PP-EVOH-PP material.
The filter is provided preferably by thermoforming.
The operation of the capsule 1 is clear and evident from what has been
described.
The capsule can be substantially used with water in input at the
portion having the largest diameter or at the portion having the smallest
diameter (bottom of the capsule).
In practice it has been found that the capsule according to the present
invention achieves the intended aim and objects, since it allows to provide a
capsule for preparing a beverage that is thinner but capable of withstanding
the stresses of the pressurized water.
Another advantage of the capsule according to the invention resides in
that it can be manufactured with methods different from injection molding of
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the plastic body, for example preferably by thermoforming. Obviously, any
manufacturing technique suitable for the purpose may be used.
Another advantage of the capsule according to the invention resides in
that it has an optimum water distribution.
5 Another advantage of the capsule according to the invention
resides in
that it has fewer contamination problems during successive preparations of
different beverages.
Another advantage of the capsule according to the invention resides in
that it is relatively easy to provide and economically competitive if
10 compared with the background art.
The pod thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and
variations, all of which are within the scope of the accompanying claims.
All the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically
equivalent elements.
15 In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible
with the
specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any
according to the requirements and the state of the art.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102019000017822
from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by
20 reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by
reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole
purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such
reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each
25 element identified by way of example by such reference signs.
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