Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DESCRIPTION
CAPSULE
The invention relates to a capsule suitable for containing an initial product
to be joined to a fluid to obtain a final product.
In particular, the invention relates to a single-dose, single-use capsule
containing an initial product which is able to make, reacting with the
pressurised fluid, a final product.
In detail, the capsule is particularly configured for preparing products, for
example beverages, in automatic dispensing machines.
The prior art capsules for use on dispensing machines are single-use and
single-dose containers comprising an outer casing and having the shape of
a glass or cup. The casing usually has a base wall and a lateral wall defining
an open cavity containing the initial product, for example ground coffee or
tea, from which to obtain the final product, for example the beverage.
The base wall of the capsule has an opening delimited by a base edge to
which a closing element is fixed. A flange edge extends from the lateral wall
and is positioned around the open cavity, on the opposite side relative to
the base wall. The cavity is hermetically sealed by a covering element, fixed
to the flange edge, in such a way as to seal the initial product inside the
container.
A capsule of the type described above is, for example, shown in patent
W02015056202 by the same Applicant.
The capsule can be perforated to allow the introduction of pressurised liquid,
typically water, and the dispensing of the coffee beverage obtained. In
detail, both the covering element and the closing element must be made of
a material which can be perforated, so that the capsule can be used with
great flexibility of use in the dispensing machines of interest.
The capsule may be, for example, used in a dispensing machine in which
the closing element can be perforated by an injection device of the
dispensing machine whilst the covering element can be perforated by an
extraction device.
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The injection device comprises three blades configured for perforating the
closing element with cuts and a central injection duct, independent and
separate from the blades, which is configured for supplying the pressurised
fluid.
The extraction device, on the other hand, comprises a plurality of sharp
elements which, when the pressure of the fluid inside the capsule increases,
engage with the covering element and perforate it in a plurality of different
zones.
For the successful dispensing, the blades must correctly perforate the
closing element, in such a way that the fluid dispensed by the central
injection duct can be distributed uniformly inside the cavity through the cuts
made by the blades.
However, it has been observed that perforation of the closing element may
be difficult when the closing element, made, for example, by a film made of
aluminium or plastic material, is difficult to perforate. In fact, the closing
element can be pulled by the blades towards the inside of the cavity through
the opening, deforming and adopting a concave shape, before being
perforated.
In this case, the capsule may be perforated incorrectly, that is to say,
partly
and/or insufficiently, and this affects the distribution of the fluid in the
cavity
and therefore on the quality of the final product dispensed.
It should also be noted that in the sector of food containers, capsules are
increasingly widespread on the market for which the closing element and
the covering element are made entirely of a material which can be
composted according to European standard UNI EN13432:2002.
In these capsules, the film of compostable material with which the closing
element and the covering element are made is particularly difficult to
perforate. Therefore, especially with these materials, the closing element is
frequently pulled through the opening and not perforated by the blades and
there may therefore be incorrect or insufficient perforations, such as to
adversely affect the quality of extraction of the final product.
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The technical purpose which forms the basis of this invention is therefore to
provide a capsule which overcomes the drawbacks of prior art capsules.
A further aim of the invention is to obtain a capsule, which is simple to
construct and has limited costs, which can be easily perforated to guarantee
a correct distribution of water in the capsule and therefore a good quality of
extraction of the beverage.
These aims are achieved by a capsule according to the invention,
comprising the technical features described in one or more of the appended
claims.
Further features and advantages of this invention are more apparent from
the non-limiting description which follows of a preferred, non-limiting
embodiment of a capsule as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in
which:
- Figure 1 is an exploded front view of a capsule for beverages according
to
the invention comprising a casing comprising a base wall and a flange edge,
a closing element fixable to the base wall, a covering element fixable to the
flange edge of the capsule;
- Figure 2 is a cross-section view of the capsule of Figure 1, along a
cross-
section plane passing through a longitudinal axis of extension of the
capsule, wherein the closing element is fixed to the base wall and the
covering element is fixed to the flange edge;
- Figure 2a shows an enlargement of a part of the closing element of Figure
2, fixed to the base wall, wherein the casing of the capsule has been
removed, for reasons of clarity;
- Figure 3 is a perspective view from the outside of the casing of Figure 1.
The same elements in the various drawings will be indicated below with the
same reference numerals.
With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a
capsule according to the invention, which can be used in a dispensing
machine.
The capsule 1, as illustrated in detail in Figures 1 to 3, comprises an casing
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2 which has an axis A of longitudinal extension, for example an axis of
symmetry.
The casing 2 is made preferably by injection moulding or by thermoforming
a sheet material and it is substantially frustoconical in shape, that is, in
the
shape of a glass or cup. The casing 2 includes a base wall 201 and a lateral
wall 202, defining an open cavity 203, and a flange edge 204, which extends
from the lateral wall 202.
In detail, the lateral wall 202 is divergent starting from the base wall 201
to
the flange edge 204.
The flange edge 204 may comprise a sealing element 204a, configured for
making a fluid-tight seal with the dispensing machine when the capsule 1 is
inserted in a housing (not illustrated) suitably set up for it. The sealing
element 204a is made, for example, like a protrusion which extends from
the flange edge 204 and is made in a single body with the flange 204. The
flange edge 204 may also comprise an enlargement 204b, which is
positioned on an outer edge of the flange 204 and is configured to favour a
correct positioning of the capsule 1 in the housing.
The cavity 203 is suitable for containing an initial product (not illustrated)
to
be joined to a fluid (not illustrated) to obtain a final product (not
illustrated).
The fluid is, preferably, a hot or cold liquid under pressure, introduced in
the
cavity 203 in a step of injecting the fluid, to obtain the final product.
As mentioned above, the initial product is, for example, a food product which
is soluble, freeze-dried, dehydrated, concentrated, percolatable, in powder
form¨ for example coffee; alternatively, the initial preparation can be, for
example, a food product in leaf form ¨ for example tea. The initial product is
preferably water, hot and under pressure, which makes it possible to obtain
a beverage, for example coffee, barley coffee, tea, or herbal tea.
The capsule 1 comprises a covering element 3, fixed to the flange edge
204, so as to close the cavity 203.
The covering element 3 is fixed to the flange edge 204 by heat or ultrasonic
welding or gluing.
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Thanks to the covering element 3, the cavity 203 is hermetically closed and
the initial preparation is isolated from the outside environment. The covering
element 3 is typically a film, as described below in detail.
The covering element 3 can be perforated by an extraction device of a
dispensing machine in which the capsule 1 can be used.
The capsule 1 comprises a closing element 4 fixed to the base wall 201
which can be perforated by a fluid injection device (not illustrated) of the
dispensing machine, which comprises piercing blades.
The closing element 4 is fixed to the base wall 201 by welding, thermal or
ultrasound, or gluing.
The injection device also comprises a fluid dispensing device, which is
independent of the piercing blades.
The base wall 201 comprises an edge region 205, which is annular and
extends as far as the lateral wall 202, a central region 206, and a groove
207, which is interposed between the central region 206 and the edge
region 205 and is shaped for receiving the piercing blades.
The edge region 205 is interposed, along the axis Z between the central
region 206 and the flange edge 204. In other words, the central region 206
projects relative to the edge region 205.
As shown in Figure 2, the closing element 4 comprises a central portion 401,
fixed to the central region 206 and an edge portion 402, fixed to the edge
region 205.
Advantageously, the central region 206 and the edge region 205 extend on
respective planes which are offset from each other along the axis Z in such
a way that an intermediate portion 403 of the closing element 4, interposed
between the central portion 401 and the edge portion 402 and configured
for closing the groove 207, is inclined.
Thanks to the fact that the intermediate portion 403 is inclined relative to
the
central portion 401 and to the edge portion 402, piercing by the blades of
the dispensing machine is facilitated. In effect, the inclination of the
intermediate portion 403 between the two fixing planes 206,205 contributes
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to keeping under tension the intermediate portion 403 which therefore does
not deform in the groove 207 and is easily perforated also using materials
which are difficult to perforate.
Advantageously, the intermediate portion 403 is tensioned between an
outer edge 206' of the central region 206 and an inner edge 205' of the edge
region 205.
In fact, the outer edge 206' of the central region 206 and the inner edge 205'
of the edge region 205 form localised discontinuities which favour the
tensioning of the intermediate portion 403.
The planes on which the central region 206 and the edge region 205 extend
are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the axis Z.
In Figure 2a, which shows the closing element 4 as applied to the base wall
201, the intermediate portion 403, inclined, forms relative to an axis H,
parallel to the axis Z, an angle a preferably between 710 and 85 , even more
preferably between 75 and 82 , for example equal to 78 .
It should be noted that the central region 206 comprises at least one outer
frame, not illustrated, which extends up to the outer edge 206'. Preferably,
the closing element 4, and in detail its central portion 401, is fixed at
least
to the outer frame of the central region 206 in such a way that the fixing
extends up to the outer edge 206'.
Similarly, the edge region 205 comprises at least one inner frame, not
illustrated, which extends up to the inner edge 205'. Preferably, the closing
element 4, and in detail its edge portion 402, is fixed at least to the inner
frame of the edge region 205.
The fixing of the closing element 4, and more specifically of the central
portion 401 at least to the outer frame of the central region 206 and/or the
fixing of the edge portion 402 at least to the inner frame of the edge region
205, makes it possible to avoid folds in the intermediate portion 403, when
the closing element 4 is fixed to the base wall 401. In fact, the fixing of
the
closing element 4 acts in conjunction to keep the intermediate portion 403
under tension between the outer edge 206' of the central region 206 and
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the inner edge 205' of the edge region 205.
The groove 207 has a bottom wall 207a provided with openings 207b
configured to allow the fluid injected by the injection device to be dispensed
to the initial product contained in the cavity 203.
Thanks to the fact that the intermediate portion 403 is inclined, the closing
element 4 can be easily perforated and, therefore, since the pressurised
fluid is uniformly distributed in the cavity 203 through the openings 207b,
the quality of the drink dispensed may be raised.
It is known that the pressurised fluid injected into the capsule must be
distributed as uniformly as possible in the initial product in order to
extract
aromatic components from the latter to be transferred to the beverage,
especially if the initial product is coffee powder.
The bottom wall 207a is positioned at a distance such that it is not
perforated
by the piercing blades of the injection device. The groove 207 may be
positioned concentric relative to the axis Z to contain inside it the piercing
blades, if the perforating blades are concentric relative to the axis Z.
Preferably, the central region 206 is circular, the groove 207 is annular as
is the intermediate portion 403. The intermediate portion 403 is therefore
shaped like a frustoconical lateral surface.
The outer frame of the central region 206 and the inner frame of the edge
region 205 are therefore annular and concentric to each other.
The edge region 205 has an outer edge 205" which is positioned between
the base wall 201 and the lateral wall 202.
According to a version of the capsule 1 not illustrated, the closing element
4 is larger than the base wall 201 so that it can also be fixed to the lateral
wall 202, contiguous to the base wall 201, to remain joined to the capsule 1
even in the presence of an increase in the pressure inside the capsule 1. In
other words, the closing element 4 extends beyond the outer edge 205" and
is superposed on the outer edge 205" itself.
The increase in pressure inside the capsule 1 may be due to the gas
released by the coffee contained in the capsule 1, if, for example, the
initial
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product is non-degassed coffee.
As mentioned above, the central region 206 projects from the edge region
205. For this purpose, the closing element 4 is preferably made of an
elastically deformable material configured to be able to pass from a planar
configuration to a deformed configuration, illustrated in detail in Figure 2a.
In fact, before fixing to the base wall 201, the closing element 4 is in a
planar
configuration whilst, after having been fixed to the edge region 205 and to
the central region 206 which are offset from each other along the axis Z, the
closing element 4 is deformed, as the intermediate portion 403 is inclined.
When the closing element 4 is fixed to the base wall 201, the closing
element 4 adopts a convex shape.
In detail, the casing 2 can be chosen from among one of the following
materials of a first list:
- Polyolefin (preferably polypropylene PP or polyethylene PE), polyethylene
terephthalate PET, polystyrene PS, polylactic acid PLA, polyethylene
furanoate PEF;
- Biodegradable and/or compostable materials different from polyactic acid
PLA, for example of vegetable origin such as cellulose, or derived from
them, for example, paper;
- Recyclable materials, for example aluminium.
The above-mentioned materials of the first list can be able to provide a
barrier to oxygen and/or water.
According to an embodiment, the casing can comprise at least two layers,
wherein each layer can comprise at least one of the materials of the first
list,
for example cellulose, polyethylene PE; or cellulose, polyactic acid PLA.
According to a further embodiment, the casing can comprise at least three
layers, wherein each layer can comprise at least one of the materials of the
first list, for example cellulose, polyactic acid PLA, aluminium, wherein the
aluminium constitutes a barrier layer which is resistant to aromas and/or
liquids and/or gases.
The covering element 3 and the closing element 4 can comprise at least
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one layer comprising a material chosen from among one of the following
materials of a second list:
- Polyolefin (preferably polypropylene PP or polyethylene PE), polyethylene
terephthalate (PET or PET comprising aluminium oxides and silicon oxides),
polyactic acid PLA;
- Recyclable materials, for example aluminium;
- Polyvinyl chloride PVDC;
- Polyactic acid PLA;
- Ethylene vinyl alcohol EVOH or polyvinyl alcohol PVOH;
- Biodegradable and/or compostable materials different from polyactic acid
PLA, for example of vegetable origin such as cellulose, or derived from
them, for example paper or cellulose acetate.
According to an embodiment, the covering element 3 and/or the closing
element 4 can comprise at least two layers, wherein each layer can
comprise at least one of the materials of the second list, for example
polyethylene terephthalate PET, polyvinyl chloride PVDC; or polyethylene
terephthalate PET, aluminium.
According to a further embodiment, the covering element 3 and/or the
closing element 4 can comprise at least three layers, wherein each layer
can comprise at least one of the materials of the second list, for example
polypropylene PP, ethylene vinyl alcohol EVOH, polypropylene PP; or
polypropylene PP, ethylene vinyl alcohol EVOH, polyethylene PE; or
polypropylene PP, ethylene vinyl alcohol EVOH, polyactic acid PLA.
If, for example, the capsule 1, and that is, the casing 2, the covering
element
3 and the closing element 4, are made of paper, it is preferable that the
paper with which the closing element 4 is made is deformable.
The same considerations apply if the capsule 1, and that is, the casing 2,
the covering element 3 and the closing element 4, are made of PLA.
Advantageously, if the capsule 1 is entirely biodegradable and compostable,
since it is made, for example, of paper or PLA, the user can dispose of the
entire capsule 1 amongst the organic waste.
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If, on the other hand, the capsule 1 is made of a recyclable material, such
as aluminium, or plastic material, the casing 2 can be recycled after
emptying the casing 2 of the initial product contained therein. For capsules
1 made of aluminium, or of plastic material, the closing element 4 may be
made, respectively, of aluminium, or plastic material.
In use, a user inserts the capsule 1 in the housing of a dispensing machine
which has an injection device comprising piercing blades positioned, for
example, about a conduit for supplying pressurised fluid. When the housing
is closed, the base wall 201 is brought to interfere with the piercing blades
and the intermediate portion 403 of the closing element, inclined relative to
the axis Z and positioned for closing the groove 207, may be easily
perforated by the perforating blades. Since it is inclined and in addition
being
tensioned between an outer edge 206' of the central region 206 and an inner
edge 205' of the edge region 205, the intermediate portion 403 can be easily
perforated.
Owing to the capsule according to the invention, which has an edge region
205 and a central region 206 of a base wall 201 offset along the axis Z in
such a way that an intermediate portion 403 of the closing element 4,
positioned for closing a groove 207, is inclined relative to the axis Z, it is
guaranteed that the closing element 4 can be easily perforated in a simple
and inexpensive manner.
Advantageously, the invention can be applied not only for capsules 1 which
are entirely biodegradable and compostable, but also made of aluminium,
or plastic, thus reducing the dispensing defects due to capsules which are
not perfectly perforated.
