WO2005066040A2

WO2005066040A2 - Capsule and method for the preparation of beverages

Info

Publication number: WO2005066040A2
Application number: PCT/IB2004/004286
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuseppe Giannelli
Original assignee: Ilenaig S.A.S. Di Giannelli Giuseppe E C.
Priority date: 2003-12-29
Filing date: 2004-12-27
Publication date: 2005-07-21
Also published as: ITCO20030012U1; WO2005066040A3

Abstract

A capsule (20) for the preparation of beverages comprises an enclosure suitable for forming a sealed container within which a dose of preparation (18) for the production of a beverage is contained. Advantageously said enclosure comprises a first weakened area (19) suitable to be perforated by a pressurized liquid acting upon the outside of said capsule and a second area (21) suitable to be caused to break through the effect of the pressure exerted thereupon by the beverage present within the capsule.

Description

DESCRIPTION

"Capsule and method for the preparation of beverages"

This invention relates to a capsule for the preparation of beverages according to the precharacterizing clause of claim 1.

More particularly the invention relates to a capsule which is intended to be used in a machine for the preparation of beverages which contains a dose of preparation for the production of a beverage following mixing, dilution and/or infusion of the preparation in a liquid.

Within the scope of this description the term beverage is used to indicate not only beverages as such but also coffee, tea, milk, orange juice, creams, infusions, broths and the like.

As is well known, in the context of the preparation of beverages capsules of the type indicated above are becoming increasingly widespread because they make it possible to prepare the quantity of beverage required, in general equal to a cupful, simply and quickly, at the same time ensuring constant quality for the beverage produced. In fact the capsule comprises a container which is suitable for preserving the organoleptic and qualitative properties of the preparation contained within over a long period of time, preventing the same from deteriorating through exposure to the air or following contact with external moisture. Among other things it is possible to have a modified atmosphere within the capsule which is free of oxygen which, as is known, is the cause of oxidation phenomena which give rise to organoleptic deterioration of the properties of preparations.

The capsules are produced with standard dimensions so they satisfactorily fit all commercially available machines for the preparation of beverages, for example machines for the preparation of espresso coffee.

With regard to the latter aspect it should be pointed out that in comparison with the use of throw-away filters containing a dose of preparation for beverages within them capsules have the problem of the need to break into them during the process for preparation of the beverage, either to permit liquid to enter within the capsule or to permit the beverage to leave the capsule. This leads to the need to provide suitable perforating means within the machines which are suitable for breaking the capsule walls and thus permitting the entry of liquid, generally water, and perforating means suitable for breaking the walls of the capsule to allow the beverage to be released from the capsule.

The presence of perforating means is however problematical and undesirable, mainly because of the fact that the machine has to be provided with such means and has to move them.

It must also be borne in mind that capsules are difficult to use in standard machines if the machines have not been appropriately designed for use with capsules, unless the walls of the capsule are broken in manually before the capsules are inserted into a machine.

The problem underlying this invention is that of devising and providing a capsule for the preparation of beverages which has structural and functional characteristics such as to overcome the problems mentioned with reference to the known art.

This problem is solved by a capsule for the preparation of beverages according to claim 1.

In accordance with a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for the preparation of a beverage according to claim 14.

Further features and advantages of the capsule and method according to this invention will be apparent from the description provided below of a number of preferred embodiments provided purely by way of indication and without restriction with reference to the appended figures in which:

- Figure 1 represents a schematic view in lateral cross-section of a capsule according to the invention according to a first embodiment,

- Figures 2 and 3 show a plan view of the capsule in Figure 1 from above and below respectively,

- Figure 4 shows a schematic view in lateral cross- section of a capsule according to the invention according to a second embodiment,

- Figures 5 and 6 show a plan view of the capsule in Figure 4 from above and below respectively,

- Figure 7 shows a schematic view in lateral cross- section of a capsule according to the invention according to a third embodiment, - Figures 8, 9 and 10 show the capsule in Figure 1 in three successive stages of use in the infuser unit of a machine for the preparation of beverages,

- Figures 11, 12 and 13 show the capsule in Figure 4 in three different successive stages of use in the infuser unit of a machine for the preparation of beverages,

- Figures 14, 15 and 16 show the capsules in Figures 1, 4 and 7 respectively according to a variant embodiment.

With reference to Figures 1 to 3, 20 generically indicates a capsule according to the invention.

Capsule 20 is intended to be used in a machine for the preparation of beverages and comprises an enclosure suitable for forming a closed container within which preparation 18 for the production of a beverage is contained. In the example in question capsule 20 is a capsule of the throwaway type and contains a dose of preparation 18 for beverages sufficient to prepare a quantity of beverage substantially equal to one consumption, after the mixing, dilution and/or infusion of preparation 18 in a liquid. The liquid may be hot or cold depending upon the type of beverage which has to be prepared. Generally the liquid used is water, but it is also possible to use liquids such as for example milk or broth or other liquids.

Preparation 18 contained in capsule 20 may vary in type and quantity according to the beverage which has to be prepared. Advantageously, preparation 18 may be a condensed product, in the liquid or paste state, such as for example a syrup, condensed milk and the like. As an alternative, preparation 18 may comprise infusion products such as tea, coffee, camomile in the form of water-soluble or freeze-dried products as powder or granules .

In the example capsule 20 has a frustoconical shape defined by a tapering side wall which connects a lower circular base acting as end 10 to an upper circular end 11 which has a diameter greater than end 10. It should be pointed out that upper end 11 extends beyond the side wall in such a way as to form an annular flange which, as will be more apparent in the description below, is useful for positioning capsule 20 within the infusion unit of the machine for the preparation of beverages .

It should be pointed out that the shape of the capsule according to the invention may also differ from that described above, that described being only one example among innumerable possibilities . According to one advantageous aspect the enclosing walls of capsule 20 comprise at least one area which is designed to be perforated by the pressure exerted upon it by a liquid, that is to say is suitable for being broken into by the pressure of liquid. In order to encourage this, said at least one area incorporates a weakened portion of the wall of capsule 20, the weakness being achieved through thinning the thickness of the wall material through punching, scribing or incision of the perimeter of the weakened area or by other means .

In the example in question capsule 20 comprises two areas, indicated by 19 and 21 respectively, each of which identify a weakened area in upper end 11 and end

10 of the capsule respectively. In accordance with what has been previously described weakened areas 19 and 21 are suitable to be perforated or burst through the effect of the pressure exerted upon them by a liquid.

With reference to weakened area 19, this means that as the value of the pressure exerted by a liquid on larger end 11 increases, the upper end will break at the location of area 19. Similar considerations apply to weakened area 21 of end 10.

The positions of weakened areas 19 and 20 with respect to the capsule walls may also be different from those illustrated in the figures.

When capsule 20 is in use, it is designed to be positioned in the seat of a machine for the preparation of beverages. In the example in Figures 8, 9 and 10 this seat comprises the infuser unit of the machine which in a wholly conventional way comprises a lower part 30 and an upper part 40 suitable for acting together with the lower part beneath to form a closed chamber 9 which receives capsule 20.

Figure 8 illustrates the situation where capsule 20 is positioned in lower part 30 of the infuser unit so that the annular flange formed by larger end 11 rests on the top edge thereof .

Figure 9 illustrates the situation in Figure 8 with the addition of the presence of upper part 40 of the infuser unit which, as mentioned, acts together with lower part 30 beneath to contain capsule 20 in aforesaid chamber 9.

As shown in Figure 9, the infuser unit comprises an inlet pipe 41 and an outlet pipe 31 which extend through upper part 40 and lower part 30 of the infuser unit respectively. Inlet pipe 41 is connected to means suitable for delivering the liquid required for preparation of the beverage to chamber 9 of the infuser.

Outlet pipe 31 is used to discharge liquid, more precisely the beverage present in chamber 9, therefrom in order to deliver it towards the machine's beverage delivery nozzle (not illustrated) .

When the machine is used for the preparation of beverages capsule 20 is therefore positioned in lower part 30 of the infuser unit (Figure 8) and chamber 9 is sealed off through upper part 40. Subsequently pressurized liquid is delivered to chamber 9 through inlet pipe 41. The pressure exerted by the liquid on the outer surface of larger end 11 increases until a condition is reached in which weakened area 19 gives way through the effect of the pressure. This allows the liquid to penetrate within capsule 20 and, depending upon circumstances, subsequent mixing, dilution and/or infusion of preparation 18 in the liquid, giving rise to preparation of the beverage.

Once the liquid has completely filled capsule 20, the pressure within it begins to rise until it causes weakened area 21 of end 10 to give way subsequently discharging capsule 20 towards outlet pipe 31.

The delivery of liquid via pipe 41 is stopped when the quantity of liquid delivered which is necessary for preparation of the required beverage has been reached.

With reference to Figures 4 to 6, 20A shows a second embodiment of a capsule according to the invention. The parts of capsule 20A which structurally or functionally correspond to the corresponding parts of capsule 20 are identified by the same reference numbers and are not further described below for economy of description. In substance capsule 20A differs from capsule 20 described above in that circular end 10 has a conical-shaped recess in the central portion identifying an area of weakness corresponding to tip 21A. This conical shape is particularly indicated for permitting the base of capsule 20A to break at tip 21A of the cone in a machine for the preparation of beverages which provides for the presence of a mechanical perforator, such as a pointed nozzle 31A.

In the same way as was described for Figures 8, 9 and 10 in the case of capsule 20, Figures 11, 12 and 13 show the position of capsule 20A in the lower part of the infuser unit, capsule 20A present in chamber 9A of the infuser unit and capsule 20A with both areas of weakness 19A and 20A broken in. It should be pointed out that the pressure of the beverage within capsule 20A causes the conical recess in the base to press against the pointed surface of nozzle 31A, thus encouraging perforation of weakened area 21A.

Figure 7 shows a capsule 2OB according to a modified embodiment of capsule 20A. The only detectable difference lies in the fact that the capsule comprises a portion of pointed tube 23 inserted within weakened area 21A, that is to say the tip of the cone and a horizontal supporting wall 24. This makes it possible to achieve mechanical perforation of weakened area 21A through sharpened tube 23 even in the case where the machine for the preparation of beverages is not provided with perforators, as is the case with capsule 20.

According to a further embodiment, the capsule according to the invention may comprise means to filter the liquid entering or flowing from the capsule.

Preferably such means comprise a layer of filter paper 51 positioned in relation to the base of the capsule. Figures 14, 15 and 16 show capsules 20, 20A in Figures 1, 4 and 7 respectively with the addition of a layer of filter paper 51. A layer of filter paper or other filtering means may also be inserted in relation to the upper part of the capsule where the liquid enters .

A perforated supporting disk (not illustrated) having the function of a supporting member for the filtering means may advantageously be associated with the layer of filter paper 51 or other equivalent filtering element .

In substance the method according to the invention for preparing a beverage through the use of a machine for the preparation of beverages comprises the stages of : a) positioning the capsule in the machine for the preparation of beverages, b) perforating a first area of said capsule to cause the liquid necessary for preparation of the beverage to penetrate within the capsule, and c) perforating a second area of said capsule to cause the beverage to drain out from the capsule.

Advantageously at least one of the aforesaid perforations is affected by the pressure exerted by the liquid on said area of the capsule.

Preferably both the perforations are effected through the pressure of the liquid in the manner described above, it however being possible that one of the two weakened areas be perforated by a mechanical perforator with or without the assistance of the pressure of the liquid or beverage.

As may be appreciated from what has been described, the capsule, the machine and the method according to the invention make it possible to overcome the disadvantages mentioned in the introduction to this description.

Obviously a person skilled in the art may in order to satisfy contingent and specific requirements apply many modifications and variants to the capsule the machine for the preparation of beverages or the method described above, all of which however are included within the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the following claims .

Thus for example failure of the weakened area of the capsule to allow the liquid necessary for preparation of the beverage to enter within the capsule may be effected through a jet of pressurized liquid directed precisely against the weakened area of the upper end of the capsule.

The capsule according to the invention may also possibly provide more than one area suitable to be perforated by the pressure exerted upon it by a liquid, this being useful for example in the case where one opening is obstructed by the preparation present within the capsule .

Claims

1. Capsule for the preparation of beverages intended for use in a machine for the preparation of beverages, said capsule (20, 20A, 20B) comprising an enclosure suitable for forming a sealed container within which a dose of preparation (18) for the production of a beverage is contained, characterized in that the wall (10, 11) of said enclosure comprises a first area (19, 21, 21A) suitable to be perforated by the pressure exerted upon it by a liquid.

2. Capsule according to claim 1, in which said first area (19) is suitable to be perforated by a pressurized liquid acting on the outside of said capsule (20, 20A, 20B) .

3. Capsule according to claim 2 , in which a second area (21, 21A) of said enclosure is suitable to be caused to break through the effect of the pressure exerted thereupon by the beverage present within the capsule (20, 20A, 20B) .

4. Capsule according to claim 1, in which said first area (21, 21A) is suitable to be caused to break through the effect of the pressure exerted thereupon by the beverage present within the capsule (20, 20A, 20B) .

5. Capsule according to claim 2 or 4 , in which a second area (19) of said enclosure is suitable to be caused to break by a perforating nozzle (23, 31A) .

6. Capsule according to claim 3 or 5, in which said first area and said second area are positioned on opposite walls of the enclosure .

7. Capsule according to any of claims 1 to 6, in which said area (19, 21, 21A) is a weakened portion of wall.

8. Capsule according to any of claims 1 to 7, in which said preparation (18) for beverages comprises a condensate.

9. Capsule according to any of claims 1 to 7, in which said preparation for beverages comprises a powder for infusion.

10. Capsule according to any of claims 1 to 9, comprising means (51) for filtering the beverage discharged from the capsule.

11. Capsule according to any of claims 1 to 10, comprising means for filtering the liquid delivered into the capsule.

12. Capsule according to claim 10 or 11, in which said filtering means comprise a layer of filter paper (51) .

13. Capsule according to claim 12 , in which said filtering means comprise a filter disk having the function of supporting said layer of filter paper (51) .

14. Method for preparing a beverage through the use of a machine for the preparation of beverages provided with a seat in which a capsule according to any of claims 1 to 13 is housed, said method comprising the stages of: a) positioning said capsule (20, 20A, 20B) in said seat, b) perforating a first area (19) of said capsule to deliver the liquid necessary for preparing the beverage within the capsule, and c) perforating a second area (21, 21A) of said capsule (20, 20A, 20B) to cause the beverage to be discharged from said capsule, characterized in that at least one of the perforations in said first area (19) and said second area (21, 21A) is effected through the pressure exerted by the liquid on said portion.

15. Method according to claim 14, in which said stage b) of perforating a first area (19) of said capsule (20, 20A, 2OB) to deliver the liquid necessary for preparing the beverage within the capsule is effected by the pressurized liquid acting against the outside of said capsule.

16. Method according to claim 15, in which said stage b) of perforating a first area of said capsule in order to deliver the liquid necessary for preparing the beverage within the capsule is effected by a jet of pressurized liquid directed specifically against said first area.

17. Method according to claim 15 or 16, in which said stage c) of perforating a second area (21, 21A) of said capsule or causing the beverage to be discharged from said capsule is effected by causing said second area (21, 21A) to break through the pressure exerted upon it by the beverage within the capsule.

18. Method according to claim 15 or 16, in which said stage c) of perforating a second area (21A) of said capsule to cause the beverage to be discharged from said capsule is effected through a mechanical perforator (23, 31A) .

19. Method according to claim 14, in which said stage c) of perforating a second area (21, 21A) of said capsule to cause the beverage to be discharged from said capsule is effected through causing said second area to break through the pressure exerted thereupon by the beverage present within the capsule.

20. Method according to claim 18, in which said stage b) of perforating a first area of said capsule for delivering liquid necessary for preparation of the beverage within the capsule is effected through a mechanical perforator.