Prepackaged pod for brewing hot beverages and method for producing the same

Inactive Publication Date: 2021-03-18
IDEA SAS DI NEXT SRL & CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is about a new type of pod for use in a dispensing unit. The pod has a rigid structure that makes it easy to handle and can be used in both inserting and removing from the unit. The pod is made of materials that do not release harmful or undesirable substances during the beverage extraction phase, resulting in a beverage with excellent organoleptic properties. The pod is also made of biodegradable materials, such as natural origin, and can be compostable, reducing waste disposal and carbon footprint.

Problems solved by technology

By contrast, the capsule, being made of plastic materials, during the extraction phase, as is well known, releases additives contained in it and / or residues from the polymerization process that can alter the organoleptic properties of the coffee and / or are harmful for the human body.
The mechanical type solutions to this problem require, at present, the application of very high tightening forces which can be obtained with an increased mechanical complexity not suitable for a machine preferably designed for home, or professional use, and that, moreover, leads to increased size and costs of the coffee brewing machine that limit the adoption of this type of machines in, preferably, home or professional applications.
Moreover, due to its nature the pod, being soft and flexible, is difficult to handle during the phase of positioning it inside the coffee machine and, as is evident above, this operation must be performed accurately to guarantee a proper closure of the percolation chamber of the dispensing unit.
Again, because of the problems of handling the pod, all the operations for inserting and removing the pod from the espresso coffee machine are performed manually and cannot be easily carried out automatically, as can be done instead with the capsules; for example, the pod, after being used is removed manually while still soaked with the water used to prepare the beverage.
The mechanical type solutions to this problem would thus require the production of espresso coffee machines having complex handling systems that would result in increases size and machine costs that would limit the spread of this type of machines in, preferably, home or professional applications.
Moreover, as a result of the forces necessarily applied to hermetically close the walls of the percolation chamber, and of the relatively high brewing temperatures, the surfaces of the pod, made with sheets of filter paper, may adhere to the walls of the percolation chamber, prevalently at the closing edges, and could break when they are being removed, thus dirtying the machine.

Method used

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  • Prepackaged pod for brewing hot beverages and method for producing the same
  • Prepackaged pod for brewing hot beverages and method for producing the same
  • Prepackaged pod for brewing hot beverages and method for producing the same

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

second embodiment

[0059]With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, a pod 100 is shown in a second embodiment substantially the same as the one described above, comprising in addition two shells 114, placed above and below the casing 106 of the pod 100, substantially the same to each other. The shells 114 comprise a base 116 and a portion of countersunk wall 118. The base 116 is perpendicular to the central axis A, and has the radius of the circumference that circumscribes it slightly smaller than the inner radius of the upper ring 108 and of the lower radius 110. The portion of countersunk wall 118 has a height that is substantially at least equal to half of the thickness of the casing 106 of the pod 100, and is formed starting from the perimeter of the base 116, perpendicular to the same, and widens away from the circular base 116 forming a peripheral edge 120, of each of the two shells 114, equal to the internal perimeter of the upper ring 108 and of the lower ring 110 of the pod 100.

[0060]The two shells 114...

first embodiment

[0061]Said joint along the peripheral edge 120 is thin, as compared to the thickness of the shells 114 and of the respective rings, the first or upper one 108 and the second or lower one 110, and represents a breaking point adapted to facilitate the separation of the shells 114 from the respective rings, the upper one 108 and the lower one 110, by a mechanical action, such as a mechanical twisting action applied manually by the user. In this manner, when the shells 114 are removed, the pod 100 is used, for preparing the beverage, in a manner similar to the pod 100 of the

[0062]Advantageously, said sealed chamber 122 of the pod 100 contains an inert atmosphere, such as gaseous nitrogen or vacuum, so as to preserve the organoleptic characteristics of the coffee, until the removal of the shells 114. Thus, the pod 100 so composed does not require being packaged in an inert atmosphere, such as gaseous nitrogen or vacuum, since the shells 114 act as barriers against environmental agents, s...

third embodiment

[0098]In addition, the pod 100 in the second and third embodiment is designed to use shells 114 or covers 124 that hermetically close the casing 106 inside a sealed chamber 122 or 132 that can contain an inert atmosphere, such as gaseous nitrogen or vacuum, making the prepackaged pod “self-protected”.

[0099]Thus, the second and the third embodiments, unlike the first and fourth embodiments, do not require a packaging, thus reducing the volume of the pod packages, with obvious logistical advantages in terms of storage and transportation.

[0100]In addition, the methods of production of the different portions of the pod 100 are simple and use plants, machines and equipment that are typical in the field.

[0101]While the present invention has been described with reference to various embodiments, including the preferred embodiments, it is clear that they are given by way of illustration, and that the invention is not limited to them alone.

[0102]Different variants, modifications, additions an...

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Abstract

A pod to be used in machines for brewing hot beverages. For example, a pod comprises two water-permeable filtering elements coupled to each other along a periphery forming a casing, which contains substances extractable by forced percolation, in which said periphery is sealed and embedded by a sealing flange of the pod that extends continuously around said casing.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION[0001]The present invention refers to a prepackaged pod having innovative characteristics. Specifically, the invention refers to a pod to be used in machines for brewing hot beverages, containing substances extractable by forced percolation, preferably such as coffee or possibly other beverages such as for example tea. Further, the invention refers to the method for producing said prepackaged pod.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The machines for brewing espresso coffee achieve the extraction of the aromas from the ground coffee by means of forced percolation process.[0003]In this process, water, heated to a temperature of approximately 90° C., is made to flow under pressure, generally between 9 and 15 bar, through the ground coffee contained in a percolation chamber of the dispensing unit of the machine, thereby extracting the beverage.[0004]To simplify the use of espresso coffee machines, prepackaged portions of finely ground roasted coffee are sold to b...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B65D85/804
CPCB65D85/8046B65D85/8061
InventorGIULIANO, MACRIPO'
OwnerIDEA SAS DI NEXT SRL & CO