Flexible package for food or beverage preparation with rigid components

Abstract

The invention relates to a flexible or semi-flexible closed package (1) for containing an ingredient for the preparation of an edible product in a food or beverage preparation machine, said package comprising: (i) a flexible or semi-flexible side wall (2) forming a flat package body, and (ii) a cup-shaped bottom portion (3) adapted to be inserted into a fluid injection element of the machine, the package (1) being formed by a single piece of elongated primary flat blank sheet (5) made of a flexible material, folded in a U-shape around its transversal symmetry axis (Lx) and sealed along its side edges (4) and upper edge (34), wherein said cup-shaped bottom portion (3) is a hollow volume with a concave lower side (7) and convex lateral sides (8) and the profile curvature of said lower side (7) is the same as the profile curvature of each of said lateral sides (8).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a closed, flexible pouch containing beverage ingredients and adapted for use in a beverage preparation machine by puncturing the pouch wall and injecting liquid therein to mix with the ingredients. Background Technology

[0002] Beverage preparation is known in the art by introducing capsules containing food or beverage ingredients (such as soluble coffee, milk, or chocolate) into a beverage dispensing machine, and then injecting water into the capsules to mix with the ingredients. Soluble beverage or food ingredients are typically dissolved in water to form a beverage or desired final product, which flows out of the capsule through a suitable outlet. Sometimes, the ingredient can be tea leaves, and the beverage is prepared by brewing the tea leaves with water introduced into the capsule. As with the case of soluble ingredients described above, the brewed tea is then dispensed from the capsule through the dispensing outlet. Such known capsules are typically rigid or semi-rigid capsules made of plastic materials or metals (e.g., aluminum).

[0003] Recently, beverage preparation systems that incorporate flexible packaging instead of capsules have been developed. Compared to capsules, such packaging offers several interesting features, such as compactness, manufacturing speed (forming, filling, and sealing operations can be performed continuously), and enhanced recyclability.

[0004] Such flexible packaging is described, for example, in EP 3 414 187 A1, and includes a flexible wall and a functional insert—sometimes referred to as a "mouth"—located at the bottom of the packaging, which is attached to or otherwise enclosed in the flexible wall. The insert is a common element made of rigid or semi-rigid plastic and includes holes and channels for fluid-tightly connecting the bottom side of the flexible packaging to a beverage machine. In use, once the flexible packaging is functionally connected to the beverage machine, the machine introduces water into the packaging through the fluid conduction channels of the insert. The water is then mixed with ingredients to form a beverage product, which is dispensed outside the flexible packaging through the product dispensing channels of the insert.

[0005] Importantly, fluid communication between the packaging and the beverage machine is achieved by connecting the machine's fluid conduction element to the flat wall surface of the packaging; the flatness of the surfaces between the packaging and the beverage machine ensures a basic seal between them. Furthermore, the rigidity of the packaging's flat surface is necessary to prevent deformation of the packaging during connection to the beverage machine. Typically, this connection is achieved by piercing the flat surface of the packaging or otherwise inserting the machine's connecting element (such as a needle or similar element). Alternatively, a sealed fluid connection can be formed by opening the packaging wall and pressing the machine's nozzle against it. If the packaging's flat wall is mechanically too weak, it may bend or otherwise deform when the beverage machine's connecting element is pressed against or inserted through it, leading to leaks or even no fluid connection at all. On the other hand, opening the packaging via the machine must be easy and reliable; for this, the force required to open the packaging wall must be sufficiently small.

[0006] In some cases, such as those described in EP 3 500 503 A1 or EP 3 500 504 A1, the functional insert comprises several parts movable relative to each other, such that the insert can be actuated to open or close itself, thereby allowing for complex sequences of water infusion, mixing, and product dispensing suited to specific preparation requirements imposed by the type of beverage ingredient to be dissolved. The reclosable nature of the insert also provides excellent cleanliness for the beverage preparation system.

[0007] However, such existing flexible packaging also has drawbacks. First, the functional insert is made of materials that are not easily recyclable. Furthermore, it is a common component and therefore relatively heavy. Moreover, its manufacturing cost is high.

[0008] Other flexible packaging options exist, such as gusseted pouches or sleeves. These are made by folding and sealing thermoplastic material to form gussets on their bottom sidewalls. While such gusseted pouches can form flat bottom sidewalls suitable for attachment to beverage dispensers, manufacturing them requires a complex, multi-folding process to create the gusseted bottom. This multiple folding creates stacked layers of material, which are then sealed. This known manufacturing process demands a material with excellent sealing properties, achievable only with thermoplastic films. Using non-thermoplastic films results in weaker seals, leading to delamination or even unsealed spaces between the folded layers, which is detrimental to the packaging's mechanical and barrier properties. Furthermore, such flexible packaging with gussets is not desirable because it requires thermoplastic materials for formation, which is not environmentally friendly.

[0009] Other types of flexible packaging are known, manufactured through various processes such as folding or stamping flexible flat blank material to form a three-dimensional volume. However, known processes often result in wrinkles forming on the surface of the packaging during the transformation of the flexible flat sheet into a three-dimensional volume. Wrinkles are highly undesirable because they lead to inconsistent seals of the packaging, thereby causing leaks. Due to the irregular surface of the packaging, these wrinkles also increase the risk of erroneous interactions between the packaging and processing units such as, for example, beverage preparation machines.

[0010] Therefore, the main objective of this invention is to provide an improved flexible packaging for use with a beverage preparation machine that eliminates the aforementioned disadvantages of existing packaging, and is made of environmentally friendly materials and can be easily attached to the beverage machine in a substantially sealed manner. Summary of the Invention

[0011] This invention relates to a flexible or semi-flexible closed package for containing ingredients for preparing an edible product in a machine by mixing the ingredients with a mixed fluid injected into the package from a food or beverage preparation machine, the package comprising:

[0012] (i) forming flexible or semi-flexible sidewalls for the flat package body, and

[0013] (ii) A cup-shaped bottom portion adapted for insertion into the fluid injection element of the machine.

[0014] The package is formed from a single, elongated, primary flat blank sheet made of a flexible material, preferably a fiber-based material, which is folded into a U-shape around its transverse axis of symmetry and sealed along its side and top edges, wherein the cup-shaped bottom portion is a hollow volume with a concave lower side and convex side sides, and the cross-sectional curvature of the lower side is the same as that of each of the side sides.

[0015] In one specific embodiment of the invention, the cup-shaped bottom portion has a hexagonal prism shape, the prism having two opposing vertical edges aligned with the transverse axis of the package, the vertical edges extending downward to form downwardly extending tips, the extended edges having a height such that for every transverse cross-section of the cup-shaped bottom portion measured along the transverse axis of the package, the sum of the two heights of the cup-shaped bottom portion plus the width of its lower side is constant.

[0016] Advantageously, the single-piece, elongated, primary flat preform sheet is made of a fiber-based material coated with a sealant layer on its inner side, the fiber base being selected from the following list: paper, paperboard, bagasse-based, bamboo-based or starch-based materials, cellophane, or combinations thereof. Such materials are considered eco-friendly and sustainable packaging materials.

[0017] The primary flat sheet also preferably includes a barrier coating sandwiched between the fiber-based material and the sealant layer, the barrier coating being a coating that resists oxygen transfer and / or moisture transfer, and is selected from the following list: metallization coating, silicon oxide (SiOx) coating, aluminum oxide (AlOx) coating, atomic layer deposition (ALD) coating, or a combination thereof.

[0018] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the packaging according to the invention further includes a secondary thickness reinforcing sheet located at least on the inner surface of the cup-shaped bottom portion of the packaging, the secondary thickness reinforcing sheet being made of a fiber-based material coated with a sealant layer, the fiber base being selected from the following list: paper, paperboard, bagasse-based, bamboo-based or starch-based materials, cellophane or combinations thereof.

[0019] Advantageously, the packaging of the present invention includes an identification device selected from the following list: mechanical code, optical code (including color code and code printed with invisible ink), RFID tag, one-dimensional barcode, two-dimensional barcode, magnetic code, conductive code / conductive code, detection hole, or any combination thereof.

[0020] Furthermore, the packaging of the present invention preferably includes a centering perforation located in the sealed lateral edge of the packaging, the centering perforation being adapted to insert a centering pin of the beverage preparation machine in order to prevent the packaging from moving relative to the machine during beverage preparation.

[0021] Preferably, the concave lower side of the package includes a flat portion centered on the transverse and longitudinal axes spanning the cup-shaped bottom portion. It has been found that connecting fluid injection elements, such as water injection needles, to a food or beverage preparation machine via a flat surface improves the quality of the interface between the package and the machine and reduces the need for complex or bulky fluid injection elements to achieve sealed fluid communication between the two.

[0022] For the same reason, the flat surface is preferably oriented such that when the machine’s fluid injection element is inserted into the pouch, it is inserted along an axis orthogonal to the plane of the flat surface.

[0023] Advantageously, the packaging of the present invention is a small bag or a pouch.

[0024] The ingredients included in the packaging of the present invention are preferably water-soluble powders, or soluble concentrates in liquid or semi-liquid form, selected from the following list: soup, fruit juice, vegetable juice, broth, coffee, chocolate, tea, dairy ingredients such as milk or creamer, smoothies, fruit purees, fruit purees, cream, or combinations thereof, or the ingredients include plant leaves suitable for soaking in water.

[0025] The packaging formed by the manufacturing process described in this specification includes generally flexible or semi-flexible sidewalls that allow for superior quality of the beverage product by enhancing the dissolution of the contained ingredients and the injected mixed fluid (typically water). Simultaneously, the interface portion of the packaging with the food or beverage preparation machine (i.e., its bottom portion) (designed to connect to the food or beverage preparation machine) is sufficiently rigid to prevent deformation of the packaging when fluidly connected to the machine. Because its outer wall is made from a single folded blank sheet, it is particularly eco-friendly (and more importantly, its constituent materials are preferably selected from eco-friendly materials such as recyclable, biodegradable, industrially compostable, or household compostable materials). The three-dimensional fold of its bottom interface provides sufficient rigidity to allow proper opening during use of external tools (such as, for example, the water injection needle of the food or beverage preparation machine), and, more importantly, this three-dimensional fold at the bottom eliminates folds and wrinkles that could be detrimental to the proper functioning of the packaging. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Further features and advantages of the invention are described below in the description of the presently preferred embodiments given with reference to the accompanying drawings, and these features and advantages will be apparent from the description, wherein:

[0027] Figure 1 This is a side perspective view of the packaging according to the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a top view of the primary flat blank sheet according to the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3A yes Figure 1 Bottom view of the packaging;

[0030] Figure 3B yes Figure 3A Side view of the packaging;

[0031] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 An enlarged partial perspective top view of one embodiment of the billet;

[0032] Figure 5 It is Figure 4 A partial bottom perspective view of the package formed from the blank;

[0033] Figure 6 This is a schematic perspective view of a manufacturing machine for producing packaging according to the present invention;

[0034] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of a material roll used for manufacturing blank sheets according to the present invention;

[0035] Figure 8 as well as Figures 10 to 14 This is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of the forming and sealing portion in a machine for manufacturing packaging according to the present invention;

[0036] Figure 9 This is a partially enlarged perspective view of a shaped plunger for manufacturing packaging components according to the present invention;

[0037] Figures 15 to 19 as well as Figure 21 yes Figure 8 as well as Figures 10 to 14 A schematic side view of an alternative embodiment of the forming and sealing portion is shown in the figure;

[0038] Figure 20 This is a partial perspective view of a sealing clamp in a forming and sealing machine for making packaging components according to the present invention;

[0039] Figure 22 This is a schematic side view of a sealing clamp for sealing the side of a package according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0040] The packaging according to the invention is suitable for use in a food or beverage preparation machine (not shown). The beverage preparation machine can be of any suitable type, but for example, this beverage preparation machine is the one described in patent application EP AN 19213419.5. Such machines are well known in the art and include a brewing chamber adapted to receive the ingredient package, an injection element adapted to inject fluid (typically water) into the interior of the ingredient package, a fluid (e.g., water) supply device typically including a fluid reservoir (or a water connection to tap water), a fluid pump, a fluid heater, and a fluid conduit for circulating the fluid from the fluid supply source toward the brewing chamber (optionally via the heater).

[0041] In the case of this invention, the package is adapted to be opened by the fluid supply device of the machine, preferably by piercing, particularly by introducing a sharp element through the bottom portion wall of the package, preferably through the underside of the bottom portion wall. Typically, the fluid injection element of the machine is a hollow needle-shaped element. Dispensing of food or beverage products prepared within the package by mixing fluid with ingredients can be performed by gravity; however, removal of the finished food or beverage product can also be performed by the same element that injects the mixed fluid. In the latter case, the injection and dispensing element of the machine includes at least two channels: one channel fluidly connects the inner compartment of the package to the machine, allowing the machine to inject fluid (e.g., water) into the compartment, and a second channel connects the inner package compartment to the outside of the package. The injection device of the machine may also include supplementary channels for injecting air into the package during food or beverage preparation. Injecting air allows for enhanced foaming during the preparation of certain aerated products such as dairy-based products (e.g., foamed milk) or chocolate-based products (foamed chocolate drinks, chocolate mousse) or smoothies.

[0042] Typically, packaging has any possible shape compatible with being formed by folding a flexible sheet in half (“U-shaped”), such as a pouch or bag, a pad, or any other container with a generally flat construction.

[0043] Different sized packets can be used in the same machine suitable for storing different quantities of ingredients. The size of the packet (i.e., its height and / or width) does not limit the type of machine that can be used to extract the ingredients contained within. The packet size is appropriate for the volume of the beverage to be produced; for example, large packets are needed for Americano or soup, while smaller packets are used to produce small cups, such as espresso. Medium-sized packets are used to produce frothing milk for cappuccinos.

[0044] Regardless of the size or shape of the product to be produced and the packaging, the external design of the bottom of the pouch, which is part of the functional fluid connection with the beverage machine, remains unchanged. The main idea is that the interface between the packaging and the machine is always the same. Additionally, other parameters such as the flow rate and / or temperature of the injected fluid and / or the total volume of the injected fluid can be adjusted according to the ingredients to be processed and therefore according to the food or beverage to be produced.

[0045] The packaging preferably includes an identification device for beverage machines to automatically identify the type of ingredients contained therein and to set it for optimal beverage preparation. Such settings include, but are not limited to: water injection pressure, water injection volume, water temperature, dissolution sequence (a complex sequence of water injection, air injection, and beverage dispensing, either sequentially or simultaneously), air injection with water (for foam enhancement), and total extraction time. Such identification devices are selected from the following list: mechanical codes, optical codes (including color codes and codes printed with invisible ink), RFID tags, one-dimensional barcodes, two-dimensional barcodes, magnetic codes, conductive codes, detection holes, or any combination thereof.

[0046] As shown in the accompanying drawings, in a preferred embodiment, the packaging has a planar shape oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane during beverage production, and a fluid injection element of the beverage machine is inserted into the packaging such that the fluid injection element orients a jet of water-containing and / or gaseous fluid in a direction included in the plane of the packaging. The fluid jet introduced into the packaging from the bottom evolves into a toroidal and helical motion that creates turbulence, friction, and high contact surfaces between fluid molecules and ingredient particles. On average, the fluid molecules swirl several times within the container before leaving with the finished beverage or food product.

[0047] In the following description, a preferred embodiment of the packaging according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this preferred embodiment, the packaging is a small bag.

[0048] Figure 1 A flexible or semi-flexible closed package 1 for containing ingredients according to the present invention is shown. The package 1 comprises:

[0049] (i) forming flexible or semi-flexible sidewalls 2 for the flat package body, and

[0050] (ii) A cup-shaped bottom portion 3, which is hollow and adapted to insert a fluid injection element of a food or beverage preparation machine (not shown), the package 1 being designed to be connected to the food or beverage preparation machine.

[0051] The hollow cup-shaped bottom portion 3 does not necessarily form the entire bottom of the package. Figure 1 In one implementation, the cup-shaped bottom portion forms only the central portion of the entire bottom of the package and is surrounded by the side edge 4 of the package, which is a sealed flat area.

[0052] Package 1 is formed from a single, elongated, primary flat blank 5 made of flexible material, such as Figure 2 As shown. The manufacturing process steps and manufacturing machines will be described in more detail below.

[0053] The primary flat preform sheet 5 of the paper-based material is about its transverse axis of symmetry. Lx Fold the U-shape and then seal it along its side edge 4 and top edge 6.

[0054] According to the general principles of the present invention, such as Figure 3A and Figure 3B As shown, the cup-shaped bottom portion 3 is a hollow volume with a concave lower side 7 and a convex side 8, and when... Figure 3B The thick line in the cross-sectional view shows the cross-sectional curvature of the lower side of the concave section, visible when the package is viewed from the side. P lw When Figure 3A The thick lines in the bottom view show the cross-sectional curvature of each of the sides visible when viewing the package from below. P lt same.

[0055] More precisely, in Figure 1 , Figure 3A , Figure 3B and Figure 5 In the illustrated embodiment, the cup-shaped bottom portion is a hollow volume with a hexagonal prism shape, the prism having a transverse axis with the package. Lx Two aligned, opposing vertical edges 9 extend to form a downwardly extending tip 10. The height of the extending edges 9 is such that, for the entire length along their transverse axis... Lx For each transverse cross-section of the package being measured, the sum of the two heights of the cup-shaped bottom portion and the width of its underside is constant. Figure 3A and Figure 3B An example of this rule is shown. Figure 3A The first width “W1” of the lower side, measured in the first cross-section of the bottom portion, is shown. Figure 3B The first height “H1” of the cup-shaped bottom portion is shown, which is measured against the same first cross-section. Figure 3A The second width “W2” on the lower side, measured in the second cross-section of the bottom portion, is also shown. Figure 3B A second height “H2” of the cup-shaped bottom portion is also shown, which is measured for the same second cross-section. If the sums S1 = (2xH1) + W1 and then S2 = (2xH2) + W2 are calculated, then according to the principle of the invention, S1 = S2, and more generally, S1 = S2 = Sn (Sn is measured at any cross-sectional point of the cup-shaped bottom portion 3).

[0056] The single-piece elongated primary flat blank sheet 5 used to manufacture the packaging 1 is made of paper material, which has a sealant layer coated on its inner side (i.e. the side that will become the inner side of the packaging 1 after the sheet 5 is formed).

[0057] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the invention, the primary flat blank sheet 5 further includes a barrier coating sandwiched between the fiber-based material and the sealant layer, the barrier coating being a coating that resists oxygen and moisture transfer. The barrier coating is selected from the following list: metallized coating, silicon oxide (SiOx) coating, aluminum oxide (AlOx) coating, atomic layer deposition (ALD) coating, or a combination thereof.

[0058] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 2 As shown, the package 1 also includes a secondary thickness-reinforcing sheet 11 located on the inner surface of the cup-shaped bottom portion 3 of the package. The thickness-reinforcing sheet 11 is made of paper material coated with a sealant layer. This thickness-reinforcing sheet 11 provides the possibility of reducing the thickness of the sidewalls 2 of the package 1. Reducing this thickness makes these sidewalls more flexible, which has been found to be advantageous for improving the quality of the product prepared within the package 1. More specifically, the applicant has surprisingly discovered that it is the sidewalls 2 of the package that are able to bend and deform outwards during beverage preparation, thus improving the vortex motion of the fluid injected into the package. Such deformation temporarily increases the internal space of the package compartments between the sidewalls 2 of the package. However, maintaining good rigidity of the cup-shaped bottom portion 3 is necessary, as described above (to maintain a proper seal at the interface between the package and the beverage preparation machine, and also to ensure that the package does not deform or collapse when punctured by the fluid injection element of the machine, deformation or collapse would impair or even prevent the puncture operation). The presence of the secondary thickness-reinforced sheet 11 allows for a balance between the flexibility of the single-piece wall of the package and the rigidity of its base.

[0059] Advantageously, package 1 also includes in Figure 1 , Figure 3B and Figure 5 The centering perforation 12 shown is located in the sealing edge 4 of the package 1. The shape and diameter of the perforation are adapted to accommodate a centering pin (not shown) of the beverage preparation machine, so as to prevent movement of the package 1 relative to the machine during beverage preparation, particularly during the insertion of the machine's fluid injection element through the package wall.

[0060] In a highly desirable embodiment, the concave lower side 7 of the package 1 includes a flat portion 13 centered across the transverse and longitudinal axes of the cup-shaped bottom portion 3, such as... Figure 1 and Figure 5 As shown.

[0061] like Figure 4As shown, in a preferred embodiment, the package 1 further includes a third-level thin layer located between the material constituting the package wall and the secondary thickness reinforcement layer 11. This third-level thin layer is created by sealing or otherwise attaching a third-level flexible flat blank sheet 14 between the primary flexible flat blank sheet 5 and the secondary flexible flat blank sheet 11.

[0062] The third-level flexible flat preform sheet 14 is a thin layer selected from the following list: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polylactic acid ester (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), starch-based polymers, polymers containing food-grade oxygen and / or moisture scavengers, or combinations thereof. It is preferably made from a blown or cast polymer film with tensile properties.

[0063] In this implementation scheme, such as Figure 4 As shown, the primary sheet 5 includes a primary hole 15 stamped through its entire thickness. The diameter of this primary hole 15 is selected to be at least equal to, but preferably slightly larger in cross-section (or diameter) than the outer diameter (or cross-section) of the beverage machine's dispensing device (which is typically a needle). The larger diameter prevents material (such as, for example, paper fibers) from separating due to friction when the dispensing device is inserted through it. Typically, the diameter of the hole (which is preferably cylindrical) is between 1 mm and 20 mm, preferably between 5 mm and 12 mm.

[0064] Furthermore, the secondary sheet 11 includes secondary holes 16 punched through at least the paper layer of the sheet 11. The secondary holes 16 may also be punched through the entire thickness of the secondary sheet 11. The diameter of the secondary hole 16 is selected relative to the diameter of the fluid injection element of the machine to which the package will be connected, and is typically cylindrical with a diameter between 1 mm and 20 mm, preferably between 5 mm and 12 mm.

[0065] The diameter of the primary hole 15 is equal to or greater than the diameter of the secondary hole 16 in the secondary flexible flat blank sheet 11.

[0066] use Figure 4 and Figure 5This multi-layered structure, as shown, has three stacked layers in the region of the cup-shaped bottom portion 3 of the package 1, ensuring a seal between the package 1 and the machine's fluid injection element. When the machine's fluid injection element is inserted through the wall of the package, it passes through the primary aperture 15 and then pierces the third-level sheet 14, which is preferably a stretchable material as described above, such that the edge of the pierced sheet 14 conforms tightly to the surface of the fluid injection element. Finally, the fluid injection element moves through the secondary aperture 16, such that the tip of the fluid injection element is located within the inner compartment of the package, establishing a sealed fluid connection between the interior of the package 1 and the machine's fluid supply circuit.

[0067] This type of construction also has the advantage that it requires lower strength to pierce the package wall through the fluid injection element because the total package thickness in the areas of holes 15, 16 and the third-level sheet 14 is only the thickness of the latter, while at the same time, the entire portion of the package surrounding the cup-shaped bottom portion 3 of the package has a higher thickness due to the presence of three stacked layers, thus providing mechanical resistance to deformation.

[0068] In another preferred embodiment, such as Figure 4 As shown, after the secondary thickness reinforcing sheet 11 is pierced through the hole 16, it is further processed using a cutting tool that makes multiple radial cuts 22 extending radially outward from the edge of the hole 16. These radial cuts 22 form a series of flaps between the cuts, which, once the machine and the package are connected to each other, reinforce the package wall, particularly the third-level flexible layer 14, on the outer surface of the machine's fluid injection element. Therefore, these multiple radial cuts 22 enhance the leak-proof effect.

[0069] use Figure 6 The forming machine shown manufactures the aforementioned packaging. Typically, such machines are based in part on forming and sealing technologies known in the art.

[0070] The machine first includes a primary flexible flat blank sheet feeding section 17, which is adapted to receive primary and optionally secondary and tertiary flat blank sheets 5, 11, 14, preferably in the form of... Figure 6 In the form of the film roll shown. At this stage, as previously described, the secondary flattened blank sheet and the tertiary flattened blank sheet (if present) may have already been assembled with the primary sheet 5, or alternatively as... Figure 6As shown, they can be supplied as separate rolls of material, one roll 18 for primary sheet, one roll 19 for secondary sheet, and a third roll 20 for tertiary sheet. In this case, the primary, secondary, and tertiary sheets are unfolded, cut into small flat blanks, and punched with primary holes 15 and secondary holes 16 through the primary and secondary blanks respectively, as described above. Then, finally, all blanks are... Figure 4 The described arrangement is sealed together. Figure 7 The arrangement of individual primary flat blank sheets 5 cut from the corresponding material roll 18 is shown.

[0071] The manufacturing machine also includes a packaging forming and shaping section 21. Downstream of the packaging forming section 21 is a filling and sealing section 22 (where the packaging is filled with ingredients and then closed by sealing the upper edge of the packaging).

[0072] Figures 8 to 22 The forming part 21 is shown in more detail below.

[0073] like Figure 8 As shown, the forming section of the machine includes a forming plunger 23 and a forming cavity 24 that are movable relative to each other and have complementary shapes. The term "cavity 24" refers to a hollow cylinder with a tip whose shape is complementary to the shape of the lower end 25 of the plunger. Such principles of forming stations having movable plungers and cavities for deforming material placed therein are generally known and will not be described in further detail. Figure 9 As shown, the end portion 25 (i.e., its lower end) of the plunger 23 has a volumetric shape with a concave lower end 26 and a convex side surface 27, such that the cross-section of its end side 26 is identical to the cross-section of each of its side surfaces 27. The principle of geometric equivalence between cross-sections 26 and 27 is consistent with the above regarding... Figure 3A and Figure 3B Section of the bottom part 3 of the cup P lt and P lw The same as described above.

[0074] In one embodiment, the end portion 25 of the plunger 23 has a hexagonal prism shape, the prism having a lateral axis relative to the plunger. Lx Two aligned, opposing vertical edges 28 extend downward to form a downwardly extending tip 29, the extended edges 28 having a height such that for the entire plunger along its transverse axis... Lx For each measured transverse cross-section, the sum of the two heights of the end portion 25 plus the width of its underside is constant. This principle is consistent with the above regarding... Figure 3A and Figure 3BThe principles for the heights H1 and H2 and the widths W1 and W2 of the cup-shaped bottom portion 3 are the same as those already described.

[0075] Preferably, the tip 29 of the plunger is rounded or otherwise has smooth edges.

[0076] like Figure 9 As shown, the lower end 26 of the plunger preferably includes a retractable protrusion 30 aligned with the center of the plunger 23. The protrusion 30 is spring-loaded so that it retracts into the plunger 23 when pressed against a surface, particularly in this case against the primary flat blank sheet 5 and the underlying forming station cavity 24. The diameter of the protrusion is larger than the diameters of the primary bore 15 and the secondary bore 16 described above. Its function is to gently press against the blanks 5, 11, and 14 before the plunger begins to deform them. When the forming process begins and the blank sheets begin to deform, it holds the three blank sheets together in their sealing areas (around bores 15 and 16 as described above) to prevent opening and slippage due to mechanical forces applied to the material during the forming steps.

[0077] The machine also includes an actuator (not shown) for moving the plunger 23 and the cavity 24 toward each other, and also relative to... Figure 8 The blank sheet 5, placed between the two as shown, moves.

[0078] like Figures 15 to 19 as well as Figure 21 As shown, the machine also includes a pair of plates adapted to support the flexible preform sheet 5. The two plates are coplanar at the start of the forming process, as... Figure 15 As shown in the diagram. Each plate supports a flap of the primary flexible preform sheet. The plate 31 can be as follows: Figure 8 as well as Figures 10 to 14 As shown, it is fixed. Alternatively, in another possible embodiment, the plates 31 are symmetrically pivotable about their respective axes, each positioned off either side of the plunger 23, such as... Figures 16 to 19 as well as Figure 21 As shown in the figures, these figures represent the different positions of the pivotable plate 31 during the forming process.

[0079] In the following text, the primary flat blank sheet 5 being processed also includes secondary blank sheets 11 and tertiary blank sheets 14 attached thereto, as described above. Once the blank 5 is conveyed along the machine to the forming section 21 of the machine and as... Figure 8 As shown, when the plunger 23 is positioned between the cavity 24, the forming process steps are as follows.

[0080] The plunger 23 moves downward until it contacts the upper surfaces of the blanks 5, 11, and 14, as shown. Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown; the movement of the plunger begins to cause the transverse axis around the primary billet 5 to... Lx The folded blank deforms; after contacting the upper surfaces of blanks 5, 11, and 14, due to the counter-pressure of the lower cavity 24, the retractable protrusion 30 of the plunger 23 retracts into the latter, as... Figure 11 As shown.

[0081] The plunger 23 continues to move downwards, and the cavity 24 also moves downwards, as... Figure 12 As shown. When blanks 5, 11 and 14 are clamped between the plunger 23 and the cavity 24, both of them pull the blanks downward together.

[0082] During the preceding steps, a pair (or “set”) of sealing clamps 32 are positioned on either side of the cavity 24, the clamps being adapted to seal the side edges of the blank sheet 5 once it is U-folded. During the forming steps described above, the clamps are in the open position, i.e., away from the plunger, cavity, and blank set.

[0083] After the cavity and plunger have moved downward as described above, the clamps 32 move toward each other to close around the billet in the lower portion of the billet, as... Figure 13 and Figure 20 As shown. They seal (by ultrasonic sealing or heat sealing process) the side edges of the U-shaped folded blank to complete the full forming of package 1 and the formation of the sealed cup-shaped bottom portion 3.

[0084] Then, clamp 32 reopens, and plunger 23 moves upward together with the partially folded and sealed package 1, as... Figure 14 As shown.

[0085] exist Figures 15 to 19 as well as Figure 21 The image shows a variation of the same forming sequence described above, except that the support plate 31 pivots during the movement of the plunger and cavity in order to guide the free end of the blank to fold in a U-shape.

[0086] Finally, as Figure 15 As shown, the package is fully U-shaped folded, with the still unsealed sidewalls 2 forming a flat package body, and the sealed cup-shaped bottom portion 3 being a hollow volume having the plunger shape.

[0087] The package is then conveyed to a sealing station with a slender sealing clamp 33, which seals the side edge 4 of the package 1, as shown. Figure 22 As shown. Package 1 is now ready to be filled with ingredients and then sealed by sealing its upper edge 34.

[0088] In an embodiment where the cup-shaped bottom portion 3 of the packaging has an improved wall thickness, the primary flat blank sheet 5, the secondary flat blank sheet 11, and the tertiary flat blank sheet 14 can be attached to each other when the primary sheet 5 is manufactured into a film roll (at the film manufacturer's facility) by attaching the secondary layer 11 and the tertiary flat blank sheet 14 as described above. Alternatively, the secondary flat blank sheet 11 and the tertiary flat blank sheet 14 can be attached to the primary flat blank sheet at a later stage, just before the formation of the primary flat blank sheet (i.e., on the packaging manufacturing line).

[0089] According to the present invention, the food or beverage ingredient packaged in the packaging is a water-soluble powder or a soluble concentrate in liquid or semi-liquid form, selected from the following list: soup, fruit juice, vegetable juice, broth, coffee, chocolate, tea, milk or creamer, smoothie, fruit puree, fruit puree, cream, or combinations thereof. The food or beverage ingredient is preferably a soluble food or beverage ingredient selected from the following list:

[0090] - Instant coffee powder, milk powder, creamer powder, instant tea powder, cocoa powder, soup powder, fruit powder, or a mixture of said powders.

[0091] - Coffee concentrate, milk concentrate, syrup, fruit or vegetable concentrate, tea extract, fruit or vegetable puree.

[0092] The package may also contain plant leaves for steeping, such as tea leaves, for example.

[0093] The powder can be agglomerated or calcined. Powdered or liquid concentrates can be mixed with solid blocks, for example, to prepare soup using solid blocks or capsule-encapsulated blocks. Food or beverage ingredients can also be brewable food or beverage ingredients, such as roasted or ground coffee or tea. In this embodiment, the brewable ingredient is subjected to water extraction.

[0094] In this invention, fluid encompasses any aqueous diluent (such as water, carbonated water, milk, etc., preferably water) that can be mixed with soluble beverage ingredients to prepare a beverage, or any gaseous fluid (such as air). When referring to aqueous fluid, water is the preferred fluid; when referring to gaseous fluid, air is the preferred fluid.

[0095] According to the present invention, the packaging is arranged substantially vertically during the production and distribution of food or beverage products.

[0096] According to the present invention, an aqueous fluid (typically water) is supplied to the package at any temperature (cold, ambient temperature, or hot), depending on the type of food or beverage product to be prepared.

[0097] Compared to known prior art systems where fluid is introduced from top to bottom, in this case, the beverage preparation machine injects water from the bottom to the top of the package at high speed and optionally also injects air, which creates optimal turbulence inside the package compartment, thereby achieving optimal dissolution of the ingredients contained therein. If air is also injected along with the water through the machine's injection device, the air is not introduced under high pressure; the pressure is preferably between 0.1 bar and 1.5 bar, more preferably between 0.3 bar and 0.5 bar. According to the invention, optimal turbulence and dissolution of the ingredients are achieved by high speed rather than high pressure.

[0098] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the currently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. These changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing the accompanying advantages. Therefore, such changes and modifications are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A flexible or semi-flexible closed package (1) for containing ingredients for preparing an edible product in a food or beverage preparation machine by mixing the ingredients with a mixed fluid injected into the package from the food or beverage preparation machine, the package (1) comprising: (i) forming flexible or semi-flexible sidewalls (2) of the flat package body, and (ii) A cup-shaped bottom portion (3), said cup-shaped bottom portion being adapted to be inserted into the fluid injection element of the food or beverage preparation machine. The package (1) is formed from a single-piece, elongated, primary flat blank sheet (5) made of a flexible material, the sheet being arranged around its transverse axis of symmetry. Lx Folded into a U-shape and sealed along its side edge (4) and top edge (34), wherein the cup-shaped bottom portion (3) is a hollow volume with a concave lower side (7) and a convex side side (8), and the cross-sectional curvature of the lower side (7) is the same as that of each side side in the side side (8).

2. The packaging (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cup-shaped bottom portion (3) has a hexagonal prism shape, the prism having a perpendicular relationship with the transverse axis of the packaging ( Lx Two opposing vertical edges (9) aligned, the vertical edges extending downward to form downward-extending tips (10), the vertical edges (9) having a height such that for the entire cup-shaped bottom portion (3) along the transverse axis of the package ( Lx For each transverse cross section measured, the sum of the two heights of the cup-shaped bottom portion plus the width of its lower side (7) is constant.

3. The packaging (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the single-piece elongated primary flat blank sheet (5) is made of a fiber-based material coated with a sealant layer on its inner side, the fiber-based material being selected from the following list: bagasse-based material, bamboo-based material, starch-based material, or a combination thereof.

4. The packaging (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the single-piece elongated primary flat blank sheet (5) is made of a fiber-based material coated with a sealant layer on its inner side, the fiber-based material being selected from the following list: paper, cellophane, or a combination thereof.

5. The packaging (1) according to claim 3, wherein the primary flat blank sheet (5) further comprises a barrier coating sandwiched between the fiber-based material and the sealant layer, the barrier coating being a coating that resists oxygen transfer and / or moisture transfer, and selected from the following list: metallized coating, silicon oxide (SiOx) coating, aluminum oxide (AlOx) coating, or a combination thereof.

6. The packaging (1) according to claim 3, wherein the primary flat blank sheet (5) further comprises a barrier coating sandwiched between the fiber-based material and the sealant layer, the barrier coating being a coating that resists oxygen transfer and / or moisture transfer, and the barrier coating being an atomic layer deposition (ALD) coating.

7. The packaging (1) according to claim 4, wherein the primary flat blank sheet (5) further comprises a barrier coating sandwiched between the fiber-based material and the sealant layer, the barrier coating being a coating that resists oxygen transfer and / or moisture transfer, and selected from the following list: metallized coating, silicon oxide (SiOx) coating, aluminum oxide (AlOx) coating, or a combination thereof.

8. The packaging (1) according to claim 4, wherein the primary flat blank sheet (5) further comprises a barrier coating sandwiched between the fiber-based material and the sealant layer, the barrier coating being a coating that resists oxygen transfer and / or moisture transfer, and the barrier coating being an atomic layer deposition (ALD) coating.

9. The package (1) according to claim 1 or 2, the package further comprising a secondary thickness reinforcing sheet (11) at least on the inner surface of the cup-shaped bottom portion (3) of the package, the secondary thickness reinforcing sheet (11) being made of a fiber-based material coated with a sealant layer, the fiber-based material being selected from the following list: bagasse-based material, bamboo-based material, starch-based material or a combination thereof.

10. The package (1) according to claim 1 or 2, the package further comprising a secondary thickness reinforcing sheet (11) at least on the inner surface of the cup-shaped bottom portion (3) of the package, the secondary thickness reinforcing sheet (11) being made of a fiber-based material coated with a sealant layer, the fiber-based material being selected from the following list: paper, cellophane, or combinations thereof.

11. The package (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the package includes an identification device selected from the following list: mechanical code, optical code, RFID tag, one-dimensional barcode, two-dimensional barcode, magnetic code, conductive code, detection hole, or any combination thereof.

12. The packaging (1) according to claim 11, wherein the optical code includes a color code and a code printed with invisible ink.

13. The package (1) according to claim 1 or 2, the package further comprising a centering perforation (12) located in a sealed side edge (9) of the package, the centering perforation (12) being adapted to insert a centering pin of the food or beverage preparation machine to prevent the package (1) from moving relative to the food or beverage preparation machine during beverage preparation.

14. The package (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the concave lower side (7) includes a flat portion centered across the transverse axis and the longitudinal axis of the cup-shaped bottom portion (3).

15. The packaging (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the packaging is a small bag.

16. The packaging (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ingredient is a water-soluble powder, or a soluble concentrate in liquid or semi-liquid form, the ingredient being selected from the following list: soup, fruit juice, vegetable juice, coffee, chocolate, dairy components, smoothies, fruit purees, jams or combinations thereof, or the ingredient comprising plant leaves suitable for soaking in water.

17. The packaging (1) according to claim 1, wherein the single-piece elongated primary flat blank (5) is made of a fiber-based material.

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