Aluminium capsule for the preparation of a beverage with an improved sealing system

Abstract

The aluminum single-dose capsule (10) for the preparation of a beverage according to the present invention comprises a cup (1) defined by a bottom wall (4), a collar (7) and a lateral wall (2), and it is closed by a lid (8). The capsule is characterized in that the collar (7) comprises a flat horizontal portion (71) to which the lid (8) is fastened; the collar (7) comprises a plastically deformable sealing step (91) for forming a seal with the infusion chamber of the extraction device, said sealing step (91) comprising an inclined raised portion (911); the lateral wall (2) comprises a centering step (21) for centering the cup (1) within the infusion chamber of the extraction device; said centering step (21) comprises an inclined raised portion (211).

Description

[0001] The subject of the present invention is a single-serve aluminium capsule for the preparation of a brewed or soluble beverage in an extraction device, comprising an edge provided with an improved sealing profile. The present invention therefore relates to a beverage capsule for use in an espresso coffee machine, in particular for the preparation of high-pressure espresso coffee.

[0002] As is known, the art provides a wide variety of automatic machines provided with a preparation and dispensing unit adapted to produce a brewed beverage by passing hot water under pressure through a capsule containing a food preparation agent to be brewed, placed inside a dedicated brewing chamber. Conventional espresso coffee machines usually have a brewing chamber comprising an inlet side of pressurized water and a side from which the brewed / extracted beverage escapes during the transit of water through the capsule. A perforating device is located on the water inlet side, which is adapted to perforate the bottom of the capsule, thus allowing the pressurized water to enter the capsule in order to extract the beverage. Such beverage then escapes from the upper portion of the capsule at the lid, which opens under the action of the internal pressure of the water and thus allows the extracted beverage to pass, which is collected in a dedicated external container. The edge of said upper portion of the capsule rests on the side opposite the water inlet side and is sealed against the side of the brewing chamber from which the beverage overflows, by means of its profile. For the correct operation of the extraction machine, it is essential that the brewing chamber be able to close and seal correctly, even under pressure, so that there is no substantial leakage of hot water outside the brewing chamber itself. Therefore, aluminium capsules of the known type comprise a cup provided with a circular peripheral edge adapted to sealingly engage with the relative abutment edge of the brewing chamber, so as to guarantee the sealing of the water under pressure and make the brewing operation more efficient by forcing the water to pass inside the capsule, thus maximizing the efficiency of the beverage extraction. Although aluminium has the significant advantage of being impermeable to oxygen and water, which means that the coffee in the capsule has a longer shelf life, aluminium is easily deformed during the filling and packaging steps and it is therefore difficult and expensive to achieve a reliable seal on the edge of the cup. Conventional espresso coffee machines comprise a heating element adapted to heat the water to approximately 95-98°C, which is then pumped into the brewing chamber with high pressure, usually with a suitable pump, so that a reliable seal is obtained which avoids significant leakage and forces the pressurized water to pass inside the capsule, which is one of the problems most frequently encountered in the specific field.

[0003] There is also the problem of manufacturing capsules that can be used for different types of extraction machines to guarantee compatibility and reliability of a plurality of machine models. In fact, it often happens that a capsule works well on some machines and less well on others, even if these machines are based on the same extraction method. This is because, due to (even slightly) different operating modes, structures and more or less wide tolerances, the closure of the abutment edge of the brewing chamber on the peripheral edge of the capsule does not always occur reliably.

[0004] Moreover, it is extremely important to be able to make a capsule provided with an outer peripheral edge which guarantees an effective seal while at the same time being able to maintain a simple geometry from a structural point of view, particularly in the case where the cup in the capsule is made of aluminium, which does not allow complex geometries to be achieved, for example by means of injection-moulding techniques, as is known.

[0005] The aim of the present application is to provide a capsule which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks and which therefore guarantees reliable operation.

[0006] This aim is achieved by the capsule of the present application.

[0007] The characteristics and advantages of the capsule according to the present application will become clear from the following description, which is given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0008] Figure 1 a cross-sectional view of a capsule according to the present application is shown;

[0009] Figure 2 a cross-sectional view of a capsule according to the present application is shown; Figure 1 an enlarged view of the outer peripheral edge of the cup of the capsule of

[0010] Figure 3 a cross-sectional view of the capsule of Figure 1 when inserted into the brewing chamber of the extraction device in a first insertion step is shown;

[0011] Figure 4 an enlarged view of the outer peripheral edge of the cup of the capsule of Figure 3

[0012] a cross-sectional view of the capsule of Figure 5 Figure 1 an enlarged view of the outer peripheral edge of the cup of the capsule of

[0013] Figure 6 Figure 5 a cross-sectional view of the capsule of

[0014] Figure 7 a cross-sectional view of the capsule of Figure 1 when inserted into the brewing chamber of the extraction device in a third insertion step is shown;

[0015] Figure 8 a top view of the capsule of Figure 1

[0016] a cross-sectional view of the capsule of Figure 9 Figure 1 an enlarged view of the upper base of the cup of the capsule of

[0017] with reference to the appended drawings, Figure 3 ​​​An aluminium capsule 10 according to the application is shown inserted in a brewing chamber 3 (only partially shown) of an extraction device for the preparation of a beverage.

[0018] Figure 1 Conversely, only aluminium capsules 10 of the single-dose type for the preparation of beverages (for example coffee, infusion beverages, soluble beverages, infusions, etc.) are shown.

[0019] The capsule 10 comprises a hollow body, called cup 1, which defines a compartment therein for containing at least one substance (for example like coffee or tea, usually in granular or powder form) to be brewed or dissolved or extracted by means of a liquid under pressure.

[0020] The cup 1 comprises an annular side wall 2 which extends in height along a central axis X between a bottom wall 4 and an opposite front end 6 which defines an opening 5. This opening 5 is covered by a perforable or bendable lid 8 which closes the capsule 1.

[0021] Preferably, the side wall 2 has a substantially frustoconical overall shape on the outside, for example achieved by a succession of frustoconical surfaces with different angles of opening.

[0022] The bottom wall 4 is intended to be crossed by the liquid (usually hot water or other food liquid, such as milk) injected by the extraction device for the preparation of a beverage.

[0023] To this end, according to Figure 8 the embodiment variant shown, the bottom 4 provides a perforable central portion 41 which, when the capsule is used, is perforated by means of specific perforation means of the extraction machine in order to enable the passage of the liquid towards the inside of the cup 1. Preferably, the perforable central portion 41 is provided with a stiffening edge 42 which is adapted to provide the bottom 4 of the cup 1 with rigidity, thus avoiding its deformation during the perforation step for the injection of the liquid under pressure. Preferably, the stiffening edge 42 is an inward fold formed in the wall of the cup 1. Preferably, the stiffening edge 42 defines a wave shape, as shown in Figure 8 .

[0024] At the front end 6, the cup 1 comprises a collar 7 which is generally arranged at the free end of the side wall 2, thus projecting radially outwards.

[0025] The collar 7 has a front face 7b facing the opening 5 of the cup 1 and an opposite rear face 7a.

[0026] The front face 7b of the collar 7 is intended to be used in conjunction with a peripheral annular area of the lid 8 which closes the cup 1 at the front end 6.

[0027] On the other hand, the rear face 7a of the collar 7 is intended to engage with an abutment edge 31 of the brewing chamber 3 of the extraction device.

[0028] In this regard, reference is made to Figure 3 The extraction device comprises a brewing chamber 3 adapted to house at least a portion of the cup 1 with the capsule 10 therein.

[0029] The brewing chamber 3 is movable with respect to the receiving plate 38 between an open position, which allows the capsule 10 to be inserted and removed, and a closed position. When the brewing chamber 3 is in the closed position, as shown in Figure 7 When the heated and pressurized water is fed into the cup 1 (through the bottom 4) to perform the beverage brewing and extraction step, the brewing chamber forms a closed chamber around the capsule 10.

[0030] The receiving plate 38 is provided with at least one opening (not shown) to allow the beverage to flow into the final container, for example a cup.

[0031] The brewing chamber 3 is provided with a compression edge 31 having an outer portion 31a facing the rear surface 7a of the collar 7 of the capsule 10.

[0032] In the embodiment described and illustrated, the compression edge 31 is double-crowned and comprises two circular crowns connected by an annular recess 34, which defines an inner edge 32 and an outer edge 33. It should be noted that only the inner edge 32 is used to abut against the rear surface 7a of the collar 7 of the capsule 10 to perform the sealing of the brewing chamber. The outer edge 33 is shorter than the inner edge 32 and does not compress the collar 7 of the capsule or a portion thereof. Figure 3 The rear surface 7a of the collar 7 is therefore intended to engage with the inner edge 32 of the brewing chamber 3 of the extraction device to seal the brewing chamber. In this regard, the collar 7 is provided with a specific geometry so that it itself acts as a sealing ring of the capsule 10. In fact, the collar 7 is intended to engage sealingly at least partially with the inner edge 32 of the brewing chamber 3 of the extraction device and to provide a head seal together with the inner edge 32.

[0033] Due to material characteristics and structural and dimensional characteristics, the collar 7 of the cup 1 is at least partially deformable under the compression action of the inner edge 32 of the machine in order to provide the seal; the deformation is of the plastic type.

[0034] The collar 7 comprises an end portion 72, for example a hollow edge obtained by folding the terminal portion of the cup 1 back onto itself. In the example illustrated in

[0035] The terminal portion of the cup 1 forms a curled end portion 72. This end portion 72 allows the capsule to be held in place by means of the side arms of the brewing chamber (as shown in Figure 1 ) until the end of the extraction. Figure 4

[0036] ​The collar 7 comprises a flat portion 71 on the front face 7b of which is attached a lid 8 which closes the cup 1 at the front end 6. Preferably, the flat portion 71 extends by approximately 1 mm. Advantageously, the flat portion 71 is wide so as to facilitate the step of fusion of the lid 8.

[0037] The collar 7 comprises a sealing step 91 intended to sealingly engage with the inner edge 32 of the brewing chamber 3 of the extraction device.

[0038] The sealing step 91 (clearly visible in Figure 2 ) is defined by a sloped raised portion 911, i.e. by a frustoconical annular wall, which is preferably inclined by an angle of between 2° and 6°, preferably 4°, with respect to the central axis X. Preferably, the raised portion 911 extends by approximately 1 mm.

[0039] The sealing step 91 is also defined by an abutment portion 912 which is preferably inclined by an angle of between 4° and 12°, preferably 8°, with respect to the horizontal plane. Preferably, the abutment portion 912 extends by approximately 1 mm.

[0040] As can be seen in Figure 6 , the sealing step 91 and in particular the abutment portion 912 is engaged by the inner edge 32 during the closing step of the brewing chamber 3. Continuing in its closing path, the inner edge 32 compresses the sealing step 91, as illustrated by the example in Figure 7 , until it deforms, creating a crease 913 which is at least partially inserted into the annular recess 34 (i.e. between the inner edge 32 and the outer edge 33), thus achieving a sealing engagement with the compression edge 31 of the extraction device during the closing step of the brewing chamber. Advantageously, the geometry of the sealing step 91 allows the aluminium to deform integrally when clamped between the compression edge 31 and the receiving plate 38, as illustrated in Figure 7 . Advantageously, the geometry of the sealing step 91 allows a high adaptability of the different shapes of the capsule 10 to the compression edge 31 of the brewing chamber to be obtained. Advantageously, the presence of both the sloped raised portion 911 and the abutment portion 912 facilitates the deformation of the sealing step 91.

[0041] The side wall 2 of the cup 1 comprises a centring step 21 which is arranged above the collar 7. This centring step 21 is intended to abut against the inner wall of the brewing chamber of the extraction device so as to improve the centring of the capsule 10 within the brewing chamber, thus ensuring the correct positioning of the sealing step 91 on the axis with respect to the inner edge 32.

[0042] The centring step 21 (clearly visible in Figure 2The centring step 21 is also defined by an abutment portion 212, preferably inclined with respect to the horizontal plane by an angle comprised between 12° and 18°, preferably 15°. Preferably, the abutment portion 212 extends for about 0.5 mm.

[0043] The centring step 21 is also defined by an abutment portion 212, preferably inclined with respect to the horizontal plane by an angle comprised between 12° and 18°, preferably 15°. Preferably, the abutment portion 212 extends for about 0.5 mm.

[0044] As can be seen in Figure 6 During the closing step of the brewing chamber 3, the inner wall of the compression edge 31 engages the centring step 21 and, in particular, the raised portion 211, which is configured as an abutment portion for guiding the centring of the capsule 10 in the brewing chamber itself. Advantageously, the centring step 21 provided with both the raised portion 211 and the abutment portion 212, which are both inclined, facilitates the centring of the capsule.

[0045] In normal use, the capsule 10 according to the present application is inserted into the brewing chamber 3 of the extraction machine Figure 3 and, once the movements of the components of the machine itself are activated, the rear surface 7a of the collar 7 of the capsule 10 engages the compression edge 31 of the brewing chamber 3 to form a closed chamber around the capsule 10 and perform the steps of brewing and extraction of the beverage.

[0046] During the operating step of the components of the machine Figure 4 , there can be a misalignment of the capsule 10 inside the brewing chamber and, therefore, of the sealing step 91 of the collar 7 of the capsule 10 with the compression edge 31 of the machine. However, the inner wall of the compression edge 31 of the machine can contact the centring step 21 in its path of advancement, thus pushing the capsule 10 to align itself axially in the centre of the brewing chamber.

[0047] The compression edge 31 of the machine then finally abuts the sealing step 91 Figure 6 and deforms it Figure 7 to achieve a sealing closure. In the capsule 10 according to the present application, the sealing is achieved by deforming the sealing step 91. As Figure 7 shown, when the brewing chamber is closed, the sealing step 91 is plastically deformed to provide the necessary sealing to prevent any leakage of liquid from the brewing chamber.

[0048] Advantageously, the compression edge 31 deforms the sealing step 91 into a wavy crease 913, which allows obtaining a plurality of sealing points with said compression edge 31 to prevent potential water leakage from the brewing chamber.

[0049] Advantageously, the centering step 92, in addition to serving to center the capsule shell in the brewing chamber, also deforms slightly towards the outside, thus helping to prevent potential leaks of water from the brewing chamber.

[0050] Advantageously, the deformation of the sealing step 91 does not touch the flat portion 71 of the collar 7, thus avoiding the risk of compromising the fusion of the lid 8.

[0051] Advantageously, the curled end 72 of the collar 7 is also not deformed during the closing step, thus continuing to hold the capsule in place by means of the side arms of the extraction chamber (as shown in Figure 4

[0052] Innovatively, the capsule according to the present application overcomes the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the prior art, since it allows a reliable seal to be provided while maintaining a geometry that is easy to manufacture structurally.

[0053] Advantageously, in fact, the capsule according to the present application can be used in different types of extraction machines, since it is provided with a sealing step 91 and a centering step, which compensate for any inaccuracies in closing the abutment edge of the brewing chamber on the capsule collar.

[0054] The person skilled in the art can make changes to the capsule described above to meet contingent needs, all of which fall within the scope of protection defined by the present application.​

Claims

1. A single-dose capsule (10) for preparing a brewable or soluble beverage in an extraction device equipped with a brewing chamber, the capsule comprising: A cup (1) made of aluminum, the cup comprising: a bottom wall (4), a collar (7) defining an opening (5) at opposite ends, and an annular sidewall (2) extending in height along a central axis (X) between the bottom wall (4) and the collar (7), the cup defining a compartment therein for containing at least one food substance; A lid (8) that seals the opening (5); Its features are, The collar (7) includes a flat portion (71) having a front surface (7b) to which the cover (8) is fastened; The collar (7) includes a sealing step (91) that is internally plastically deformable relative to the flat portion (71) for forming a seal with the brewing chamber of the extraction device, the sealing step (91) including a protruding portion (911) inclined relative to the central axis (X). The sidewall (2) includes a centering step (21) for centering the cup (1) within the brewing chamber of the extraction device; the centering step (21) includes a protrusion (211) inclined relative to the central axis (X). The sealing step (91) is characterized in that it further includes an adjacent portion (912) that is inclined relative to a horizontal plane defined by the flat portion (71) of the collar (7), and the adjacent portion (912) of the sealing step (91) is inclined at an angle between 4° and 12°.

2. The single-dose capsule (10) according to claim 1, wherein, The centering step (21) also includes an adjacent portion (212) that is inclined relative to the horizontal plane defined by the flat portion (71) of the collar (7).

3. The single-dose capsule (10) according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein, The protruding portion (911) of the sealing step (91) is inclined at an angle between 2° and 6°.

4. The single-dose capsule (10) according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein, The protruding portion (911) of the sealing step (91) extends by 1 mm.

5. The single-dose capsule (10) according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein, The adjacent portion (912) of the sealing step (91) is inclined at an angle of 8°.

6. The single-dose capsule (10) according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein, The adjacent portion (912) of the sealing step (91) extends by 1 mm.

7. The single-dose capsule (10) according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein, The protruding portion (211) of the centering step (21) is inclined at an angle between 5° and 11°.

8. The single-dose capsule (10) according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein, The protruding portion (211) of the centering step (21) extends by 3 mm.

9. The single-dose capsule (10) according to claim 2, wherein, The adjacent portion (212) of the centering step (21) is inclined at an angle between 12° and 18°.

10. The single-dose capsule (10) according to claim 2, wherein, The adjacent portion (212) of the centering step (21) extends by 0.5 mm.

11. The single-dose capsule (10) according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein, The flat portion (71) extends by 1 mm.

12. The single-dose capsule (10) according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein, The bottom wall (4) includes a perforated central portion (41) surrounded by a reinforcing edge (42) that defines a wave shape.

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