Capsule for preparing soluble edible products

Abstract

The present invention relates to a capsule (1) for a soluble edible product, said capsule comprising a closed container (2) comprising a hollow interior containing a separate dose of a soluble edible product, the container (2) being defined by a side wall (21), a water inlet cover element (22) and an edible product outlet cover element (23), wherein the water inlet covering element (22) comprises a recess (3) comprising a through-hole (4), and wherein a surface of the recess (3) facing the interior of the container (2) is at least partially coated with a micromembrane (5) covering the through-hole (4).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of single-use capsules for preparing soluble edible products such as espresso, tea, or other soluble substances. Background Technology

[0002] Existing technologies include several solutions related to single-use capsules for preparing edible products such as espresso, tea, and other soluble substances.

[0003] Capsules consist of small containers containing edible products, used in compatible machines, and allow for the rapid preparation of edible products. Generally, a capsule comprises two elements: a base cup and a lid. The base cup has a fully closed or pre-perforated bottom, either perforated by a punch from the machine in which the edible product, in which the capsule is placed, is located. The cup opening of the capsule has peripheral flaps that then serve as the surface for gluing the lid, which is typically made of plastic, aluminum foil, filter paper, or micro-perforated plastic.

[0004] After the capsules used in the edible product machine are placed in the machine, they are perforated on both sides by a mechanized punching system. Some of these perforations occur when the lid of the machine compartment containing the capsule is closed, while others are perforated by a punching mechanism integrated into the machine and driven by an electrical system. This ensures the pumping and heating of water.

[0005] There are also capsule coffee machines that operate with the aid of levers. The levers open the extraction assembly, consisting of a container and a sealing cap. The container holds the capsule after it is inserted into the machine, and the sealing cap breaks or opens the capsule and introduces hot water. Once filled and under high pressure, the capsule opens and releases the water mixture, which passes through an edible material to the outside of the machine. Finally, the capsule is expelled by repeating the opening motion of the levers.

[0006] In the existing technology, there are different types of capsules made of various shapes and materials (paper, plastic, and metal-aluminum), resulting in different compositions that affect their performance in preserving edible products. The use of various materials in capsule production, besides making production more expensive, also creates problems with the collection, separation, and selection of waste products, especially when capsules are collected for recycling, which is why they are sometimes more commonly disposed of in regular waste. Many currently existing capsules are non-recyclable or difficult to recycle. Currently, aluminum is considered the best material for capsule production because it ensures more effective preservation of the properties of edible products, has the advantage of being "infinitely recyclable," can be quickly put into new production cycles, and is a very lightweight material. However, this material exhibits very different rigidity and resistance characteristics compared to plastics, which can introduce some disadvantages in terms of plastic deformation when applied to the parts of the cap that are subjected to machine opening.

[0007] Current coffee capsules have conditioned consumers to enjoy coffee quickly, hygienically, and with high quality. However, the materials that make up the capsules—plastic or metal—combine with the organic matter from the coffee inside, making recycling a complex and difficult process. Today, one of the main focuses for coffee brands is developing and proposing solutions to reduce the ecological footprint of capsule consumption.

[0008] Coffee capsules on the market are difficult to recycle, both because they use two aggregate materials: plastic and aluminum, and because the way the cap and container are welded together makes it practically impossible to access the organic matter inside. Currently, some solutions exist in existing technologies that meet more eco-responsible and sustainable requirements by using recyclable materials and limiting the amount of materials used in capsule manufacturing.

[0009] Another challenge currently facing edible product capsules is the reality that they place very demanding mechanical requirements on coffee machines, as their opening relies on breaking a plastic "door" at one of the tops of the cylinder by applying force, which, with continued use, can damage the sealing behavior required for the machine's extraction assembly.

[0010] Document PT 109815B discloses a capsule having an optimized positioning and perforation configuration via its circular cap-type structural element, which is adapted to provide a flow inlet passage into the interior of the structural element in a container-type form. The passage has regions of weakened material adapted to rupture under a certain flow pressure. The presence of protruding elements that apply lever-type mechanical forces to the weakened material regions is also mentioned. In this case, the perforated circular cap-type structural element is made of a plastic material.

[0011] Furthermore, document PT 107043B proposes a capsule comprising a portion of a lid that can be configured to facilitate water entry and breakage. The lid has at least one breakage configuration that facilitates the entry of brewing water into the container. The container, lid, base, and puncture element are made of plastic, while the protective element is an aluminum plate. The perforation of the capsule lid is not mechanical, but only hydraulic.

[0012] Finally, document PT 2139791 discloses a single-use retaining capsule for producing aromatic essences for brewing liquids. The capsule comprises a container having a cover and a perforated base covered externally by a protective element, and a perforated element present on the inner surface of the protective element. This perforated element acts by fluid pressure generated inside the capsule container, allowing the brewing liquid to exit. The flat cover has at least one groove to facilitate the flow of brewing water within the container. It is also mentioned that the container, cover, base, and perforated element are made of plastic, as the only protective element is an aluminum plate. In this case, the perforation of the cover is hydraulic.

[0013] The solutions disclosed in the prior art are mainly aimed at optimizing capsules to achieve more efficient and accurate opening by machine, because incorrect opening can negatively affect the ideal brewing result, as well as cause material to detach from the contaminated brewing liquid and undesirable loss of edible products from the capsule.

[0014] However, none of the existing technological solutions address the problem of capsules placing very demanding mechanical requirements on coffee machines, which, with continued use, damage the sealing behavior required for the machine's extraction assembly.

[0015] Therefore, there is a need in the art for capsules for machines producing soluble edible products that allow proper rupture and water passage, as well as subsequent extraction of the edible product, while also providing effective opening when used in compatible machines without requiring very demanding mechanical properties from the coffee machine, thus allowing them to have excellent durability. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0017] Figure 1 A perspective view of the capsule (1) is shown, wherein the water inlet covering element (22) includes a recess (3), which in turn includes a through hole (4).

[0018] Figure 2 A perspective view of the capsule (1) is shown, wherein the soluble edible product outlet cover element (23) includes a through opening (6).

[0019] Figure 3The view shows a water inlet cover element (22) including a recess (3) and a through hole (4).

[0020] Figure 4 A view of the edible product outlet cover element (23) of the capsule (1) is shown, which includes a through opening (6).

[0021] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of a capsule (1) is shown, wherein the sidewall (21), the water inlet covering element (22) and the edible product outlet covering element (23) define the inner surface (7) of the container (2), and wherein the through-hole (4) of the water inlet covering element (22) is covered by a micromembrane (5).

[0022] Figure 6 This shows a perspective sectional view of capsule (1).

[0023] Figure 7 An anatomical view of an embodiment of the capsule (1) is shown, which includes an outer structure (8) made of a porous material, which is laminated with a micromembrane (5) of a biopolymer.

[0024] Figure 8 An anatomical view of an embodiment of the capsule (1) is shown, wherein the closed container (2) defined by the sidewall (21), the water inlet covering element (22) and the edible product outlet covering element (23) comprises a porous material laminated with a biopolymer micromembrane (5). Summary of the Invention

[0025] The present invention relates to a capsule (1) for a soluble edible product, comprising a closed container (2) having a hollow interior (24) containing a single dose of soluble edible product, the container (2) being defined by a sidewall (21), a water inlet cover element (22), and an edible product outlet cover element (23), wherein the sidewall (21), the water inlet cover element (22), and the edible product outlet cover element (23) define an inner surface (7) of the container (2), wherein the water inlet cover element (22) includes a recess (3) having a through hole (4), wherein the surface (31) of the recess (3) facing the interior (24) of the container (2) is at least partially coated with a microfilm (5) covering the through hole (4).

[0026] In one aspect of the invention, the inner surface (7) of the container is partially or completely coated with a microfilm (5).

[0027] In another aspect, the capsule (1) includes materials selected from the group consisting of plastics, aluminum, polymeric materials, cellulose materials or composite materials and combinations thereof.

[0028] In another aspect of the invention, the capsule (1) comprises a porous material.

[0029] In another aspect, the porous material is a cellulose material.

[0030] In another aspect, cellulose materials are cellulose pulp, such as paper pulp.

[0031] In another aspect of the invention, the micromembrane (5) is selected from the group consisting of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-polyhydroxyhexanoate (PHBHx).

[0032] In another aspect, the edible product export cover element (23) includes a through opening (6).

[0033] In one aspect, the through opening (6) is coated with the microfilm (5).

[0034] In another aspect, the sidewall (21) is thermally welded or ultrasonically welded to the water inlet cover element (22).

[0035] The capsule (1) of the present invention is suitable for preparing soluble edible products in a soluble edible product machine.

[0036] In one aspect of the invention, the capsule (1) is suitable for preparing concentrated coffee, tea or other soluble edible products. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The capsule (1) of the present invention is designed for use in machines for soluble edible products, such as espresso, tea or other soluble products, wherein the opening of the capsule is made in its water inlet covering element (22), whether it is located at the top or bottom of the capsule (1).

[0038] The object of this invention is to provide a single-use capsule for espresso, tea, or other soluble coffee machines, applicable to any machine on the market, wherein the opening for allowing water into the capsule is caused by the interaction of water pressure (approximately 15 bar) applied by the machine to a micromembrane (5) present in a water inlet cover element (22), allowing it to break to allow water to pass through and thus extract the edible product. This breaking of the micromembrane (5) present in the water inlet cover element (22) is also achieved due to the presence of a second material surrounding the micromembrane (5), which, when water pressure is applied, supports the deformation of the micromembrane and acts as a counterforce against the deformation of the micromembrane. This second material may be any of a selection from plastics, metals, cellulose materials, polymeric materials, or composite materials and combinations thereof.

[0039] Therefore, the present invention provides a capsule (1) for a soluble edible product, comprising a closed container (2) having a hollow interior (24) containing a single dose of the soluble edible product, the container (2) being defined by a sidewall (21), a water inlet cover element (22) and an edible product outlet cover element (23), wherein the sidewall (21), the water inlet cover element (22) and the edible product outlet cover element (23) define an inner surface (7) of the container (2), wherein the water inlet cover element (22) includes a recess (3) including a through hole (4), wherein the surface (31) of the recess (3) facing the interior (24) of the container (2) is at least partially coated with a microfilm (5) covering the through hole (4).

[0040] Within the scope of this invention, the terms "water inlet cover element" and "edible product outlet cover element" should be understood as elements that close the sidewalls at the top and bottom in any order; that is, the "water inlet cover element" may close the sidewalls at the top or bottom, and the "edible product outlet cover element" may close the sidewalls at the top or bottom. Thus, these two cover elements and sidewalls define the hollow interior of the container, which is essential for the container to contain individual doses of edible product.

[0041] According to the present invention, "inner surface of the recess" is understood to mean the surface of the recess located on the inner surface of the container, as well as the inner surface of the sidewall and the water inlet and outlet covering elements of the edible product.

[0042] Within the scope of this invention, "micromembrane" is understood as a membrane of a biopolymer having a thickness in the range of 1-200 μm, and the biopolymer may be selected from poly(lactic acid) (PLA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-polyhydroxyhexanoate (PHBHx).

[0043] According to the present invention, "recess" should be understood to mean an element that is recessed relative to the outside of the water inlet covering element, such as... Figure 5 As shown in the image.

[0044] Within the scope of this invention, "porous material" is understood to be any material containing pores (empty or hollow) filled with a fluid (liquid or gas). Examples of porous materials include: drywall, untreated wood, cement and bricks, paper, cardboard, etc.

[0045] In the context of this description, the term "comprising" should be understood as "particularly including". Therefore, the term should not be interpreted as "consisting of only".

[0046] Note that any X value appearing in this description should be interpreted as an approximation of the true X value, as such an approximation can be reasonably expected by those skilled in the art due to deviations from the true value introduced by experimental and / or measurement conditions. Therefore, for example, mentioning "80%" means "approximately 80%" of the value.

[0047] Unless otherwise stated, the numerical ranges given in this specification are intended to provide a simplified, technically acceptable way to indicate each individual value within the respective range. For example, expressing "15% to 25%" or "between 15% and 25%" means any value within that range, such as 15%; 16%; 17%; 18%; 19%; 20%; 21%; 22%; 23%; 24%; 25%; or others, including decimal places.

[0048] In one embodiment of the invention, the surface (31) of the recess (3) facing the interior (24) of the container (2) is at least partially coated with a micromembrane (5) covering the through-hole (4). The micromembrane (5) functions to form a barrier between the soluble edible product contained within the capsule (1) and air from the external environment, allowing the soluble edible product to be preserved, maintaining its quality and shelf life for more than 12 months. The micromembrane (5) comprises a biopolymer membrane with a thickness in the range of 1-200 µm. The biopolymer may be selected from the group consisting of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-polyhydroxyhexanoate (PHBHx).

[0049] In another embodiment of the invention, the combination of the sidewall (21) and the water inlet cover element (22) is achieved by assembly and subsequently by thermal welding or ultrasonic welding, or any other method that allows the capsule (1) of the invention to be easily opened.

[0050] In another embodiment of the invention, the edible product outlet cover element (23) includes a through opening (6) at least partially coated with a micromembrane (5) that covers the through opening (6) through the inner portion of the container (2). This micromembrane (5) is broken by the pressure of water injected by the machine through a recess (3) in the water inlet cover element (22) of the capsule (1), which allows the soluble edible product to exit through the through opening (6).

[0051] As previously mentioned, capsules for edible products, such as coffee capsules, offer the advantage of allowing consumers to enjoy edible beverages quickly, hygienically, and with high quality. However, the materials currently used to construct these capsules—plastics or metals—combine with the organic matter of the edible product inside, making recycling a complex and difficult process. Developing solutions to reduce the ecological footprint of capsule consumption is a key concern for edible product brands. In this sense, the purpose of this invention is also to produce sustainable edible product capsules, providing technical solutions regarding the materials used.

[0052] Therefore, in another embodiment of the invention, the capsule (1) of the invention comprises 100% compostable material, wherein the material of the container (2) defined by the sidewalls (21), the water inlet covering element (22), and the edible product outlet covering element (23) comprises cellulose pulp, such as paper pulp, laminated with a microfilm of biopolymer. After use, these materials can be disposed of in unsorted waste or organic waste. Other sustainable cellulose materials can be used in the capsule (1) of the invention, namely: paper, paperboard, cardboard, etc., or mixtures thereof.

[0053] In this embodiment of the capsule (1) of the present invention, the cellulose paste constitutes the external structure (8), which functions to provide support, structure and protection for the micromembrane (5). The external structure (8) has a biopolymer micromembrane (micromembrane (5)) laminated inside, the main function of which is to prevent the edible product from contacting the air through the through-hole (4) on the water inlet cover element (22) or the through-opening (6) on the edible product outlet cover element (23) or through the cellulose paste itself (because it is a porous material).

[0054] Therefore, by utilizing the new geometry of the water inlet cover element (22) and its opening mechanism, the correct functional performance of edible product extraction can be ensured without requiring the extremely demanding mechanical opening performance of the coffee machine. In turn, the use of eco-friendly, more sustainable, and 100% compostable materials can reduce the negative impacts of plastics and aluminum currently posed to consumers and the environment.

[0055] The new geometry of the water inlet covering element (22) of the capsule (1) is suitable for any type of edible product capsule machine because the capsule opening is carried out in the water inlet covering element (22), and this can be located in the upper or lower part of the capsule (1), and therefore the capsule (1) of the present invention can be used in an edible product machine that opens the capsule in the upper or lower part.

[0056] The geometry and weight of the capsule (1) of the present invention are compatible with the operation of filling lines for edible products.

[0057] Example

[0058] refer to Figures 1 to 8 The soluble edible product capsule (1) includes a closed hollow container (2) containing a single dose of soluble edible product, the closed hollow container (2) being defined by a side wall (21), a water inlet covering element (22) and an edible product outlet covering element (23).

[0059] When in use, the capsule is placed in the capsule compartment of a soluble edible product preparation machine, such as an espresso machine. The capsule (1) remains in the compartment, and the machine's opening element is activated, which impacts the recessed area (3) but does not puncture the capsule (1) due to its geometry. The concentration of machine water pressure in the recessed area (3) of the capsule (1) causes the micromembrane (5) located in the through hole (4) to rupture, thereby allowing water to enter the interior of the capsule (1).

[0060] Water is then mixed with the coffee powder present inside the capsule (1). The build-up of pressure inside the capsule, and subsequently the greater pressure on the micromembrane (5) in the through-hole (6), results in coffee extraction. The micromembrane (5) ruptures, and coffee is released into the espresso receiving container. The resistance to the rupture of the micromembrane (5), which is related to the diameter of the pore in the through-hole (6), will determine the coffee extraction time.

[0061] It should be noted that although the invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, many modifications and substitutions can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A capsule (1) for a soluble edible product, the capsule comprising a closed container (2) having a hollow interior (24) containing a single dose of the soluble edible product, the container (2) being defined by a sidewall (21), a water inlet cover element (22), and an edible product outlet cover element (23), wherein the sidewall (21), the water inlet cover element (22), and the edible product outlet cover element (23) define an inner surface (7) of the container (2), characterized in that, The water inlet cover element (22) includes a recess (3) with a through hole (4), wherein the surface (31) of the recess (3) facing the hollow interior (24) of the container (2) is at least partially coated with a microfilm (5) covering the through hole (4).

2. The capsule (1) for a soluble edible product according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner surface (7) of the container is partially or entirely coated with a microfilm (5).

3. The capsule (1) for a soluble edible product according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that, The capsule comprises materials selected from plastics, aluminum, polymer materials, cellulose materials, or composite materials and combinations thereof.

4. The capsule (1) for a soluble edible product according to claim 3, characterized in that, The capsule is made of a porous material.

5. The capsule (1) for a soluble edible product according to claim 4, characterized in that, The porous material is a cellulose material.

6. The capsule (1) for a soluble edible product according to claim 5, characterized in that, The cellulose material is pulp.

7. The capsule (1) for a soluble edible product according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The micromembrane (5) is selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-polyhydroxyhexanoate (PHBHx).

8. The capsule (1) for a soluble edible product according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The edible product outlet cover element (23) includes a through opening (6).

9. The capsule (1) for a soluble edible product according to claim 8, characterized in that, The through opening (6) is coated with the microfilm (5).

10. The capsule (1) for a soluble edible product according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The sidewall (21) is thermally welded or ultrasonically welded to the water inlet cover element (22).

11. The use of the capsule (1) according to claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, The capsule is used to prepare soluble edible products in a soluble edible product machine.

12. The use of the capsule (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, The capsules are used to prepare concentrated coffee, tea or other soluble edible products.

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