Capsule for extraction products

Abstract

Described is a capsule (100) for extraction products comprising a capsule body (1) provided, at its ends, with a closed bottom (2) and, respectively, an upper opening (3) provided with an annular outer collar (4); a chamber (5) for containing a dose of the extraction product formed between the bottom (2) and the opening (3) of the capsule body (1); a closing lid (6) for sealing the upper opening (3) of the capsule body (1) associated with the annular outer collar (4) and a second sealing lid (7) associated inside the capsule body (1) and interposed between the closing lid (6) and the product contained in the containment chamber (5) in such a way as to form an internal compensation chamber (8) delimited between the closing lid (6) and the second sealing lid (7).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] CAPSULE FOR EXTRACTION PRODUCTS

[0003] Technical field

[0004] This invention relates to a capsule for extraction products, in particular for coffee, tea, camomile, herbal tea, etc.

[0005] Background art

[0006] The current capsules for extraction products of the single-dose type basically comprise:

[0007] - a capsule body provided, at its ends, with a closed bottom and, respectively, an upper opening provided with an annular collar;

[0008] - a chamber containing a dose of extraction product formed between the bottom and the opening of the capsule body;

[0009] - a lid for sealing the upper opening of the capsule body associated with the annular collar.

[0010] In some types of capsules there may also be a first lower filter interposed between the bottom and the extraction product and a second upper filter interposed between the sealed closing lid and the extraction product.

[0011] This type of capsule structure is now well established over time and is widely used both in the home environment (by means of manual dispensing machines) and in community contexts through automatic dispensing machines.

[0012] It has been noted over time that the product (in particular the coffee) starts to produce gas naturally inside the capsule (sealed).

[0013] If there is a high production of gas (for example, due to the type of product or because the capsules remain stored longer than expected) there may be a pushing effect on the closing lid which starts to inflate, protruding from its original position substantially coplanar with the collar to which the lid is associated. This inflation phenomenon may create some drawbacks.

[0014] The continuous pressure on the lid could adversely affect the seal of the capsule by generating small fractures or detachment along the edge of the lid associated with the collar which over time will tend to reduce the quality of the product and therefore of the mixture obtained.

[0015] Moreover, the inflation formed makes the capsule larger in terms of its dimensions.

[0016] This dimensional difference may block the correct sliding of the capsule inside the feed channels of the automatic machines for dispensing the mixture of product.

[0017] The blocks of this type completely stop the operation of the automatic machine, making it necessary to call a specialised technician.

[0018] Disclosure of the Invention

[0019] The aim of this invention is, therefore, to provide a capsule for extraction products that overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art. In particular, the aim of this invention is to provide a capsule for extraction products which is able to keep the aroma of the product intact even after a long time from the production of the capsule without affecting manufacturing costs.

[0020] A further aim of the invention is to provide a capsule for extraction products which is able to maintain the correct outer dimensions without additional outer elements.

[0021] Said aims are fully achieved by a capsule for extraction products according to the invention as characterised in the appended claims.

[0022] Brief description of the drawings

[0023] The main features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, illustrated purely by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 illustrates a schematic side view with some parts in cross section to better illustrate others of a capsule for extraction products according to the invention;

[0024] - Figure 2 illustrates a schematic side view with some parts in cross section to better illustrate others of the capsule for extraction products of Figure 1 in a different configuration of a sealing lid;

[0025] - Figure 3 illustrates a schematic side view with some parts in cross section to better illustrate others of a variant embodiment of the capsule for extraction products with reference to the previous drawings;

[0026] - Figure 4 illustrates a perspective exploded view of the capsule of Figure 3;

[0027] - Figure 5 illustrates a schematic side view with some parts in cross section to better illustrate others of a variant embodiment of the capsule for extraction products referred to the previous drawings.

[0028] Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

[0029] With reference to the accompanying drawings, and with particular reference to Figures 1 and 2, the capsule according to the invention, labelled 100 in its entirety, is used for containing extraction products such as, for example, coffee, tea, camomile, herbal tea or the like (such as, for example, soluble beverages) and which can be used in household machines or in automatic dispensers.

[0030] The capsule 100 comprises a capsule body 1 (for example frustoconical in shape) provided, at its ends, with a closed bottom 2 and, respectively, an upper opening 3 provided with an annular outer collar 4.

[0031] The capsule 100 comprises a chamber 5 for containing a dose of the extraction product (usually powder) formed between the bottom 2 and the opening 3 of the capsule body 1 .

[0032] The capsule 100 also comprises a lid 6 (circular in shape) for sealed closing of the upper opening 3 of the capsule body 1 associated (sealed) to the annular outer collar 4. As illustrated, the capsule 100 comprises a second sealing lid 7 (circular in shape) associated inside the capsule body 1 and interposed between the closing lid 6 and the product contained in the containment chamber 5 in such a way as to form an internal compensation chamber 8 delimited between the closing lid 6 and the second sealing lid 7.

[0033] In other words, a second lid 7 is applied inside the capsule 100 which is able to increase the seal of the capsule and, as described below, contain more the gas generated by the product contained without affecting the shape of the closing lid 6.

[0034] Again as illustrated, the capsule body 1 comprises a first annular portion 9 protruding from the capsule body 1 in such a way as to define a first annular surface or first collar 10 inside the capsule body 1 and parallel to the annular outer collar 4.

[0035] In light of this, the second sealing lid 7 is associated on the perimeter on the first annular inner collar 10.

[0036] Therefore, thanks to this particular shape of the capsule 100 it is possible to associate (seal) the second sealing lid 7 inside the capsule in a safe manner and with a high degree of seal.

[0037] It should be noted that the first annular inner collar 10 is made at a distance D not greater than 4 mm from the annular outer collar 4.

[0038] More precisely, the first annular inner collar 10 is made at a distance of between 1 mm and 2.5 mm from the annular outer collar 4.

[0039] As illustrated in Figure 5, the capsule 100 may comprise a third filtering element or lid 13 provided with a plurality of through holes 14 and interposed between the second sealing lid and the product.

[0040] The third element or lid 13 is associated on the perimeter on the inner surface of the capsule body 1 .

[0041] According to a variant embodiment and again as illustrated, the capsule body 1 comprises a second annular portion 11 protruding from the capsule body 1 formed at a greater distance from the outer collar 4 with respect to the distance between the outer collar 4 and the first inner collar 10. In short, the capsule 100 has two different annular portions, one after the other and with different circumferential dimensions, see also Figures 3 and 4.

[0042] In light of this, the second annular portion 11 forms a second inner annular surface or second collar 12 parallel to the first annular inner collar 10.

[0043] The perimeter of the second inner collar 12 may be associated with the filtering element, for example a third filtering lid 13 provided with a plurality of through holes 14 and interposed between the second sealing lid 7 and the product.

[0044] In other words, thanks to its geometry, the capsule 100 has the possibility of associating in a safe and precise fashion with several elements (such as lids) in succession, at different distances from each other, and with different functions inside the chamber.

[0045] The filtering element or third lid 13 (circular in shape) comprises an annular element or film provided with a plurality of through holes 14 (for example, but not necessarily, circular in shape) and distributed on its surface.

[0046] Figure 3, by way of a non-limiting example, illustrates the capsule 100 comprising a further filtering element 15 (illustrated with a dashed line) positioned close to the bottom 2 of the capsule body 1 configured to allow, in use, a correct outflow of the mixture of the product being dispensed.

[0047] It should be noted that the second sealing lid 7 may, if necessary, be provided, on its surface facing the closing lid 6, with an optical recognition substance S (for example a fluorescent substance) if the capsules are used on machines or distributors provided with a device for optical recognition of the originality of the capsule.

[0048] As may be seen in Figure 2, the second sealing lid 7 is obtained with an elastically compliant material and configured to deform upwards, under the pushing effect of a gas generated by the product, engaging the compensation chamber 8 without reaching the closing lid 6.

[0049] The preset aims are achieved with a machine structured in this way. The presence of a second sealing lid prevents any deformations of the closing lid so as to allow both a longer storage time of the capsule and to reduce the risks of blocking of the capsules when they are used in channels for feeding automatic dispensers.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A capsule for extraction products comprising:- a capsule body (1 ) provided, at its ends, with a closed bottom (2) and, respectively, an upper opening (3) provided with an annular outer collar (4);- a chamber (5) containing a dose of extraction product formed between the bottom (2) and the opening (3) of the capsule body (1 );- a lid (6) for sealed closing the upper opening (3) of the capsule body (1) associated with the annular outer collar (4), characterised in that it comprises a second sealing lid (7) associated inside the capsule body (1) and interposed between the closing lid (6) and the product contained in the containment chamber (5) in such a way as to form an internal compensation chamber (8) delimited between the closing lid (6) and the second sealing lid (7), the second sealing lid (7) being obtained with an elastically compliant material and configured to deform upwards, under the pushing effect of a gas generated by the product, engaging the compensation chamber (8) without reaching the closing lid (6).

2. The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the capsule body (1 ) comprises a first annular portion (9) protruding from the capsule body (1 ) in such a way as to define a first annular surface or collar (10) inside the capsule body (1 ) and parallel to the annular outer collar (4) and wherein the second sealing lid (7) is associated on the first annular inner collar (10).

3. The capsule according to claim 2, wherein the first annular inner collar (10) is made at a distance (D) not greater than 4 mm from the annular outer collar (4).

4. The capsule according to claim 2, wherein the first annular inner collar (10) is made at a distance of between 1 mm and 2.5 mm from the annular outer collar (4).

5. The capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a third filtering element or lid (13) provided with a plurality ofthrough holes (14) and interposed between the second sealing lid (7) and the product; the third element or lid (13) being associated on the perimeter on the inner surface of the capsule body (1).

6. The capsule according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the capsule body (1 ) comprises a second annular portion (11 ) protruding from the capsule body (1 ) made at a greater distance from the outer collar (4) with respect to the distance between the outer collar (4) and the first inner collar (10); the second annular portion (11 ) defining a second surface or second annular inner collar (12) parallel to the first annular inner collar (10); on said second inner collar (12) there being associated a third filtering element or lid (13) provided with a plurality of through holes (14) and interposed between the second sealing lid (7) and the product.

7. The capsule according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the filtering element or third lid (13) comprises an annular film provided with a plurality of through holes (14) distributed on its surface.

8. The capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a filtering element (15) positioned close to the bottom (2) of the capsule body (1 ) configured to allow, in use, a correct outflow of the mixture of the product being dispensed.

9. The capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second sealing lid (7) is provided, on its surface facing the closing lid (6), with an optical recognition substance (S).

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