EP3817993B1

EP3817993B1 - Capsule

Info

Publication number: EP3817993B1
Application number: EP19755434.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrea Bartoli; Davide CAPITINI
Original assignee: Sarong SpA
Current assignee: Sarong SpA
Priority date: 2018-07-06
Filing date: 2019-07-03
Publication date: 2022-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 2039-07-03
Also published as: ES2928959T3; EP3817993A1; IT201800007006A1; WO2020008389A1

Description

This invention relates to a capsule or a container, containing an initial preparation, which can be used in machines for dispending a final product. In detail, the capsule contains an initial preparation to be mixed with a pressurised fluid, injected by an injection unit of the dispensing machine, to obtain the final product.
The initial preparation is preferably a food preparation.
If it is in powder form, the initial preparation can be percolatable, or soluble, or freeze-dried, or dehydrated, or concentrated. Alternatively, if it is, for example, an syrup or a cream, the initial preparation may be a concentrate. The fluid is preferably a liquid, for example water or milk, and can be either hot or cold. The fluid can also be pressurised air.
The dispensing machine is thus configured for making a final product both in the form of a hot beverage, for example coffee, barley coffee, herbal tea, tea, chocolate, etc., and a cold drink, for example a soft drink, injecting a fluid, typically hot water under pressure, or cold water under pressure, inside a capsule containing an initial preparation which percolatable, or soluble, or for infusion.
If the fluid is, on the other hand, pressurised air, the initial preparation is mixed with the air under pressure and the final product thus obtained is made to come out under pressure from the capsule.
Patent WO2017/068535 , in the name of the Applicant, describes a system for producing a final food product, from a capsule which can be compressed and flattened containing an initial preparation, wherein injection means of the dispensing machine are configured to perforate a covering element of the capsule and inject a pressurised fluid into the latter, in order to make a final food product in the form of a drink.
The capsule comprises a casing defining a cavity for containing initial preparation and a flanged edge, which extends from a lateral wall of the casing to which is fixed covering element.
The capsule also comprises a closing element fixed in a at least partly detachable manner to a base wall of the capsule for hermetically closing an outlet opening and a tube fixed to the covering element which extends through the outlet opening and comprises a first end equipped with a seat configured to receive the pressurised fluid and a second end configured to push the closing element away from the base wall, detaching it partially from the base wall, in such a way as to position the capsule in an open configuration.
The injection unit moves from a non-operating position, in which a user can introduce the capsule in the dispensing machine, to an intermediate operating position, wherein the injection unit perforates the covering element and the pressurised fluid is dispensed. Subsequently, the injection unit moves from the intermediate operating position to an initial compression position, which corresponds to an opening position of the capsule. In fact, compressing the capsule, the second end of the tube partially detaches the closing element from the base wall. With the capsule already open, the fluid can be injected in the capsule. The injection unit moves from the initial compression position to a final compression position, wherein the capsule is further compressed and it is in a dispensing configuration, to allow dispensing of the final product.
According to patent application WO2017/068535 , in order to open the capsule it is therefore necessary to position the injection unit in the first compression position, to slightly compress the capsule and partially detach the closing element from the base wall.
The closing element is fixed to the bottom wall of the capsule for a first annular section by means of a locking fixing and for a second annular section with a detachable fixing.
The locking fixing requires a force greater than the detachable fixing to detach the closing element from the base wall, in order to promote the detachment of the second section before the detachment of the first section, when the closing element is pushed by the second end of the tube to detach from the base wall during the dispensing step.
The first section, which remains connected to the base wall, acts as a hinge element about which the portion of the closing element comprising the second section can rotate, away from the base wall.
The first section has dimensions as reduced as possible to allow the closing element to rotate easily. At the same time, however, the more the size of the first section is reduced the more the closing element could detach completely, even at the first section and it could be dispensed simultaneously with the drink in a use container in a uncontrolled manner.
WO2014/102702 , which accords with the preamble of claim 1, discloses a capsule, comprising a cavity suitable for containing an initial product to be joined to a fluid for making a final product; a nozzle associated with the casing and comprising a first end suitable for engaging fluid injecting means of a brewing machine, at least one outflow opening for dispensing the fluid in the cavity; a mixing element rotatably coupled with the nozzle at the outflow opening and shaped in such a manner as to divert at least one jet of fluid coming from the outflow opening so as to create inside the cavity a vortex flow of fluid.
An aim of this invention is to provide a sealed, single-use, single-dose capsule, capable of dispensing a final product which overcomes the problems described above.
Another aim of this invention is to provide a capsule for making a food product, comprising a tube and an element for closing an outlet of the base wall, which allows the detachment method of the closing element to be effectively controlled to guarantee that, upon completion of the dispensing, the closing element is stably associated with the capsule and does not detach.
A different aim of the invention is to obtain a versatile capsule which is inexpensive to make.
These aims and others are achieved by a capsule according to one or more of the appended claims.
Further features and advantages of this invention are more apparent in the detailed description below, with reference to some preferred, nonrestricting, embodiments of a capsule for making a final product as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic cross-section view of a capsule according to the invention, inserted in a dispensing machine, with some parts cut away for clarity, wherein an injection unit of the dispensing machine is in a non-operating position and wherein the capsule, equipped with compliance lines to be able to be flattened and compressed, is in a non-operating configuration.
Figure 2 is a cross-section view of the capsule of Figure 1, wherein the injection unit is in a perforating position and a closing element of an outlet opening of the capsule is still fixed to the capsule;
Figure 3 is a cross-section view of the capsule of Figure 1, wherein the injection unit is in a dispensing position and the capsule is in the dispensing configuration, in which the closing element has been completely detached from the capsule;
Figure 4 is a cross-section view of a variant of the capsule according to the invention, wherein the injection unit is in the dispensing position and the capsule, without compliance lines, is in the dispensing configuration in which the closing element is completely detached from the capsule;
Figure 5 is a front view of a base wall of the capsules shown in Figures 1 to 4, showing the closing element, fixed in a fully detachable manner to the base wall and fixed in a non-detachable manner to a tube housed in the capsule;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the tube of Figures 1 to 5;
Figure 7 is a cross-section view of the tube of Figure 6.

The same elements in the various drawings will be indicated below with the same reference numerals.
With reference to Figures 1 to 7, the numeral 1 denotes a system for making a food product (not illustrated) comprising a capsule 2 and a dispensing machine 3, only illustrated schematically, in which the capsule 2 can be housed.
The capsule 2, shown in Figures 1 to 5, comprises an outer casing, or container, having an axis A of longitudinal extension, for example an axis of symmetry. In Figure 1, the capsule is in a non-operating configuration. The capsule 2 is able to dispense the food product directly in a container of use (cup, glass, etc.).
The casing is substantially frustoconical in shape, that is to say, in the form of a glass or cup. The casing includes a base wall 201 and a lateral wall 202, defining an open cavity 203, and a flanged edge 204, which extends from the lateral wall 202 and surrounds, in particular, the cavity 203. The lateral wall 202 is divergent starting from the base wall 201 to the flanged edge 204.
The cavity 203 is for containing a initial preparation (not illustrated), which is set up to be, preferably, mixed with a fluid (not illustrated), preferably a hot or cold liquid under pressure, inserted in the cavity 203 in a step of injecting the fluid, to obtain the food product (not illustrated).
As mentioned above, the initial preparation is, for example, a food product which is soluble, freeze-dried, dehydrated, concentrated, percolatable, in powder form- for example coffee; alternatively, the initial preparation can be, for example, a food product in leaf form - for example tea. The initial preparation is to be mixed with water, preferably hot and under pressure, to obtain a final product, such as a beverage (for example, coffee, barley coffee, tea, or herbal tea) or a vegetable broth, in which the initial preparation is optionally dissolved or diluted.
The initial preparation can also not be mixed with a pressurised fluid but be dispensed by gravity from the capsule 2. In that case, the food product dispensed corresponds to te initial preparation.
The casing, shown in Figures 1 to 3, can be compressed and/or flattened and is therefore deformable from a non-operating configuration, wherein the capsule 2 has not yet been used and is still non-deformed as shown in Figure 1, to a dispensing configuration, shown in Figure 3, wherein the capsule 2 is open, is deformed and the food product is dispensed.
The lateral wall 202 comprises predetermined compliance lines 205, to allow the casing to be compressed and/or flattened and/or deformed along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A. The casing is compressible and this makes it possible to progressively reduce the volume of the casing, reducing a distance between the base wall 201 and the flanged edge 204 during a step of dispensing the food product, as described in more detail below.
The dispensing machine 3 comprises a unit 301 for injecting fluid and a dispensing unit (not illustrated), in which the capsule 2 can be housed, for receiving the fluid injected by the injection unit 301.
The dispensing unit comprises a base (not illustrated) in which can be inserted in a removable fashion a drawer (not illustrated), in which the capsule 2 is inserted by a user to obtain the final product. More in detail, the drawer is slidable on guides (not illustrated) of the dispensing unit in such a way that it can be inserted in, or extracted from, the dispensing unit.
The dispensing machine 3 is of the type shown in patent application WO2015056188 , which is incorporated herein by reference with regard to the parts not illustrated here directly.
The dispensing unit comprises a supporting surface 302 configured to support the flanged edge 204 of the capsule 2 and to make contact with the injection unit 301.
The injection unit 301 is mobile in a vertical direction between a plurality of operating positions, as described in more detail below, thanks to a drive device (not illustrated).
The capsule 2 comprises a covering element 206 which is fixed to the flanged edge 204 of the capsule 2 for hermetically closing the cavity 203 and isolating the initial preparation from the outside environment. The covering element 206 is typically a film, as described below in detail.
The base wall 201 comprises an outlet opening 207.
The capsule 2 also comprises a closing element 208 fixed, as described in detail below, to the base wall 201 for hermetically closing the outlet opening 207 when the capsule 2 is in a non-operating configuration. The closing element 208 is also, typically, made like a film.
Both the covering element 206 an the closing element 208 are made of materials selected in such a way as to preserve over time the initial preparation contained in the capsule from humidity and from oxygen.
In detail, the casing can be made from a material chosen from among one of the following materials of a first list:

Polyolefin (preferably PP or PE);
polyethylene terephthalate (PET);
polystyrene (PS);
polyactic acid (PLA);
Polyethylene-furanoate (PEF);
Biodegradable and/or compostable materials different from PLA, for example of a vegetable origin;
Recyclable materials (for example aluminium).

The above-mentioned materials of the first list are able to provide a barrier to oxygen and/or water.
The covering element 206 and/or the closing element 208 can comprise at least one material chosen from among one of the following materials of a second list:

PET;
PET comprising aluminium oxides and silicon oxides;
Aluminium;
PVDC;
PP;
PE;
PLA;
EVOH;
Paper;
Cellulose acetate.

According to an embodiment, the covering element 206 and/or the closing element 208 can comprise at least two layered materials, wherein each layer can comprise at least one of the materials of the second list (for example PET/PVDC, PET/Aluminium).
According to a further embodiment, the covering element 206 and/or the closing element 208 can comprise at least three layered materials, wherein each layer can comprise at least one of the materials of the second list (for example PP/EVOH/PP, PP/EVOH/PE, PP/EVOH/PA).
The capsule 2 also comprises a tube 209 fixed to the covering element 206. The tube 209 extends through the outlet opening 207 and comprises a first end 210 and a second end 211 opposite each other. The tube 209 is, therefore, made as an elongate and rigid tubular element, is housed at least partly in the cavity 203 and extends along a longitudinal axis which, when the tube 209 is positioned inside the capsule 2, coincides with the longitudinal axis A of the latter.
The second end 211 is configured to push the closing element 208 away from the base wall 201 detaching it from the base wall 201, to position the capsule 2 in a dispensing configuration.
The second end 211 is positioned close to the base wall 201 when the capsule 2 is in the non-operating condition and is positioned spaced from the base wall 201 when the capsule 2 is in the dispensing configuration. In other words, when the capsule 2 is in the dispensing configuration, the tube 209 comes out from the base wall 201 for a portion equal to the second end 211.
According to the invention, the closing element 208 is fixed in a fully detachable manner to the base wall 201 and is fixed in a non-detachable manner to the second end 211 of the tube 209, in such a way that in the dispensing configuration the closing element 208 detaches completely from the base wall 201 and is held in a non-detachable manner by the second end 211 of the tube 209.
The first end 210 of the tube 209 is configured to engage with the injection unit 301 of the dispensing machine 3.
In detail, the first end 210 comprises a seat 212, which is configured to receive the fluid from the injection unit 301. The seat 212 is positioned, in other words, for engaging with the injection unit 301 of the dispensing machine 3 which is able to dispense the fluid and is delimited laterally by a lateral wall 212a which is provided with at least one feed opening 213, preferably with a plurality of feed openings 213, in communication with the cavity 203, for supplying to the cavity 203 the fluid received from the injection unit 301. The seat 212 is delimited by a bottom wall 212b, for directing the fluid received from the injection unit 301 through the feed opening 213. Optionally, the feed opening 213 is inclined in a predetermined fashion in such a way as to direct a jet of fluid towards the base wall 201 or in another direction.
The second end 211 comprises a front wall 214 (Figure 7), which is facing the closing element 208 and to which the closing element 208 is fixed in a non-detachable manner.
The capsule 2 comprises a fixing zone 215 for the non-detachable fixing between the closing element 208 and the front wall 214 of the tube 209. The fixing zone 215 is concentric to a longitudinal axis of the tube 209, which coincides with the longitudinal axis A of the capsule 2.
The fixing zone 215 comprises a plurality of fixing portions 216 positioned equally spaced relative to the longitudinal axis A, as illustrated in black in Figure 5. According to a version not illustrated, the fixing zone 215 is continuous and is annular in shape.
The base wall 201 comprises an outer annular portion 201a, which surrounds the outlet opening 207. The closing element 208 is fixed in a fully detachable manner to the outer annular portion 201a.
Thanks to the fact that the closing element 208 is fixed to the outer annular portion 201a in a fully detachable manner and is fixed in a non-detachable manner to the second end 211 of the tube 209, in particular to the front wall 214, it is guaranteed that the closing element 208 remains fixed to the capsule 2 upon completion of the dispensing.
The term "detachable fixing" refers to the fact that the closing element 208 detaches easily from the base wall 201 to which it is fixed, for example sealed by heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing, when it is subjected to traction. In detail, the closing element 208 and the base wall 201 are fixed to each other thanks to a joining layer, not illustrated, which can be easily detached when subjected to pulling.
The joining layer may be made, for example and without restricting the scope of the invention, by a heat seal resin suitable for contact with food. Said resin, depending on its nature, can be applied to the closing element 208, to the base wall 201 or to both, by means of a plurality of application methods such as, for example and without limiting the scope of the invention, a so-called "extrusion coating" of polyolefin resins, a glue coupling of polyolefin film, a spreading of heat sealing lacquer, and the co-extrusion of multi-layer film. The heat seal of the closing element 208 and of the base wall 201 by means of the detachable heat-sealant resin generates a joining edge 217 which seals but which can be easily detached.
In fact, the resin, is configured to detach, or to break, from the closing element 208, or from the base wall 201, when it is pulled.
Alternatively, the joining layer can be made from fibrous material, or paper, interposed between the closing element 208 and the base wall 201, which is configured for flaking, when it is subjected to pulling, to detach the closing element 208 from the base wall 201.
As shown in Figure 5, the detachable joining edge 217 comprises at least one detachment promoter 217a to facilitate a gradual and progressive separation of the joining edge 217 from the base wall 201, at which the joining edge 217 has a substantially "V" or wedge shape.
Preferably, the detachment promoter 217a is part of a plurality of detachment promoters 217a angularly equispaced in the joining edge 217 for distributing the effectiveness of the detachment along the entire joining edge 217.
According to a version not shown, the joining edge does not have detachment promoting elements.
The second end 211 of the tube 209 comprises a first stretch and a second stretch.
As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the first stretch is tubular and has a constant cross-section. The second stretch is shaped relative to the first stretch and comprises an outer flange 218.
The outer flange 218 peripherally surrounds an end portion of the second stretch. When the capsule 2 is in the non-operating configuration, the outer flange 218 comes into contact with a portion of the base wall 201, which surrounds the outlet opening 207.
In detail, the base wall 201 comprises a recess and the outer flange 218 is housed in the recess when the capsule 2 is in the non-operating condition. The first stretch has a smaller diameter than the outlet opening 207 and defines, when the capsule 2 is in the dispensing configuration, a dispensing zone 219 for dispensing the food product contained in the cavity 203. When the capsule 2 is in the non-operating configuration, the outer flange 218 closes the outlet opening 207, which is in addition sealed by the closing element 208.
When the injection unit 301 passes from a perforating position, shown in Figure 2, to a dispensing position, shown in Figure 3, as described in more detail below, the tube 209 completely detaches the closing element 208 from the outer annular portion 201a of the base wall 201, opens the capsule 2 and the capsule 2, therefore passes from the non-operating configuration to the dispensing configuration. In this configuration, the dispensing zone 219 allows the food product to flow out.
It should be noted that, as shown in Figure 5, the fixing zone 215, for the non-detachable fixing between the closing element 208 and the front wall 214, is close to the longitudinal axis A of the capsule 2. Optionally, according to a variant of the capsule not illustrated, the fixing zone 215 can be positioned at the outer flange 218 and therefore be positioned in an outer edge of the front wall 214.
Figures 6 and 7 show a tube 229 according to an alternative version, which can be used both in the capsule 2 of the compressible type illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, and in a capsule 2 of the non-compressible type illustrated in Figure 4, described in more detail below.
The parts of the tube 229 common to the tube 209 shown in Figures 1 to 4 will be labelled with the same reference numerals as those already used in these drawings and will not be described again in detail.
The tube 229, which can also be fixed to the covering element 206, is shaped like and elongate and rigid element having a first end 210 and a second end 211.
At the first end 210, the tube 229 is provided with a seat 212 configured to receive the fluid from the injection unit 301. The seat 212 is functionally and structurally similar to the seat 212 of the tube 209, from which it can differ only with regard to secondary details, such as, for example, the depth. In the example shown, the seat 212 of the tube 229 is, in fact, deeper than the seat 212 of the tube 209. When the tube 229 is positioned inside the capsule 2, the seat 212 is in fluid communication with the cavity 203 through a plurality of feed openings 213 made in a lateral wall 212a of the seat 212. In the example shown, the plurality of feed openings 213 comprises two diametrically opposite feed openings 213, but this condition is not necessary. Through the feed openings 213, the fluid dispensed in the seat 212 can reach the cavity 203 for mixing with the initial preparation contained therein.
The tube 229 extends along an axis which, when the tube 229 is positioned inside the capsule 2, coincides with the axis A of the latter.
As shown in figure 7, the tube 229 comprises an inner duct 230, which is longitudinal, that is to say, it extends along the axis of the tube 229. The inner duct 230 extends from the seat 212, in particular from the bottom wall 212b of the seat 212, up to a further feed opening 231. The latter is in communication with the cavity 203, so that the fluid can be dispensed in the cavity 203.
The further feed opening 231 may be defined by a recess made in an intermediate portion 232 of the tube 229, which is positioned between the first end 210 and the second end 211. The recess extends transversely to the axis of the tube 229 with an angular amplitude of the order of 180° or just smaller, so that the fluid can be dispensed in a large zone of the cavity 203.
The further feed opening 231 is included in a plurality of further feed openings in communication with the cavity 203 for dispensing the fluid in the cavity 203. More specifically, while the feed openings 213 place the seat 212 in fluid communication with the cavity 203, the further feed openings place the inner duct 230 in fluid communication with the cavity 203.
In the example shown, the plurality of further feed openings comprises, in addition to the further feed opening 231 described above, a further feed opening 231a interposed between the further feed opening 231 and the seat 212. The further feed opening 231a is, therefore, closer to the first end 210 than the further feed opening 231.
The further feed opening 231a, in the example shown, is defined by a recess formed in the intermediate portion 232, which extends transversely to the axis of the tube 229 with an angular amplitude in the order of 180° or just less.
The further feed openings 231, 231a allow the fluid to be fed in points of the cavity 203 relatively far from the seat 212, which is particularly useful in the case of a large capsule 2.
The first end 210 of the tube 229 can comprise a wide portion 233, having a diameter greater than the diameter of the intermediate portion 232. The seat 212 is formed in the wide portion 233.
The second end 211 of the tube 229 can comprise a first stretch, adjacent to the intermediate portion 232 and with a diameter equal to that of the intermediate portion, and a second stretch made as a frustoconical portion 234, which in the example shown is full inside, that is to say, without holes. The frustoconical portion 234 is interposed between the first stretch and the front wall 214, already described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. In more detail, the front wall 214 delimits the truncated cone portion 234 on the opposite side relative to the first stretch of the second end 211. When the tube 229 is positioned in a capsule 2, the closing element 208 is fixed to the front wall 214, by means of a non-detachable fixing, in the manner described above with reference to Figures 1 to 4.
The outer flange 218, already described above with reference to Figures 1 to 4, protrudes radially relative to the frustoconical portion 234.
According to the version of Figures 6 and 7, the second end 211 of the tube 229 therefore comprises a first stretch and a second stretch, wherein the second stretch has the frustoconical shape (and is identifiable with the frustoconical portion 234) and comprises the outer flange 218.
Described below is the dispensing unit 301 and the behaviour of the capsule 2 during use, with reference to a capsule 2 comprising the tube 209 of Figures 1 to 4. It is understood that the same considerations also apply when the capsule 2 comprises the tube 229 of Figures 6 and 7, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
The injection unit 301 comprises a perforator element 303 equipped with a longitudinal axis, which is preferably an axis of symmetry of the injection unit 301 and coincides with the longitudinal axis A of the capsule 2, when the capsule 2 is inserted in the dispensing machine 3.
The perforator element 303 is configured to perforate the covering element 206 and to dispense the fluid. The perforator element 303 comprises a perforating end from which an internal conduit also leads for feeding the fluid. The perforating end is configured to direct the fluid dispensed axially along the longitudinal axis A. The perforator element 303 is, preferably, cylindrical with an inclined perforating end.
The injection unit 301 also comprises a positioning element 304, which is configured to make contact with the flanged edge 204 of the capsule 2.
The injection unit 301 is mobile along the longitudinal axis A between: a non-operating position, shown in Figure 1, in which the capsule 2 can be inserted in the dispensing machine and the injection unit 301 is far from the capsule 2; the perforating position, shown in Figure 2, in which the perforator element 303 is housed in the seat 212 but the closing element 208 is still fixed to the capsule 2 and the dispensing position, shown in Figure 3, in which the positioning element 304 engages with the flanged edge 204 of the capsule 2 and the tube 209 is pushed by the injection unit 301 towards the closing element 208, completely detaching the closing element 208 from the base wall 201 and opening the capsule 2.
When the injection unit 301 passes from the perforating position to the dispensing position, the tube 209, pushed downwards, opens the capsule 2 whilst the positioning element 304 makes contact with the flanged edge 204. When the positioning element 304 comes into contact with the flange edge 204 the capsule 2 has been opened and the fluid can therefore be injected into the capsule 2 to obtain the food product.
Advantageously, since the seat 212 of the tube 209 of the capsule 2 receives the perforator element 303, the perforator element 303, from the end of which leads a conduit for dispensing the fluid, can dispense the fluid in the seat 212 and therefore feed the cavity 203 by means of the feed opening 213 without the risk that the fluid can flow out of the seat 212, contaminating other parts of the dispensing machine 3. In addition, the fluid is fed to the capsule 2 without head losses and this guarantees an optimum formation of the food product in the cavity 203.
As mentioned above, the injection unit 301 is movable, as well as from the non-operating position of Figure 1 to the perforating position of Figure 2, also from the perforating position of Figure 2 to the dispensing position of Figure 3.
During this latter movement of the injection unit 301, the tube 209 is pushed downwards to detach the closing element 208 and open the capsule 2. The open capsule 2 changes from a non-operating configuration to a dispensing configuration.
It should be noted that the tube 209 is pushed for a stroke equal to the distance between the perforating position and the dispensing position, which depends on the distance between the perforator element 303 and the positioning element 304. The stroke can be varied. For example, a stroke could be selected such as to position the outer flange 218 far from the base wall 201, when the injection unit 301 is in the dispensing position.
In the dispensing configuration, the capsule 2 is open and the food can be injected in the capsule 2 and the food product can therefore be obtained in the cavity 203, which can also be dispensed in the container of use. However, the lateral wall 202 of the capsule 2 is deformable and compressible along predetermined lines of compliance 205, and therefore this allows the covering to be compressed or flattened in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the capsule 2 for the purposes of dispensing the food product when the capsule is in the dispensing configuration. The dispensing position of the injection unit 301 is also a compression position for the capsule 2.
The casing of the capsule 2 progressively reduces its volume until having a minimum volume at the dispensing position of the injection unit 301. The outer flange 218 of the tube 209 is far from the base wall 201, which continues to make contact with the supporting surface 302, and the food product, obtained in the cavity 203 is, all the more so, dispensed through the dispensing zone 219.
The compression of the capsule 2 during dispensing facilitates the outflow of a viscous or pasty food product.
The injection unit 301 is also movable from the dispensing position to the non-operating position, to allow the capsule 2, already open and for which the dispensing has taken place, to be extracted from the dispensing machine in such a way as to allow the insertion of a new capsule 2. Advantageously, according to a version not illustrated, at the end of the dispensing, the covering element 206 is configured to pull behind the tube 209, or the tube 229, in such a way that the closing element 208 fixed to it can close the outlet opening 207.
More in detail, the tube 209, or the tube 229, has a height which is less than the height of the capsule 2, measured relative to the axis A. In other words, the tube 209, or the tube 229, is shorter than the capsule 2.
For simplicity, but without restricting the scope of the invention, reference will be made below only to the tube 209 and not to the tube 229, it being understood that what will be indicated below for the tube 209 is also valid for the tube 229.
Between the tube 209 and the capsule 2 there is a difference in height of between 0.5 mm and 20 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 10 mm, and even more preferably equal to 3 mm.
Moreover, the covering element 206 is made of an elastically deformable material. For example, the covering element 206 can comprise at least one material chosen from among one of the materials of the second list and elastically deformable.
In this way, the covering element 206 of the capsule 2, to which the tube 209 is fixed, is deformed when the capsule 2 is in the non-operating configuration. In fact, the covering element 206 is fixed externally to the flanged edge 204 and centrally to the tube 209, or 229, but the two heights are different.
Since it is made of an elastically deformable material, the covering element 206 adopts a concave shape and the deformation of the closing element 206 is more evident the more the tube 209 is shorter with respect to the capsule 2.
The perforating element 303 of the injection unit 301 is suitably sized to be housed in the seat 212 of the tube 209, in the perforating position of the injection unit 301, even if the tube 209 is shorter than the capsule 2. When the capsule 2 passes from the non-operating configuration to the dispensing configuration, since the injection unit 301 passes from the non-operating position to the injection position and then from the injection position to the dispensing position, we have said that the tube 209 is pushed for a stroke equal to the distance between the perforating position and the dispensing position and that the tube 209 completely detaches the closing element 208 from the base wall 201, thus opening the capsule 2. The closing element 208 remains retained in a non-detachable manner at the second end 211 of the tube 209.
The covering element 206, fixed to the tube 209, further deforms elastically, when the injection unit 301 is in the dispensing position.
After dispensing, the injection unit 301 retracts and returns to the non-operating position. The covering element 206, thanks to the elastic return properties, also returns to the initial concave shape and thereby pulls behind the tube 209 fixed to it. The tube 209 returns to the same position as it was when the capsule 2 was in the non-operating condition.
Since the closing element 208 is fixed to the tube 209 and is retained by the second end 211 of the tube 209, the closing element 208 closes the outlet opening 207 and thus prevents undesired losses of any liquid still present in the cavity 203 and not dispensed.
The closing element 208, when the outlet opening 207 is closed, allows a user to grip the capsule 2 used, for the purposes of waste disposal, without the risk of burning and soiling with any liquid still contained in the cavity 203. The greater the difference in height between the tube 209 and the capsule 2, the more effective is the elastic return action of the covering element 206 which pulls the tube 209 towards the flanged edge 204 and, therefore, the more effective is the closing of the outlet opening 207 by the closing element 208.
The capsule 2 shown in Figure 4 differs from the capsule 2 of Figures 1 to 3 as described above because the lateral wall 202 of the capsule 2 does not have the compliance lines 205.
In that case, when the injection unit 301 passes from the perforating position to the dispensing position of Figure 4, the tube 209 completely detaches the closing element 208, opens the capsule 2 and the capsule 2 passes from the non-operating configuration to the dispensing configuration. Again, the dispensing zone 219 allows the food product to flow out.
It should be noted that, bot in the case of the capsule 2 which can be compressed shown in Figures 1 to 3 and in the case of the capsule 2 which can be compressed shown in Figure 4, the food product can be obtained by injecting the fluid already when the injection unit 301 is in the perforating configuration, since the injection unit 301 is able to engage in a sealed fashion with the capsule 2 in the perforating position. However, to be able to introduce pressurised fluid in the cavity 203, when the closing element 208 has still not been detached from the base wall 201, the dispensing machine comprises a vent nozzle (not shown) and the vent nozzle perforates the covering element 206 before the injection unit 301 dispenses pressurised fluid in the cavity 203.
If the lateral wall 202 of the capsule 2 does not have the compliance lines, the movement of the injection unit 301 from the perforating position to the dispensing position allows the closing element 208 to be detached completely and to place the capsule in the dispensing configuration. For the purposes of dispensing, there is no compression of the capsule but the compression could be requested for the purposes of waste disposal. Even in the case of the capsule 2 without compliance lines, the above applies regarding the possibility that the tube 209, or the tube 229, is shorter than the capsule 2.
The movement of the injection unit 301 from the dispensing position to the non-operating position allows the covering element 206 to return to the initial concave shape and pull behind the tube 209 which is fixed to it, placing the closing element 208, fixed to the tube 209 and retained by the second end 211 of the tube 209, to close the outlet opening 207.
Even in the case of the capsule 2 without compliance lines it is possible to avoid undesired losses of the liquid still present in the cavity 203 and not dispensed.
In use, the system 1 comprises the insertion of a capsule 2 according to the invention in a dispensing machine 3 equipped with the injection unit 301. The capsule 2 is inserted in the non-operating condition when the injection device 301 is in a non-operating position. If we now consider the capsule 2 of Figures 1 to 3, wherein, for example, the cavity 203 contains an initial preparation P which is soluble such as, for example, coffee or for infusion such as, for example, tea leaves, the injection unit 301 is moved from the non-operating position to the perforating position in which injection unit 301 is able to engage in a sealed fashion with the capsule 2.
The capsule 2 is still in a non-operating configuration since it has still not been opened. It should be noted that the fluid might already be dispensed in the capsule 2, when the injection unit 301 is in the perforating configuration and the dispensing machine 3 comprises the vent nozzle. Subsequently, when the injection unit 301 is moved further in the dispensing position, the capsule 2 passes from the non-operating configuration to the dispensing configuration, since the closing element 208 is completely detached from the base wall 201 and the capsule 2 is open. The fluid can be dispensed in the capsule 2 to obtain the food product and for dispensing the food product from the capsule 2 when the injection unit 301 is in the dispensing position.
Since the first stretch of the second end 211 of the tube 209 has a smaller diameter than the outlet opening 207, when the capsule 2 is in the dispensing configuration, the tube 209 defines the dispensing zone 219 between the tube 209 and the outlet opening 207 for dispensing the food product contained in the cavity 203.
The dispensing zone 219 is progressively increasing, as the outer flange 218 moves away from the base wall 201. This is particularly evident when a capsule 2 is used equipped with a tube 229 of the type shown in Figures 6 and 7. In this case the diameter of the dispensing zone 219, in plan view, gradually increased as the frustoconical portion 234, protruding from the cavity 203, moves away from the outlet opening 207.
The fluid can also be dispensed in the capsule 2 to obtain the food product when the injection unit 301 is in the perforating configuration, but in that case a vent nozzle is necessary.
Optionally, also when the capsule 2 is free of the compliance lines 205, the capsule 2 can be subsequently compressed and flattened by the injection unit 301, which can be positioned in an initial compression position for the purpose of disposal of waste.
As mentioned above, the covering element 206 is configured to pull behind the tube 209, or the tube 229, in such a way that the closing element 208 fixed to it can close the outlet opening 207.
Even in the case of a non-deformable capsule 2, it is possible to avoid losses and leaks at the end of dispensing, thereby guaranteeing the possibility that a user can grip the capsule 2 used, for the purposes of waste disposal, without the risk of burning and soiling with any liquid, still contained in the cavity 203.
For this reason, a system is provided for making a food product operating in an optimum manner both with a capsule which can be compressed and with a capsule without compliance lines and which in addition guarantees that the closing element 208 is retained in an effective manner by the capsule 2, in a simple and economical way.

Claims

A capsule comprising:
- a casing (201, 202, 204), which comprises: a base wall (201), which includes an outlet opening (207), and a lateral wall (202) defining a containment cavity (203) of an initial preparation to be mixed with a fluid to obtain a food product; a flanged edge (204) extending from the lateral wall (202);

- a covering element (206), fixed to the flanged edge (204) in order to hermetically close the cavity (203), which can be perforated by a unit (301) for injecting fluid of a dispensing machine (3), in which the capsule (2) can be housed;

- a closing element (208) fixed to the base wall (201) for hermetically closing the outlet opening (207) when the capsule (2) is in a non-operating configuration;

- a tube (209; 229), which is fixed to the covering element (206) and extends through the outlet opening (207), wherein the tube (209; 229) comprises:

- a first end (210) and a second end (211)which are opposite to one another, wherein the first end (210) is configured to engage with the injection unit, and wherein the second end (211) is configured to push the closing element (208) away from the base wall (201) detaching it from the base wall (201), in such a way as to position the capsule (2) in a dispensing configuration; the second end (211) being positioned close to the base wall (201) when the capsule (2) is in the non-operating configuration and being positioned spaced from the base wall (201) when the capsule (2) is in the dispensing configuration; wherein the closing element (208) is fixed in a fully detachable manner to the base wall (201), characterized in that the closing element (208) is fixed in a non-detachable manner to the second end (211) of the tube (209; 229), in such a way that in the dispensing configuration the closing element (208) detaches completely from the base wall (201) and is held in a non-detachable manner by the second end (211) of the tube (209; 229).
The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the second end (211) comprises a front wall (214), which is facing the closing element (208) and to which the closing element (208) is fixed in a non-detachable manner.
The capsule according to claim 2, and comprising a fixing zone (215) for the non-detachable fixing between the closing element (208) and the front wall (214), the capsule (2) having a longitudinal axis (A) which coincides with the longitudinal axis of the tube (209; 229), the fixing zone (215) being concentric with the longitudinal axis (A) of the tube (209; 229).
The capsule according to claim 3, wherein the fixing zone (215) is annular or wherein the fixing zone (215) comprises a plurality of fixing portions (216) positioned equally spaced relative to the longitudinal axis (A).
The capsule according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the base wall (201) comprises an outer annular portion (201a), which surrounds the outlet opening (207), the closing element (208) being fixed in a fully detachable manner to the outer annular portion (201a).
The capsule according to claim 5, wherein the second end (211) comprises a first stretch and a second stretch, which comprises an outer flange (218).
The capsule according to claim 6, wherein the first stretch is a tubular stretch with a constant cross-section and wherein the second stretch has a frustoconical shape.
The capsule according to claim 6, or 7, wherein the base wall (201) comprises a recess and wherein the outer flange (218) is housed in the recess when the capsule (2) is in the non-operating configuration.
The capsule according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the first stretch has smaller diameter than the outlet opening (207) and defines, when the capsule (2) is in the dispensing configuration, a dispensing zone (219) for dispensing the food product contained in the cavity (203).
The capsule according to any one of claims 6 to 9, when dependent on claim 3 or 4, wherein the fixing zone (215) is positioned at the outer flange (218).
The capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first end (210) comprises a seat (212) configured to receive a perforating element (303) of the fluid injecting unit (301), wherein the seat (212) comprises at least one feed opening (213), which is in communication with the cavity (203) for feeding to the cavity (203) the fluid received from the injection unit (301); wherein the tube (229) comprises an inner duct (230) which is longitudinal and extends from the seat (212) to a further feed opening (231), also in communication with the cavity (203) for feeding the fluid to the cavity (203); and wherein the further feed opening (231) is part of a plurality of further feed openings (231, 231a) in communication with the cavity (203) for feeding the fluid in the cavity (203).
The capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, at the end of the dispensing, the covering element (206) is configured to pull behind the tube (209; 229) in such a way that the closing element (208) fixed to it can close the outlet opening (207).
The capsule according to claim 12, wherein the capsule (2) has a longitudinal axis (A) coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the tube (209; 229), the tube (209; 229) having a height which is less than the height of the capsule (2), measured along the axis (A).
The capsule according to claim 13, wherein between the tube (209; 229) and the capsule (2) there is a difference in height of between 0.5 mm and 20 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 10 mm, and even more preferably equal to 3 mm.
The capsule according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the covering element (206) is made of an elastically deformable material.
The capsule according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the closing element (208) and the base wall (201) are fixed to each other thanks to a joining layer, which can be easily detached when subjected to pulling, wherein the joining layer is made by a heat seal resin suitable for contact with food, which may be applied to the closing element (208), or to the base wall (201), or to both; or wherein the joining layer is made from fibrous material, or paper, interposed between the closing element (208) and the base wall (201), which is configured for flaking, when it is subjected to pulling, to detach the closing element (208) from the base wall (201).