WO2007060538A2

WO2007060538A2 - Capsule for beverage preparation

Info

Publication number: WO2007060538A2
Application number: PCT/IB2006/003381
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuseppe Giannelli
Original assignee: Ilenaig S.A.S. Di Giannelli Giuseppe E C.
Priority date: 2005-11-28
Filing date: 2006-11-28
Publication date: 2007-05-31
Also published as: WO2007060538A8; WO2007060538A3; EP1960294A2; ITMI20052276A1

Abstract

A capsule (1) for beverage preparation for use in a machine for beverage preparation has an enclosure (2) for defining a closed container in which a dose of preparation for making the beverage is contained, the enclosure (2) defining the mixing chamber in which the beverage is prepared. Advantageously, the capsule comprises a delivery channel (4) associated to said enclosure (2) to define a delivery nozzle through which the beverage is delivered from the capsule.

Description

"Improved capsule for beverage preparation"

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to an improved capsule for preparation of either cold or hot beverages according to the preamble of claim 1.

More particularly, this invention relates to a capsule for use in a machine for beverage preparation, which contains a dose of the preparation for making a beverage after mixing, dilution and/or infusion of the preparation in a liquid.

As used herein, beverage shall be intended to refer not only beverages in a strict sense but also coffee, tea, milk, orange juice, creams, infusions, broths and the like. As is known, such capsules have been increasingly used in the field of beverage preparation, as they allow preparation of a desired amount, typically a cupful, of beverage, in a simple and quick manner, while ensuring that the beverage being made has a consistent quality. The capsule is a sealed container which allows preservation of the organoleptic and quality properties of the dose of preparation contained therein over a long time, and prevents deterioration thereof due to exposure to air or contact with ambient humidity. Also, a modified oxygen-free atmosphere can be created within the capsule which, as is known, can cause oxidation and therefore deteriorate organoleptic properties of preparations .

Capsules are usually intended to be broken during the beverage preparation process to allow: first introduction of a liquid and then release of a beverage .

Referring to the latter aspect, it should be noted that, for the capsule to be completely emptied, the beverage should be released from the capsule through the bottom of the capsule. For this purpose, the continuous bottom wall of the capsule is generally perforated by a perforating nozzle which breaks the bottom wall of the capsule and also acts as a beverage release channel.

Essentially, a first end of the perforating nozzle is introduced in the capsule, and the opposite end of the perforating nozzle acts as a delivery nozzle through which the beverage is delivered from the machine. It will be appreciated that, while the provision of such perforating/delivery nozzle is useful, it still involves certain drawbacks. Hence, for example, in a machine for preparation of beverages of different tastes, delivery of different beverages from the same nozzle causes a deterioration of the organoleptic properties of the prepared beverages which is well perceivable to the taste, when not visually, due to residues of previously prepared beverages remaining in the perforating/delivery nozzle. This drawback is currently obviated by providing machines for beverage preparation having a plurality of perforating/delivery nozzles, to be selectively used depending on the type of beverage to be prepared. By this arrangement, the different beverages are prevented from flowing through the same perforating/delivery nozzle, but this involves a greater structural complexity of machines and higher costs therefor. It shall be noted that, even when a perforating/delivery nozzle is used for each specific type of beverage, there is still the problem of beverage delivery residues. Following a long-time beverage delivery, solid residues and fouling build up in nozzles. This inevitably involves the need of regularly cleaning the nozzles . This invention is based on the issue of conceiving and providing a capsule for beverage preparation which has such structural and functional characteristics as to obviate the above prior art drawbacks . This problem is solved by the provision of a capsule for beverage preparation according to claim 1. Further features and advantages of the cartridge for beverage preparation of this invention will be apparent upon reading the following description of a few preferred embodiments thereof, which is given by way of illustration and without limitation with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

- Figure 1 is a partly sectional perspective view of a cartridge of the invention;

- Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the capsule of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a side view of the capsule of Figure 1;

- Figure 4 is a plan view of the capsule of Figure 1 as viewed from the bottom;

- Figures 5 and 6 show the capsule of Figure 1 in a machine for beverage preparation during two different beverage preparation stages and

- Figures 7, 8 and 9 are three different plan views of a capsule of the invention, according to a second embodiment . Referring to Figures 1 to 6, numeral 1 generally designates a cartridge for beverage preparation according to the invention.

The capsule 1 is designed for use in a machine for beverage preparation and comprises an enclosure 2 for defining a closed container in which a preparation for making a beverage is contained. Advantageously, the enclosure 2 is sealed, so that the properties of the preparation contained therein can be preserved, and any contamination or deterioration thereof due to air exposure can be prevented. A substantially oxygen-free modified atmosphere may be created in the enclosure, using an inert gas, such as nitrogen, to prevent oxidation of the preparation. Preferably, the capsule 1 is of the throw-away type and is designed to be used once for preparation of a predetermined amount of beverage, after mixing, dilution and/or infusion of the preparation contained therein in a liquid. The liquid may be hot or cold, depending on the type of beverage to be prepared. Water is generally used as a liquid, although other liquids may be used, such as milk, broth or else. The preparation in the capsule 1 may be of various types and amounts depending on the type and amount of beverage to be prepared. Advantageously, the preparation may be a condensed product having a liquid or pasty consistency, such as syrup, condensed milk, an orange- or cola-based preparation or else. As an alternative, the preparation may comprise infusion products such as tea, coffee, chamomile, as well as any water-soluble or freeze-dried powdered or granular products .

In this example, the enclosure 2 has a square frustoconical shape defined by a tapering side wall which connects a square bottom 10 to a square top wall 11 of a smaller size than the bottom 10. It will be appreciated that the bottom 10 has a discharge opening 3 and is not flat, but has a funnel shape projecting out of the enclosure 2 and converging towards the opening 3. By this configuration, the beverage may be easily emptied from the capsule 1, as will be better explained hereinafter.

Advantageously, the enclosure 2 is composed of two opposite symmetrical half-shells 2a and 2b, each having a flange 7, at which they are sealed together in overlapped relationship after interposition of the beverage preparation therebetween.

If the enclosure is made of a plastic material, the two half-shells may be advantageously joined by heat sealing. In a convenient aspect, the capsule 1 has a delivery channel 4 associated to the enclosure 2, at its discharge opening 3. This channel defines a delivery nozzle, through which the beverage flows out of the capsule 1. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the delivery channel 4 is a round tubular channel and, according to a preferred embodiment, it is formed of one piece with the enclosure 2 of the capsule 1. More precisely, the delivery channel 4 extends beyond the bottom 10 at its opening 3. This is very advantageous during formation of the enclosure, as a half-tubular channel needs simply be provided in the mold of the above half-shells 2a, 2b. As the two half-shells are joined together, the two half-tubular channels are obviously also joined to form the tubular delivery channel 4.

In contrast to the above, the delivery channel may be a separate member, to be suitably fixed or heat sealed to the enclosure. This solution provides advantages when two different materials are intended to be used for the enclosure and the delivery channel.

According to an advantageous aspect, the capsule 1 has fluid shut-off means 5 for controlling beverage delivery from the delivery channel 4. Preferably, the fluid shut-off means 5 are adapted to be removed under the pressure exerted thereon by the beverage in the capsule as a predetermined pressure value is exceeded, thereby allowing the beverage to flow out of the capsule by gravity. Therefore, the beverage is prepared by breaking the integrity of the enclosure so that the liquid for preparing the beverage may be introduced therein. In the enclosure, such liquid mixes with the preparation for making the beverage, as liquid pressure increases in the enclosure. As pressure exerted by the beverage in the enclosure reaches a predetermined value, the fluid shut-off means 5 are removed by the beverage, which is thus free to flow out of the enclosure 2 through the delivery channel 4. According to a preferred embodiment, these fluid shut- off means 5 are associated to the delivery channel 4 and consist of a throttled portion 6 for allowing beverage flow as the above mentioned predetermined pressure exerted by the beverage in the enclosure 2 is exceeded, after introduction of the liquid. If a tubular delivery channel 4 is used, such throttled portion 6 may be easily formed as a pinched portion of the wall of the delivery channel, so that the inner wall of the channel is choked. Advantageously, if the delivery channel is made of a heat sealable plastic material, such throttled portion may be formed by pinching and heat sealing on itself the inner wall of the tubular channel, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The heat sealed portion shall be obviously designed to be breakable under the pressure exerted thereon by the beverage in the delivery channel 4 as such pressure exceeds a predetermined value. Thus, the pressure exerted by the beverage upon the inner wall of the delivery channel 4 causes the latter to break the heat sealing line, so that the delivery channel may be restored to a substantially tubular shape.

As shown in the figures, the throttled portion extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tubular delivery channel 4. The fluid shut-off means may be different from those of the embodiment described above. Thus, for example, in accordance with a different embodiment, the fluid shut- off means comprise a weakened portion which is adapted to break as a predetermined pressure exerted thereon by the beverage is exceeded. Such weakened portion may be provided, for example, as a diaphragm formed of one piece with the channel or, more preferably, as a weakened portion of the bottom. Apparently, as this weakened portion of the bottom breaks under the pressure exerted thereon by the beverage, it will define the opening through which the beverage can flow out of the capsule enclosure. The weakened portion may be formed through thinning of the enclosure bottom material, or through punching, scribing or engraving of the contour of the weakened area, or by other means. Figure 5 shows the state in which an unbroken capsule 1 is positioned in the infusion or housing chamber of a machine for beverage preparation. Figure 6 shows the following state, , in which a nozzle 14 for introducing machine water is introduced in the capsule 1 through the top wall 11 and delivers a predetermined amount of liquid therein. The beverage is thus formed in the capsule, and the pressure thereof breaks the heat seal that defines the throttled portion, thereby- allowing the beverage to flow out by gravity. As clearly shown in the above description, the capsule of the present invention fulfills the above mentioned need and also obviates prior art drawbacks as set out in the introduction of this disclosure. Indeed, the capsule of the invention incorporates a delivery nozzle, therefore it can avoid the problem of solid residue build up in the delivery nozzle, as mentioned with reference to prior art. Also, the disposable nature of the capsule and the delivery nozzle associated thereto allows to prevent any contamination and/or deterioration of the organoleptic properties of the beverage as such beverage is delivered. It will be appreciated that the provision of the delivery nozzle as part of the capsule also allows to simplify the structure of the machines for beverage preparation, as the plurality of delivery nozzles and corresponding channels may be omitted.

As is apparent, the size of the tubular channel, and namely its length, may be adapted to specific requirements, as well as to the type and amount of beverage to be delivered.

A further advantage of the capsule of this invention is its structural simplicity, allowing it to be manufactured by molding and heat sealing processes. Yet another advantage of the capsule of this invention is its structural simplicity, wherefore beverage delivery from the capsule does not necessarily require the use of a perforator, and the machine for beverage preparation may have an apparently simplified structure. This feature further allows to employ the capsule in a variety of machines for preparation of hot or cold beverages .

Those skilled in the art will obviously appreciate that a number of changes and variants may be made to the capsule as described hereinbefore, in response to specific requirements, without departure from the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims. For example, the conformation of the capsule enclosure may be different from that described hereinbefore. Figures 7 , 8 and 9 show a capsule 1 of the invention in which the enclosure 2 is defined by a half-shell 2a, with a closing sheet associated thereto by heat sealing or another equivalent process, to form a blister pack.

Claims

1. A capsule for beverage preparation for use in a machine for beverage preparation, said capsule (1) having an enclosure (2) for defining a closed container in which a dose of preparation for making the beverage is contained, said enclosure (2) defining the mixing chamber in which the beverage is prepared, characterized in that it comprises a delivery channel (4) associated to said enclosure (2) to define a delivery nozzle through which the beverage is delivered from the capsule (1) .

2. A capsule as claimed in claim 1, wherein said delivery channel (4) is a tubular channel.

3. A capsule as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said delivery channel (4) is made of one piece with the enclosure (2) of the capsule.

4. A capsule as claimed in claim 3, wherein said enclosure (2) has a bottom wall (10) which terminates in said delivery channel (4) .

5. A capsule as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said delivery channel (4) is fixed to said enclosure (2) .

6. A capsule as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, having fluid shut-off means (5) associated to said enclosure for controlling beverage delivery from said delivery channel (4) .

7. A capsule as claimed in claim 6, wherein said fluid shut-off means (5) are adapted to be removed under the pressure exerted thereon by the beverage in the enclosure (2) as a predetermined pressure value is exceeded.

8. A capsule as claimed in claim 7, wherein said fluid shut-off means (5) comprise a throttled portion (6) for allowing beverage flow as a predetermined beverage pressure value is exceeded.

9. A capsule as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein said fluid shut-off means (5) are associated to said delivery channel (4) .

10. A capsule as claimed in claims 8 and 9, wherein said throttled portion (6) is a pinched portion of the wall of the delivery channel (4) .

11. A capsule as claimed in claim 10, wherein at said pinched portion, the inner wall of the delivery channel

(4) is flattened and sealed on itself.

12. A capsule as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein said fluid shut-off means (5) comprise a weakened portion which is adapted to break as a predetermined pressure exerted thereon by the beverage is exceeded.

13. A capsule as claimed in claim 12, wherein said weakened portion is defined by a portion of said enclosure (2) .

14. A capsule as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said weakened portion is defined by a portion of the bottom of said enclosure (2) .

15. A capsule as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein said enclosure (2) comprises two half-shells (2a, 2b) heat sealed together.

16. A capsule as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein said enclosure (2) comprises a half-shell (2a) which is closed by a sheet (12) heat sealed thereon.

17. A capsule as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, comprising means for filtering the beverage to be delivered through said delivery channel (4) .

18. A capsule as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, comprising a beverage preparation contained in said enclosure (2) .