A DISPENSING MACHINE OF A FOOD PRODUCT, CAPSULE AND

RELATED SYSTEM

This invention relates to a machine for dispensing a food product and a relative capsule.

The invention also relates to a system for making a food product.

In detail, the invention relates to a machine for dispensing a food product, which is equipped with a dispensing chamber and a unit for injecting a fluid, and is configured to receive a sealed single-dose and disposable capsule, the capsule being able to be housed in the dispensing chamber and containing an initial preparation to be mixed with the fluid, injected by the injection unit, to obtain the food product.

In detail, the invention also relates to a system for making a food product which comprises a sealed single-dose and disposable capsule and the dispensing machine, which is equipped with a dispensing chamber and a unit for injecting a fluid, the capsule containing an initial preparation which, when the capsule is housed in the dispensing chamber, is mixed with the fluid injected by the injection unit, to obtain the food 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 dispensing machine is thus configured for making both 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, air under pressure, the initial preparation is mixed with the air under pressure and the food product thus obtained is made to come out under pressure from the capsule.

WO2012/104760, in the name of the Applicant, describes a dispensing machine for producing a final food product in the form of a drink, from a capsule which can be compressed and flattened, containing an initial product, comprising injection means positioned to perforate a covering element of the capsule and injecting into the latter a fluid interacting with said initial product for making a final food product in the form of a drink.

The machine comprises positioning means positioned to house said capsule and mobile along a direction between an initial non-operative wherein the capsule can be inserted in the positioning means, an intermediate operative position wherein the capsule comes into contact with the injection means, which perforate the covering element for injecting said fluid, and a final operative position wherein the capsule has a reduced volume as it has been progressively compressed and flattened by the positioning means against said injection means in such a way as to be opened and allow the final product to flow out.

WO2015056188, again in the name of the same Applicant, describes a machine for dispensing a beverage from a capsule which can be compressed and flattened comprising a unit for injecting fluid through which a drink is prepared and dispensed. The injection unit comprises one end designed to engage with the capsule, which is equipped with a positioning element from which protrudes a nozzle for dispensing the fluid.

The capsule comprises a casing defining a cavity for containing initial preparation, a flanged edge which extends from a lateral wall of the casing and a covering element, fixed to the flanged edge to hermetically closing the cavity, which can be perforated by the dispensing nozzle. The capsule also comprises a closing element fixed in a at least partly detachable manner to the base wall for hermetically closing an outlet opening and a cannula fixed to the covering element which extends through the outlet opening and comprises a first end equipped with a seat configured to receive the fluid and a second end configured to push the closing element away from the base wall detaching from the base wall, in such a way as to position the capsule in an open configuration.

The positioning element is a plate which engages with a flanged edge of the capsule and is made of silicone to guarantee a fluid seal between the injection unit and the capsule. The dispensing nozzle passes through the silicone disc and protrudes from the latter. In this way, when the injection unit moves from the non operative position to the intermediate operative position, the dispensing nozzle perforates the covering element and is housed in the seat of the cannula whilst the silicone disc comes into contact with the flanged edge of the capsule and in this way guarantees a fluid seal even during a subsequent dispensing of the fluid. Subsequently, the injection unit moves from the intermediate operating position to an initial compression position, which corresponds to an opening position of the capsule. Compressing the capsule, the second end of the cannula detaches the closing element from the base wall. With the capsule already open, the fluid can be injected in the capsule. Subsequently, the injection unit moves from the initial compression position to a final compression position, wherein the capsule is further compressed, to allow dispensing of the final product.

According to WO2015056188, 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 detach the closing element from the base wall.

An aim of the invention is to provide a versatile dispensing machine, designed specifically for a capsule comprising a cannula equipped with a seat.

A further aim of the invention is to provide dispensing machine with a simplified structure, which comprises an injection unit which is easy to make and able to guarantee an effective fluid seal with the capsule when the injection unit interacts with the capsule.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a capsule for making a food product, comprising a cannula equipped with a seat, which allows an effective fluid seal with an injection unit of the dispensing machine.

Yet another aim of the invention is to obtain a capsule which is extremely versatile, which is able to satisfy the tastes of several different consumers and which is inexpensive to make.

A different aim of the invention is to provide a system for making a food product which has a greater versatility, that is to say, which makes it possible to use in a dispensing machine a capsule comprising a cannula fixed to a covering element, irrespective of whether the capsule is compressible.

Another different aim of the invention is to provide a system for making a food product which is able to guarantee an effective fluid seal between the machine and the capsule when an injection unit of the dispensing machine interacts with the capsule.

These aims and others are achieved by a machine for dispensing a food product according to any one of appended claims 1 to 7, by a capsule according to any one of appended claims 8 to 13 and by a system for making a food product according to any one of appended claims 14 to 24.

Further features and advantages of this invention are more apparent in the detailed description below, with reference to a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of a system for making a food product, a dispensing machine and a capsule for beverages, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a cross section of a system for preparing a food product, comprising a dispensing machine equipped with an injection unit, and a capsule, inserted in the dispensing machine, with some parts cut away for clarity, wherein the injection unit is in a non-operative position.

- Figure 2 is a cross section view of the system of Figure 1 , wherein the injection unit is in a perforating position;

- Figure 3 is a cross section view of the system of Figure 1 , wherein the injection unit is in an opening position;

- Figure 4 is a cross section view of the system of Figure 1 , wherein the injection unit is in an initial compression position;

- Figure 5 is a cross section view of the system of Figure 1 , wherein the injection unit is in a final compression position;

- Figure 6 is a view of a detail of the system of Figure 1 , wherein the injection unit is in the perforating position and comprises an abutment element equipped with a sealing part which is conical in shape which is configured to make contact with an inlet edge of a cannula of the capsule;

- Figure 7 is a detailed view of a variant of the system of Figure 6, wherein the inlet edge of the cannula has a pair of edges which define a pair of seal zones, the inlet edge comprising an annular groove;

- Figure 8 is a detailed view of a variant of the system of Figure 6, wherein the inlet edge of the cannula has a shape matching the shape of the annular part;

- Figure 9 is a detailed view of a variant of the system of Figure 8, wherein the inlet edge of the cannula comprises an inclined wall and the annular part is conical in shape with a double inclination;

- Figure 10 is a detailed view of a variant of the system of Figure 6, wherein the seal part is spherical in shape;

- Figure 1 1 is a detailed view of a variant of the system of Figure 7, wherein the annular part is spherical in shape;

- Figure 12 is a perspective view of the injection unit of Figure 6;

- Figure 13 is a cross section view of a variant of the capsule illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, wherein the capsule is free of compliance line and the injection unit is in the open position.

The same elements in the various drawings will be indicated below with the same reference numerals.

With reference to Figures 1 to 1 1 , the numeral 1 denotes a system for making a food product (not illustrated) comprising a capsule 2 and a dispensing machine 3, 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-operative configuration. The capsule 2 is, for example, of the type shown in patent application WO2014102701.

The capsule 2 is able to dispense the food product directly in a consumption container (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 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 preparation, 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 casing, shown in Figures 1 to 5, can be compressed and/or flattened and is therefore deformable from a non-operative configuration, wherein the capsule 2 has not yet been used and is still non-deformed (Figure 1 ), to a dispensing configuration, shown at least in Figure 5, wherein the capsule 2 is open and is deformed and the food product is dispensed.

The lateral wall 202 comprises predetermined compliance lines 205, to allow the casing 2 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 dispensing unit and an injection unit 301 for injecting the fluid. More in detail, the capsule 2 can be housed in the dispensing unit for receiving the fluid injected by the injection unit 301 to obtain the food product.

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 can be housed. 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, for example, of the type shown in patent application WO2015056188.

The drawer comprises an element 302 for housing the capsule 2.

The housing element 302 comprises a supporting surface 303 configured to support the flanged edge 204 of the capsule 2 and to make contact with the injection unit 301.

The dispensing unit also comprises a fixed base 304, shaped in the form of an inverted cup, provided with an upper supporting surface 305 on which rests the base wall 201 of the capsule 2, when this is inserted in the housing element 302. The fixed base 304 is hollow and delimits a compartment 306, located below the housing element 302, when the drawer is inserted in the dispensing unit, which is in fluid communication with the housing element 302 through an opening 307 of the supporting surface 305. The compartment 306 is intended to receive a consumption container (not illustrated) of the food product, for example a cup or a plate. The opening 307 is used to deliver by gravity in the consumption container the food product which can be dispensed from the capsule 2. The injection unit 301 is configured to make contact with the housing element 302 and is mobile in a vertical direction between a plurality of operative positions, as described in more detail below, thanks to a drive device (not illustrated).

The housing element 302 is also mobile in a vertical direction and comes into contact with a plurality of elastic elements (not illustrated), an upper part of which comes into contact with a part of the housing element 302 and a lower part of which comes into contact with a housing (not illustrated) of the dispensing unit. The elastic elements are optional.

The elastic elements are in a rest condition when the housing element 302 is in a non-operative position of the injection unit and are compressed when the housing container is moved downwards towards the bottom of the injection unit 301 , to oppose the action of the injection unit 301.

The capsule 1 comprises a covering element 206 which is fixed to the flanged edge 204 of the capsule 1 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 in a partly detachable manner, as described in more detail below, to the base wall 201 . The closing element 208 is also typically 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 chosen from among one of the following materials of a first list:

- Polyolefin (preferably PP or PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polylactic 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.

Both the covering element 206 and the closing element 208 can comprise at least one layer comprising a 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 layers, wherein each layer can comprise at least one of the materials of the second list (for example PET/PVDF, PET/Aluminium).

According to a further embodiment, the covering element 206 and/or the closing element 208 can comprise at least three layers, 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 cannula 209 fixed to the covering element 206. The cannula 209 extends through the outlet opening 207 and comprises a first end 210 and a second end 21 1 opposite each other. The cannula 209 is, therefore, made as an elongate and rigid tubular element and is housed at least partly in the cavity 203.

The first end 210 comprises a seat 212, which is configured to receive the fluid. The seat 212 is provided with a inlet edge 213.

The seat 212 is positioned, in other words, for engaging with the injection unit 301 of the dispensing machine which is able to dispense the fluid and, in detail, is delimited laterally by a lateral wall 212a which is provided with at least one supply opening 214 for supplying to the cavity 203 the fluid F received from the injection unit 301 .

The second end 21 1 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 an open configuration. Preferably, the cannula 209 also comprises an outer flange 215 which peripherally surrounds the second end 21 1 . When the capsule 1 is in the non operative configuration, the outer flange 215 comes into contact with a portion of the base wall 201 , which surrounds the outlet opening 207.

The cannula 209 also comprises at least one discharge opening 216 to receive from the cavity 203 the food product and at least one dispensing opening 217, positioned in the second end 21 1 , for dispensing the food product in the consumption container.

The cannula 209 comprises a first conduit which extends from the inlet edge 213 to the feed opening 214 and a second conduit, separated from the first conduit by a partition 218 without openings, which extends from the discharge opening 216 to the dispensing opening 217. The partition 218 delimits a base of the seat 212. The cannula 209 is configured to slide in a sealed fashion in the outlet opening 207 in such a way that the food product flows out of the capsule 1 exclusively through the dispensing opening 207 of the cannula 209.

Advantageously, the closing element 208 is fixed to an outer annular portion (not illustrated) of the base wall 201 in such a way that the outer flange 215 is positioned between the base wall 201 and the closing element 208, making contact with an inner annular portion (not illustrated) of the base wall 201 , when the capsule is in the non-operative configuration.

The closing element 208 is fixed to the outer annular portion 209 of the base wall 201 for a first stretch (not illustrated) by means of a locking fixing, for example a locking sealing, and for a second stretch (not illustrated) by means of a detachable fixing, for example a detachable sealing. 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, when it is subjected to traction. The possibility that the closing element 208 is easily detached is made possible thanks to a food resin which is either extruded or placed in contact with the closing element 208 at the zones at which the closing element 208 must be joined, for example at the outer annular portion of the base wall 201 .

Since the locking fixing requires a force greater than the detachable fixing to detach the closing element 208 from the base wall 201 , a detachment of the second stretch occurs before the detachment of the first stretch, when the closing element 208 is pushed by the outer flange 215 to detach from the base wall 201. In this way, the first stretch remains connected to the base wall 201 and acts as a hinge element about which the portion of the closing element 208 comprising the second stretch can rotate, away from the base wall 201.

The injection unit 301 comprises a perforator element 308 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 308 is configured to perforate the covering element 206 and to dispense the fluid. The perforator element 308 comprises a perforating end from which an internal conduit also leads for feeding the fluid. The perforating end is positioned for directing the fluid dispensed axially along the longitudinal axis A. The perforator element 308 is, preferably, cylindrical with an inclined perforating end.

The injection unit 301 also comprises a positioning element 309, which is configured to make contact with the flanged edge 204 of the capsule 2.

In effect, when the capsule 2 is inserted in the dispensing machine 3, the flanged edge 204 is supported by the supporting surface 303.

In accordance with the dispensing machine 3 according to the invention, the injection unit 301 also comprises an abutment element 310, positioned between the perforator element 308 and the positioning element 309, which extends from the perforator element 308 and is divergent in shape.

More in detail, as described below, the abutment element 310 is divergent starting from the perforator element 308. In particular, the abutment element 308 has a minim cross section at the perforator element 308 and a maximum cross section at the positioning element 309.

The injection unit 301 is mobile along the longitudinal axis A between: a non operative 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; a perforating a position, shown in Figure 2, in which the perforator element 308 can be housed in the seat 212 and the abutment element 310 can engage in a sealed fashion with the inlet edge 213; an opening position, shown in Figure 3, in which the positioning element 309 can engage with the flanged edge 204 of the capsule 2 and the cannula 209 can be pushed by the abutment element 310 towards the closing element 208, detaching the closing element 208 from the base wall 201 and opening the capsule 2.

It should be noted that the base wall 201 rests on the supporting surface 305 and comes into contact with the supporting surface 305, in the perforating position of the injection unit 301.

Thanks to the dispensing machine according to invention, the injection unit 301 is able to engage in a sealed fashion with the capsule 2 in the perforating position and it is therefore not necessary for the injection unit 301 to be equipped with a sealing element to guarantee a fluid seal at the moment of injection of the fluid in the seat 212.

At the same time, thanks to the capsule according to the invention, the seat 212 is configured to house the perforator element whilst the inlet edge 213 is configured to make contact with the abutment element 310.

When the injection unit 301 passes from the perforating position to the opening position, the cannula 209, pushed downwards, can open the capsule 2 whilst the positioning element 309 can make contact with the flanged edge 204. When the positioning element 309 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 cannula 209 of the capsule 2 can receive the perforator element 308 whilst the abutment element 310 can engage in a sealed fashion with the inlet edge of the seat 212, the perforator element 308, 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 214 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.

In this way, a system 1 is provided according to the invention, comprising the dispensing machine 3 according to the invention and the capsule 2 according to the invention can be inserted in it, which guarantees a optimum dispensing of the fluid to the capsule 2 and therefore an effective dispensing of the food product to the consumption container.

More in detail, the abutment element 310 comprises an annular part 31 1 , shown in Figures 6 to 1 1 , which is configured to engage in a sealed fashion with the inlet edge 213.

Preferably, an angle a of between 5° and 175° is defined in section between a straight line tangential to the annular part 31 1 and the longitudinal axis A of the perforator element 308.

The annular part 31 1 , as shown in Figures 1 to 5, in Figures 6 to 8 and in Figure 12, may, for example, have a truncated cone shape.

According to a variant of the dispensing machine 3 according to the invention, the annular part 31 1 is curved in shape, for example it is a spherical in shape, as shown in Figures 10 and 1 1 . In the case of an annular part 31 1 with a curved shape, the tangent determines the angle a of inclination of the abutment element 310.

Thanks to the fact that the angle a of inclination (Figure 8) is within the range indicated above, it is guaranteed that the abutment element 310 engages in a sealed fashion with the inlet edge 213 whilst the perforator element 308 is housed in the seat 212.

In this manner, as shown in Figure 2, when the injection unit 301 comes into contact with the capsule 2, the positioning element 309 is not yet in contact with the flanged edge 204 of the capsule 2.

Advantageously, it should be noted that the specific configuration of shape of the injection unit 301 allows the dispensing machine 3 to couple well with the capsule 2.

According to a preferred embodiment, the injection unit 301 comprising the perforator element 308, the positioning element 309 and the abutment element 310 is made as a single piece metallic material, for example it is made of steel by means of simple mechanical processes, and consequently with reduced costs.

For this reason, advantageously, not only is the injection unit 301 according to the invention free of seal elements, but it can also be inexpensive to make.

According to the invention, a capsule 2 is provided comprising a cannula 209 equipped with a seat 212 whose inlet edge 213 is configured for engaging with the abutment element 310 of the injection unit 301.

As shown in Figures 6 and 10, the inlet edge 213 comprises an edge, which by way of example in the accompanying drawings is a sharp edge, to define an annular seal zone between the annular part 31 1 and the inlet edge 213.

It should be noted that the seal zone is defined at the edge of the inlet edge 213, both if the annular part 31 1 is conical in shape (Figure 6) and if the annular part 21 1 is curved in shape (Figure 9), and that is to say, spherical.

Thanks to the seal zone made using an edge of the inlet edge, a capsule 2 is provided in which a fluid seal is formed between the capsule 2 and the injection unit 301 in a simple and effective manner.

As shown in Figures 7, 9 and 1 1 , the inlet edge 213 comprises a pair of edges, to define a pair of seal zones between the annular part 31 1 and the inlet edge 213. The pair of edges may be defined if the inlet edge 213 comprises an annular groove 219 (Figures 7 and 1 1 ), or if the inlet edge comprises an inclined wall 220 (Figure 9).

The pair of edges is defined, respectively, between the annular groove 219, or the inclined wall 220, and the lateral wall 212a of the seat 212 and between the annular groove 219, or the inclined wall 220, and a end wall of the cannula 209, facing towards the injection unit 301.

If the inlet edge 213 comprises the inclined wall 220, as shown in Figure 9, preferably, the annular part 31 1 comprises a first region, for example conical in shape, and a second region, for example of conical in shape, wherein the first region is configured to make contact with the first edge, close to the perforator element 308, to define the first seal zone and the second region is configured to make contact with the second edge, close to the positioning element 309, for defining the second seal zone.

In cross section and relative to the longitudinal axis A, the first region defines a first angle (not illustrated) which is less than a second angle (not illustrated) defined for the second region. In other words, the annular part 21 1 comprises two conical regions with an increasing inclination. The first angle may also be close to 90°, as shown in Figure 9.

Thanks to the pair of seal zones made by a pair of edges of the inlet edge 213, what has been stated above again applies. Simply, a capsule 2 is provided which guarantees a fluid seal between the capsule 2 and the injection unit 301 .

In accordance with a different variant of the capsule 2 according to the invention, as shown in Figure 8 by way of example, the inlet edge 213 has a shape to match to the shape of the annular part 31 1 , to define a shape coupling between the annular part 31 1 and the inlet edge 213.

In this case, the inlet edge 213 is itself conical in shape and comprises the inclined wall 220 configured to make contact with the annular part 31 1.

It should be noted that, in the system 1 according to the invention, the injection unit 301 can be selected with the variant of a conical or curved shape, for example spherical, of the abutment element 310 and that the inlet edge 301 can be selected in the variant which comprises an edge, or two edges, in relation to the a sealed coupling to be made.

Advantageously, when the injection unit 301 is in the open position and the abutment element 31 1 engages with the inlet edge 213, a portion of the covering element 206 is interposed between the abutment element 31 1 and the inlet edge 213 to favour a fluid seal between the injection unit 301 and the capsule 2.

In effect, said interposed portion contributes to making a seal element.

It has been found experimentally that the covering element 206 acts as a seal element if it has a thickness of between 4 and 500 microns.

More in detail, the covering element 206 acts as a seal element if it has a thickness of between 40 and 250 microns, preferably between 40 and 150 microns, and if it comprises at least one layer comprising a material selected from among one of the following materials:

- PET;

- PET comprising aluminium oxides and silicon oxides;

- PVDC;

- PP;

- PE;

- PLA;

- EVOH.

What has been said above with regard to the fact that the covering element 206 can comprise at least two layers, or three layers, remains valid.

Alternatively, it has also been found experimentally that the covering element 206 acts as seal element if it has a thickness of between 15-200 microns, preferably between 15 and 50 microns, and is made of aluminium.

The shape of the abutment element 31 1 , configured for engaging in the inlet edge 213, in association with the thickness with which the covering element 206 is made, guarantee an even more effective fluid seal.

As mentioned above, the injection unit 301 is mobile from the perforating position of Figure 2 to the opening position of Figure 3. During this movement of the injection unit 301 , the cannula 209 is pushed downwards to detach the closing element 208 and open the capsule. The open capsule 2 changes from a non-operative configuration to a dispensing configuration.

It should be noted that the cannula 209 is pushed for a stroke equal to the distance between the abutment position and the opening position, which depends on the shape of the abutment element 310, that is to say, by the distance between the annular part 31 1 and the positioning element 309. It follows that the stroke can vary in relation to the abutment element 310 selected. For example, a stroke could be selected such as to position the outer flange 215 far from the base wall 201 , when the injection unit is in the opening position.

As mentioned above, if the capsule is in the dispensing configuration, the fluid can be injected into the capsule 2 and the food product can therefore be obtained in the cavity 203, which can also be dispensed in the consumption container. However, the lateral wall 202 of the capsule 1 is deformable and compressible along predetermined lines of compliance 205, and therefore this allows the covering 2 to be compressed or flattened in a direction A parallel to the longitudinal axis of the capsule 1 for the purposes of dispensing the food product. The cannula 209 is configured in such a way that the food product flows out exclusively from the dispensing opening 217, when the capsule 2 is in a dispensing condition, since the cannula 209 has a diameter such as to slide in a sealed fashion in the outlet opening 207 and comprises at least one discharge opening 216 for receiving the food product contained in the cavity 203 and dispensing the food product to the dispensing opening 217.

The injection unit 301 is also mobile from the open position, shown in Figure 3 to an initial compression position, shown in Figure 4, wherein the capsule 2 is in an initial compression condition, to a final compression position, shown in Figure 5, wherein the capsule is in final compression condition in which it has a smaller volume.

In the dispensing configuration, the capsule 1 is compressed and the casing progressively reduces its volume until having a minimum volume at the final compression position of the injection unit 301 . The outer flange 215 of the cannula 209 is far from the base wall 201 , which continues to make contact with the supporting surface 305, and the food product, obtained in the cavity 203 is, all the more so, dispensed through the dispensing opening 217.

The compression of the capsule 2 during dispensing favours the outflow of a viscous or pasty food product.

The capsule 2 shown in Figure 13 differs from the capsule 2 of Figures 1 to 5 described above because the lateral wall 202 of the capsule 1 is free of the lines of compliance 205 and the outlet opening 207 has a diameter greater than a diameter of the cannula 209 to define a dispensing zone 221 configured for dispensing the food product.

When the capsule 2 is in the non-operative configuration, the outer flange 215 closes the outlet opening 217, which is in addition sealed by the closing element 208.

When the injection unit 301 passes from the perforating position to the opening position of Figure 13, the cannula 209 detaches the closing element 208, opens the capsule 2 and the capsule 2 passes from the non-operative configuration to the dispensing configuration. In this configuration, the dispensing zone 221 allows the food product to flow out.

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. Flowever, 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 F in the cavity 203.

Even though the capsule 2 is without compliance lines, what has been stated previously applies with regard to the abutment element 309 and to the inlet edge 213 of the cannula 209 of the system 1 of the invention.

In addition, if the lateral wall 202 of the capsule 2 is without compliance lines, the movement of the injection unit 301 in the initial compression position and in the final position of compression is optional for the purposes of dispensing but it could be required for the purposes of waste disposal.

In use, the system 1 according to the invention comprises inserting the capsule 2 in accordance with the invention in a dispensing machine 3 comprising an injection unit 301 also in accordance with the invention. The capsule 2 is inserted in the non-operative condition when the injection device 301 is in a non-operative position. If we now consider the capsule 2 of Figures 1 to 5, 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-operative 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-operative 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 comprises the vent nozzle.

Subsequently, when the injection unit 301 is moved further in the opening position, the capsule 2 passes from the non-operative configuration to the dispensing configuration, since the closing element 208 is detached from the base wall 201 and the capsule 2 is open. The base wall 201 of the capsule 2 comes into contact with the supporting surface 305. 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 open position. If the capsule 2 is compressible, the fluid is advantageously injected in the opening position. Subsequently, if the lateral wall 202 is provided with lines of compliance 205 as shown in Figures 3 to 5, and if the cannula 209 has a diameter such as to slide in a sealed fashion in the outlet opening 207 and comprises at least one discharge opening 216 for receiving the food product contained in the cavity 203 and dispensing the food product to the dispensing opening 217 in such a way that the food product flows out exclusively from dispensing opening 217, the injection unit 301 can pass from the opening position to the initial compression position and afterwards to the final compression position to favour the dispensing of the food product when the capsule 2 is compressed and flattened.

If, on the other hand, the cannula 209 has a smaller diameter than the outlet opening 207, when the capsule 2 is in the dispensing configuration, the cannula 209 defines a dispensing zone 221 between the cannula 209 and the outlet opening 207 for dispensing the food product contained in the cavity 203. The fluid is dispensed in the capsule 2 to obtain the food product when the injection unit 301 is in the perforating configuration, since the abutment element 310 is able to engage in a sealed fashion with the capsule 2. Subsequently, when the injection unit is in the opening position, the capsule 2 passes from the non-operative configuration to the dispensing configuration and the food product can flow out from the cavity 203 of the capsule 2.

Optionally, also when the capsule 2 is free of the lines of compliance 205, the capsule 2 can be then compressed and flattened by the injection unit 301 , positioned in the initial compression position and in the final compression position.

According to the invention, 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 an effective fluid seal between the injection unit 301 and the capsule 2 in a simple and economical way.