SINGLE-DOSE CAPSULE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BEVERAGES

Technical field

This invention relates to a single-dose capsule for powder or semi-liquid products.

More specifically, the capsule according to this invention can be used on machines for producing either a hot product (infusion beverages such as coffee, tea, camomile, etc.) or a cold product (ice cream).

Background art

A machine of this kind is known from patent document WO2015092637 in the name of the same Applicant.

These machines comprise a chamber for housing the capsule. The chamber comprises a zone for feeding or flow of a solvent fluid (hot or cold) and a discharging zone, where the product already partly mixed is fed, for example, to a processing chamber (for example a mixing and cooling unit, in the case of a cold product, or a percolating chamber in the case of a hot product)

Currently, as described in the above-mentioned patent document, the prior art capsules contain a food preparation (that is to say, a mixture of ingredients, ready for use or concentrated) for the preparation of a food product such as: ice creams, sorbets, slush drinks, cold custards and puddings, or, coffee, tea, camomile, etc.

These food preparations, depending on the type of end product, may consist of mixtures of dry powder, or semi-liquid granulated gel mixtures. These capsules, as mentioned above of the single-dose type, are structured to favour the dilution with a predetermined quantity of solvent liquid which is transferred and made to flow through the capsule before reaching the dispensing conduit. The mixture is transferred into a processing or extraction chamber.

An example of this capsule is also shown in the patent document WO2015092637 in the name of the same Applicant.

The capsule basically comprises:

a cylindrical shaped body, closed at the bottom, defining the chamber for housing the food product;

a tubular protuberance, positioned inside the cylindrical body, configured with an upper opening, and a lower opening in communication with the outside;

an upper body or cover of the body for the relative sealed closing; the cover, when mounted, temporarily closes the upper opening of the projection.

A plurality of through holes is made at an annular zone of the cover.

These holes are designed to allow the entry of the solvent liquid inside the capsule for mixing with the powder or semi-liquid product and also act as an element for complete emptying of the product from the capsule.

In effect, the emptying occurs since the solvent liquid, as it is introduced inside the capsule under great pressure, allows a slight deformation of the cover upwards with relative detachment from the central protuberance freeing, in effect, the upper opening. The upper opening allows the passage of the flow of the resulting mixture towards the outside, that is to say, outside the lower opening.

This solution of capsule has several drawbacks.

A first drawback is due to the reduced use of the quantity of product housed inside the capsule.

In effect, the flow of the solvent liquid with relative mixing inside the capsule starts from the bottom upwards to allow the opening of the protuberance at the top with the passage of the mixture downwards. Now, when the flow of the solvent liquid terminates and the internal pressure drops, a part of the mixture is not able to reach the outfeed zone and remains inside the capsule. This determines an end product which is not coherent (that is to say, of poorer quality) with the real quantity of product present in the capsule. Another drawback is due to the fact that the used capsules remain soiled and cannot be fully recycled in an immediate fashion, with the need for intermediate processing which is more costly.

Asm of the invention

The aim of this invention is to provide a singie-dose capsule for powder or semi-liquid products which overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

More specifically, the aim of this invention is to provide a single-dose capsule for powder or semi-liquid food products which is able to obtain a controlled and complete flow of the quantity of food product inside the processing or percolating chamber.

A further aim of this invention is to provide a single-dose capsule for powder or semi-liquid products which is able to obtain, depending on the type of final product housed, a high quality of final mixture inside the processing chamber.

These aims are fully achieved by the single-dose capsule for powder or semi-liquid products according to the invention as characterised in the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of it, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a schematic side view with some parts cut away to better illustrate others of a capsule for powder or semi-liquid products, according to this invention, housed in a seat of a machine for its use;

Figure 2 illustrates a front view with some parts cut away to better illustrate others of the capsule for powder or semi-liquid products; Figure 3 illustrates a cross section view of an enlarged detail of Figure 2; Figure 4 illustrates a top plan view of the capsule of the above-mentioned drawings;

Figure 5 is a cross-section through line V - V of Figure 4;

Figure 6 illustrates a bottom plan view of the capsule of the above- mentioned drawings;

Figure 7 is a cross-section through line VII - VII of Figure 6;

Figure 8 illustrates a top plan view of another embodiment of the capsule of the above-mentioned drawings;

Figure 9 is a cross-section through line IX - IX of Figure 8.

Detained description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to the accompanying drawings, and in particular to Figure 1 , the capsule for powder or semi-liquid food products (or also liquids) according to the invention, denoted in its entirety by the numeral 5, can be used in machines for preparing hot or cold products (for example single- dose ice creams or water-ices or hot infusions such as coffee, tea or the like).

The machine, labelled 20 in its entirety, will not be described in detail, since it can be, for example, of the type illustrated in the patent document WO2015092637 in the name of the same Applicant.

Basically, the machine (see Figure 1 ) has a seat 1 in which can be housed the capsule 5.

The machine has an inlet conduit 2 of a solvent liquid and a conduit 3 connecting with a chamber 4 for receiving the mixed product (for example a product mixing chamber or a product percolating chamber both labelled 4 in Figure 1 ).

The capsule 5 comprises a hollow rigid body 6 (preferably with cylindrical cross-section and single piece) defining a chamber 7 for housing a dose 8 of powder or semi-liquid food product (that is, a powder material product with reduced grain size, or a gel). The rigid body 6 has a base 9 and a top opening 10 open to the outside. The capsule 5 has a cover 1 1 for dosing the top opening 10 of the rigid body 6.

It should be noted that the cover 1 1 is also of the rigid type.

As illustrated (see also Figure 2), the capsule 5 comprises a plurality of elements 13 for the controlled passage of the flow of solvent liquid towards the housing chamber 7, made on a surface of the cover 1 1 and configured for obtaining, selectively and as a function of a pressure of the solvent liquid flowing, the passage of a reduced quantity of the solvent liquid towards the chamber 7 for housing the dose 8 of product and a simultaneous thrust on the cover 1 1 , generated by the pressure of the solvent liquid flowing, so as to allow the cover 1 1 to slide inside the housing chamber 7, guided by the inner rigid walls (that is, by the inner cylindrical surface) of the rigid body 6, from the top opening 10 towards the base 9 of the rigid body 6 with relative pushing on the dose 8 of product. The capsule 5 comprises a plurality of notches 14 made on the base 9 of the body 8 which are able to define portions of the base 9 which are adjacent to one another and acing as flexible membranes to obtain an opening of the base 9, at the thrust of the cover 1 1 on the dose 8 of product, and allow the passage the dose 8 of product towards the connecting conduit 3.

Preferably, the capsule 5 also comprises elements 12 for retaining the cover 1 1 on the opening 10 of the rigid body 6, positioned between the cover 1 1 and an annular zone of the top opening 10 of the rigid body 6, and configured for temporarily retaining the cover 1 1 on the opening 10 of the rigid body 6 up to the start of the thrust generated by the solvent liquid on the cover 1 1 ,

In other words, the capsule is structured in such a way as to push (with a syringe or piston effect) the entire dose of product towards the chambers for processing the product with a reduced quantity of liquid mixed with the product. The times for ejection of the product are reduced and the end quality of the product flowing out is extremely high.

Preferably (see Figure 3), the retaining elements comprise an annular projection 12 elastically compliant positioned inside and along an inner edge of the body 6 close to the top opening 10. The annular projection 12 is configured to release the cover 1 1 and allow the sliding movement of the cover 1 1 at the thrust generated by the solvent liquid on the cover 1 1 , Basically, the projection 12 has a resistance lower than the pushing pressure obtained from the flowing liquid acting on the surface of the cover 1 1 .

According to an alternative solution (or in combination with the projection 12), the retaining elements (Figure 2) can comprise a microperforated piece 16 of film positioned to cover the edge of the body 6 forming the frame of the top opening 10 and the cover 1 1 in a covering position. In light of this, the piece 16 is partly associated with the edge of the rigid body 6 and the cover 1 1 (for example by heat sealing), in such a way as to release the cover 1 1 at the thrust generated by liquid the solvent on the cover 1 1 .

!n other words, the piece 16 (microperforated) serves to keep the cover 1 1 in the closed position of the rigid body 6, but with a seal less than the force generated by the liquid on the surface of the cover 1 1 in such a way as to allow the sliding of the cover 1 1 towards the base of the body.

According to a further alternative solution, the capsule 5 comprises a piece of fiat circular flexible film or cover (for example, made of aluminium) for joining and seal between the edge of the rigid body 6 and the cover 1 1 , The cover can be removed before use of the capsule 5.

With this solution it is possible to have only the closing cover with the cover 1 1 retained, in a floating fashion, by the dose of product contained until activation of the mixing procedure which, in effect, define the retaining elements.

Alternatively, the cover can be combined with the retaining elements described above.

Preferably, the passage means (Figures 4 and 5) are a plurality of valve elements 13 made on the surface of the cover 1 1 and configured for moving between a closed position to define, with the rest of the cover 1 1 , a contact surface on the solvent liquid flowing, which is able to generate the thrust on the cover 1 1 and thus allow the cover 1 1 to slide towards the base 9 of the body 10 with relative thrust on the dose 8 of product, and an open position for the passage of a reduced quantity of the solvent liquid towards the chamber 7 for housing the dose 8 of product.

This valve structure makes it possible to obtain a high contact surface of the cover so as to reduce the time for lowering the cover and, simultaneously, to achieve the flow of the quantity, even though reduced of liquid in the dose of product to obtain the correct and necessary mixing (in particular for powder products) necessary for the correct escape of the product from the capsule.

In light of this, each valve element can comprise a flexible plate 13 formed on the outer surface of the cover 1 1 (in the case illustrated, only by way of example, there are four) and having an end constrained to the outer surface of the cover 1 1 .

Each plate 13 has an elastic surface movable between a closed static position, coplanar with the outer surface of the cover 1 1 , and an open position, wherein the plate 13 is inclined towards the housing chamber 7, under the thrust of the solvent liquid flowing, so as to allow a reduced passage of the solvent liquid towards a corresponding passage hole 17 made in the cover 1 1 and under the plate 13.

The number, the size, the rigidity of the plates (and their position on the surface of the cover) are a function of the response to be obtained by the plates to the thrust of the solvent liquid and by the amount of liquid to be passed towards the dose of product.

According to a variant embodiment illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the controlled passage elements can comprise two (or more) through holes 18, with reduced diameter, made in the proximity of the centre of the cover 1 1 , to allow a reduced and controlled passage of the solvent liquid towards the chamber 7 for housing the product at the flow of the solvent liquid and, at the same time, always allow the pushing of the solvent liquid flowing on 5 the cover 1 1 , in such a way as to push the cover 1 1 towards the base 8 of the rigid body 6.

Preferably, the plurality of notches 14 is made on the base 9 of the rigid body 8 to form a cross close to the centre of the base 9 of the rigid body 9 and to define four flaps 14a acting as flexible membranes (Figures 6 and0 7).

The flaps 14a (of educed thickness) are configured to bend towards the outside of the body 10, at the thrust generated by the cover 1 1 on the dose 8 of product with consequent escape of the dose 8 of product from the housing chamber 7.

5 Preferably, the flaps 14a can be joined together by a stretch of the base 9 in a shared central point defining a breaking joining element 15,

In light of this, the breaking joining element 15 being a portion of the base 9 having a reduced thickness relative to the thickness presented by the flaps 14a in such a way as to mutually separate the flaps 14a at the thrust o of the cover 1 1 on the dose 8 of product.

In addition (by way of a non-limiting example) the capsule 5 may comprise a piece of film 19 for closing the base 9 and which can be removed from base 9 before use. This to guarantee the closing of the base in the case of very fine powder products.

5 The invention also provides a method for feeding a dose of product with the capsule 5 described above.

The method comprises the following steps:

preparing a processing machine with a seat 1 connected to an inlet conduit 2 of a solvent liquid and a conduit 3 connecting with a chamber 4 o for receiving the product;

preparing a capsule 5 according to one or more of the features described above;

housing the capsule 5 in the seat 1 ;

flowing of the solvent liquid in the seat 1 towards the cover 1 1 of the capsule 5;

guided sliding of the cover 1 1 , along the entire rigid body 6 and inside the housing chamber 7, towards the base 9 of the rigid body 6 by means of the thrust of the liquid solvent flowing;

partial passage of the liquid solvent in the housing chamber 7, through the cover 1 1 and using the means 13 for the controlled flow of the liquid, with partial mixing in the housing chamber 7 between the dose 8 of product and the part of the liquid solvent which has entered;

escape of the dose 8 of product partly mixed through the opening of the base 9 of the rigid body 6 defined by notches 14 and under the thrust of the cover 1 1 in a guided downwards fashion, using the inner surfaces of the rigid body 6, towards the base 9 of the rigid body 8.

Preferably, after the step of escape of the dose 8 of product partly mixed and with the cover 1 1 resting on the base 9 of the rigid body 6, there is a step of rinsing the chamber 7 for housing the capsule 5 with the remaining liquid flowing inside the housing chamber 7.

The preset aims are achieved thanks to a capsule structured in this way. The basic concept of the capsule lies in the fact that the cover acts as an actual extraction element of the product, using the thrust force of the liquid flowing, and it is correctly guided by the rigid inner surfaces of the rigid body.

The valve elements guarantee a minimum quantity of liquid for the small percentage of mixing necessary (in particular for powder products) without reducing the final quality of the product.

This type of system guarantees the complete extraction of the dose of product (therefore high final quality) with standard extraction times and without having to modify the existing machine.

The closing of the bottom by the cover makes it possible to perform a complete rinsing of the capsule already in the machine so as to recycle the used capsule (the body and cover of which maintain their shape thanks to their stiffness) without further intermediate processes.