RAPPARINI GINO (IT)
| WO2005090196A1 | 2005-09-29 | |||
| WO2004087529A1 | 2004-10-14 |
| EP1440908A1 | 2004-07-28 | |||
| EP1500358A1 | 2005-01-26 |
| 1. | Improvements to capsules and machines for the making of infuses such as espresso coffee characterized by the fact that the capsule (1), hermetically sealed by the lid (6), internally includes a distance wheel (5; 5'; 5") equipped with a filter paper disc (3; 3'; 3"), and that such capsule can be used with closable machines (11; 12) and (U'; 12') provided with devices (16) for the steam injection (17) and with simple punching devices ( 13.13'.13",13"\ 13"") to allow the pouring out of the infuse (18), such as espresso coffee, from the capsule (1). |
| 2. | Improvements to capsules and machines for the making of infuses such as espresso coffee, as in the previous claim, characterized by the fact that the depth (H) of the distance wheel (5, 5' and 5") is bigger than the maximum penetration (h) of the punching devices inside the capsule (I)5 to ensure that the filter paper (3, 3' and 3") is not damaged duringthepunehingoperations. |
| 3. | Improvements to capsules and machines for the making of infuses such as espresso coffee, as in the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the punching devices (13; 13'; 13"; 13"'; 13"") are made of simple pins or blades whose punching action allows the pouring out from the capsule (1) of the infuse (18), while the presence of the filter paper (3; 3'; 3") prevents the coming out of powders (2) even if very fine. |
| 4. | Improvements to capsules and machines for the making of infuses such as espresso coffee, as in the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the punching devices (13; 13') are especially placed to punch the capsule (1) during the closing of the equipments (11, 12, 11', 12"). 5) Improvements to capsules and machines for the making of infuses such as espresso coffee, as in the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the punching devices (13"; 13'") are especially placed to punch the capsule (1) only when this is deformed by the pressure (17) of the steam (17) injected during the infusion. |
| 5. | Improvements to capsules and machines for the making of infuses such as espresso coffee, as in the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the operating action of the punching devices (13"") is controlled and occurs only after the internal pressure of capsule (1) has reached the optimal value, which is purposely preset according to characteristics of the product and to the quality of the infuse to be prepared. |
| 6. | Improvements. to capsules and machines for the making of infuses such as espresso coffee, as in the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the operating action of the punching device (13"") is controlled and occurs only after a preset amount of time after the start of the steam iηjection(LX).. |
| 7. | Improvements to capsules and machines for the making of infuses such as espresso coffee, as in the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the rigid disc (19, 19') with central hole (20, 20') supports and stiffens the capsules (1) preventing its deformation by the pressure of the steam (17) injected inside, thus allowing the punching operation only after a present value of internal pressure in the capsule is reached, without risk of explosion for the capsule. |
The present invention pertains to the field of packaging machines, in particular to capsules and machines for the making of infuses such as espresso coffee. The international classifications of reference are B65b and B65d. State of the art
Several kinds of capsules and machines for the making of infuses such as espresso coffee are known. In the known types, the punching devices that allow the pouring out of the infuse from the capsule necessarily have complex and fragile morphologies. Specifically, they have extremely small holes that allow the capsules to contain powders of granular products, which are then passed through by a flow of steam injected to obtain .infuses such as espresso coffee. Such small holes are very expensive and require very costly maintenance after each use. The problem to be solved is to realize capsules and equipments to inject steam and extract the liquid infuse keeping the powders of the product, even if very fine, withln the capsule.
AU the problems above indicated are solved by a filter paper applied onto a distance wheel inserted inside the capsule containing the product. The filter paper allows the use of simple punching devices, which don't require any maintenance since the powders of the product, even if very fine, are withheld inside the capsule by the filter paper.
Furthermore, the solution proposed by the present invention allows to optimize the organoleptic characteristics of the infuse keeping the injected steam inside the capsule for a certain amount of time to reach a pre-set pressure level. Description
The present invention is now disclosed in details with reference to the figures of the drawings attached as a unrestrictive example.
Figure 1 highlights in axonometric view the various components of a capsule (1). It can be noticed the presence of the filter paper disc (3'), applied onto the distance wheel (5). Figure Ibis shows a variation to the filter paper disc (3') which present a peripheral edge (4) that will be peripherally folded onto specific zones (4' and 4") of the open edge of the capsule body (1). Figure lter shows another variation of the filter paper disc (3"). It can be noticed that said filter paper disc (3") is applied directly onto the distance wheel (5")-
Figure 2 highlights in axial section an already packaged capsule. It can be noticed the presence of the filter paper disc (3) applied onto the distance wheel (5) inserted directly at the edge of capsule body (1). It should be highlighted the fact that the capsule (1) already packaged with the product (2) is sealed hermetically with the lid (6) applied steadily on the edge (9).
Figure 2 bis highlights an axial section of a capsule, similarly packaged with a distance wheel (3'). It can be noticed the presence of a filter paper edge (4) folded on the distance wheel (5').
Figure 2ter shows a variation of the capsule packaged with a distance wheel (5") inserted ¥g^insfth " e ~ eήd wair(TO) ~ orthe capsule (1). It can be noticed-that-filter-paper-disc-(3— ) is distanced by said wall (10) that can be later punched without jeopardizing the filter paper disc.
Figure 3 represents schematically an improved equipment used to obtain infuses such as espresso coffee with the employment of capsules packaged according to the present invention. It can be noticed that the equipment is composed by two bodies (11; 12) inside which a capsule (1) is inserted with a sealing lid (6) pointed downwards and set up with a filter paper disc (3) applied directly on the distance wheel (5). It can be noticed that the body (11) is provided with devices (16) for the steam injection. It can be noticed that the body (12) is provided with a support (14) equipped with a punching device (13).
Figure 4 shows the penetrating in a capsule (1) of the injectors (16) and the intervention of the punching device (13) that, during the closing operations of the equipment (11; 12), punches the sealing lid (6) and leaves the filter paper intact (3).
Figure 5 shows the injection of steam (17) through the injectors (16).
Figure 6 shows the infusion process and the passage of the infuse (18) through the filter paper (3).
Figure 7 shows the pouring out of the infuse (18) that comes out of the punching done by the device (13), goes through the holes (15) of the support (14) and flows out passing through the body
(12).
Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 show a similar process of infusion such as espresso realized by the capsule (1) with the sealing lid (6) pointing up. .. . . ..
Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15 show a variation for the realization of a similar process of infusion such as espresso realized by a capsule (1) with sealing lid (6) pointing down and closing equipment (11; 12) specifically " set up ~ with-punehing-dev-iees (13")- Such devices are further away frojnjthe_ sealing lid (6) to punch it only when it deforms under the pressure of the steam (17) injected in the capsule (1).
Figures 16, 17, 18, and 19 show an example of the previous infusion process realized with the capsule (1) and with sealing lid (6) pointing up.
Figures 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 show a process of controlled infusion. It can be noticed the presence of a punching device (13"") whose intervention is technologically controlled both according to the pressure of the steam inside the capsule (1) with sealing lid (6) pointing down, both in function of the time of permanence of the steam inside the capsule.
Figures 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 show the previous process of controlled infusion but realized with the capsule (1) with the sealing lid (6) pointing up.
In the figures 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and in the Figures 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40, it can be noticed the presence of rigid discs (19, 19') with central holes (20, 20') inserted between the capsule (1) and the closing elements (12, 12') to avoid deformations to the hermetic lid (6) or to the bottom wall (10) of the capsule (1) during the realization of similar processes of controlled infusion.
In the figures of the attached drawings each single detail is marked as follows:
1 is the capsule.
2 is the product inside said capsule. 3, 3' and 3" are filter paper discs. 4 is the edge of the filter paper (3').
4', 4" indicate the lodging of the wheels (5, 5') inside the capsule (1). 5, 5', 5" indicate the distance wheel for the attachment of the filter paper.
6 iindicates the lid for the hermetic sealing of the capsule.
7 indicates the radiuses of the distance wheel. ~ 81ndicates the central hollow hubiDftherdistance ~ wheek-
9 indicates the edge of the capsule.
10 indicates the bottom wall of the capsule.
11, 12. 11' and 12' are closing elements for the infusion process. 13, 13', 13", 13'" and 13"" indicate simple punching devices.
14, 14', and 14" indicate the support of such punching devices.
15, 15' and 15" indicates holes upon said supports 14, 14' and 14".
16 indicates steam injectors.
17 indicates the steam to be injected.
18 indicates the prepared infuse.
19 and 19' indicate a rigid disc with central hole.
20 and 20' indicate the central hole of said disc.
H indicates the depth of the distance wheel. h indicates the maximum penetration of the punching devices.
The clearness of the figures highlights the simplicity of realization and functioning of the improvements to the capsules and the machines for the making of infuses such as espresso coffee, which are the subject matter of the present invention. The invention of course allows for several variations of practical realization, both for structural proportioning and dimensioning of the various components, and for the technological choices of the materials used for their building.
All the improvements to the capsules and the machines for the making of infuses such as espresso coffee, which will present the same original characteristics of this invention, as previously described, illustrated and hereinafter claimed, will be regarded as being part the protection sphere of the present invention.