CAPSULE FOR PREPARING BEVERAGES

Abstract

A capsule, intended for the preparation of a beverage in a device for making beverages, includes a body including a bottom wall; a side wall extending around a longitudinal axis between a first annular edge, connected to the bottom wall, and a second annular edge, wherein the side wall has an inside surface, facing towards the longitudinal axis, and an outside surface, opposite to the inside surface; an annular flange, extending from the second annular edge of the side wall, away from the longitudinal axis; a plurality of protrusions disposed around the longitudinal axis and projecting from a first portion of the outside surface of the side wall, proximal to the flange.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A capsule, intended for the preparation of a beverage in a device for making beverages, the capsule comprising a body which includes a bottom wall; a side wall extending around a longitudinal axis between a first annular edge, connected to the bottom wall, and a second annular edge, wherein the side wall has an inside surface, facing towards the longitudinal axis, and an outside surface, opposite to the inside surface; and an annular flange, extending from the second annular edge of the side wall, away from the longitudinal axis, wherein the outside surface of the side wall includes a first portion, which is proximal to the flange, and a second portion, which is distal from the flange; wherein the second annular edge has a diameter that is greater than or equal to 40 mm and wherein the capsule has a length that is greater than or equal to 35 mm along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the body includes a plurality of protrusions disposed around the longitudinal axis and projecting from the first portion of the outside surface of the side wall, so the protrusions of the plurality of protrusions produce local thickening of the side wall.

22. The capsule according to claim 21, wherein the protrusions of the plurality of protrusions extend along respective axes which are contained in planes passing through the longitudinal axis.

23. The capsule according to claim 22, wherein the protrusions of the plurality of protrusions are angularly equispaced around the longitudinal axis.

24. The capsule according to claim 23, wherein the plurality of protrusions includes at least three protrusions.

25. The capsule according to claim 21, wherein the annular flange has a rear face, which is directed towards the bottom wall, and a front face opposite to the rear face, wherein the body includes a plurality of protuberances, disposed around the longitudinal axis and projecting from the rear face of the annular flange, so the protuberances of the plurality of protuberances produce local thickening of the annular flange.

26. The capsule according to claim 25, wherein the protuberances of the plurality of protrusions extend along respective radial axes, where the radial axes extend radially from the longitudinal axis.

27. The capsule according to claim 25, wherein each protuberance of the plurality of protuberances is joined to a corresponding protrusion of the plurality of protrusions.

28. The capsule according to claim 27, wherein each protuberance of the plurality of protuberances makes with the corresponding protrusion of the plurality of protrusions an angle between 40° and 55°.

29. The capsule according to claim 21, further comprising: a lid, joined to the annular flange to delimit, with the body, an internal space inside the capsule; a filter element, positioned in the internal space, wherein the filter element divides the internal space into a containing space and a collecting space, wherein the containing space is partly delimited by the lid and the collecting space is partly delimited by the bottom wall; and a substance contained in the containing space and used for making the beverage.

30. The capsule according to claim 21, wherein the side wall of the capsule has a frustoconical portion which is distal from the flange and a cylindrical portion which is proximal to the flange.

31. The capsule according to claim 21, wherein the annular flange extends from the second annular edge of the side wall, away from the longitudinal axis, and is thin.

32. The capsule according to claim 21, wherein each protuberance has a radial extension which is equal to the radial extension of the underside surface of the annular flange.

33. A method for making a capsule, intended for the preparation of a beverage in a device for making beverages, wherein the method comprises a step of forming a body of the capsule, in which the following are made: a bottom wall; a side wall extending around a longitudinal axis between a first annular edge, connected to the bottom wall, and a second annular edge, wherein the side wall has an inside surface, facing towards the longitudinal axis, and an outside surface, opposite to the inside surface; and an annular flange, extending from the second annular edge of the side wall, away from the longitudinal axis, wherein the outside surface of the side wall includes a first portion, which is proximal to the flange, and a second portion, which is distal from the flange; wherein the second annular edge has a diameter that is greater than or equal to 40 mm and wherein the capsule has a length that is greater than or equal to 35 mm along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the step of forming also makes a plurality of protrusions, disposed around the longitudinal axis and projecting from the first portion of the outside surface of the side wall, so the protrusions of the plurality of protrusions produce local thickening of the side wall.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the step of forming is carried out by compression moulding starting from a charge of thermoplastic material, wherein the protrusions of the plurality of protrusions are made as one with the side wall of the body during compression moulding.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the step of forming also makes a plurality of protuberances, disposed around the longitudinal axis and projecting from a rear face of the annular flange, the rear face being directed towards the bottom wall, wherein the protuberances of the plurality of protuberances are made as one with the annular flange during compression moulding.

36. A mould for making a capsule intended for the preparation of a beverage in a device for making beverages, the mould being movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration in which it defines a moulding cavity that includes: a bottom recess; a side hollow, extending around a longitudinal axis between a first annular end, connected to the bottom hollow, and a second annular end, wherein the side hollow has an inside wall, facing towards the longitudinal axis, and an outside wall, opposite to the inside wall; and a flange hollow, connected to the second annular end and extending from the second annular end, away from the longitudinal axis, wherein the outside wall of the side hollow includes a first portion, proximal to the flange hollow, and a second portion, distal from the flange hollow; wherein the second annular edge has a diameter that is greater than or equal to 40 mm and wherein the moulding cavity has a length that is greater than or equal to 35 mm along the longitudinal axis, wherein the side hollow includes a plurality of recesses, disposed around the longitudinal axis in the first portion of the outside wall of the side hollow.

37. The mould according to claim 36, wherein the flange hollow has a rear wall, facing towards the bottom hollow, and a front wall, opposite to the rear wall, wherein the flange hollow includes a plurality of concavities, disposed around the longitudinal axis in the rear wall of the flange hollow.

38. The mould according to claim 36, comprising an upper unit and a lower unit, which are movable relative to each other along the longitudinal axis, wherein, in the open configuration of the mould, the upper unit and the lower unit are spaced apart and in the closed configuration of the mould, the upper unit and the lower unit are close together and delimit the moulding cavity.

39. The capsule according to claim 21, wherein the second annular edge is greater than or equal to 35 mm in diameter.

40. The capsule according to claim 21, wherein a length of the capsule is greater than or equal to 30 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0058] These and other features will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0059] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a capsule body made according to one or more aspects of this disclosure;

[0060] FIG. 2 shows the capsule body of FIG. 1 in a further perspective view;

[0061] FIG. 3 shows the capsule body of FIG. 1 in a view from below;

[0062] FIG. 4 shows the capsule body of FIG. 1 in a longitudinal cross section;

[0063] FIG. 5 shows the capsule of this disclosure, including the body illustrated in FIG. 1, the filter, the substance and the lid;

[0064] FIG. 5A shows the filter of the capsule of FIG. 5;

[0065] FIG. 6 shows a mould for making the capsule body of FIG. 1 in an open configuration;

[0066] FIG. 7 shows the mould of FIG. 6 in a closed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0067] With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a capsule. The capsule 1 comprises a body 100. The body 100 includes a bottom wall 101, a side wall 102 and an annular flange 103. The side wall 102 extends around a longitudinal axis A, between a first annular edge 102A and a second annular edge 102B. The first and the second annular edge 102A and 102B surround the longitudinal axis A. The first annular edge 102A is connected to the bottom wall 101. The second annular edge 102B is connected to the annular flange 103.

[0068] The side wall 102 has an inside surface, facing towards the longitudinal axis A, and an outside surface, opposite to the inside surface. The side wall 102, or its outside surface, comprises a first portion 1021 and a second portion 1022. The first portion 1021 is proximal to the annular flange 103 and the second portion 1022 is distal from the annular flange 103; more specifically, the first portion 1021 is connected to the annular flange 103 and the second portion 1021 is connected to the bottom wall 101. The first portion 1021 thus extends around the longitudinal axis A between the first annular edge 102A of the side wall and a connecting edge, joining the first portion 1021 and the second portion 1022. The second portion 1022 extends around the longitudinal axis A between the connecting edge, joining the first portion 1021 and the second portion, and the second annular edge 102B. The first portion 1021 has a substantially cylindrical shape; thus, the connecting edge, joining the first portion 1021 and the second portion 1022, has the same diameter D1 as the second annular edge 102B. The second portion 1022 is frustoconical in shape; thus, the connecting edge, joining the first portion 1021 and the second portion 1022, has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the first annular edge 102A. Therefore, the second annular edge 102B has a diameter D1 that is larger than the diameter of the first annular edge 102A. The diameter D1 of the second annular edge 102B is preferably greater than or equal to 40 mm.

[0069] The length L1 of the side wall 102 — that is, of the capsule body 100 — is greater than or equal to 35 mm, along the longitudinal axis. The length L1 defines the maximum distance between the bottom wall 101 and the second annular edge 102B.

[0070] The body 100 comprises a plurality of protrusions 104. The protrusions 104 project from the first portion 1021 of the outside surface of the side wall 102. The protrusions 104 are elongate in shape and extend in parallel (or substantially in parallel) with the longitudinal axis A. The protrusions 104 are equispaced around the longitudinal axis A. The protrusions 104 extend on the first portion 1021, from the connecting edge, joining the first portion 1021 and the second portion 1022, up to the second annular edge 102B (that is, up to the annular flange 103). Thus, each protrusion 104 extends from a first end, which is positioned on the connecting edge, joining the first portion 1021 and the second portion 1022, to a second end, which is in contact with the annular flange 103.

[0071] The body 100 comprises a plurality of protuberances 105. The protuberances 105 protrude from a rear face of the annular flange 103, facing towards the side wall 102, - that is, towards the bottom wall 101. The protuberances 105 have an elongate shape running along respective radial directions which extend radially from the longitudinal axis A. The protuberances 105 are angularly equispaced around the longitudinal axis A. Each protuberance 105 is joined to a corresponding protrusion 104. More specifically, each protuberance 105 extends between a first end, which is joined to the second end of the corresponding protrusion 104, and a second end, which is located on an outer edge of the annular flange 103.

[0072] The capsule 1 comprises a lid 14. The lid 14 is joined to the front face of the annular flange 103. Thus, the protuberances 105 protrude from the annular flange 103, on the face opposite the face to which the lid 14 is applied.

[0073] The lid 14 and the body 100 delimit an internal space inside the capsule 1. The capsule 1 also comprises a filter element 11. The filter element 11 is positioned in the internal space inside the capsule 1. Preferably, the filter element 11 is cup shaped and in turn includes a side wall and a bottom wall. The side wall of the filter element 11 also extends around the longitudinal axis A; The side wall of the filter element 11 is parallel, or substantially parallel, to the side wall 102 (or to the second portion 1022 of the side wall 102). The bottom wall of the filter element 11 is connected to the side wall of the filter element 11 (at a lower annular end of the filter element 11). Preferably, the bottom wall of the filter element 11 is parallel to the bottom wall 101 of the capsule body 100. Preferably, an upper annular end of the filter element 11 is joined (for example, glued) to the capsule body 100 in a zone proximal to the second annular edge 102B of the side wall 102. The bottom wall of the filter element 11 is spaced from the bottom wall 101 of the capsule body 100. Thus, the filter element 11 defines, within the internal space of the capsule 1, a containing space 12 which is included between the lid 14 and the bottom wall of the filter element 11, and a collecting space 13 which is included between the bottom wall of the filter element 11 and the bottom wall 101 of the capsule. The substance for making the beverage (coffee granules, for example) is located in the containing space 12. The collecting space 13 is full of air.

[0074] When the capsule 1 is inserted into the beverage making machine, an injector 4 pierces the lid 14 and feeds hot water into the containing space 12. The beverage is produced by infusion and percolates into the collecting space 13 through the filter element 11. The machine then pierces the bottom wall 101 to dispense the beverage made.

[0075] This disclosure also relates to a mould 2. The mould 2 is shaped in such a way as to form the body 100 of the capsule 1. The mould 2 comprises an upper unit 21 and a lower unit 22, movable relative to each other along a longitudinal axis A (which coincides with the longitudinal axis A of the body 100 formed). The upper unit 21 and the lower unit 22 are movable relative to each other between a spaced-apart position, which defines an open configuration of the mould 2, and a close-together position, which defines a closed configuration of the mould 2. In the open configuration, the mould 2 is configured to receive a charge 3 of thermoplastic material. Preferably, the charge 3 is placed on the lower unit 22. In the closed configuration, the upper unit 21 and the lower unit 22 delimit a moulding cavity 200 in which the body 100 of the capsule 1 is formed by compression moulding, starting from the charge 3.

[0076] The moulding cavity 200 includes a bottom recess 201, configured to form the bottom wall 101 of the body 100 of the capsule 1.

[0077] The moulding cavity 200 also includes a side recess 202, connected to (that is, in communication with) the bottom recess 201. The side recess 202 is configured to form the side wall 102 of the body 100 of the capsule 1. More specifically, the side hollow 202 extends around the longitudinal axis A, between a first annular end 202A and a second annular end 202B. The first annular end 202A is connected to the bottom hollow. The moulding cavity 200 also includes a flange hollow 203, which extends from the second annular end 202B away from the longitudinal axis. Thus, the flange recess 203 is connected to (that is, in communication with) the side recess 202, at the second annular end 202B. The side hollow 203 is configured to form the annular flange 103 of the body 100 of the capsule 1.

[0078] The moulding cavity 200 also includes a plurality of recesses 204, disposed around the longitudinal axis A in a portion of the side hollow 202 proximate to the flange hollow 203; more specifically, the recesses 204 are hollows in an outside wall of the side hollow 202, opposite to an inside wall facing towards the longitudinal axis. The recesses 204 are configured to form the protrusions 104.

[0079] The moulding cavity 200 also includes a plurality of concavities (not illustrated), formed in a rear wall of the flange hollow 203 and configured to form the protuberances 105.