CAPSULE FOR PREPARING INFUSION BEVERAGES AND CORRESPONDING CAPSULE PRODUCTION METHOD

Abstract

The invention refers to a capsule for preparing infusion beverages and a capsule production method. The capsule includes an outer containing body defining a longitudinal direction and a cover for forming a first inner chamber. The capsule has also a first inner duct extending in the longitudinal direction towards the inside for fluidly connecting the first inner chamber with the outside. The capsule has also an inner containing body with a second end wall, separate from the outer containing body. The inner containing body is arranged upside down, inside the outer containing body. The second inner chamber is fluidly connected with said first inner chamber. The capsule includes a closing layer for closing the inner containing body at the second end wall in a fluid-tight manner. The infusion beverage, after crossing the second end wall), is directed towards said first inner duct.

Claims

1. A capsule for preparing infusion beverages by circulating an infusion fluid through an infusion product, said capsule comprising: an outer containing body with a first side wall defining a longitudinal direction of said capsule and a first end wall arranged crosswise to said longitudinal direction; a cover, said outer containing body and said cover being connected to each other at other end of said first side wall opposite to said first end wall, for forming a first inner chamber; a first inner duct extending in said longitudinal direction towards inside of said outer containing body from said first end wall, for fluidly connecting said first inner chamber with outside of said capsule; an inner containing body including a second side wall, said inner containing body is a separate part from said outer containing body, said inner containing body including a second end wall, said second end wall having an extraction opening and being permeable such that said infusion beverage is circulatable across said second end wall, said inner containing body being arranged upside down, inside said outer containing body, with said extraction opening fitted around said first inner duct and said second side wall bearing, with an end of said second side wall opposite to said second end wall, against said first end wall of said outer containing body for forming a second inner chamber fluidly connected with said first inner chamber; and a closing layer for closing in a fluid-tight manner said second end wall at a side of the second end wall facing outside of said inner containing body, such that said infusion beverage after crossing said second end wall is directed towards said first inner duct.

2. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein said cover is arranged for simultaneously closing said outer containing body and said inner containing body, such that said closing layer for closing said second end wall is said cover.

3. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein said second side wall and said second end wall are a single part and in that said second end wall has a plurality of outlet openings for allowing said infusion beverage to circulate across said second end wall.

4. The capsule according to any of claim 1, wherein said first containing body and said first inner duct are a single part, and in that said first inner duct extends across whole of the first inner chamber underneath and adjacent to said cover.

5. The capsule according to claim 4, wherein said inner containing body comprises a second inner duct extending from said second end wall towards said inner containing body, and in that said second inner duct is fitted on said first inner duct.

6. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein said inner containing body further comprises a circumferential projection projecting away from said second end wall at the side thereof facing the outside of said inner containing body.

7. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein an edge of said second side wall bearing, with the other end of said second side wall opposite to said second end wall, against said first end wall of said outer containing body, comprises a plurality of inlet openings for allowing said infusion fluid to enter said second inner chamber, in that said first end wall comprises a plurality of centering projections projecting away from said first end wall into the inside of said outer containing body for centering said second side wall relative to said outer containing body, and in that, when the capsule is mounted, said plurality of inlet openings are arranged relative to said plurality of centering projections such that at least partially, one opening of said plurality of inlet openings is not covered by said plurality of centering projections.

8. A method for producing a capsule for preparing infusion beverages, comprising: providing a capsule with an outer containing body with a first side wall defining a longitudinal direction of said capsule and a first end wall arranged crosswise to said longitudinal direction, a cover connectable to other end of said first end wall opposite to said first end wall for forming a first inner chamber, a first inner duct extending in said longitudinal direction towards inside of said outer containing body from said first end wall, for fluidly connecting said first inner chamber with outside of said capsule, and an inner containing body with a second side wall, said inner containing body being arranged inside said outer containing body for containing said infusion product, the inner containing body provided with a second end wall, said second end wall having an extraction opening and being permeable such that said infusion beverage is circulatable across said second end wall; and filling up said inner containing body with infusion product; arranging said outer containing body over said inner containing body, with said extraction opening fitted around said inner duct and said second side wall bearing, with an end of said second side wall opposite to said second end wall, against said first end wall of said outer containing body, and afterwards placing said cover over an end of said first side wall opposite to said first end wall; attaching said cover first to an end of said second side wall of said inner body adjacent to said cover; and afterwards attaching said cover to the other end of said first side wall of said outer containing body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which, without any limiting character, preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section view of a first embodiment of a capsule according to the invention, with the capsule in a closed position and placed inside a machine for preparing infusions with the machine open.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section view of the capsule of FIG. 1, with the capsule in an open position, with the machine closed.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows an upper perspective view of the containing body of the capsule of FIG. 1.

[0043] FIG. 4 shows a detail view of the injection side of the capsule of FIG. 1, in the closed position of the capsule.

[0044] FIG. 5 shows a detail view of the injection side of the capsule of FIG. 1, in the open position of the capsule.

[0045] FIG. 6 shows diagrammatically the procedure for producing a capsule according to the invention.

[0046] FIG. 7 shows a partial longitudinal section view of a second embodiment of a capsule according to the invention, with the capsule in the closed position.

[0047] FIG. 8 shows a partial longitudinal section view of a second embodiment of a capsule according to the invention, with the capsule in the open position.

[0048] FIG. 9 shows a longitudinal section view of a capsule according to another aspect of the invention, with the capsule in a closed position and placed inside a machine for preparing infusions with the machine open.

[0049] FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal section view of the capsule of FIG. 9, with the capsule in an open position, with the machine closed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0050] FIGS. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the capsule 1 for preparing infusion beverages by circulating an infusion fluid through an infusion product according to the invention.

[0051] The capsule 1 comprises an outer containing body with a first side wall 2, defining a longitudinal direction L of the capsule 1 and a first end wall 4. As it is apparent from the figures, the first end wall is arranged crosswise to the longitudinal direction L to close one end of the outer containing body.

[0052] The capsule 1 further comprises a cover 6. The cover 6 is made of a sheet-like material such as plastic, a metallic layer of a composite material of plastic and metal. Preferably, the cover 6 is made of a material having barrier properties.

[0053] The outer containing body and the cover 6 are connected to each other at the end of the first side wall 2 opposite to said first end wall 4. Thanks to this arrangement, a first inner chamber 8 is formed between both parts. Preferably, the cover 6 is heat sealed to the outer containing body.

[0054] The capsule 1 also comprises a first inner duct 10 extending in the longitudinal direction L, towards the inside of the outer containing body from said first end wall 4, for fluidly connecting the first inner chamber 8 with the outside of the capsule 1. In this preferred embodiment, the first inner duct 10 and outer containing body are a single part.

[0055] In order to solve the problem of providing a capsule for preparing infusion beverages with a homogeneous infusion fluid distribution across the infusion product and a long infusion fluid circulation time that can be easily produced the capsule 1 further comprises an inner containing body that is a separate part from the outer containing body.

[0056] The inner containing body has a second side wall 12 and a second end wall 14 to close the inner containing body at one end. The second end wall 14 has an extraction opening 16 and is permeable to liquid. Therefore, the infusion beverage, once it is produced, can circulate across the second end wall 14. In this particular embodiment, the second side wall 12 and said second end wall 14 are a single part made of plastic material. Additionally, in order to let the infusion fluid to cross the second end wall, the latter has a plurality of outlet openings 24 for allowing the infusion beverage to circulate across it. Optionally, in order to avoid small particles of infusion product to come out through the second end wall 14 a further membrane layer 46 is arranged over the inner side 44 of the second end wall 14. The membrane layer can be for example, a cellulose layer of a perforated sheet like layer.

[0057] The outlet openings are the second end wall 14 tapper towards the outside of the inner containing body.

[0058] As it is apparent from the figures, in order to guarantee a long circulation path of the infusion fluid, the inner containing body is arranged upside down, inside the outer containing body. Furthermore, the extraction opening 16 is fitted around said first inner duct 10 and the second side wall 12 bearing, with the end of said second side wall 12 opposite to said second end wall 14, against the first end wall 4 of the outer containing body for forming a second inner chamber 18 fluidly connected with the first inner chamber 8.

[0059] The capsule 1 further comprises a closing layer 20 for closing in a fluid-tight manner the second end wall 14 at the side thereof facing the outside of the inner containing body. Thanks to the arrangement, the infusion beverage, after crossing said second end wall 14, is directed towards said first inner duct 10. More particularly, in this embodiment, the inner containing body further comprises a circumferential projection 26 projecting away from the second end wall 14 at the side thereof facing the outside of said inner containing body. Additionally, the cover 6 simultaneously closes the outer containing body and said inner containing body. Therefore, as it is apparent from the figures, the closing layer 20 for closing the second end wall 14 at said circumferential projection 26 is the cover 6. However, the circumferential projection 26 is not essential for attaching the closing layer 20 to the outer containing body.

[0060] This embodiment also shows that the first containing body and the first inner duct 10 are a single part. Furthermore, the first inner duct 10 extends across the whole of the first inner chamber 8 underneath the cover 6. Also preferably, the first containing body and the first inner duct are made of plastic material, preferably with barrier properties, by injection moulding.

[0061] The first inner duct 10 comprises a closing member 32 for closing the first inner duct 10. The first inner duct 10 has an outer end 36 protruding out of the outer face of the first end wall 4 in order for the duct to form the delivery conduit of the beverage production machine. Therefore, the closing member 32 is arranged separated from the outer end 36 in the direction of the inside of the outer containing body. This closing member 32 is separable from the first inner duct 10, via a weakening line 38 through which the closing member is separated from the first inner duct under the effect of an external pressing force, such as the force exerted by the movable part 104 against the fixed part 102 of the capsule holder of the infusion beverage producing machine.

[0062] Therefore, the capsule 1 has two different positions, which are: a closed position, in which said closing member 32 closes the first inner duct 10, and an open position, in which said closing member 32 is separated from said first inner duct.

[0063] Moreover, in order to prevent the closing member from falling into the container receiving the infusion beverage, the capsule 1 comprises a retention member 34 provided at the outer end 36 to reduce the cross section of said outer end 36 for avoiding that in the open position, the closing member 32 comes out of said first inner duct 10.

[0064] In order to guarantee a good fluid tightness at the assembly interface between the inner lumen of the second inner duct and the outer surface of the first inner duct and also a good guiding of the second containing body on the first inner duct, the inner containing body comprises a second inner duct 30. This second inner duct 30 extends from the second end wall 14 towards the inner containing body, this second inner duct 30 being snuggly fitted on said first inner duct 10.

[0065] Finally, in this embodiment, the edge of the second side wall 12 bearing, with the end of the second side wall 12 opposite to the second end wall 14, against the first end wall 4 of the outer containing body, comprises a plurality of inlet openings 22. These inlet openings allow the infusion fluid to enter the second inner chamber 18.

[0066] Furthermore, the first end wall 4 comprises a plurality of centering projections 28 projecting away from the first end wall 4 into the inside of the outer containing body. These centering projections 28 allow the centering of the second side wall 12 relative to said outer containing body, but also provide an additional stiffness to this wall.

[0067] When the capsule is mounted, the plurality of inlet openings 22 is arranged relative to the plurality of centering projections 28 such that at least partially, many of the openings of the plurality of inlet openings 22 is not covered by the plurality of centering projections 28.

[0068] FIGS. 6A to 6E show a method for producing a capsule for preparing infusion beverages according to the invention.

[0069] According to the method of the invention, in a first step it is provided a capsule 1 with an outer containing body having a first side wall 2 defining a longitudinal direction L of the capsule 1 and a first end wall 4 arranged crosswise to the longitudinal direction L a cover 6. There is also provided an inner containing body with a second side wall 12.

[0070] The inner containing body inner containing body is in this case a separate part from the outer containing body. However, in the most general concept of the method of the invention this is not essential.

[0071] In this case, the inner containing body comprises a second side wall 12 and a second end wall 14.

[0072] Optionally, a membrane layer 46 is arranged over the inner side 44 of the second end wall 14. Afterwards, as it is apparent from the figures, the inner containing body is first filled up with infusion product 100.

[0073] In the most general concept of the method of the invention, the inner containing body and the outer containing body can be a single part. However, in this case, both parts are separate parts.

[0074] In an optional embodiment of the method of the invention, the capsule 1 further comprises a first inner duct 10, as the one shown in previous FIGS. 1 to 5, extending from the first end wall 4 in the longitudinal direction L for fluidly connecting the first inner chamber 8 with the outside of said capsule 1.

[0075] Further, the inner containing body comprises a second side wall 12 and a second end wall 14. The second end wall 14 has an extraction opening 16 and is permeable such that said infusion beverage can circulate across the second end wall 14.

[0076] As it is apparent from the figures in a first step the inner containing body is filled up with infusion product 100. More particularly, the inner containing body is filled up until it reaches the end of the second inner duct 30 of the inner containing body.

[0077] Then, after the inner containing body is filled up with infusion product, such as coffee or the like, the outer containing body is placed over the inner containing body, with the extraction opening 16 fitted around the inner duct 10 and the second side wall 12 bearing, with the end of said second side wall 12 opposite to the second end wall 14, against the first end wall 4 of the outer containing body.

[0078] The cover 6 is placed over the end of said first side wall 2 opposite to said first end wall 4.

[0079] Finally, in order to avoid that the air retained inside the first containing chamber hinders the closing of the second inner chamber 18, in the method of the invention, the cover 6 is attached first to the end of said inner body adjacent to said cover 6 and afterwards the same cover 6 is attached to the end of said outer containing body. This provides an effective and easy sealing of the first and second inner chambers.

[0080] Below, other embodiments of the capsule according to the invention are shown. These embodiments share most of the features described in the preceding paragraphs. Accordingly, only the elements differentiating the embodiments from one another will be described hereinafter, whereas reference to the description of the first embodiment is made with respect to the elements they have in common.

[0081] The embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 differs from the one of the previous FIGS. 1 to 5 in that, the closing layer 20 for closing in a fluid-tight manner the second end wall 14 at the side thereof facing the outside of said inner containing body is separated from said cover 6. However, after crossing the second end wall 14 the infusion beverage is also directed towards said first inner duct 10.

[0082] In this case, in order to avoid that the closing layer 20 is deformed by the fluid pressure exerted by the infusion fluid in the first inner chamber 8 and that the extraction opening 16 at the second end wall 14 is closed, the plurality of spacing ribs 48 provided at the side of the second end wall 14 facing away the inside of the second inner chamber 18 act as a stopping member for the closing lay 20, thus leaving the extraction opening free.

[0083] Finally, the invention also discloses a capsule 1 for preparing infusion beverages by circulating an infusion fluid through an infusion product, with an innovative opening system. This capsule is based on the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 and FIGS. 9 and 10. As it is apparent from FIGS. 9 and 10, even if the opening system is also applicable to the embodiments already with a second inner containing body described herein, this opening system is not limited to these embodiments. Therefore, the use of this second inner containing body is not compulsory. Indeed the capsule of FIGS. 9 and 10 is especially adapted for the preparation of infusion beverages from soluble infusion products.

[0084] The capsule 1 comprises an outer containing body with a first side wall 2 defining a longitudinal direction L of the capsule 1 and a first end wall 4 arranged crosswise to the longitudinal direction L, and a cover 6.

[0085] The outer containing body and the cover 6 are, as in the previous embodiments, connected to each other at the flange-like rim of the end of the first side wall 2 opposite to said first end wall 4, for forming a first inner chamber 8.

[0086] The capsule 1 further comprises a first inner duct 10 extending in the longitudinal direction L, towards the inside of the outer containing body from the first end wall 4, for fluidly connecting the first inner chamber 8 with the outside of the capsule 1.

[0087] As it is apparent, from FIGS. 9 and 10, the first inner duct 10 comprises an inner end 50 and an outer end 36. According to this solution the first inner duct 10 comprises a closing member 32 for closing the first inner duct 10. To this end, the closing member 32 is arranged separated from the outer end 36 in the direction of the inside of the outer containing body. Although in the embodiments shown in the Figures, the first inner duct 10 extends up to the lower surface of the cover 6, this first inner duct 10 can have different heights. Especially in the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5, it is not compulsory to have such a long duct, because the second inner duct 30 can replace the outlet function of the first inner duct 10 when it extends up to the cover 6.

[0088] This closing member 36 is separable from said the first inner duct 10.

[0089] The capsule 1 has a closed position, in which said closing member 32 closes the first inner duct 10, and an open position, in which the closing member 32 is separated from the first inner duct 10.

[0090] In this preferred embodiment, the closing member 32 and the first inner duct 10 are a single part. The closing member 32 is separable from the first inner duct 10 along a controlled breaking line 18 and movable within said inner duct 10 to free the inner end 26, said capsule 1 further having a retention member 34 for reducing the cross section of said outer end 36 and for avoiding said closing member 32 to come out of said inner duct 10 when the closing member 32 is separated from the inner duct 10 under the effect of an external pressing force.

[0091] In particular, the cross section reduction is achieved by arranging a cover 52 on the outer end 36 comprising at least on outlet openings 54. In the figures, only the two outlet openings 54 are shown coincident with the cutting plane. However, the cover 60 comprises six outlet openings 54. These outlet openings 54 have a circular cross section smaller than 2 mm.sup.2. Other embodiments can have two or three or more outlet openings 54.

[0092] This external pressing force can be provided by the own infusion beverage machine. To this end, the movable part 104 and the fixed part of the capsule holder compress the closing member 32 until it separates from the first inner duct 10. Alternatively, also the user could press on the closing member 36 before introducing the capsule 1 into the machine.

[0093] Also, in order to have a reliable and controlled opening of the closing means 14 it is provided that the closing means 14 are formed by a first protrusion 40 protruding outside the first inner duct 10 and extending up to the vicinity of the cover 6. On the other side, the closing means 14 has a second protrusion 42 protruding into the first inner duct 10. Thanks to the fact that the second protrusion 42 is longer than the smallest cross section of the first inner duct 10 at the inner end 50 it is guaranteed that when the closing means 14 are separated from the inner duct 10, they fall into the inner duct 10.

[0094] Also from the tip of the second protrusion 42 tapers in the direction of said outer end 36 for avoiding accidental obstructions of the outlet openings 54. In particular in this case, the second protrusion 42 is frustroconically shaped, but other tapering shapes such a tethraedron, pyramid or others are also possible.