CAPSULE FOR PREPARING A BEVERAGE, MADE OF AN ALUMINIUM ALLOY

Abstract

A capsule (1) designated for preparing a beverage upon injection of liquid into the capsule by means of a beverage machine, comprises a cup-shaped body (10) and a closing lid (11) through which the beverage is to be dispensed, said closing lid (11) being sealed on said body (10) and defining therebetween an inner volume for holding beverage preparation ingredients, such as ground coffee. The capsule (1) is made of an aluminium alloy of the series 3xxx, and preferably of the aluminium alloy 3004 or 3104. Use for improving the sustainability of the capsules for beverage preparation.

Claims

1. A capsule designated for preparing a beverage upon injection of liquid into the capsule by means of a beverage machine, the capsule comprising a cup-shaped body and a closing lid through which the beverage is to be dispensed, the closing lid being sealed on the body and defining therebetween an inner volume for holding beverage preparation ingredients, such as ground coffee, characterized in that the capsule is made of an aluminium alloy of the series 3xxx.

2. A capsule according to claim 1, wherein the body of the capsule is provided with a sidewall and a bottom through which liquid is to be introduced, the thickness of the aluminium alloy in the bottom and the sidewall of the body being comprised between 50 to 100 micrometres.

3. A capsule according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the aluminium alloy is comprised between 90 and 100 micrometres.

4. A capsule according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the closing lid is comprised between 20 and 60 micrometres.

5. A capsule according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the body is frustoconical, with an inclined sidewall and a bottom dome-shaped.

6. A capsule according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a flange, the closing lid being sealed on the flange.

7. A capsule according to claim 6, wherein the flange comprises sealing means.

8. A capsule according to claim 6, wherein the sealing means are made of a peripheral seal in the form of a polymeric seal located between the sidewall and the flange.

9. A capsule according to claim 6, wherein the flange comprises integrally formed sealing means.

10. A capsule according to claim 1, wherein the closing lid is flat.

11. A capsule according to claim 1, wherein the body is made from a unique foil of aluminium alloy.

12. A capsule according to claim 1, wherein the capsule is made of a recycled aluminium alloy.

13. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the description of the presently preferred embodiments which are set out below with reference to the drawings in which:

[0043] FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a capsule according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0044] FIG. 2 is a side view of a capsule according to a second embodiment of the invention; and

[0045] FIGS. 3A and 3B are a partial enlarged sectional side views of the capsule according to FIG. 2, cooperating with an engagement member of a beverage preparation machine, before and after engaging with each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. However, the illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description and drawings are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized and other changes may be made, without departing from the scope of the claimed subject-matter presented here.

[0047] It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures may be arranged, substituted, combined and designated in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and make part of this disclosure.

[0048] In the drawings, similar symbols and references typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise.

[0049] As used in this specification, the words “comprises”, “comprising” and similar words are not to be interpreted in an exclusive or exhaustive sense. In other words, they are intended to mean including but not limited to.

[0050] FIG. 1 illustrates a capsule 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0051] The capsule 1 comprises a cup-shaped body 10 and a closing lid 11.

[0052] The closing lid 11 is sealed on the body 10 so that the capsule is perfectly closed.

[0053] The body 10 and the closing lid 11 form an inner volume in which a beverage preparation ingredient, in particular coffee, is stored.

[0054] The body 10 has a three-dimensional shape. Three-dimensional shape shall mean that the body is “formed” or in other words that the body is not flat. The body 10 has a frustoconical shape extending around a vertical revolution axis Y. The body 10 has a bottom 101 and a sidewall 102. The sidewall 102 is slightly inclined with respect to the vertical revolution axis Y. The inclination angle is inferior to 45° and preferably inferior to 30°.

[0055] Finally, the capsule presented in FIG. 1 has a frustoconical shape and presents the iconic Nespresso® capsule design.

[0056] In another embodiment, the sidewall 102 can extend substantially perpendicularly to the bottom 101.

[0057] Here, the bottom 101 is dome-shaped. Of course, the bottom 101 could be flat.

[0058] As known, the bottom 101 may serve as an injection face during a beverage preparation process, which may be opened by dedicated injection members (knives, needles) of a beverage preparation machine.

[0059] The body 10 comprises a peripheral edge surrounding the sidewall 102 and forming a flange 103.

[0060] The closing lid 11 is flat. In other words, the closing lid 11 extends substantially in one plane. The closing lid 11 is sealed on the flange 103, at the end opposite to the bottom 101.

[0061] The closing lid 11 fits closely the body 10 so that a perfect sealing of the capsule 1 is ensured. The capsule 1 is impermeable to liquids and moisture. Preferably, the capsule 1 is also impermeable to gas.

[0062] The bonding of the body 10 and the closing lid 11 can be obtained, but not limited to, by heat sealing or ultra-sonic sealing.

[0063] Moreover, in order to obtain an effective fluid tightness between the capsule 1 and the beverage preparation machine during extraction of the beverage, it is known to provide the flange 103, on the face opposite to the closing lid, with sealing means.

[0064] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the flange 103 is provided with a peripheral seal (not represented) located between the sidewall 102 and the flange 103.

[0065] The peripheral seal is in the form of a polymeric seal such as a rubber or silicone ring.

[0066] FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B illustrate a capsule according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0067] Comparing to the first embodiment described hereunder, in this second embodiment, the capsule 1 is provided with an enhanced integrally formed sealing member, avoiding the use of a rubber or silicone seal on the flange 103.

[0068] As for the first embodiment, the capsule 1 comprises a cup-shaped body 10. The body 10 comprises a bottom 101 and a sidewall 102.

[0069] As shown on FIG. 2, the capsule 1 further comprises a flange 103, which is preferably arranged at an open end of the body 10, opposite to the bottom 101. The flange 103 extends radially outwardly from the sidewall 102 of the body 10. The flange 103 is preferably arranged transversally to the vertical rotational axis Y of the capsule 1 and presents a curled outer edge 103c at its extremity opposite the body 10.

[0070] At the open end of the capsule body 10, a closing lid 11 may be arranged. The closing lid 11 is preferably connected to the flange 103. As presented in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the closing lid 11 is preferably connected to at least one lower annular surface 103b of the flange 103, which surface 103b is directed away from the capsule body 10.

[0071] Alternatively, the closing lid 11 may be connected to the body 10 or to both the body 10 and the flange 103.

[0072] The flange 103 comprises an integrally formed sealing member 104 which is arranged at an upper annular surface 103a of the flange 103. The annular surface 103a is arranged opposite to the surface 103b to which the closing lid 11 is connected. The annular surface 103a is thus facing away from the open end of the body 10 of the capsule 1.

[0073] The sealing member 104 is positioned between the capsule body 10 and the flange 103. It comprises a dedicated surface 104 located at the junction between the sidewall 102 of the body 10 and the flange 103.

[0074] In this embodiment, the dedicated surface 104 comprises a step 104a extending from the sidewall 102 over the flange 103, the step 104a being substantially parallel to the flange direction. The step 104a is integrally formed with the flange 103 and the body 10. This means that it is formed of same material as the flange-like rim 103 and as the body 10.

[0075] In this embodiment, the cup-shaped body 10, the flange 103 and the sealing member 104 are integrally formed, i.e. by one single piece made from the same material. Accordingly, the cup-shaped body 10, the flange 103 and the sealing member 104 can be manufactured from the same material by a conventional forming process. In particular, the body 10, the flange 103 and the integrally formed sealing member 104 can be formed in a deep-drawing process. The deep drawing process may require more than one deep drawing step to properly form from a flat piece of material, preferably a metal sheet, the body of the capsule and the sealing member.

[0076] As can be seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the step 104a is arranged to engage with a sealing surface 21a of a capsule engagement member 21 of the beverage preparation machine (the whole machine is not represented, only a part of the engagement 21 being visible in FIGS. 3A and 3B).

[0077] As known, a beverage preparation machine is designed to provide heated and/or pressurized liquid into the capsule for preparing a beverage upon interaction of the liquid with the ingredients held within the capsule.

[0078] The beverage preparation machine preferably comprises a pump, heating and/or cooling means, a liquid supply such as a water tank and/or a beverage brewing chamber for selectively receiving a capsule in order to prepare a beverage therefrom.

[0079] The brewing chamber comprises a capsule engagement member which is designed to house a capsule and in particular the capsule body when the capsule if provided/introduced into the machine.

[0080] During the extraction process, the engagement member 21 of the beverage preparation machine, as presented in FIGS. 3A and 3b, is engaged with the capsule 1. The engagement member 21 preferably comprises an essentially hollow bell-shaped engagement member for receiving the capsule body 10 therein. When the capsule 1 is placed into the beverage preparation machine, the engagement member 21 will be lowered onto the capsule 1 by means of a dedicated closing force.

[0081] The engagement member 21 comprises a sealing profile presenting several sealing surfaces 21a, 21b and 21c. The sealing surfaces are located on an inner part of the engagement member 21, on a portion of the engagement member 21 that comes into contact with the capsule 1. The sealing surfaces, for example, may be in the form of an annular lower surface with rounded inner and outer circumferential edges, a flat surface that in use is parallel to the sidewall 102 of the capsule 1.

[0082] FIGS. 3A and 3B present partial enlarged sectional side views of the embodiment of the sealing member 104 and the engagement member 21 of a beverage preparation machine before and during engagement with each other.

[0083] Particularly, when the engagement member 21 is lowered from the position shown in FIG. 3A onto the sealing member 104 by closing force, an annular sealing surface 21a engages with step 104a.

[0084] As a results of the force applied on the sealing member 104 in the overlap region between the engagement member 21 and the sealing member 104, the step 104a of the sealing member 104 undergoes a plastically deformation during said engagement.

[0085] The plastic deformation is due to the force that is applied: [0086] by the clamping system when the coffee machine is closed through the engagement member 21; and [0087] during the extraction process by the water pressure through the engagement member 21 on the capsule.

[0088] The step 104a then closely conforms with the sealing surfaces 21a, 21b, 21c of the engagement member 21 so that during the extraction process, the surface of the flange 103 conforms with the shape of the sealing profile (with sealing surfaces 21a, 21b and 21c) on the overlap portion.

[0089] FIG. 3B shows this close conformation between the sealing surfaces 21a, 21b, 21c and the flange 103 occurred during use, where the step 104a and the flange 103 are deformed leading to a structure conforming the sealing member 21.

[0090] This structure conforming the sealing member 21 produces an effective fluid tightness between the capsule 1 and the beverage preparation machine.

[0091] Because of the deformed flange 103 conforming with the shape corresponding to the sealing surfaces 21a, 21b, 21c, the sealing between the capsule flange 103 and the engagement member 21 is increased.

[0092] Thus, when used in the beverage preparation machine, the sealing member 104 is plastically deformed such that the capsule 1 comprises a flange 103 having a new profile corresponding to the shape of the sealing profile of the capsule engagement member 21. The new profile produces an effective tightness between the flange 103 and the sealing member of the engagement member 21.

[0093] The capsule according to this second embodiment enables an efficient, reliable and tolerant sealing structure made from a single integral piece and thus by omitting any additional material such as rubber.

[0094] Of course, other embodiments of capsule could be contemplated.

[0095] The system to which such a capsule and the beverage preparation machine are integrated in, is operated as follows for the preparation of a cup of a beverage, for example, a coffee. The capsule 1 is placed in the beverage preparation machine and the capsule engaging member 21 is brought into contact with the capsule 1 when the beverage preparation machine is closed. The capsule is pierced on its bottom 101 by piercing means (injection needles or blades or knives, not represented) for creating the entrance of a fluid such as water (hot or cold) under pressure into the capsule 1 through the bottom 101. The water wets the coffee stored inside the capsule and extracts the desired substance to form the coffee beverage.

[0096] During the supply of the water under pressure to the capsule, the rise in pressure causes the closing lid 11 to rupture (through pressing of the closing lid 11 on some cover piercing means, for example) and the coffee beverage is delivered by drainage of the coffee beverage from the capsule to a cup. The beverage is thus dispensed through the closing lid 11.

[0097] The beverage preparation ingredients provided in the capsule are preferably chosen from the group consisting of roasted ground coffee, tea, instant coffee, a mixture of roasted ground coffee and instant coffee, a syrup concentrate, a fruit extract concentrate, a chocolate product, a milk-based product or any other dehydrated edible substance, such as dehydrated stock. The liquid to be used for beverage preparation is preferably water of any temperature.

[0098] The invention seeks to provide a capsule for a beverage ingredient as described above, which is recyclable and which can be made from a recycled material.

[0099] Thus, the capsule is made of an aluminium alloy of the series 3xxx according to the standard DIN EN 573-3.

[0100] Preferably, the whole capsule, that is the body 10 and the closing lid 11, is made of the aluminium alloy 3004 or 3104.

[0101] For example, the body 10 is made from a unique foil of aluminium alloy and the closing lid 11 is made from the same material as the one used for producing the body 10 of the capsule 1.

[0102] According to the standard DIN EN 573-3, the aluminium alloy of the series 3xxx is an alloy having manganese as main alloying element.

[0103] Preferably, the capsule is made of the aluminium alloy 3104, widely used for manufacturing the beverage cans.

[0104] Aluminium alloy 3104 is used for the bodies of beverage cans, for beer and soft drinks for example.

[0105] Thanks to the use of common aluminium alloy, as for beverage cans, sourcing of recycled aluminium for capsule production is possible.

[0106] Thus, the capsule (body and closing lid) can be made from a recycled aluminium alloy.

[0107] Moreover, it also allows recycling of the aluminium from used capsule in the same stream as the one used for beverage cans.

[0108] Thus the capsules after use can be collected through the same collecting system of metal products and be sorted and recycled in the same way as the one performed for the beverage cans, provided that the beverage ingredients (coffee for example) are first separated from the capsules.

[0109] Moreover, the aluminium alloy 3104 has a higher strength than the alloy 8011A.

[0110] Thus, it is possible to decrease the thickness of the aluminium alloy used for producing the capsule, below an usual thickness of 100 micrometres of a standard capsule made in the alloy 8011A.

[0111] Even with this downgauging, the capsule has enough stiffness to have good mechanical performances during use in a beverage preparation machine and as well during the transportation and distribution of the capsules.

[0112] For this last concern, comparative tests have been performed in order to validate the product resistance during the transport.

[0113] The resistance of the capsules may be tested for transportation both in a single packaging unit corresponding to a consumer unit (for example a sleeve with 10 capsules aligned) and in a grouping box comprising several single packaging units, for transportation on a pallet for example.

[0114] One common test is for example a drop-test simulating a postal transport. The drop-test consists in making the single packaging unit fall several times, from a predetermined height and according to different orientations and in inspecting for damages the shape of the capsules after the fall.

[0115] The predetermined height may be comprised between 600 and 800 mm for example.

[0116] A comparative drop-test with standard capsules and new capsules has been performed as follows:

[0117] Standard capsules: in aluminium alloy 8011A with a thickness of 100 micrometres.

[0118] New capsules: in aluminium alloy 3104 with a thickness of 90 micrometres.

[0119] One sleeve with 10 standard capsules and one sleeve with 10 new capsules have been dropped 7 times, with a drop-height of 610 mm, without opening or modifying the sleeves between the series of the 7 drops.

[0120] For each drop, different orientations of the sleeve are chosen: a specific face (lateral face of the sleeve, end face of the sleeve), or a specific corner or a specific edge is oriented face to the ground before dropping the sleeve on the ground from the predetermined height.

[0121] The same serie of drops has been performed for the sleeve with 10 standard capsules and the sleeve with 10 new capsules.

[0122] After the series of drops, the capsules are removed from each sleeve and verified for damages in the bottom and the sidewall of each capsule.

[0123] Damages may be divided into 3 categories: [0124] No damage [0125] Low damage (a deformation less than 3 mm) [0126] High damage (a deformation superior than 3 mm)

[0127] The results are as follows:

TABLE-US-00001 Damage in capsule bottom Damage in capsule wall No Low High No Low High Standard 1 7 2 0 0 10 capsules New capsules 2 6 2 1 4 5

[0128] Thus, notably regarding damages in the capsule wall, new capsules in aluminium alloy 3104, even with a thickness limited to 90 micrometres, are less susceptible to transport damages in the sleeves than the standard capsules in aluminium alloy 8011A, with a thickness of 100 micrometres.

[0129] Preferably, the thickness of the aluminium alloy in the sidewall 102 and the bottom 101 of the body 10 of the capsule 1 may be comprised between 50 to 95 micrometres, and preferably between 60 and 90 micrometres.

[0130] Most preferably, the aluminium alloy has a thickness between 90 and 100 micrometres.

[0131] Moreover, the aluminium alloy is covered by lacquers, which form an external layer on the body of the capsule. The thickness of the lacquers is comprised between 5 and 15 micrometres.

[0132] The closing lid 11 is also made in aluminium alloy 3104 and comprises a thickness between 20 to 60 micrometres.

[0133] Moreover, the mechanical performances of the new capsules during extraction in the beverage preparation machine are the same or even better than for the standard capsules made in aluminium alloy 8011A.

[0134] Due to the increased stiffness, the new capsules need more force to be plastically deformed as the standard one made in aluminium alloy 8011A.

[0135] We give hereunder a comparative example of the compressive force required for deforming the capsule bottom.

TABLE-US-00002 Compressive force needed to plastically deform Capsule the capsule bottom (Newton) Standard capsule 32N made from aluminium alloy 8011A. New capsule 57N made from aluminum alloy 3104

[0136] As a consequence, when the bottom of the new capsule is pierced by the knives of the beverage machine, the deformation of the bottom around the holes created by the knives is reduced compared to the standard capsule.

[0137] Other things being equal, the capsule height is then maintained and the knives may be introduced more deeply through the bottom into the capsule: the holes pierced by the knives may be larger, promoting the introduction of water into the capsule during the extraction of the beverage.

[0138] Thus, the use of aluminium alloy of the series 3xxx, such as 3004 or 3014, allows maintaining the capsule stiffness, and thus the capsule shape and design even after downgauging, without a need to introduce corrugations on the capsule surface.

[0139] The capsule may keep a frustoconical shape, with a bottom dome-shaped and inclined smooth sidewall, without corrugations or ribs.

[0140] Thus, the current image and design of the capsule can be maintained unchanged, without ribs or corrugations on the body sidewall or the bottom.

[0141] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.