CONTAINER WITH TAB

Abstract

The invention relates, amongst others, to a container (1) for use in a beverage preparation machine. The container (1) comprises: a sealed body (2) for containing an ingredient for preparing a beverage, the sealed body (2) comprising a back part and a front part (3), which are sealed along one or more first side edges (4). The front part (3) comprises one or more tabs (11, 21) integrally formed with the front part (3), wherein each of the one or more tabs (11, 21) has one or more second side edges (12-14, 14A, 22-14), wherein at least one of the one or more second side edges is at least in part complementary formed to the one or more first side edges (4).

Claims

1. A container for use in a beverage preparation machine, comprising: a sealed body for containing an ingredient for preparing a beverage, the sealed body comprising a back part and a front part, which are sealed along one or more first side edges, and the front part comprises one or more tabs integrally formed with the front part, wherein each of the one or more tabs has one or more second side edges, wherein at least one of the one or more second side edges is at least in part complementary formed to the one or more first side edges.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the one or more second side edges are formed by obtaining one or more further front parts of other containers, such as by obtaining one or more first side edges and/or one or more second side edges of the one or more further front parts.

3. A container for use in a beverage preparation machine, comprising: a sealed body for containing an ingredient for preparing a beverage, the sealed body comprising a back part and a front part, which are sealed along one or more first side edges, and the front part comprises one or more tabs integrally formed with the front part, wherein each of the one or more tabs has one or more second side edges, wherein the one or more second side edges are formed by obtaining one or more further front parts of other containers.

4. The container according to claim 2, wherein the front part and the one or more further front parts are obtained from the same blank and/or are identically formed.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the one or more tabs include a handling tab for handling the container.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the one or more tabs include an identification tab comprising information, e.g. in the form of a code, for processing the container in a beverage preparation machine.

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein the one or more tabs are shaped to bring the container in a defined position and/or orientation in a beverage preparation machine.

8. The container according to claim 1, wherein the tabs extend in different directions, and/or wherein the tabs are arranged to be diametrically opposed, and/or wherein the tabs extend in a same plane.

9. The container according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more second side edges is a side edge being laterally provided with respect to the respective tab.

10. The container according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more second side edges is a side edge being provided at a distal end of the respective tab.

11. The container according to claim 1, wherein the one or more second side edges of one of the tabs include a second side edge being complementary formed to a second side edge of a further one of the tabs, and/or wherein the one or more second side edges of the one or more tabs include a second side edge being formed by obtaining one or more tabs of further front parts of other containers.

12. The container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the one or more second side edges has a concave shape, wherein the one or more first side edges have thus a convex shape.

13. The container according to claim 1, wherein each of the one or more tabs has only three second side edges, wherein, preferably, each of the second side edges of a respective tab is at least in part complementary formed to the one or more first side edges.

14. A process for manufacturing one or more first front parts and a second front part from a blank, wherein each front part is suitable for a container, wherein the container is adapted to be used in a beverage preparation machine, wherein the container comprises a sealed body for containing an ingredient for preparing a beverage, the sealed body comprising a back part and the respective front part, wherein the process comprises the following steps: providing a blank for obtaining the front parts, obtaining the one or more first front parts from the blank, and obtaining the second front part from the blank such the second front part comprises one or more tabs with each tab comprising one or more side edges, which one or more side edges are formed by obtaining the one or more first front parts from the blank.

15. The process according to claim 14, wherein the front parts are obtained by a separation process such as by punching.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] In the following, the invention is described exemplarily with reference to the enclosed figures, in which

[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan (top) view of a front part of a container according to a first preferred embodiment;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a blank for obtaining a plurality of front parts according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan (top) view of a front part of a container according to a second preferred embodiment;

[0032] FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a blank for obtaining a plurality of front parts according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3;

[0033] FIG. 5 is a detailed view, showing how a front part according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is obtained from the blank shown in FIG. 4; and

[0034] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the front part in FIG. 5 without the remaining blank.

[0035] In the figures, two preferred embodiments for a container 1 are shown. The container 1 is adapted for being used in a beverage preparation machine, e.g. in a beverage preparation machine of the “Nespresso professional” type. Therefore, the container 1 may be adapted to be traversed by a flow of (pressurized and/or heated) water. The beverage preparation machine may comprise a water tank, a heater for heating the water from the water tank, and a pump for pumping the heated water. The beverage preparation machine may also include a holder adapted for holding the container 1. For example, the holder is adapted to hold the container 1 in a position, in which the beverage preparation machine can produce a beverage from the container 1 by the (heated and/or pressurized) water. The container 1 is not limited to a specific container. For example, the container 1 may be a capsule or a pod.

[0036] The container 1 comprises a sealed body 2 for containing an ingredient for preparing a beverage. The ingredient may be, for example, (ground) coffee or tea (tea leaves, herbal tea, fruits, herbs, spices, etc.) or any other plant material suitable for preparing a beverage, e.g. by extraction. The ingredient may also include additives such as milk or sugar. The beverage to be prepared may therefore be, for example, a coffee or a tea.

[0037] The sealed body 2 comprises a front part 3 and a back part. In the figures, the back part is not shown, since the figures show a plan view, in which the viewing direction is perpendicular to a flat surface of the front part 3. The back part is provided on a rear side of the front part 3. The front part 3 and the back part are sealed at least along (only) one or more first side (or peripheral) edges 4. Thereby, the front part 3 and the back part delimit a (closed and/or internal) compartment, which contains the ingredient. Each of the one or more first side edges 4 may have a round or convex form (shape). In other examples, each of the one or more side edges 4 may also have a different shape, e.g. a straight, elliptical and/or polygonal shape. Sealing together the front part 3 and the back part may thus be in part along the one or more side edges 4 and in part on other parts of the front part 3 and back part so that a sealing path 5 is obtained, which is, for example, a closed sealing path 5. The sealing path 5 may have a shape corresponding to the one or more first side edges 4. For example, the sealing path 5 has a round shape, in particular in the form of a (closed) circle. In other examples, the sealing path 5 may also have a polygonal form. Sealing may be effected by a heat sealer. In other examples, an additional sealing element, e.g. an adhesive bond element such as a glue, may be provided for sealing together the front part 3 and the back part.

[0038] The front part 3 and/or the back part may be respectively provided in a formed state, i.e. having a three-dimensional extension. For example, the front part 3 and/or the back part may be initially provided in a substantially flat state, in which the respective part has substantially only a two-dimension extension. The front part 3 and/or the back part may be brought from the flat state into the formed state by a forming process. The form of the front part 3 and/or the back part thus defines the spatial extent of the compartment defined by the front part 3 and back part.

[0039] The back part may be adapted for injecting water into the container 1, i.e. in the compartment defined by the front part 3 and the back part. For example, the back part may be designed to be pierced by a needle, which needle thus injects water into the compartment. The front part 3 may be adapted to discharge water from the compartment. That is, the water enters the compartment via the back part, comes into contact with the ingredients inside of the compartment, thereby e.g. extracting soluble compounds or flavors from the ingredients, and is finally discharged by way of the front part 3 for dispensing the beverage. The front part 3 may comprise a filter for preventing particles of the ingredient to flow downstream of the front part 3. The front part 3 may function as the filter. Alternatively, the filter may be provided separately with respect to the front part 3, e.g. downstream or upstream of the front part 3 with respect to the flow of discharging water.

[0040] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front part 3 comprises only one tab 11. The tab 11 is integrally formed with the front part 3, so that the front part 3 and the tab 11 are obtained from the same blank (raw material). The tab ii extends to an outside of the front part 3 or container 1. For example, the tab 11 may extend from the sealing path 5, preferably such that the proximal end of the tab 11 is provided at the sealing path 5 or the sealing path 5 extends over the proximal end of the tab 11. The tab 11 may extent in a substantially flat manner, i.e. in substantially only one extension plane and with only one (relatively thin) thickness. The tab 11 may comprise a surface, wherein the surface is, for example, substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the front part 3.

[0041] The tab 11 may be a handling tab for handling the container 1, in particular for inserting the container 1 into the beverage preparation machine and for removing the container 1 from the beverage preparation machine. Therefore, the surface of the tab 11 may be adapted for being grasped by a user. Thus, the surface may be provided such that grasping the tab 11 or the surface does not interfere with the compartment defined by the back part and front part 3. For example, the surface comprises a defined or undefined structure, which aids in grasping the tab 11. The surface may be roughened so that a particularly easy handling of the tab 11 and, thus, of the front part 3 and container 1 is possible.

[0042] Additionally or alternatively, the tab 11 may be an identification tab. The tab 11 thus comprises information for processing the container 1 in the beverage preparation machine. The process parameters may refer, for example, to a water pressure and/or a water temperature and/or a filling volume of the beverage to be prepared. The information may be provided in the form of a code. For example, the tab 11 or the surface of the tab 11 may comprise a machine-readable code comprising the information, wherein the machine-readable code can be read by a dedicated reader in the beverage preparation machine. The machine readable code may be an RFID tag and/or a barcode, e.g. a 2D-, 3D-, matrix-, or QR-barcode. Thus, the surface of the tab 11 may both be provided for handling the container 1 and for bearing information, thereby being both a handling tab and an identification tab.

[0043] The tab 11 may be shaped to bring the container 1 in a defined position and/or orientation in a beverage preparation machine. For example, the tab 11 or a structure of the tab 11, e.g. the below described second side edges, is shaped correspondingly to a part of the beverage preparation machine such as of the holder of the beverage preparation machine. As such, the corresponding connection or engagement between the (structure of) the tab 11 and the beverage preparation machine brings the container 1 in the defined position and/or orientation. In the defined position and/or orientation, the beverage preparation machine can appropriately process the container 1, e.g. the beverage preparation machine can appropriately read the information provided on the tab 11 and/or inject water into the container 1 for preparing the beverage. Thus, with the tab 11 an erroneous operation of the beverage preparation machine with the container 1 can be effectively prevented.

[0044] The tab 11 comprises a plurality of second side (or peripheral) edges 12, 13, 14. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tab 11 comprises only three second side edges 12, 13, 14. The second side edges 12, 13, 14 delimit the tab 11 or the surface of the tab 11. The second side edges 12, 13 are side edges, which are laterally provided with respect to the tab 11. That is, each of the second side edges 12, 13 extend from the proximal end of the tab 11 to the distal end of the tab 11. For example, each of the second side edges 12, 13 merges continuously with the first side edge 4 or, if present, with a respective one of a plurality of first side edges 4. The second side edge 14 is provided at the distal end of the tab 11. As exemplarily shown in FIG. 1, the second side edge 14 may merge discontinuously with the laterally provided second side edges 12, 13, respectively. In other examples, the second side edge 14 may also merge continuously with the laterally provided side edges 12, 13. For example, the second side edges 12, 13, 14 may form a single second side edge, which delimits the (surface of the) tab 11.

[0045] According to the invention, at least one of the second side edges 12, 13, 14 is at least in part complementary formed to the one or more first side edges 4. Due to this complementary form of the first side edge 4 on the one side and the at least one (or each) of the second side edges 12, 13, 14 on the other side, the container 1 and in particular the front part 3 can be produced with a reduced amount of waste, since the material, which would be actually waste material, is now used for obtaining the tab 11. More specifically, and with reference to FIG. 2, the tab 11, i.e. the second side edges 12, 13, 14, may be obtained or formed by obtaining, e.g. cutting or separating such as punching, one or more further front parts 3′ of other containers. As apparent from FIG. 2, the front part 3 and the further front parts 3′ may be obtained from a same blank 30 and/or may be identically formed, when viewed in a plan view of the blank 30 or the front parts 3, 3′. The blank 30 may be provided in the form of having a (single) flat surface, and/or may be from a roll of material.

[0046] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the second side edges 12, 13, 14 of the tab 11 is at least in part or entirely complementary formed to the first side edge 4. As apparent from FIG. 2, an area or a region of the blank 30 may be delimited by three front parts 3′ (“first front parts”) to be obtained from the blank 30; for example, the area may be between the circular shapes of the front parts 3, 3′. These three front parts 3′ are obtained from the blank 30, e.g. by separating at least along the respective first side edge 4, such that the before-mentioned area or region is separated from these three front parts 3′, but still integrally formed with another front part 3 (“second front part”) to be obtained from the blank 30. Thus, the area or region—previously delimited by the three (first) front parts 3′ to be obtained from the blank 30—becomes the tab 11 being integrally formed with the remaining (second) front part 3. Thereby, each of the second side edges 12, 13, 14 of the tab 11 of the second front part 3 is complementary formed to the first side edge 4 of the first three front parts 3, thereby resulting in substantially no waste for obtaining these four front parts 3, 3′.

[0047] The second side edges 12, 13, 14 are not limited to a specific shape as long as at least one of these second side edges 12, 13, 14 is complementary formed to the first side edge 4, thereby resulting in a reduced amount of waste. A form is to be understood “complementary formed” to another form, when the forms can be connected, or cooperate, with each other such that substantially no clearance is formed between the forms. For example, in case the complementary forms are round shaped, the complementary forms have substantially equal diameters. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the second side edges 12, 13, 14 has preferably a concave shape, since the first side edge 4 has a convex shape. In other embodiments, the second side edges 12, 13, 14 may also have a different shape, e.g. a polygonal, rectangular, or straight shape. With such a design, a plurality of containers 1 respectively front parts 3 can be put together like a jigsaw puzzle, thereby forming a single surface (when viewed in a plan view of this surface) without any clearances formed by putting together the front parts 3, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0048] In FIGS. 3-6, a container 1 according to a second preferred embodiment is shown. The container 1 according to the second preferred embodiment substantially corresponds to the container 1 according to the first embodiment as described above, unless otherwise specified in the following.

[0049] The container 1 according to the second embodiment differs from the container 1 according to the first embodiment in particular in that the container 1, i.e. its front part 3, comprises a plurality of tabs, namely the tab 11 and a further tab 21. In other embodiments, the front part 3 may also comprise more than two tabs. The further tab 21 substantially corresponds to the tab 11 so that the description of the tab 11 applies correspondingly to the further tab 21, unless otherwise stated. Therefore, the further tab 21 also includes one or more second side edges 22, 23, 24, out of which the side edges 22, 23 are laterally provided side edges, and the side edge 24 is provided at a distal end of the further tab 21. The further tab 11 may be used for a different function than the tab 11. For example, the tab 11 is only used as the handling tab, wherein, additionally or alternatively, the further tab 21 is only used as the identification tab.

[0050] The tabs 11, 21 may extend in different directions and/or in the same plane. As apparent from, in particular, FIG. 3, the tabs 11, 21 may be arranged to be diametrically opposed. The tabs 11, 21 may be arranged such that by handling the container 1 by way of the tab 11 to be put inside of the beverage preparation machine, the further tab 21 is brought into a position and/or orientation, in which the beverage preparation machine can read the information provided on the further tab 21. The further tab 21 may be, as apparent from FIG. 3, shorter than the tab 11 so that in particular the surface of the further tab 21 (i.e. the surface, which can be seen in the plan view of the front part 3) is smaller than the surface of the tab 21. For example, the surface of the further tab 21 may be such that the surface substantially only comprises the information (e.g. a barcode), i.e. the information covers the entire surface of the further tab 21.

[0051] The second embodiment of the container 1 also differs from the first embodiment of the container 1 in that one of the second side edges of each of the tabs 11, 21 is (at least in part or entirely) complementary formed to a second side edge of the respective other one of the tabs 11, 21. As apparent from, for example, FIGS. 3 and 5, the second side edge 14 a (i.e. the third side edge 14A), which is provided at the distal end of the tab 11, is complementary formed to the (third) second side edge 24 of the further tab 21, which is also provided at the distal end of the further tab 21. The respective other two second side edges 12, 13, 22, 23 are each at least in part complementary formed to the one or more first side edges 4.

[0052] As apparent from FIG. 4 and, in particular, FIG. 5, an area (or a region) of the blank 30 is delimited by two front parts 3′ (“first front parts”) to be obtained from the blank 30; for example, the area may be between the circular shapes of the front parts 3, 3′. These two front parts 3′ are obtained from the blank 30, e.g. by separating at least along the respective first side edge(s) 4. The before-mentioned area is also separated along the second side edge 24—and thus along the second side edge 14A—such that this area is separated in a first part and a second part. The first part of this area remains integrally formed with a (“second”) front part 3 (but separated from the respective other front parts), thereby forming the further tab 21 of this front part 3. The second part of this area remains integrally formed with a further (“second”) front part 3, but separated from the respective other front parts, thereby forming the tab 11 of this further front part 3. Thus, the area or region—previously delimited by the two (“first”) front parts 3′ to be obtained from the blank 30—becomes the tab ii and the further tab 21 being integrally formed with a (“second”) front part 3 and a further (“second”) front part 3, respectively. Thereby, for obtaining the tabs 11, 21 of a plurality of front parts, substantially no waste is generated. Further, with the second side edges 12, 13 and the second side edges 22, 23 being complementary formed to the first side edges 4 of the respective other front parts 3, waste during manufacturing is significantly reduced.

[0053] The second side edges 14A, 24 are not limited to a specific shape as long as they are complementary formed to one another, thereby resulting in a reduced amount of waste. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the second side edge 14A has preferably a convex (e.g. round) shape, and the second side edge 24 has thus a concave (e.g. round) shape. In other embodiments, the second side edges 14A, 24 may also have a different shape, e.g. a polygonal, rectangular, and/or straight shape.

[0054] The container 1 is not limited to a specific material. For example, the (entire) container 1 or at least the front part 3 and/or back part is made of a flexible or semi-flexible material and/or of a material comprising plastic, paper, cardboard, aluminum, and/or a multilayer laminate. Additionally or alternatively, the (entire) container 1 or at least the front part 3 and/or the back part may be made of a biodegradable and/or compostable (home compostable or industrially compastable) material, e.g. a material comprising a compostable polymer, paper, and/or cellulose. A material is to be understood as “compostable” or “biodegradable” when the material fulfills the requirements established by the European Norm EN 13431 (“Packaging—Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation—Test scheme and evaluation criteria for the final acceptance of packaging”).

[0055] It should be clear to a skilled person that the embodiments shown in the figures are only preferred embodiments, but that, however, also other designs of a container 1 can be used.