Patent Publication Number: US-2021161327-A1

Title: Package

Description:
The invention relates to a package comprising at least one capsule or container for the preparation of products, for example beverages, in automatic dispensing machines. 
     In particular, the invention relates to a package comprising a single capsule, single-dose and disposable, containing an initial product able to realise, by interacting with pressurised fluid, a final product, for example a beverage. 
     The invention also relates to a package comprising capsules or containers for the preparation of products, for example beverages, in automatic dispensing machines. 
     In particular, the invention relates to a package comprising a plurality of capsules, each being single-dose and disposable and containing an initial product able to realise, by interacting with pressurised fluid, a final product, for example a beverage. 
     The known capsules for use in dispensing machines are disposable, single-dose containers comprising an outer casing and having the shape of a glass or cup. The casing usually has a base wall and a side wall defining a cavity containing the initial product, for example ground coffee or tea, from which the final product is to be obtained, for example the beverage. A flange-shaped rim extends from the side wall and is arranged around an opening of the cavity, arranged on the opposite side with respect to the base wall. The opening is sealed by a covering element, so as to seal the product inside the container, and is fixed to the rim of the casing. The base wall of the capsule can optionally have an opening defined by an edge of the base on which a further covering element is fixed. 
     The capsule is perforable to allow the entry of pressurised liquid, typically water, and the output of the coffee beverage produced. 
     For this reason, both the covering element and the base wall, or optionally the further covering element, are realised using a material that is easily perforable, allowing the capsule to be used with great flexibility of use in different dispensing machines. 
     In particular, in a first type of dispensing machine, the covering element and the base wall, or optionally the further covering element, are perforable respectively by a suitable injection device for injecting pressurised fluid and by a suitable extraction device of a dispensing machine to allow the entry of pressurised liquid and the extraction of the beverage. Typically, in these types of capsules, the injection device for injecting pressurised fluid and the extraction device of the dispensing machine are realised as respective nozzles provided with a pointed end that perforates a central zone respectively of the covering element and the base wall. 
     Alternatively, the capsule can also be inserted in a second type of dispensing machine, in which the base wall and the covering element are respectively perforated by an injection device for injecting pressurised fluid and by an extraction device of the dispensing machine. In these dispensing machines, the injection device comprises three blades configured to perforate the base wall. The extraction device instead comprises a plurality of pointed elements that, when a pressure of the fluid inside the capsule increases, engage with the covering element and perforate it in a plurality of different areas. 
     In the field of foodstuffs containers, following the request to differentiate the collection of solid urban waste, a need has recently emerged to dispose of the containers, once the containers have been used, by separating the components according to the material with which they are realised, in particular by separating the plastic or metallic material (aluminium) from the product contained therein. 
     In the case of the capsules for beverages described above, the casing is usually realised using a plastic material that is impermeable to liquids and gases, while the covering element, and optionally the further covering element, are made by means of an aluminium film or plastic film containing aluminium. There are therefore three different components with which the capsule is realised, each of which is to be disposed of separately with respect to the others. 
     The initial product contained in the capsule is a food product and is to be disposed of as organic waste, the casing is to be disposed of as plastic material while the covering element, and optionally the further covering element, if present, are to be disposed of as aluminium. 
     Capsules for beverages have therefore been proposed in which the casing is made of plastic material and the covering element is made by means of an aluminium film fixed by means of a detachable seal, for example a peelable seal, to a flanged rim of the capsule, such that after use, the different components can be separated to facilitate the user&#39;s differentiated disposal of the initial product, for example coffee, as organic waste. 
     The term detachable seal is intended as the fact that the film is removed from the casing to which it is sealed simply by pulling it. These films are also called “easy-peel”, or peelable films, and are a great advantage for the user who does not need scissors or knives to peel the aluminium film from the casing. The film is peelable thanks to a food-grade resin that is either extruded or placed in contact with the aluminium film. 
     The removal of the aluminium covering element after the use of the capsule is however increasingly more complex and difficult in relation to how much the covering element is torn by the extraction device of the dispensing machine during the dispensing of the final product. As was previously mentioned, upon completion of the dispensing, the extraction device in fact leaves one or more apertures in the covering element, whose size and position in the covering element depend on the extraction device itself. 
     A user can therefore face real difficulties in detaching the covering element from the casing in plastic material, as the covering element could further tear when placed under traction due to an attempt at detachment, releasing any remaining amount of the initial product, with consequent problems of hygiene and cleanliness. 
     The user could therefore be discouraged to detach the covering element when the dispensing is completed, and sometimes decide to simply dispose of the capsule as unsorted waste without separating the different components. Other times, the complete separation of the covering element from the casing could be truly difficult and the user might be forced to dispose of the casing and parts of the covering element sealed thereto as unsorted waste, despite having tried to separate the covering element, the same covering element having been torn in several parts with some portions still fixed to the flanged rim. 
     Capsules are more and more frequently spreading on the market whose outer casing and internal components, if present, are realised using a compostable material according to the harmonised standard of the European Committee UNI EN13432:2002. However, even in compostable capsules, the covering element is frequently realised using aluminium and is not in compostable material. The compostable material is in fact difficult for the injection devices to perforate, as well as the extraction devices of a dispensing machine designed to perforate covers in aluminium film or plastic film. 
     It follows that even in the compostable capsules, the user must detach the covering element in aluminium once the dispensing is completed, with the difficulties described above. 
     The technical object underlying the present invention is therefore that of providing a package comprising a single capsule, the package facilitating the user and allowing him or her to properly dispose of the capsule, separating the different components in an easy manner. 
     A further object of the present invention is to obtain a package comprising a single capsule which is easy to realise and of low cost. 
     In addition, the technical object underlying the present invention is also to provide a package comprising a plurality of capsules, the package facilitating the user and allowing him or her to properly dispose of each capsule, separating the different components in an easy manner. 
     A further object of the present invention is also to obtain a package comprising a plurality of capsules which is easy to realise and of low cost. According to a first aspect of the invention, these objects are achieved by the package in accordance with claim  1  and the claims dependent thereon. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, these objects are achieved by the package according to the present invention in accordance with claim  8  and the claims dependent thereon. 
    
    
     
       Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the indicative, and hence non-limiting, description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a package as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a front view of a package comprising a plurality of capsules realised in accordance with the second aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of the package of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows an axonometric view of the package of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a side view of the package of  FIG. 1 , in which a capsule has been detached in order to be used; 
         FIG. 5  shows a partial axonometric view, with parts removed for clarity, of the package of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows an axonometric view of a variant of the package of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows a section of a capsule in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention which is part of the package of  FIG. 1  or of  FIG. 6 , to which a covering element is detachably fixed, shown partially removed for reasons of clarity, in which the capsule comprises a filtering element fixed to a flanged rim; 
         FIG. 8  shows a section of a variant of the capsule of  FIG. 7 , in which the filtering element is fixed to an annular part of a side wall of the capsule; 
         FIG. 9  shows a section of a variant of the capsule of  FIG. 7 , forming part of the package of  FIG. 1 , or of the variant of the package shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , in which the filtering element is fixed to a step of the side wall; 
         FIG. 10  shows a variant of the capsule of  FIG. 7 , in which the filtering element is a rigid body provided with openings, which is housed in a cavity and optionally positioned resting on the step and has a side edge, retained by interference in the side wall of the capsule; 
         FIG. 11  shows an axonometric view of a package realised in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, which comprises a single capsule; 
         FIG. 12  shows a section view of the package of  FIG. 11 , in which a variant of the capsule of  FIG. 7  is shown, in which the filtering element is fixed both to an internal portion of the flanged rim and the annular part of the side wall, contiguous to the flanged rim, and the covering element is fixed to an external portion of the flanged rim; 
         FIG. 12 a    shows an enlargement of the flanged rim of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 12 b    shows a variant of the capsule of  FIG. 12   a.    
     
    
    
     In the following description, the same elements are indicated with the same reference numbers in the various figures. 
     With reference to the attached figures, the number  1  is used to indicate a package according to a second aspect of the invention, comprising a plurality of capsules  2 . 
     Each capsule  2 , as shown in detail in  FIGS. 7 to 10 , comprises a casing  201  having a longitudinal extension axis A, for example an axis of symmetry. 
     The casing  201  is preferably realised by means of injection moulding or thermoforming of a sheet material and is substantially in the shape of a truncated cone, i.e. in the form of a glass or cup. The casing  201  comprises a base wall  202  and a side wall  203 , defining a cavity that is open, and a flanged rim  204 , which extends from the side wall  203 . The side wall  203  is divergent starting from the base wall  202  up to the flanged rim  204 . 
     The base wall  202  is perforable respectively by injection means (not shown) or by extraction means (not shown) of a dispensing machine (not shown), in which each capsule  2  can be used. The dispensing machine is configured to dispense a final product (not shown). 
     Each capsule  2  further comprises a respective filtering element  205 , the filtering element  205  delimiting a main chamber  206  in the cavity between the filtering element  205  itself and the base wall  202 . In particular, the filtering element is associated with the cavity. 
     As it will be seen in detail below, the filtering element is associated with the cavity in that it is contained in the cavity and/or in that it is fixed to the flanged rim  204 . Note also that the filtering element  205  can be fixed to the casing  201 , detachably or not detachably; alternatively, the filtering element  205  can be retained by interference in the casing  201 . 
     The main chamber  206  contains a respective initial product P (shown in  FIGS. 7 to 10 ) to be combined with a fluid (not shown), preferably a pressurised hot liquid, introduced into the main chamber  206  to obtain a respective final product (not shown). 
     As previously mentioned, the initial product P is for example a soluble, freeze-dried, dehydrated, concentrated, percolatable, lyophilised, powdered food product—for example coffee—or in leaves—for example tea, to combine with water, preferably hot and pressurised, in order to obtain a final product such as a beverage, for example coffee, barley coffee, tea, or herbal tea. 
     The package  1  comprises a single covering element  3  which is detachably fixed, for example by means of a peelable seal  4 , to the flanged rim  204  of each capsule to seal each cavity. 
     This covering element  3  therefore enables a user to detach a capsule  2  from the covering element  3  and allows its use in the dispensing machine. In particular, each capsule  2  can be detached from the covering element  3  independently from the remaining capsules  2 , possibly still fixed to the covering element  3  itself. 
     Preferably, the casing  201  and the filtering element  205  are realised using a compostable material so as to enable the capsule  2  to be disposed of as organic waste after it has been used. 
     In detail, the casing  201  can be selected from one of the following materials of a first list:
         Polyolefins (preferably PP or PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene-furanoate (PEF);   Biodegradable and/or compostable materials other than PLA, for example of vegetable origin;   Recyclable materials (for example aluminium).       

     The above materials of the first list can be able to offer a barrier to oxygen and/or water. 
     The covering element  3  can comprise at least a layer comprising a material selected from one of the following materials of a second list:
         PET;   PET comprising aluminium oxides and silicon oxides;   Aluminium;   PVDC;   PP;   PE;   PLA;   EVOH:   Paper;   Cellulose acetate.       

     In one embodiment, the covering element  3  can comprise at least two layers, in which each layer can comprise at least one of the materials of the second list (for example PET/PVDC, PET/aluminium). 
     In a further embodiment, the covering element  3  can comprise at least three layers, in which each layer can comprise at least one of the materials of the second list (for example PP/EVOH/PP, PP/EVOH/PE, PP/EVOH/PA). 
     The filtering element  205  can be selected from one of the following materials of a third list:
         Polyolefins (non-woven fabric, preferably PP or PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene-furanoate (PEF);   Biodegradable and/or compostable materials other than PLA, for example of vegetable origin;   Recyclable materials (for example aluminium).       

     The filtering element  205  can also be realised using filter paper. 
     If the casing  201  is realised by means of plastic material and the filtering element  205  is realised with a film of non-woven fabric, the filtering element  205  must preferably be detachable from the casing  201 . Advantageously, owing to the package of the present invention, a user is forced to detach the capsule  2  from the covering element  3  before using the capsule  2  itself in the dispensing machine. 
     If the capsule  2  is entirely compostable, the user will be able to dispose of the entire capsule  2  as organic waste. 
     If instead the casing  201  is made of a non-compostable plastic material, the user can easily detach the filtering element  205  from the capsule  2 , as the filtering element  205  itself is integral when the dispensing is completed, thus facilitating the disposal of the various components with which the capsule  2  is realised. As regards the possibility of realising a filtering element  205  that is easily detachable from a casing  201  in plastic material, see WO2014125440 of the same applicant, which is wholly incorporated herein for reference. 
     The capsule  2  can therefore be used advantageously in a dispensing machine of the type in which the covering element  3  interacts with a dispensing device of the dispensing machine, since the filtering element  205  associated with the capsule  2  allows the dispensing of a beverage, for example by means of percolation or infusion, and retains the initial product P itself when the dispensing is completed. 
     The covering element  3  comprises a plurality of covering zones  301 , wherein each covering zone  301  is respectively fixed to a single capsule  2  by means of the peelable seal  4 . 
     Between two adjacent covering zones  301  a detachment promoting element  302  is optionally present to allow a user, after having removed the capsule  2  from the respective covering zone  301 , if desired, to separate the covering zone  301  itself from the covering element  3  using the detachment promoting element  302 , to reduce a dimension of the covering element  3  following the use of a capsule  2 . After having used a capsule  2 , the package  1  reduces its dimensions and also the covering element  3 , if the user prefers, can be reduced to make its dimension adjusted to the reduced dimension of the package  1 . 
     It should be noted that the detachment promoting element  302  is placed in the covering element  3  at a part of the covering element  3  located between two capsules  2 . The detachment promoting element  302  is for example a partially cut line, as shown in  FIG. 6 , which extends up to a side edge  303  of the covering element  3 , preferably between opposite side edges  303 . Alternatively, the detachment promoting element  302  can comprise a pair of “V”-shaped incisions (not shown) arranged at opposite edges of the covering element  3  and aligned to define a preferred tearing line that facilitates a user wishing to tear the covering element  3  itself. Optionally, the covering element  3  is provided with an end portion  304  and comprises a reinforcement part  305  arranged at said end portion  304 . The reinforcement part  305  is provided with an opening  306  to enable the package  1  to be hung on a hook of a display unit (not shown). 
     The reinforcement part  305  enables the package  1  to be displayed, hung and offered for sale without requiring further packaging. 
     The covering element  3  comprises at least one gripping portion  307  which projects with respect to the edge of a capsule  2 , to enable a user, by gripping the gripping portion  307 , to detach a capsule  2  of the plurality of capsules  2  from the covering element  3 . 
     The gripping portion  307  enables detaching the first capsule  2  from the covering element  3 . 
     After having detached the first capsule  2  by means of the gripping portion  307 , the entire covering zone  301 , to which the capsule  2  was fixed ( FIG. 5 ), can act as a further gripping portion  307  for detaching a second capsule  2  from the plurality of capsules  2 . 
     Even if the detachment promoting element  302  is present, the position of the latter in the covering element  3  is suitably chosen in such a way that a gripping portion  307  is however present in each covering zone  301  to which a capsule  2  is still fixed. In other words, each covering zone  301  has larger dimensions than the dimensions of the flanged rim  204 , to ensure the gripping portion  307  in each covering zone  301 . 
     It should be noted that the gripping portion  307  and the reinforcement part  305  are distinct in the sense that, in the package, preferably, the reinforcement part  305  is arranged on the opposite part with respect to the gripping portion. 
     In detail, if the plurality of capsules  2  comprises two capsules  2 , which are mutually aligned so as to define a row, the covering element  3  is preferably of elongate shape. The elongated element  3  therefore comprises a side  308 , for example a smaller side, and at least two vertices  309 , opposite the side  308 . 
     The package  1  shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3, 4 and 6  comprises, for example, four capsules  2  mutually aligned to define the row, the covering element  3  is of a rectangular shape, the reinforcement part  305  is arranged at the side  308 , which is a shorter lateral side, while the gripping portion  307  is arranged at least at one of the vertices  309  delimiting the other shorter lateral side, opposite to the shorter lateral side  308 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6  in the package  1  depicted, each edge  303  corresponds to a longer lateral side of the covering element  3 . 
     If in addition the covering element comprises two gripping portions  307 , such gripping portions  307  can be arranged at both said vertices  309 . The user can thus begin to detach a capsule  2  from the covering element  3  starting from one of the two gripping portions  307 . 
     According to a version of the package  1  not shown, the plurality of capsules  2  comprises four capsules  2 , aligned two by two so as to define two rows, the row and a further row being placed side by side. If the covering element  3  is in the shape of a square, the four capsules  2  can for example be arranged at the vertices of the square. Again, as mentioned previously, the detachment promoting element can be present between two capsules  2  (not shown). For example, the detachment promoting element can be realised as two lines partially cut at right angles to each other, extending centrally between the side edges of the covering element, between the capsules  2 . 
     According to a different version of the package  1 , not shown, if the covering element  3  has a triangular shape and comprises at least one side  308  and at least one vertex  309 , opposite said side, the reinforcement part can be arranged at the side and the gripping portion can instead be arranged at the vertex. Advantageously, the plurality of capsules can comprise three capsules, fixed to the covering element in an angularly equally spaced manner. Also in this case, the detachment promoting element (not shown) can be present between the capsules  2 , for example realised as three partially cut lines that are incident with respect to each other, which extend from the vertices  309  towards the centre of the covering element  3 . 
     It must be noted that the covering element  3  can be rectangular, square, triangular, or any other shape, without any general restrictions. 
     The arrangement of the capsules  2  in the package  1  can advantageously be arranged so as to be able to hold a plurality of packages  1  close together between them and reduce the overall dimensions of the plurality of packages  1 . 
     According to another different version of the package  1 , the reinforcement part  305  is absent, as shown in the package  1  of  FIG. 6 . In fact, if the package  1  is placed on a shelf, with the base wall  202  of each capsule  2  resting, the reinforcement part  305  is not necessary. Again, the package  1  can be displayed and offered for sale without requiring additional packaging because each capsule  2  is sealed by the covering element  3 . 
     It was previously mentioned that the filtering element  205  is associated with the cavity of the capsule  2 , so that it can be contained in the cavity and/or can be fixed to the flanged rim  204 , and that it can be fixed to the casing  201  or retained by interference in the casing  201 . 
     The filtering element  205  can be realised by means of a sheet material fixed in a non-detachable way, for example by ultrasonic sealing  5 , to the casing  201  of the capsule  2 . In this case, the filtering element  205  is preferably made of filter paper, or by means of a compostable, perforated sheet of plastic material, if the casing  201  is in a compostable material. 
     If the casing  201  is made of plastic material, the filtering element  205  is preferably realised using a sheet material of non-woven fabric containing fibres of synthetic and/or plastic material joined together and/or woven or overlapping, since the filtering element  205  must be preferably detachably fixed to the casing  201 . As previously mentioned, the filtering element  205  is realised using one of the materials of the third list. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the filtering element  205  can for example be fixed to the flanged rim  204 , in an internal portion  204   a  of the flanged rim  204 , preferably annular. In this case, the covering element  3  is fixed to the flanged rim  204 , in an external portion  204   b , preferably annular, of the flanged rim  204  itself. The external portion  204   b  can be contiguous to the internal portion  204   a  or it can be present in a central zone of the flanged rim  204 , between the internal portion  204   a  and the external portion  204   b , wherein the flanged rim  204  is not fixed to the covering element  3  nor to the filtering element  205 . 
     Advantageously, by fixing the covering element  3  and the filtering element  205  to the same flanged rim  204  but in distinct annular portions, it is possible to remove the covering element  3  from the flanged rim  204  itself without risking tearing the filtering element  205 , if the filtering element  205  is readily torn, for example because it is realised using filter paper or by means of the perforated sheet of compostable material. 
     According to an alternative embodiment of the capsule  2  (not shown), the covering element  3  is fixed to the flanged rim  204  by means of the interposition of the filtering element  205  between the covering element  3  and the flanged rim  204 , if the filtering element  205  is made of non-woven fabric resistant to traction and comprises fibres of plastic material. In this case, the covering element  3  overlaps the filtering element  205  at the flanged rim  204 . 
     Alternatively, the filtering element  205  can be fixed to an annular part  207  of the side wall  203  ( FIG. 8 ), or if the side wall  203  is provided with an annular step  208  ( FIG. 9 ), to said annular step  208 . In these versions of the capsule  2  shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the filtering element  205  is contained in the cavity. 
     The capsule  2  shown in  FIGS. 12, 12   a  and  12   b  is illustrated in association with a different package  6 , described later. However, it can also be fixed to the covering element  3  of the package  1  and is therefore described as a variant with respect to the other capsules already described. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the filtering element  205  is fixed to the internal portion  204   a  of the flanged rim  204 , as in the capsule  2  illustrated in  FIG. 7 , but the filtering element  205  is also fixed to the annular part  207  of the side wall  203 , contiguous to the flanged rim  204 , as in the capsule  2  illustrated in  FIG. 8 . In this case, the covering element is fixed to the flanged rim  204 , in the external portion  204   b  of the flanged rim  204  itself, as in the capsule  2  of  FIG. 7 . In this version, the filtering element  205  is contained in the cavity and is fixed to the flanged rim  204 . 
     In  FIG. 12 a   , it should be noted that the external portion  204   b  is contiguous to the internal portion  204   a . In  FIG. 12 b   , it should be noted that a central zone of the flanged rim  204  is present, between the internal portion  204   a  and the external portion  204   b , wherein the flanged rim  204  is not fixed to the covering element  3  nor to the filtering element  205 . 
     Fixing the filtering element  205  to both the internal portion  204   a  and the annular part  207  reduces the possibility that the filtering element  205  can detach, if the filtering element  205  is fixed in a non-detachable way. According to a different embodiment, the filtering element  205  is realised as a filtering body ( FIG. 10 ), which is rigid and provided with openings  210 . The filtering body  205  is, for example, an annular disc which is provided with a peripheral edge configured to abut the side wall  203  by interference in order to be retained by interference in the capsule  2 . 
     If the side wall  203  is provided with the annular step  208 , in addition to the main chamber  206 , a secondary chamber  209  is defined between the annular step  208  and the flanged rim  204 . The filtering body  205  can optionally be resting on the annular step  208 . In this version, the filtering element  205  is contained in the cavity and is entirely housed inside the secondary chamber  209 . 
     In relation to the position of the filtering body  205  in the side wall  203  and/or the position of the annular step  208  in the side wall  203 , the dimensions of the main chamber  206  and the secondary chamber  209  can change and, consequently, the position of the filtering body  205  in the cavity can change. 
     Both when the filtering element  205  is realised using a material in sheet form, and when the filtering element  205  is realised as a rigid filtering body, the distance between the flanged rim  204  and a surface  205   a  of the filtering body  205 , facing the flanged rim  204 , depends on the position of the annular step  208  and/or a thickness of the filtering body  205 . 
     If the filtering element  205  is in non-woven fabric material or filter paper, the thickness of the filtering element  205  is reduced and the surface  205   a  corresponds to that of the annular step  208 . 
     If the filtering element  205  is fixed to the flanged rim  204 , the main chamber  206  has the same dimension as the cavity inside the capsule  2  and the secondary chamber has a dimension which is substantially null. If instead the filtering element  205  is fixed to the annular step  208 , or to the annular part  207 , the dimension of the secondary chamber  209  depends on the position in which the filtering element  205  is fixed. 
     If instead the filtering element  205  is a filtering body of rigid material having a thickness which is not reduced, the surface  205   a  is distinct from that of the annular step  208 . If of interest, the surface  205   a  can be aligned with the flanged rim  204  or a space can be left, inside the secondary chamber  209 , between the surface  205   a  and the flanged rim  204  itself. 
     In both cases, it can for example be advantageous to collect the final product in the space between the filtering element  205  and the flanged rim  204 , if the base wall  202  of the capsule  2  is perforated by the injection device of the dispensing machine. 
     The filtering element  205  is preferably realised using rigid compostable material, if the casing  201  is in a compostable material. 
     According to a variant not shown, the capsule  2  comprises a further filtering element, contained in the cavity, arranged between the base wall  202  and the filtering element  205 . The main chamber containing the product P is therefore defined between the filtering element and the further filtering element, to leave an extra space between the further filtering element and the base wall  202 . Advantageously, a capsule with a filtering element and a further filtering element can dispense the final product in both dispensing machines in which the injection device perforates the base wall and in dispensing machines in which the injection device is housed in the secondary chamber  209  and the dispensing device perforates the base wall  202 . 
     In use, a user separates a capsule  2  from the package  1 , taken from a display unit in which it is hung at the end portion  304  wherein the reinforcement part  305  is present, detaching the capsule  2  from the covering element  3 , using the gripping portion  307  arranged at a vertex  309  of the covering element  3 . 
     If the filtering element  205  is made of a material in sheet form or in filter paper and is fixed inside the cavity of the capsule  2 , on the annular step  208  or to the annular part  207 , or to the internal portion  204   a  of the flanged rim  204 , the filtering element  205  is contained in the capsule  2  and is not affected by the fact that the covering element  3  is placed in traction, detaching itself from the flanged rim  204 . 
     Each detached capsule  2  therefore always remains intact and ready to be used in a dispensing machine. For example, the base wall  202  of the capsule  2  can be perforated by the injection device of the dispensing machine. 
     The product P is combined with a pressurised liquid in the main chamber  206  and a beverage is created in the latter which, filtered by the filtering element  205 , comes to be dispensed in the secondary chamber  209  to then be output into a container of a user. 
     Owing to the package  1  according to the present aspect of the invention, which comprises a plurality of capsules  2 , a user is guaranteed, before using a capsule  2  in a dispensing machine, that the capsule will separate from the covering element  3  without any risk of tearing the covering element  3 , thus allowing each component of the capsule  2  to be properly disposed of. The covering element  3 , comprising at least one layer realised using one of the materials of the second list, can easily be disposed of separately from the capsule  2 . 
     Owing to the fact that each capsule  2  of the package  1  contains a filtering element  205 , fixed to the casing  201 , or retained by interference in the casing  201 , the initial product P to be combined with a pressurised fluid is contained in a main chamber  206  defined between the base wall  202  and the filtering element  205  itself and therefore the final product can be collected in a secondary chamber  209  defined between the filtering element  205  and the flanged rim. 
     It follows that the capsule  2  of the invention does not only have the same functionality of the capsules  2  already known to operate in the dispensing machines of known type but allows avoiding the use of further additional packages in cardboard, thereby reducing the waste arising from the use of the package  1  itself. The package  1  is also easily feasible and low-cost to manufacture. 
     In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 11, 12, 12   a  and  12   b , a package  6  is herein proposed that differs from package  1 , previously described, for the fact that the package  6  comprises only one capsule  2  for beverages. 
     The capsule  2  included in the package  6  and shown in  FIGS. 12, 12   a  and  12   b  has already been previously described. A filtering element  205  is realised using a material in sheet form and is fixed, for example in a non-detachable way as previously illustrated, both to a flanged rim  204 , in detail to an internal portion  204   a  of the flanged rim  204 , and to an annular part  207 , contiguous to the flanged rim  204 . In the cavity, the filtering element  205  defines the main chamber  206  between the filtering element  205  and the base wall  202 , which contains an initial product P to be combined with the fluid in order to obtain the final product. 
     The capsule  2  of  FIGS. 12, 12   a  and  12   b  is provided only by way of example in the package  6  and it must be noted that the package  6  can comprise any type of capsule  2 , previously described with reference to  FIGS. 7 to 10 , in which the filtering element  205  can be associated with the cavity, in that it is contained in the cavity and/or fixed to the flanged rim  204 , and fixed to the casing  201  or retained by interference in the casing  201 . For the sake of brevity, the capsule  2  is thus not described again in full but reference is made to what has already been previously described. The capsule  2  can be used in a dispensing machine and, in detail, the capsule  2  can be inserted in a seat of the dispensing machine, for example in a percolation chamber, i.e. in a chamber in which the final product is obtained. 
     The package  6  comprises a covering element  7  which is detachably fixed, for example by means of a respective peelable seal  4 , to the flanged rim  204  of the capsule  2  to seal the cavity of the capsule  2 . Again for the sake of brevity, the details of a peelable seal already previously described are not repeated here. 
     In order to be able to use the capsule  2  in the dispensing machine, the user must detach the covering element  7  from the flanged rim  4 . For this purpose, the covering element  7  comprises at least one respective gripping portion  701  projecting with respect to the flanged rim  204 , to enable a user, by gripping the gripping portion  701 , to detach a capsule  2  from the covering element  7 . 
     The gripping portion  701  is arranged, as shown for example in  FIG. 11 , at least at one vertex  702  of the covering element  7  or preferably, if the covering element  7  is rectangular, at the four vertices  702 . 
     Advantageously, the presence of the detachable covering element  7 , which is provided with the gripping portion  701  and the simultaneous presence of the filtering element  205  associated with the cavity of the capsule  2 , fixed to the casing  201  or retained by interference in the casing  201 , enables realising a very simple package  6  in which the capsule  2  is usable in a dispensing machine and at the same time the covering element  7  can never be torn by the injection device or extraction device of the dispensing machine. In fact, the user is forced to detach the covering element  7  itself before using the capsule  2 . 
     To avoid the possibility that the user inserts the capsule  2  in the dispensing machine without having previously removed the covering element  7 , the covering element  7  has dimensions that are not only greater than the flanged rim  204  but also has larger dimensions than a maximum dimension of a mouth of the seat of the dispensing machine. 
     The covering element  7  is therefore appropriately designed, in its shape or overall dimensions, so that the package  6  comprising the capsule  2  and the covering element  7  as a whole has overall dimensions that do not fit in the seat of the dispensing machine in which it is intended. 
     If the package  6  is considered, and a covering element  7  is considered of such a size that allows the covering element not to fit into the seat of the dispensing machine and at the same time to be able to be detachably fixed to a further capsule  2 , it should be noted that it is possible to obtain the package  1  of  FIGS. 1 to 6  comprising a plurality of capsules  2 . Optionally, as previously mentioned, the covering element  7  can comprise a reinforcement part (not shown) arranged at an end portion thereof (not shown); said reinforcement part being provided with an opening (not shown) to enable the package  6  to be hung on a hook of a display unit. 
     It should be added that all of what has been mentioned above in relation to the material with which the casing  201  of the capsule  2  is realised, chosen among one of the materials of the first list, and the filtering element  205  inside the capsule  2  chosen among one of the materials of the third list, also applies in the case of the package  6 . In other words, it can be applied that which was previously mentioned in relation to the material with which the covering element  7  is realised, wherein at least one layer is realised in one of the materials of the second list. 
     Similarly to that which was previously described with reference to the package  1 , also in this case the user is forced to detach the covering element  7  from the flanged rim  4 , since the package  6  has dimensions which are incompatible with the mouth of the seat of the dispensing machine itself. 
     Advantageously, again, the capsule  2 , that is, both the casing  201  and the filtering element  205 , can be realised using a compostable material in order to dispose of the capsule  2  as organic waste after it has been used. In use, a user separates the covering element  7  from the capsule  2  from the package  6 , detaching the capsule  2  from the covering element  7 , using the gripping portion  701  arranged in the corner  702 . 
     Owing to the package  6  according to the first aspect of the present invention, a user is guaranteed, before using a capsule  2  in a dispensing machine, that the capsule will separate from the covering element  7  without any risk of tearing the covering element  7 , thus allowing each component of the capsule  2  to be properly disposed of. A suitably designed dimension of the covering element  7 , advantageously, forces a user to detach the covering element  7  itself from the package  6  and promotes the correct use of the capsule  2  in the dispensing machine. 
     What stated above in relation to the package  1  comprising a plurality of capsules  2 , also applies to the package  6  comprising a single capsule  2 . Since the capsule  2  of the package  6  has been suitably designed to operate in the dispensing machines of known type, the package  6  comprising a single capsule  2  ensures in a very simple and low-cost way the possibility of properly disposing of each component with which the package  6  is realised.