Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2015162468A1/en
Timestamp: 2018-09-22 14:07:05
Document Index: 101872539

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 7', 'art 8', 'art 7', 'art 8', 'art 7', 'art 8', 'art 7', 'art 8', 'art 8', 'art 7', 'art 8', 'art 7', 'art 8', 'art 7', 'art 8', 'art 7', 'art 8', 'art 7', 'art 8', 'art 7', 'art 8', 'art 7', 'art 8', 'art 7']

WO2015162468A1 - Apparatus and method for making a beverage using a powdered food substance contained in a capsule - Google Patents
Apparatus and method for making a beverage using a powdered food substance contained in a capsule Download PDF
WO2015162468A1
WO2015162468A1 PCT/IB2014/067314 IB2014067314W WO2015162468A1 WO 2015162468 A1 WO2015162468 A1 WO 2015162468A1 IB 2014067314 W IB2014067314 W IB 2014067314W WO 2015162468 A1 WO2015162468 A1 WO 2015162468A1
PCT/IB2014/067314
The apparatus comprises at least one piercing element (18) having an axis of extension which is substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall (5) of the capsule (2) used, a cutting edge (21) transversal to the axis of extension and designed to create a linear cut (22), and an operating portion (23) which forms a flow channel (24) with a concave inner surface (25) which extends substantially parallel to the axis of extension and is such that the projections parallel to the axis of extension of all of its cross-sections made in planes perpendicular to the axis of extension, lie substantially on the same line. According to the method a linear cut (22) is made in the bottom wall (5), said cut delimiting a tab (29) made of plastic material which is flexible towards the outside of the capsule (2) relative to the rest of the bottom wall (5) and which comprises a perimetric edge (30); the latter is coupled to a concave surface of the type indicated above; at the start of injection of water into the capsule (2) the concave surface and the perimetric edge (30) interact to prevent or at least hinder the flow of the beverage between them towards the outside of the capsule (2), whilst when a predetermined pressure value is reached inside the capsule (2) the tab (29) bends outwards, creating a transit gap (31) for the beverage.
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAKING A BEVERAGE USING A
POWDERED FOOD SUBSTANCE CONTAINED IN A CAPSULE
This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for making a beverage using a powdered food substance contained in a capsule, in particular in a capsule equipped with a cup-shaped body made of a plastic material.
This invention is intended in particular for making coffee, so, for the sake of simplicity, the following description refers explicitly mainly to that beverage. However, this invention shall still be considered as being intended for making any beverage which can be obtained by passing hot water in a capsule containing a substance to be extracted or dissolved (normally grains or powder), according to the methods described below.
The use of disposable capsules for making coffee has been known for many years. They are usually capsules, which may have filters, through which hot water, under pressure if necessary, is injected, to extract the coffee from the powder or grains contained in the capsule. The outflow of the beverage is then guaranteed by an opening made through the second wall of the capsule.
Since the quality of the beverage obtained is very much dependent on the methods with which the water is passed through the capsule, with the passage of time many methods and apparatuses intended for making such beverages have been developed. In fact, for example, a capsule containing a mixture of powdered coffee can be used to obtain a simple infusion by slowly percolating low pressure hot water through it, or the so-called "espresso" (that is to say, a beverage with significantly different organoleptic properties) if pressurised hot water is percolated through it. The quality of the espresso may be further improved by forced pre-infusion before starting to supply the beverage from the capsule, then maintaining a predetermined pressure in the capsule during the entire supplying period. Usually, the times, temperatures and pressures during the pre-infusion and supplying steps, the speed of flow between the grains and therefore the micro-turbulences generated are essential for obtaining a good organoleptic result. Since not all soluble substances contained in coffee are useful for an optimum result, attempts must be made to optimise the extraction cycle so that the appearance, smell and taste confirm the positive outcome of the method. Up to now, these empirical checking means have been the only ones considered really reliable to define the quality of the coffee.
In particular, the technique for making a good quality espresso is, therefore, broadly speaking widely known. However, in practice achieving a good level of quality and maintaining it constant with the passage of time are certainly not easy. This is because there are many factors which contribute to the success of the operation, difficult to quantify and sometimes not even clearly identifiable, since even minimal changes in operating circumstances may produce considerably different effects. Moreover, when selecting production methods, preference should be given to simple, reliable methods with low industrial cost, but which guarantee a good end result. In fact, it is not commercially feasible to use methods that are too complex and therefore too expensive in order to achieve an optimum result.
The fact that preparing beverages using capsules has been a matter of great interest for a long time is indicated by the many patents relating to the subject. For example, the following: CH 406561 , CH 605293, DE 3722554, DE 7430109U, EP 199953, EP 211511 , EP 242 556, EP 382001 , EP 468078, EP 468079, EP 468080, EP 469162, EP 471094, EP 507905, FR 757358, FR 1198879, FR 1537031 , FR 2062337, FR 2171306, FR 2556323, GB 938617, GB 2023086, US 2715868, US 2899886, US 3094917, US 3292527, US 3347151 , US 3403617, US 3470812, US 3589272, US 4077551 , US 4136202, US 4921712 and WO 86/02537.
Further examples of patents describing in particular various methods for opening the capsules are the following: WO 2005090196, EP 1557373, EP 1243210, EP 1674007, EP 0726053, EP 1599117, WO 9507648, US 5243164, EP 1555218, EP 1247756 and EP 2000063.
The latter patent documents substantially describe four main methods for making coffee or beverages using disposable capsules: a first method in which the second wall of the capsule is pierced before water is injected into it; a second method making use of the inward opening of an openable portion of the bottom of the capsule; a third method in which the second wall of the capsule is pierced as a direct consequence of the increase in internal pressure due to injecting water into it, and a fourth, combined, method, in which the capsule is initially cut in such a way that the air and not the beverage can come out and in which the cut is subsequently enlarged as a result of the internal pressure, to also allow the beverage to come out.
Therefore, as already indicated, one of the needs that is felt the most, in particular concerning making coffee, especially espresso coffee, is that of carrying out suitable pre-infusion of the powder. Again for espresso coffee, it is also important to manage to make a beverage which has a layer of thick, dense foam or crema on the surface.
Such results are linked to the capacity of the apparatus and the method used both to incorporate tiny air bubbles in the beverage and to supply the beverage with a suitable overpressure inside the capsule.
The entire sector of making beverages using capsules is therefore always constantly seeking new technical solutions which allow the results indicated to be obtained. This is the technical purpose which forms the basis of this invention.
Therefore, in particular, the technical purpose of this invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for making a beverage using a powdered food substance contained in a capsule, which allow at the same time both suitable pre-infusion of the powdered substance in the capsule to be carried out, and a surface layer of thick, dense foam to be obtained in the resulting beverage. The technical purpose specified and the aims indicated are substantially achieved by an apparatus and a method for making a beverage using a powdered food substance contained in a capsule as described in the appended claims.
Further features and the advantages of this invention are more apparent in the detailed description below, with reference to several preferred, non- limiting embodiments of an apparatus and a method for making a beverage using a powdered food substance contained in a capsule, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is a side axial section of an apparatus according to this invention in a first operating configuration;
- Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the apparatus of Figure 1 in a second operating configuration;
- Figure 3 shows an enlarged detail of the apparatus of Figure 2;
- Figure 4 shows the detail of Figure 3 during operation;
- Figure 5 is an axonometric view of a piercing element of the apparatuses of the preceding figures; and
- Figures 6 to 9 are axonometric views of four alternative embodiments of the piercing element of Figure 5.
Both the apparatus 1 and the method according to this invention relate to making beverages using a powdered food substance contained in a capsule 2 which, in turn, comprises a cup-shaped body 3 which is closed, advantageously fluid-tight, by a lid 4 (for example made of a plastic, aluminium or multi-layer film). The cup-shaped body 3 comprises a bottom wall 5 which is made of a plastic material and is at least partly elastically flexible. In particular, in the preferred embodiment, at least at its elastically flexible part, the bottom wall 5 may for example be constituted of a multilayer material (in the preferred embodiment comprising a polypropylene outer layer, a polypropylene inner layer and an intermediate layer made of EVOH), and have a thickness of between 0.25 mm and 0.40 mm. It should be noticed that, for the sake of clarity, the powdered food substance is not shown in the accompanying drawings. Similarly, any filters which may be present in the capsule 2 are not shown. In other words, only the cup- shaped body 3 and the lid 4 of the capsule 2 are shown.
In general, and similarly to the prior art apparatuses, the apparatus 1 according to this invention comprises, first, an infusion unit 6 which in turn comprises a first part 7 and a second part 8 which are movable relative to one another between an operating position and a home position. In the operating position (Figure 2), the first part 7 and the second part 8 are coupled and between them form an extraction chamber 9 in which the capsule 2 from which the beverage will be obtained can be enclosed. In contrast, in the home position the first part 7 and the second part 8 are at a distance from one another and, in use, allow the capsule 2 to be inserted in and removed from the extraction chamber 9. In the embodiment illustrated, the chamber is practically entirely formed by the first part 7 which is also slidably movable relative to the second part 8 driven by a system comprising a connecting rod 10 and crank 11 which, in the known way, can be operated either by a motor or by a manual operating lever (which are not illustrated). In contrast, the second part 8 is stationary and, in the operating position, substantially acts and a closing/sealing element for the extraction chamber 9.
Moreover, in the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the infusion unit 6 is a unit of the horizontal type, that is to say, a unit in which the first part 7 and the second part 8 move one relative to the other along a line of sliding which, at least in use, is substantially horizontal, and in which, in the known way, therefore not described in detail, the capsule 2 is inserted and removed by means of gravity. In particular, retaining means (of the known type, therefore not illustrated) are designed to hold the capsule 2 to be used in an intermediate position between the first part 7 and the second part 8 when they are in the home position (Figure 1 ), whilst ejection means (also of the known type and therefore not illustrated) are designed to remove the capsule 2 from the extraction chamber 9 when the first part 7 and the second part 8 are moved from the operating position to the home positon.
Hot water feeding means 12 (of the known type and therefore not described in detail) are associated with the extraction chamber 9 for, in use, injecting hot water into the capsule 2 enclosed in the extraction chamber 9, through at least one injection opening 13 made at or close to the lid 4, and first piercing means 14, described in detail below, are associated with the extraction chamber 9 to in use create at least one outfeed opening 15 through the bottom wall 5 of the cup-shaped body 3.
Whilst in the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings the feeding means 12 comprise second piercing means 16 associated with the extraction chamber 9 for in use creating the injection opening 13 through the lid 4 of the capsule 2, in other embodiments it may even be the case either that the capsule 2 is already provided with the injection opening 13, or said opening is created before the capsule 2 is inserted in the infusion unit 6. There are beverage collecting means 17 associated with the extraction chamber 9 for in use collecting a beverage which, through the outfeed opening 15, comes out of the capsule 2 enclosed in the extraction chamber 9. In the preferred embodiment, the collecting means 17 are constituted of a plurality of channels/ducts which guide the flow of the beverage from the outfeed opening 15 to a supplying nozzle of the apparatus 1 (the nozzle and part of the ducts are not illustrated in the accompanying drawings).
According to this invention, the first piercing means 14 comprise at least a piercing element 18 extending from its own base 19 to at least its own top edge 20, along an axis of extension. Depending on the embodiments, the base 19 is mounted on either the first part 7 or the second part 8, whilst the top edge 20 is free and is facing towards the inside of the extraction chamber 9. Moreover, the top edge 20 comprises a cutting edge 21 extending transversally to the axis of extension and designed, in use, to make the outfeed opening 15 by making in the bottom wall 5 of the capsule 2 a linear cut 22 extending between two ends which are separate and apart (that is to say, the cut is not closed on itself, so as to avoid causing the complete detachment of any piece of the bottom wall 5).
According to an innovative aspect of this invention, the piercing element 18 comprises an operating portion 23 extending from the top edge 20 towards the base 19, at least for part of the overall length of the piercing element 18, and which forms a flow channel 24. The latter in turn extends, from the top edge 20 and at the cutting edge 21 , parallel to the axis of extension. It should be noticed that the definition provided also covers the case of the presence of any complex channels which have a first stretch (starting from the cutting edge 21 ) that is straight and subsequent stretches which are not aligned with the first (therefore curved, angled, moved, etc.): in that case the flow channel 24 will be constituted only of the first stretch of the complex channel.
Moreover, the flow channel 24 comprises a concave inner surface 25 (which in other words may also be considered as the set of the sides and the bottom of the channel) which, starting from the top edge 20 and at the cutting edge 21 , extends substantially parallel to the axis of extension. According to this invention, the concave inner surface 25 is shaped in such a way that all of the projections on a reference plane, which are made parallel to the axis of extension, of the cross-sections of the concave inner surface 25 created in planes perpendicular to the axis of extension, substantially lie on the same line. In other words, if one makes a cross-section of the concave inner surface 25 of the flow channel 24 in any plane perpendicular to the axis of extension and projects the profile which is obtained parallel to the axis of extension itself on the reference plane, the projection always falls substantially on a single line.
Moreover, advantageously, the cutting edge 21 is shaped and/or positioned in such a way that its projection on the reference plane, parallel to the axis of extension, substantially coincides with, or is alongside and substantially parallel to, the line on which said projections of the cross-sections of the concave inner surface 25 fall.
Moreover, the cutting edge 21 is advantageously designed to make in the bottom wall 5 of the capsule 2 a linear cut 22 which also substantially has the same shape as the line on which all of said projections of the concavities fall.
In the preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, that result is obtained by making the flow channel 24 with a constant cross- section along its entire length and the cutting edge 21 constituting an edge of the concave inner surface 25.
Figures 5 to 9 show various possible embodiments of the piercing element 18. As can be seen, in all of the embodiments illustrated the piercing element 18 advantageously comprises a tubular base 19. In the case in Figure 5, the operating portion 23 is directly fixed to the base 19, whilst in the case in Figures 6 to 9 an intermediate portion 26 is interposed between the two. It should be noticed that the distinguishing feature for identifying whether there is an "intermediate portion 26" (as in Figures 6 to 9) or not (as in Figure 5) is the shape of the cross-section of the concave inner surface 25. Whilst in Figure 5 it is possible to identify a concave inner surface 25 which has a constant cross-section (and therefore the perpendicular sections can be superposed) along the entire length from the base 19 to the cutting edge 21 , in the case of Figures 6 to 9, when passing from the operating portion 23 to the intermediate portion 26 there is a change in the cross-section.
Preferably, the operating portion 23 has a thickness (perpendicularly to the axis of extension) decreasing towards the top edge 20. In particular, advantageously, the thickness gradually decreases to nothing at the cutting edge 21 which therefore has a wedge-shaped cross-section (depending on requirements it may or may not be sharp like a blade). In other words, starting from the top edge 20, the thickness of the operating portion 23 advantageously increases thanks to an outline of it which gradually increases outwards relative to the axis of extension.
Whilst in the embodiment in Figure 5 the concave inner surface 25 extends on a half-cylinder, in the other embodiments it is constituted of a plurality of flat faces which are parallel to the axis of extension and set at angles to one another. In any case, other combinations may also be adopted.
Consequently, according to this invention, the line on which all of said projections of the cross-sections of the concave inner surface 25 parallel to the axis of extension lie may be a curved line and/or a broken line. In particular, in the embodiments illustrated the line on which all of the projections lie has, overall, depending on the point of view and the actual sizing of the various parts, a C, U, L or V shape. It should also be noticed that, in other embodiments, other, more complex shapes (for example M or S) may be used, provided that the piercing element 18 otherwise meets the requirements indicated. Furthermore, although the line on which all of the projections lie may take any shape, in the embodiments illustrated it has what may be termed an "open" shape. That is to say, it is shaped in such a way that it does not tend to close on itself. In other words, the distance between two non-adjacent points of it is always greater than the distance between all of the points of the line which are between the first two.
Finally, it should be noticed that, although in the embodiments illustrated the top edge 20 and the cutting edge 21 substantially coincide and extend equally, in other embodiments it may be the case that the cutting edge 21 is shorter than the top edge 20. In that case, if the piercing element 18 also has a concave surface extending axially at the entire top edge 20, in the context of this invention the concave inner surface 25 must be understood to be only that "subtended" only by the cutting edge 21 (with reference to the line of projection parallel to the axis of extension). Consequently, this invention also covers any piercing elements in which the operating portion 23 is constituted of a tubular body one end of which constitutes the top edge 20 but in which only part of the end is shaped in such a way as to form a cutting edge 21 (for example, it is sharp). In that case the concave inner surface is only that part of the surface of the axially tubular body passed through by all of the planes radial relative to the axis of extension which intersect the cutting edge.
In the preferred embodiment, the flow channel 24 has a length greater than or equal to its own maximum width (measured between the two points of its cross-section perpendicular to the axis of extension, which are the furthest from each other).
In all of the embodiments illustrated the top edge 20 extends in a plane perpendicular to the axis of extension. However, in other embodiments the top edge 20 may also comprise a component of extension along the axis of extension (for example it may have a pointed shape).
In the preferred embodiment, the piercing element 18 is stationary relative to the part on which it is mounted, either the first part 7 or the second part 8, and is positioned relative to the extraction chamber 9 in such a way as to create the linear cut 22, which constitutes the outfeed opening 15, either when the first part 7 and the second part 8 are brought into the operating position or only after a subsequent swelling of the capsule 2 caused by the water injected into it, or partly when the first part 7 and the second part 8 are brought into the operating position and the remainder following the subsequent swelling of the capsule 2.
According to another preferred aspect of this invention, the piercing element 18 is also positioned in such a way that, in use, the flow channel 24 has its concavity at least partly facing upwards. That is true in particular in the case illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 whose infusion unit 6 is, as already indicated, of the horizontal type and in which the concavity is in use facing vertically upwards. In contrast, that is not true in the case in Figure 1 , where the piercing element 18 is positioned with the concavity facing towards the observer.
Moreover, advantageously, the flow channel 24 is also part of the collecting means 17.
Operation of the apparatus 1 according to this invention described above is a particular case of the more general method for making the beverage which is also the subject matter of this invention. Therefore, said operation will be described in the context of the following description of the method for making a beverage according to this invention. The descriptions of the apparatus 1 and the method must therefore be considered as completing each other. In general, and similarly to the corresponding prior art methods, those of this invention also comprise the operating steps of making at least one outfeed opening 15 through the bottom wall 5 of the cup-shaped body 3, injecting hot water into the capsule 2 through the injection opening 13 to obtain a beverage by means of the interaction between the hot water and the powdered food substance, and making the beverage obtained in this way come out of the capsule 2 through the outfeed opening 15. The injecting step may also be preceded by a step of making the injection opening 13 if the latter is not already present in the capsule 2 or it was not created before starting the method for making the beverage.
In accordance with a first innovative aspect of this invention, the method comprises, during the step of making the outfeed opening 15 in the bottom wall 5, creating a linear cut 22 extending between two ends which are separate and apart, the linear cut having a concave side 27 and a convex side 28, therefore the linear cut 22 not being straight. On its concave side 27, the linear cut 22 delimiting a portion of the bottom wall 5 which constitutes at least one tab 29 made of plastic material which is flexible towards the outside of the capsule 2 relative to the rest of the bottom wall 5 and which comprises a perimetric edge 30. In accordance with this description, the perimetric edge 30 is constituted of the face of the tab 29 which corresponds to the thickness of the bottom wall 5 and which is usually facing towards the linear cut 22.
Advantageously, the tab 29 of material is elastically flexible towards the outside.
In accordance with a second innovative aspect of this invention, the method comprises, after the step of making the outfeed opening 15, the operating step of coupling to the perimetric edge 30 of the tab 29, a concave surface (the concave inner surface 25 in the case of the apparatus 1 described above) with suitable shape and positioning.
In particular, the concave surface must extend parallel to an axis of extension and must have a shape such that the projections, parallel to the axis of extension, of all of its cross-sections obtainable in planes perpendicular to the axis of extension, are substantially shaped to match the perimetric edge 30 and all lie on the same line. It should be noticed that the definition "shaped to match the perimetric edge 30" in the context of this invention means either that they substantially have the same shape and size so that it is possible to rest the perimetric edge 30 on the concave surface, or that they substantially have the same shape and a slightly different size. However, in the latter case, preferably the size of the perimetric edge 30 is slightly greater than said line on which the projections of the cross-sections lie (by several tenths of a millimetre), in such a way that the perimetric edge 30 can rest on the concave inner surface 25 only after a small deformation of the tab 29 towards the inside of the capsule 2.
Regarding the positioning of the concave surface, the axis of extension must be positioned substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 5 (perpendicularity assessed at the linear cut 22). Moreover, in this way, advantageously the line on which all of the projections of the cross-sections of the concave surface substantially lie substantially coincides with, or is alongside and substantially parallel to, the projection, parallel to the axis of extension, of the perimetric edge 30. In the case of the apparatus 1 according to this invention the above is achieved thanks to use of the piercing element 18 both to make the linear cut 22 and to position the concave surface facing the perimetric edge 30. In fact, after the step of making the outfeed opening 15, the piercing element 18 is kept in position through the bottom wall 5 in order to perform the step of coupling the concave surface (in this specific case, the concave inner surface 25) to the perimetric edge 30.
Moreover, in the case of the preferred embodiment of this invention (for example if the infusion unit 6 is, as indicated, horizontal), the step of coupling the concave surface to the perimetric edge 30 is carried out by positioning the axis of extension substantially horizontally and positioning the concave surface with its concavity facing upwards.
Furthermore, the method according to this invention comprises, at least during an initial part of the injecting step, the concave surface and the perimetric edge 30 coupled to it interacting to prevent or at least hinder the flow of the beverage between them towards the outside of the capsule 2. Moreover, at the same time the method advantageously comprises the creation of a watertight seal between the concave surface and the convex side 28 of the linear cut 22 for substantially preventing the beverage from flowing between them towards the outside of the capsule 2. In the preferred embodiment in which the piercing element 18 is used, the watertight seal between the concave surface and the convex side 28 of the linear cut 22 is obtained both thanks to the convex shape of the convex side 28 corresponding to a portion of the bottom wall 5 which is more difficult to bend, and thanks to the fact that the operating portion 23 of the piercing element 18 has a thickness which increases outwards going away from the top edge 20, which causes almost a joint between the operating portion 23 and the bottom wall 5 of the capsule 2 at the convex side 28 of the linear cut 22.
During the first part 7 of the injecting step, thanks to the fact that the flow of the beverage through the linear cut 22 is prevented or at least hindered, there is also an increase in the pressure inside the capsule 2 until a predetermined value is reached, at which the pressure inside the capsule 2 instead causes the tab 29 to bend outwards, causing an at least localised movement of its perimetric edge 30 away from the concave inner surface 25. In this way, a transit gap 31 is created between the concave surface and the perimetric edge 30, through which the beverage flows out of the capsule 2. Moreover, in the preferred embodiment, the bending of the tab 29 is elastic, so that the tab bends outwards to the extent that a new equilibrium is established between the elastic resistance to bending offered by the material of which the tab 29 is constituted and the force applied to the tab 29 by the overpressure present inside the capsule 2. It should also be noticed that at the moment when the tab 29 bends outwards, the beverage begins flowing, at least in a significant way, out of the capsule 2, which results in lowering of the internal pressure and, therefore, a reduction in the force pressing on the tab 29. The elastic properties of the tab therefore cause a reduction in its bending, thereby reducing the size of the transit gap 31 . However, the reduction of the transit gap 31 in turn causes a reduction of the flow of beverage coming out, with a consequent new increase in the internal pressure which restarts the sequence of steps just described.
Therefore, in more general terms, what is obtained is a step of modulation of the flow of beverage, during which, following the variation in pressure inside the capsule 2, the tab 29 repeatedly reduces and increases its own elastic deformation thereby varying the transit gap 31 and in turn helping to further vary the internal pressure.
Finally, even in the case of the method according to this invention, the step of making the outfeed opening 15 may be carried out either before the step of injecting the hot water or during the step of injecting the hot water, using the pressure inside the capsule 2 to cause a swelling of the bottom wall 5 and its tearing (for example against a piercing element 18 positioned in such a way that it cannot pierce the bottom wall 5 at the moment when the unit is closed), or partly before the injecting step and partly during the injecting step.
It should be noticed that what is described above relative respectively to the apparatus 1 and to the method, even if not repeated respectively for the method or for the apparatus 1 , shall in any case be considered applicable provided that it is compatible.
In fact, the apparatus and the method according to this invention on one hand allow tiny air bubbles to be incorporated in the beverage, obtaining a thick, dense surface layer of foam, and on the other hand allow the beverage to be supplied with a suitable overpressure inside the capsule, therefore achieving suitable pre-infusion of the powdered substance.
Finally, it should be noticed that this invention is relatively easy to produce and that even the cost linked to implementing the invention is not very high. The invention described above may be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. All details of the invention may be substituted with other technically equivalent elements and the materials used, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the various components, may vary according to requirements.
1. An apparatus for making beverages using a powdered food substance contained in a capsule (2) which in turn comprises a cup-shaped body (3) comprising a bottom wall (5) made of a plastic material which is at least partly elastically flexible, and a lid (4) which seals closed the cup-shaped body (3), the apparatus (1 ) comprising:
an infusion unit (6) in turn comprising a first part (7) and a second part
(8) which are movable relative to one another between an operating position in which they are coupled and between them form an extraction chamber (9) in which in use said capsule (2) can be enclosed, and a home position in which they are apart and in use allow insertion and removal of the capsule (2);
first piercing means (14) associated with the extraction chamber (9) for in use making at least one outfeed opening (15) through the bottom wall (5) of the cup-shaped body (3);
feeding means (12) for feeding hot water to the extraction chamber (9), associated with the extraction chamber (9) for in use injecting through an injection opening (13) hot water into the capsule (2) enclosed in the extraction chamber (9); and
beverage collecting means (17) associated with the extraction chamber
(9) for in use collecting a beverage which, through the outfeed opening (15), comes out of the capsule (2) enclosed in the extraction chamber (9);
where the first piercing means (14) comprise at least a piercing element (18) extending from its own base (19) mounted on one out of the first part (7) and the second part (8), to at least a free top edge (20) facing towards the inside of the extraction chamber (9);
wherein the piercing element (18) has an axis of extension, the axis of extension being intended to be substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall (5) of the capsule (2) during use of the apparatus; wherein the top edge (20) comprises a cutting edge (21 ) extending transversally to the axis of extension and designed, in use, to make the outfeed opening (15) by making in the bottom wall (5) of the capsule (2) a linear cut (22) extending between two ends which are separate and apart;
characterised in that the piercing element (18) comprises an operating portion (23) extending from the top edge (20) towards the base (19) at least for part of the overall length of the piercing element (18) and which forms a flow channel (24) which in turn comprises a concave inner surface (25) which, starting from the top edge (20) and at the cutting edge (21 ), extends substantially parallel to the axis of extension and is such that the projections parallel to the axis of extension of all of its cross-sections made in planes perpendicular to the axis of extension, lie substantially on the same line.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the piercing element (18) is such that, during use of the apparatus, the linear cut (22) made by the cutting edge (21 ) delimits a portion of the bottom wall (5) of the capsule (2) which constitutes at least one tab (29) comprising a perimetric edge (30), the piercing element (18) being such that it allows the tab (29) to bend towards the outside of the capsule (2) thereby creating a transit gap (31 ) between the perimetric edge (30) of the tab (29) and the concave inner surface (25) of the flow channel (24).
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said line on which all of said projections of the cross-sections of the concave inner surface (25) substantially lie, substantially coincides with or is alongside and substantially parallel to the projection, parallel to the axis of extension, of the cutting edge (21 ).
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, characterised in that the length of said flow channel (24) is greater than or equal to its maximum width.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , 2, 3 or 4, characterised in that the line on which all of said projections of the cross-sections lie is a curved and/or a broken line.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that the line on which all of said projections of the cross-sections lie has an overall C, U, L or V shape.
7. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the flow channel (24) has a constant cross-section along its entire length and in that the cutting edge (21 ) constitutes an edge of the concave inner surface (25) of the flow channel (24).
8. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the piercing element (18) is stationary relative to that, out of the first part (7) and the second part (8), on which it is mounted, and is positioned in such a way as to pierce the bottom wall (5) either when the first part (7) and the second part (8) are brought into the operating position or only after a subsequent swelling of the capsule (2) caused by the water injected into it.
9. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the piercing element (18) is positioned in such a way that, in use, the concavity of the channel is at least partly facing upwards.
10. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the infusion unit (6) is a unit of the horizontal type in which the first part (7) and the second part (8) in use move relative to one another with a substantially horizontal line of movement.
11. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cutting edge (21 ) is designed to make in the bottom wall (5) a linear cut (22) which substantially has the same shape as the line on which all of said projections of the concavities fall.
12. A method for making a beverage using a powdered food substance contained in a capsule (2) which comprises a cup-shaped body (3) containing the powdered food substance and comprising a bottom wall (5) made of plastic material which is at least partly elastically flexible, and a lid (4) which seals closed the cup-shaped body (3); the method comprising the operating steps of:
making at least one outfeed opening (15) through the bottom wall (5) of the cup-shaped body (3);
injecting hot water into the capsule (2) through an injection opening (13) to obtain a beverage by the interaction of the hot water with the powdered food substance; and
making the beverage obtained in that way come out of the capsule (2) through the outfeed opening (15);
in that during the step of making the outfeed opening (15) in the bottom wall (5) a linear cut (22) is made, extending between two ends which are separate and apart, the linear cut having a concave side (27) and a convex side (28) and, on its concave side (27), delimiting a portion of the bottom wall (5) which constitutes at least one tab (29) of plastic material which is flexible towards the outside of the capsule (2) relative to the rest of the bottom wall (5) and whose thickness, at the linear cut (22), forms a perimetric edge (30) of it;
in that after the step of making the outfeed opening (15) it also comprises an operating step of coupling to the perimetric edge (30) of the tab (29) a concave surface extending parallel to an axis of extension and such that the projections, parallel to the axis of extension, of all of its cross- sections obtainable in planes perpendicular to the axis of extension, are substantially shaped to match the perimetric edge (30) and lie on the same line, the step of placing the concave surface facing the perimetric edge (30) being performed by positioning the axis of extension substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall (5) at the linear cut (22);
in that, at least during an initial part of the injection step, the concave surface and the perimetric edge (30) coupled to it interact to prevent or at least hinder the flow between them of the beverage towards the outside of the capsule (2), during this step there being an increase in the pressure inside the capsule (2); and
in that, upon reaching a predetermined value, the pressure inside the capsule (2) causes said tab (29) to bend outwards, causing an at least localised movement of its perimetric edge (30) away from the concave surface, thereby creating a transit gap (31 ) through which the beverage can flow out of the capsule (2).
13. The method according to claim 12, characterised in that the step of placing the concave surface facing the perimetric edge (30) is carried out by positioning the axis of extension in such a way that said line on which all of said projections of the cross-sections of the concave surface substantially lie, substantially coincides with or is alongside and substantially parallel to the projection, parallel to the axis of extension, of the perimetric edge (30).
14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the step of making the outfeed opening (15) is carried out by inserting through the bottom wall (5) a piercing element (18) which extends along the axis of extension and comprises a free top edge (20) comprising a cutting edge (21 ) which makes the linear cut (22) in the bottom wall (5) of the capsule (2) and which extends transversally relative to the axis of extension, and an operating portion (23) forming a flow channel (24) which in turn, starting from the top edge (20) and at the cutting edge (21 ), extends parallel to the axis of extension and comprises a concave inner surface (25) constituting the concave surface, and in that after the step of making the outfeed opening (15) the piercing element (18) is held in position through the bottom wall (5) for implementing the step of coupling the concave surface to the perimetric edge (30).
15. The method according to claim 12, 13 or 14, characterised in that it also comprises a step of creating a watertight seal between the concave surface and the convex side (28) of the linear cut (22) for substantially preventing the beverage from flowing between them towards the outside of the capsule (2).
16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterised in that upon reaching said predetermined value, the pressure inside the capsule (2) causes an outward elastic bending of said tab (29).
17. The method according to claim 16, characterised in that it also comprises, after said step of elastic bending of the tab (29), a step of modulation of the flow of beverage in which said tab (29), following the variation in pressure inside the capsule (2), repeatedly reduces and increases its own elastic deformation thereby respectively reducing and increasing the transit gap (31 ), the variation in the transit gap (31 ) in turn causing a variation in the pressure.
18. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 17, characterised in that the step of coupling the concave surface to the perimetric edge (30) is carried out by positioning the axis of extension substantially horizontally and positioning the concave surface with its concavity facing upwards.
19. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 18, characterised in that the step of making the outfeed opening (15) is carried out either before the step of injecting the hot water or during the step of injecting the hot water, using the pressure inside the capsule (2) to cause a swelling of the bottom wall (5) and its tearing, or partly before the injecting step and partly during the injecting step.
PCT/IB2014/067314 2014-04-23 2014-12-24 Apparatus and method for making a beverage using a powdered food substance contained in a capsule WO2015162468A1 (en)
ITVR20140101 2014-04-23
ITVR2014A000101 2014-04-23
WO2015162468A1 true true WO2015162468A1 (en) 2015-10-29
ID=50983078
PCT/IB2014/067314 WO2015162468A1 (en) 2014-04-23 2014-12-24 Apparatus and method for making a beverage using a powdered food substance contained in a capsule
WO (1) WO2015162468A1 (en)
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