Title of Invention	SINGLE-DOSE PLASTIC CAPSULE FOR POWDERED COFFEE AND THE LIKE
Abstract	Single-dose capsule comparising a sealed moulded-plastic casing (10) having an end wall (16) provided with orifices (24) and a bottom sealing fall (17). A chambes (30) it formed between the said foil (17) and the bottom surfce (18) of the perfomed end wall (16) and is filled with the beverage percolated through the said orifices (24) before it is discharged directly towards an underiying containes through the apout created at the moment of opening or tearing of the said botton foil (17), immdiately before the start of percolation. USE preparation of a percolated beverage using a powdery raw material such as coffee. ADVANTAGES: high quality of the beverage.

Title of Invention

SINGLE-DOSE PLASTIC CAPSULE FOR POWDERED COFFEE AND THE LIKE

Abstract

Single-dose capsule comparising a sealed moulded-plastic casing (10) having an end wall (16) provided with orifices (24) and a bottom sealing fall (17). A chambes (30) it formed between the said foil (17) and the bottom surfce (18) of the perfomed end wall (16) and is filled with the beverage percolated through the said orifices (24) before it is discharged directly towards an underiying containes through the apout created at the moment of opening or tearing of the said botton foil (17), immdiately before the start of percolation. USE preparation of a percolated beverage using a powdery raw material such as coffee. ADVANTAGES: high quality of the beverage.

Full Text	Single-dose plastic capsule for powdered coffee and the like Description The present indention relates to a single-dose capsule made of moulded plastic and intended for coffee and other alimentary raw matarial which are used for the preparation of beverages by means of percolation. A capsule consists essentially of a casing with a frustoconical shape which is filled with coffee powder (or other powdery xaw meterial) and has a peripheral edge onto which a sealing foil is applied. Said foil, at the time of use of the capsule in' a professional and/or domestic machine, for the preparation of espresso coffee and/or other hot beverages, is directed downwards, namely on the opposite side to the point of entry of the hot water under pressure into the capsule. As a typical example of the state of the art, the Applicant cites the European patent EP-A-0 521 510 where it is envisaged forming, with the said foil, the flat bottom of the capsule and creating zones of reduced thickness so as to favour tearing of the foil at the time of preparation of the beverage, under the pressure of me water which passes through the powdery raw material in a vertical direction of flow. The resultant percolated beverage is conveyed along inaccessible pipes inside the coffee machine and then dispensed. The use of conventional capsules - owing to their particular constructional design - has the drawback that, since it is not possible to ensure the absolute cleanliness of the said internal pipes, there is the risk of fermentation or putrefaction of the fatty substances contained in the beverage (in particular in coffee). The least negative consequence is an undesirable alteration of the taste of the beverage. Moreover, it is more difficult, compared to the use of loose coffee powder, to obtain the emulsincation of the fatty substances in the coffee - namely the creamy coffee texture which makes Italian-style espresso coffee so popular world-wide - precisely owing to the presence of said pipes. Other documents representing the state of art are EP-A-469 079, EP-A-512 148 and US-A-5 287 797. The object of the present invention is to provide a moulded-plastic capsule high-quality beverages to be obtained. These and other objects are achieved by providing a capsule having the characteristic features described hereinafter, as will be clarified by the following description of a non-exclusive embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing in which : - Fig. 1 is three-dimensional view, from above, of an open capsule according to the invention; - Fig. 2 is a three-dimensional view from below; - Fig. 3 is a plan view from above; and - Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the said capsule along line A-A in Fig. 3. A capsule according to the invention consists of a casing 10 with a slightly frustoconical shape which is made by thermoforming a sheet of polypropylene for alimentary use. The casing 10 has a continuous upper peripheral edge 12 projecting outwards and a bottom non-projecting edge 14. The upper edge 12 is designed to be sealed with a foil 13 of plastic material and/or aluminium. A foil of this kind, as well as its function in single-dose containers of alimentary products, is well known per se to persons skilled in the art, so that it is not considered necessary to describe it in further detail. According to a characteristic feature of the invention, the end wall 16 of the casing 10 is inset with respect to the bottom edge 14; basically, as shown in detail in Fig.4, there exist at least two steps between the edge 14 and the outer surface 18 of the end wall 16. In this way, underneath the upper chamber 25, which contains the powdery raw material, a bottom chamber 30 is formed, said chamber being able to receive and convey the percolated beverage, as explained more fully below, and being closed by a second foil 17. This second foil is preferably formed by a triple layer of film combined with aluminium so as to ensure that the capsule is impermeable and hygienic, it not being considered necessary to describe said foil in greater detail for the same reasons given above in connection with the foil 13. According to another characteristic feature of the invention, the end wall 16 of the casing 10 has, around a central core having an upper portion in the shape of conical cusp 20 and a substantially cylindrical lower portion 22, consisting of several longer cylindrical segments 31 separated from one another by shorter cylindrical segments 32 (see Fig. 2), a plurality of orifices 24 which are distributed in segments separated by radial ribs 26 (see Figs. 2 and 4). The present capsule is used in a machine equipped with punching or drilling means able to create in the upper foil 13 a path (not shown) for the incoming pressurized hot water and a spout (also not shown) directly in the second foil 17, immediately before the start of the percolation of the beverage through the orifices 24. Owing to the combined effect of the pressurized hot water fed from above into the capsule and the shape of the end wall 16, in particular the radial ribs 26, the beverage fills the abovementioned bottom chamber 30 with a turbulent movement which favours emulsification of the fatty substances. In this way, for example an Italian-style creamy coffee of excellent quality is obtained. Moreover, the beverage is dispensed - through the spout created in the second foil 17 - directly into an underlying cup or glass, without being conveyed through the traditional pipes inside the machine and consequendy without the risks mentioned hereinabove. Although the description provided hereinabove relates to a preferred embodiment, it is understood that the invention may be developed with different forms and variants which are included within the following claims. WE CLAIM :- 1. Single-dose capsule for the preparation of a percolated beverage using a powdery raw material such as coffee, comprising - - a casing (10) having an upper peripheral edge (12) and a bottom peripheral edge (14) to which an upper sealing foil (13) and a bottom sealing foil (17) are attached, respectively, - a lower end wall (16) provided with orifices (24) and inset with respect to said upper sealing foil (13) and said end wall (16), - an upper chamber (25) filled with the raw material which is formed between said upper sealing foil (13) and said end wall (16), characterized in that said end wall (16) comprises a central core and a plurality of radial ribs (26) directed downwards around said central core for the separation of the segments in which said orifices (24) are distributed, in order to form a bottom chamber (30) underneath said upper chamber (25); and the beverage percolated through the orifices (24) fills said bottom chamber (30) with a turbulent movement prior to be dispensed towards an underlying container through a spout created at the moment of opening or tearing of said bottom sealing foil (17). 2. Single-dose capsule for the preparation of a percolated beverage as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said central core of the end wall (16) of the capsule has an upper portion in the shape of a conical cusp (20) and a lower portion (22) which is substantially cylindrical. 3. Single-dose capsule for the preparation of a percolated beverage as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said substantially cylindrical lower portion (22) of the central core in the end wall (16) of the capsule consists of several longer cylindrical segments (31) separated from one another by shorter cylindrical segments (32). 4. Single-dose capsule for the preparation of a percolated beverage as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said bottom sealing foil (17) consists of a triple layer of film combined with aluminium. 5. Single-dose capsule for the preparation of a percolated beverage as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the casing (10) has a slightly frustoconical shape and is made preferably by means thermoforming with a polypropylene grade compatible with foodstuff. 6. Single-dose capsule for the preparation of a percolated beverage as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the upper edge (12) of the casing (10) is continuous and projecting outwards. 7. Single-dose capsule for the preparation of a percolated beverage as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the bottom edge (14) of the casing (10)is non-projecting. Single-dose capsule comparising a sealed moulded-plastic casing (10) having an end wall (16) provided with orifices (24) and a bottom sealing fall (17). A chambes (30) it formed between the said foil (17) and the bottom surfce (18) of the perfomed end wall (16) and is filled with the beverage percolated through the said orifices (24) before it is discharged directly towards an underiying containes through the apout created at the moment of opening or tearing of the said botton foil (17), immdiately before the start of percolation. USE preparation of a percolated beverage using a powdery raw material such as coffee. ADVANTAGES: high quality of the beverage.

Full Text

Single-dose plastic capsule for powdered coffee and the like
Description
The present indention relates to a single-dose capsule made of moulded plastic
and intended for coffee and other alimentary raw matarial which are used for the
preparation of beverages by means of percolation.
A capsule consists essentially of a casing with a frustoconical shape which is
filled with coffee powder (or other powdery xaw meterial) and has a peripheral edge
onto which a sealing foil is applied. Said foil, at the time of use of the capsule in' a
professional and/or domestic machine, for the preparation of espresso coffee and/or
other hot beverages, is directed downwards, namely on the opposite side to the point
of entry of the hot water under pressure into the capsule.
As a typical example of the state of the art, the Applicant cites the European
patent EP-A-0 521 510 where it is envisaged forming, with the said foil, the flat
bottom of the capsule and creating zones of reduced thickness so as to favour tearing
of the foil at the time of preparation of the beverage, under the pressure of me water
which passes through the powdery raw material in a vertical direction of flow.
The resultant percolated beverage is conveyed along inaccessible pipes inside
the coffee machine and then dispensed.
The use of conventional capsules - owing to their particular constructional
design - has the drawback that, since it is not possible to ensure the absolute
cleanliness of the said internal pipes, there is the risk of fermentation or putrefaction
of the fatty substances contained in the beverage (in particular in coffee). The least
negative consequence is an undesirable alteration of the taste of the beverage.
Moreover, it is more difficult, compared to the use of loose coffee powder, to
obtain the emulsincation of the fatty substances in the coffee - namely the creamy
coffee texture which makes Italian-style espresso coffee so popular world-wide -
precisely owing to the presence of said pipes.
Other documents representing the state of art are EP-A-469 079,
EP-A-512 148 and US-A-5 287 797.
The object of the present invention is to provide a moulded-plastic capsule
high-quality beverages to be obtained.
These and other objects are achieved by providing a capsule having the
characteristic features described hereinafter, as will be clarified by the following
description of a non-exclusive embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing
in which :
- Fig. 1 is three-dimensional view, from above, of an open capsule according
to the invention;
- Fig. 2 is a three-dimensional view from below;
- Fig. 3 is a plan view from above; and
- Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the said capsule along line A-A in Fig. 3.
A capsule according to the invention consists of a casing 10 with a slightly
frustoconical shape which is made by thermoforming a sheet of polypropylene for
alimentary use. The casing 10 has a continuous upper peripheral edge 12 projecting
outwards and a bottom non-projecting edge 14. The upper edge 12 is designed to be
sealed with a foil 13 of plastic material and/or aluminium. A foil of this kind, as well as
its function in single-dose containers of alimentary products, is well known per se to
persons skilled in the art, so that it is not considered necessary to describe it in further
detail.
According to a characteristic feature of the invention, the end wall 16 of the
casing 10 is inset with respect to the bottom edge 14; basically, as shown in detail in
Fig.4, there exist at least two steps between the edge 14 and the outer surface 18 of the
end wall 16. In this way, underneath the upper chamber 25, which contains the powdery
raw material, a bottom chamber 30 is formed, said chamber being able to receive and
convey the percolated beverage, as explained more fully below, and being closed by a
second foil 17. This second foil is preferably formed by a triple layer of film combined
with aluminium so as to ensure that the capsule is impermeable and hygienic, it not being
considered necessary to describe said foil in greater detail for the same reasons given
above in connection with the foil 13.
According to another characteristic feature of the invention, the end wall 16
of the casing 10 has, around a central core having an upper portion in the shape of conical
cusp 20 and a substantially cylindrical lower portion 22, consisting of several longer
cylindrical segments 31 separated from one another by shorter cylindrical segments
32 (see Fig. 2), a plurality of orifices 24 which are distributed in segments
separated by radial ribs 26 (see Figs. 2 and 4).
The present capsule is used in a machine equipped with punching or drilling
means able to create in the upper foil 13 a path (not shown) for the incoming
pressurized hot water and a spout (also not shown) directly in the second foil 17,
immediately before the start of the percolation of the beverage through the orifices
24. Owing to the combined effect of the pressurized hot water fed from above into
the capsule and the shape of the end wall 16, in particular the radial ribs 26, the
beverage fills the abovementioned bottom chamber 30 with a turbulent movement
which favours emulsification of the fatty substances. In this way, for example an
Italian-style creamy coffee of excellent quality is obtained.
Moreover, the beverage is dispensed - through the spout created in the second
foil 17 - directly into an underlying cup or glass, without being conveyed through the
traditional pipes inside the machine and consequendy without the risks mentioned
hereinabove.
Although the description provided hereinabove relates to a preferred
embodiment, it is understood that the invention may be developed with different
forms and variants which are included within the following claims.
WE CLAIM :-
1. Single-dose capsule for the preparation of a percolated beverage using a
powdery raw material such as coffee, comprising -
- a casing (10) having an upper peripheral edge (12) and a bottom peripheral
edge (14) to which an upper sealing foil (13) and a bottom sealing foil (17)
are attached, respectively,
- a lower end wall (16) provided with orifices (24) and inset with respect to
said upper sealing foil (13) and said end wall (16),
- an upper chamber (25) filled with the raw material which is formed between
said upper sealing foil (13) and said end wall (16),
characterized in that said end wall (16) comprises a central core and a
plurality of radial ribs (26) directed downwards around said central core for the separation
of the segments in which said orifices (24) are distributed, in order to form a bottom
chamber (30) underneath said upper chamber (25); and the beverage percolated through
the orifices (24) fills said bottom chamber (30) with a turbulent movement prior to be
dispensed towards an underlying container through a spout created at the moment of
opening or tearing of said bottom sealing foil (17).
2. Single-dose capsule for the preparation of a percolated beverage as claimed in
Claim 1, wherein said central core of the end wall (16) of the capsule has an upper
portion in the shape of a conical cusp (20) and a lower portion (22) which is substantially
cylindrical.
3. Single-dose capsule for the preparation of a percolated beverage as claimed
in Claim 2, wherein said substantially cylindrical lower portion (22) of the central core in
the end wall (16) of the capsule consists of several longer cylindrical segments (31)
separated from one another by shorter cylindrical segments (32).
4. Single-dose capsule for the preparation of a percolated beverage as claimed
in Claim 1, wherein the said bottom sealing foil (17) consists of a triple layer of film
combined with aluminium.
5. Single-dose capsule for the preparation of a percolated beverage as claimed
in Claim 1, wherein the casing (10) has a slightly frustoconical shape and is made
preferably by means thermoforming with a polypropylene grade compatible with
foodstuff.
6. Single-dose capsule for the preparation of a percolated beverage as claimed
in Claim 1, wherein the upper edge (12) of the casing (10) is continuous and projecting
outwards.
7. Single-dose capsule for the preparation of a percolated beverage as claimed
in Claim 1, wherein the bottom edge (14) of the casing (10)is non-projecting.
Single-dose capsule
comparising a sealed moulded-plastic
casing (10) having an end wall (16)
provided with orifices (24) and a
bottom sealing fall (17). A chambes
(30) it formed between the said
foil (17) and the bottom surfce
(18) of the perfomed end wall
(16) and is filled with the beverage
percolated through the said orifices
(24) before it is discharged directly
towards an underiying containes
through the apout created at the
moment of opening or tearing of the
said botton foil (17), immdiately
before the start of percolation. USE
preparation of a percolated beverage
using a powdery raw material such
as coffee. ADVANTAGES: high
quality of the beverage.

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Patent Number

223803

Indian Patent Application Number

01782/KOLNP/2005

PG Journal Number

39/2008

Publication Date

26-Sep-2008

Grant Date

23-Sep-2008

Date of Filing

07-Sep-2005

Name of Patentee

HAUSBRANDT TRIESTE 1892 SPA

Applicant Address

VIA FOSCARINI 52, I-31040 NERVESA DELLA, BATTAGLIA (TREVISO)

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	ZENETTI MARTINO	VAILE FELISSENT 55, I-31050, VILLORBA (TREVISO)

PCT International Classification Number

B65D 81/00

PCT International Application Number

PCT/EP2003/012338

PCT International Filing date

2003-11-05

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	TV2003A000058	2003-04-02	Italy