WO2020053532A1

WO2020053532A1 - Biodegradable capsule for the percolation of a product such as coffee

Info

Publication number: WO2020053532A1
Application number: PCT/FR2019/052134
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tirouvady Moutty
Original assignee: Tirouvady Moutty
Priority date: 2018-09-14
Filing date: 2019-09-13
Publication date: 2020-03-19
Also published as: FR3085946B1; EP3873825A1; FR3085946A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a capsule (1) for the percolation of a product such as coffee or the like, said capsule (1) consisting of a frustoconical body (1a) having at least one bottom (3), a side wall (2) extending from the bottom (3) and a lid (4) secured to the upper edge (5) of the side wall (2), and said capsule (1) being obtained from a biodegradable material; said capsule is characterized in that the side wall (2) and the upper edge (5) have folds (10) which have a covering area flaring out from the bottom (3) up to the frustoconical upper end of the body (1a).

Description

The present invention relates to the field of containers, commonly called "capsules" of aromatic products such as coffee, teas, etc., for the preparation and distribution of drinks by means of a suitable machine.

In the field of so-called “capsule” containers for the preparation and distribution of drinks such as coffee for example _; there are two main families of containers, filter paper bags and percolator capsules.

The so-called infusion filter paper bags allow hot water to pass through. The product is infused with hot water at atmospheric pressure. Such sachets are generally made of filter paper and are optionally packaged in another container to preserve the aroma of the product at

15 infuse.

Coffee machines _; such as that described in patent application FR 2 885 288, use sachets of the above type. The sachet is placed in a closed enclosure suitable for the sachet and pressurized water 20 is sent on one side and infused liquid is collected on the other side. The machine using filter paper bags does not pierce the bag. The hot water passes through the filter paper, The water pressure used for the infusion is moderate and the coffee contained in the sachet is moderately compacted,

The percolator capsules as described in the document EP 0 512 468 are generally rigid and waterproof, each manufacturer having its own capsule shape, EP 1654966 describes a capsule marketed under the Nespresso ^®, said capsule being adapted to be inserted in a beverage production device in which a liquid under pressure enters the capsule to interact with the ingredients in the capsule and to drain a drink from the capsule. This capsule has an elastic sealing element on the external surface of the capsule, the sealing element being arranged geometrically to be in sealing engagement with at least one pressure coupling surface of the beverage production apparatus. .

The document W02.G15 / G04259 discloses a capsule marketed under trademark fa Dolce Gusto ^® and more specifically to a container for a food or drink preparation, which container comprises walls defining at least one compartment capable of containing at least one precursor ingredient, said walls comprising at least one connection part with respect to fluids for coupling with respect to fluids with a connection part with respect to fluids cooperating with a preparation machine for food or beverage having at least one source of a fluid mixing ingredient, whereby a food or beverage product is prepared within said compartment by mixing said mixing ingredient with said precursor ingredient, which container further comprises at least one food or drink distribution wall. Said container comprises incorporated pump means able to pump said mixing ingredient from said source when said container is connected with fluids to said machine, and to generate a circulation of fluid inside said one or more compartment, so that a food or beverage product is prepared and expelled through said distribution wall. The coffee, or the percolation product they contain, is generally highly compacted and the capsules are suitable for so-called special express percolation machine, the head of which is adapted to the shape of the capsule. document EP 1 669 011 describes a machine head on express. In the machine, a first injection punch pierces the capsule and sends hot water under pressure. Another recovery punch also pierces the capsule and collects the infused liquid which has passed through compact coffee at high pressure. This allows in particular to make espresso type coffee. Such capsules are for single use and are discarded after use, which poses a problem in processing the waste.

Patent application WO 2006/003115 describes a method of infusion with a coffee capsule. The capsule described is made of thermoplastic material. Such capsules are particularly harmful to the environment because they are not biodegradable. This is all the more unfortunate since the coffee inside the capsule is naturally biodegradable. Other capsules exist, based on aluminum alloy.

In order to remedy this drawback of recycling used capsules, it has already been imagined that a capsule for percolating cardboard aromatic product is much less detrimental to the environment.

^This is notably the case of EP 2,349,872 and FR 2

989,258.

Document EP 2 349 872 describes a capsule for percolating an aromatic product such as coffee, comprising a bottom, a side wall and a cover delimiting an interior volume of the capsule, and made of material which is impermeable to the infiltration of air from so as to keep the aromatic product intended to be enclosed in the interior volume, the capsule being perforable by a percolator and the bottom being deformable in the percolator. The bottom and the side wall are advantageously made up parts previously separated and sealed in a sealed manner by a surface area common to the side wall and to the split.

Document FR 2 989 258 describes a capsule for percolating a product such as coffee, comprising a bottom, a side wall fixed to the bottom and a cover fixed to a rim of the side wall to delimit an internal volume of the capsule. , the capsule being made of a biodegradable material. The edge of the side wall advantageously includes an added reinforcement fixed to the rim.

Although these cardboard capsules make it possible to greatly limit the environmental impact, they have the drawback of requiring a so-called special espresso percussion machine adapted to their own shape.

One therefore object of the invention is to overcome at least one of these disadvantages by providing cardboard capsules could be used on type percoiation machines Doice Gusto ^®, ^® IMespresso etc.

To this end and in accordance with the invention, a capsule is proposed for percolating a product such as coffee or the like, said capsule consisting of a frustoconical body comprising at least one bottom, a lateral wall extending from the bottom and a cover secured to the upper edge of the side wall, and said capsule being obtained from a biodegradable material; said capsule is remarkable in that the side wall and the upper rim have folds which include an overlap zone which widens from the bottom 3 to the upper end of the frustoconical body. Preferably, the side wall, the bottom and the upper rim are obtained from a sheet of food paper covered with a heat-sealable plastic film of circular shape.

Said sheet of food paper has a thickness of between E and 12 micrometers and, preferably, has a thickness of 10 micrometers.

Furthermore, the sheet of food paper has a basis weight between 70 and 12.0 gm ^' ' and, preferably, the sheet of food paper has

Advantageously, the capsule comprises a so-called reinforcement piece consisting of a semi-annular sheet obtained in food cardboard covered with ^! a heat-sealable plastic film, the inner wall of which is heat-sealed on the outer wall of the side wall.

In order to stiffen the capsule, the upper edge of the side wall has an added reinforcement fixed to the rim.

Said rim comprises an added annular ring made of heat-weldable material,

Said annular ring is fixed on the lower face of the rim 5 and / or on the upper face of said rim.

In addition, my capsule advantageously includes a so-called opening element secured to the underside of the bottom of the capsule. Said opening element consists of a disc with an outside diameter just less than the diameter of the bottom of the capsule body, the upper face of the disc being concave and the lower face being convex, and a so-called evacuation hole being formed in the center of said disc, the upper face of the disc also comprising a network of channels and piercing means projecting from the upper end of the disc. your said drilling means preferably consist of pins.

Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description which follows, from several alternative embodiments of a capsuie _; according to the invention, an adapter for a capsule in accordance with the invention for a express machine head and a portable express machine for receiving capsules in accordance with the invention, given by way of examples nonlimiting, from the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from below of a capsule according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a side view of the capsule according to the invention shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the capsule according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a first alternative embodiment of a capsule according to the invention,

FIG. 5 is an exploded sectional view of the first alternative embodiment of the capsule according to the invention in an express machine head ©,

FIG. 6 is a view in radial section of a second alternative embodiment of a capsule according to the invention,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view from above of an adapter of a capsule according to the invention for an express machine head,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view from below of an adapter of a capsule according to the invention for an express machine head, FIG. 9 is a side view of the adapter shown in FIG. 7,

FIG. 10 is a top view of the adapter shown in FIGS. 7 to 9,

FIG. 11 is a perspective view from below of an express coffee dispensing device for a motor vehicle according to the invention,

FIG. 12 is a front view of the device for dispensing espresso coffee for a motor vehicle according to the invention shown in FIG. 11.

It will be considered, in the following description, that the capsule contains a dose of coffee; however, it is obvious that the capsule may contain any other product without departing from the scope of the invention.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the capsule 1 according to the invention comprises two elements, a body 1a of frustoconical shape and a so-called opening element 1b secured to the lower end of the body 1a. Said body 1a essentially comprises a side wall 2 the lower end of which is closed by a bottom wall 3 and a cover 4 fixed to the upper edge 5 of the side wall 3,

In this exemplary embodiment, the body 1a consists of three elements that are initially disjoint before being preformed and then assembled. The body la comprises three elements which are a side wall 2, a bottom 3 and a cover 4. Each of these elements 2, 3, 4 of the body la consists of a cut sheet of substantially semi-annular and circular shape respectively. Each sheet is made of a main biodegradable material, such as food cardboard well known to those skilled in the art, covered with a plastic film ther osoudable. The coating mode of each sheet is such that the film is intimately linked to the main material over the entire surface of the surface of the cut of ia sheet, the latter being pelllcuiée one side of the sheet, the side wall 2 has in the deployed state a substantially half-annular _shape, ie, the form of an arcuate strip, such that , by being folded back on itself and heat-sealed by its free ends, the side wall has the shape of a truncated cone with a side of smaller diameter intended to receive the bottom 3, and a side of larger diameter intended to receiving the cover 4, an upper rim 5 in the form of an annular flange is formed in the upper part of the body 1a of the capsule 1, that is to say on the side of the largest diameter of the truncated cone shape. This rim 5 is formed for example by a punch of corresponding toric shape or by a knurl. The bottom 3 has an initial circular shape in which the edges are curved, on the side opposite the film, then it is introduced inside the frusto-conical shape of the side wall 2 to its lower end. The bottom 3 is then heat sealed at the lower end of the side wall in the form of a truncated cone.

The seal 4 is obtained in a thermosealable plastic film such as a polypropylene film or any other similar material well known to those skilled in the art.

Furthermore, the so-called opening element 1b consists of a disc 6 with an outside diameter just less than the inside diameter of the body 1a of the capsule 1, the upper face of the disc 6 being concave and the lower face being convex, and a hole 7 said discharge being formed in the center of said disc 6. the upper face of the disc 8 also comprises a network of channels 8 and piercing means 9 projecting from the upper end of the disc. These piercing means consist of pins 9 in this exemplary embodiment. Thus, when water under pressure is introduced into the body of the capsule, during percolation, the bottom 3 is deformed under the effect of the pressure until it rests on the pins 9 which tear the bottom 3 and allows the percolation to flow, in this case coffee, in the channels 8 which guide the coffee to the outlet hole 7. It will be observed that the opening element 1b is secured to the bottom 3 of the body 1a by any appropriate means well known to man to be wary of such as by heat sealing for example,

According to a first alternative embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the capsule 1 according to the invention comprises, in the same manner as previously, two elements, a body ta of fronconic shape and a so-called opening element 1b secured to the the lower end of the body. Said body 1a essentially comprises a side wall 2 the lower end of which is closed by a bottom wall 3 and a cover 4 fixed on the upper edge 5 of the side wall 3,

Said body 1a consists of three elements which were initially disjoint before being preformed and then assembled. The body la comprises three elements which are a side wall 2, a bottom 3 and a cover 4 Each of these elements 2, 3, 4 of the body la consists of ^! a cut sheet of substantially semi-annular and circular shape respectively. Each sheet is made of a main biodegradable material, such as food cardboard well known to the wary of man, covered with a heat-sealable plastic film. The mode of coating of each sheet is such that the film is intimately linked to the main material over the entire surface of the sheet cutting surface _, the latter being film-coated on one side of the sheet, the side wall 2 has in the deployed state a substantially semi-annular shape, Le, la form of a band in an arc of a circle, so that, by being folded back on itself and ther osoudée by its free ends, the side wall has the shape of a truncated cone with a side of smaller diameter intended to receive the bottom 3, and a side of larger diameter intended to receive the cover 4. An upper rim S in the form of an annular flange is formed in the upper part of the body of the capsule 1, that is to say di re on the side with the largest diameter of the truncated cone shape. This rim 5 is formed for example by a toroidal punch corresponding or by a wheel. The bottom 3 has an initial circular shape in which there are curved edges opposite the film, then it is introduced inside the frusto-conical shape of the side wall 2 to its lower end. The bottom 3 is then heat sealed at the lower end of the side wall in the form of a truncated cone.

Said capsule differs from that previously described in the fact that the bottom 3 has a concave shape, said concave shape being obtained by embossing.

In the same manner as previously, the cover 4 is obtained in a thermosealable plastic film such as a polypropylene film or any other similar material well known to those skilled in the art, the cover 4 being obviously attached to the rim 5 of the body 1a after filling of the capsule 1,

Far elsewhere, the so-called opening element 1b consists of a disc 6 of outside diameter just less than the inside diameter of the body 1a of the capsule 1, the upper face of the disc 6 being concave and the lower face being convex, and a so-called evacuation hole 7 being formed in the center of said disc 6. The upper face of the disc 6 also comprises a network of channels 8 and piercing means 9 projecting from the upper end of the disc. These drilling means consist of pins 9 in this embodiment. Thus, when pressurized water is introduced into the body of the capsule 1, during percolation where the capsule is positioned in the head of the coffee machine (FIG. S), the bottom 3 is deformed under the effect of the pressure until it rests on the pins 9 which tear the bottom 3 and allows the percolation to flow, in this case coffee, in the channels 8 which guide the coffee to the outlet hole 7 . It will be observed that the opening element 1b is secured to the bottom 3 of the body 1a by any suitable means well known to those skilled in the art such as by heat-sealing for example it is quite obvious that the bottom 3 may have a convex shape _" obtained by embossing _”in order to conform the capsule according to the invention to the form of a capsule marketed under the brand Nespresso.

According to a second alternative embodiment _" with reference to FIG. 8 _", the body 1a of the capsule 1 comprises, in the same manner as previously, a body 1a of frustoconical shape. Said body 1a essentially comprises a side wall 2, the lower end of which is closed by a bottom wall 3 and a cover 4 fixed on the upper edge 5 of the side wall 3.

The capsule differs from that previously described by the fact that said body 1a consists of two elements which were initially disjoint before being preformed and then assembled. The body la comprises two elements _” on the one hand a side wall 2 and a bottom 3 obtained in one piece, and on the other hand a cover 4. Each of these elements 2, 3 and 4 of the body la consists of 'a cut sheet obtained from a main biodegradable material _' such as food paper with a thickness of between 8 and 12 micrometers, and preferably with a thickness of 10 micrometers, well known to those skilled in the art, covered with a plastic film ther osoudable. The coating mode of each sheet is such that the film is intimately bonded to the main material over the entire surface of the surface of the cutout of the sheet, the latter being coated on one side of the sheet The side wall 2 and the bottom 3 have in the deployed state a substantially circular shape, the sheet having a basis weight between 70 and 120 gm ² , and preferably a basis weight of 80 gm ^{~ 2} , so that, by being introduced into a substantially frustoconical mold with a circular movement, by means of an animated frustoconical central mandrel a rectilinear and circular movement, a truncated cone whose side wall 2a comprises vertical folds 10 is formed. Note that the folds 10 comprise an overlap region which widens from the bottom 3 ^Up to the upper end of the truncated cone. An upper rim 5 in the form of an annular flange is formed in the upper part of the body 1a of the capsule 1, that is to say on the side of the largest diameter of the truncated cone shape, said rim 5 also had folds . This rim S is formed for example by a punch of corresponding toric shape or by a knurl. The bottom 3 has a planar circular shape. However, it is obvious that the bottom may have a convex or concave shape, said convex or concave shape being obtained by an additional embossing step, without going beyond the ambit of the invention.

Advantageously, in order to stiffen the capsule 1. the latter comprises a so-called reinforcement piece 11 made up of a semi-annular sheet obtained in foodboard, the internal wall of which is heat sealed on the external wall of the side wall 2.

In the same way as previously, the cover 4 is obtained in a heat-sealable plastic film such as a polypropylene film or any other similar material well known to those skilled in the art, the cover 4 being obviously attached to the rim 5 of the body 1a after filling of the capsule i. It will be observed that this alternative embodiment of the capsule 1 according to the invention can be used as it is, Le, without opening element 1b.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, said capsule comprises a so-called opening element 1b as described above consisting of a disc 6 of outside diameter just Just less than the inside diameter of the body la of the capsule 1, the upper side of the disc 6 being concave and the lower face being convex, and a so-called evacuation hole 7 being formed in the center of said disc 6. The upper face of the disc 6 also comprises a network of channels 8 and piercing means 9 projecting from the upper end of the disc. These drilling means consist of pins 9 in this embodiment. Thus, when pressurized water is introduced into the body of the capsule, during percolation, the bottom 3 is deformed under the effect of the pressure until it bears on the pins 9 which tear apart the bottom 3 and allows the percolation to flow, in this case coffee, into the channels 8 which guide the coffee to the outlet hole 7.

In addition, advantageously, the rim 5 of the body 1a of the capsules 1 described above advantageously comprises an added reinforcement, not shown in the figures, in order to locally improve the rigidity of the capsule, the annular rim 8 of the side wall is provided with ^: an added reinforcement as described in the document FR 2 989 25B incorporated by reference, Thus, the capsules 1 according to the invention may in particular comprise an annular ring fixed on the lower face of the rim 5 and / or on the upper face said edge 5.

With reference to FIGS. 7 to 10, another object of the present invention relates to an adapter 12 of a capsule without an opening element in accordance with the invention for an espresso machine head suitable for capsules marketed under the brand Dolce Gusto ^® .

Said adapter 12 consists of a so-called opening element 1b and a nut 13 ensuring a tightening of the opening element 1b in the bottom of the espresso machine head, not shown in the figures, the opening element 1b consists of a disc 6 of outside diameter just less than the inside diameter of the body 1a of the capsule 1, the upper face of the disc 6 being concave and the lower face being convex, and a hole 7 called d evacuation being formed in the center of said disc 6, The face lower part of the disc 6 comprises a hollow threaded rod 14, the discharge hole 7 opening into the threaded rod 14, The upper face of the disc 6 also includes a network of channels S and piercing means 9 projecting from the upper end of the disc. This $ piercing means consist of pins 9 in this exemplary embodiment, thus, when water under pressure is introduced into the body of the capsule, during percolation, the bottom 3 is deformed under the effect of the pressure until it rests on the pins 3 which tear the bottom 3 and allows the flow of the percoiation, in this case coffee, in the channels 8 which guide the coffee to the hole 7 for evacuation. The nut 13 consists of a disc 15 and a hollow rod 16 comprising an internal thread capable of cooperating with the thread of the threaded rod 13 in order to ensure a counter-tightening of the opening element in the head of the espresso machine.

It is obvious that the opening element 1b will have a shape capable of conforming to the internal shape of the head of any other express machine without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, it goes from ground that a user can place said adapter 12 to use capsules without opening element as described above and remove the adapter 12 according to the invention to use original capsules of the brand Dolce Gusto ^®

Finally, with reference to FIGS. II and 12, a last object of the invention relates to a coffee dispensing device comprising a beverage preparation unit in which the unit comprises a capsule holder and a closing element intended to receive the capsule and a water injection device. Said beverage preparation unit is similar to a portable expression machine marketed by the brand Handpresso ^® , Said device 100 consists of a box 101 of substantially parallelepiped shape comprising a first compartment 102 in which extends a coffee machine portable 103 including a capsule holder and a closure element intended to receive the capsule as well as a water injection member, not shown in the figures, two central compartments 104a and 104b receiving drawers 105a and 105b respectively, the different drawers 105a and 105b being intended to receive used capsules for example, and a lateral compartment 106 closed by a hinged door 107, said lateral compartment 10S receiving capsules for the preparation of coffee. The box 101 cotnpr d on its rear face hooking means 108 able to cooperate with the vertical rods of a headrest of a motor vehicle. In this particular embodiment, said attachment means consist of two vertical tubes 108, the spacing of which corresponds to the spacing of the rods of a headrest, extending to the rear of the box 101 in its upper part, said device moreover comprises, in its upper part retaining means 109 of a water bottle, not shown in the figures, said retaining means 109 consisting of an inclined rod 110 secured to the upper face of the box 101 and the free end of which is provided with an element 111 of semi-annular shape whose concavity is oriented upwards, In addition, the device comprises a drawer 112 extending in the compartment 102, under the portable coffee machine 103, and comprising means for retaining a capsule, said capsule extending in line with the water injection member of the portable coffee machine 103 when said drawer 112 is closed. Said device also comprises an actuation handle 113 able to cause a vertical displacement of the water injection member of the portable coffee machine and to control the arrival of water in the water compartment 114 of said portable coffee machine 103, said water compartment 114 extending at the upper end of the portable coffee machine 103. It will be noted that the piloting of the water supply from the water bottle to the compartment d water 114 from the portable coffee machine 103 may be produced by any means known to those skilled in the art, such as by actuating a pinch or throttle valve, mechanical or motorized, for example.

Finally, it is understood that the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described above and that indeed modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

<< CLAIMS »

1, capsule (1) for percolating a product such as coffee or the like, said capsule {1} consisting of a frustoconical body (la) comprising at least one bottom (3), a side wall (2) s' extending from the bottom (3) and a cover (4) integral with the upper rim (5) of the side wall (2), and said capsule (1) being obtained from a biodegradable material, characterized in that the side wall (2 ) and the upper rim (5) have folds (10) which include an overlapping zone which widens from the bottom (3) to the upper frustoconical body end (la).

2, capsule according to claim 1 characterized in that the side wall (2), the bottom (3) and the upper rim (5) are obtained from a food pspler sheet covered with a heat-sealable plastic film of circular shape,

3, capsule according to any one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the sheet of food paper has a thickness between 8 and 12 micrometers, 4. capsule according to claim 3 characterized in that the sheet of food paper has a thickness of 10 micrometers.

5. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the sheet of food paper has a basis weight between 70 and 120 gm ^' C

6. Capsule according to claim 5 characterized in that the sheet of food paper has a grammage of 80 gm ^. 7. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to

6 characterized in that it comprises a so-called reinforcement piece {11} consisting of a semi-annular sheet obtained in food cardboard covered with a heat-sealable plastic film and the internal wall of which is

5 heat sealed on the outer wall of the side wall (2).

S. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to

7 characterized in that the upper rim (5) of the side wall {2} has an added reinforcement fixed on the rim.

ÎO

9, capsule according to claim 8 characterized in that the flange comprises an annular ring reported heat-sealable material.

15 10. Capsule according to claim 9, characterized in that the annular ring is fixed on the lower face of the rim (5) and / or on the upper face of said rim | 5).

11. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to

20 10 characterized in that it comprises a so-called opening element {lb) integral with the underside of the bottom (3} of the capsule ().

12. Capsule according to claim 11 characterized in that said opening element (lb) consists of a disc (6) of diameter

25 outer barely less than the diameter of the bottom B) of the body (la) of the capsule (1), the upper face of the disc (6) being concave and the lower face being convex, and a hole {7} called evacuation being formed in the center of said disc (6), the upper face of the disc (6) also comprising a network of channels (8) and piercing means (9) projecting from the upper end of the disc (6).

13. Capsule according to claim 12 characterized in that said piercing means consist of pins (9 |.