Patent Application
20240246750
The present disclosure refers to the field of food and/or beverage containers and in detail refers to a capsule for beverages.
The present disclosure further concerns a method for filling capsules for beverages.
There are known capsules for beverages typically configured to contain substantially granular substances and, thus, in substantially solid form. Typically, such capsules for beverages are realized in substantially plastic, or at least partially plastic, material.
Capsules of known type are mainly conceived for the purpose of dispensing coffee or tea or herbal teas. For this reason, they are typically provided with a film, realized in aluminum and/or plastic material, suitable to be perforated by a perforator. The purpose of the perforator is to allow the injection of water into the capsule.
Capsules of known type are provided with an output, typically placed in an opposite position with respect to the portion where the film is present. The output is in use positioned at the bottom, and this allows to outflow the water at least partially by gravity. The water injected with the perforator is made to flow through the granular substance and is therefore impregnated with the latter.
The Applicant observes that the capsules of known type are mainly conceived to extract a beverage by injection, infusion or percolation of a fluid injected from outside into the capsule. Capsules of known type, in particular those known for the dispensing of fluids such as coffee or herbal teas, are ill-suited for applications where the substance contained therein must be extracted in use.
The Applicant furthermore observes that nowadays, for the producer of capsules for beverages it is not possible to know how many capsules have actually been used and/or whether at least some of the capsules for beverages have been reused, in particular refilled again after a first use.
A purpose of the present disclosure is to describe a capsule for beverages innovative type with respect to those of the known art, in particular useful for the production of beverages of a mineralized type.
A purpose of the present disclosure is to describe a capsule for beverages which can contain a substance in a substantially fluid form.
A purpose of the present disclosure is to describe a capsule for beverages which can contain a substance under pressure.
A purpose of the present disclosure is to describe a capsule for beverages that it is easy and safe to handle.
Another purpose of the present disclosure is to describe a method for filling a capsule in particular a capsule for beverages, which allows to obtain a capsule loaded under pressure with a precisely dosed substance inside.
Another purpose of the present disclosure is to describe a method for filling a capsule that allows to maintain the substance contained in the capsule in a confined environment and that allows not to significantly alter the substance due to the filling itself.
Another purpose of the present disclosure is to describe a method for filling a capsule which is easy and safe to carry out.
Another purpose of the present disclosure is to describe a method for filling a capsule which allows to the capsule, when loaded, to be easily transportable.
Another purpose of the present disclosure is to describe a method for filling a capsule which allows to keep track of whether, at a given time, the capsule has been emptied or used for the realization of a beverage.
Another purpose of the present disclosure is to describe a device for filling capsules which allows at least to obtain the results described above with regard to the method.
The object of the disclosure is now described with reference to one or more main aspects, which are listed hereinafter.
These aspects can be combined with each other, and can also be combined with portions of the detailed description.
According to the present disclosure it is described a capsule (100), in particular a capsule (100) for beverages, comprising a lateral wall (101), a head portion (102), and a bottom portion (103), the head portion (102) and the bottom portion (103) being joined to the lateral wall (101),
According to another non-limiting aspect, the capsule comprises an opening (102c) configured to be in use closed determining an insulation of the inner cavity (100c) from the outer environment.
According to another non-limiting aspect, the head portion (102) is a portion defining an opening (102c).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the opening (102c) is configured to allow an introduction of said substance within said inner cavity (100c) and is configured to be closed by means of at least a welding and/or folding and/or crimping and/or gluing operation destined to seal the opening (102c) for allowing an insulation of the inner cavity (100c) from the outer environment.
According to another non-limiting aspect, said insulation is sufficient to determine a maintenance of the predetermined pressure for a predetermined period of time.
According to another non-limiting aspect, the predetermined period of time, is at least equal to 1 week, or 3 weeks, or 1 month, or 3 months, or 5 months, or 9 months, or 1 year, or 1 year and a half, or 2 years, or 3 years.
According to another non-limiting aspect, at least one among the lateral wall (101), the head portion (102) or the bottom portion (103) is realized in metallic material, optionally said lateral wall (101), said head portion (102) and said bottom portion (103) being realized in metallic material, optionally integrally in metallic material.
According to another non-limiting aspect, said metallic material comprises aluminum or its alloy and/or steel.
According to another non-limiting aspect, the lateral wall (101) comprises a first portion, in particular a first ending portion, and comprises a second portion, in particular a second ending portion,
According to another non-limiting aspect, the lateral wall (101), the head portion (102) and the bottom portion (103) are realized as a piece, and/or are integral and/or are obtained from a single sheet of metallic material, optionally by means of folding and/or deformation.
According to another non-limiting aspect, at least the lateral wall (101) and the head portion (102) or the lateral wall (101) and the bottom portion (103) or the lateral wall (101), the head portion (102) and the bottom portion (103) are realized as a single piece of material, optionally being realized as a single piece of metallic sheet.
According to another non-limiting aspect, the capsule (100) for beverages comprises said substance.
According to another non-limiting aspect, the lateral wall (101) is joined by means of a welding and/or folding and/or crimping and/or gluing process to the head portion (102) and/or to the bottom portion (103).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the capsule (100) for beverages is configured to withstand at an inner pressure at least equal to 100 bar, or at least equal to 150 bar, or at least equal to 200 bar.
According to another non-limiting aspect, the lateral wall (101) comprises a tapered portion (101t).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the tapered portion (101t) lies in substantial correspondence of said head portion (102).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the tapered portion (101t) presents a transversal section gradually reducing towards said head portion (102).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the lateral wall (101) defines a substantially circular transversal section, and/or is substantially with tubular profile.
According to another non-limiting aspect, the head wall (102) is substantially planar and/or comprises a substantially planar wall.
According to another non-limiting aspect, the bottom portion (103) presents a substantially planar wall.
According to another non-limiting aspect, the bottom portion (103) presents at least presents at least a perimeter ring (103r) substantially developing on a plane and/or defining a transversal section higher with respect to a transversal section defined by the lateral wall (101) and/or protruding outwards with respect to said lateral wall (101).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the capsule (100) for beverages comprises a longitudinal axis (A) passing through the inner cavity (100c), the longitudinal axis (A) being substantially orthogonal with respect to at least part of the, preferably all of the, bottom portion (103) and/or being the axis around which said lateral wall (101) develops.
According to another non-limiting aspect, the capsule (100) for beverages mainly extends itself along said longitudinal axis (A).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the bottom portion (103) presents a concave portion (103c) protruding into said inner cavity (100c).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the concave portion (103c) is inside said perimeter ring (103r).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the bottom portion (103) presents a convex portion (103c).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the convex portion protrudes outwards of said cavity and/or defines a corresponding concave portion of said cavity.
According to another non-limiting aspect, said perimeter ring (103r) is configured to be engaged by a pusher (203), in particular by a movable and/or rotating pusher (203).
According to another non-limiting aspect, said perimeter ring (103r) comprises a front wall (103f) facing the lateral wall (101) and/or oblique with respect to said lateral wall (101), optionally orthogonal with respect to said lateral wall (101).
According to another non-limiting aspect, said perimeter ring (103r) comprises a rear wall (103p).
According to another non-limiting aspect, said rear wall (103p) is substantially oblique with respect to said lateral wall (101), and optionally is substantially orthogonal with respect to said lateral wall (101).
According to another non-limiting aspect, said rear wall (103p) is substantially parallel to said front wall (103f).
According to another non-limiting aspect, said front wall (103f) is a substantially annular wall and/or detects a substantially annular profile projecting outwards with respect to the lateral wall (101).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the bottom portion (103) comprises a substantially planar section.
According to another non-limiting aspect, said pressure is a pressure lower than 0.5 bar and/or is a pressure lower than the limits given by the European rule “Pressure Equipment Device” 2014/68/UE.
According to another non-limiting aspect, said substance is a substance configured to generate said pressure when contained in said inner cavity (100c).
According to another non-limiting aspect, said substance is a substance configured to generate said pressure by state transformation.
According to another non-limiting aspect, said substance comprises an at least partially powdery substance, optionally a mineralization mix, configured to cause a water mineralization, in particular a water mineralization for human consumption.
According to another non-limiting aspect, said mineralization mix comprises at least one among magnesium carbonate or bicarbonate and/or calcium carbonate or bicarbonate and/or comprises at least one among magnesium, potassium, calcium, fluorine, iron, sodium, sulphur, silicon minerals.
According to another non-limiting aspect, said substance comprises a solvent, in particular water (2200), in particular distilled water (K).
According to another non-limiting aspect, said substance comprises a saturated solution.
According to another non-limiting aspect, said substance comprises a cooled and/or cooling and/or originally cooled material (2100), optionally dry ice or solid carbon dioxide, destined to cause a gas formation, optionally carbon-dioxide gas, by state transformation, and/or comprises a gas, optionally carbon-dioxide gas, said gas optionally deriving from a state transformation of a cooled and/or cooling and/or originally cooled material (2100), optionally deriving from a state transformation of dry ice or solid carbon dioxide.
According to another non-limiting aspect, the capsule (100) for beverages comprises at least an identification device, in particular an electronic tag and/or a radiofrequency identification circuit (119i).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the at least an identification device, in particular an electronic tag and/or a radiofrequency identification circuit (119i) is irremovably, or irremovably in use, associated with and/or attached to the capsule (100) for beverages.
According to another non-limiting aspect, the at least an identification device, in particular an electronic tag and/or a radiofrequency identification circuit (119i) is positioned in substantial correspondence of said lateral wall (101), optionally in substantial correspondence of an outer face of said lateral wall (101), and/or is positioned in substantial correspondence of the bottom portion (103), optionally introduced within the bottom portion (103).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the at least an identification device, in particular an electronic tag and/or a radiofrequency identification circuit (119i) is positioned in substantial correspondence of the perimeter ring (103r).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the at least an identification device, in particular an electronic tag and/or a radiofrequency identification circuit (119i) contains stored therein electronic data relating to the composition of said substance and/or contains stored therein an identification code of said capsule (100) for beverages.
According to another non-limiting aspect, said identification code (100z) is a univocal identification code.
According to the present disclosure is furthermore described a method for filling a capsule, in particular a capsule for beverages, more in particular a capsule for beverages according to one or more of the aspects described therein, said method comprising:
According to another non-limiting aspect, the closing of the capsule (1004) is destined to allow an increase and/or a maintenance of the pressure within the inner cavity (100c) deriving from the state transformation of said cooled material (2100) and/or is destined to allow the maintenance of a predetermined inner pressure after the introduction of said gas.
According to another non-limiting aspect, the closing of the capsule (1004) takes place through a folding and/or crimping and/or welding and/or gluing process of at least a portion of the capsule (100), in particular of a head portion (102) of the capsule (100), said head portion (102) being the portion wherein is originally present said opening (102c).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the introduction (1001) of said cooled material (2100) and/or of said gas is such as to determine, after the closing of the capsule (1004), a pressure lower than 0.5 bar and/or a pressure lower than the limits given by the European rule “Pressure Equipment Device” 2014/68/UE.
According to another non-limiting aspect, the method comprises the introduction (1003) of a predetermined quantity of a solvent, in particular of a predetermined quantity of water (2200), in particular of a predetermined quantity of distilled water (K), within the opening (102c) of the capsule (100) opening on the inner cavity (100c) of the capsule (100).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the method comprises the introduction (1003) of a predetermined quantity of a saturated solution within the opening (102c) of the capsule (100) opening itself on the inner cavity (100c) of the capsule (100).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the introduction (1001) of said cooled material (2100) and/or of said gas and the introduction (1002) of said powdery substance (2300) take place before the closing of the capsule (1004).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the introduction (1001) of said cooled material (2100) and/or of said gas is configured to cause an expansion (1005) of the volume of the cooled material (2100) and/or of said gas within the inner cavity (100c) of the capsule (100).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the introduction (1003) of the predetermined quantity of solvent, in particular of the predetermined quantity of water (2200), in particular of the predetermined quantity of distilled water (K), takes place before the closing of the capsule (1004).
According to another non-limiting aspect, said predetermined quantity of solvent, in particular the predetermined quantity of water (2200), in particular the predetermined quantity of distilled water (K), is sufficient to cause an at least partial dissolution, preferably substantially total, of said powdery substance (2300).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the method comprises a cooling of the predetermined quantity of solvent, in particular of the predetermined quantity of water (2200), in particular of the predetermined quantity of distilled water (K), before the introduction (1003) of the predetermined quantity of solvent, in particular of the predetermined quantity of water (2200), in particular of the predetermined quantity of distilled water (K), within the opening (102c) of the capsule (100).
According to another non-limiting aspect, said cooling is a cooling close to the solidification temperature of said solvent, in particular close to the solidification temperature of said water (2200), more in particular close to the solidification temperature of the distilled water (K), and/or the introduction (1003) of the predetermined quantity of solvent, in particular of the predetermined quantity of water (2200), more in particular of the predetermined quantity of distilled water (K), takes place at temperature substantially close to the solidification temperature.
According to another non-limiting aspect, the method comprises placing the capsule (100) in a controlled atmosphere, in particular substantially free or substantially filtered of organic and/or inorganic contaminants and/or with limited oxygen content or substantially deprived of oxygen, so that said controlled atmosphere is present within said inner cavity (100c).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the introduction (1001) of said cooled material (2100) and/or of said gas and the introduction (1002) of said powdery substance (2300), and/or the introduction of said solvent, takes place in said controlled atmosphere.
According to another non-limiting aspect, the method comprises a step of expansion and/or volume increase (1005) of said cooled material (2100) and/or of said gas after the step of introduction (1001), said expansion and/or volume increase determining a pressure increase in the inner cavity (100c) of the capsule (100).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the expansion and/or volume increase (1005) of said cooled material (2100) and/or of said gas takes place at a time after the closing of the opening (102c) of the capsule (100).
According to another non-limiting aspect, said controlled atmosphere comprises nitrogen.
According to another non-limiting aspect, the method comprises a step of association and/or fixation of an identification device, in particular an electronic tag and/or a radiofrequency identification circuit (119i) to the capsule (100), in such a way that said identification device, in particular said electronic tag and/or said radiofrequency identification circuit (119i), is irremovably, or irremovably in use, connected or introduced into the capsule (100).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the step of association and/or fixation comprises a step of fixation or introduction of the identification device in substantial correspondence of the lateral wall (101), in particular of the outer face of the lateral wall (101), and/or in substantial correspondence of the bottom portion (103).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the method comprises a step of positioning of the identification device, in particular of the electronic tag and/or of the radiofrequency identification circuit (119i) in substantial correspondence with the perimeter ring (103r).
According to another non-limiting aspect, the method comprises a step of storing of electronic data within said identification device, said electronic data being destined to allow to identify univocally the capsule (100) and/or to identify its content, in particular the substance (S), and/or to identify a production batch and/or a production date and/or a filling date.
According to another non-limiting aspect, said electronic data comprise an identification code, in particular a univocal identification code.
According to the present disclosure it is described a device for filling capsules configured to operate according to the method according to the aspects described above.
The object of the present disclosure will be now described with particular reference to some non-limiting embodiments and with the aid of the attached figures. A brief description of the figures is given hereinafter.
With reference to
The lateral wall 101, the head portion 102 and the bottom portion 103, detect an inner cavity 100c in use insulated from the outer environment and configured, to contain, in use, a substance S at least partially fluid and/or powdery destined to produce a beverage, in the form of an additivated liquid of which the substance represents a determined part by weight, in particular but not limited thereto a minimum part by weight. As will be better clarified in the following portion of the description, in fact, the substance can preferably constitute a mineralization mix for water, capable of allowing to the user to realize a water with a mixture of minerals selected from substantially distilled and/or minimally mineralized and/or substantially pure water.
In particular, the capsule for beverages 100 therein described is configured to withstand within the inner cavity 100c a predetermined pressure produced by the substance. Although this should not be intended in a limiting way, the pressure is a pressure lower than 0.5 bar and/or is a pressure lower than the limits given by the European rule “Pressure Equipment Device” 2014/68/UE. This allows to transport the capsule described therein without particular safety precautions.
The capsule presents a particular construction so that at least one among the head portion 102 and/or the bottom portion 103 and/or the lateral wall 101 is configured to be perforated, in a predetermined opening portion, by a perforator 202 of a capsules opening device 300 determining an opening of the inner cavity 100c destined to cause an outflow of the substance; in particular the outflow is at least partially, in particular substantially integrally, produced by the pressure within the inner cavity 100c. The capsules opening device 300 can be provided with a door schematically shown in
In preferred but non-limiting embodiment, the lateral wall 101, the head portion 102 and the bottom portion 103 are realized in metallic material, optionally integrally in metallic material. However, this should not be intended in a limiting way, as the Applicant has conceived further embodiments of the capsule described therein wherein even only one among said lateral wall 101, head portion 102 or bottom portion 103 is realized in metallic material. In a non-limiting embodiment, this metallic material is aluminum or its alloy and/or steel, for example stainless steel. In particular, this allows a light yet robust capsule, capable of maintaining a predetermined shape even when subjected to significant inner pressure. The use of aluminum and/or steel, for example stainless steel, is compatible with food applications. The capsule described therein is therefore reusable, at least once and preferably a plurality of times. In order to ensure a sufficient strength, the capsule for beverages 100 described therein is realized in such a way as to withstand inner pressures at least equal to 100 bar, more preferably at least equal to 150 bar, even more preferably at least equal to 200 bar.
The head portion 102 and the bottom portion 103 are joined to the lateral wall 101. It is noted in particular that the lateral wall 101 comprises a first portion, in particular a first ending portion, and comprises a second portion, in particular a second ending portion; the first portion of the lateral wall 101 is directly joined, in particular seamlessly, to the head portion 102; the second portion of the lateral wall 101 is directly joined, in particular seamlessly, to the bottom portion 102; the second portion of the lateral wall 101 is directly joined, in particular seamlessly, to the bottom portion 103.
Although various solutions for the reciprocal joining among the head portion 102, the bottom portion 103 and the lateral wall 101 can be conceived—for example, by welding or folding—the embodiment of the capsule shown in the attached figures is such that the lateral wall 101, the head portion 102 and the bottom portion 103 are realized in a single piece, or are integral being in particular obtained from a single sheet of metallic material, optionally by folding and/or deformation.
In a non-limiting and alternative embodiment, not shown in the attached figures, the lateral wall 101 joined by means of a welding and/or folding and/or crimping and/or gluing process to the head portion 102 and/or to the bottom portion 103. The capsule described therein comprises an opening 102c configured to be in use closed determining an insulation of the inner cavity 100c from the outer environment. This insulation is sufficient to determine—for a predetermined time—a maintenance of a predetermined pressure. According to the particular construction technique with which it is realized the closing of the capsule 100 therein described, the predetermined period of time is at least equal to 1 week, or 3 weeks, or 1 month, or 3 months, or 5 months, or 9 months, or 1 year, or 1 year and a half, or 2 years, or 3 years.
With specific reference to the embodiments of the capsule shown in
This means that at least one embodiment of the body of the capsule 100 for beverages described therein is characterized by having, at least partially, a deformability property such that it can cause a closing of the opening 102c at the end of the filling of the inner cavity 100c. This deformability property determines the possibility of deforming the body of the capsule 100 where necessary to close the opening 102c without causing weakenings and/or fractures, even if only partial, in remaining portions of the body of the capsule 100 for beverages not affected by the deformation.
Preferably, but in a non-limiting extent, the lateral wall 101 comprises a tapered portion 101t. This tapered portion causes the capsule described therein to assume a vaguely bottle-like shape and can be configured to favor the alignment of the capsule in a housing in substantial correspondence of which the perforator lies. This can allow a greater precision of perforation. In particular, the embodiments of the capsule described therein have a tapered portion 101t that lies in substantial correspondence of the head portion 102. The tapered portion 101t presents a transversal section gradually reducing towards the head portion 102.
In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, the lateral wall 101 defines a substantially circular transversal section, and/or is substantially tubular in shape. This allows to the user not to have to select a particular spatial orientation for the capsule at least in relation to the main axis A along which the capsule develops as a solid of revolution.
In the embodiments shown in
In the embodiments shown for example in
As already briefly mentioned above, the capsule comprises a longitudinal axis A passing through the inner cavity 100c. In particular, the longitudinal axis A is substantially orthogonal with respect to at least part of, preferably all of, the bottom portion 103 and/or is the axis around which said lateral wall 101 develops.
In a non-limiting embodiment, however, the bottom portion 103 cannot be substantially or integrally planar and, in particular, can show a concave portion 103c protruding within the inner cavity 100c. Where it is present the perimeter ring 103r previously described, the concave portion 103c is inside said perimeter ring. In the attached figures, the concave portion 103c is represented by means of a dotted line, and presents a cusp aligned with the longitudinal axis A of the capsule.
Alternatively to the above description, in a further embodiment, the bottom portion 103 can present a convex portion 103c. In that case, the convex portion protrudes outwards of the cavity and/or detects a corresponding concave portion of the cavity.
The perimeter ring 103r previously described can have a specific function described hereinafter. In particular, the perimeter ring 103r is configured to be engaged by a pusher, in particular by a movable and/or rotating pusher. As it can be seen in the detail provided in
The rear wall 103p delineates an ending wall for the capsule. The Applicant observes that the rear wall 103p is substantially oblique with respect to said lateral wall 101; more precisely, the rear wall 103p is substantially orthogonal with respect to said lateral wall 101. Thus, in the embodiment of
On the opposite part of the capsule, the head portion 102 comprises a substantially planar section.
The Applicant has conceived a particular embodiment of the substance, which is described hereinafter.
The substance is configured to generate said pressure when contained in the inner cavity 100c. Preferably, the substance, which is a compound substance, is configured to generate said pressure by state transformation, in particular by changing state at least for part of its volume and/or weight, starting from a liquid and/or solid state to reach a substantially at least partially gaseous state destined to determine an increase of volume capable of pressurizing the inner cavity 100c when opportunely closed.
The aforementioned substance comprises an at least partially powdery substance 2300, optionally a mineralization mix, configured to cause a water mineralization, in particular a water mineralization for human consumption. For this reason, the substance can comprise at least one among magnesium, potassium, calcium, fluorine, iron, sodium, sulphur, silicon minerals and in particular can comprise magnesium carbonate or bicarbonate and/or calcium carbonate or bicarbonate. Additionally or alternatively to the above, said substance can comprise a solvent, in particular distilled water 2200. Alternatively, or in combination, said substance can comprise a saturated solution.
In an embodiment, in particular preferred, the substance comprises a cooled and/or cooling and/or originally cooled material 2100, in particular dry ice or solid carbon dioxide, destined to cause a gas formation, in particular gaseous carbon dioxide, by state transformation, and/or comprises a gas, in particular gaseous carbon dioxide, and this gas in particular derives from a state transformation of a cooled and/or cooling and/or originally cooled material 2100, preferably deriving from a state transformation of dry ice or solid carbon dioxide.
The Applicant has observed that the composition of the substance described above is particularly suitable to allow a rapid dissolution of its mineral portion in a predetermined quantity of water, even distilled water, without forming precipitates or solid particles. This allows to use the capsule described therein with the substance described therein to realize a mineralization of distilled water which allows to the user to choose at will which mineral mix and therefore which flavor to give to the water he intends to drink. This allows to the user to start from a single source material—preferably distilled water, precisely—and realize a plurality of different types of water by simply selecting one among a plurality of capsules for beverages 100 at his disposal, in particular the capsule containing the substance destined to generate the beverage that the user wishes to drink in the future.
Therefore, the present disclosure shows a method for filling a capsule, in particular a capsule for beverages, which is described hereinafter with particular reference to the block diagram of
The method first of all comprises the introduction (block 1001,
This cooled material 2100, in particular this dry ice or solid carbon dioxide is destined to cause a formation of gases, in particular, but not limited thereto, gaseous carbon dioxide, by state transformation.
Alternatively or in combination with the above, the method comprises the introduction (block 1001,
The method further comprises (block 1002,
In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, the at least partially powdery substance 2300 comprises a mineralization mix, configured to cause a water mineralization, in particular a water mineralization for human consumption. This is particularly valid when the capsule 100 is destined to an application for beverages, i.e. it is destined to be used for the production of beverages.
When at least the powdery substance 2300 and the cooled material 2100 and/or gas have been introduced within the inner cavity of the capsule 100, the method described therein comprises the closing (block 1004,
The closing of the capsule (block 1004,
Therefore the introduction (block 1001,
The closing of the capsule (block 1004,
Although the present disclosure is not limited to a unique and specific step of introduction (block 1001,
As it is possible to observe from
The introduction of the predetermined quantity of solvent (block 1003,
The purpose of the predetermined quantity of solvent introduced into the capsule, in particular of the predetermined quantity of water 2200, in particular of the predetermined quantity of distilled water, is to allow an at least partial dissolution, preferably a substantially overall dissolution, of said powdery substance 2300. In this way, the substance eventually contained in the capsule 100 is substantially in the form of a fluid or gel, albeit of high viscosity. The Applicant in particular observes that the use of a substance in the form of a liquid or gel, in particular where the application of use of the capsule is directed to the realization of mineralized water by means of mineralization induced by the substance extracted from the capsule 100, facilitates the complete dissolution of the substance in the water without formation of solid residuals and/or precipitates and also allows an easier mixing process, since—in that case—the realization of the mineralized water takes place by means of a liquid/liquid or in any case fluid or gel/liquid mixing.
In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment the method therein described can comprise a cooling of the predetermined quantity of solvent, in particular of the predetermined quantity of water 2200, in particular of the predetermined quantity of distilled water, before the introduction (block 1003,
In a preferred but not limiting embodiment, the cooling is a cooling close to the solidification temperature of the solvent, in particular close to the solidification temperature of the water 2200, more in particular close to the solidification temperature of the distilled water. This allows to limit the volume of the solvent and assists the expansion of volume and thus the increase of pressure within the inner cavity 100c of the capsule 100 only at a later time, when the solvent and the cooled material and/or gas will have expanded by natural heating towards room temperature. This step is schematically represented by the block 1005 in
The Applicant has observed that determined substances, in order to maintain their purity and/or prevent their oxidation and/or guarantee their sterility and/or in order to increase the storage time for the capsule 100, must be treated in a particular manner, in some cases, it may not be convenient to proceed with the filling of the capsule 100 in a traditional free atmosphere. Therefore, a particular embodiment of the method described therein comprises placing the capsule 100 in a controlled atmosphere, in particular substantially free or substantially filtered of organic and/or inorganic contaminants, and/or substantially deprived at least of oxygen, in such a way that said controlled atmosphere is present within said inner cavity 100c.
It is observed in particular that the introduction (block 1001,
Preferably, but not limited thereto, such controlled atmosphere comprises substantially nitrogen.
The Applicant has observed that it can be convenient to keep track of the capsules for beverages 100 that are used, and in particular opened to release the substance. In particular, he has observed that it is possible to use electronic aids that allow to keep track of the capsules for beverages 100 that are used, in particular open.
For this reason, a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of the capsule for beverages 100 comprises at least an identification device, in particular an electronic tag and/or a radiofrequency identification circuit. Such identification device, in particular an electronic tag and/or a radiofrequency identification circuit can be of the active, semi-active, semi-passive or passive type. Although, in principle, the four types of identification device, in particular an electronic tag and/or a radiofrequency identification circuit can be used equivalently, the Applicant observes that the use of an identification device, in particular an electronic tag and/or a radiofrequency identification circuit of a semi-passive or passive type can be convenient in order to allow a containment of the costs of application of such an identification device, in particular an electronic tag and/or a radiofrequency identification circuit on the body of the capsule. In case of an identification device, in particular an electronic tag and/or a radio frequency identification circuit of the passive type, such tag typically comprises a microchip (with a univocal identifier and eventual memory) with no power supply, an antenna and a material that acts as a physical substrate called a ‘substrate’. A reader emits a radio signal, and this radio signal has enough energy to activate the microchip and provide it with the energy necessary to reply to the reader with a new radio transmission.
Nevertheless, some types of radio frequency identification tags are substantially flexible and their area is mostly constituted by a spiral of electrically conductive material acting as an antenna. In that case, this spiral can advantageously be wrapped around the body of the capsule for beverages.
Preferably, though not limited thereto, therefore, the identification device, in particular an electronic tag and/or a radio frequency identification circuit is irremovably, or irremovably in use, associated with the capsule 100 for beverages. This allows to reduce the risk of fraud. In particular, “irremovably” means physically non-separable from the body of the capsule for beverages 100 unless destroying the body of the capsule for beverages 100. “Irremovably, in use” means that the identification device, in particular an electronic tag and/or a radiofrequency identification circuit is mounted in such a way that it can be extracted, removed or physically separated from the body of the capsule for beverages 100 only by the use of determined tools and/or only by qualified personnel.
The identification device, in particular an electronic tag and/or a radiofrequency identification circuit can be positioned in substantial correspondence of the lateral wall 101, optionally in substantial correspondence of an outer face of the lateral wall 101, or can be positioned in substantial correspondence of the bottom portion 103, optionally resulting introduced within the bottom portion 103. Some tag or radiofrequency circuit installation configurations are described therein: in particular the identification device, in particular an electronic tag and/or a radiofrequency identification circuit is positioned in substantial correspondence of the perimeter ring 103r. The spirals of the antenna of the tag are contained within the structure of the perimeter ring 103r, but the Applicant has conceived of a further embodiment, not shown, wherein the spirals of the antenna of the radio frequency identification tag are applied, for example by gluing, on the outer surface of the perimeter ring 103r, for example and not limited thereto in substantial correspondence of the front part 103f or of the rear wall 103p.
In a particular embodiment, the spiral of the antenna of the radio frequency identification tag is positioned in substantial correspondence of the outer face of the lateral wall 101, and is fixed to it by gluing.
In a further embodiment, the radio frequency identification circuit is embedded within the bottom portion 103 of the capsule for beverages 100.
In order to allow the identification of the capsule univocally, the identification device, in particular an electronic tag and/or a radiofrequency identification circuit contains stored therein electronic data relating to the composition of said substance and/or contains stored therein an identification code of said capsule for beverages 100.
The identification device, in particular the electronic tag and/or the radiofrequency identification circuit, can be installed before the filling of the capsule or after the filling of the capsule, depending on the specific configuration. Likewise, electronic data can be stored or updated in the identification device before the filling of the capsule or after the filling of the capsule.
The identification code is a univocal identification code and/or can comprise data relating to the date of production and/or of filling of the capsule for beverages 100, and/or data relating to the date of production and/or of filling of the capsule for beverages 100 by means of said substance, and/or data relating to the composition of the substance.
The advantages of the capsule object of the present disclosure are clear in light of the above description. It is capable to contain a substance S inside it even under pressure safely and for a long time, and the use of the capsule allows to realize beverages realized by means of addition caused by the substance S. The capsule described therein can also be easily traced, so that it is possible to identify if there are fraudulent copies or unauthorized uses of the capsule. The capsule can carry even very different substances S inside the cavity without the need for alteration of its structure. The capsule object of the present disclosure is easily closable.
The method described therein allows to fill a capsule in an extremely efficient manner and without the need for complex devices. The method described therein allows to load the capsule with a large quantity of different types of substances S, with almost no need for alteration of its basic principles.
The capsule and the method described therein can be respectively used and applicable on a large as well as a small scale always in a cost-effective manner.
Finally, it is clear that additions, modifications or variations, which are obvious to an expert in the art, can be applied to the object of the present disclosure without departing from the scope provided by the attached claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102021000013619 | May 2021 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2022/054824 | 5/24/2022 | WO |
