Patent Application
20210137303
The present invention relates to re-usable containers for substances for the preparation of a liquid beverage, in particular designed for use as cartridges for a liquid beverage-dispensing machine. More specifically, the invention has been developed with particular reference to re-usable containers of the type comprising:
wherein:
wherein moreover the second end portion is removable.
The state of the art offers numerous examples of re-usable containers for substances for the preparation of a liquid beverage commonly referred to as “pods” or “capsules”.
These substances include, for example, precursors in powdered or ground form (e.g., coffee) or in granules, whereby it is possible to prepare a liquid beverage.
In particular, the production of disposable containers for ground coffee is particularly vast, as likewise there is a considerable number of examples of re-usable containers for coffee (or other beverages in powder form).
Known solutions of containers for beverages in powdered or ground form, in particular coffee, may be found, for example, in the documents Nos. WO 2014/041419 A1, US 2014/0272048 A1, and FR 2 946 854 B3. Each of the containers forming the subject of these documents is re-usable thanks—among other things—to the provision of a removable end portion.
The inventors filed in the name of whom is the present patent application have developed a re-usable container described in the document No. WO 2016/199007 A1.
On the basis of the experience gleaned with the above container, the inventors have been able to identify a drawback common to all re-usable capsules of a known type. A re-usable capsule can, by definition, be used with any substance for the preparation of a beverage. This already per se creates a considerable variance of the physical characteristics of the substance that can be put into the container, which might not necessarily present optimal characteristics as regards preparation of a given beverage. Not only this, but also one and the same substance may differ considerably in its own characteristics according to the country or geographical area of sale. To take, for example, the case of coffee, this may differ markedly in grain size from one country to another, thus leading to an unsatisfactory quality of the beverage or even, in the most serious cases, malfunctioning of the dispensing machine in the case where the grain size differs considerably from the samples used for development of the container.
The object of the present invention is to solve the technical problems mentioned previously. In particular, the object of the invention is to provide a re-usable container for substances for the preparation of liquid beverages that can be used with optimal results with any substance irrespective of the characteristics of the substance, and even in the case of marked variance of the characteristics of the substance itself.
The object of the invention is achieved by a re-usable container having the features forming the subject of one or more of the ensuing claims, which form an integral part of the technical disclosure provided herein in relation to the invention.
In particular, the object of the invention is achieved by a container having all the features listed in the preamble of the present description and moreover characterized in that the second end portion is dismountable and includes an annular element and an insert that can be removably coupled into the annular element, wherein the insert has the plurality of second apertures.
The invention will now be described with reference to the annexed drawings, which are provided purely by way of non-limiting example, wherein:
With reference to
The container 1 is of a re-usable type and is in particular designed for use as cartridge for a liquid beverage-dispensing machine, which normally functions with non-reusable containers for the precursor in powder form.
The container 1 includes a first end portion 2, a second end portion 4, and a shell 6 that is comprised between the first and second end portions 2, 4 and delimits an internal volume V of the container designed to receive a precursor in powder form. Preferably, the container 1 has a substantially frustoconical shape with axis Xl, in so far as the diameter of the end portion 2 is smaller than the diameter of the end portion 4 so that the shell 6 has a substantially frustoconical shape. Except for the provision of apertures in the end portions 2 and 4, the body of the container 1 is of an axisymmetrical type with respect to the axis X1.
With reference to
Preferably, the apertures 8 are provided within an annular groove 10 that develops axially in the body of the end portion 2 and surrounds a central relief 12 sharing the same axis X1 as the groove 10. Preferably, as may be seen in
It is moreover possible to envisage, in certain embodiments, a central through hole in a position corresponding to the relief 12, sharing the axis X1.
Once again preferably, the groove 10 has a width L10 in a radial direction that is comprised between 2 mm and 5 mm.
Provision of the apertures 8 within the groove 10, hence in a position set back with respect to the end of the end portion 2 ensures compatibility with the dispensing machine in so far as normally the area where the groove 10 is located would be involved in penetration of needles designed to enable passage of hot liquid, which are normally configured for penetration of disposable capsules.
At the opposite end with respect to the one adjacent to the end portion 2, the shell 6 is shaped so as to define a collar 13 of a cylindrical shape, provided on the outer lateral surface of which is an annular groove G configured for housing an annular gasket S, preferably made of elastomeric material (e.g., an O-ring).
With reference to
The insert 16 carries a plurality of second apertures 18, which are configured for exit of a liquid beverage that can be obtained, during use, by interaction of the liquid that has previously entered the volume V through the apertures 8 with the precursor in powder form contained within the internal volume V.
In the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, the annular element 14 is provided with a shoulder 20, which constitutes an abutment surface for the insert 16, and a peripheral flange 22, which extends radially beyond the shell 6 so as to provide an axial-position reference (along the axis X1) within the dispensing machine.
In this way, the insert 16 can be inserted into the annular element 14, being introduced axially at the end opposite to the one where the flange 22 is to be provided in such a way that this can slide until it encounters the abutment surface offered by the shoulder 20. Preferably, set on the shoulder 20 is an annular gasket similar to the gasket S (e.g., an O-ring to ensure tightness between the insert 16 and the annular element 14).
Moreover, once again preferably, provided on the periphery of the flange 22 is an annular groove G22 configured for receiving an annular gasket (e.g., of the O-ring type), which enables an improved interference to be provided with the seat that on the dispensing machine receives the container 1, which is in any case provided with very strict tolerances with respect to the seat.
As regards coupling, since preferably both the annular element 14 and the insert 16 have a circular shape, it is envisaged to assign a slight interference between the outer diameter of the insert 16 and the inner diameter of the annular element 14, in such a way that the insert 16 is slightly forced into a position against the shoulder 20, and there held thanks to the aforesaid interference. At the moment of removal, the insert 16 can be extracted—thus providing a dismounting of the end portion 4—by exerting a slight axial pressure in a direction opposite to that of insertion.
In any case, it should be borne in mind that the interference may not strictly be necessary in so far as—with specific reference to the assembled view of
It should be borne in mind, however, that the coupling between the annular element 14 and the collar 13 can occur also by means of a threaded joint, including in particular an internal thread for the inner surface of the tubular element 14 and an external thread for the outer surface of the collar 13. In this case, the action of gripping on the insert 13 is ensured by the threaded joint itself.
Thanks to the shoulder 20, it is moreover possible to retract the top end surface of the insert 16 with respect to the free axial end of the end portion 14, thus defining a recess 24 within which the plurality of second apertures 18 is provided since the bottom of the recess 24 is formed by the insert 16. Since the apertures 18 are through apertures, they are in communication with the internal volume V of the container 1.
According to the embodiment of the insert 16, the apertures 18 are pre-formed (hence they are already provided as through apertures) or else are provided by means of orifices that can open under pressure. In either case, the apertures 18 are not made by the ensemble of needles of the dispensing machine at the moment of insertion of the container 1 therein.
The shape, type (pre-formed apertures or orifices that can open under pressure), and arrangement of the apertures 18 on the insert 16 may vary according to the need so as to adapt as much as possible to the characteristics of the different substances used for the production of the corresponding beverages and so as to adapt likewise to the variability of the characteristics of the substance itself that may exist from one country to another and/or from one variety to another.
For the purposes of description, the second apertures are here denoted by a reference number that maintains the prefix “18” and that includes a suffix variable according to the type of aperture and/or to the embodiment considered.
With reference to
By the term “slit” is meant an aperture having a shape in plan view (hence, by definition, a geometry belonging to a plane) characterized by a direction of main (and predominant) development and a direction of secondary development, in which the dimension of the shape is considerably smaller than the dimension in the direction of main (and predominant) development.
The I-shape of the slits 180A is an example of rectilinear slit. The term “rectilinear slit” designates—on the basis of the above definition—an aperture having a shape in plan view (hence, by definition, a geometry belonging to a plane) of a substantially rectangular shape that develops prevalently along just one of the two dimensions in the plane (a direction of main and predominant development), whereas the other dimension is characterized by an extremely limited development.
In particular, in the present description, it is assumed by way of reference that the one or more rectilinear slits that come to form each aperture 18 develops/develop prevalently in the direction of the length, with minimal development in the direction of the width necessary only to provide—physically—a passageway. It should be noted that the union of a number of mutually incident rectilinear slits enables broken-line geometries (e.g., L-shaped, Z-shaped, U-shaped, etc.) or crossed geometries (X-shaped, T-shaped, etc.) to be provided that characterize the other embodiments of the insert 16 presented herein.
In alternative embodiments, the main and predominant direction of development may be a curvilinear path. In this case, the term “curvilinear slits” will be used, namely, slits having a shape in plan view where a main and (predominant) direction of development is the aforesaid curvilinear path, and a secondary direction of development is the dimension transverse with respect to the curvilinear path. Constituting an example of curvilinear slits are those that are C-shaped or else S-shaped in plan view.
At a general level, the slits that define the second apertures 18 or 180 (in any one of the embodiments of
Merely by way of example, without this constituting any limitation with respect to the invention, the size in the secondary direction may preferably be comprised between 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm, whereas the size in the main direction may be comprised between 2.5 mm and 3 mm.
However, in some embodiments (e.g., in the subsequent
Both the slits 180A and the circular apertures 181A are arranged aligned in rows of aligned elements (with reference to
In this way, in the embodiment of
The spacing of the circular apertures 181A is moreover such that an aperture 181A always corresponds to an aperture 180A, without occupying the space between two consecutive apertures 180A. Once again, by scanning the arrangement in a direction orthogonal to that of alignment of the rows, five horizontal rows are defined (the bottom and top ones of reduced extension) in which a slit 180A and an aperture 181A alternate for the entire extension of the rows.
With reference to
With reference to
Preferably, the size of each aperture in the secondary direction of development (width in this case) is constant, but it is possible to envisage embodiments in which said size may be made to vary according to the distance from the axis X1, for example, to maintain the aspect ratio constant, or else to maintain the area of the apertures 181C constant (or within a certain range of values).
More in general, whatever the configuration of the insert 16 considered, the second apertures can have a constant section along the wall thickness of the insert 16 or else can have a variable section in a direction parallel to the axis X1. In particular, examples of variable section comprise a convergent section (proceeding from the internal volume V towards the outside) or a divergent section (once again proceeding from the internal volume V towards the outside).
The embodiments of the insert 16 represented in
The slits that form the second apertures on each of the inserts 16D to 16I are rectilinear slits (i.e., I-shaped slits) or combinations of I-shaped slits arranged in an incident way to define derived shapes (for example, U-shaped slits, L-shaped slits, Z-shaped slits, T-shaped slits, cross-shaped slits).
What all these embodiments share in common is the arrangement of the apertures to form a heart shape CR and four arms AR, where the heart shape CR is defined by a square mesh of nine slits (3×3), and each arm AR is defined by a row of three slits. The number of the slits in the heart shape CR and in the arms AR may of course vary. It is possible in any case to envisage alternative embodiments where the envelope of the entire arrangement of the second apertures 18/180 has a square shape (like the heart shape CR), with an arrangement of 4×4 apertures 18/180 or 5×5 apertures 18/180.
In detail, these are the characteristics of the embodiments of
In all the embodiments of
In this connection,
Of course, it is possible to size the apertures in such a way that the aforesaid geometries can as a whole be inscribed in a rectangle (which, on the other hand, is already the condition that applies to the embodiment of
With reference to
Each of the embodiments of the insert 16 illustrated in
With reference to
The disk 160A is altogether identical to the disk of
The insert 16A* can couple with interference fit within the annular element 14, bearing upon the shoulder 20, or may be freely floating within the element 14 itself, then to be gripped between the shoulder 20 and the collar 13 when the end portion 4 is coupled to the shell 6 to close the container 1.
With reference to
Whereas the second apertures 18, 180, 181 on the disk 160B are provided in a pre-formed way, in order for them to perform their function it is possible to envisage, for the disk 161B, the following possibilities, in combination or as an alternative to one another:
Each orifice that can open under pressure can be provided by means of a through incision with cross-shaped, star-shaped, or Y-shaped geometry, or again with a geometry similar to that of the apertures 180, 181 of
In a preferred embodiment of the insert 16B* illustrated in
It is to be noted that the apertures 180_7 can be provided according to any one of the geometries of
Since the disk 161B is in any case in view of the volume V (directly or through the apertures 18, 180, 181, 180_7), when the end portion 4 is coupled to the shell 6, the pressure that impinges upon the volume V during use brings about deformation of the disk 161B in the area of the incisions in question, causing displacement of the tabs of material that result from the incisions themselves since these cannot be withheld by the rigid material of the disk 160B. In this way, the orifice opens under pressure, meaning thereby that there a widening of the passageway for the liquid is formed, whether the passageway be provided only via incision or by means of a pre-formed aperture on a non-rigid support as in
The insert 16B* can be interference fitted into the annular element 14, coming to bear upon the shoulder 20, or may be freely floating within the element 14 itself, then to be gripped between the shoulder 20 and the collar 13 when the end portion 4 is coupled to the shell 6 to close the container 1.
With reference to
For the disk 161C two possibilities may be envisaged. A first possibility consists in providing the apertures 18/180/181 pre-formed as illustrated in
The insert 16C* can be interference fitted into the annular element 14, coming to bear upon the shoulder 20, or may be freely floating within the element 14 itself, then to be gripped between the shoulder 20 and the collar 13 when the end portion 4 is coupled to the shell 6 to close the container 1. Since the portion of the insert 16C* that comes into contact with the shoulder 22 is the ring 160C, it is preferable for an annular gasket to be set on the shoulder 22 to provide a seal.
Finally, with reference to
The insert 16D* is substantially a variant of the insert 16A*, where the sheath 161A extends over the entire surface of the disk 160A. The alternatives described below are possible to provide the second apertures.
In the insert 16D* the apertures 18/180/181 may be provided as apertures of a pre-formed type both in the disk 160D and in the sheath 161D (obviously in positions corresponding to the apertures in the disk 160D and on both faces of the sheath). In these embodiments, the apertures in the disk and sheath are of an identical shape and position, and are provided as any one of the examples of
In the case where the apertures in the disk 160D are of the type illustrated in
With higher degrees of deformability, the behaviour may resemble more closely that of orifices that can open under pressure.
If the deformability is very high, it is possible in the limit to provide the second apertures 18 as orifices that can open under pressure, which include through incisions, instead of pre-formed apertures.
The behaviour can be modulated, among other things, thanks to the fact that the apertures in the disk 160D are oversized with respect to those in the sheath in such a way that the apertures in the disk function substantially as a frame within which a diaphragm defined by the corresponding portion of sheath extends and can undergo deformation.
The insert 16D* can be interference fitted into the annular element 14, coming to bear upon the shoulder 20, or may be freely floating within the element 14 itself, then to be gripped between the shoulder 20 and the collar 13 when the end portion 4 is coupled to the shell 6 to close the container 1 (the presence of the sheath 161D may eliminate the need for an annular gasket on the shoulder 22).
Finally, with reference to
It is moreover to be noted that the inserts 16E*, 16F* can be used instead of the disk 160A of
Also the insert 16E*/16F* can be interference fitted into the annular element 14, coming to bear upon the shoulder 20, or may be freely floating within the element 14 itself, then to be gripped between the shoulder 20 and the collar 13 when the end portion 4 is coupled to the shell 6 to close the container 1.
The container 1 may be made of any material compatible with use in the foodstuff sector and is able to withstand the temperatures typical of the liquid used for the preparation of the beverage, typically water at a temperature close to boiling point.
In a preferred embodiment, the container 1 is made of metal material, for example, steel or aluminium, with the second apertures 18, 180, 181 provided—in the case where they are pre-formed—by laser cutting or milling, or else shearing.
In alternative embodiments, it is possible to use a rigid plastic material for producing the container 1, in the portions that are not made of deformable/elastomeric material, with consequent savings in terms of production costs. In this case, the container 1 may be provided either by using traditional injection-moulding techniques or by means of a 3D printer.
As regards use of the container 1, the user has the possibility of filling the internal volume V with any precursor in powder form, or also any granular precursor or precursor in the form of shredded leaves (such as tea).
The removability of the end portion 4 enables loading of the precursor in powder form in the internal volume of the container 1 (hence enabling recharging thereof, if need be), this being facilitated by the fact that the loading operation is carried out on the side of larger dimensions of the container 1 (the end portion 4 to be precise).
It should be borne in mind in this connection that it is moreover possible to provide the container 1, envisaging that also the first end portion 2 is removable, for example, to facilitate the operations of thorough cleaning thereof. Since the end portion 2 is operatively subject to a smaller number of cycles of removal and re-positioning, it is preferable for the coupling to the shell 6 to be provided by means of a threaded joint (but this does not exclude in any case coupling with a seal gasket, as in the case of the end portion 4).
In the case of coffee, the hot water supplied by the machine in which the container 1 is used as cartridge penetrates into the container 1 through the access apertures 8 and occupies the internal volume V.
In so doing, the (pressurised) hot water percolates through the coffee in the internal volume V. The interaction between the hot water and the ground coffee, leads to obtaining liquid coffee that flows out from the apertures 18/180/181.
Before any use of the container 1, the user can select the insert 16 in the configuration, amongst all the possible combinations described herein, and/or amongst the ones physically available to the user, that affords the best results for the type of beverage, and/or for the local characteristics of the beverage itself.
In this way, according to the invention, it is possible to define a kit for the preparation of beverages that includes a container 1 and a plurality of inserts 16, each provided with second apertures 18 of variable shape, and/or type, and/or arrangement that are specific for a given type and/or local variety of substance for the preparation of a beverage.
It should moreover be noted, with reference in particular to the insert 16D*, that it is moreover possible to provide a kit including just inserts of this type, which differ not for the shape, and/or type, and/or arrangement of the second apertures, but for the deformability of the sheath 161D, which in turn affects the behaviour of the orifices, as described previously.
It is moreover possible to envisage mixed kits including a range of inserts 16D* with sheaths 161D with variable deformabilities and a range of inserts 16 each provided with second apertures 18 of a variable shape, and/or type, and/or arrangement that are specific for a given type and/or local variety of substance for the preparation of a beverage.
Once the insert 16 has been chosen, it is positioned in the seat on the annular element 14, and the end portion 4 is then closed on the collar 13, of course after prior filling of the volume V with the right amount of substance for preparing the beverage.
In this way, whatever the beverage and/or local variety, there will always be the certainty of an optimal result in terms of quality of the beverage obtained and of efficiency of operation of the container 1 and of the dispensing machine.
Of course, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary widely with respect to what has been described and illustrated herein, without thereby departing from the sphere of protection of the present invention, as defined by the annexed claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102017000020821 | Feb 2017 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2018/051008 | 2/19/2018 | WO | 00 |
