LU101633B1 - Capsule intended to contain a substance for the preparation of a drink - Google Patents

Abstract

Capsule for the preparation of a drink The invention relates to a capsule intended to contain a substance for the preparation of a drink by placing said capsule in the housing (7) of a piston (6), said capsule comprising a body ( 1) having a rim (4) and a sealing ring (10) which is attached to the lower wall (4b) of said rim by having an upper face (10a) resting on said lower wall and a free lower face (10b) ) in which a groove (30) is formed in a hollow forming an internal bearing surface (13) and an external bearing surface (14) which are spaced apart radially, delimiting between them a groove (15) which is arranged to receive the peripheral edge in a sealed manner (11) of the piston (6) during the preparation of the drink.

Description

The invention relates to a capsule for containing a substance for the preparation of a drink.

Elie also relates to a system for the preparation of a drink by means of such a capsule, said system comprising a piston which has a housing in which said capsule is intended to be arranged to allow the preparation of said drink.

Such capsules are intended in particular for the preparation of a hot drink such as coffee, tea or infusion.

To do this, systems © are known in which the piston housing is equipped with a device arranged to inject under pressure a liquid extracting the drink, for example hot water, through said capsule and the substance that it contains, in particular by piercing said capsule by means of injection pins of such a liquid provided for this purpose in said housing.

When preparing a drink, the plunger device injects about 50 milliliters of extractor liquid into the housing, and about 45 milliliters of this liquid is actually used for said preparation.

Thus, following this injection, approximately 5 milliliters of extractor liquid remain in the housing, and may possibly escape therefrom by leakage. e To limit the leaks of extractor liquid from the housing, documents EP-2 966 006 and EP-2 951 108 disclose a capsule which has an upper rim with an upper wall on which a cover is intended to be associated after loading the substance for the preparation of a drink, as well as a bottom wall which is equipped with a sealing structure comprising inner and outer rings of substantially triangular sections, between which extends a sealing lip, also of section rectangular.

Thus, when the capsule is placed in the housing of the piston, the peripheral edge of said housing is positioned between the outer and inner rings by crushing the sealing lip, the piston - rings - lip assembly forming a sealing baffle. to limit leaks during the injection of the extractor liquid into the capsule.

In particular, the capsules described in these documents comprise a body made of a plastic material, and the sealing structure is formed integrally with said body. Advantageously, the body is produced by injection and molding of a plastic material, which allows the sealing structure to be easily produced at the same time as said body.

© Since plastic materials can be relatively difficult to recycle, it is desirable to limit their use. To do this, capsules made of metallic material, in particular aluminum-based, are also known. These capsules have the advantage of being easy to manufacture, in particular by stamping a metal foil, while being easy to recycle, the metal constituting the body being able in particular to be recovered by melting said body, after having extracted the residues of it. the substance it contained.

However, it is problematic to form a sealing structure such as ® described above on such capsules, insofar as the very fine dimensions of the crowns and of the sealing lip do not allow them to be obtained by stamping.

To overcome these drawbacks, document EP-1 816 935 describes a capsule, in particular made of aluminum, in which a silicone-based sealing ring is attached, in particular by overmolding, to the lower wall of the receiving rim of the. operculum. Thus, when the peripheral edge comes to rest under the rim, it exerts a local compression on a free lower face of the ring, which makes it possible to limit liquid leaks.

This solution poses a problem as regards the recycling of the capsule. Indeed, before melting a used capsule to recover the aluminum, it is necessary to remove the silicone ring by burning it, because its mechanical extraction from said capsule is impossible to implement. However, since silicone is of petrochemical fossil origin, its combustion generates fine particles that are harmful to health and the environment.

Document EP-1 839 543 describes a capsule equipped with a ring made of an absorbent material, for example based on paper and / or cotton, said ring having a radial portion disposed resting on the lower wall © of the rim and an axi-radial portion disposed in abutment around an upper portion of the side wall of the body.

This solution is not satisfactory either, in that the sealing is achieved by deformation of the ring under the effect of the pressure of the extractor liquid injected into the housing at the time of preparation of the drink.

Thus, there is always a significant risk of liquid leaking out of the housing.

The invention aims to improve the prior art by proposing in particular a capsule which is designed to guarantee good sealing of the piston housing in order to prevent leakage of the extractor liquid during its injection, this while being easily recyclable with a limited impact on the environment.

To this end, according to a first aspect, the invention provides a capsule intended to contain a substance for the preparation of a drink by placing said capsule in the housing of a piston, said capsule comprising a body having a side wall lined with on either side by a bottom and by a rim surrounding an opening of said body, said rim having a lower wall projecting laterally from said side wall, said capsule being equipped with a sealing ring which is attached to said lower wall in having an upper face resting on said lower wall and a free lower face, the sealing ring having a groove made recessed in the free face, said groove forming an internal bearing surface and an external bearing surface which are spaced radially delimiting between they have a groove which is arranged to receive in a sealed manner the peripheral edge of the piston during the preparation of the drink.

According to a second aspect, the invention proposes a system for the preparation of a drink by means of such a capsule in which a substance for the preparation of said drink is packaged, said system comprising a piston which has a housing for the reception. of the capsule, said housing comprising a device arranged to inject under pressure a liquid extractor of the beverage through said capsule, as well as a peripheral edge arranged to be placed in a sealed manner in the groove formed between the external and internal bearing surfaces of the capsule. said bottom wall. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given with reference to the appended figures, in which: - Figures 1 and 1a show a capsule according to one embodiment of the invention, respectively in axial section (FIG. 1) and according to an enlargement of zone A of FIG. 1 (FIG. 1a); - Figures 2a, 2b and 2c show a capsule equipped with a sealing ring according to an embodiment of the invention, respectively in bottom view (Figure 2a), in partial section along the axis AA centered on the rim (FIG. 2b) and according to an enlargement of the zone B of FIG. 2a (FIG. 2c); - Figures 3a, 3b and 3c are views similar to those of Figures 2a, 2b and 2c corresponding, with a sealing ring according to an alternative embodiment of the invention; - Figures 4a and 4b show, in partial axial section centered on the rim, two stages of the arrangement of the peripheral edge of a piston on a sealing ring fitted to the capsule of Figures 2a, 2b and 2c.

In relation to these figures, a capsule intended to receive a substance for the preparation of a drink, as well as a system for the preparation of a drink by means of such a capsule, are described below.

The capsule comprises a body 1 for packaging such a substance, said body preferably being made of metallic material, in particular aluminum. Thus, the capsule can be easily manufactured, in particular by stamping, but also recycled, in particular by melting said body after extraction of the residues of the substance, in order to recover the aluminum therefrom for later use. The body 1 has a geometry of revolution about a central axis X, with a side wall 2 bordered on either side by a bottom 3 and by a flange 4 © surrounding an opening 5 of said body. In known manner, the rim 4 comprises a smooth upper wall 4a on which a cover is intended to be associated, in particular by gluing, to cover the opening 5 after loading the substance into the capsule through said opening.

In the description, the terms “lower” and “upper” are defined with respect to the representation of the capsule in FIGS. 1 and 1a. Furthermore, the terms "axial" and "radial" are defined with respect to the axis of revolution X, to denote a direction respectively parallel and perpendicular to this axis X.

In particular, the capsule is intended for the preparation of a hot drink such as coffee, tea or infusion. To do this, the system comprises a piston 6 which has a housing 7 in which the capsule is intended to be placed, said housing comprising a device (not shown) which is arranged to inject under pressure a liquid extracting the drink through said capsule. According to one embodiment, the housing comprises a base equipped with such an injection device, in particular in the form of pins arranged to pierce the base 3 of the capsule and inject the extractor liquid through said base. In addition, the upper cap is crossed by relief patterns provided on a base which is arranged opposite the housing to hold the capsule therein, in order to allow the flow of the beverage out of said capsule. Such systems are in particular described in documents EP-1 839 543 and EP-1 816 935.

The body 1 has a very thin thickness, in particular of the order of 0.1 mm, at least at the level of the bottom 3, in order to facilitate its piercing by the injection pins during the preparation of the drink.

In the embodiments shown, the bottom 3 has a substantially radial lower portion 3a, as well as an upper portion 3b which fits overall in a truncated cone with a straight generatrix between said lower portion and the side wall 2. In particular , the upper portion 3b has an axial dimension of the order of 4 mm, forms an angle α of the order of 60 ° with © the axis of revolution X, and is connected to the side wall 2 by a rounded fillet 8 with a radius of curvature between 0.7 and 1.5 mm. In Figures 2a and 3a, the bottom 3 has circular-based indentations 9 formed recessed on an outer wall of its upper portion 3b, being angularly evenly distributed around the X axis, said indentations being arranged to facilitate drilling of the bottom 3 by the pins for injecting the extractor liquid. In particular, the indentations 9 have a maximum depth of the order of 0.9 mm, as well as a radius of curvature of the order of 1.5 mm.

® The upper rim 4 also has a lower wall 4b projecting laterally from the side wall 2, the capsule being equipped with a sealing ring 10 which is attached to said lower wall by having an upper face 10a resting on said lower wall and a free lower face 10b on which the peripheral edge 11 of the piston 6 is intended to come into contact when the capsule is placed in the housing 7, in order to limit the leakage of liquid from said housing.

The ring 10 can in particular be associated with the rim 4 by being fixed to its lower wall 4b, for example by means of an adhesive, by heat sealing or heat sealing. To do this, the ring 10 can comprise a heat-bonding coating, in particular based on polyethylene, which is arranged on its upper face 10a to allow the association of the ring 10 to the rim 4. As a variant, the ring 10 can just be stuck on the bottom wall 4b. According to another embodiment, the ring 10 comprises a self-adhesive strip which is arranged on its upper face 10a to allow the association, in particular by pressure, of the ring 10 to the rim 4. In particular, the strip may have a first face. self-adhesive for its association with the ring 10 and an opposite self-adhesive face for its association with the rim 4.

In the figures, the rim 4 comprises a free end which is folded back on itself to form a bead 4c, the ring 10 being wedged laterally between said bead and the side wall 2. In particular, the rim 4 is connected to the side wall 2 by a rounded fillet 12 with a radius of curvature of between 0.3 mm and 0.4 mm. Furthermore, the bead 4c has a section of substantially circular geometry, with a diameter of the order of 1.3 mm. The sealing ring 10 has a groove 30 made recessed in the free face 10b, said groove forming an internal bearing surface 13 and an external bearing surface 14 which are spaced apart radially, delimiting between them a groove 15 which is ® arranged to receive sealed manner the peripheral edge 11 of the piston 6 during the preparation of the drink. Thus, the outer 14 and inner 13 bearing surfaces together with the peripheral edge 11 form a sealing baffle which makes it possible to limit in a particularly reliable manner the leaks of extractor liquid from the housing 7. Advantageously, the sealing ring 10 is produced on the basis of an absorbent material, in order to improve the seal by absorbing the quantities of liquid which pass through the baffle mentioned above. In particular, the ring 10 can be made from an absorbent paper of the blotter type, with a water absorption rate greater than or equal to 200 ml / cm * measured according to the Cobb method, as described by example in standard NF ISO 535. The sealing ring 10 can also be made of a biodegradable and / or compostable material, in particular according to standard EN 13432, which makes it possible to improve the recycling of the capsule by limiting its impact. on the environment.

According to one embodiment, the ring 10 is made from a cellulosic material, in particular cardboard and / or paper, such a material having good properties in terms of liquid absorption and recycling.

In particular, the ring 10 can be made on the basis of a cardboard having in particular the following characteristics: a basis weight of between 350 and 370 g / m 2, measured according to standard NF ISO 536; - a total thickness, including a possible heat-bonding coating, between 486 and 516 μm, measured according to standard NF ISO 534; - a water absorption rate of around 30 g / m? for an exposure lasting 60 seconds, measured according to the Cobb method as described for example in standard NF ISO 535; ® - a longitudinal bending moment of between 31.7 and 36.4 mNm and a transverse bending moment of between 13.2 and 15.2 mNm, measured according to the Taber method, as described in particular in standard NF ISO 2493 ; - a longitudinal tensile strength of between 28 and 28.5 kN / m and a transverse tensile strength of between 12.5 and 14 kN / m, measured according to standard NF ISO 1924-2; - a resistance to longitudinal tearing of between 4900 and 5300 mN and a resistance to transverse tearing of between 5300 and 5800 MN, measured according to the NF ISO 1974 standard.

Advantageously, the ring 10 can be made of a material based on cardboard and / or recycled paper, which makes it possible to further limit the pollution generated by the manufacture of the capsule.

The groove 30 is produced in particular by embossing on the free face 10b of the ring 10. According to one embodiment, the ring 10 has a radial thickness of the order of 0.50 mm, the groove 30 having a depth of of the order of 0.35 mm and a radial dimension of the order of 0.55 mm.

Furthermore, the internal 13 and external 14 bearing surfaces are each inscribed in a diameter of the order of e 10 respectively 305 mm and 316 mm.

In the embodiments shown, the inner 13 and outer 14 surfaces both extend axially.

As a variant, at least one bearing surface 13, 14 may have a slope converging in the groove 15, in order to improve the guiding of the peripheral edge 11 in said groove.

The peripheral edge 11 has an internal lip 11a arranged to come into sealed contact in the groove 16 at least on each of the surfaces 14, 15, said lip having two converging internal and external slopes arranged to slide respectively against the internal surface 15 and the surface external 14 when it is placed in said groove. © Advantageously, the ring 10 and the peripheral edge 11 are arranged to allow said edge to come into sealed contact with the ring 10 in three zones, namely the bottom of the groove 15 and each of the bearing surfaces 13, 14, said zones extending generally in two directions, namely radial for said bottom and axial for said spans.

Thus, the peripheral edge 11 does not need to compress the ring 10, which makes it possible to guarantee a good seal throughout the duration of the preparation of the drink, and in particular as soon as the capsule is locked in the housing 7. Furthermore, the peripheral edge 11 is extended externally by a hook 25 extending substantially axially, said hook being intended to engage under the bead 4c to ensure a wedging of the capsule 1 in the housing 7, and thus to dispose the groove 30 axially facing said peripheral edge. In FIGS. 4a and 4b, the peripheral edge 11 further comprises an outer lip 11b arranged to come to bear tightly on a bearing surface 19, in particular essentially radial, formed on the free lower face 10b outside the groove 15, this which makes it possible to form an additional barrier against possible liquid leaks beyond the baffle formed by the groove 15, the walls 13, 14 and the internal lip 11a.

© In the embodiment shown, in particular in Figures 1 and 1a, the side wall 2 of the body 1 is generally part of a truncated cone of right generatrix between the upper portion 3b of the bottom and the rim 5, and forms with the axis of revolution X has an angle B of approximately 7.5 °.

Furthermore, the ring 10 comprises an internal ring 16 which is surrounded by the groove 30, said internal ring being placed in abutment against the side wall 2.

In particular, the internal ring 16 has teeth 21 distributed angularly being spaced apart by notches 20, said teeth defining an internal dimension which is less than the external dimension of the side wall 2, so as to ensure a tightening of the ring 10 around said side wall.

In FIGS. 2a and 2c, the teeth 21 have a tapered distal end which can be deformed by pressing on the side wall 2, which makes it possible to increase the size of the bearing surface between the crown 16 and said wall, and therefore to ensure the tightening of the ring 10 around said wall.

In Figures 3a and 3c, the teeth 21 are arranged to be able to be folded down along the side wall 2 by pressing on it. To do this, the teeth 21 have a base 21a arranged to bend during the folding.

In particular, the teeth 21 are formed in the internal radial extension of the crown 16, which thus forms the base 21a of said teeth, in order to allow folding of the ring 10 at the level of the internal bearing surface 13 when it is placed around it. the side wall 2.

Claims (16)

| 12 LU101633 CLAIMS 1. Capsule intended to contain a substance for the preparation of a drink by placing said capsule in the housing (7) of a piston (6), said capsule comprising a body (1) having a side wall (2) lined with on either side by a bottom (3) and by a rim (4) surrounding an opening (5) of said body, said rim having a lower wall (4b) projecting laterally from said side wall, said capsule being equipped with a sealing ring (10) which is attached to said lower wall by having an upper face (10a) resting on said lower wall and a free lower face (10b), said capsule e being characterized in that the ring of sealing (10) has a groove (30) made recessed in the free face (10b), said groove forming an internal bearing surface (13) and an external bearing surface (14) which are radially spaced defining between them a groove (15) which is arranged to receive in a sealed manner the peripheral edge (11) of the piston (6) during the preparation of the drink. 2. Capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing ring (10) is made from a biodegradable and / or compostable material. ® 3. Capsule according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the sealing ring (10) is made from an absorbent material. 4. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sealing ring (10) is made from a cellulosic material, in particular cardboard or paper. 5. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the body (1) is made of metallic material, in particular aluminum. 6. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the sealing ring (10) comprises an internal ring (16) which is surrounded by the groove (13), said internal ring being arranged in support against the side wall (2) of the body (1). 7. Capsule according to claim 6, characterized in that the internal crown (16) has teeth (21) distributed angularly being spaced apart by notches (20), said teeth defining an internal dimension which is less than the external dimension of the side wall (2) so as to ensure a tightening of the ring (10) around the side wall (2). 8. Capsule according to claim 7, characterized in that the teeth (21) © have a tapered distal end which can be deformed by pressing on the wall (2). 9. Capsule according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the teeth (21) are arranged to be able to be folded down along the wall (2) by pressing on it. 10. Cap according to claim 9, characterized in that the teeth (21) have a base (21a) arranged to bend during folding. 11. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in ® that the sealing ring (10) is associated with the rim (4) by heat sealing. 12. Cap according to claim 11, characterized in that the sealing ring (10) comprises a heat-bonding coating disposed on its upper face (10a) to allow the association of the ring (10) to the rim (4). . 13. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the sealing ring (10) comprises an adhesive strip disposed on its upper face (10a) to allow the association of the ring (10). ) at the edge (4). 14. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the rim (4) comprises a free end folded back on itself to form a bead (4c), the sealing ring (10) being laterally wedged between said bead and the side wall (2). 15. System for the preparation of a drink by means of a capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 14 in which a substance is packaged for the preparation of said drink, said system comprising a piston (6) which has a housing (7) for receiving the capsule, said housing comprising a device arranged to inject under pressure a liquid © extractor of the drink through said capsule, as well as a peripheral edge (11) arranged to be placed in a sealed manner in the groove (15) formed between the outer (14) and inner (13) bearing surfaces of said lower wall. 16. System according to claim 15, characterized in that the peripheral edge (11) comprises a lip (11a) arranged to come into sealed contact in the groove (15) at least on each of the surfaces (13, 14). e