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EP 2 139 792 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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23.03.2011 Bulletin 2011/12 |
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Date of filing: 25.03.2008 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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International application number: |
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PCT/IT2008/000197 |
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International publication number: |
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WO 2008/117329 (02.10.2008 Gazette 2008/40) |
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CAPSULE FOR HOT DRINK MACHINES
KAPSEL FÜR HEISSGETRÄNKEAUTOMATEN
CAPSULE POUR MACHINES DE DISTRIBUTION DE BOISSONS CHAUDES
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL
PT RO SE SI SK TR |
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Priority: |
27.03.2007 IT RM20070074 U
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Date of publication of application: |
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06.01.2010 Bulletin 2010/01 |
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Proprietor: Espressaroma S.p.A- |
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00155 Roma (IT) |
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Inventor: |
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- PALOMBINI, Aldo
00155 Roma (IT)
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Representative: Sneider, Massimo |
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Lenzi & C.
Via Lucania, 13 00187 Roma 00187 Roma (IT) |
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References cited: :
WO-A-2006/021405 WO-A-2008/047193
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WO-A-2006/057022 GB-A- 2 411 106
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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State of the art
[0001] Hot drink machines using capsule systems have been on the market for many years now.
[0002] Present-day machines use either single-dose rigid cylindrical capsules, which are
perforated by the machine when the water is forced through, or single/multiple-dose
disc capsules, made of filter paper, which come in different shapes and sizes according
to the type of machine they're used in. The disc capsules feature a convex top/bottom
and contain the drink product, such as coffee for example. Such a shape, however,
can be inconvenient, because when the hot water under pressure is forced through the
filter, from the water heating block, it spreads and penetrates irregularly through
the capsule shell and tends to "slide" along the convex surface, thus impairing the
quality of the drink.
[0003] A further inconvenience consists in that, like all disc-shaped objects, in order
to provide a best quality drink they must preferably be placed with a specific side
against the hot water supply, and according to a specific orientation with respect
to the filter holder; as regards the disc capsules currently on the market these preferential
positions are generally indicated on the capsule shell with a small coloured text,
which, however, in most cases is hard to find and to read by the user.
[0004] Document
GB 2411106 describes a cartridge which contains one or more beverage ingredients and is formed
from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials. The cartridge comprises an
inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge, and an outlet
for a beverage produced from the beverage ingredients. The cartridge comprises means
for producing a jet of the beverage comprising an aperture in a beverage flow path
linking the inlet to the outlet, and is characterised in that the cartridge also comprises
one or more microscopic projections at or in the vicinity of the aperture for contacting
the beverage flow path; the cartridge disclosed in
GB 2411106 does not seem capable of solving the problems related to the uniform penetration
of the liquid medium into the cartridge and is complex and therefore expensive to
produce.
Description of the invention
[0005] The present invention relates to a hot-drink capsule in accordance with appended
claim 1, capable of remedying the above mentioned inconveniences.
[0006] According to this invention the capsule features a flat top that fits perfectly against
the filter, so that the hot water forced through from the heating block spreads in
a uniform manner.
[0007] The flat top is made of filter paper and is sealed around the edges onto a polypropylene
container, of suitable shape and size, the bottom of which features a series of microscopic
holes in the middle, covered by filter paper, through which the brewed beverage can
pass and be poured through a spout into the cup or other container.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment of this invention the edge of the capsule features a notch
or indentation that matches a protuberance on the capsule holder, of any shape or
size, to help the user immediately and properly fit the capsule into its holder, also
thanks to the above mentioned flat top side.
Description of the drawings
[0009] A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
- figure 1 shows a cross-section of the polypropylene container;
- figure 2 shows a cross-section of the polypropylene container complete with the filter
paper at the top;
- figure 3 shows a view from above of the container without the filter paper top;
- figure 4 shows a view from above of the capsule;
- figure 5 shows a plan view of the lower part of the container.
Description of the preferred mode of carrying out the invention
[0010] Referring to the drawings, the capsule consists of a rigid disc-shaped container
(1), made of PP (polypropylene) suitable for food use applications, or other like
material, containing the drink product, such as milk powder, in the centre (6); the
edge (4) features a tab (5), of the preferred shape, for easily extracting the capsule
from its holder after use.
[0011] The middle bottom part (6) of the container (1) features small or very small holes
(7), through which the brewed drink leaves the container (1) when hot water is forced
through, after having passed through a layer of filter paper beneath (3).
[0012] The top (8) of the capsule is made of filter paper and is perfectly flat
[0013] The flat filter-paper surface (8), when the capsule is placed inside the holder and
the holder introduced into the housing in the machine, comes into close contact with
the filter, which is integral with the water heating block, through which the hot
water is made to pass, under pressure, by means of a pump and is then forced through
the top surface (8) of the capsule to make the drink. The flat top surface (8) of
the capsule fits perfectly against the flat surface of the filter integral with the
water heating block, which determines the uniform distribution and penetration of
the water through the top surface (8) of the capsule and into the capsule itself,
where it mixes with the drink product contained therein; the resulting hot drink then
filters through the holes on the bottom surface (7), and after having passed through
the lower filter paper (3) is collected inside the filter holder and poured through
the spout in the machine.
[0014] In another embodiment there is an indentation in the top surface (8) of the container
(1), in any position, which matches a protuberance in the filter holder; both the
indentation and the protuberance may be of any shape and size, and serve the function
of immediately and properly fitting the capsule into its holder.
[0015] Obviously, the position of the indentation and protuberance may be inverted, so that
the capsule (1) features a protuberance in any point of its surface (1), while the
filter holder has the indentation; in this case also the indentation and the protuberance
may be of any shape and size.
[0016] The solutions may be adopted independently of one another.
[0017] Based on tests carried out, it has been found that a capsule with a flat surface
(6) and a diameter of 50 mm offers the best dose-quantity and drink-quality ratio.
1. Capsule for hot drink machines comprising a rigid polypropylene container (1) without
a top surface and containing the basic drink product, in which the top surface (8)
of the polypropylene container is closed by means of filter paper sealed at the edges,
characterised in that
a middle bottom part (6) or bottom of the above mentioned rigid polypropylene container
(1) features an area with a series of holes (7) and a lower layer of filter paper
(3) is arranged beneath the middle bottom part (6) or bottom of the said rigid polypropylene
container.
2. Capsule for hot drink machines according to claim 1, wherein the top surface (8) is
flat.
3. Capsule for hot drink machines according to claim 1, wherein the series of holes (7)
consists of a micro-perforations.
4. Capsule for hot drink machines according to claim 1, wherein the top surface (8) features
a tab (5) for the easy extraction of the capsule from the capsule holder.
5. Capsule for hot drink machines according to claim 1, wherein the capsule (1) features
an indentation in the top surface (8), in any position, which matches a protuberance
in the filter holder, both the indentation and the protuberance may be of any shape
and size, and serve the function of immediately and properly fitting the capsule into
its holder.
6. Capsule for hot drink machines according to claim 1, wherein the capsule (1) features
a protuberance in the top surface (8), in any position, which matches an indentation
in the filter holder; both the indentation and the protuberance may be of any shape
and size, and serve the function of immediately and properly fitting the capsule into
its holder.
1. Kapseln für Automaten mit warmen Getränken, versehen mit einem Behälter aus festem
unbiegsamem Polypropylen (1) ohne Oberfläche, der den Grundstoff des Getränks enthält;
am äußersten Rand versiegelte Filterpapier-Vorrichtungen verschließen die Oberfläche
des Polypropylenbehälters (8),
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sich der untere mittlere Teil (6) oder der untere Teil des vorgenannten festen Polypropylenbehälters
(1) durch eine Zone auszeichnet, die eine Reihe Löcher (7) aufweist; eine untere Schicht
des Filterpapiers (3) ist unter dem festen Polypropylenbehälter oder am unteren mittleren
Teil dieses letzteren angebracht.
2. Kapseln für Automaten mit warmen Getränken gemäß Patentanspruch 1, bei denen die Oberfläche
(8) eben ist.
3. Kapseln für Getränkeautomaten gemäß Patentanspruch 1, bei denen die Reihe der Löcher
(7) aus einer Reihe Mikroöffnungen besteht.
4. Kapseln für Automaten mit warmen Getränken gemäß Patentanspruch 1, bei denen die Oberfläche
(8) eine kleine Lasche bildet, die das Herausziehen der Kapsel aus dem Kapselbehälter
erleichtert.
5. Kapseln für Automaten mit warmen Getränken gemäß Patentanspruch 1, bei denen die Oberfläche
der Kapseln(8) eine Auszackung aufweist, die in gleichwelcher Position mit einem Vorsprung
im Behälter des Filters zusammenfällt; sowohl die Auszackung als auch der Vorsprung
kann gleichwelche Form und Abmessungen haben; dies begünstigt eine unmittelbare, schnelle
Anpassung der Kapsel in ihrem Behälter.
6. Kapseln für Automaten mit warmen Getränken gemäß Patentanspruch 1, bei denen die Kapseln
auf der Oberfläche (8) einen Vorsprung aufweisen, der in gleichwelcher Position mit
einer Auszackung im Behälter des Filters zusammenfällt; sowohl die Auszackung als
auch der Vorsprung kann gleichwelche Form und Abmessungen haben; dies begünstigt die
unmittelbare, schnelle Anpassung der Kapsel in ihrem Behälter.
1. Capsules pour machines distributrices de boissons chaudes comprenant un récipient
en polypropylène rigide (1) sans couvercle qui contient le produit de base de la boisson;
la surface supérieure (8) du récipient en polypropylène est fermée au moyen de dispositifs
en papier filtre scellé à l'extrémité, caractérisé par le fait que la partie inférieure médiane (6) ou la partie inférieure de ce récipient en popypropylène
rigide (1) délimite une zone percée d'une série de trous (7) et une couche inférieure
du papier filtre (3) est placée dans la partie du dessous ou inférieure (6) médiane
inférieure de ce récipient en polypropylène rigide.
2. Capsules pour machines distributrices de boissons chaudes selon la revendication 1,
dont la surface supérieure (8) est plate.
3. Capsules pour machines distributrices de boissons chaudes selon la revendication 1,
dans lesquelles la série de trous (7) est formée de micro-perforations.
4. Capsules pour machines distributrices de boissons chaudes selon la revendication 1,
dont la surface supérieure (8) forme une languette pour extraire plus facilement la
capsule du récipient.
5. Capsules pour machines distributrices de boissons chaudes selon la revendication 1,
présentant une découpure à la surface supérieure (8), dans n'importe quelle position,
qui correspond à une saillie dans le récipient du filtre; la découpure et la saillie
peuvent avoir n'importe quelle forme et dimension; elles favorisent l'adaptation immédiate
et rapide de la capsule dans son récipient.
6. Capsules pour machines distributrices de boissons chaudes selon la revendication 1,
présentant une saillie à la surface supérieure (8), dans n'importe quelle position,
qui correspond à une découpure dans le récipient du filtre; la découpure et la saillie
peuvent avoir n'importe quelle forme et dimension; elles favorisent l'adaptation immédiate
et rapide de la capsule dans son récipient.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description