U.S. patent application number 14/895206 was filed with the patent office on 2016-04-14 for cartridge for extracting a beverage.
The applicant listed for this patent is ILLYCAFFE' S.P.A.. Invention is credited to Claudio BOLZICCO, Giusseppe CUTULI, Bruno DELLAPIETRA.
Application Number | 20160101929 14/895206 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48793421 |
Filed Date | 2016-04-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160101929 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BOLZICCO; Claudio ; et
al. |
April 14, 2016 |
CARTRIDGE FOR EXTRACTING A BEVERAGE
Abstract
A cartridge for extracting a beverage by injecting a fluid under
pressure includes a containment body adapted to contain a substance
and to receive such fluid under pressure. The containment body
includes a bottom wall that is provided with at least one weakened
portion that can be broken due to the effect of the pressure of the
fluid so as to generate an opening for the outflow of the beverage.
The cartridge further includes externally to the containment body,
an abutment that faces without contact the bottom wall in order to
limit the deformation of the bottom wall due to the effect of the
pressure of the fluid and consequently limit the extent of the
fracture of the at least one weakened portion.
Inventors: |
BOLZICCO; Claudio;
(Pordenone, IT) ; DELLAPIETRA; Bruno;
(Duino-aurisina, IT) ; CUTULI; Giusseppe;
(Trieste, IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ILLYCAFFE' S.P.A. |
Trieste |
|
IT |
|
|
Family ID: |
48793421 |
Appl. No.: |
14/895206 |
Filed: |
June 3, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
June 3, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2014/061472 |
371 Date: |
December 1, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/115 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 65/466 20130101;
B65D 85/8043 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/804 20060101
B65D085/804; B65D 65/46 20060101 B65D065/46 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 3, 2013 |
IT |
MI2013A000906 |
Claims
1-13. (canceled)
14. A cartridge for extracting a beverage by injecting a fluid
under pressure, comprising a containment body that is adapted to
house a substance and to receive said fluid under pressure, said
containment body comprising a bottom wall provided with at least
one weakened portion that can be broken due to the effect of said
pressure of the fluid so as to generate an opening for the outflow
of the beverage, wherein the cartridge comprises, externally to
said containment body, an abutment that faces without contact said
bottom wall in order to limit the deformation of said bottom wall
due to the effect of said pressure of the fluid and consequently
limit the extent of the fracture of said at least one weakened
portion.
15. The cartridge according to claim 14, wherein said abutment
faces the region of said bottom wall wherein said at least one
weakened portion is present.
16. The cartridge according to claim 14, wherein said abutment is
provided on an obstacle that is fixed to said containment body and
faces said opening for the outflow of the beverage so as to slow
and/or control the outflow.
17. The cartridge according to claim 16, wherein said obstacle is a
stilling basin.
18. The cartridge according to claim 17, wherein said stilling
basin includes a rim that rests against said bottom wall and is
provided with at least one port for the outflow of the beverage
collected in said stilling basin.
19. The cartridge according to claim 17, wherein said abutment
includes at least one element that protrudes from the bottom of
said stilling basin toward said bottom wall of the containment body
of the cartridge.
20. The cartridge according to claim 14, wherein said abutment is
integral with a support that is fixed detachably to said
containment body.
21. The cartridge according to claim 14, wherein said bottom wall
comprises a plurality of raised portions that protrude toward the
inside of the cartridge, a filter being interposed between said
substance and said plurality of raised portions, and wherein said
at least one weakened portion affects at least one edge at the base
of at least one of said raised portions.
22. The cartridge according to claim 21, wherein said at least one
weakened portion is extended along a diametrical line in a
substantially central region of said bottom wall.
23. The cartridge according to claim 22, wherein said at least one
of said raised portions is extended diametrically in said
substantially central region of said bottom wall and transversely
with respect to said diametrical line.
24. The cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the weakened
portion is provided in a substantially circular central region of
said bottom wall and comprises weakened lines which are adapted to
define a pair of segments in a spiral or claw form.
25. The cartridge according to claim 14, wherein one or more of its
components is made of: a thermoplastic polymer such as
polypropylene, polystyrene, polyamide, vinyl alcohol resin,
polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate; or a combination of two
or more thermoplastic polymers which are coupled together and
selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polystyrene,
polyamide, vinyl alcohol resin, polyethylene, and polyethylene
terephthalate.
26. The cartridge according to claim 14, wherein one or more of its
components is made of: a biodegradable material such as
biodegradable polyesters, starch-based biodegradable materials,
microbial polyesters, biodegradable vinyl alcohol resins, biobased
thermoplastics or polyhydroxyalkanoates; or a combination of two or
more biodegradable materials which are coupled together and
selected from the group consisting of biodegradable polyesters,
starch-based biodegradable materials, microbial polyesters,
biodegradable vinyl alcohol resins, biobased thermoplastics, and
polyhydroxyalkanoates.
27. The cartridge according to claim 14, wherein said abutment
faces the central region of said bottom wall.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cartridge for extracting
a beverage by injecting a fluid under pressure.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Currently several types of cartridges are known for
obtaining beverages such as for example espresso coffee or the
like, in which the internal volume of the cartridge that contains
the substance to be extracted, for example ground roasted coffee,
enables a good air seal. Such result is obtained by using a single
body for containing the substance, which is cup-shaped and sealed
in an upper region by a film or by a cover, and can be perforated
in order to allow the injection of the fluid under pressure, which
is typically water.
[0003] These conventional solutions have, on the bottom wall of the
cup-shaped body, a weakened portion that can be broken due to the
effect of the pressure of the fluid that is injected into the
cartridge. As the inner pressure of the cartridge increases, in
fact, this bottom wall deforms, expanding outwardly and
consequently causing the breakage at the weakened portions.
[0004] A drawback of the prior art is that, in order to separate
the substance to be extracted from the bottom wall from which the
beverage flows out, there is no option but to use rigid filters
made of plastics, since if a sheet filter is used instead, for
example a filter made of paper, non-woven fabric or other flexible
material, then with the breakage of the bottom wall of the
cartridge the sheet filter would tend to belly through the torn
areas of the bottom wall.
[0005] The use of rigid filters involves the use of a greater
quantity of plastics and brings problems during manufacturing,
which are essentially linked to the insertion of such rigid filter
into the cup-shaped body of the cartridge.
SUMMARY
[0006] The aim of the present disclosure is to provide a cartridge
for extracting a beverage which is capable of improving the known
art in one or more of the above mentioned aspects.
[0007] Within this aim, the disclosure provides a cartridge for
extracting a beverage by injecting a fluid under pressure which has
a bottom that can be broken due to the effect of the inner pressure
of the cartridge alone and wherein the fracture of the bottom of
the cartridge for the outflow of the beverage can be controlled and
limited.
[0008] The disclosure further provides a cartridge for extracting a
beverage by injecting a fluid under pressure which, in order to
obtain the fracture of the bottom from which the beverage outflows,
avoids the use of external elements that are not part of the
cartridge, such as for example punches or counter-pressure elements
that are applied in the extraction chamber where the cartridge is
placed.
[0009] Also, the disclosure provides a cartridge for extracting a
beverage by injecting a fluid under pressure which, thanks to the
controllable nature of the fracture, can permit the use if desired
of a sheet filter such as a paper filter or the like.
[0010] The disclosure further provides a cartridge for extracting a
beverage by injecting a fluid under pressure which is highly
reliable, easy to implement and low cost.
[0011] The disclosure provides a cartridge for extracting a
beverage by injecting a fluid under pressure, comprising a
containment body that is adapted to contain a substance and to
receive said fluid under pressure, said containment body comprising
a bottom wall provided with at least one weakened portion that can
be broken due to the effect of said pressure of the fluid so as to
generate an opening for the outflow of the beverage, characterized
in that the cartridge comprises, externally to said containment
body, an abutment that faces without contact said bottom wall in
order to limit the deformation of said bottom wall due to the
effect of said pressure of the fluid and consequently limit the
extent of the fracture of said at least one weakened portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Further characteristics and advantages of the disclosure
will become better apparent from the description of preferred, but
not exclusive, embodiments of the cartridge according to the
disclosure, which are illustrated by way of non-limiting examples
in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of a cartridge according to an
embodiment of the disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 2 is an axial cross-sectional view of the cartridge in
FIG. 1, taken along the line II-II;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the body for containing the
substance to be extracted which is used in the cartridge in FIG.
1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the support of the abutment
for limiting the fracture which is used in the cartridge in FIG.
1;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a view from above of the support in FIG. 4;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI
of the support in FIG. 5;
[0019] FIG. 7 is plan view from above of the bottom wall of a
cartridge according to another embodiment of the disclosure;
and
[0020] FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the central region of the
bottom wall in FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] With reference to the figures, a cartridge according to the
disclosure, generally designated by the reference numeral 1,
comprises a containment body 2 that is adapted to contain a
substance, not shown, from which to extract the beverage, and is
adapted to receive a fluid under pressure, in particular water.
[0022] In the preferred embodiments of the disclosure, the
substance can be ground roasted coffee and the water under pressure
can be hot water, for example at approximately 90-99.degree. C. and
with pressure of 9-12 bar approximately, so that the beverage
obtained is espresso coffee.
[0023] Alternatively, the substance contained in the cartridge can
be soluble coffee, or any edible substance in powder form, in
leaves or freeze-dried, or it can include a concentrate.
[0024] The containment body 2, which can be made for example of
polymeric material using molding techniques such as, for example,
injection, and/or compression, or thermoforming or extrusion, is
cup- or beaker-shaped and is sealed in an upper region by a cover
3, which can be perforated so as to permit the injection of the
fluid under pressure. In the embodiment shown, the cover 3 is also
made by way of molding (such as, for example, injection, and/or
compression), thermoforming or extrusion, and can correspond to the
cover of the cartridge described in European patent no. EP 2049416
B1, which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0025] Alternatively, the cover 3 can also be made as an
impermeable film, in a known manner.
[0026] The containment body 2 is preferably free from openings and
has a bottom wall 4 that is provided with at least one weakened
portion 5 that can be broken due to the effect of the pressure of
the fluid injected in the cartridge 1, so as to generate an opening
for the outflow of the beverage through such wall 4.
[0027] The weakened portion can be obtained in a known manner by
way of a reduction of the thickness in one or more linear areas of
the bottom wall along lines that are predefined during the
manufacture of the containment body 2.
[0028] The bottom wall 4 can have a plurality of raised portions 6
which protrude toward the inside of the cartridge 1, preferably
with a granularity that is such as to define simultaneously a fine
canalization for the transport of the extracted beverage toward the
discharge opening generated with the fracture of the weakened
portion 5, and a wide surface for supporting a filter, preferably a
sheet filter 7, for example of filter paper, poly-coated paper,
sheet of non-woven fabric or other material in film form that has
the capability to filter out the solid particles of the substance
contained in the cartridge 1.
[0029] The raised portions 6 can be obtained, during the molding of
the containment body 2, as concentric arch ribs, which are arranged
so as to define concentric channels and radial channels, for
example of average depth and width approximately 1 mm.
[0030] The weakened portion 5 can extend along at least one edge at
the base of at least one of the raised portions 6, for example
along both of the substantially longitudinal edges 62a and 62b at
the base of a central stiffening raised portion 61 which is
extended diametrically in a circular central region 40 of the
bottom wall 4.
[0031] The weakened portion 5 can also extend along a diametrical
line 51 of the region 40, transversely crossing the direction of
the central raised portion 61 and consequently generating
intersection points 53 between the weakened portion along the
diametrical line 51 and the weakened portions 52 along the corner
edges 62a and 62b of the central raised portion 61. In this case,
the diametric directions of the central raised portion 61 and of
the line 51 are preferably substantially perpendicular, so as to
define four circular sectors provided with ribs 63 and with initial
fracture points 53.
[0032] In an alternative embodiment of the disclosure, illustrated
in FIGS. 7 and 8, the bottom wall 401 of the containment body 2
again has a plurality of raised portions 600 as in the first
embodiment, i.e. which protrude toward the inside of the cartridge
with a granularity that is such as to define simultaneously a fine
canalization for the transport of the extracted beverage toward the
discharge opening generated with the fracture of a weakened portion
5, and a wide surface for supporting a filter, preferably a sheet
filter, for example of filter paper, poly-coated paper, sheet of
non-woven fabric or other material in film form that has the
capability to filter out the solid particles of the substance
contained in the cartridge.
[0033] The weakened portion 5 is however obtained in a
substantially circular central region 400 of such bottom wall 401
by way of weakened lines 501 and 502 which are adapted to define a
pair of opposing segments in a spiral or claw form 503 as shown in
FIG. 8. In the areas delimited by such segments 503 in the circular
region 400 there can be further raised portions 601 which have
substantially the same thickness as the raised portions 600.
[0034] In both of the embodiments, outside the containment body 2,
the cartridge 1 according to the disclosure comprises an abutment 8
that faces toward the outer face of the bottom wall 4, 401 without
touching it in the inactive condition i.e. before the extraction of
the beverage.
[0035] The abutment 8 is provided on a contoured support 80 that is
fixed, optionally detachably, to the containment body 2 at the
bottom wall 4, 401 for example by way of mechanical interference
between an edge 82 of the support 80 and an annular rib 41 that
protrudes outwardly from the bottom wall 4.
[0036] More specifically, the abutment 8 extends from its support
80 transversely toward the region 40, 400 of the bottom wall 4, 401
where the weakened portion 5 is present. Preferably, in the
embodiment in FIGS. 1-6, the abutment 8 extends toward the central
raised portion 61. The purpose of the abutment 8 is to limit the
deformation of the bottom wall 4, 401 following the fracture of the
weakened portion 5 due to the pressure of the fluid injected in the
cartridge and, consequently, to limit the extent of the fracture of
the weakened portion 5.
[0037] The abutment 8 is not in contact with the bottom wall 4, 401
in the absence of the pressure generated by the entering fluid, but
is at a distance D from the outer face of the bottom wall 4, 401.
For this reason, the abutment 8 is not used to generate the
fracture of the weakened portion 5 of the bottom wall 4, 401 of the
cartridge. Instead, such fracture is generated exclusively due to
the effect of the inner pressure of the cartridge 1 during
extraction of the beverage. The abutment 8 defines a mechanical
stroke limiter that limits the further tearing of the weakened
portion 5 and, thus, the possible egress of the sheet filter 7
through the tears that define the opening for the outflow of the
beverage. By controlling the extent of the fracture in this manner,
the flow of the beverage from the cartridge 1 is consequently
controlled.
[0038] The abutment 8 is preferably provided on a fluid-flow
obstacle 9 of the support 80 fixed to the containment body 2, such
obstacle facing the opening for the outflow of the beverage which
is generated with the fracture of the weakened portion 5, so as to
slow and/or control the flow of the beverage extracted and prevent
a spatter effect, thus making it possible to directly dispense the
beverage in a cup or beaker. The obstacle 9 against the fluid flow
also allows to improve the quality of the extracted beverage.
[0039] The obstacle 9 can be a stilling basin, for example shaped
like an ogive as shown in the figures so as to define a suitable
outer surface that is adapted to make the flow of the beverage
regular. Such basin can have a rim 91 that rests against the bottom
wall 4, 401 of the containment body 2 and is provided with one or
more ports or notches 92 for the spillover of the beverage that
collects in the basin.
[0040] In this case the abutment 8 is provided with at least one
element 81, for example a pin, protruding from the bottom of the
stilling basin 9 toward the outer face of the bottom wall 4, 401 of
the containment body 2 of the cartridge 1, more specifically at the
central raised portion 61 in the embodiment in FIGS. 1-6.
[0041] The support 80 can comprise, around the stilling basin 9 and
the corresponding rim 91, an annular wall 93 that is concentric
with the rim 91 and is adapted to isolate the inner annular region
of the support 80 around the rim 91, such inner annular region
being provided with at least one passage 95 for the outflow of the
beverage from an outer annular region of the support 80, such outer
annular region being provided with radial supporting walls 94.
[0042] As an alternative to filter 7, a rigid filter may be used
(not shown in the figures), which comprises a flat body having a
thickened circumferential rim surrounding a circular area having a
plurality of through filtering holes, which are sized so as to
block the passage of solid particles and allow passage of brewed
water or beverage. The thickened rim may lie on the circumferential
step surrounding all the raised portions 6, 600 at the bottom wall
4, 400 in the figures. A suitable rigid filter may be the rigid
filter described in European patent application no. EP 1982933 A2,
which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0043] One or more of the components of cartridge 1 may be made of
thermoplastic polymers, synthesized from either traditional sources
(e.g. oil) or renewable sources (e.g. alcoholic fermentation), such
as polypropylene, polystyrene, polyamide, vinyl alcohol resins (for
example EVOH), polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Any of these materials could be used for any one of the components
of cartridge 1, including cover 3, the rigid filter (not shown in
the figure), containment body 2 and support 80. If filter 7 is used
instead of the rigid filter, filter 7 may be a non-woven fabric
made of any one of these materials. Two or more of the above
indicated thermoplastic polymers, in one or more of the components
of cartridge 1, may be also reciprocally coupled through
manufacturing processes such as thermoforming or co-injection
molding. For instance, one or more of the components of cartridge 1
may be a multilayer composed of two or more of the above
thermoplastic polymers.
[0044] One or more of the components of cartridge 1 may be made of
biodegradable materials, including biodegradable polyesters (e.g.
polylactide or PLA), starch-based biodegradable materials,
microbial polyesters, biodegradable vinyl alcohol resins (for
example PVOH), biobased thermoplastics or polyhydroxyalkanoates
(PHAs). Any of these biodegradable materials could be used for any
one of cover 3, filter 7, the rigid filter (not shown in the
figure), containment body 2 and support 80. Two or more of these
biodegradable materials, in one or more of the components of
cartridge 1, may be also reciprocally coupled. For instance, one or
more of the components of cartridge 1 may be a multilayer composed
of two or more of the above biodegradable materials.
[0045] Operation of the cartridge according to the disclosure is
evident from the foregoing description. In particular, with
reference to the embodiment in FIGS. 1-6, in the inactive state the
abutment 8 of the support 80 is at a distance D from the outer face
of the bottom wall 4 of the containment body 2 of the cartridge
1.
[0046] When the cartridge is inserted in a machine for extracting
the beverage, which is conventional, the cover 3 is perforated by a
punch, which can coincide with a nozzle for injecting the fluid
under pressure that is used in order to obtain the beverage in
combination with the substance contained in the cartridge 1.
[0047] The perforation of the cover 3 may not be necessary if this
is already open.
[0048] Subsequently, the fluid under pressure is injected into the
cartridge 1, so as to enable the mixing thereof with the substance
held in the containment chamber 2. This operation leads to the
increase of the inner pressure of the cartridge 1 and,
consequently, the deformation of the bottom wall 4 outwardly.
[0049] Due to this deformation, the weakened portions 5 begin to
fracture, in particular starting from the intersection points 53
and along the initial portions of the weakened lines 51 and 52 that
begin at such point 53.
[0050] With the deformation, the central raised portion 61 also
pulls with it the torn areas of the central region 40 of the bottom
wall 4. However, after traversing the distance D, the stroke of the
central raised portion 61 is blocked by the abutment 8 of the pin
81, consequently limiting the further splaying of the torn flaps
that were originally delimited by the weakened lines 51 and 52.
[0051] In the meantime, the beverage will be able to flow out from
such tears, be slowed down by the basin 9, ascend such basin up
until the ports 92 and then finally flow out from the cartridge
through the passages 95 defined on the support 80 coaxially around
the basin 9 and brushing against the outer surface of such basin 9,
which is conveniently shaped like an ogive.
[0052] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-8 the operation is
similar. In particular, the fracture of the weakened portion due to
the effect of the inner pressure of the cartridge begins and is
maintained in at least one of the inner portions 501a and 502a of
the lines 501 and 502 toward which the endpoint of the respective
opposing segment 503 faces. The further splaying of the torn flaps
that were originally delimited by the weakened lines 501 and 502 is
however prevented by the contact of the central area of the region
400 with the abutment 8.
[0053] In practice it has been found that the cartridge according
to the disclosure fully achieves the set aim in that it makes it
possible to control and limit the fracture of the bottom of the
cartridge for the outflow of the beverage. Thanks to this, it
becomes possible to use a sheet filter such as filter paper,
poly-coated paper or the like, despite the fact that the bottom can
be broken only due to the effect of the inner pressure of the
cartridge alone.
[0054] The fracture of the bottom from which the beverage flows out
avoids the use of external elements that do not form part of the
cartridge, such as for example punches or counter-pressure elements
applied in the extraction chamber where the cartridge is placed,
instead using an abutment element that forms part of the cartridge
and which makes it possible to control and limit the tearing of the
breakable areas.
[0055] Although the cartridge according to the disclosure has been
devised specifically for the extraction of espresso coffee from
ground roasted coffee, it can also be used, more generally, for the
extraction of beverages from portioned ingredients and using a
fluid under pressure.
[0056] The cartridge, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous
modifications and variations. Moreover, all the details may be
substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.
[0057] In practice, the materials employed, as well as the
dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state
of the art.
[0058] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No.
MI2013A000906 from which this application claims priority are
incorporated herein by reference.
* * * * *