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EP-4741313-A2 - CAPSULE FOR PREPARATION OF BEVERAGES

EP4741313A2EP 4741313 A2EP4741313 A2EP 4741313A2EP-4741313-A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a capsule (1) for a soluble edible product comprising a closed container (2), which contains a hollow interior containing an individual dose of a soluble edible product, the container (2) being delimited by a side wall (21), a water inlet cover element (22) and an edible product outlet cover element (23), wherein said water inlet cover element (22) comprises a recess (3), which comprises a through hole (4), wherein the surface of the recess (3) facing the interior of the container (2) is coated, at least partially, by a microfilm (5) that covers said through hole (4).

Inventors

  • CARVALHO, AGOSTINHO MIGUEL QUITÉRIO GARCIA
  • CARAMELO, Daniel FREIRE FALCÃO TELES
  • JOSUÉ, Sónia Raquel Da Silva Gomes

Assignees

  • WEADD, LDA

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240809

Claims (12)

  1. A capsule (1) for a soluble edible product comprising a closed container (2), which contains a hollow interior (24) containing an individual dose of a soluble edible product, the container (2) being delimited by a side wall (21), a water inlet cover element (22) and an edible product outlet cover element (23), wherein the side wall (21), the water inlet cover element (22) and the edible product outlet cover element (23) define an inner surface (7) of the container (2), characterized in that said water inlet cover element (22) comprises a recess (3), which comprises a through hole (4), wherein a surface (31) of the recess (3) facing the interior (24) of the container (2) is coated, at least partially, by a microfilm (5) that covers said through hole (4).
  2. The capsule (1) for a soluble edible product, according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner surface (7) of the container is partially or totally coated with a microfilm (5).
  3. The capsule (1) for a soluble edible product, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises a material selected from the group comprising plastic, aluminium, polymeric material, cellulosic material or composites and combinations thereof.
  4. The capsule (1) for a soluble edible product, according to claim 3, characterized in that it is made of porous material.
  5. The capsule (1) for a soluble edible product, according to claim 4, characterized in that said porous material is cellulosic material.
  6. The capsule (1) for a soluble edible product, according to claim 5, characterized in that the cellulosic material is paper pulp.
  7. The capsule (1) for a soluble edible product, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the microfilm (5) is selected from the group comprising poly(lactic acid) (PLA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-polyhydroxyhexanoate (PHBHx).
  8. The capsule (1) for a soluble edible product, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the edible product outlet cover element (23) comprises through openings (6).
  9. The capsule (1) for a soluble edible product, according to claim 8, characterized in that the through openings (6) are coated with said microfilm (5).
  10. The capsule (1) for a soluble edible product, according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the side wall (21) is thermo-welded or ultrasonically welded to the water inlet cover element (22).
  11. Use of the capsule (1) as claimed in claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is for the preparation of soluble edible products in soluble edible product machines.
  12. Use of the capsule (1), according to the previous claim, characterized in that it is for the preparation of espresso coffee, tea or other soluble edible products.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of single-use capsules for preparing soluble edible products, such as espresso coffee, tea or other solubles. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The state of the art includes several solutions relating to single-use capsules for preparing edible products, such as espresso coffee, tea and other solubles. Capsules consist of small containers that contain the edible product, used in compatible machines and that allow the quick preparation of the edible product. In general, the capsule comprises two elements: a base cup and a lid. The base cup has a bottom that is either fully closed or pre-perforated, in either case being perforated by the punches of the edible product machine where the capsule is placed. The cup's mouth of the capsules has a peripheral flap that then serves as a surface for gluing the lid, which generally consists of a plastic lid, aluminium foil, filter paper or micro-perforated plastic. The capsules used in edible product machines, after being placed in the machine, are perforated on both sides by a mechanized system of punches, wherein some are perforated when closing the lid of the machine compartment where the capsule is placed and others are perforated by a punching mechanism that is incorporated into the machine and is driven by an electrical system, which ensures the water's pumping and heating. There are also capsule coffee machines that work with the aid of a lever that opens an extraction group made up of a container where the capsule is housed after it's insertion into the machine and a sealing lid that breaks or opens the capsule and introduces hot water to it. Once filled and under the effect of high pressure, the capsule opens and releases the water mixture that passes through the edible substance to the outside of the machine. At the end, the capsule is expelled by repeating the opening movement of the lever. In the state of the art, there are different types of capsules made up of numerous shapes and materials (paper, plastic and metal - aluminium), whereby they obtain different compositions that influence their performance in preserving the edible product. The use of various types of materials in the production of capsules, in addition to making capsule production more expensive, creates problems with the collection, separation and selection of waste products, especially when the capsules are collected for recycling, which is why, sometimes, it is more customary to place it in the common trash. Many currently existing capsules are not recyclable or are difficult to recycle. Currently, aluminium is the best material for the production of capsules, as it ensures more effective maintenance of the properties of edible products and also has the advantage of being "infinitely recyclable", being quickly put into a new cycle of production, and it is a very light material. However, this material presents rigidity and resistance characteristics very different from those of plastic, which may bring some disadvantages in terms of its plastic deformation, when applied to the part of the lid that is subjected to opening by the machine. Currently existing coffee capsules have accustomed consumers to drinking coffee quickly, hygienically and with high quality, however, the material that makes up the capsule: plastic or metal, combined with the organic matter of the coffee inside, makes the recycling process very complex and difficult to implement. One of the main concerns of coffee brands today is the development and presentation of solutions that reduce the ecological footprint caused by the consumption of capsules. There are coffee capsules on the market that present great difficulty in being recycled, both because they use two aggregated materials: plastic and aluminium, and because of the way the lid and container are welded together, making access to the organic matter contained inside practically impossible. Currently, there are already some solutions in the state of the art that meet a more eco-responsible and sustainable approach, using recyclable materials and limiting the amount of material used in the manufacture of capsules. Another difficulty that currently also exists in edible product capsules resides in the fact that they present very demanding mechanical performance for coffee machines, as their opening depends on the rupture of a plastic "door" at one of the tops of the cylinder through the application of a force that, over continued use, damages the sealing behaviour required to the machine's extraction groups. Document PT 109815B discloses a capsule that has a configuration that optimizes the positioning and perforation of the capsule, through its circular lid-type constructive element, which is adapted to provide a flow inlet passageway into the interior of the constructive element in the form of a container type. The passageway has a region of weakened material that is adapted so that it ruptures under a certain fl