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RU-2861569-C2 - CONTAINER AND SYSTEM FOR PREPARING BEVERAGE OR FOOD PRODUCT

RU2861569C2RU 2861569 C2RU2861569 C2RU 2861569C2RU-2861569-C2

Abstract

FIELD: food industry. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a portioned container containing a beverage or food product precursor, and to electrically controlled systems for preparing a beverage or food product, by means of which the beverage or food product is obtained from said portioned container. A container for use with an apparatus for preparing a beverage and/or food product or a precursor thereof includes: a storage portion for containing a precursor material, a closing element for closing the storage portion, and an annular flange-type rim comprising a circular clamping ring made of a wood pulp-based material. The circular clamping ring has a substantially S-shaped cross-section when viewed in cross-section. Also provided is a set of different containers, as well as a container system and a system comprising a container and a beverage preparation device. EFFECT: enabling the manufacture of a cellulose-based container that can be used in an existing beverage preparation device in a precise and safe manner. 18 cl, 17 dwg

Inventors

  • Gerber, Gilles
  • MURPHY, Audrey, Virginie
  • PAVAN, Chiara
  • VEENJE, SANDOR KLAAS

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20221128
Priority Date
20211201

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A container adapted to be inserted into and used with a device for preparing a beverage and/or food product or a precursor thereof from a precursor material stored in the container by introducing a liquid into the container and passing the liquid through the precursor material, wherein the container includes:
  2. - a container body comprising a bottom edge and an open edge, wherein the container body forms a storage area for accommodating the precursor material;
  3. - a closing element for closing the storage area at the open edge of the container body; and
  4. - an annular flange-type rim, at least partially made of a cellulose pulp-based material, extending outward from the container body and connecting the storage section and the closing element, wherein the rim has at least a flat segment and comprises a circular clamping ring configured to engage with the enclosing element of the preparation device,
  5. wherein the annular pressure ring is made of a cellulose pulp based material and is substantially S-shaped when viewed in cross section and comprises at least:
  6. - a first section connected to a flat segment of the rim and forming with said flat segment an angle of from 20 to 85°; and
  7. - a second section extending from the first section on the side opposite the flat rim segment, wherein said second section comprises at least a flat and/or curved extension.
  8. 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the annular clamping ring comprises a third portion extending between the flat flange-type rim segment and the first portion of the clamping ring, said third portion forming a centering means for the container when the container is positioned in the preparation device.
  9. 3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first, second and third sections of the circular clamping ring are sections of a flange-type rim.
  10. 4. A container according to any one of paragraphs 1-3, wherein the density of the cellulose pulp based material of the flange type rim, including the circular pressure ring, is from 200 to 500 g/ m2 .
  11. 5. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the outer diameter (OD) of the container is from 50 to 70 mm, preferably from 52 to 61 mm.
  12. 6. A container according to any one of paragraphs 1-5, in which the flange-type rim, including the pressure ring, has a thickness of from 150 to 600 µm.
  13. 7. A container according to any one of paragraphs 1-6, in which the first and second sections of the clamping ring extend in a direction opposite to the container body and beyond the plane (P) containing the flat segment of the flange-type rim by an upward extension distance (ha) from said plane (P).
  14. 8. The container according to claim 7, wherein the extension distance (ha) is from 0.5 to 2 mm, preferably from 1 to 1.8 mm.
  15. 9. A container according to any one of paragraphs 2-8, in which the third section of the clamping ring extends in the direction of the container body below the plane (P) containing the flat segment of the flange type rim, by a downward extension distance (hb) from said plane (P).
  16. 10. The container according to claim 9, wherein the downward extension distance (hb) below the plane (P) is shorter than the upward extension distance (ha) above the plane (P).
  17. 11. A container according to any one of paragraphs 1-9, in which the flange-type rim, including the clamping ring, extends over a width of from 2 to 5 mm.
  18. 12. A container according to any one of paragraphs 1-10, in which the flange-type rim contains a code zone.
  19. 13. The container of claim 12, wherein the code zone is located on a flat segment of the flange-type rim, optionally on the side facing the body of the container.
  20. 14. A set of different containers (6a, 6b ...) for preparing in a device for preparing a beverage and/or food product or their precursor from a precursor material, wherein the container system comprises a set of different containers (6a, 6b ...) according to any one of paragraphs 1-13,

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES The invention relates to a portion container containing a precursor of a beverage or food product, and to electrically controlled systems for preparing a beverage or food product, by means of which the beverage or food product is obtained from said portion container. LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY Beverage preparation systems comprise a beverage preparation device and a capsule. The capsule contains a single portion of a beverage-forming precursor material, such as ground coffee or tea. The beverage preparation device is configured to perform the beverage preparation process within the capsule, typically by applying heated water under pressure to the precursor material. During this preparation process, the capsule is guided through the device through a series of complex interactions involving loading, processing, and removal of the capsule by various mechanisms of the device, primarily the capsule flange. Processing of the capsule thus results in at least partial extraction of the precursor material from the capsule in the form of a beverage. This beverage preparation device configuration has gained great popularity due to its increased user convenience compared to conventional beverage preparation devices (e.g. compared to a manual moka pot/stovetop espresso maker). Due to the complex nature of capsule movement through the device and exposure to hot, pressurized water, only aluminum-based capsules have been reliably implemented to date. Indeed, other materials (particularly paper- or pulp-based) have been found to be prone to sticking in the device or causing other material-related failures. This means that the aluminum capsule design (dimensions and geometric configuration) cannot be directly applied to capsules made of materials other than aluminum, such as cellulose-based capsules. For example, due to technical reasons related to the manufacturing process, certain designs available for aluminum capsules, such as the curled rim area of certain capsules, cannot be achieved for cellulose-based capsules. It would then be desirable to develop a capsule design suitable for capsules made, for example, from a cellulose-based material and which can be produced in accordance with currently available technological processes. Therefore, despite the efforts already made in developing a capsule made of a material other than aluminum or plastic, further improvements are desirable. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present description provides a container for use with a device for preparing a beverage and/or a food product, or a precursor thereof, wherein the container includes: a storage section containing a cavity with a base for accommodating a precursor material, a closing element for closing the storage section, and a flange portion having the features of claim 1. In more detail, the container is configured to be inserted and used with a device for preparing a beverage and/or food product, or a precursor thereof, from a precursor material stored in the container, by introducing liquid into the container and passing the liquid through the precursor material. The container includes: - a container body at least partially made of a cellulose pulp-based material comprising a bottom edge and an open edge, wherein the container body forms a storage area for accommodating the precursor material; - a closing element for closing the storage area at the open edge of the container body; and - an annular flange-type rim, at least partially made of a material based on cellulose pulp, extending outward from the container body and connecting the storage section and the closing element, wherein the rim has at least a flat segment and contains a circular clamping ring configured to engage with the enclosing element of the preparation device. According to the invention, the circular pressure ring is made of a material based on cellulose pulp and has a substantially S-shaped form when viewed in cross-section, and contains at least: - a first section connected to a flat segment of the rim and forming with said flat segment an angle of from 20 to 85°; and - a second section extending from the first section on the side opposite the flat rim segment, wherein said second section comprises at least a flat and/or curved extension. The specific design proposed allows for the production of a cellulose-based container that can be used in an existing beverage preparation device in a precise and safe manner. Regarding the size of the flange type rim, the flange type rim which contains the clamping ring has a width of 2 to 5 mm and a thickness of 150 to 600 μm. The circular pressure ring further comprises a third section extending between the flat flange-type rim segment and the first section of the pressure ring. This third section forms a centering means for the container, ensuring its proper positioning within the preparation device. According to the present description, the first, second and third section