Capsule with recess passageway and system for preparing edible products including said capsules

Abstract

The present invention further refers to a system for preparing edible products including a capsule (1), an apparatus for preparing edible products comprising at least one brewing device (10) presenting injection means (13) adapted so that exert a mechanic pressure upon the passageway wall (4) on a region of the passageway wall (4) opposite to the region of weakened material region (41).

1 . A capsule ( 1 ) for preparing an edible product on a brewing device ( 10 ), and presenting:
 a first construction element ( 2 ) configured in a container-like form and adapted so as to provide a collection volume for a single portion of an edible substance, and   a second construction element ( 3 ) configured in a circular lid-like form, and adapted so as to confine said collection volume of first construction element ( 2 ) and as to provide an entry flow passageway to the interior of said first construction element ( 2 ),   whereby said second construction element ( 3 ) comprises a flow entry wall part ( 31 ) that presents a disk-like general with a prevailing wall thickness (e 31 ) between two plane transversal relative to an axial axis (X) of said wall part ( 31 ),   whereby said flow entry wall part ( 31 ) is provided in a rigid material,   whereby said flow entry wall part ( 31 ) comprises a passageway wall ( 4 ) provided with a circular shape delimited by a first circumferential alignment and disposed centred relative to an axial axis (X) of said capsule ( 1 ),   whereby said flow passageway wall ( 4 ) presents a weakened material region ( 41 ) that develops along at least most part along at least most part of said first circumferential alignment and that is adapted so that breaks under a given upstream flow pressure,   said capsule ( 1 ) being characterized   in that said passageway wall ( 4 ) presents a passageway wall thickness (e 4 ) that is smaller than said prevailing wall thickness (e 31 ), and respective weakened material region ( 41 ) is provided by means of a localized reduction of said passageway wall thickness (e 4 ), so that results a region with a weakened thickness (e 41 ) along said first circumferential alignment, thereby improving the opening of said passageway wall ( 4 ) when impinged by a pressurized upstream flow.   
     
     
         2 . The capsule ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that said passageway wall ( 4 ) is provided as a reduction of said prevailing wall thickness (e 31 ) on a region of circular shape and disposed centred relative to said entry wall part ( 31 ), and in that said weakened material region ( 41 ) is provided in a region presenting said passageway wall thickness (e 4 ) in the proximity of a region presenting said prevailing wall thickness (e 31 ).   
     
     
         3 . The capsule ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized   in that said passageway wall ( 4 ) presents a passageway wall thickness (e 4 ) that corresponds to a thickness reduction of said prevailing wall thickness (e 31 ) of said entry wall part ( 31 ), provided on a region of circular shape and on both sides of said entry wall part ( 31 ), so that said passageway wall ( 4 ) develops on an intercalary plane between the exterior upstream and downstream oriented surfaces of said entry wall part ( 31 ), and in that said passageway wall ( 4 ) is provided disposed closer to the upstream oriented surface than to the downstream oriented surface of said entry wall part ( 31 ).   
     
     
         4 . The capsule ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized
 in that said passageway wall ( 4 ) is surrounded downstream by a wall that extends beyond the plane defined by the wall thickness (e 3 ) of said entry wall part ( 31 ) so that deflects the pressurized flow through the weakened material region ( 41 ), and in that at least said downstream surrounding wall, preferentially also an upstream surrounding wall of said passageway wall ( 4 ), develop along an oblique region relative to the direction of said axial axis (X).   
     
     
         5 . The capsule ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized
 in that said weakened material region ( 41 ) is provided along at least most part, preferentially the totality, of a circumferential perimeter and presents a first (e 41 ) and a second (e 42 ) weakened thickness, whereby said first weakened thickness (e 41 ) is smaller than said second weakened thickness (e 42 ).   
     
     
         6 . The capsule ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized
 in that said first weakened thickness (e 41 ) is comprised between 0.05 and 0.20, preferentially between 0.10 and 0.15, of said passageway wall thickness (e 4 ) of said passageway wall ( 4 ).   
     
     
         7 . The capsule ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized
 in that said weakened material region ( 41 ) corresponds to the region between a first recess provided on the upstream oriented side of said passageway wall ( 4 ), and a second recess provided on the downstream oriented side of said passageway wall ( 4 ), whereby each one of said recesses develops along a transversal direction along a circumferential alignment and develops in an axial direction so that said recesses distance, in the nearest region between themselves, in the value corresponding to said weakened thickness (e 41 ).   
     
     
         8 . The capsule ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized
 in that said weakened material region ( 41 ) is provided as the region between two recesses in mutually opposing sides of said flow passageway wall ( 4 ), whereby said recesses present at least one of different shape and different dimension.   
     
     
         9 . The capsule ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized
 in that said weakened material region ( 41 ) is provided as region extending between two recesses on said passageway wall ( 41 ) that present different maximum depths relative to the surface planes of respective sides of said passageway wall ( 4 ).   
     
     
         10 . The capsule ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized
 in that said weakened material region ( 41 ) is provided as the region extending between two recesses on said passageway wall ( 4 ) that present maximum depths that develop in different planes at least approximately parallel to said axial axis (X).   
     
     
         11 . The capsule ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized
 in that said weakened material region ( 41 ) is provided as the region between two recesses disposed in opposing side of said passageway wall ( 4 ) and presenting at least one oblique surface relative to the direction of said axial axis (X), whereby in the region closest to each other said recesses configure two surfaces oblique relative to said axial axis (X), and that develop at least approximately parallel along a preferential rupture extension that presents said weakened thickness (e 41 ) and that develops in oblique manner relative to the direction of said axial axis (X).   
     
     
         12 . The capsule ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized
 in that said weakened material region ( 41 ) is provided as the region between two recesses on opposite sides of said passageway wall ( 4 ), whereby recesses disposed on the upstream side develop at least partially in a more proximal region than recesses disposed on the downstream oriented side, with reference to said axial axis (x).   
     
     
         13 . The capsule ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized
 in that said weakened material region ( 41 ) presents a first weakened thickness (e 41 ) that develops along an arch of circumference comprised between 348° and 325°, preferentially between 345° and 328°.   
     
     
         14 . The capsule ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that presents at least one of:
 further presents a recess region ( 5 ) provided on the upstream oriented side of said flow entry wall part ( 31 ), whereby said recess region ( 5 ) develops from a second circumferential alignment in the proximity of said passageway wall ( 4 ) and so that defines an intercalary region ( 6 ) between said recess region ( 5 ) and said passageway wall ( 4 ), whereby said recess region ( 5 ) presents a recess wall thickness (e 5 ) that is smaller than the prevailing wall thickness (e 31 ), and bigger than the passageway wall thickness (e 4 ) of said passageway wall ( 4 ), so that said passageway wall ( 4 ) is deflected when the pressurized flow breaks said weakened material region ( 41 ),   an intercalary region ( 6 ) that presents an intercalary wall thickness (e 6 ) that is bigger than the passageway wall thickness (e 4 ) of said passageway wall ( 4 ) and bigger than the wall thickness of said recess wall (e 5 ) of said recess region ( 5 ), preferentially is at least approximately similar to said prevailing wall thickness (e 31 ), thereby improving the transmission of structural resistance from said recess region ( 5 ) and into said weakened material region ( 41 ).   
     
     
         15 . A system for preparing edible products comprising:
 a capsule ( 1 ) adapted for containing a single portion of an edible substance, in particular a capsule ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , and   an apparatus for preparing edible products based upon said capsule ( 1 ) and including at least one brewing device ( 10 ) that presents two actuation parts ( 11 ,  12 ),   whereby said capsule ( 1 ) presents an upstream oriented wall part ( 31 ) that presents a passageway wall ( 4 ) of circular shape and disposed centred relative to an axial axis (X) of said capsule ( 1 ), and successively surrounded by an intercalary region ( 6 ) and a recess region ( 5 ),   whereby said actuation parts ( 11 ,  12 ) are adapted so as to collect said capsule ( 1 ), and at least one of said actuation parts ( 11 ,  12 ) can be moved relative to the other so as to engage with the exterior envelope of said capsule ( 1 ),   whereby an upstream actuation part ( 11 ) comprises injection means ( 13 ) adapted for impinging a pressurized fluid flow upon said passageway wall ( 4 ) provided on an upstream side of said capsule ( 1 ),   whereby a downstream actuation part ( 12 ) comprises discharge means adapted for collecting a beverage from the downstream side of said capsule ( 1 ),   said system being characterized   in that said injection means ( 13 ) are provided as a projection developing downstream and adapted so that exerts a mechanic pressure upon part of said passageway wall ( 4 ) in the proximity of said weakened material region ( 41 ), so that said passageway wall ( 4 ) swivels downstream around a region of said passageway wall ( 4 ) opposite to said weakened material region ( 41 ) as a result of said mechanic pressure.