Capsule for a nutritional substance with enhanced flow distribution means

Abstract

The present invention refers to a capsule (1) adapted for containing a nutritional substance in sealed and hygienic manner relative to oxygen and eventual pathogens, and to be used in a product preparation apparatus, where it can be impinged at an upstream location by an operating fluid so that this can flow inside and mix with the edible substance and the resulting product can be discharged through a downstream location, whereby said capsule (1) presents a lid part (2) and a container part (3) and further presents flow distribution means (21) adapted so that provide enhanced flow path distribution pattern and flow velocity profiles upstream of the edible substance.

1 . A capsule for preparing a nutritional product by means of mixing an operating flow with an edible substance, and comprising:
 a lid part adapted for being impinged upstream by operating flow along an upstream flow direction,   a container part including a sidewall adapted for retaining said lid part and a base wall adapted for discharging outlet flow,   
       whereby said lid and container parts can be retained so that confine a free space upstream of the edible substance, 
       wherein said lid part presents flow distribution means adapted so that can deviate the upstream operating flow from a non-perimeter region to a perimeter region of the lid part and can deflect the flow direction at the perimeter region of the lid part ( 2 ), so that the operating flow can only flow into the capsule along perimeter locations thereof and along flow paths transversal to the upstream flow direction. 
     
     
         2 . The capsule according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said flow distribution means are configured so that can provide a plurality of flow constrains to the upstream operating flow along the upstream-oriented surface of the lid part, including:
 a first impact wall of the upstream operating flow at a collection portion thereby providing a first deviation of prevailing flow direction, preferentially from a direction similar to the direction of the gravity force to a direction transversal thereto, 
 a reduction of flow section dimension along flow channels and towards respective flow inlet passageways, and 
 a second impact wall associated with a second deviation of prevailing flow direction along the flow channels, 
   and   in that said container portion presents helix-like embossments at least in the inward-oriented surface of the opening perimeter region of sidewall, adapted so that convey a further flow path to the operating flow inside of the confined free space, downstream of the flow distribution means and upstream of the edible substance.   
     
     
         3 . The capsule according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein said flow distribution means are adapted so that can conduct the upstream operating flow to the perimeter region of the lid part along contained recessed regions on the upstream-oriented surface of the lid-part, and   in that said flow distribution means are adapted so that the operating flow can enter in the space confined by the lid and container parts only at a number of locations in the interior perimeter region of retention of said lid and container parts and along a flow path direction that is at least approximately tangential to the sidewall of the container part.   
     
     
         4 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein said flow distribution means are provided as recessed regions in respect of the upstream-oriented surface of the lid part, whereby said recessed regions are provided by means of debossing-like configuration of wall portions of the upstream-oriented wall of said lid part, and not by means of variation of the wall thickness of said portions of the upstream-oriented wall of said lid part. 
     
     
         5 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein said flow distribution means include a, preferentially centrally arranged, collection portion in direct flow communication with a plurality of elongated flow channels extending to the perimeter region of the lid part, each of which flow mouthing at a flow inlet passageway, and
 in that said flow distribution means include a plurality of flow channels presenting similar flow sections, preferentially with a cross-section of U-like shape, and arranged at similar angular distances apart.   
     
     
         6 . The capsule according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said lid part includes a rim portion extending along the perimeter region thereof in the direction of the container part ( 3 ), and presenting a collar-like, double rim arrangement including first inward and second outward rim walls, whereby at least one of said rim walls presents lid retention means adapted so that can mechanically engage in respective container retention means of the opening perimeter region of container part.   
     
     
         7 . The capsule according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein said lid retention means and container retention means are preferentially provided as helix-like screw engagement means, and   in that said lid retention means and container retention means are preferentially arranged on an outward-oriented surface of the first inward wall, and on an inward-oriented surface of the opening perimeter region.   
     
     
         8 . The capsule according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said lid part includes a rim portion that presents a double rim arrangement including first inward and second outward rim walls adapted so that can receive an opening perimeter region of sidewall of the container part in-between, and   in that said flow distribution means comprise a plurality of flow inlet passageways at the downstream end of flow channels and arranged on a first inward wall of said rim portion, such that the operating flow can be conducted to the confined space above the edible substance through the region between said the first inward wall and opening perimeter region of sidewall of the container part, preferentially along helix-like screw engagement means provided thereon.   
     
     
         9 . The capsule according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said first inward wall and inward-oriented surface of the opening perimeter region are preferentially inclined relative to central reference axis (X), whereas the second outward wall and outward-oriented surface of the opening perimeter region are preferentially in a direction parallel to the central reference axis (X).   
     
     
         10 . The capsule according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said flow distribution means are adapted so that present a, preferentially continuous, reduction of flow section dimension along the prevailing flow direction, including by means of reduction of at least one of relative width and relative height there along, whereby said collection portion preferentially presents an average characteristic dimension, including relative height along the direction of the upstream operative flow, that is bigger than that of the flow channels downstream thereof.   
     
     
         11 . The capsule according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said flow distribution means include a flow collection space that presents a characteristic dimension transversally to the upstream flow direction, for example diameter, that is at most 30%, preferentially at most 20%, of a coplanar characteristic dimension of the lid part, for example diameter, and   in that said flow distribution means include a plurality of flow channels that mouth in respective inlet flow passageways, whereby said inlet flow passageways preferentially present a total flow section area that is at least half the flow section area upstream thereof.   
     
     
         12 . The capsule according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said flow distribution means include a plurality of flow channels, preferentially two to seven, arranged in a generally centred, radially extending star-like format, each of which extends in a linear and/or curved configuration, configured so that can change the flow path direction of the operative flow there along, in the plane of the upstream-oriented surface of lid part transversal to the upstream operating flow direction.   
     
     
         13 . The capsule according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said flow distribution means include a plurality of flow channels each including first and second channel portions and each extending at different relative directions along the plane defined by the upstream-oriented surface of the lid part ( 2 ), including an upstream section extending in a substantially radial direction, and a downstream section extending in an oblique direction hereto.   
     
     
         14 . The capsule according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said flow distribution means include a plurality of flow channels each including first and second channel portions for example of linear configuration, whereby said first channel portion extends in a radial direction, and said second channel portion extends in an orthogonal direction in respect thereof, and whereby said first channel portion extends over most part of the radius of the lid part and the second channel portion extends in the vicinity of the perimeter region of said lid part, in particular up to a rim portion thereof.   
     
     
         15 . The capsule according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said capsule further presents a lid covering element configured in a membrane or folio-like format and presenting at least one of characteristic shape and characteristic dimension similar to respective characteristics of the lid part, and adapted so that can be retained on the upstream-oriented surface of the lid part so that can cover the flow distribution means, preferentially attached, for example glued or welded, to the upward-oriented surface of lid part in at least most of the limits extension of the flow distribution means, and   in that said lid covering element is adapted so that can be perforated in a punctual manner and can present at least one of an optical indicia and a physical surface characteristic adapted so that can be recognized by automatic recognition means.