Capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a device for making beverages

Abstract

A capsule, intended for the preparation of a beverage in a device for making beverages, includes: a bottom wall; a side wall; an annular flange, wherein the bottom wall includes an annular supporting portion, connected to the side wall, and a central portion surrounded by the annular supporting portion, wherein the annular supporting portion projects from the central portion, and wherein the central portion includes a first zone, having a first thickness, and a second zone, having a second thickness, wherein the second thickness is smaller than the first thickness, and wherein the second zone is oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.

1 . A capsule, intended for the preparation of a beverage in a device for making beverages, the capsule comprising a body which includes
 a bottom wall;   a side wall extending around a longitudinal axis between a first annular edge, connected to the bottom wall, and a second annular edge, wherein the side wall and the bottom wall delimit an internal space within the body of the capsule; and   an annular flange, extending from the second annular edge of the side wall away from the longitudinal axis,   wherein the bottom wall includes an annular supporting portion, connected to the side wall and a central portion surrounded by the annular supporting portion,   wherein the annular supporting portion projects from the central portion, away from the second annular edge, and   wherein the central portion includes a first zone, having a first thickness, and a second zone, having a second thickness, wherein the second thickness is smaller than the first thickness and the second zone is oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the second zone has an annular shape and surrounds the first zone. 
     
     
         3 . The capsule according to  claim 2 , wherein the central portion of the bottom wall includes a third zone which surrounds the second zone and has a third thickness, larger than the second thickness, wherein the second zone is recessed relative to the first zone and relative to the third zone on the inside face of the central portion. 
     
     
         4 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall includes a connecting portion which interconnects the central portion to the annular supporting portion, the connecting portion being obliquely inclined relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the central portion has an inside face, facing towards the internal space, and an outside face, opposite to the inside face, wherein the second zone is recessed relative to the first zone on the inside face of the central portion. 
     
     
         6 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular supporting portion has a supporting thickness that is greater than the first thickness. 
     
     
         7 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio between the width of the second zone, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the radius of the first annular edge is between 0.2 and 0.5. 
     
     
         8 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio between the second thickness and the first thickness is between 0.35 and 0.55. 
     
     
         9 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the second annular edge has a radius that is greater than or equal to 20 mm and wherein the capsule has a height that is greater than or equal to 35 mm along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the side wall has a first portion, which is proximal to the flange, and a second portion, which is distal from the flange and connected to the first portion and to the bottom wall, wherein the second portion is frustoconical in shape. 
     
     
         11 . The capsule according to  claim 10 , wherein the first portion has an inside wall, which faces towards the internal space and is cylindrical in shape, and an outside wall, which is opposite to the inside wall, is frustoconical in shape and whose direction of taper is opposite to that of the second portion. 
     
     
         12 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lid, joined to the annular flange to delimit, with the body, an internal space inside the capsule;   a filter element, positioned in the internal space, wherein the filter element divides the internal space into a containing space and a collecting space, wherein the containing space is partly delimited by the lid and the collecting space is partly delimited by the bottom wall; and   a substance contained in the containing space and used for making the beverage.   
     
     
         13 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular supporting portion is located at a perimeter of the bottom wall and projects longitudinally away from the second annular edge, with respect to the central portion, so that the capsule can be laid on a supporting surface with an outer surface of the annular supporting portion being the sole surface in contact with the supporting surface. 
     
     
         14 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the second zone, with respect to the longitudinal axis, has a radial extension and an axial extension, the radial extension being greater than the axial extension. 
     
     
         15 . A method for making a capsule, intended for the preparation of a beverage in a device for making beverages, wherein the method comprises a step of forming a body of the capsule, in which the following are made:
 a bottom wall;   a side wall extending around a longitudinal axis between a first annular edge, connected to the bottom wall, and a second annular edge, wherein the side wall and the bottom wall delimit an internal space within the body of the capsule; and   an annular flange, extending from the second annular edge of the side wall, away from the longitudinal axis,   wherein the bottom wall includes an annular supporting portion, connected to the side wall, and a central portion surrounded by the annular supporting portion, wherein the annular supporting portion projects from the central portion, away from the second annular edge, and   wherein the central portion includes a first zone, having a first thickness, and a second zone, having a second thickness, wherein the second thickness is smaller than the first thickness and wherein the second zone is oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the step of forming is carried out by compression moulding starting from a dose of thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         17 . A mould for making a capsule intended for the preparation of a beverage in a device for making beverages, the mould being movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration in which the mould defines a moulding cavity that includes:
 a bottom hollow;   a side hollow, extending around a longitudinal axis between a first annular end, connected to the bottom hollow, and a second annular end; and   a flange hollow connected to the second annular end and extending from the second annular end, away from the longitudinal axis;   wherein the bottom hollow includes an annular portion, connected to the side hollow, and a central portion surrounded by the annular portion, wherein the annular portion projects from the central portion, away from the second annular end, and   wherein the central portion includes a first zone, having a first thickness, and a second zone, having a second thickness, wherein the second thickness is smaller than the first thickness and wherein the second zone is oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         18 . The mould according to  claim 17 , comprising an upper unit and a lower unit, which are movable relative to each other along the longitudinal axis, wherein, in the open configuration of the mould, the upper unit and the lower unit are spaced apart and in the closed configuration of the mould, the upper unit and the lower unit are close together and delimit the moulding cavity, wherein the lower unit, in the closed configuration, is positioned under the upper unit and is at least partly inserted in a hollow of the upper unit. 
     
     
         19 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein first annular edge is greater than or equal to 40 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         20 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the second zone has a width, measured in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, between 4 mm and 8 mm.