Capsule and dispensing machine for beverages

• US 10,093,478 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2013
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sarong Societa' per Azioni
• Original Assignee: Sarong Societa' per Azioni
• Inventors: Bartoli, Andrea, Capitini, Davide
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, LUAN KIM
• Application Number:
  US14/394,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20150068405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,002 Days
• Field of Search: 206219-222, 206568, 215DIG 8, 99295, 99323, 426115
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0668 specially adapted for cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/369 Impermeable cartridges being employed
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/407 with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3211 coaxially and provided with means facilitating admixture
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8052 Details of the outlet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8067 Packages for several ingredients

Abstract

A capsule includes a first container provided with a first closed cavity containing a first product and a second container provided with a second closed cavity containing a second product. The first container and the second container include a first interface element facing the first cavity and a second interface element facing the second cavity, respectively. The first interface element is provided with a first connecting device having a first conduit and the second interface element is provided with a second connecting device having a second conduit. In an assembled configuration of the capsule, in which the first container is associated with the second container, the first connecting device is engaged with the second connecting device so as to couple the first conduit with the second conduit to make a flow connection between the first cavity and the second cavity and enable at least the first product to pass into the second cavity and join the second product to make a final product.

Claims

1. A capsule, comprising a first container provided with a first closed cavity containing a first product and a second container provided with a second closed cavity containing a second product, said first container and said second container having, respectively, a first casing provided with a flange-shaped first peripheral edge to which a first interface element is connected and a second casing provided with a flange-shaped second peripheral edge to which a second interface element is connected, the first interface element facing said first cavity and the second interface element facing said second cavity, respectively, wherein said first interface element is provided with a first connecting device having a first conduit assembly and said second interface element is provided with a second connecting device having a second conduit assembly, wherein in an assembled configuration of said capsule in which said first container is associated with said second container, said first connecting device is engaged with said second connecting device to couple said first conduit assembly with said second conduit assembly to establish a flow connection between said first cavity and said second cavity, at least one nozzle fixed to said second interface element and arranged for dispensing at least said first product coming from said first cavity into said second cavity to enable said first product to join said second product to make a final product.

2. Capsule according to claim 1, wherein said first connecting device comprises at least a first protrusion for engaging a first housing of said second connecting device, said first conduit assembly comprising a first conduit in said first protrusion and said second conduit assembly comprising a second conduit in said first housing.

3. A capsule according to claim 1, wherein said first container comprises a first covering element substantially superimposed on said first interface element and arranged for hermetically closing said first cavity, and said second container comprises a second covering element substantially superimposed on said second interface element and arranged for hermetically closing said second cavity, said first covering element and said second covering element being perforable by said first connecting device and/or by said second connecting device when said first connecting device and said second connecting device are mutually engaged in said assembled configuration.

4. A capsule according to claim 1, wherein said first container comprises a first covering element substantially superimposed on said first interface element and arranged for hermetically closing said first cavity, and said second container comprises a second covering element substantially superimposed on said second interface element and arranged for hermetically closing said second cavity, said first covering element and said second covering element being removable and detachable, respectively, from said first container and from said second container for enabling said first connecting device and said second connecting device to engage in said assembled configuration.

5. A capsule according to claim 1, wherein said nozzle is fixed to said second interface element so that an internal conduit of said nozzle is connected to said second conduit assembly.

6. A capsule according to claim 1, wherein said first container is compressible and/or crushable for enabling at least said first product to be transferred from said first cavity to said second cavity.

7. A capsule according to claim 6, wherein said first casing is provided with a first side wall that is deformable and/or compressible to enable said first casing to be compressed and/or crushed along a direction that is transverse to said first interface element.

8. A capsule according to claim 1, wherein said second container is compressible and/or crushable for enabling said final product to exit from said second cavity.

9. Capsule according to claim 8, wherein said second casing is provided with a second side wall that is deformable and/or compressible to enable said second casing to be compressed and/or crushed along a direction that is transverse to said second interface element.

10. A capsule according to claim 8, wherein said second container comprises an opening promoting device for making an outlet for said final product when said second container is compressed and/or crushed.

11. A capsule according to claim 9, wherein the first casing is Provided with a first side wall that is connected to said flange-shaped first peripheral edge and that is deformable and/or compressible to enable said first casing to be compressed and/or crushed along a direction that is transverse to said first interface element, and wherein said second peripheral edge is connected to said second side wall.

12. A capsule according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first container and said second container are perforable for enabling a fluid to be delivered and joined to at least one of said first product and said second product for enabling said final product to exit.

13. A capsule according to claim 1, wherein said first container comprises a third interface element fixed to a third peripheral edge of the first casing of said first container and opposite said first interface element, said third interface element comprising at least one supply hole that is engageable by an injecting device suitable for dispensing a fluid to be joined to said first product into said first cavity.

14. A capsule according to claim 13, wherein said first container comprises a third covering element substantially superimposed on said third interface element and arranged for hermetically closing said first cavity, said third covering element being perforable by said injecting device.