Capsule or cartridge and infusion assembly for the preparation of a beverage, in particular coffee

Abstract

A capsule or cartridge ( 1 ) including a cup-shaped body ( 2 ) with a bottom wall ( 3 ), a lateral wall ( 4 ) and a flange-like top formation ( 5 ) which is essentially planar and extends transversely towards the outside, and a cover ( 6 ) fixed to the flange-like formation ( 5 ) of the body ( 2 ), such as to define a chamber ( 7 ) containing the material for the preparation of the beverage, in particular ground roasted coffee. The lateral wall ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 ) has a plurality of projections ( 8 ) and recesses ( 9 ) which as a whole define at least an identification of the capsule ( 1 ). The projections ( 8 ) and recesses ( 9 ) are aligned in an essentially rectilinear direction, belonging to a plane essentially parallel to the flange-like formation ( 5 ) of the body ( 2 ) of the capsule ( 1 ).

1 . Capsule or cartridge ( 1 ) for the preparation of a beverage, in particular espresso coffee, comprising
 a cup-shaped body ( 2 ) with a bottom wall ( 3 ), a lateral wall ( 4 ) and a flange-like top formation ( 5 ) which is essentially planar and extends transversely towards the outside, and   a cover ( 6 ) fixed to the flange-like formation ( 5 ) of said body ( 2 ), such as to define a chamber ( 7 ) containing a material for the preparation of the beverage, in particular ground roasted coffee;   wherein the lateral wall ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 ) has a plurality of projections ( 8 ) and recesses ( 9 ) which as a whole define at least an identification of the capsule ( 1 );   the capsule ( 1 ) being characterized in that said projections ( 8 ) and recesses ( 9 ) are aligned in an essentially rectilinear direction, belonging to a plane essentially parallel to said flange-like formation ( 5 ) of the body ( 2 ) of the capsule ( 1 ).   
     
     
         2 . Capsule or cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein in proximity to the flange-like formation ( 5 ) the cup-shaped body ( 2 ) has at least one lateral wall portion or face ( 4   c - 4   f ) in which there is provided said plurality of projections ( 8 ) and recesses ( 9 ). 
     
     
         3 . Capsule or cartridge according to  claim 2 , wherein in proximity to the flange-like formation ( 5 ) the cup-shaped body ( 2 ) has at least two external lateral wall portions or faces ( 4   c - 4   f ) which are essentially planar and parallel with each other and in which there are provided respective pluralities of projections ( 8 ) and recesses ( 9 ). 
     
     
         4 . Capsule or cartridge according to  claim 2  or  claim 3 , wherein in proximity to the flange-like formation ( 5 ) the cup-shaped body ( 2 ) has four external lateral wall portions or faces ( 4   c - 4   f ) which are essentially planar and parallel each to another one, and in which there are provided respective pluralities of projections ( 8 ) and recesses ( 9 ). 
     
     
         5 . Capsule or cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the cup-shaped body ( 2 ) has a bottom wall ( 3 ) which is essentially circular. 
     
     
         6 . Capsule or cartridge according to  claim 4 , wherein the cup-shaped body ( 2 ) has a first lateral wall portion ( 4   a ) whose transverse cross-section, from the bottom wall ( 3 ) to the flange-like formation ( 5 ), passes gradually from an essentially circular shape to an at least approximately quadrangular shape. 
     
     
         7 . Capsule or cartridge according to  claim 6 , wherein between said first lateral wall portion ( 4   a ) and the flange-like formation ( 5 ) the cup-shaped body ( 2 ) has a second wall portion ( 4   b ) which is essentially prismatic, with a transverse cross-section having an essentially quadrangular shape, with preferably rounded and externally convex vertexes, and in which there are provided said lateral planar faces. 
     
     
         8 . Capsule or cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the flange-like formation ( 5 ) of the cup-shaped body ( 2 ) has an external perimeter which is substantially quadrangular. 
     
     
         9 . Capsule or cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the flange-like formation ( 5 ) of the cup-shaped body ( 2 ) has an external perimeter which is essentially circular. 
     
     
         10 . Capsule or cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said projections ( 8 ) are internally hollow and communicate with a region ( 7 ) inside the cup-shaped body ( 2 ), and are adapted for being torn to allow an introduction of liquid and/or steam through the lateral wall ( 4 ) of the cup-shaped body ( 2 ). 
     
     
         11 . Capsule or cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said projections ( 8 ) are adjacent the flange-like formation ( 5 ), with which they join such that the inner perimeter of the flange-like formation ( 5 ) has a corresponding plurality of indentations. 
     
     
         12 . Capsule or cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said projections ( 8 ) and recesses ( 9 ) form an identification/information code which is specularly symmetrical with respect to an intermediate centre-line. 
     
     
         13 . Capsule or cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said projections ( 8 ) and recesses ( 9 ) form an identification/information code containing an information indicative of its reading direction. 
     
     
         14 . Capsule or cartridge according to  claim 3 , wherein the projections ( 8 ) and the recesses ( 9 ) provided in one external lateral face ( 4   c ,  4   d ) define an auxiliary reference code adapted for facilitating the reading and the decoding of the projections ( 8 ) and the recesses ( 9 ) provided in the opposite, parallel wall portion ( 4   e ,  4   f ), which define the identification of the capsule ( 1 ). 
     
     
         15 . Capsule or cartridge according to  claim 4 , wherein each of two planar walls ( 4   c ,  4   d ) which are perimetrally adjacent one another have projections ( 8 ) and recesses ( 9 ) which define said auxiliary reference code, and each of the other two planar walls or faces ( 4   e ,  4   f ) which are perimetrally adjacent one another has projections ( 8 ) and recesses ( 9 ) which define the identification code of the capsule ( 1 ). 
     
     
         16 . Capsule or cartridge according to  claim 14 , wherein said auxiliary reference code comprises a plurality of projections ( 8 ) and recesses ( 9 ) which are regularly spaced along their rectilinear direction of alignment. 
     
     
         17 . Capsule or cartridge according to  claim 14 , wherein projections ( 8 ) which define an identification code have a same predetermined staggering, possibly null, with respect to corresponding projections ( 8 ) of the auxiliary reference code. 
     
     
         18 . Capsule or cartridge according to  claim 4 , wherein said lateral wall portions or faces ( 4   c - 4   f ) have projections ( 8 ) and recesses ( 9 ) which define, on each of them, a same identification/information code. 
     
     
         19 . Infusion assembly ( 10 ) for a machine for the preparation of a beverage, in particular espresso coffee, using a capsule or cartridge ( 1 ) containing a substance for the preparation of the beverage, in particular ground roasted coffee, comprising
 a first part and a second part ( 11 ,  12 ) adapted to be displaced one with respect to the other between a relative opening position in which they allow a capsule or cartridge ( 1 ) to be interposed therebetween, and a relative closing position in which they jointly define an infusion chamber in which said capsule or cartridge ( 1 ) is enclosed, and   retaining and guiding means ( 13 ) adapted to allow a guided displacement of a capsule or cartridge ( 1 ) from an introduction position to an intermediate position in which said capsule or cartridge extends between said first and second parts ( 11 ,  12 ) when the latter are in their relative position of opening;   the assembly ( 10 ) being characterized by comprising detection or reading means ( 14 ) adapted to detect or read the identification of the capsule ( 1 ) defined by said at least one plurality of projections ( 8 ) and recesses ( 9 ) of a capsule or cartridge ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , during the passage thereof from said introduction position to said intermediate position.   
     
     
         20 . Infusion assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the detection or reading means are of optical or mechanical kind. 
     
     
         21 . Infusion assembly according to  claim 20 , for use with capsules or cartridges, wherein the detection or reading means ( 14 ) comprise at least one electric microswitch ( 14 ) provided with a movable member ( 14   a ) controlling the switching thereof, adapted to cause the opening and the closing thereof, said microswitch ( 14 ) being disposed adjacent the retaining and guiding means ( 13 ) such that the movable member ( 14   a ) thereof is adapted to explore, like a feeler member, said at least one plurality of projections ( 8 ) and recesses ( 9 ), and to cause a switching of the microswitch at each transition from a projection ( 8 ) to a recess ( 9 ), and from a recess ( 9 ) to a projection ( 8 ). 
     
     
         22 . Infusion assembly according to  claim 20 , for use with capsules or cartridges ( 1 ), wherein the detection or reading means comprise a pair of microswitches ( 14 ) disposed essentially one opposite the other in a direction transverse to the displacement direction (F 1 ) of a capsule or cartridge ( 1 ), along said retaining and guiding means ( 13 ), and each adapted to feel a respective plurality of projections ( 8 ) and recesses ( 9 ) of the body ( 2 ) of the capsule or cartridge ( 1 ). 
     
     
         23 . Infusion assembly according to  claim 20 , for use with capsules or cartridges, wherein the detection or reading means ( 14 ) comprise at least one optical reading device adapted to scan said at least one plurality of projections ( 8 ) and recesses ( 9 ) and to provide an electric signal which has a commutation in correspondence of each transition from a projection ( 8 ) to a recess ( 9 ), and from a recess ( 9 ) to a projection ( 8 ). 
     
     
         24 . Infusion assembly according to  claim 20 , for use with capsules or cartridges ( 1 ), wherein the detection or reading means comprise a pair of optical readers disposed essentially opposite one another in a direction transverse to the direction of displacement (F 1 ) of a capsule or cartridge ( 1 ) along said retaining and guiding means ( 13 ), and adapted each to explore or scan a respective plurality of projections ( 8 ) and recesses ( 9 ) of the body ( 2 ) of the capsule or cartridge ( 1 ).