Capsule for beverages

Abstract

A capsule includes an aluminum casing extending about an axis, which includes base and side walls defining a cavity containing a product, and a flanged edge extending from said side wall and including, at the outer end, an annular bead. A covering element is fixed to the flanged edge to close the cavity; a flanged edge includes a first portion which includes the annular bead and an annular second portion contiguous with the side defined in which the ring is accommodated, the free edge of the annular bead at a respective first distance from the first plane that is greater than or the same as the thickness of the ring, so that the recess.

1 . A capsule comprising:
 a casing that extends about an axis, which comprises a base wall and a side wall defining a cavity containing an initial product to be joined to a fluid to obtain a final product, and a flanged edge extending from said side wall and comprising, at the outer end, an annular bead;   a covering element, fixed to the flanged edge to close the cavity;   a sealing element, associated with the flanged edge to make a fluidic seal with a dispensing machine; wherein   the casing is made of aluminium and the sealing element comprises a cellulose-based ring; and wherein   the flanged edge comprises a first portion which comprises the annular bead and a second portion contiguous with the side wall, which is annular and lies on a first plane; and wherein   the first portion is contained in a half-space, defined by the first plane and facing the base wall (201), extends in a direction parallel to the axis towards the base wall as far as a free edge of the annular bead, and wherein   the first portion is defined without discontinuity from a border of the casing as far as the second portion through the annular bead, between the first portion and the side wall facing the first portion, a recess being defined in which the ring is accommodated, the free edge of the annular bead being at a respective first distance from the first plane that is greater than or the same as the thickness of the ring, so that the recess contains the ring entirely.   
     
     
         2 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion has a tilted wall which is joined on one side to the annular bead without discontinuity and on the other side to the first portion with discontinuity, an angle being defined between the tilted wall and the second portion. 
     
     
         3 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein said first distance is comprised between 0.40 mm and 2.20 mm, still more preferably comprised between 0.90 mm and 1.90 mm, still more preferably equal to 1.60 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular bead, for example curled or rounded, extends radially between an inner edge and an outer edge for a maximum diameter, the first portion being contained radially between the inner edge and the outer edge of the annular bead. 
     
     
         5 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is shaped so as to be wound initially around the border of the casing, defining the annular bead and subsequently, to move progressively away from the annular bead as far as the second portion. 
     
     
         6 . The capsule according to  claim 5 , wherein the first portion is shaped like a spiral that defines the annular bead and moves progressively away therefrom as far as the second portion through the tilted wall. 
     
     
         7 . The capsule according to  claim 2 , wherein the angle is greater than or equal to 10° and is less than or equal to 90°, preferably is greater than or equal to 14° and less than, or equal to 65°, still more preferably greater, or equal to 20° and less than, or equal to 45°. 
     
     
         8 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular bead is displaced towards the base wall, the first distance being greater than the maximum diameter of the annular bead itself. 
     
     
         9 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the ring comprises an outer zone that extends at least as far as abutting on the first portion, the ring being optionally retained associated with the casing by interference between the outer zone and the first portion. 
     
     
         10 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the ring comprises an inner zone that extends at least as far as abutting on the side wall of the capsule, the ring being retained optionally associated with the capsule by interference between the inner zone and the side wall. 
     
     
         11 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the ring comprises a single layer of cellulose-based material intended for contacting the dispensing machine. 
     
     
         12 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the ring comprises a stratified structure which comprises at least one cellulose-based outer layer, and a joining layer configured to enable the stratified structure to be joined to the second portion. 
     
     
         13 . The capsule according to  claim 12 , wherein the stratified structure is made of a plurality of superimposed layers and comprises the outer layer , the joining layer, an inner layer of cellulose-based material and a further joining layer, the latter joining together the outer layer and the inner layer, which is joined to the second portion by the joining layer. 
     
     
         14 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the ring has a thickness comprised between 0.30 mm and 1.20 mm, preferably comprised between 0.55 mm and 1.10 mm, still more preferably comprised between 0.70 mm and 1.00 mm, preferably equal to 0.90 mm, to ensure uncoupling of the capsule at the end of dispensing. 
     
     
         15 . The capsule according to  claim 14 , wherein the ring has a thickness comprised between 0.55 mm and 1.10 mm, still more preferably comprised between 0.70 mm and 1.00 mm, preferably equal to 0.90 mm to ensure uncoupling of the capsule at the end of dispensing and to ensure in addition an improvement of the defectiveness due to the fluidic seal. 
     
     
         16 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element comprises a further cellulose-based ring, which is fixed to the covering element on the side opposite the flanged edge. 
     
     
         17 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein a border of the casing is folded inside the annular bead. 
     
     
         18 . A capsule comprising:
 a casing that extends around an axis, which comprises a base wall and a side wall defining a cavity containing an initial product to be joined to a fluid to obtain a final product, and a flanged edge extending from said side wall and comprising, at the outer end, an annular bead inside which a border of the casing is folded;   a covering element, fixed to the flanged edge to close the cavity;   a sealing element, associated with the flanged edge to make a fluidic seal with a dispensing machine; wherein   the casing is made of aluminium and the sealing element comprises a cellulose-based ring; and wherein   the flanged edge comprises a first portion which comprises the annular bead and a second portion contiguous with the side wall, which is annular and lies on a first plane; and wherein   the first portion is contained in a half-space, defined by the first plane and facing the base wall, extends in a direction parallel to the axis towards the base wall as far as a free edge of the annular bead, between the first portionand the side wall facing the first portion, a recess being defined in which the ring is accommodated, the free edge of the annular bead being at a respective first distance from the first plane that is greater than or the same as the thickness of the ring, so that the recess contains the ring entirely, wherein the first portion is planar and the annular bead is folded around the free edge starting from the border.   
     
     
         19 . The capsule according to  claim 18 , wherein the first portion of the flanged edge has a tilted wall which is joined on one side to the annular bead and on the other side to the first portion with discontinuity, an angle being defined between the tilted wall and the second portion. 
     
     
         20 . The capsule according to  claim 21 , wherein the angle between the tilted wall and the second portion is greater than or equal to 20° and is less than or equal to 135°. 
     
     
         21 . The capsule according to  claim 18 , wherein the flanged edge comprises in addition a connecting portion between the first portion and the second portion, such that the first portion is displaced towards the base wall by a second distance. 
     
     
         22 . The capsule according to  claim 21 , wherein the first portion comprises a tilted wall which is joined on one side to the annular bead and on the other side to the connecting portion, the tilted wall forming a first discontinuity with the connecting portion, the latter forming in turn a second discontinuity with the first portion, an angle being defined between the tilted wall and the second portion. 
     
     
         23 . The capsule according to  claim 18 , wherein said first distance is comprised between 0.40 mm and 2.20 mm, still more preferably comprised between 0.90 mm and 1.90 mm, still more preferably equal to 1.60 mm. 
     
     
         24 . The capsule according to  claim 18 , wherein the annular bead is folded around the free edge starting from the border and is flattened, the annular bead having a first flap defined between the free edge and the border which is in contact with a second flap defined starting from the free edge on the side opposite the first flap. 
     
     
         25 . The capsule according to  claim 18 , wherein the annular bead is folded around the free edge starting from the border and is V-shaped, the annular bead having a first flap defined between the free edge and the border which forms an angle with a second flap defined starting from the free edge on the side opposite the first flap.