Capsule

Abstract

A capsule (1) for preparing a food product (P) comprises a casing (2) that includes a base wall (3) and a side wall (4) defining a cavity (5) adapted to contain a food preparation (P) and a flange-shaped edge (6) extending from the lateral wall (4), wherein the side wall (4) comprises a zone (4a) which is deformable along predefined pliability lines (21) to allow the casing (2) to be It compressed along a direction (A) parallel to an axis of symmetry (S) of the capsule (1) between an undeformed configuration, a first intermediate deformed configuration and a second final deformed configuration. The capsule (1) further comprises a bottom (20) of the base wall (3), which comprises an opening (7), a cover element (8) fixed to the flange-shaped edge (6) to hermetically close the cavity (5) and a tube (10) fixed to the cover element (8). The tube (10) comprises a first end (11), which is arranged to receive a fluid injecting device for supplying the fluid (F) to the cavity (5) and obtaining a food production from said food preparation (P); a second end (12) through which the food product is dispensed to the outside; a body (14) that extends between said first end (11) and said second end (12) and that can slide in a sealed manner in the opening (7) of the bottom (20); in which the body (14) comprises an inner conduit (16) that extends along said body (14) in the direction of said axis of symmetry (S) and is closed at a first end by an end wall (11a) and communicates at a second end with a dispensing opening (22); the inner conduit (16) can communicate with the cavity (5) of the capsule (1) through at least one transverse conduit (17), which is arranged at a distance (L) from said second end (12) of the tube (10) chosen in such a manner that said at least one transverse conduit (17) is outside the capsule (1) when the capsule (1) is compressed along the pliability lines until a final deformed configuration. A method for dispensing a food preparation (P) contained in the capsule (1) comprises the following steps: compressing the capsule (1) until a first intermediate deformed configuration to cause the detachment of a closing element (23) of a bottom (20) of the capsule (1), introducing pressurised air into the capsule (1) to dispense the food product (P) contained therein and further compressing the capsule (1) until a second final deformed configuration.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.