Capsule for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product

A capsule for preparing a predetermined amount of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, optionally the extractable product being ground coffee, the capsule comprising:

• a first half-capsule and a second half-capsule;
• wherein each half-capsule comprises a thin capsule wall capable of mechanical resistance and forming a barrier to oxygen and humidity;
• wherein said thin capsule wall forms in one piece a first thin wall portion delimiting an inner half-chamber which is substantially hemispherical and adapted to contain the extractable product;
• wherein said thin capsule wall, close to a greater dimension thereof, or equatorial diameter, of the inner half-chamber, forms a second thin wall portion in one piece with said first thin wall portion which bends to form an annular flange externally projecting away from said first thin wall portion in a radial direction;
• wherein said first and second half-capsules are arranged facing each other and mutually specular so as to contact at least one portion of said annular flange where said first and second half-capsules are mutually joined;
• wherein said first thin wall portions form an outline with an overall spherical volume with truncated poles;
• and
• wherein each of said truncated poles, when intact before extraction, comprises a segment of said thin capsule wall forming a plane, or a slightly concave segment, which is brought slightly towards an inside of said first thin wall portion.

A system for preparing a predetermined amount of beverage using an extractable product, the system comprising

• a capsule for preparing a predetermined amount of beverage suitable for consumption using the extractable product, optionally the extractable product being ground coffee, the capsule comprising:
• a first half-capsule and a second half-capsule;
• wherein each half-capsule comprises a thin capsule wall capable of mechanical resistance and forming a barrier to oxygen and humidity;
• wherein said thin capsule wall forms in one piece a first thin wall portion delimiting an inner half-chamber which is substantially hemispherical and adapted to contain the extractable product;
• wherein said thin capsule wall, close to a greater dimension thereof, or equatorial diameter, of the inner half-chamber, forms a second thin wall portion in one piece with said first thin wall portion which bends to form an annular flange externally projecting away from said first thin wall portion in a radial direction;
• wherein said first and second half-capsules are arranged facing each other and mutually specular so as to contact at least one portion of said annular flange where the first and second half-capsules are mutually joined;
• wherein said first thin wall portions form an outline with an overall spherical volume with truncated poles;
• and
• wherein each of said truncated poles, when intact before extraction, comprises a segment of said thin capsule wall forming a plane, or a slightly concave segment, which is brought slightly towards an inside of said first thin wall portion;
• and
• an extraction apparatus comprising a receptacle for comprising the capsule, a piercing device for injecting fluid into the capsule and an opening device for allowing an extract to come out from the capsule.

A method for extracting a beverage from a capsule for preparing a predetermined amount of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, optionally the extractable product being ground coffee, the capsule comprising:

• a first half-capsule and a second half-capsule;
• wherein each half-capsule comprises a thin capsule wall capable of mechanical resistance and forming a barrier to oxygen and humidity;
• wherein said thin capsule wall forms in one piece a first thin wall portion delimiting an inner half-chamber which is substantially hemispherical and adapted to contain the extractable product;
• wherein said thin capsule wall, close to a greater dimension thereof, or equatorial diameter, of the inner half-chamber, forms a second thin wall portion in one piece with said first thin wall portion which bends to form an annular flange externally projecting away from said first thin wall portion in a radial direction;
• wherein said first and second half-capsules are arranged facing each other and mutually specular so as to contact at least one portion of said annular flange where said first and second half-capsules are mutually joined;
• wherein said first thin wall portions form an outline with an overall spherical volume with truncated poles;
• and
• wherein each of said truncated poles, when intact before extraction, comprises a segment of said thin capsule wall forming a plane, or a slightly concave segment, which is brought slightly towards an inside of said first thin wall portion,
• the capsule further comprising the extractable product,
• when the capsule is inserted into a system for preparing a predetermined amount of beverage using the extractable product, the system comprising an extraction apparatus comprising a receptacle for comprising the capsule, a piercing device for injecting fluid into the capsule and an opening device for allowing an extract to come out from the capsule,
• the method comprising:
• inserting the capsule into said receptacle of said extraction apparatus,
• closing said receptacle so as to pierce at least one of said truncated poles with said piercing device;
• and
• injecting a fluid into the capsule with said piercing device.

A method for separating a used extractable product from a capsule for preparing a predetermined amount of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, optionally the extractable product being ground coffee, the capsule comprising:

• a first half-capsule and a second half-capsule;
• wherein each half-capsule comprises a thin capsule wall capable of mechanical resistance and forming a barrier to oxygen and humidity;
• wherein said thin capsule wall forms in one piece a first thin wall portion delimiting an inner half-chamber which is substantially hemispherical and adapted to contain the extractable product;
• wherein said thin capsule wall, close to a greater dimension thereof, or equatorial diameter, of the inner half-chamber, forms a second thin wall portion in one piece with said first thin wall portion which bends to form an annular flange externally projecting away from said first thin wall portion in a radial direction;
• wherein said first and second half-capsules are arranged facing each other and mutually specular so as to contact at least one portion of said annular flange where said first and second half-capsules are mutually joined;
• wherein said first thin wall portions form an outline with an overall spherical volume with truncated poles;
• and
• wherein each of said truncated poles, when intact before extraction, comprises a segment of said thin capsule wall forming a plane, or a slightly concave segment, which is brought slightly towards an inside of said first thin wall portion,
• by a used capsule emptying device for separating the used extractable product from the thin capsule wall, wherein said used capsule emptying device comprises:
• a collection chamber comprising a collection chamber opening edge delimiting a collection chamber opening adapted to receive at least the first or second thin wall, leaving the annular flange of the first or second half-capsule resting on said collection chamber opening edge;
• wherein said collection chamber opening edge comprises a collection chamber seat, close to an edge thereof opposite to said collection chamber opening, adapted to receive a first or second flange ring;
• wherein said used capsule emptying device comprises a tubular cover comprising a cover opening which receives a freely sliding piston;
• wherein said cover opening comprises an outer cover ring which fits outside around said collection chamber, and an inner cover ring resting with a cover edge thereof against said collection chamber opening edge so as to sandwich, between the cover edge and the collection chamber opening edge, the annular flange of the first half-capsule and the annular flange of the second half-capsule of a used capsule resting on the collection chamber;
• wherein said tubular cover comprises a cover seat adapted to receive the first or second flange ring;
• and
• wherein said freely sliding piston slides in said cover opening to interfere with said used capsule and crush said used capsule towards said collection chamber,
• wherein
• the capsule is placed resting with the annular flange of the first half-capsule on the collection chamber opening edge, arranging the flange ring thereof, housed in the collection chamber seat;
• the tubular cover is fitted outside the collection chamber of said thin capsule wall and moved until the cover edge thereof is brought into abutment against the annular flange of the second half-capsule, sandwiching said annular flange of the second half-capsule against said annular flange of the first half-capsule and said collection chamber opening edge;
• the piston is caused to slide telescopically in the cover opening until the piston rests on an upper pole, that is, the truncated pole of first half-capsule, of the upper half-capsule, that is, the second half-capsule;
• and
• travel of the piston continues until the piston has completed a telescopic travel, completely entering the tubular cover and crushing the used capsule which, by virtue of openings made therein by an opening device, tears the thin capsule wall, allowing the extractable product to come out as the capsule is gradually crushed and opened, releasing the used extractable product.