Method for preparing a drink and apparatus and capsule for application of this method

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of preparing a drink consisting of passing hot water under pressure in a sealed capsule and a device allowing the use of this method.

[0002] The present invention is intended in particular for the preparation of coffee, so, for the sake of simplicity, the following description applies only to this drink. However, the present invention will still be recognized as intended for the preparation of any drink that can be obtained by passing hot water in a capsule containing a substance to be dissolved or extracted (usually particles or powder) according to the methods described below.

[0003] The use of disposable capsules for the preparation of coffee has been known for many years. These are usually capsules that can have filters and through which hot water, under pressure, if necessary, is injected to extract coffee from the powder or particles contained in the capsule. The outflow of the drink is ensured through an opening made in the second wall of the capsule.

[0004] Since the quality of the resulting drink is strongly dependent on the methods by which water is passed through the capsule, many methods and devices have been developed over time to prepare such beverages. For example, a capsule containing a blend of coffee powder can be used to obtain a simple infusion by slowly filtering hot water under low pressure through it, or a so-called espresso (i.e. a drink with significantly different organoleptic properties) if hot water is filtered through it . The quality of the espresso can be further improved by forcing pre-brewing before starting the drink to be removed from the capsule, and then maintaining the assumed pressure in the capsule throughout the entire period of excretion. [0005] Usually, the periods, temperatures and pressures during the pre-brewing and excretion stages, and the intergranular flow rate, and thus the microturbulence generated, are necessary for obtaining a good organoleptic result. Since not all soluble substances contained in coffee are useful in obtaining the optimal result, it is necessary to ensure that the extraction cycle is optimized so that the appearance, smell and taste confirm the positive result of the course. Up to now, only empirical methods were considered to be truly reliable in determining the quality of coffee.

[0006] Therefore, the main technique for making good quality espresso is generally well known. In practice, however, how to achieve a good level of quality and maintain it over time is neither easy nor reliable. This is because the success of a business is influenced by many factors that are difficult to quantify and sometimes even identify, because even minimal changes in operating conditions can have very different effects.

[0007] Furthermore, when choosing production methods, priority should be given to simple, reliable methods with a low industrial cost, which, however, guarantee a good end result.

EP 2 000 063 Β1

Using methods that are too complex and therefore too expensive to obtain an optimal result is not commercially possible.

[0008] As already indicated, one of the techniques known for their ability to improve the result in terms of espresso coffee quality is pre-brewing. It consists of introducing hot water into the capsule, preventing it from flowing until the internal pressure reaches the set value (and maintaining it, if necessary, for the set amount of time). Such activity should allow water to penetrate deeply into the micropores of the coffee granules / powder, due to its own compression pressure and thereby reducing the volume of gaseous substances present in said pores. This deep penetration would allow water on one hand to come into contact with a much larger surface than that created only by the outer coating of the granules, and on the other would bring out the aromas and essential oils found in the granules, which make up the majority of coffee. Therefore, this way you can bring out a much improved coffee taste and aroma.

[0009] The fact that the preparation of beverages using capsules has long been a matter of great interest is indicated by numerous patents related to this topic. For example, the following:

CH 406561, CH 605293, DE 3722554, DE

7430109U, EP 199953, EP 211511, EP 242 556, EP

382001, EP 468078, EP 468079, EP 468080, EP

469162, EP 471094, EP 507905, FR 757358, FR

1198879, FR 1537031, FR2062337, FR 2171306,

FR 2556323, GB 938617, GB 2023086, US

2715868, US 2899886, US 3094917, US 3292527,

US 3347151, US 3403617, US 3470812, US

3589272, US 4077551, US 4136202, US 4921712,

WO 86/02537.

[0010] Further examples of patents describing various methods for opening capsules include the following: WO 2005090196, EP 1557373, EP 1243210, EP 1674007, EP 0726053, EP 1599117, WO 9507648, US 5243164, EP 1555218, EP 1247756.

[0011] Said patent documents essentially describe three main methods for preparing coffee beverages using disposable sealed capsules: a first method in which the second wall of the capsule is pierced before water is injected into it and thus does not use pre-brewing; a second method utilizing the inwardly directed openable portion of the capsule base (patents EP 1557373 and EP 1243210); and a third method which instead uses pre-brewing and in which the second wall of the capsule is pierced as a direct consequence of the increase in internal pressure resulting from the injection of water into it.

[0012] With regard to the second method, patents EP 1243210 and EP 1557373 describe two very similar solutions in which the capsule opens by means of an inwardly directed deformation of the openable part of the base wall. In the case of patent EP 1557373, an openable part is obtained

ΕΡ 2,000 063 Β1 by pushing the base wall inward along the weakening line, using an external punch after the internal pressure reaches the set value. In contrast, in the case of patent EP 1243210, the capsule is immediately made with an openable part which, however, is shaped in such a way that it forms a valve at the beginning of water injection into the capsule. In particular, the openable part rests on the rest of the base so that it cannot open outwards. As a result, the base is properly opened by means of an external contact element that acts on the openable part when, following the increase in pressure, the capsule is sufficiently distended.

[0013] The third above-mentioned method, however, has two main forms.

[0014] The first embodiment, described, for example, in US Patent 4,136,202, involves a tear in the cartridge caused by an increase in pressure, preferably in its weakened zones.

[0015] In a second embodiment, the excretion of coffee begins after the capsule base has been punctured due to the capsule expanding due to internal pressure created by water ingress, which means that the base breaks by a solid element that is integrated into the base of the body holding the capsule and protrudes from it (patents EP 468 078 and EP 507 905). The tear created in this way allows air and liquid to flow out under pressure, the value of which depends on the resistance of the capsule base to tearing and on the shape of the protruding sharp element.

[0016] However, these known technical solutions have several disadvantages. When the capsule base is pressed in, a state generating the above-mentioned air or gas compression within the micropores of the granules is not reached. The increase in pressure occurs with the simultaneous presence of fluid and gas / air inside the entire capsule, not just inside the micropores, which means that virtually only the air outside the micropores is compressed. As a result, water does not penetrate into the micropores unless extreme phenomena, such as microturbulence, occur that can dynamically remove some of the air contained in some micropores.

[0017] It should be noted, however, that during the discharge of the drink there is some new pressure increase inside the capsule due to the dynamic resistance exerted on the beverage flowing out of the opening, which may allow water to partially penetrate into the micropores of the coffee granules. On the other hand, following the aforementioned new pressure increase inside the capsule, in the absence of a pressure drop that is necessary for the leaked liquid to flow out, the dissolved substances only partially flow out of the granules.

[0018] Therefore, the methods known in the art, although they achieve results in which the quality of the drink is sometimes good, use substantially inefficient pre-brewing treatments and therefore allow for further significant improvements. They are also not without structural problems, including in particular the narrow tolerance of the components necessary to ensure that the walls of the bases of the capsules are torn in the required way and in the required time, along with the necessary repeatability and immutability over time.

[0019] Working close to the maximum limits of the capsule's resistance to puncture is necessary to obtain satisfactory results, but it hinders the optimization of the set of various important parameters and tolerances (maximum pumping pressure available, deformability of the capsule material and relative thickness, nature of the compound, ambient temperature, sharpness of the piercing element , degree of protrusion thereof, and general size tolerances).

EP 2 000 063 Β1 [0020] It can be inferred from this that there is a risk of premature puncture or even complete failure. Furthermore, punching can sometimes be too firm, leaving an open hole that does not sufficiently counteract the discharge, or the hole can hardly open, extending the excretion period beyond necessity.

[0021] As already indicated, other known methods mechanically pierce the base of the capsule (in some cases removing part of it, in others plastically deforming the edges delimiting the hole boundary) before, or simultaneously with, the beginning of water entering the capsule. For simplicity of construction, these methods do not use pre-brewing, and instead try to obtain an acceptable solution in other ways: high values ​​of operating pressure, very fine grain grinding, high operating temperatures, reduced hydraulic flow rates, turbulence phenomena caused by the special internal shape of the capsule. All these methods are partly suitable to achieve the goal, but are in turn complex and unreliable (without unacceptably increasing production costs). Other methods use electronic control devices and achieve very moderate pre-brewing at atmospheric pressure, and then increase pressure during the next stage, increasing pumping capacity.

[0022] In short, all these methods known in the art obtain uncertain or unsatisfactory results, often at a significant cost.

[0023] In such a situation, the technical purpose forming the basis of the present invention is to provide a method of preparing a drink that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages, as well as to provide an apparatus enabling the use of this method.

[0024] In particular, the technical object of the present invention is to develop a method for preparing a beverage and associated device capable of preparing beverages with optimal organoleptic properties.

[0025] Another technical object of the present invention is to develop a method of preparing a drink and the associated device guaranteeing a result that can be repeated and which does not change over time.

[0026] The stated technical purpose and the indicated intentions are generally achieved by the method of preparing the drink and the associated device as described in the claims herein.

[0027] Further features and advantages of the present invention are more apparent in the following detailed description, with reference to several preferred, non-limiting examples of the method of preparing a beverage and the associated device and capsule, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a partial schematic side view of a device made in accordance with the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the device of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a schematic view of the capsule and the capsule cutting means according to the present invention;

- Figure 4 shows the capsule and lancing means of Figure 3 according to line IV-IV; and

- Figures 5 to 7 are schematic illustrations of several steps of the method according to the present invention.

ΕΡ 2,000 063 Β1 [0028] The method of preparing a beverage according to the present invention involves the use of a capsule 1 (e.g. of the type illustrated in Figures 3 and 4) having a first wall 2 and a second wall 3 connected by a transverse wall 4 containing a mining substance 5, such as particles or coffee powder. Preferably, the capsule 1 may also comprise filters or diffusers 6 of the type illustrated in Figure 4. In addition, in the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the first wall 2 is the top wall of the capsule, while the second wall 3 is the bottom wall of the capsule.

[0029] In the known method, the method of preparing a beverage comprises the operational steps of making a first opening in the first wall 2 of the capsule 1, making a second opening 7 in the second wall 3 of the capsule 1, injecting hot water inside the capsule 1 through the first opening and making the drink flow out through the second hole 7.

[0030] The first opening can be made by any method, for example using a spike 8 integrated into the movable part of the device 9, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below.

[0031] Similarly, water can be injected inside the capsule 1 by any method, for example using tubules directly or indirectly associated with the spike 8 that pierces the first wall 2.

[0032] In turn, according to the present invention, the step of making the second opening 7 through which the beverage must be able to flow out, comprises several stages. The first is the operating stage in which at least one linear cut is made in the second wall 3 of the capsule 1. Said cut 10, preferably made before the injection step, is preferably made substantially without removing material from the wall of the capsule 1, so that its boundaries are delimited by two adjacent portions 11 of the second wall 3. The cut 10 is preferably obtained by means of the blade 12. Moreover, it can run both straight and crooked, although it is preferably made in such a way that it does not delimit the borders of the flap parts, i.e. that the distance between two non-adjacent cut points 10 is always greater than the mutual distance between all the points lying between the first two .

[0033] Furthermore, the step of making the cut 10 is preferably carried out without affecting the contents of the capsule 1 (especially the filter 6, which can separate the capsule base from the powdered coffee). Finally, in the most common embodiments, the cut 10 is usually made to have a length between 2 and 6 mm.

[0034] Depending on the requirements, a plurality of incisions 10 can be made, each having boundaries delimited by two adjacent portions 11 of the base of the capsule 1, each of the incisions 10 being able to cross or be in a different zone of the second wall 3.

[0035] It should also be emphasized that the step of making the incision 10 may be carried out at a different moment from that at which the beverage is being prepared. The cut may already be made during the production of the capsule 1. In this case, however, the cut 10 is preferably covered to preserve the organoleptic properties of the substance contained in the capsule. Each capsule can, for example, be individually packed with a hermetically sealed wrapper, or the incision can be covered with an adhesive protective film that must be removed before using the capsule.

ΕΡ 2,000 063 Β1 [0036] After making the cut 10, there is a stage during which the adjacent portions 11 of the second wall 3 defining the boundaries of the cut 10 can approach each other again to essentially prevent, directly or indirectly, as described below, the flow out drink through the incision.

[0037] This entails, firstly, removing from the cut 10, if necessary, the cutting means used (blade 12 or other). It is only at this point that the adjacent parts 11, which mark the boundaries of the incision 10, can approach each other again freely and return to their initial positions, if necessary. In particular, when the operation making the incision 10 moves the adjacent parts 11 (flexibly deforming them) from their initial positions (usually it is a movement into the interior of the capsule 1), the proper approaching of adjacent parts can take place both before the following injection step (e.g. due to flexibility of adjacent parts 11), as well as after the injection stage, due to the increase in pressure created inside the capsule 1. Furthermore, the removal of the cutting agent 35 from the score 10 may be due to an increase in pressure inside the capsule caused by the injection step.

In any case, according to the present invention, the re-approaching step is carried out in such a way that after this step the incision has a lateral size and / or shape such that it substantially prevents the passage of fluid through it, but allows air to enter. As described below, the cut 10 thus allows the capsule to be emptied of air and, at the same time, to achieve optimal pre-brewing of the beverage. If this were not possible, then after the step of re-approaching, the incision 10 would still preferably have a lateral size and / or shape that substantially prevents the particles of extraction substance (coffee) from passing through it, which are usually removed by the first drops of water passing through the substance . Therefore, in this case, the next operating stage can be identified with blocking the incision 10 by means of said particles carried near the incision 10 by the water injected into the capsule 1. As can be easily deduced, during this blocking stage, some drops of fluid escape through the second opening 7 until it is completely blocked. In this case, however, it is not possible to properly drink the drink. Therefore, after making the incision 10 by a method that provides it with a lateral size that meets one of the two above-mentioned requirements, following the injection of water into the capsule 1, at least part of the air contained in it is excreted, after which a few drops of liquid may escape, but then the period during which the escape of the drink is substantially stopped.

[0039] In other words, when the water enters the capsule 1, the notch 10 made in the second wall 3 acts as a valve, practically open to air or gases contained in the capsule 1, but closed to the first arriving droplets that are concentrated by solid particles.

[0040] The situation is the same when the lateral cut size 10 is too small to allow air to enter. In this case, the edges delimiting the notch 10 are substantially coplanar and butt but are not integrated with each other. However, the minimum overpressure in the capsule (e.g., about 0.1 bar) is sufficient for the two edges delimiting the cut 10 to move apart bending gently so as to create a gap sufficient for gas to enter. However, in this patent, said minimum bend is not

ΕΡ 2 000 063 Β1 considered as deformation of the second wall 3 because the definition of the same is reserved for the deformation that allows the beverage to enter.

[0041] As already indicated, at this point of the disclosed method, the drink still cannot get out of the capsule 1, because the second opening 7 can still not be considered completely formed.

As a result, in the next step of the disclosed method, after the above-mentioned expulsion of air, by continuing the step of injecting hot water inside the capsule 1, the internal pressure in the capsule 1 is further increased to create a substantial deformation (flexible or permanent) of the second wall 3 and the resulting adjacent portions 11 defining the boundaries of the notch 10 to allow the beverage to enter. Moreover, depending on the requirements, the deformation of the second wall 3 can only affect part of the second wall (as is the case with the device illustrated in the attached drawings) or the whole of the second wall 3.

[0043] Therefore, preferably, the injection step is in turn divided into a first sub-step during which the internal pressure increases not deforming the second wall 3 but expelling air, and into a second sub-step during which the pressure is further increased and this time deforms the second wall 3 (preferably, it is elastic deformation). In practice, the transition from the first to the second sub-step corresponds to exceeding the pressure threshold in order to overcome the structural resistance of the second wall 3 of the capsule 1 and / or to allow any particles blocking the cut 10 to be expelled.

[0044] It is indirectly apparent that the force needed in the step of substantially deforming the second wall 3 must be much greater than that required to allow the edges to move apart so that air can flow out if the cut 10 has a very limited transverse size. This situation is exacerbated by the fact that the microscopic particles accumulated on the cut 10 block the cut 10, helping to keep them substantially airtight and preventing fluid from entering it. It should be noted that approximately and schematically one can imagine microparticles with a spherical shape and a diameter of about 0.1 - 0.2 mm, which pass through the cut 10, and then unblock the cut 10, and allow the liquid to flow out, and the required deformation is a lot larger than the one that only needs to pass air or fluid. It can be inferred from this that the pressure must increase significantly before the cut 10 properly opens and allows fluid to enter. Overpressure must be approximately 20-30 times greater than that which allows air to enter easily. It should be noted, however, that all the values ​​given here are exemplary only and do not limit the scope of the invention in any way, because in practice they are inseparably connected with the shape and size of the incision 10 and with the thickness and type of material used to make the second wall 3 of the capsule 1.

[0045] Figures 5 to 7 schematically illustrate the steps of making the incision 10, the adjacent parts delimiting the incision again approaching, and the subsequent deformation of the second wall 3 of the capsule 1.

[0046] It should also be noted that if two or more incisions are made in the second wall 3, all the steps described above, and in particular the step of approaching and separating adjacent parts 11 which mark their boundaries again, are preferably carried out for each incision 10.

EP 2 000 063 Β1 [0047] Regarding the production of the beverage, it should be noted that in the step of increasing the pressure and expelling the air, with the incision still closed, there is a deep and extensive penetration of liquid into the microwells of the granules, which allows abundantly to extract the desired organoleptic substances and which is enabled by the fact that air and / or gases in intergranular spaces are gradually expelled. Therefore, at the end of excretion, the only remaining air / gas is that which is in the micropores of the individual granules and which is therefore easy to compress to reduce its volume by 5 to 10 times. However, the proper compression of said air depends on the pressure inside the capsule 1, so maximum compression is achieved when the deformation of the second wall 3 and / or the expulsion of the blocking particles allow the beverage to flow out of the incision 10 (moment of maximum pressure).

[0048] Immediately after the start of the beverage release, there is a sharp pressure drop inside the capsule 1, which allows the air / gas in the micropores to expand by pushing water that has previously penetrated it and which in the meantime has extracted aromas from inside the particles. The speed of this phenomenon also causes micro-turbulence phenomena that are very useful in mining.

[0049] The method described above can be used in any device 9 suitable for this purpose.

[0050] However, a preferred embodiment of the device 9 for applying the method described above is described below with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

[0051] Generally, the device 9 comprises at least one room 13 in which the capsule 1 containing the substance 5 can be placed and associated with a means 14 for making a first opening in the first wall 2 of the capsule 1 and a means 15 for making a second opening 7 in the second wall 3 of the capsule 1. Preferably, the room 13 is shaped to fit into the capsule 1, which must be placed in it.

[0052] In the illustrated embodiment, the device 9 also comprises a main body 16 and a secondary body 17 that operate in conjunction with each other to form a room 13. The volume of the room 13 is almost completely inside the main body 16, while the secondary body 17 is movable relative to the main body 16 between the open position in which it allows access to the room 13 and the closed position in which it hermetically seals the room 13 and forms its upper closing wall.

[0053] In particular, the room 13 is mostly made in the upper wall of the main body 16, while the secondary body 17 is located above the upper wall and is axially attached to the main body 16 according to the horizontal axis of rotation 18. The secondary body 17 can thus pivot between the closed position (in which it is horizontal in the attached drawings) and the open position (in which it is tilted upwards relative to the closed position). In Figures 1 and 2, the secondary body 17 is shown in a transitional position 20, between the open and closed positions.

[0054] The sealing means 19, shown in the attached drawings as an annular seal, is placed between the main body 16 and the secondary body 17 and is designed to form a seal between the capsule 1 and the secondary body 17.

[0055] There is also at least one drain pipe not shown which allows fluid to flow from the room 13 in a known manner.

EP 2 000 063 Β1 [0056] The reciprocating movement of the main body 16 and the secondary body 17 is provided by a means 20 for moving the secondary body 17 relative to the main body 16.

[0057] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the moving means 20 comprises at least one first rocker arm 21, the central part of which is axially attached to the main body 16; at least one actuator 22 associated with the first end 23 of the first rocker arm 21; and at least one rod 24 whose first end 25 is axially attached to the second end 26 of the first rocker arm 21 and whose second end 27 is axially attached to the secondary body 17. [0058] It is preferred, however, that the device 9 comprises the first two rockers 21 and the two rods 24 mounted on the mirror on both sides of the main body 16, while the actuator 22 is associated with both first rockers 21. The actuator 22 may consist of, for example, an element C-shaped, in which both C-shaped arms are connected to both first swing arms 21, while the central part is a handle for the user (not shown).

[0059] The rotation of the first rocker arm 21 around the point where it is axially attached to the main body 16 by means of the actuator 22 causes, via the rod 24, the secondary body 17 to swing between the open position and the closed position.

[0060] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the first rocker arm 21 has a curved shape (forming a substantially right angle) and the actuator 22 is connected to the rocker in the direction of operation X, substantially parallel to the movable connection of point 28 in which the first rocker 21 it is axially attached on the main body 16 to point 29, in which the rod 24 is articulated on the first rocker arm 21 (Figure 1).

[0061] Each first rocker arm 21 may move between a maximally extended position in which the point 29 in which the rod 24 is articulated on the first rocker arm 21 is vertically positioned below the point 28 in which the first rocker arm 21 is articulated on the main body 16 and the position in which room 13 is open (these positions are not illustrated in the attached drawings).

[0062] When the first rocker arm 21 is in the open position, the point 29 at which the rod 24 is axially attached to the first rocker arm 21 is rotated by an assumed angle of rotation relative to the maximally extended position, according to the second direction of rotation, which in Figure 1 is clockwise. In the maximally extended position of the first rocker arm 21, the secondary body 17 is in the closest position to the main body 16 and therefore tightens the sealing means 19 to the maximum.

[0063] However, to prevent accidental opening of the room 13, the device 9 also includes a means 30 for blocking the rod 24 when the secondary body 17 is in the closed position. The center comprises at least one tooth 31 and at least one cavity 32 fitted to the tooth, one of which is connected to the rod 24 and the other to the main body 16 (both in Figure 1).

[0064] Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the moving means 20. The portion of the first rocker arm 21 forming the first end 23 is replaced by a first concentric ring gear 50 with a point 28 where the first rocker arm 21 is articulated on the main body 16. The first ring gear meshes with the second ring gear 51

EP 2 000 063 Β1 articulated on the main body 16 by means of a pin 52. The second ring gear 51 can be rotatably driven around the stem 52 by an actuator 22, which can be rigidly connected either directly to the second ring gear 51, or to an adapter rod (not shown) that connects the first two ring gears 51 located on both sides of the main body 16 (similar to the description above relating to the swingarms 21). Therefore, in this case, the actuator 22 is not rigidly connected to the first rocker arm 21, but is coupled to it.

[0065] The room 13 is associated with a means for injecting hot water inside the capsule 1, which in the illustrated embodiments comprises a channel 33 terminated with a niche 34 extending around the center 14 for making the first opening, which center in turn consists of a fixed spike 8 integrated with the secondary body 17 and positioned so that it projects into the interior of the room 13 piercing the capsule 1 when the room 13 is closed. In any case, the means for injecting water and making the first hole may be any form (the channel 33 may, for example, extend into the spike 8, which may have a through hole).

[0066] The essence of the disclosed device 9 is both the fact that the means 15 for making the second opening 7 comprises a cutting means 35 designed to make at least one linear cut 10 in the second wall 3, as well as the fact that it also includes a moving means 36 for reciprocating movement of the cutting means 35 and the room 13 between the cutting positions in which the cutting means 35 protrudes deep into the housing 13 and can cut the second wall 3 of the capsule 1 contained therein, and a parent position in which the cutting means 35 cannot overlap the capsule 1 located in room 13. As shown in Figure 2, in the case illustrated, the main body 16 and, hence, the room 16 remain stationary, while the moving means 36 only affects the cutting medium 35.

[0067] In the illustrated embodiment, the cutting means 35 comprises at least one blade 12 integrated with the upper end of the rod 12, which can move vertically below the room 13, between the lower position and the upper position.

[0068] The thickness of the blade 12 is preferably limited so that the cut 10 it makes is a substantially linear cut 10 (straight or curved) in accordance with the present invention. The rod 37 is slidably mounted on the hydraulic seal in the main body 16.

[0069] The moving means 36 moves the rod 37 in such a way that when the rod is in the upper position, the blade 12 projects deep into the room 13, and when it is in the lower position, the blade 12 is placed in a niche 38 formed in the first base of the room 13. Niche 38 can also be used to demarcate the zone of the second wall 3, which can be deformed. If the base of the room 13 is shaped to fit into the second wall 3, then only part of the second wall 3 in niche 38 may undergo the deformation step described above.

[0070] In the illustrated embodiment, the moving means 36 comprises at least one second rocker 39 with a central portion axially attached on the main body 16 and connected at the first end 40 to the cutting means 35 (rod 37) and at the second end 41 to the actuator 42 In this way, the second rocker 39 can move between the first position in which the cutting means 35 is in

ΕΡ 2,000,063 macierzyst1 home position (Figure 2) and the second position in which the cutting means 35 is in the cutting position (not shown).

[0071] Preferably, the flexible returning element (spring) 43 is connected to the second rocker 39 so that, in the absence of stress from the actuator 42, it is held in the first position. In Figure 2, the flexible element 43 is connected between the second rocker 39 and the actuator 42. The upward movement of the second one is prevented by the vertical projection 44 of the main body 16, which has the additional application described below.

[0072] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the means 36 moving the cutting means 35 is operated directly by the moving means 20 of the secondary body 17. To this end, the actuator 42 has a first engagement element 45 which can engage with the moving means 20, and in particular with a second engagement element 46 integrated in the first rocker arm 21 to move the actuator 42 during the passage of the main body 16 from the open position to the closed position. to transfer the cutting means 35 to the cutting position.

[0073] In particular, when the secondary body 17 is close to the closed position, the second engagement element 46 attaches to the first engagement element 45 such that a further rotation of the first swing arm 21 (counterclockwise in Figure 2) causes rotation and translation of the actuator 42 (clockwise in Figure 2) and, as a result, the rotation of the second swingarm 39 (counterclockwise in Figure 2), which causes the cutting means 35 to rise to the cutting position. Since the secondary body 17 is close to the closed position, the capsule 1 is practically locked in the room 13, and its second wall 3 can easily be cut by the cutting means 35.

[0074] When the cut 10 is made, the further rotation of the first rocker arm 21 interacts with the engagement element 45 with the rigid projection 44 integrated into the main body 16, which forms the release element. Partially due to the sloping shape of the first engagement element 45, interaction with the projection 44 causes it to rotate downwards, which results in releasing the first engagement element 45 from the second engagement element 46. At this point, the flexible returning member 43 returns both the second swingarm 39 and the actuator 42 to their initial positions illustrated in Figure 2, extracting the cutting means 35 from the room 13. It should finally be noted that the various parts are sized so that the release the actuator 42 from the first swingarm 21 occurs before the secondary body 17 reaches its closed position.

[0075] Finally, as already indicated, the present invention also relates to a capsule for preparing drinks which allows applying the method described above.

[0076] The capsule contains a mining substance and comprises at least a first wall 2 designed to form an inlet wall for water injected into the capsule, and a second wall 3 designed to form an outlet wall for a beverage obtained by the interaction between water and the mining substance.

[0077] According to the present invention, the second wall 3 has at least one cut 10 extending linearly and made substantially without removing material from the second wall 3. The cut has boundaries delimited by two closely adjacent parts 11 of the second wall and has such a size and / or the shape that, if necessary again, when drawing together again, the part 11 delimiting it (of the type described

(ΕΡ 2,000 063 Β1 above), allows air to enter, but essentially prevents, directly or indirectly, the ingress of fluid.

[0078] In particular, the cut 10 has such a size and / or shape that, when it is again necessary, if necessary, to approach its boundary parts 11, it substantially prevents the particles of the substance contained in the capsule 1 from entering the water , wherein the particles and score 10 work in conjunction with each other, preventing fluid from entering.

[0079] As already indicated, the cut 10 may have a length between 2 and 6 mm.

[0080] Furthermore, the capsule may have a plurality of notches 10, each of which has boundaries delimited by two adjacent, adjacent portions 11 of the base of the capsule 1 and each of which may cross or be in a different zone of the second wall 3.

[0081] A capsule made according to the above description corresponds to an embodiment of the disclosed method in which the notch 10 in the second wall is made during capsule production.

[0082] The present invention brings important advantages.

[0083] First, the disclosed method allows reliable and constant pre-brewing not requiring narrow tolerances or particularly complex and expensive mechanical, electromechanical or electronic parts.

[0084] Furthermore, there is no clogging by coffee particles. In the event of clogging, the pressure in the capsule increases rapidly again, automatically emitting a blockage. It should be emphasized, however, that in practice the phenomenon of embolism has been shown only at the first drops of drinks concentrated by particles.

[0085] The great advantage of the device is the fact that in one operation it is possible to control all activities related to making the incision and closing / opening the room.

[0086] Furthermore, the method of closing the room by the interaction between the teeth and cavities provides the maximum ability to absorb stresses resulting from internal pressure.

[0087] It should also be noted that the present invention is relatively easy to manufacture and the cost associated with implementing the invention is small.

[0088] The described invention can be modified and adapted in several ways without departing from the scope of the inventive concept.

[0089] All the details of the invention can be replaced with technically equivalent elements and, in practice, all the materials used, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the various components, can be changed as required.