Capsules and other containers with optimized recycling attributes and methods for making same
A capsule or container is provided having optimized recycling attributes. The capsule is provided for use in a machine for preparing a consumable product from capsules. The capsule includes a body that defines an interior space with an opening. A cover is disposed over the opening. A filter is disposed in the interior space to define a chamber between the filter and the cover. The body, filter and cover are preferably formed of the same substantially pure polymer material. Ingredients are disposed in the interior space for preparing a desired product. A hinge is provided to tether the cover to the body. The cover is attached with a peelable seal to the body so that cover may be peeled away from the body while remaining tethered at the hinge.
1. A capsule for preparing a consumable product or for containing a prepared consumable product, the capsule comprising:
a body defining an interior space, said body having an opening, said opening being surrounded by a flange;
ingredients disposed in said interior space;
a filter disposed in said interior space to define an ingredients chamber for receiving and filtering at least some of said ingredients; and
a cover secured to said flange with a seal between an underside of said cover and a top of said flange to close said opening, wherein said seal between said underside of said cover and said top of said flange includes a hinge zone and a peel zone, said underside of said cover being peelably sealed to said top of said flange at said peel zone to enable said cover to be peeled away from said flange at said peel zone towards said hinge zone, and said underside of said cover being more securely sealed to said top of said flange at said hinge zone than at said peel zone to deter said cover from being peeled away from said flange at said hinge zone;
wherein said body and said cover are each made of a same substantially pure material that is at least 95% of the same type of material by weight.
2. The capsule of claim 1 wherein said substantially pure material is selected from one of PP, PET or PLA.
3. The capsule of claim 1 wherein said substantially pure material includes a barrier material that provides an oxygen barrier between an exterior of said capsule and said interior space.
4. The capsule of claim 3 wherein said barrier material comprises less than 5% of said substantially pure material by weight.
5. The capsule of claim 3 wherein said substantially pure material is a multilayered material comprising at least one layer of PP, at least one layer of CPP and at least one layer of the barrier material.
6. The capsule of claim 1 wherein said hinge zone has a hinge zone seal strength and said peel zone has a peel zone seal strength, said hinge zone seal strength being higher than said peel zone seal strength.
7. The capsule of claim 6 wherein said hinge zone seal strength is at least 1.5 times as strong as said peel zone seal strength.
8. The capsule of claim 6 wherein said hinge zone seal strength is at least two times as strong as said peel zone seal strength.
9. The capsule of claim 1 wherein said substantially pure material comprises aluminum.
10. The capsule of claim 1 wherein said filter is made of the same substantially pure material as said body and said cover.
11. The capsule of claim 1 wherein the cover includes a tab configured to provide a grip to assist with peeling the cover away from said flange at said peel zone towards said hinge zone.
12. A capsule for preparing a consumable product or for containing a prepared consumable product, the capsule comprising:
a body defining an interior space, said body having an opening, said opening being surrounded by a flange;
ingredients disposed in said interior space;
a filter disposed in said interior space to define an ingredients chamber for receiving and filtering at least some of said ingredients, and
a cover secured to said flange with a seal between an underside of said cover and a top of said flange to close said opening, wherein said seal between said underside of said cover and said top of said flange includes a hinge zone and a peel zone, said underside of said cover being peelably sealed to said top of said flange at said peel zone to enable said cover to be peeled away from said flange at said peel zone towards said hinge zone, and said underside of said cover being more securely sealed to said top of said flange at said hinge zone than at said peel zone to deter said cover from being peeled away from said flange at said hinge zone.
13. The capsule of claim 12 wherein said body and said cover are each formed entirely of a substantially pure material.
14. The capsule of claim 13 wherein said substantially pure material is selected from one of PP, PET or PLA.
15. The capsule of claim 13 wherein said substantially pure material includes a barrier material that provides an oxygen barrier between an exterior of said capsule and said interior space.
16. The capsule of claim 15 wherein said barrier material comprises less than 10% of said substantially pure material by weight.
17. The capsule of claim 13 wherein said substantially pure material is a multilayered material comprising at least one layer of PP, at least one layer of CPP and at least one layer of barrier material.
18. The capsule of claim 12 wherein said hinge zone has a hinge zone seal strength and said peel zone has a peel zone seal strength, said hinge zone seal strength being higher than said peel zone seal strength.
19. The capsule of claim 18 wherein said hinge zone seal strength is at least 1.5 times as strong as said peel zone seal strength.
20. The capsule of claim 18 wherein said hinge zone seal strength is at least two times as strong as said peel zone seal strength.
21. The capsule of claim 13 wherein said substantially pure material comprises aluminum.
22. The capsule of claim 15 wherein said barrier material comprises less than 5% of said substantially pure material by weight.
23. The capsule of claim 13 wherein said filter is made of the same substantially pure material as said body and said cover.
24. The capsule of claim 12 wherein the cover includes a tab configured to provide a grip to assist with peeling the cover away from said flange at said peel zone towards said hinge zone.
25. A capsule for use in a beverage preparing machine to prepare a beverage product, the capsule comprising:
a body defining an interior space, said body having an opening, said opening being surrounded by a flange;
ingredients disposed in said interior space for preparing the beverage product; and
a cover secured to said flange with a seal between an underside of said cover and a top of said flange to close said opening, wherein said seal between said underside of said cover and said top of said flange includes a hinge zone and a peel zone, said underside of said cover being peelably sealed to said top of said flange at said peel zone to enable said cover to be peeled away from said flange at said peel zone, and said underside of said cover being more securely sealed to said top of said flange at said hinge zone than at said peel zone to deter said cover from being peeled away from said flange at said hinge zone.
26. The capsule of claim 25 further comprising a filter disposed in said interior space to define an ingredients chamber for receiving and filtering at least some of said ingredients.
27. The capsule of claim 25 wherein said body and said cover are each formed entirely of a substantially pure material.
28. The capsule of claim 27 wherein said substantially pure material is selected from one of PP, PET or PLA.
29. The capsule of claim 27 wherein said substantially pure material includes a barrier material that provides an oxygen barrier between an exterior of said capsule and said interior space.
30. The capsule of claim 29 wherein said barrier material comprises less than 10% of said substantially pure material by weight.
31. The capsule of claim 27 wherein said substantially pure material is a multilayered material comprising at least one layer of PP, at least one layer of CPP and at least one layer of barrier material.
32. The capsule of claim 25 wherein said hinge zone has a hinge zone seal strength and said peel zone has a peel zone seal strength, said hinge zone seal strength being higher than said peel zone seal strength.
33. The capsule of claim 32 wherein said hinge zone seal strength is at least 1.5 times as strong as said peel zone seal strength.
34. The capsule of claim 32 wherein said hinge zone seal strength is at least two times as strong as said peel zone seal strength.
35. The capsule of claim 27 wherein said substantially pure material comprises aluminum.
36. The capsule of claim 29 wherein said barrier material comprises less than 5% of said substantially pure material by weight.
37. The capsule of claim 25 , wherein the cover is peelably sealed to said top of said flange at said peel zone to enable said cover to be peeled away from said flange at said peel zone towards said hinge zone.
38. The capsule of claim 37 , wherein the cover includes a tab configured to provide a grip to assist with peeling the cover away from said flange at said peel zone towards said hinge zone.