HK1210751B - Cartridge for preparing a liquid product, and process for production thereof - Google Patents

Description

Container for preparing a liquid product and method for producing the container

Technical Field

The present description relates to containers for the preparation of liquid products.

Various embodiments may relate to a container for the preparation of beverages, such as coffee.

Background

Containers (also called "capsules") for the preparation of liquid products, such as beverages, viA the introduction of liquid (possibly under pressure and/or at elevated temperature) and/or vapour into the container, constitute an extremely rich and well-defined sector of technology, such as for example the ones constituted by FR-A-757358, FR-A-2373999 (corresponding to US-A-4136202), FR-A-2556323, GB-A-938617, GB-A-2023086, CH-A-406561, US-A-3403617, US-A-3470812, US-A-3607297 (corresponding to FR-A-1537031), WO-A-86/02537, EP-A-0199953, EP-A-0211511, EP-A-0242556, EP-A-0468078, EP-A-0469162, EP-A-0507905, WO 2010/106516A 1 and EP-A-2218653.

The numerous solutions described in the cited documents are mainly concerned with the preparation of liquid products consisting of beverages, such as coffee, tea, chocolate, bouillon, soup or various infusions.

With respect to the preparation of coffee, there are known (for example, EP- ｃA-0507905) solutions aimed at enabling the preparation of espresso coffee.

There are also known and widely used solutions in which the consumer purchases a machine (for example a coffee machine) and then purchases a container specifically designed and produced to operate in combination with that particular machine.

In this way, certain salient characteristics of the container/machine system are defined and cannot be further modified for the consumer at the time of purchase, such as:

-its external shape for introducing the container or cartridge into the machine;

-the configuration of an infusion chamber comprising the container during the process of extracting a liquid product such as a beverage;

-the form of interaction of the material constituting the container with the infusion chamber;

-the form of the beverage extraction;

-the configuration of introduction of the container at the start of the delivery; and/or

-the configuration of the discharge of the container at the end of the delivery.

For example, document EP- ｃA-0507905 describes ｃA capsule to be pierced by ｃA filtering tip due to the pressure of the liquid and/or vapour introduced into the capsule.

Such a solution may be used, for example, to provide a pierceable container or cartridge, wherein:

the top sealing foil of the container (where the hot water and/or steam enters) is mechanically pierced by the delivery assembly via the first set of piercing tips; and

the bottom of the container itself, where the beverage exits, undergoes deformation due to the pressure of the liquid/vapour introduced into the container, so that it is pierced by a second set of hollow tips having filtering properties (substantially similar to hypodermic needles).

This solution is particularly suitable for dispensing beverages such as espresso coffee. The bottom piercing due to the pressure occurs in fact simultaneously when determining the correct flow rate of hot water under pressure (normally in the range of 3-9 bar depending on the product).

However, this technique proves to be restrictive with respect to the range of products that can be obtained with a certain container/machine combination, since it can exclude, for example, beverages requiring extraction pressures equal to zero (ambient pressure), such as the so-called "filtered coffee" traditionally obtained with simple gravity leakages.

Documents such as EP 1295554 a1, WO 2006/005736 a2 or EP 1886942 a1 recognize specific solutions regarding the filtering tip, the mechanism of opening/closing/piercing by the piercing tip and the type of container, with corresponding systems.

In current practice, it is conceivable for the side walls and the bottom wall of the container to be made of a plastic material, for example polypropylene coextruded in a laminate with ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) shaped by thermoforming.

However, composites of this nature cannot be classified as compostable materials.

According to a definition generally accepted also at the patent level, the material must possess the characteristics defined as compostable (see, for example, EP-B-0497838, EP-B-0561982, EP-B-0788733, EP-B-0723572, EP-B-0868275, EP-B-0971818 and EP-B-1842944) established by, for example, the European Specification EN 13432 "adopted in Italy as UNI EN 13432" the requirement of recyclability of the packaging by composting and biodegradation-the evaluation of the Test plan and the final acceptance criteria of the packaging (Requirements for packaging and acceptable recovery-Test schedule and evaluation criterion for the final acceptance of the packaging) ".

The characteristics that the compostable materials must exhibit according to the above criteria are those listed below.

Biodegradability, i.e. the metabolic conversion of compostable materials to carbon dioxide. This property, prEN 14046 (also published as ISO 14855: biodegradability under controlled composting conditions), was measured with a standard test method. An acceptable level is 90% biodegradability (in terms of cellulose) achieved in less than 6 months.

Disintegration, i.e. debris and loss of visibility in the final compost (without visible contamination). Measured in a pilot scale (prEN 14045) composting test. Samples of the test material were composted for 3 months along with organic waste. Finally, the compost is screened with a 2mm sieve. The mass of the residue of the test material having a size greater than 2mm must be less than 10% of the initial mass.

No adverse effect on the composting process, verified by composting tests on a pilot scale.

Low levels of heavy metals (below a predefined maximum) and no adverse effect on the quality of the compost (e.g. reduced soil value and ecotoxicological effects on plant growth). A plant growth test (test OECD 208, modified) was performed on samples of compost in which the degradation of the test material had occurred. No difference could be found compared to control composting.

Other chemical-physical parameters that are not changeable after the degradation of the material under investigation: the pH value; a salt content; a volatile solid; n; p; mg; K.

it will be appreciated that the biodegradable material need not be compostable, as it must also disintegrate in the composting cycle. On the other hand, material that is broken up into tiny pieces during the composting cycle, which are however not then completely biodegradable, is not compostable.

UNI EN 13432 is a uniform specification; that is, it has been published in the official journal of the european union and adopted in europe at a national level, and an inference about packaging and packaging waste in conformity with european directive No. 94/62 EC is conceived.

With increasing interest in the environment and the end-of-life of everyday food waste, degradability is an increasingly important requirement considered by consumers of the containers considered herein.

In this respect, it has been noted that solutions may be envisaged that call for the help of compostable materials for the production of the shells of such containers (i.e. according to the term "biological material" sometimes used in the sector), such as: polymers obtained from biomass (e.g., polysaccharides, such as starch-Mater-Bi ® cellulose, lipids, proteins); synthetic polymers (e.g., polylactic acid-PLA derived from starch fermentation); polymers produced by microorganisms or transgenic bacteria (e.g., polyhydroxyalkanoates-PHA); and polymers derived from fossil monomers (e.g., dibutyl polysuccinate-PBS). Also included in this class are mixtures of the above (so-called "compounds") with or without the incorporation of additives such as nanoparticles (e.g., talc, montmorillonite (Cloesite)).

It has been noted that these biological materials, in combination with coffee machines provided with a piercing tip, may exhibit a high yield elongation, so that the operation of piercing is far from efficient, for example because the material takes the form of material around the piercing tip rather than tears, causing possible obstacles in delivery.

WO 2010/106516 a1 describes a container whereby filter paper is combined with a biopolymer, the filter paper being located on the outlet side for the beverage (coffee).

Such a container may prove unusable in coffee machines provided with piercing tips. In fact, the bottom that is pre-pierced (and therefore permeable to water) has a plan shape that may prove unsuitable for use with a particular type of filtering tip, which may alternatively:

piercing the biopolymer part first and then the paper, with the risk that ground coffee under pressure, for example used for preparing beverages, may entrain the beverage up to the item (cup) that will receive the dispensed liquid; or

-in the form of raw materials, preventing transport.

Relevant to the above is the possible risk that the tip may break if subjected to repeated cycles of this nature.

Again, WO 2012/077066 a1 describes a container in which a biodegradable/compostable polymer in combination with a material such as paper is used to facilitate piercing: on the other hand, it has been noted that, under certain conditions of use, the paper included in the container may be saturated with water/beverage and therefore undergo softening, presenting a problematic discharge thereof from the machine in which it is used.

For the sake of completeness reference may again be made to WO 2010/137952 a1 in which a container or cartridge is described which is configured for operation in a machine provided with a tip which will tear the container upon mechanical closure of the assembly to enable water to enter the container through the resulting crack (originally designed to operate with a different type of container). The container according to the solution described in WO 2010/137952 a1 (which moreover does not mention the possible use of biological material) is configured so as not to interact with the piercing tip of the machine, since the tip in question does not touch the bottom of the container itself.

Documents such as EP 1992575 a1 and WO2009/050570 a2 are further examples of prior art.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an aim of various embodiments of the present invention to overcome at least some of the limitations mentioned above.

This may apply, for example, to the limitation of the range of beverages initially obtainable from the containers used in machines featuring systems with bottom piercing due to internal pressure and/or the improvement of the end of life of the containers after the extraction process.

Various embodiments enable the above-described objects to be achieved due to the container having the characteristics.

Various embodiments may also relate to a method for producing such a container.

Technical solution forms an integral part of the technical teaching provided herein with respect to the present invention.

Various embodiments enable the provision of a container (or cartridge) that can provide one or more of the following advantages, either alone or in combination:

the possibility of providing the casing of the container made of compostable material (and possibly even only the bottom and/or the container as a whole, including the sealing foil) without causing the aforementioned functional drawbacks;

the possibility of using in a machine provided with a piercing tip that will pierce the bottom wall of the container without the bottom wall being pierced by the tip, said bottom wall being instead supported by the tip during the process of extracting the liquid product; and/or

The possibility of using the capsule for extraction at ambient pressure, for example for the preparation of so-called "filtered coffee", i.e. coffee without a creamy film of milk.

Various embodiments are able to provide a biodegradable/compostable container that can be run in machines that are present on the market provided with piercing (and possibly filtering) tips, so that the tips can interact with the bottom of the container, however, without piercing them, but instead perform an action of supporting the bottom of the container (for example, via a mechanical fit, such as a male/female fit intentionally provided in the part provided comprising the saddle shape).

In various embodiments, the bottom of the container enables the delivery of espresso coffee to be carried out appropriately under pressure (3-9 bar depending on the product type) without the shell of the container undergoing damage, thus preventing any undesired release of ground coffee that may be entrained by the beverage into the receptacle (cup) for being consumed in the event that the latter has a negative perception by the consumer.

In various embodiments, the container may be adapted for preparing filtered coffee. This particular configuration of the liquid product is characterized by the almost complete absence of a film of milk oil on the surface of the beverage contained in the cup. Such products can be traditionally obtained via extraction with only leakage, i.e. the passage of a bed of ground coffee by gravity and therefore at ambient pressure. The use of a system in which the container is pierced by pressure may therefore prove to be incompatible with the preparation of the above beverage. Since various embodiments are not based on this principle, they may provide greater flexibility and a wider product range than that given by the same coffee machine for consumer use as a whole.

Drawings

Various embodiments will now be described, purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of a container according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates the container of FIG. 1 with the sealing foil removed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from below of the embodiment;

FIG. 4 corresponds to a section according to line IV-IV of FIG. 3, reproduced on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view from below of the embodiment;

FIG. 6 corresponds to a section according to line VI-VI of FIG. 5, reproduced on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 7 illustrates, in a further enlarged scale, the portion of FIG. 6 indicated by the arrow VII.

Detailed Description

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various examples of embodiments. Embodiments may be obtained without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail so that aspects of the embodiments will not be obscured. Reference to "an embodiment" or "one embodiment" within the framework of the description is intended to indicate that a particular configuration, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, phrases such as "in an embodiment" or "in one embodiment" that may be present in various places of the description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

The references used herein are provided merely for the convenience of the reader and thus do not define the scope of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

In fig. 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates a container (or cartridge, which term is used herein as an equivalent) to be used for preparing a liquid product via the introduction of a liquid and/or vapor into the container.

In various embodiments, the liquid product in question may consist of a beverage obtained by introducing liquid and/or vapour into a container under pressure and at elevated temperature, such as coffee (for example espresso coffee or filter coffee).

In any case, repeated reference to coffee preparation within the framework of this detailed description should not be understood in any way as limiting the scope of the present description (which is summarized in general).

In various embodiments, the container 10 may include a dose 12 of a substance that will form a liquid product via the liquid and/or vapor described above. For simplicity of representation, the dose 12 of substance is only schematically represented in fig. 2 by a dashed line.

In various embodiments, the dose 12 may consist of ground coffee or of another precursor of a liquid product, such as a beverage like tea, a powder or granular chocolate, a product for bouillon preparation, a soup, a drink and an infusion of various nature: this list should be understood as being provided purely by way of non-limiting example.

In various embodiments, in the structure of the container 10, which may be shaped like a tray or a cup inside which the dose 12 is located, it is possible to distinguish:

a housing 14 comprising a side wall or sleeve 140 and a bottom wall 142, which closes the housing 14 at one end of the side wall 140; and

for example, a peelable seal foil 16 (removed in figure 2) which closes the container 10 at the end opposite the bottom wall 142.

The sealing foil 16 is adapted to be connected to the side wall 140 of the housing 14 of the container in a liquid-tight manner, e.g. by heat sealing, e.g. around a flange 144 surrounding the mouth portion of the housing 14.

In various embodiments, as represented in the figures, the casing 14 may present a tray shape, diverging from the bottom wall 142 towards the end closed by the sealing foil 16. In various embodiments, the diverging configuration may be frustoconical. This configuration is on the other hand not mandatory, since the container 14 may exhibit different shapes overall, such as prismatic, truncated pyramidal, square, etc.

Various embodiments may be directed to the fact that the base 142 may exhibit an engraved structure, i.e., having a raised portion and an embedded portion.

In various embodiments (with possible differences that can be appreciated from a comparison between fig. 3 and 4 on the one hand and fig. 5 and 6 on the other hand), the above-described engraved structure means that, seen from the outside of the container (i.e. according to the observation points of fig. 3 and 5), the bottom wall 142 can present:

a central portion 1420, which may be embedded, i.e. recessed (see fig. 3 and 4), or protruding, i.e. raised (see fig. 5 and 6);

a first annular groove 1422 (i.e., a first embedded annular portion) surrounding the central portion 1420;

an intermediate annular portion 1424 which surrounds the first annular groove 1422 and is separated from the latter by a first annular rib 1423; and

a second annular groove 1426 (i.e. a second annular embedding portion) which surrounds the intermediate annular portion 1424 and is separated from the latter by a second annular rib 1425.

The above sequence of grooves and ribs is more clearly visible in the cross-sectional view of fig. 7, which is applicable per se to both embodiments, i.e. the one represented in fig. 3 and 4 and the one represented in fig. 5 and 6.

In various embodiments, the bottom portion 142 may present an opening 1428 for enabling a liquid product (e.g., a beverage, such as coffee) formed in the container 10 to exit.

In various embodiments, the opening 1428 for exit of the liquid product from the container 10 may be located in at least one from among:

-a central portion 1420;

-a first annular groove 1422;

-a middle annular portion 1424; and/or

-a second annular groove 1426;

and optionally in more than one of the above parts/cavities.

In various embodiments, it is envisaged that the opening 1428 for exit of the liquid product from the container 10 is located in the rib separating (and also in) the aforementioned parts/cavities.

In various embodiments, at least one (and preferably two, as shown in the figures) between the central portion 1420 and the intermediate annular portion 1424 provides an opening 1428 for the outflow of the liquid product prepared in the container 10.

In various embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying figures, in the case of a housing 14 of the capsule 10 having a frustoconical configuration, the above-mentioned first 1422, intermediate 1424 and second 1426 annular grooves and ribs 1423, 1425 (which extend so as to separate the annular portions) may have a circular shape; this shape is on the other hand not mandatory and may be modified according to the overall shape of the container 10.

Similar considerations apply to another rib designated 1430, which may extend between the central portion 1420 and the first annular recess 1422, whether the central portion 1420 is inset (i.e., concave, as shown in fig. 3 and 4) or protruding (i.e., convex, as shown in fig. 5 and 6), the term "concave" container "convex" always referring to the bottom wall 142 when viewed from outside the container 10.

In various embodiments, as illustrated in fig. 3 and 4, the central portion 1420 is embedded, and the bottom wall 142 may present an overall planar surface (more readily apparent in the cross-sectional view of fig. 4) from the perspective of the interior of the container 10, at least in the areas of the central portion 1420 and the first, intermediate and second annular recesses 1422, 1424, 1426 described above.

This then makes it possible to apply on this plane surface a foil (e.g. a disc) of filter material 18, for example filter paper, designed to prevent the undesired exit of the substance of the dose 12 (e.g. ground coffee) outside the capsule 10.

In various embodiments, the apertures 1428 may be obtained in the form of water permeable through holes; retention of the fragrant and generally sensory qualities of the substance of the dose 12 may thus be obtained by inserting the container 10 into a sealed sachet that can be opened by a user to remove the container 10 for use (e.g. of the flow-through pack type).

In various embodiments, as illustrated in fig. 5 and 6, the central portion 1420 may protrude (again viewing the bottom wall 142 from outside the container 10).

The filter material 18 may in this case comprise:

a central disc 18a applied in an area corresponding to the opening 1428 provided in the central portion 1420; and/or

Applied to a ring 18b covering an opening 1428 provided in the intermediate annular portion 1424.

Whenever this solution is adopted, in various embodiments, the foil or central disc 18a, 18b of filter material 18 may be applied inside the bottom wall 142 of the container 10.

In the embodiment illustrated in figures 5 and 6-due to the fact that the central portion 1420 of the bottom wall 142 projects towards the outside of the container 10-a central bowl capable of receiving a quantity of substance of the dose 12 can be formed within the container 10 in the region of the central portion 1420: a comparison between the cross-sectional views of fig. 4 and 6 accurately demonstrates the presence of the additional receiving chamber at the center of fig. 6.

Both embodiments illustrated in figures 3, 4 and 5, 6 can on the other hand envisage the presence of a protruding circumferential rib 1432 along the profile of the bottom wall 142, which can form another annular chamber for receiving the dose 12 of substance inside the container 10.

As can be more clearly appreciated in the enlarged sectional view of fig. 7, in the area of the circumferential rib 1432, in the inner space of the container 10, an annular chamber for receiving the dose 12 of substance is thus formed. In various embodiments, inside the rib 1432, therefore in the zone corresponding to the inner circumference of the above-mentioned annular chamber for receiving the dose 12 of substance, a passage 1434 may be provided which extends in an approximately axial/radial direction with respect to the gradual generation of the container 10, so as to facilitate the flow of liquid for preparing the beverage. This flow, intended to reach the annular circumferential chamber (schematically represented by the arrow F of fig. 7), prevents the portion of substance of the dose 12 comprised in the circumferential chamber itself from being possibly expelled from the flow to some extent, thus contributing only partially to the preparation of the liquid product.

This fig. 7 highlights the fact that, in various embodiments, the annular cavities (for example, the first annular groove 1422 and the second annular groove 1426) provided in the outside of the bottom wall 142 of the capsule 10 can receive the tips P present in some machines for preparing beverages, so as to pierce the bottom wall of the capsule and cause the exit of the prepared liquid product.

In various embodiments as shown herein, the cavities, such as the first annular groove 1422 and the second annular groove 1426, may form annular seats that are capable of securing them, so to speak "straddling" the apex portion of the tip P. In this way, the tip P does not pierce the bottom wall 142, but instead forms a sort of fit therewith, if desired an interference fit, thereby promoting the tip P to act as a support formation capable of supporting the bottom wall 142 of the container 10 by resisting the onset of certain negative phenomena that may be relevant to the choice of making the housing 14 of the container 10 from biological materials, such as those mentioned in the introductory portion of the present description.

In this regard, it will be appreciated that such materials may also be used to create the sealing foil 16, resulting in a container 10 that is made entirely of compostable material.

Even if this solution is not explicitly illustrated in the figures, it is also possible to provide holes, such as the hole 1428, in the areas corresponding to the first annular groove 1422 and the second annular groove 1426. The outflow of the liquid product starting from these possible holes will in fact not be hindered by the tips P, which support the bottom wall 142 without piercing it.

In various embodiments, the choice of compostable material (and preferably the shell 14 of the unitary container and possibly the sealing foil 16) that can be used to create the bottom wall 142 can be extended to:

-polylactic acid (PLA);

-Poly L Lactide (PLLA);

-Poly D Lactide (PDLA);

-a stereocopolymeric mixture of PDLA and PLLA;

-corn starch;

-cellulosic material;

-a PLA, PDLA and/or PLLA based formulation in combination with a mineral filler;

-PLA, PDLA and/or PLLA based formulations in combination with mineral fillers and plasticizers;

-a PLA, PDLA and/or PLLA based formulation and cellulose;

-formulations with a corn starch base in combination with a mineral filler;

-polybutenylsuccinic acid;

-polybutylene succinic acid in combination with a mineral filler;

polymers produced by microorganisms or bacteria, such as PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates) and PHB (polyhydroxybutyrates);

-a material obtained from a combination of plant fibres and starch;

-material obtained from a combination of plant organisms and starch;

-a material obtained from a combination of plant fibres and PLA;

-a material obtained from a combination of plant biomass and PLA; and

-a combination of the foregoing.

Various embodiments may take into account aspects related to the compostability of the above-described materials, for example, with respect to the maximum thickness of the portion comprising the container 10, such as the bottom wall 142.

The tests carried out by the applicant will provide that the thickness of the bottom wall 142 in the bottom portion 1420 provides a value between 0.7 and 2.5 mm.

Similar considerations will suggest that the height of the circumferential rib 1432, referred to as the common plane of the mouths of the first annular groove 1422, the intermediate annular portion 1424 and the second annular groove 1426, may have a value not less than twice the depth of the cavity (which may be about 1 mm) (e.g., about 2.5 mm).

The width of the cavity, such as the first annular groove 1422 and the second annular groove 1426 (measured in a radial direction relative to the housing 14 of the vessel 10), may be included between 0.5 and 1.2mm, i.e., having an aspect ratio of the cross-sections of the first annular groove 1422, and the second annular groove 1426 between about 1:1 and 2: 1.

In various embodiments, the housing of the container 10, having the characteristics of the housing 14 illustrated in the figures, must be obtained by a moulding process divided into two sub-steps:

-filling the mould cavity; and

-keeping the material in the closed mould at a temperature above room temperature.

In various embodiments, the container housing 10 having the characteristics of the housing 14 illustrated in the figures can be obtained by means of injection moulding, which is also divided into two sub-steps:

-suitable injection moulding; and

post-processing that can be performed with two alternative modalities;

-baking in an oven; and

-UV treatment.

In various embodiments, the shell 14 of the container 10 as illustrated herein may be produced via a method of injection compression and/or forging comprising the steps of:

creation of a preform in a semi-molten state, for example with one of the previously exemplified biomaterials;

deposition of a preform within a cavity having the shape intended to be imparted to the shell 14 of the container 10;

forging the preform inside the cavity having the shape of the shell 14 of the container 10 using a mechanical punch; and

-subsequently performing post-processing according to three alternative modalities;

-keeping the shell in the closed mould at a temperature above room temperature;

-baking it in an oven at a temperature above room temperature; and

-treating it with UV radiation.

Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary, even significantly, with respect to what has been illustrated herein purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the annexed claims.

Claims (16)

1. Container (10) with a filling of at least one substance for preparing a liquid product by means of liquid and/or steam introduced into the container (10), comprising a housing (14) comprising the filling, having a bottom wall (142), for the outflow of the liquid product from the container (10),

wherein the bottom wall (142) presents, when viewed externally with respect to the container (10):

-a central portion (1420),

-a first annular cavity (1422) surrounding said central portion (1420),

-an intermediate annular portion (1424) which surrounds said first annular cavity (1422) and is separated from said first annular cavity (1422) by a first annular rib (1423),

-a second annular cavity (1426) surrounding said intermediate annular portion (1424) and separated from said intermediate annular portion (1424) by a second annular rib (1425), whereby a tip on a machine for preparing said liquid product can not pierce said bottom wall (142), but instead form a sort of cooperation with said first annular cavity and said second annular cavity so as to cause said tip to act as a support formation;

and wherein the bottom wall (142) has an outflow opening (1428) for the liquid product to exit from the container (10).

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein said outflow opening (1428) for the exit of the liquid product from the container (10) is located in at least one of said central portion (1420), said first annular cavity (1422), said second annular cavity (1426) and said intermediate annular portion (1424).

3. The container according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising a foil of filter material (18) applied on the bottom wall (142) of the container (10) at the outflow opening (1428) for the liquid product.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the central portion (1420) is separated from the first annular cavity (1422) by a third annular rib (1430).

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the central portion (1420) is concave when viewed on the side of the bottom wall (142) external with respect to the container (10).

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein, when viewed on the side of the bottom wall (142) external with respect to the container (10), the central portion (1420) is a protrusion and forms respective receiving chambers for the at least one substance within the container (10).

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein the bottom wall (142) presents a circumferentially projecting rib (1432) forming an annular receiving chamber for the at least one substance within the container (10).

8. Container according to claim 7, comprising a flow channel (1434) for the liquid product provided on the inner surface of the bottom wall (142) with respect to the container (10) at a radially inner position with respect to the annular receiving chamber.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein the housing (14) of the container (10) comprises compostable material.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein a sealing foil (16) that seals the housing of the container (10) at an end of the housing opposite the bottom wall (142) comprises a compostable material.

11. The container of claim 9 or 10, wherein the compostable materials are selected from among:

-polylactic acid (PLA),

-Poly L Lactide (PLLA);

-Poly D Lactide (PDLA);

-a stereocopolymeric mixture of PDLA and PLLA;

-corn starch;

-cellulosic material;

-a PLA, PDLA and/or PLLA based formulation in combination with a mineral filler;

-PLA, PDLA and/or PLLA based formulations in combination with mineral fillers and plasticizers;

-a PLA, PDLA and/or PLLA based formulation and cellulose;

-a corn starch based formulation in combination with a mineral filler;

-polybutenylsuccinic acid;

-polybutylene succinic acid in combination with a mineral filler;

polymers produced by microorganisms or bacteria, such as PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates) and PHB (polyhydroxybutyrates);

-a material obtained from a combination of plant fibres and starch;

-material obtained from a combination of plant organisms and starch;

-a material obtained from a combination of plant fibres and PLA;

-a material obtained from a combination of plant biomass and PLA; and

-a combination of the foregoing.

12. The container according to claim 1, comprising a sealing foil (16) to seal the housing of the container (10) at an end of the housing opposite the bottom wall (142), wherein the sealing foil (16) is of the peelable type.

13. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein said outflow opening (1428) for the exit of said liquid product from said capsule (10) is located in at least one of said central portion (1420) and said intermediate annular portion (1424).

14. The container according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising a foil of filter material (18) applied on the bottom wall (142) of the container (10) at the outflow opening (1428) for the liquid product, said filter material being applied on the inside of the bottom wall (142) with respect to the container (10).

15. A method for producing the housing (14) of a container (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising:

-a first step of forming said shell (14), and

-a second post-processing step comprising one or more of:

-i) held in a closed mould,

ii) oven baking, and/or

Iii) UV treatment.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first step of forming the housing (14) is selected from among:

-i) carrying out a moulding in a moulding cavity,

ii) injection moulding, and

iii) stamping the forged slab in a semi-molten state.