Aluminium Capsule Break-Line Design for Precise Machine Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aluminium capsules for espresso and tea machines face issues with plastic deformation during opening, leading to incorrect or incomplete opening, which affects the infusion process and material contamination.
Innovation Solution
The design of an aluminium capsule with a truncated-conical or truncated-pyramidal top part featuring a flat opening surface with break lines or protruding elements that concentrate opening forces, preventing deformation and ensuring precise opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aluminium material is used for the capsule lid, then recyclability and product preservation are improved, but plastic deformation during opening occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining break lines and protruding elements on the aluminium lid during manufacturing. These features are prepared in advance to guide the opening process, ensuring that when the capsule is opened by the machine, the force is concentrated on predetermined weak points rather than causing unpredictable plastic deformation across the lid surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by creating specific zones of weakened material through break lines and protruding elements at strategic locations on the lid. These local modifications concentrate the opening force at specific points rather than distributing it across the entire lid surface, allowing the aluminium to open cleanly without deforming while maintaining its inherent recyclability and preservation properties.
2Reliability
If aluminium material is used for the capsule lid, then product preservation is improved, but incorrect opening occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The break lines and protruding elements are pre-formed during lid manufacturing to create predetermined failure points. This preliminary action ensures that when opening force is applied by the machine, it concentrates on these pre-defined locations, guaranteeing precise and correct opening every time while maintaining product preservation through the use of aluminium material.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding elements and break lines act as intermediaries between the opening force and the aluminium lid material. These features mediate the opening process by providing specific points where the force should concentrate, ensuring that the aluminium opens at the correct location without deforming, thus achieving both product preservation and opening precision.
3Reliability
If aluminium material is used for the capsule lid, then infinite recyclability is achieved, but material contamination during incorrect opening occurs
Solution Approach 1:
By pre-defining break lines and protruding elements during manufacturing, the patent ensures that the aluminium lid opens at precise predetermined locations. This prevents incorrect opening that would cause aluminium material to contaminate the edible product, thereby maintaining both recyclability and preventing material contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of aluminium deformation into a benefit by deliberately creating controlled weak points (break lines and protruding elements). These features ensure that the aluminium opens in a controlled manner at specific locations, preventing uncontrolled deformation and material contamination while preserving the recyclability of the aluminium material.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an aluminium capsule (1) for a soluble edible product comprising a closed container (2) containing an individual dose of a soluble edible product, the container (2) being delimited by a side wall (21), a bottom part (22) and a top part (23), wherein said top part (23) comprises a truncated-conical or truncated-pyramidal element (3) whose smaller base constitutes a flat opening surface (4) of the capsule (1), wherein said opening surface (4) comprises at least one break line (5), providing a better opening of the capsule by the machine.