Asymmetric Beverage Capsule Layout for Clean Optical Code Reading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage production machines face challenges in accurately detecting optically readable codes on capsules due to sensitivity to liquid, vapor, and contamination, leading to difficulties in preparing nutritional products, especially for dairy-based products, and pose hygiene issues due to dirty surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The design of a capsule with an optically readable code positioned on the side wall, away from the liquid inlet, and a non-symmetric inlet face contour to prevent contamination, combined with a beverage production machine featuring a code reader protected from liquid and vapor, ensures reliable code detection and easier cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the optically readable code is positioned on the capsule near the liquid inlet for easy reading, then the code detection is simplified, but the code becomes contaminated with liquid, vapor, and dirt leading to unreliable detection
Solution Approach 1:
The code position is moved from the top surface (inlet face) to the lateral dimension (side wall) of the capsule. This spatial relocation in another dimension allows the code to be read by a laterally positioned reader while being physically separated from the liquid inlet zone, preventing contamination while maintaining readability.
2Device complexity
If the code reader is positioned close to the liquid injector and beverage outlets for compact design, then the device structure is simplified, but the reader window becomes dirty rapidly requiring regular cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The code reader is extracted from the liquid-prone zone and repositioned in a cleaner area of the machine. The reader window is taken out from the vicinity of the liquid injector and beverage outlets, placing it in a location less susceptible to contamination by liquid and vapor, thereby reducing cleaning frequency while maintaining functional integration.
3Ease of operation
If the inlet face contour is made non-symmetric with a bulge section for automatic capsule positioning, then the capsule orientation is improved, but the capsule design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A non-symmetric bulge section is introduced to the otherwise circular inlet face contour. This asymmetric feature creates a unique geometric signature that enables automatic orientation of the capsule during insertion, ensuring the code faces the reader correctly. The asymmetry is minimal and integrates smoothly with the capsule structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the reliability of automatic capsule detection, prevents contamination of the code reader, and improves hygiene by positioning the code away from the liquid inlet, allowing for precise preparation parameters and easier operation of the machine.
Implementation Method 1
an optically readable code is provided on the side wall at a position which, when viewing the capsule from the inlet face, is located opposite the bulge section
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention presents a capsule 1 having an inlet face C, which is formed by a circular section 2a and a bulge section 2b extending from the circular section 2a giving the inlet face C a not symmetric in rotation. The capsule 1 further has an optically readable code 3 on a side wall 4 of a cup-shaped body of the capsule 1 opposite the bulge section 2b. The present invention further presents a beverage production machine with a capsule holder 13 for holding a capsule 1 in such a way in the beverage production machine 10, that the optically readable code can be read by a code reader 24. Liquid can be supplied to the capsule to produce a nutritional product. The present invention provides means to prevent the optically readable code 3 and the code reader 24, respectively, from being contaminated with liquid, vapor, dirt or the like. An automatic detection of the capsule type, and a corresponding automatic setting of preparation parameters by the beverage production machine 1 becomes possible, and is more reliable than state of the art solutions.