Capsule for the preparation of a beverage containing pellets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current beverage capsules lack the ability to vary extraction kinetics, provide intense beverages, and offer a range of coffee styles without altering the capsule's volume or affecting beverage flow, leading to limitations in producing different characteristics and flavors.

Innovation Solution

The capsule combines non-compacted beverage extractable powder with compacted pellets of larger dimensions, allowing for controlled extraction kinetics and increased beverage intensity by adjusting the ratio and positioning of the pellets within the capsule.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If only non-compacted powder is used in the capsule, then the capsule structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the extraction kinetics cannot be varied and beverage intensity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextraction kinetics variationVSAvoidcapsule structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The beverage precursor is segmented into two distinct forms: non-compacted powder and compacted pellets. This segmentation allows different extraction kinetics from each form - the powder extracts quickly while the pellets provide sustained release - thereby enabling variation in extraction kinetics without fundamentally changing the capsule structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The capsule contains a composite mixture of compacted pellets and non-compacted powder as beverage precursors. This composite approach combines materials with different physical properties (density, surface area, porosity) to achieve diverse extraction kinetics and beverage characteristics while maintaining a relatively simple capsule structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If the capsule volume is increased to provide more beverage precursor, then more intense beverages can be produced, but the storage capacity and beverage flow are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeverage precursor amountVSAvoidcapsule volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the beverage precursor by creating compacted pellets with higher density than non-compacted powder. This allows more beverage precursor mass to be packed into the same capsule volume, enabling more intense beverages without increasing capsule size or compromising flow characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If compacted pellets are used to increase beverage intensity, then extraction efficiency is enhanced, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextraction efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturing process is segmented into separate steps: first forming compacted pellets from beverage precursor, then mixing with non-compacted powder, and finally filling the capsule. This segmentation makes the complex process of creating varied extraction kinetics manageable and systematically controllable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 combination enhances extraction efficiency, delays aroma release, and allows for the production of diverse beverages with different characteristics, such as intensity and flavor profiles, without compromising flow or storage capacity.

Implementation Method 1

the beverage precursor comprises a combination of non-compacted beverage extractable powder and pellets of compacted beverage extractable powder

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution:

Data Source

PatentUS11724873B2Capsule for the preparation of a beverage containing pellets

Publication Date: 2023.08.15 SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE SA

AI summary

The invention relates to a capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage machine by feeding liquid in the capsule and extracting a beverage out of the capsule, wherein the capsule comprises containment walls forming an interior cavity containing beverage precursor; wherein the beverage precursor comprises a combination of non-compacted beverage extractable powder and pellets of compacted beverage extractable powder and wherein the largest dimension of each pellet is at least 3.5 millimeters. The invention enables to confer different beverage characteristics, for example, change the beverage extraction and aroma release kinetics, make more intense beverages and/or improve the beverage flow released from the capsule.