Capsule for producing beverages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage capsules require pressure-operated opening mechanisms, making them complex and costly to produce, and may not ensure uniform pre-brewing of substances before fluid extraction.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design featuring a cup-shaped body with a filter member and a micro-perforated sheet that allows fluid penetration and distribution, using a deformable tip to perforate a sealing film for fluid outflow, eliminating the need for internal pressure-operated opening mechanisms and ensuring uniform brewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressure-operated opening mechanisms are used in capsules, then the capsule can ensure controlled fluid outflow, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex internal pressure-operated opening mechanisms (such as tappets, perforators, or movable components) from the capsule structure. Instead, the capsule uses a simple sealing film that is perforated externally by the brewing device, extracting the opening function from the capsule itself and placing it in the brewing device, thereby reducing capsule complexity while maintaining controlled fluid outflow
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sealing film as an intermediary element that serves dual purposes: it seals the capsule during storage and transport, and it provides a controlled interface for fluid outflow during brewing. The sealing film is designed to be perforated by the brewing device, acting as a mediator between the capsule's simple structure and the brewing device's opening mechanism, enabling controlled fluid outflow without complex internal mechanisms
2Reliability
If complex pressure-operated mechanisms are used, then fluid outflow can be controlled, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle by designing a simple, inexpensive capsule structure with a single-use sealing film that is perforated during brewing. The capsule and its sealing film are designed as low-cost, single-use items that are discarded after one brewing cycle, eliminating the need for expensive, complex internal mechanisms while ensuring reliable fluid outflow control during the brewing process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the expensive opening mechanism from the capsule and places it in the reusable brewing device. This allows the capsule to be manufactured simply with a basic sealing film, while the brewing device incorporates the more complex (and expensive) perforating mechanism, thereby reducing capsule manufacturing cost while maintaining fluid outflow control
3Manufacturing precision
If uniform pre-brewing is to be achieved, then the fluid must penetrate the substance uniformly, but complex mechanisms are required to control the brewing process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing the sealing film with specific local characteristics: it is sealed across the entire capsule surface to maintain uniform pressure during storage, but contains a specific perforated region that allows controlled fluid penetration. The perforated region is positioned and sized to ensure uniform distribution of brewing fluid across the substance, achieving uniform pre-brewing without requiring complex internal mechanisms to control fluid flow
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
The capsule is easy and inexpensive to produce, ensuring uniform penetration and extraction of beverages without the need for complex pressure-operated mechanisms, enhancing brewing efficiency and quality.
Implementation Method 1
the capsule comprises a cup-shaped body (2), which has a longitudinal axis (3) and is closed at its upper end by a cover (4)... the lower part (2b) of the cup-shaped body (2) is designed to get locally deformed... the tip (20) serves, during use, of perforating a sealing film (21)... when the capsule (1), during use, is closed in the seat of the automatic beverage preparation device
Implementation Method 2
the chamber for containing a substance to be brewed and bounded by the disk, the cover, and the lateral wall of the cup-shaped body... a micro-perforated sheet that allows fluid penetration and distribution
Implementation Method 3
filtering means for retaining the particulate substance and for percolating fluid substances therethrough
Implementation Method 4
cartridge for extracting a beverage from a particulate substance contained therein by means of water under pressure
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A capsule (1) for producing a beverage in an automatic beverage production device (43), the capsule (1) comprises a cup-shaped body (2) defined by a lateral wall (5) and a bottom wall (7) with a beverage outflow opening (8) closed by a sealing film (21), and a filter member (9) provided with a perforation member (20) and extending transversely so as to ideally divide the cup-shaped body (2) into an upper part (2a) containing the substance to be brewed, and a lower part (2b) containing a chamber (11) for collecting the beverage. The bottom wall (7) comprises an annular portion (27) extending transversely to the capsule axis (3) to define a stable support base for the capsule (1) when the latter is arranged in a corresponding percolation seat (44) of the automatic beverage production device (43). The lower part (2b) comprises a geometric discontinuity area (22).