Beverage Capsule With Embedded Identifier for Reliable Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beverage capsules face issues with identifier durability and positioning, leading to unreliable detection and potential damage during mechanical handling, which restricts design flexibility and increases waste.

Innovation Solution

A capsule design with a contactless identifier embedded inside the beverage ingredient cavity, allowing for flexible positioning and protection from external mechanical constraints, using magnetically-responsive elements that can be oriented along the median longitudinal axis for reliable detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the identifier is placed on the capsule surface or seam, then it can be detected by the beverage producing device, but it is vulnerable to mechanical damage and deformation during handling and brewing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentifier detection reliabilityVSAvoidmechanical damage to identifier

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The identifier is embedded within the beverage ingredient mass inside the capsule cavity, nesting the identification element within the product material. This protects the identifier from external mechanical constraints while maintaining detectability through the capsule structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The beverage ingredient acts as an intermediary medium that both protects the embedded identifier from mechanical damage and allows electromagnetic penetration for detection by the beverage producing device's reader.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the identifier is embedded in the beverage ingredient, then it is protected from mechanical damage, but the positioning and orientation must be precisely controlled for reliable detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from mechanical damageVSAvoididentifier positioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The identifier is positioned at a specific location within the beverage ingredient mass, preferably near the center or along the median longitudinal axis, with specific orientation requirements to ensure optimal detection while maintaining protection from mechanical damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If the capsule uses flexible walls for cost reasons, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the identifier position and integrity cannot be guaranteed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapsule manufacturing costVSAvoididentifier position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Embedding the identifier within the beverage ingredient mass rather than attaching it to the capsule walls eliminates the problem of wall deformation affecting identifier position. The flexible walls can deform without compromising the identifier's position or integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Strength

If the identifier is placed in the seam area, then it can be reinforced for integrity, but the seam design becomes more complex and capsule insertion is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentifier structural integrityVSAvoidseam design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The identifier is extracted from the seam area and placed within the beverage ingredient mass, eliminating the need for reinforced seam designs and localized thickness variations. This simplifies the seam design and allows standard capsule geometries to be used.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 capsule detection, simplifies the design of both the capsule and brewing device, and reduces the risk of identifier damage, while maintaining a compact and economical form factor.

Implementation Method 1

a contactless identifying element for identifying the capsule by detecting the identifying element using detecting means of the beverage producing device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

using magnetically-responsive elements that can be oriented along the median longitudinal axis for reliable detection

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field interaction: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP2448842B1Capsule for the preparation of a beverage embedding an identification element

Publication Date: 2016.11.16 NESTEC SA

Figure 1~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

Capsule (1) for the preparation of a beverage comprising: a first and second covering wall (3 A, 3B) connected for forming a cavity (5) containing a beverage ingredient (6); a contactless identifying element (8) for identifying the capsule by detecting the identifying element (8) using detecting means (2) of a beverage producing device (13); characterized in that: the identifying element (8) is disposed in the interior of the cavity (5).