Capsule for preparing a beverage and use of such a capsule
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation systems using hermetically sealed capsules often experience preferential fluid paths, leading to variations in beverage strength and the risk of extractable product spilling due to pierced openings.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of entrance and exit filters in the capsule system, positioned to avoid piercing by the piercing means, creating uniform areas for fluid supply and drainage, ensuring homogeneous wetting and reducing the risk of spilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hermetically sealed capsules are pierced to create entrance and exit openings for fluid flow, then beverage preparation is enabled, but preferential fluid paths occur leading to variations in beverage strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous filter materials at the entrance and exit areas of the capsule. These porous structures distribute fluid flow uniformly across multiple pathways rather than allowing concentrated flow through single pierced openings. The porous material creates numerous small pores that act as distributed flow channels, eliminating preferential paths and ensuring consistent beverage strength across multiple capsules.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter materials serve as intermediary substances between the fluid and the extractable product. Instead of fluid directly contacting the product through pierced openings (which create preferential paths), the filter material mediates the fluid distribution, spreading it uniformly across the product bed and ensuring homogeneous extraction.
2Ease of operation
If pierced openings are created in the capsule for fluid supply, then beverage preparation is enabled, but extractable product may spill from the capsule
Solution Approach 1:
The porous filter materials at the entrance and exit areas act as physical barriers that retain extractable product particles while allowing fluid passage. The pore sizes are designed to be small enough to prevent product spilling during handling and extraction, yet large enough to permit adequate fluid flow for beverage preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter materials are integrated into the disposable capsule structure, providing a low-cost solution that prevents product spilling without requiring complex reusable filtering mechanisms. The filters are consumed with the capsule in a single use.
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 reproducibility of beverage strength by minimizing preferential fluid paths and preventing extractable product spilling, while maintaining the integrity of the capsule and improving coffee quality by filtering oils.
Implementation Method 1
the filter, in use, is positioned at a distance from the bottom piercing means, such that the capsule is not pierced by the bottom piercing means and the bottom stays intact... supplying the fluid to the extractable product within the capsule without piercing the capsule. Thus, the entrance filter forms an, optionally uniform, entrance area through which the fluid can be supplied to the capsule
Implementation Method 2
the lid comprises an exit filter, through which the beverage can drain from the capsule... providing the entrance filter reduces the risk of extractable product remains spilling from the capsule when removing the capsule from the apparatus
Implementation Method 3
providing the exit filter provides the advantage that the exit filter may filter oils from the beverage, i.e. from the coffee, before supplying the coffee to the container
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
The invention relates to a system, method and capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product. The system comprises an exchangeable capsule, and an apparatus comprising a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, and a fluid dispensing device for supplying a fluid to the exchangeable capsule. The exchangeable capsule comprises a circumferential wall, a bottom, and a lid. The wall, bottom and lid enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product. The receptacle comprises bottom piercing means intended for piercing an entrance area of an alternative capsule for creating at least one entrance opening for supplying the fluid to the extractable product. The entrance area of the capsule according to the invention comprises an entrance filter for supplying the fluid to the extractable product there through. In use, the entrance filter is positioned at a distance from the bottom piercing means, such that the capsule of the system is not pierced by the bottom piercing means.