Beverage Capsule Filter Design to Prevent Piercing and Flow Channeling
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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 potential spills due to piercing mechanisms, which affect reproducibility and product quality.
Innovation Solution
The system employs entrance and exit filters within the capsule to allow fluid supply and drainage over a larger area, preventing piercing and maintaining the capsule's integrity, thus reducing preferential paths and spills, and enhancing beverage strength consistency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If piercing mechanisms are used to create entrance and exit openings in the capsule, then fluid can be supplied to and drained from the capsule, but preferential fluid paths occur leading to variations in beverage strength and potential spills
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule is divided into multiple independent channels or pathways within the extractable product bed. Multiple exit openings are distributed across the capsule bottom rather than concentrated at a single pierced point, which segments the fluid flow into multiple paths and prevents preferential channeling through a single location.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule is pre-formed with an intact bottom and distributed exit openings before use. The extractable product is pre-packaged in a configuration that promotes uniform fluid distribution. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for piercing operations and ensures consistent flow paths from the start of the brewing process.
2Productivity
If the capsule is pierced by lid piercing means to create exit openings, then beverage can drain from the capsule, but the capsule integrity is compromised and product may spill when removing the capsule
Solution Approach 1:
The exit area is segmented into multiple small distributed openings rather than a single large pierced hole. This segmentation allows beverage drainage while maintaining the overall structural integrity of the capsule bottom, preventing the capsule from collapsing or spilling when removed from the apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The piercing operation is completely removed from the system. Instead of using lid piercing means to create exit openings, the capsule is manufactured with pre-formed exit openings that require no piercing action, thereby preserving capsule integrity throughout the brewing and removal process.
3Device complexity
If a single entrance opening is used for fluid supply, then the capsule structure is simple, but preferential fluid paths occur leading to undesired strength variations
Solution Approach 1:
The exit area is segmented into multiple distributed openings while maintaining a simple single-point fluid entry. This segmentation at the exit end creates multiple flow paths through the extractable product, ensuring uniform extraction and consistent beverage strength without adding complexity to the overall capsule structure or requiring multiple entrance openings.
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 approach ensures homogeneous wetting and drainage, reducing the risk of spills and variations in beverage strength, while maintaining the capsule's integrity and improving the quality of beverages like coffee by filtering oils that affect taste and health.
Implementation Method 1
the exit filter forms a, optionally uniform, exit area through which the beverage can leave the capsule
Implementation Method 2
the entrance filter forms an, optionally uniform, entrance area through which the fluid can be supplied to the capsule
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.