Beverage Capsule Filter Segmentation for Stable Brewing Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reproducibility and quality of beverages prepared using existing capsule systems are poor due to deformation and rupture of filter regions under fluid pressure, leading to inconsistent pressure development and beverage quality.
Innovation Solution
The use of non-woven and/or woven fibrous material filter layers with sealed and unsealed regions prevents deformation and rupture, ensuring stable and reproducible pressure development and beverage quality by maintaining consistent opening dimensions and preventing coffee grounds from escaping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a filter sheet or porous filter is used in the capsule, then the capsule structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the filter deforms and ruptures under fluid pressure leading to poor beverage reproducibility
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is segmented into sealed regions (with adhesive layers preventing liquid passage) and unsealed regions (allowing liquid passage). This segmentation prevents the entire filter from deforming under pressure, as the sealed portions provide structural support while the unsealed portions maintain filtering function, thereby improving beverage reproducibility while keeping the capsule structure relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the filter have different properties: sealed regions provide structural stability and prevent deformation, while unsealed regions provide filtering functionality. This local differentiation allows the filter to maintain its shape under fluid pressure while still allowing beverage extraction, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and beverage reproducibility
2Reliability
If the filter material is made more robust to prevent deformation, then beverage reproducibility improves, but the capsule structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Adhesive layers are applied to the filter material in advance during manufacturing to create sealed regions. This preliminary action ensures the filter maintains its structural integrity before the capsule is even used, preventing deformation under fluid pressure without requiring complex structural modifications to the capsule itself
Solution Approach 2:
The filter is constructed as a composite material system combining the base filter material with adhesive layers. This composite structure provides both the filtering functionality of the base material and the structural stability of the adhesive sealed regions, improving beverage reproducibility while avoiding the need for entirely more complex capsule structures
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 solution enhances the reproducibility and quality of beverages by maintaining stable pressure and preventing coffee grounds from escaping, resulting in a more consistent brewing experience across capsules.
Implementation Method 1
the filter layer comprises a layer of a non-woven and/or woven fibrous material, wherein the filter layer comprises at least one first region where the non-woven and/or woven material has been sealed to prevent egress of liquid there through, and at least one second region where the non-woven and/or woven material has not been sealed to allow egress of liquid there through
Implementation Method 2
the non-woven and/or woven material has been sealed to prevent egress of liquid there through
Data Source
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 capsule comprises an exit area to allow draining from the prepared beverage from the capsule there through, wherein the exit area comprises a filter layer. The filter layer comprises a layer of non-woven and/or woven fibrous material with at least one first region where the non-woven and/or woven material has been sealed to prevent egress of liquid there through and at least one second region where the non-woven and/or woven material has not been sealed to allow egress of liquid there through.