Beverage Capsule Filtration Layout for Uniform Coffee Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation capsules often result in preferential fluid paths and spillage due to piercing mechanisms, leading to inconsistent beverage strength and quality, particularly when using roasted and ground coffee.
Innovation Solution
The capsule design incorporates an entrance filter and exit filter, both formed by porous materials like filtering paper or polymeric films, distributed over the surface to ensure homogeneous fluid supply and drainage, preventing piercing by piercing means and maintaining the integrity of the lid, thus enhancing reproducibility and reducing spillage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If piercing mechanisms are used to create entrance and exit openings in the capsule, then fluid can be supplied to and drained from the extractable product, but preferential fluid paths occur leading to inconsistent beverage strength and quality
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom and lid are segmented into multiple small openings distributed across their surfaces rather than using a single piercing mechanism. The bottom has multiple entrance openings and the lid has multiple exit openings, which segments the fluid flow path and prevents preferential channels, ensuring uniform wetting and drainage across the entire extractable product bed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the bottom and lid are equipped with openings to create locally optimized fluid distribution. The openings are distributed across the entire surface area, providing local fluid access points throughout the capsule, which ensures homogeneous flow patterns and consistent extraction quality across different locations.
2Ease of operation
If the lid is completely detached from the capsule after use, then it can be removed for cleaning or replacement, but the lid seal is lost and the capsule is prone to spillage
Solution Approach 1:
The lid seal is nested within the lid structure through permanent attachment at specific positions. The seal remains embedded in the lid even when the lid is detached from the capsule body, creating a nested configuration where the seal is protected and retained within the lid assembly, preventing spillage while allowing lid removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid seal is permanently attached to the lid, which is then discarded together with the capsule after use. This approach recovers the seal function by ensuring it remains attached to the lid structure, eliminating the need for separate seal replacement and preventing spillage during disposal.
3Productivity
If entrance openings are created by piercing the bottom, then fluid can enter the capsule, but the bottom structure is compromised and extractable product may spill
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom is constructed with a porous structure that inherently provides multiple small openings for fluid penetration without requiring mechanical piercing. The porous material maintains structural integrity while allowing efficient fluid supply to the extractable product, eliminating the need to compromise the bottom strength through piercing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The entrance openings are pre-formed in the bottom structure during manufacturing rather than being created by piercing during use. This preliminary action ensures the bottom maintains its structural integrity throughout the beverage preparation process, preventing product spillage while ensuring fluid can enter efficiently.
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 design ensures homogeneous wetting and drainage of the extractable product, reducing preferential fluid paths and spillage, resulting in consistent beverage quality and improved consumer health by filtering oils like cafestol from coffee.
Implementation Method 1
the entrance area of the capsule comprises an entrance filter for supplying the fluid to the extractable product there through
Implementation Method 2
the exit area of the capsule comprises an exit filter through which the beverage can drain from the capsule
Implementation Method 3
filtering oils like cafestol from coffee
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.