Beverage Capsule Flow Guide for Consistent Single-Serve Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beverage machines and capsules are not suitable for preparing single servings of mixed beverages, such as mixed drinks or juices, as they fail to achieve the required quality, flavor, and consistency.
Innovation Solution
A beverage machine and capsule system that includes a capsule with a guide member to direct a liquid stream for mixing within the capsule, and a machine with an injection needle and dispensing needle to prepare and dispense a single serving of a mixed beverage, using a recyclable material and a weakened portion for easy piercing, allowing for precise control and efficient mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional beverage machines and capsules are used, then the machine structure is simple, but the beverage quality, flavor, and consistency are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule is segmented into multiple functional zones: a reservoir for holding liquid ingredients, a guide member with channels for liquid stream distribution, and a mixing zone. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally, improving beverage consistency while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member acts as an intermediary component between the injection needle and the mixing zone. It receives the liquid stream from the injection needle and distributes it through channels to the mixing zone, ensuring proper mixing of ingredients while simplifying the interaction between the machine and capsule components.
2Ease of operation
If a guide member with channels is added to the capsule, then liquid stream distribution and mixing are improved, but the capsule manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is formed as a thin-walled structure with integrated channels within the capsule shell itself. This approach eliminates the need for separate complex internal components, as the channels are formed directly in the shell material, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining effective liquid distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member combines multiple functions into a single component: it serves as both a structural element of the capsule and a fluid distribution system with integrated channels. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate parts needed, simplifying both manufacturing and assembly.
3Reliability
If the capsule uses a sealed structure with lid and shell, then liquid containment is improved, but the piercing and dispensing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule is pre-sealed with a lid and shell structure before use, ensuring reliable liquid containment. The injection needle and dispensing needle are designed to pierce pre-formed sealing layers, allowing the sealed structure to maintain reliability while the piercing mechanism remains relatively simple and straightforward.
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
Enables the preparation of high-quality, consistent single servings of mixed beverages by ensuring proper mixing and dispensing, addressing the limitations of conventional machines and capsules.
Implementation Method 1
a guide member disposed within the reservoir of the open shell configured to receive a liquid stream injected by an injection needle of a beverage machine and to guide the liquid stream to a mixing zone within the reservoir for mixing the liquid stream with the liquid held in the reservoir
Implementation Method 2
an injection needle for piecing the lid of the capsule and for injecting the liquid stream into the beverage capsule
Implementation Method 3
a dispensing needle for piercing a bottom of the capsule to dispense the mixed beverage from the beverage capsule
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a beverage machine for preparing a single serving of a mixed beverage and a capsule for use with the machine. The capsule includes an open shell defining a reservoir for holding ingredients; a lid for sealing the open shell; and, a guide member disposed within the reservoir of the open shell configured to receive a liquid stream injected by an injection needle of a beverage machine when the lid is pierced by the injection needle and to guide the liquid stream to a mixing zone within the reservoir for mixing the liquid stream with the liquid held in the reservoir to prepare a single serving of mixed beverage to be dispensed from the reservoir via a dispensing needle of the beverage machine when the dispensing needle pierces the open shell...