Capsule with a passage as recess and system for the production of edible products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capsules made of substantially rigid materials used in brewing devices for preparing beverages like espresso coffee and tea often slip due to inadequate retention mechanisms, especially when pressurized water injection is not penetrating, leading to unreliable positioning and flow direction issues.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design featuring a lid-like construction with a recessed passageway wall and a weakened material region, where the passageway wall has a smaller thickness with a projection element extending axially to engage the brewing device's flow injection, and a recess region with varying thicknesses to enhance mechanical and sealed engagement, ensuring reliable fluid entry without piercing the exterior envelope.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a capsule is made of substantially rigid material, then structural strength is improved, but retention reliability deteriorates due to slippage in the brewing device
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule wall is segmented into different regions with different thicknesses: a first wall portion with standard thickness and a second wall portion with reduced thickness. This segmentation allows the capsule to maintain overall structural strength while creating a specific zone that can be penetrated by pressurized fluid, improving retention reliability without compromising strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule exhibits local quality variation through the differentiated wall thicknesses. The second wall portion has locally reduced thickness to facilitate fluid penetration and engagement with the brewing device, while the first wall portion maintains standard thickness for structural integrity. This local modification resolves the contradiction between overall strength and localized engagement capability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If pressurized water injection is not penetrating, then capsule envelope integrity is preserved, but positioning reliability deteriorates due to capsule slippage
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule is pre-configured with a second wall portion that has reduced thickness at the location where fluid injection will occur. This preliminary structural preparation enables the pressurized fluid to penetrate the envelope at the predetermined location without compromising overall integrity, while simultaneously creating engagement features that prevent slippage and ensure reliable positioning.
3Ease of operation
If a weakened material region is provided, then fluid entry is facilitated, but capsule structural strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The weakened material region is implemented as a localized reduction in wall thickness (second wall portion) rather than a general weakening of the entire capsule structure. This local modification facilitates fluid entry at the specific engagement location while the remainder of the capsule maintains standard wall thickness and structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule wall is divided into segments with different thicknesses: the first wall portion maintains standard thickness for structural strength, while the second wall portion has reduced thickness for fluid entry. This segmentation allows the capsule to provide both structural strength and facilitated fluid entry without compromising overall integrity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pressurized water injection outlets are used, then beverage preparation capability is improved, but capsule retention reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule incorporates multiple second wall portions with reduced thickness, each corresponding to different injection outlets. This segmentation allows the capsule to accommodate multiple pressurized water injection points for versatile beverage preparation while each localized thin wall portion provides engagement features that prevent slippage and maintain retention reliability.
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 capsule design provides improved mechanical engagement and sealed retention within the brewing device, ensuring reliable fluid flow and preventing capsule slippage, thereby ensuring consistent beverage preparation.
Implementation Method 1
whereby said projection element can be impinged by a flow injection part of said brewing device and thereby exert a lever-like mechanic force upon said weakened material region
Implementation Method 2
adapted for entry of a pressurized fluid preferentially without holing of a respective exterior envelope
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention refers to a capsule (1) presenting at least one first construction element (2) configured in a container-like shape, and a second construction element (3) configured in a lid-like shape, adapted so as to contain an individual portion of an edible substance, whereby said second construction element (3) presents a passageway wall (4) that is surrounded in at least most part of respective perimeter by a weakened material region (41) provided as a reduction of thickness in at least one of the upstream and downstream sides of said passageway wall (4), and that presents a projection element (7) adapted so that can be actuated mechanically. The present invention further refers to a system for preparing edible products including a capsule (1), an apparatus for preparing edible products comprising at least one brewing device (10) presenting injection means (13) adapted so that exert a mechanic pressure upon the passageway wall (4) on a region of the passageway wall (4) opposite to the region of weakened material region (41).