System and method for preparing a beverage
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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 the risk of extractable product remains spilling when removing the capsule, due to piercing mechanisms that create uneven entrance and exit openings.
Innovation Solution
The system employs entrance and exit filters, formed from porous sheets or foils with uniform openings, to supply and drain fluids over larger areas, maintaining the capsule's integrity and preventing piercing, thus reducing preferential paths and spillage, while also filtering oils from coffee to enhance taste and health quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If piercing mechanisms are used to create entrance and exit openings in the capsule, then fluid can be supplied and drained, but preferential fluid paths occur leading to variations in beverage strength
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule lid and bottom are made porous to allow fluid to pass through uniformly across the entire surface area, eliminating the need for piercing mechanisms and preventing preferential fluid paths that cause beverage strength variations
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule structure is changed from solid with pierced openings to porous material with uniform distributed pores, fundamentally altering how fluid enters and exits the capsule to achieve consistent beverage strength
2Ease of operation
If piercing mechanisms are used to create openings, then fluid flow is enabled, but extractable product remains may spill when removing the capsule
Solution Approach 1:
The porous lid and bottom allow fluid to pass through uniformly while the porous structure itself acts as a filter that retains extractable product remains, preventing spillage during capsule removal
Solution Approach 2:
The porous material acts as an intermediary between the fluid flow and the extractable product, allowing fluid passage while physically retaining product remains through its porous structure
3Productivity
If entrance openings are pierced in the capsule, then fluid can enter, but the entrance area is limited leading to preferential paths
Solution Approach 1:
The entire bottom surface of the capsule is made porous, transforming the entrance area from a limited pierced opening to a uniform distributed porous structure covering the entire surface, enabling uniform fluid distribution
4Productivity
If exit openings are formed by piercing the lid, then beverage can drain, but the opening size and distribution depend on chance
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule lid is made porous with uniform pore distribution, eliminating the randomness of pierced openings and ensuring consistent beverage drainage with uniform exit opening size and distribution
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 solution ensures reproducible beverage strength, reduces spillage, and improves coffee quality by maintaining capsule integrity and filtering oils, resulting in a more consistent and healthier beverage preparation process.
Implementation Method 1
The system employs entrance and exit filters, formed from porous sheets or foils with uniform openings
Implementation Method 2
The system employs entrance and exit filters, formed from porous sheets or foils with uniform openings
Implementation Method 3
providing the exit filter provides the advantage that the exit filter may filter oils from the beverage, i.e. from the coffee, before supplying the coffee to the container
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.