Beverage Capsule Sealing Member for Pressure-Tight Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beverage capsules fail to maintain a sufficient seal under high pressure, leading to inefficient extraction and poor quality espresso-style coffee due to the limitations of flange-like rims made from the same plastic material as the capsule body, which cannot withstand elevated pressures and are not adaptable to modern closure devices.

Innovation Solution

A capsule design featuring a resilient sealing member on its outer surface that deforms to create a sealing engagement with the beverage production device, ensuring a pressure-tight seal by using materials like rubber-elastic or geometrical shapes that can bias against the device's pressing surface, maintaining the seal throughout the extraction process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a flange-like rim made from the same plastic material as the capsule body is used, then the capsule structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the sealing effect is insufficient under elevated pressure conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapsule structure simplicityVSAvoidsealing effect under pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The capsule is divided into two functional parts: the body made of rigid plastic material and the sealing element made of elastomeric material. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally - the body provides structural integrity while the sealing element provides reliable sealing under pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The capsule combines two different materials with complementary properties: rigid plastic for the body and elastomeric material for the sealing element. This composite approach allows the capsule to simultaneously achieve structural rigidity and flexible sealing capability, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the capsule rim is crushed to obtain a seal effect, then sealing is achieved, but the capsule requires user-dependent tightening torque and cannot adapt to modern predefined closure force devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal effectVSAvoidadaptability to closure devices

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of deforming the capsule rim to create the seal (as in prior art), the invention inverts the approach by providing a dedicated elastomeric sealing element that actively adapts to the closure device's pressing surface. This allows the capsule to work with modern predefined closure force devices rather than requiring user-dependent crushing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing mechanism changes from relying on mechanical deformation of the rim geometry to utilizing the elastic properties of the sealing element. The elastomeric material's ability to deform and recover provides the necessary adaptation to the closure device's pressing surface, enabling compatibility with modern closure systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a seal is applied on the capsule rim as part of the apparatus, then sealing under pressure is achieved, but the seal is not integrated into the capsule and requires separate application

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing under pressureVSAvoidseal application process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing element is merged with the capsule body through integral formation or secure attachment, creating a unified capsule assembly. This eliminates the need for separate seal application and ensures the seal travels with the capsule, simplifying the overall system while maintaining reliable sealing under pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The capsule becomes self-sufficient by incorporating its own sealing element, eliminating the need for the apparatus to provide separate sealing components. The elastomeric sealing element on the capsule actively engages with the closure device's pressing surface, allowing the capsule to secure its own seal without external assistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 enhances the sealing engagement between the liquid inlet and beverage draining side, ensuring proper pressure build-up and extraction quality, reducing the risk of leaks and maintaining hygiene by using a resilient sealing member only once with each capsule.

Implementation Method 1

a resilient sealing member (8) on an outer surface of the capsule (1)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS7993691B2Capsule with sealing means and its use in producing a beverage

Publication Date: 2011.08.09 SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE SA

AI summary

A capsule contains beverage ingredients such as ground coffee, tea or other ingredients and is configured for insertion in a beverage production device in order to have a liquid under pressure have enter the capsule and to interact with the ingredients in the capsule. The capsule has a base body and a foil member closing the base body by being attached to a flange-like rim extending from the side wall of the base body of the capsule. The base body of the capsule has a resilient sealing member, the sealing member being designed to be in sealing engagement with a bell member of the beverage production device.