Beverage Capsule Projection Sealing for Surface Irregularity Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage brewing systems face issues with sealing engagement due to surface irregularities between capsules and receptacles, leading to potential leakages and quality deterioration over time.
Innovation Solution
The capsule features projections, such as tubular structures or ridges, on its surface to form a sealing engagement with the receptacle, which can deform to match irregularities and provide a reliable seal, even with minor manufacturing defects or wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the enclosing member material is softer than the capsule material at the sealing location, then good initial sealing engagement is achieved, but the sealing quality deteriorates over time due to wear and degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule is designed with local quality differentiation: the sealing surface at the rim is made of a softer material than the circumferential wall material. This allows the sealing location to be softer for good initial engagement while the main body remains structurally sound. The softer sealing surface deforms to accommodate receptacle irregularities, ensuring reliable sealing over time without the enclosing member suffering from wear and degradation.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the enclosing member material is harder than the capsule material at the sealing location, then wear and degradation of the enclosing member is reduced, but sealing engagement is upset by surface irregularities
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule employs local quality by making the sealing surface softer than both the enclosing member and the circumferential wall material. This softer sealing surface can deform to accommodate surface irregularities in the harder enclosing member, ensuring consistent sealing engagement while allowing the enclosing member to maintain its durability and resistance to wear and degradation.
3Ease of manufacture
If the capsule sealing material is the same as the circumferential wall material, then manufacturing ease is improved, but sealing engagement becomes sensitive to receptacle surface irregularities
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule is designed with different materials for different locations: the circumferential wall uses a harder material for structural integrity, while the sealing surface at the rim uses a softer material for reliable sealing. This local differentiation sacrifices some manufacturing simplicity but ensures robust sealing engagement that can accommodate receptacle surface irregularities.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule employs composite materials with different properties in different regions. The circumferential wall and sealing surface are made of different materials, creating a composite structure that combines the structural advantages of harder materials with the sealing advantages of softer materials. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between manufacturing ease and sealing 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 use of projections effectively mitigates surface irregularities, ensuring a consistent and reliable sealing engagement, reducing leakages and maintaining beverage quality over the lifespan of the brewing device.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one projection comprises a plurality of interconnected tubular structures
Data Source
AI summary
A capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage with a beverage brewing device is disclosed. The beverage brewing device comprises a receptacle for receiving the capsule. The capsule comprises a cup comprising a circumferential wall, a bottom closing the circumferential wall at a first end, and a lid in use connected to the cup at a second end of the circumferential wall opposite the bottom. The wall, bottom and lid, in use, enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product. At least a portion of a surface of the capsule conceived to, in use, interact with the receptacle is provided with at least one projection for forming a sealing engagement with the receptacle.