Beverage Capsule Screen Attachment for Substance Containment and Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee capsules often result in soiling of the coffee machine and are costly to manufacture, while also affecting the quality of the brewed beverage in terms of crema formation and organoleptic properties.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design with circumferentially distributed attachment zones for the screen, allowing it to move away from the center under fluid pressure, enabling a larger portion of the screen to be available for liquid flow and reducing energy and pressure requirements for attachment, while ensuring all substance is covered and preventing significant substance entry between the screen and bottom during brewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the screen is attached to the capsule bottom using conventional methods (welding, sealing), then the screen remains stable and prevents substance leakage, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The screen attachment is divided into multiple discrete attachment zones distributed circumferentially around the capsule bottom, rather than requiring continuous sealing or welding around the entire perimeter. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining effective substance containment.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of attaching the screen across the entire bottom surface, attachment is achieved at selected partial zones only. This partial action approach reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while still providing sufficient containment through the strategically positioned attachment zones.
2Reliability
If the screen is rigidly fixed to the capsule bottom, then substance containment is improved, but crema formation and beverage quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The screen is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to move or deform in response to fluid pressure during brewing. The attachment zones provide sufficient restraint for containment while permitting the screen to dynamically adjust to pressure changes, thereby enabling proper crema formation and maintaining beverage quality.
3Reliability
If the screen is positioned close to the capsule bottom, then substance containment is improved, but liquid flow through the screen is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
By distributing attachment zones circumferentially rather than positioning the screen uniformly close to the bottom, the design creates open channels between attachment zones. This segmentation allows liquid to flow freely through these gaps while the screen maintains containment function at the attachment locations.
4Reliability
If conventional attachment methods are used, then screen stability is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The screen is attached at selected partial zones only rather than across the entire perimeter, reducing the amount of material and energy required for attachment operations. This partial attachment approach lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining sufficient screen stability through strategic zone selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment method employs simple, cost-effective techniques suitable for disposable capsules. The attachment zones use economical sealing or bonding methods that are adequate for single-use applications, avoiding the need for expensive, complex attachment systems.
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 design results in a higher crema layer and improved beverage quality, while being simpler and less costly to manufacture, with reduced risk of machine soiling and effective substance containment during brewing.
Implementation Method 1
supplying a fluid under pressure into the capsule
Implementation Method 2
a screen, permeable to water and impermeable to a predominant portion of particles
Implementation Method 3
causes an increase in the internal pressure which causes the cover to be torn
Data Source
AI summary
In a capsule containing a substance constituted by a mass of loose, solid particles, for the preparation of a potable beverage by extracting and/or dissolving the substance by means of supplying a fluid under pressure into the capsule, a screen, permeable to water and impermeable to a predominant portion of particles of the substance is positioned between the substance and the bottom. The screen is attached to the capsule body along attachment zones spaced from the center and circumferentially spaced from each other. A beverage brewing system comprising such a capsule, a method of use of such a capsule and a method of attaching a screen into a capsule body are described as well.