Compressible Beverage Capsule With Vortex Mixing and Direct Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing capsules for automatic dispensing machines are complex and costly due to the need for extracting devices and washing systems, and they struggle with dissolving difficult-to-dissolve products like chocolate, leading to coagulated matter and lumps in beverages.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design featuring a compressible casing with internal nozzles that create a vortical flow to dissolve products efficiently, and a dispensing machine that can handle various capsule sizes without an extracting device, ensuring hygiene and optimal infusion, allowing for direct beverage dispensing into a receptacle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If capsules are designed with filtering elements and extracting devices, then beverage extraction is enabled, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the extracting device and filtering element from the machine structure and transfers these functions to the capsule itself. The capsule is designed with integrated filtering elements that perform both filtration and extraction functions, eliminating the need for complex machine components while maintaining beverage extraction capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs disposable capsules that contain pre-installed filtering elements and product containers. These single-use capsules eliminate the need for durable, complex extracting devices in the machine, reducing device complexity while maintaining functionality through repeated replacement of simple, inexpensive capsules.
2Reliability
If extracting devices and conduits are added to dispensing machines, then beverage dispensing is enabled, but hygiene maintenance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the conduit system that connects the machine to the beverage source by placing the product directly in the disposable capsule. This removes the conduit from the hygiene-critical path, simplifying maintenance while preserving beverage dispensing functionality through direct capsule-to-cup delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
By using disposable capsules that are discarded after single use, the invention eliminates the need for washing and sanitizing complex dispensing circuits. The disposable nature of the capsule transfers hygiene maintenance from the machine to the single-use container, greatly simplifying operational hygiene requirements.
3Reliability
If filtering elements are integrated into capsules, then product containment is improved, but dissolution efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the capsule with different structural zones: the filtering element provides containment in the product storage area, while the dissolution chamber has an open or porous structure that facilitates efficient dissolution. This local differentiation allows the capsule to simultaneously achieve both product containment and high dissolution efficiency in different regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule is divided into distinct functional segments: a sealed product container with filtering elements for containment, and a separate dissolution chamber with optimized geometry for efficient mixing and dissolution. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.
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 solution enables the production of perfectly dissolved, full-bodied beverages without manual intervention, maintaining hygiene and organoleptic quality, and simplifies the dispensing machine design by eliminating the need for complex extraction systems.
Implementation Method 1
The nozzle is arranged for delivering into the cavity a fluid, in particular a hot pressurised liquid... in such a manner as to create a vortical flow
Implementation Method 2
containing an initial product P1 from which to obtain a final product B1... an initial product which is percolable, or soluble, or an infusion product, or freezed-dried or dehydrated
Implementation Method 3
The capsule is further compressed and/or crushed in such a manner as to reduce the volume of the capsule... enabling the beverage to exit
Data Source
AI summary
A capsule includes a deformable and/or compressible casing, provided with a base wall and a side wall defining a cavity that is open and suitable for containing an initial product to obtain a final food product. A supporting element is fixed to a first edge of the casing and facing the cavity and a nozzle is fixed to the supporting element and arranged for delivering a fluid into the cavity which interacts with the initial product to make the final product. The nozzle also opens the base wall and enables the final product to exit when the casing is compressed and crushed.