Beverage Capsule Wall Sealing for Hygienic Pressure Brewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage capsules face challenges in achieving efficient and economical manufacturing while ensuring a reliable sealing effect during beverage preparation, often requiring dedicated hollow sealing members that can lead to hygienic issues and increased material usage.
Innovation Solution
The capsule design incorporates the capsule wall itself as a sealing member, eliminating the need for a dedicated hollow sealing member, and utilizing materials like elastic plastics or metals to ensure a sealing effect between the capsule and the beverage production device, allowing for efficient manufacturing and improved sealing performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated hollow sealing member is attached to the capsule, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged with the capsule wall itself. The capsule wall is designed with an integrated sealing structure that directly engages with the beverage production device, eliminating the need for a separate hollow sealing member. This integration maintains sealing reliability while simplifying the overall capsule structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The dedicated hollow sealing member is extracted/removed from the capsule design. Instead of attaching a separate sealing component, the sealing functionality is achieved through the capsule wall's own structural features, thereby reducing device complexity and material usage.
2Reliability
If a dedicated hollow sealing member is used, then sealing effect is improved, but manufacturing cost and material consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is combined with the capsule wall structure, eliminating the need for additional sealing materials. The capsule wall itself is configured to provide the necessary sealing engagement, thereby reducing material consumption while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule wall serves multiple functions: containing the beverage ingredient and providing sealing engagement with the device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated sealing materials, reducing overall material consumption while maintaining sealing effect.
3Reliability
If a separate resilient sealing member is attached to the beverage production device, then sealing engagement is improved, but hygienic problems occur due to repeated use
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is transferred to the disposable capsule rather than being part of the reusable device. Each new capsule provides a fresh sealing surface, ensuring hygienic conditions with every use while maintaining reliable sealing engagement. The capsule is discarded after single use, preventing contamination accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing the resilient sealing member on the beverage production device (reusable component), the sealing functionality is inverted and placed on the capsule (disposable component). This reversal ensures that the sealing surface is renewed with each capsule, eliminating hygienic contamination issues.
4Reliability
If multiple separate sealing components are used, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure is merged into the capsule wall and formed in a single manufacturing process. The capsule wall is molded or formed with integrated sealing features, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps for attaching sealing components, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency while maintaining 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
This approach enables the production of durable capsules with enhanced sealing efficiency, reducing material and energy consumption, and preventing hygienic issues associated with separate sealing members, while ensuring that water flow is contained within the capsule during operation.
Implementation Method 1
wherein at least one of the first, second and third wall as such is configured to act as the sealing member
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
Capsule for containing beverage ingredients, the capsule being designed for insertion in a beverage production device in which a liquid under pressure enters the capsule to drain a beverage from the capsule, wherein the capsule comprises a circumferential first wall, a second wall closing the circumferential first wall at a first end, and a third wall closing the circumferential first wall at a second, open, end opposite the second wall, the first, second and third wall enclosing an inner space comprising the beverage ingredients, wherein the capsule comprises a sealing member for achieving a sealing effect between the capsule and the beverage production device, wherein at least one of the first, second and third wall as such is configured to act as the sealing member.