Beverage Extraction Cartridge Ridges for Clean, Even Percolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage extraction systems for particulate substances like coffee suffer from contamination, inefficient fluid distribution, and hygiene issues due to the need for manual handling and cleaning, as well as limitations in retaining organoleptic qualities and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
An integrated cartridge with a main body and lid portion, featuring a cup port and lid port with ridges and porous discs to support filtering means, allowing for even fluid distribution and retention of particulate substances, and incorporating valve-like structures for pressure-activated fluid passage, ensuring contamination-free and efficient beverage extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual handling and cleaning of extraction assembly is used, then ease of operation is reduced, but device complexity is also reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is designed as a self-contained unit that automatically performs filtering and beverage delivery functions. The integrated structure with built-in filter and spout eliminates the need for manual cleaning of the extraction assembly, as the cartridge itself handles all extraction and delivery operations without requiring user intervention for maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the extraction function into a disposable cartridge component that can be easily replaced, isolating the contamination and cleaning requirements from the permanent machine components. This segmentation allows the machine body to remain clean while the cartridge contains all necessary filtering and extraction elements.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional capsules with openings are used, then fluid distribution is improved, but contamination of extraction chamber occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge acts as an intermediary component between the water injection system and the beverage delivery system. It contains the extraction chamber within its sealed structure, preventing direct contact between the machine's extraction chamber and the beverage, thereby eliminating contamination while maintaining proper fluid distribution through its designed internal structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge is designed as a single-use component that is discarded after one extraction cycle. This disposable nature ensures that any potential contamination is contained within the cartridge itself and does not transfer to the permanent machine components, eliminating the need for cleaning the extraction assembly while maintaining extraction quality.
3Ease of operation
If filtering paper bags are used for tablets, then ease of handling is improved, but air-tight protection is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge employs a composite construction combining a rigid outer shell made of plastic or aluminum with an integrated filter element. This composite structure provides both the air-tight protection of metal/plastic materials and the filtering function of paper, while maintaining ease of handling through its self-contained design that requires no separate packaging or assembly by the user.
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 cartridge enhances beverage quality by maintaining organoleptic qualities, reduces contamination, simplifies handling, and facilitates consecutive extractions of different substances while minimizing machine load and operation complexity.
Implementation Method 1
filtering means for retaining the particulate substance and for percolating fluid substances therethrough
Implementation Method 2
fine canalization between the filtering means and the cup port
Implementation Method 3
valve means mounted on the cup port which are resiliently openable under pressure of the percolation fluid substances
Implementation Method 4
define a fine canalization between the filtering means and the cup port
Data Source
AI summary
A cartridge for extracting a beverage from a particulate substance contained therein by means of water under pressure, the cartridge comprising: a main body comprising a cup portion and a lid portion, the cup portion comprising a base, a sidewall and a rim opposed to the base, the lid portion being fixedly attached to the rim of the cup portion so as to define an internal volume of the cartridge, the internal volume of the cartridge housing the particulate substance comprised within filtering means for retaining the particulate substance and for percolating fluid substances therethrough, the lid portion comprising a lid port defining a first passage for percolation fluid substances, the base of the cup portion comprising a cup port defining a second passage for percolation fluid substances, wherein the base comprises a plurality of ridges directly formed thereon and protruding towards the internal volume of the cartridge, so as to support the filtering means and the particulate substance and to define a fine canalization between the filtering means and the cup port.