Beverage Cartridge Lid-Filter Assembly for Clean Component Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many beverage cartridges are difficult to disassemble for recycling or composting due to their complex construction, leading to uncontrolled release of components like coffee grounds, which discourages users from recycling or composting despite the materials being degradable or recyclable.
Innovation Solution
A beverage cartridge design where the filter is attached to the lid, allowing for easy removal of spent coffee grounds and the lid from the container, simplifying the separation of components and enabling mess-free recycling or composting, with a simplified internal structure that allows for both inlet and outlet openings in the lid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cartridge uses impermeable components (metallic foil, polymer) to preserve beverage medium quality, then freshness is maintained for weeks or months, but component separation becomes difficult and messy
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is divided into separable components: an impermeable container for freshness, a filter attached to the lid for containing grounds, and a lid assembly. After use, the lid with filter and grounds can be removed as a unit from the container, enabling easy separation of components for recycling or composting while maintaining freshness during storage
Solution Approach 2:
The filter is extracted and attached to the lid rather than being integrated into the container body. This allows the filter and spent grounds to be removed together with the lid from the container, separating the grounds-containing assembly from the container for easier composting or recycling of each component
2Stability of the object's composition
If the cartridge uses a complex internal structure to maintain component integrity, then component separation is prevented, but ease of separation for recycling is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge structure is segmented into distinct assemblies: the container holds the beverage medium, the filter is attached to the lid, and the lid assembly can be removed as a unit. This segmentation maintains component integrity during use while enabling easy separation after use by removing the lid with filter and grounds together from the container
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, system and cartridge for forming a beverage includes a cartridge (10) having a container (12) defining an interior space (14), a lid (38), a filter (30), and a beverage medium (20) contained in the interior space. The filter may be attached to the lid only, and extend into the interior space to separate first (14a) and second (14b) chambers of the cartridge. The filter may hold the beverage medium and be arranged so that, when the lid is removed from the container, e.g., by peeling the lid from the container, the filter and beverage medium are removed together with the lid.