Beverage Pack with Bottom Insert for Controlled Foam Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation systems using flexible sachets face issues such as uncontrollable pressure leading to bubble formation, potential explosions, inability to deliver foamy beverages directly, and hygiene concerns due to open water and beverage outlets.
Innovation Solution
A pack design featuring a single rigid insert at the bottom with integrated water inlet and beverage outlet, enclosed by flexible sheets, which allows for controlled beverage preparation and easy handling, ensuring hygiene and efficient delivery of beverages without pressure increase, capable of producing foamy beverages directly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pressure is increased inside the sachet to open the beverage outlet, then the beverage can be delivered, but bubbles form at the surface and the package may explode uncontrollably
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage outlet is pre-cut in the sachet material during manufacturing, but remains closed by a plug or sealed edge. The cutting action is performed in advance, creating a precise opening that will be activated later by simple plug removal or edge separation, avoiding the need for pressure buildup during beverage preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The beverage outlet is separated into two functional parts: the pre-cut opening in the sachet material and the removable plug or sealed edge that closes it during storage. This segmentation allows the opening to be prepared in advance with precise dimensions while maintaining closure through a separate element that can be easily removed during use.
2Device complexity
If the water inlet introduces water vertically from the top, then the structure is simple, but foamy beverages cannot be delivered directly and require additional frothing time
Solution Approach 1:
The water inlet structure incorporates a horizontal or angled injection component that redirects the water flow from vertical top-down introduction to horizontal or upward flow through the beverage ingredient. This dimensional change in flow direction enables foam formation within the sachet and direct delivery of foamy beverages without requiring separate frothing equipment or steps.
3Ease of operation
If the beverage outlet is positioned at the top of the pack, then beverages can be delivered, but beverage remains in the pack after preparation and hygiene is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the beverage outlet at the top of the pack as in conventional designs, the outlet is inverted and positioned at the bottom of the sachet. This inversion allows complete drainage of the beverage during preparation and enables the sachet to be easily removed from the machine with no residue, maintaining hygiene and shelf life while ensuring complete beverage delivery.
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention concerns pack (1) with an inner volume (2) in which a food or beverage ingredient (7) is stored and in which a beverage is produced when water is introduced inside, -said inner volume (2) being defined by two sheets of material (10) joined to one another at their edges and said inner volume (2) presenting a generally plane shape defining a plane (P) vertically oriented during beverage production, -said pack comprising at least one inlet (3) for introducing water in the inner volume and at least one outlet (4) for delivering the beverage from said inner volume, the water inlet (3) and the beverage outlet (4) being included in one single insert (5), said single insert (5) being positioned at the bottom of the pack and being partially positioned between two joined edges of the sheets of material (10), -said water inlet (3) being closed by one sheet of material (10) defining the inner volume (2), -wherein the single insert (5) comprises a centring hole (53) extending essentially perpendicularly to the generally plane (P) shape of the inner volume. The invention also concerns a machine for preparing a beverage from the pack.