Pack, system and method for preparing beverages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible packs for beverage preparation 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 insert at the bottom with a water inlet and beverage outlet, oriented perpendicularly to each other, made of flexible impermeable sheets, and a rigid insert for easy manufacturing and hygiene, allowing for controlled beverage preparation and direct delivery of foamy beverages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressure is increased inside the sachet to open the beverage outlet, then the beverage outlet opens, but bubbles form at the surface of the beverage
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage outlet is segmented into two functional parts: a membrane that bursts at controlled pressure to open the outlet, and a spout that directs beverage flow. This segmentation allows the membrane to open the outlet without requiring high pressure that would create bubbles, while the spout ensures smooth beverage delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is pre-positioned to cover the beverage outlet before use. During beverage preparation, the membrane bursts at a predetermined low pressure threshold, automatically opening the outlet without requiring the user to apply high pressure manually. This preliminary positioning resolves the contradiction by enabling outlet opening at controlled, bubble-free pressure levels.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the pack is enclosed in the machine during beverage preparation, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pack itself serves as a flexible containment shell that can be safely enclosed in the machine. The flexible material allows the pack to withstand machine enclosure and pressure application while protecting the operator. This eliminates the need for additional rigid safety enclosures, resolving the contradiction between safety and device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If water is introduced from the top in vertical orientation, then the process is simple, but foamy beverages cannot be delivered directly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of introducing water from the top in vertical orientation, the invention inverts the approach by introducing water from the bottom in horizontal orientation. The water inlet is positioned at the bottom of the sachet and oriented horizontally, allowing water to flow upward and create foam effectively. This inversion resolves the contradiction by enabling direct foamy beverage delivery while maintaining process simplicity.
4Reliability
If the inlet spout and beverage outlet are separate, then hygiene is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet spout and beverage outlet are merged into a single integrated insert that is injection-moulded as one piece. This insert includes both the water inlet channel and the beverage outlet spout, maintaining hygiene by keeping water and beverage pathways separate while structurally combining them. This merging resolves the contradiction by achieving hygiene benefits without increasing device complexity through multiple separate components.
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 ensures controlled beverage preparation, prevents explosions, maintains hygiene, and allows for the direct delivery of foamy beverages, enhancing overall beverage quality and manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Water is introduced until it fills the pack and overflows through the beverage outlet
Implementation Method 2
Water is introduced until it fills the pack and overflows through the beverage outlet positioned at the top of the pack too
Data Source
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), the water inlet (3) being oriented essentially perpendicularly to the plane (P) defined by the inner volume (2), and—wherein the single insert (5) comprises a centring hole (53) extending essentially perpendicularly to the generally plane (P) shape of the inner volume.