Pod assembly for beverage machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage dispensers face challenges in efficiently dispensing beverage materials from cartridges or pods, often resulting in incomplete emptying due to inadequate piercing mechanisms and pressure distribution, leading to leakage and residual contents.
Innovation Solution
A beverage pod assembly with a container, plug, and cap that includes a piercing assembly with a lumen and gas inlet port, allowing for controlled release of the beverage medium through a piercing element and pressurized gas assistance, along with a gasket for sealing and pressure maintenance, to ensure complete dispensing and minimize leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple piercing mechanism is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the beverage medium cannot be completely dispensed leading to residual contents
Solution Approach 1:
The piercing mechanism is divided into multiple functional elements: a piercing element with lumen for beverage flow, a piston for pressurization, and a resilient annular web for controlled movement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, ensuring complete dispensing without excessive overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a gas inlet port that delivers pressurized gas into the container to force the beverage medium through the piercing element. This pneumatic assistance ensures complete emptying of the container, resolving the issue of residual contents without requiring a mechanically complex piercing mechanism.
2Productivity
If pressurized gas is delivered into the container, then the beverage medium flows more completely, but the risk of leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piercing element pierces the plug before pressurized gas is delivered into the container. This preliminary action creates a controlled flow path through the lumen, ensuring that when pressure is applied, the beverage medium flows through the designated channel rather than leaking through uncontrolled paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The lumen in the piercing element acts as an intermediary channel between the pressurized gas source and the beverage medium. It controls and directs the flow, preventing uncontrolled leakage while maintaining efficient dispensing. The resilient annular web also serves as an intermediary that seals between the piston and container wall.
3Productivity
If multiple passageways are used for pressurization and dispensing, then the dispensing function is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piercing element with lumen serves multiple functions: it acts as both the piercing tool to breach the plug and the dispensing channel for the beverage medium. The gas inlet port also serves dual purposes by delivering pressurized gas and potentially acting as a secondary flow path. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated passageways.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the piercing function and the dispensing function into a single integrated piercing element with lumen. Instead of having separate piercing needles and dispensing tubes, these functions are combined, simplifying the overall passageway configuration while maintaining effective dispensing performance.
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 enables efficient and complete dispensing of beverage materials, reducing residual contents and leakage, and allows for the formation of various beverages by mixing with water or other liquids, improving the overall functionality of beverage machines.
Implementation Method 1
The cap can include a gas inlet port configured that delivers pressurized gas into the container to force the beverage medium through the piercing element lumen
Implementation Method 2
The piercing assembly can include a resilient annular web movable towards the plug. The piercing assembly can further include a piercing element extending from the piston and defining a lumen
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage pod for a beverage machine is provided. The beverage pod can include a container having an internal space and a container flange defining an opening to the internal space, a plug sealing the opening of the container, and a cap secured to the container flange. A beverage medium can be located within the internal space of the container. The cap can be operable to selectively engage a portion of the plug to release the beverage medium through the plug and the cap.