Bottom-Insert Beverage Pack for Controlled Foamy Dispensing
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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 with a single insert at the bottom containing both the water inlet and beverage outlet, oriented perpendicularly to each other, made of flexible impermeable sheets, and a rigid insert for improved hygiene and ease of use, allowing for controlled beverage preparation and direct delivery of foamy beverages.
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-formed as a sealed opening in the sachet bottom during manufacturing, eliminating the need for pressure-induced rupture. The outlet is opened in advance by the machine's piercing element before beverage preparation, avoiding uncontrolled explosions and bubble formation during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A machine-mounted piercing element acts as an intermediary to open the pre-formed sealed outlet. This controlled mechanism replaces direct pressure application, allowing the outlet to be opened safely without causing harmful effects like bubbling or explosion.
2Device complexity
If the water inlet is positioned at the top of the sachet, then the structure is simple, but foamy beverages cannot be delivered directly and require additional frothing time
Solution Approach 1:
The water inlet is repositioned from the traditional top position to the bottom of the sachet, changing the spatial dimension of water introduction. This allows water to enter from below and rise through the beverage ingredient, enabling direct delivery of foamy beverages without requiring separate frothing equipment or additional time.
3Ease of manufacture
If the sachet is made of flexible material, then less material is used and production cost is reduced, but hygiene is compromised due to open water and beverage outlets
Solution Approach 1:
The sachet maintains its flexible material construction for cost-effectiveness, but incorporates a rigid insert at the bottom that houses sealed water and beverage outlets. This hybrid structure preserves the hygiene benefits of sealed openings while maintaining the manufacturing advantages of flexible packaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The sachet combines flexible material for the body with a rigid insert containing the outlets. This composite structure integrates the advantages of both materials: the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of the flexible sachet with the hygiene and sealing properties of the rigid outlet component.
4Reliability
If a rigid insert with perpendicular inlet and outlet is used, then hygiene and controlled beverage preparation are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water inlet and beverage outlet are merged into a single rigid insert component at the sachet bottom. This integration reduces the number of separate parts compared to having separate sealed openings and outlet structures, simplifying assembly while maintaining hygiene and control benefits.
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 contamination, and allows for the direct delivery of foamy beverages, enhancing both manufacturing efficiency and consumer experience while maintaining hygiene and shelf life.
Implementation Method 1
The pack comprises two flexible water impermeable sheets joined to one another to define an inner volume
Implementation Method 2
flexible water impermeable sheets
Implementation Method 3
The beverage making ingredient is extracted or dissolved into water to form the beverage
Implementation Method 4
The beverage making ingredient is extracted or dissolved into water to form the beverage
Implementation Method 5
The beverage flows out of the capsule through a suitable outlet
Implementation Method 6
The beverage is evacuated through a beverage outlet at the bottom of the sachet
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b~2
Figure 2a
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.