Brewing device for producing a beverage from a single-serve capsule
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brewing devices face challenges in efficiently perforating single-serve cartridges, particularly those with waterproof casings, to inject brewing water and extract beverages, often resulting in inefficient perforation and potential damage to the cartridges.
Innovation Solution
The brewing device incorporates a piercing device with a plurality of piercing spikes and a segmented or annular centering/extracting mechanism to securely position and detach the cartridges, ensuring effective perforation and minimizing damage during the brewing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional perforators with planar top surfaces are used, then the device structure is simple, but the perforation efficiency is poor and cartridge damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The top surface of the perforator tip is designed with a concave portion that concentrates brewing water flow at a specific location, creating localized high-pressure zones that efficiently penetrate the cartridge sealing flange. This local quality enhancement at the tip surface enables effective perforation of waterproof casings without requiring complex overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The perforator tip geometry is modified by adding a concave portion to the top surface, changing the flow distribution parameters of brewing water. This geometric parameter change transforms the water flow from diffuse to concentrated, significantly improving perforation capability while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Device complexity
If conventional perforators are used on waterproof cartridges, then the device structure is simple, but cartridge deformation and tearing occur
Solution Approach 1:
The concave portion on the perforator top surface creates localized water jet concentration that penetrates the sealing flange with minimal lateral force, preventing cartridge deformation and tearing while maintaining simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The perforation mechanism is changed from direct mechanical contact to fluid-driven penetration, where concentrated brewing water flow replaces mechanical pressing force. This substitution eliminates the need for complex pressurization mechanisms while reducing cartridge damage.
3Productivity
If multiple perforators are added to improve perforation coverage, then perforation efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The perforator assembly is designed so that a single perforator with a concave top surface can serve multiple functions: concentrating water flow, creating penetration points, and distributing flow across the sealing flange area. This multi-functionality achieves comprehensive perforation coverage without requiring multiple separate perforators.
Solution Approach 2:
The perforator tip is segmented into a concave portion and an outer peripheral portion, where the concave portion handles central penetration and the outer peripheral portion provides additional flow distribution. This segmentation enables comprehensive coverage while maintaining a single integrated structure.
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
This configuration allows for efficient injection and extraction of beverages while maintaining the integrity of the cartridges, particularly those with strong materials like aluminum, by providing a precise and controlled piercing mechanism that reduces deformation and tearing.
Implementation Method 1
injection of pressurised brewing water therein
Implementation Method 2
each perforator has the shape of a blunt tip delimited by a side surface and by a top surface forming, with the side surface, a cutting edge; and the shape of the cutting edge is generically bilobed and formed by two convex portions separated by two symmetrical concave portions
Data Source
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AI summary
A brewing device (1) for producing a beverage from a single-serve cartridge (2) in the form of a capsule or a pod. The brewing device (1) comprises at least one perforating device (29) to perforate the cartridge (2) and including a plate (30) and a plurality of perforators (31) protruding from the plate (30). The plate (30) is provided with holes (32) for the flow of a liquid. Each perforator (31) has the shape of a blunt tip delimited by a side surface (44a) and by a top surface (44b) forming, with the side surface (44a), a cutting edge (44). The top surface (44b) is the resultant of the intersection between the relevant perforator (31) with a virtual spherical surface, and the shape of the cutting edge (44) is generically bilobed and formed by two convex portions separated by two symmetrical concave portions.