Capsule Adapter Sealing for Leak-Tight Pressure Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Food preparation machines face challenges in accommodating capsules or pods of different sizes and shapes, leading to potential damage or explosion due to pressure build-up during preparation, and risk of cross-contamination and fluid leakage.
Innovation Solution
A flexible adapting device that holds and seals non-native capsules or pods, ensuring leak-tightness and preventing damage by contacting and holding the entire surface, including bottom walls, and using sealing means to direct fluid flow correctly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the capsule holder is designed to fit native capsules tightly, then fluid-tightness and pressure containment are improved, but the machine cannot accommodate non-native capsules of different sizes and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adapting device as an intermediary component between the capsule holder and non-native capsules. This adapting device has an outer shape adapted to fit the capsule holder and an inner shape adapted to fit the non-native capsule, thereby mediating the interface between incompatible components and enabling both versatility and reliable pressure containment
Solution Approach 2:
The adapting device is nested within the capsule holder, and the non-native capsule is nested within the adapting device. This nested structure allows the smaller non-native capsule to be accommodated within the larger capsule holder through the intermediate adapting device, maintaining tight fitting and pressure containment at each interface
2Adaptability or versatility
If the capsule holder allows loose fitting for versatility, then different capsule sizes can be accommodated, but fluid leakage and cross-contamination risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adapting device acts as an intermediary sealing element that creates fluid-tight interfaces with both the capsule holder and the non-native capsule. This intermediary structure prevents fluid leakage and cross-contamination while maintaining the ability to accommodate different capsule types
Solution Approach 2:
The adapting device incorporates sealing elements such as O-rings or flexible sealing surfaces that can deform to conform to the specific shape of different non-native capsules, ensuring fluid-tight seals without requiring a custom-designed holder for each capsule type
3Reliability
If the capsule holder is designed for tight fitting of native capsules, then pressure build-up during preparation is contained, but non-native capsules may be damaged or explode due to improper support
Solution Approach 1:
The nested structure ensures that the non-native capsule is properly supported within the adapting device, which in turn is supported within the capsule holder. This nested arrangement distributes and contains the internal pressure generated during food preparation, preventing capsule damage while maintaining system reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The adapting device serves as a pressure-distributing intermediary between the capsule holder and the non-native capsule. It provides uniform support to the capsule walls during pressure build-up, preventing localized stress concentrations that could cause capsule failure
Data Source
AI summary
An adapting device for adapting a capsule into the capsule holder of a food machine when the capsule or pod is smaller than capsules or pods originally designed for insertion into the capsule holder is provided. The machine includes a fluid injection element for circulating a fluid through the capsule to a discharge opening, the capsule including a body enclosing a food ingredient to be dissolved and/or extracted so as to produce a food product, and further including circumferential edges. The device includes a holding portion for holding at least a portion of the capsule, and a sealer for circumferentially adapting to the capsule holder and/or to the fluid injection element, and/or to the capsule outside surface, in a leak-tight manner so that the fluid flow is directed solely from the fluid injection element through the capsule, to a discharge opening.