Capsule and beverage production system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Plastic capsules used in beverage production machines are prone to deformation during storage and ejection, leading to incorrect ejection issues and a less pleasant ergonomic experience due to increased manual force required for actuation.
Innovation Solution
Designing plastic capsules with a housing made of thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer materials, featuring a cross-section shape varying from circular to triangular with smooth rounded corners, and a discontinued stacking border to facilitate correct ejection and prevent deformation, along with a hollow annular portion around the water injection area to maintain internal volume and ease needle movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If capsules are made of plastic material to avoid deformation during storage, then storage stability is improved, but ejection reliability deteriorates due to incorrect ejection from the beverage preparation machine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific geometric feature (the discontinuous stacking border) at a localized position on the capsule housing. This discontinuity is positioned specifically at the upper part of the capsule where it interacts with the capsule cage, providing localized ejection assistance without affecting the overall structural integrity or shape stability of the plastic capsule during storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetry by introducing a discontinuous stacking border that breaks the symmetric circular profile of the capsule housing. This asymmetric feature creates a preferred ejection orientation and facilitates correct capsule discharge from the beverage preparation machine, solving the ejection reliability issue while maintaining the plastic material's storage stability benefits.
2Ease of manufacture
If capsules are made of plastic material, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but manual actuation difficulty increases due to stronger force required for piercing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the geometric parameters of the capsule housing, specifically the cross-sectional shape variation from circular to triangular with smooth rounded corners. This shape modification reduces the manual force required for actuation and piercing while maintaining the benefits of plastic material manufacturing flexibility.
3Volume of stationary object
If capsules are stored in bulk to reduce storage volume, then storage efficiency is improved, but capsule deformation increases due to external forces on the capsule wall
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spheroidality by specifying smooth rounded corners in the capsule housing cross-section. This curved geometry distributes external forces more evenly across the capsule wall during bulk storage, preventing localized stress concentrations that would cause deformation, while still allowing compact bulk storage configuration.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention concerns a capsule (1) containing beverage ingredient (11), such as tea leaves, configured for preparing a beverage, such as tea, by injection of hot water therein and comprising : - a housing (12) for storing said beverage ingredient, said housing comprising : - a container part (120) - a front opened side (121), - a rim (125) extending from the front opened side, and - a front cover (13) and/or a wall (14) closing the front opened side of the housing, and - the housing (12) presenting a cross section varying from the back side to the front side from a circular section to a globally triangular section - with smooth rounded corners - respectively, and wherein : - the housing (12) is made of plastic material, and - the container part (120) comprises a stacking border (128) rising from the rim and from the external surface of the container part, said stacking border forming a line surrounding the front opened side and said line of the stacking border being discontinued.