Single-Serve Capsule Base With Arcuate Thin Spots
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing single-serve plastic capsules for beverages do not reliably open under varying hot water pressures, leading to inconsistent beverage preparation and noise issues during use.
Innovation Solution
The capsule design incorporates arcuate thin spots with ramp-like surfaces next to weak points on the capsule base, which guide the plastic melt uniformly and increase the surface area for fluid pressure, preventing the thin spots from breaking or tearing open, while the weak points are configured to open under fluid pressure, ensuring reliable liquid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If weak points are provided at the capsule base to allow opening under pressure, then liquid flow is enabled, but the opening is unreliable under varying hot water pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule base is designed with non-uniform wall thickness, featuring thin spots at specific locations surrounded by thicker base material. This local variation in thickness creates predetermined weak points that open reliably under pressure while maintaining overall structural integrity. The thin spots are positioned to ensure consistent opening behavior across different pressure conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall thickness parameter of the capsule base is varied spatially, with thin spots having significantly reduced thickness compared to the surrounding base area. This parameter change creates controlled weak points that facilitate reliable opening under hot water pressure while the thicker surrounding areas maintain structural strength and prevent unwanted deformation.
2Strength
If the capsule base wall thickness is increased to maintain structural integrity, then strength is improved, but the weak points do not open reliably under low pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule base incorporates localized thin spots with reduced wall thickness embedded within the thicker base structure. These thin spots serve as predetermined opening points that require minimal pressure to breach, while the surrounding thicker base material maintains overall structural integrity and prevents capsule deformation during brewing.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule base is segmented into regions of different thickness: thin spots for opening functionality and thicker surrounding areas for structural support. This segmentation allows the base to exhibit both weakness (at thin spots) and strength (in surrounding areas) simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between easy opening and structural integrity.
3Manufacturing precision
If arcuate thin spots with ramp-like surfaces are added to guide plastic melt uniformly, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thin spots are designed with arcuate (curved) shapes and ramp-like sloping surfaces instead of sharp angular features. This curvature facilitates uniform plastic melt flow during injection molding, preventing air traps and ensuring consistent wall thickness at the thin spot locations. The curved geometry is integrated directly into the base mold, adding minimal complexity while significantly improving manufacturing precision.
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 design ensures consistent beverage preparation across different water pressures, reduces noise, and maintains the structural integrity of the capsule base, providing a reliable and quiet operation.
Implementation Method 1
form ramp-like sloping surfaces so as to increase a surface of the accurate thin spots upon which the fluid pressure of the hot water acts
Implementation Method 2
weak points which are configured to at least one of open, break and tear as a result of a fluid pressure of the hot water in the interior of the single-serve capsule
Implementation Method 3
form ramp-like sloping surfaces so as to increase a surface of the accurate thin spots upon which the fluid pressure of the hot water acts
Data Source
AI summary
A single-serve capsule for preparing a beverage in a beverage apparatus. The capsule includes an inlet end, an outlet end arranged opposite to the inlet end, and a capsule base which closes the outlet end. The capsule base includes an outside area, an outside edge, weak points which open, break and/or tear as a result of a fluid pressure of hot water in the interior of the capsule, and arcuate thin spots arranged next to each of the weak points. The arcuate thin spots provide for a uniform guidance of a plastic melt, do not break or tear open under the fluid pressure of the hot water, and form ramp-like sloping surfaces to increase a surface of the accurate thin spots upon which the fluid pressure of the hot water acts.