Capsule System for Beverage Cartridge Ingredient Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage cartridges are limited in their ability to contain multiple different beverage mediums without mixing them prior to forming a beverage, and require significant redesign to accommodate separate ingredients, which is costly and inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A capsule system within a cartridge that includes a hollow interior chamber with a membrane to selectively provide fluid communication between compartments, allowing pressurized liquid to interact with different beverage mediums stored in sealed compartments, facilitating the formation of beverages without significant redesign of existing systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing cartridges use a single chamber with permeable filter to contain beverage medium, then the cartridge structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the cartridge cannot contain multiple different ingredients in separate sealed compartments
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule is nested within the cartridge container, with the capsule body positioned inside the container's interior space. The capsule contains a second beverage medium in its chamber, while the cartridge contains a first beverage medium. This nested arrangement allows multiple ingredients to be stored separately in the same cartridge without requiring complete redesign of the cartridge structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge system is segmented into two functional parts: the outer cartridge container with its filter and beverage medium, and the inner capsule with its own chamber and beverage medium. The membrane at the bottom of the capsule body provides fluid communication between the two, allowing selective mixing during beverage formation while maintaining separate storage compartments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If integrally formed dividers are added to cartridge containers to create separate chambers, then multiple ingredients can be stored separately, but manufacturing processes require significant redesign and retooling
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of modifying the cartridge container to include integral dividers, the system uses a separate capsule component that provides the segmentation function. The capsule body with its chamber and membrane is manufactured independently and then placed within the existing cartridge container, avoiding the need to redesign or retool cartridge manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The function of creating separate chambers for ingredient storage is extracted from the cartridge container and embodied in the separate capsule component. This allows the cartridge container to remain unchanged in its manufacturing process, while the capsule provides the necessary compartmentalization when inserted into the cartridge.
3Productivity
If permeable filter is used between portions of cartridge interior space, then liquid can flow through to form beverage, but additional liquid or dry beverage mediums in the second portion can permeate the filter and mix with other ingredients
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane at the bottom of the capsule body acts as an intermediary between the capsule's interior chamber and the cartridge's interior space. It provides selective fluid communication, allowing pressurized liquid to flow from the cartridge into the capsule chamber while preventing the second beverage medium inside the capsule from prematurely permeating into the cartridge's first beverage medium. The membrane ensures controlled mixing only when intended by the beverage formation process.
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
Enables the creation of beverages with multiple ingredients by allowing separate storage and mixing of components during the brewing process, maintaining ingredient integrity and simplifying manufacturing processes.
Implementation Method 1
The membrane is configured to selectively provide fluid communication between the interior space of the container and the chamber such that pressurized liquid introduced into the interior space of the container can flow into the interior chamber
Implementation Method 2
The membrane is pierceable by the beverage machine to accommodate an outflow of the liquid flowing into the interior chamber
Implementation Method 3
the cartridge introduces a pressurized fluid into the cartridge to interact with the beverage medium
Data Source
AI summary
An improved beverage cartridge is provided for use in forming a beverage in a beverage machine that provides a pressurized liquid. The cartridge includes a container having an interior space, a lid that accommodates an inflow of the pressurized liquid, and a filter arranged to contain a beverage medium arranged to interact with a liquid to form the beverage. The cartridge also includes annular disc shaped capsule configured for placement within the container. The capsule has a hollow interior chamber that contains a beverage medium and an open bottom that is sealed closed by a membrane. The membrane is configured to selectively provide fluid communication between the space inside the container and the chamber allowing liquid introduced into the container to flow into the capsule's chamber. The membrane is also pierceable by the beverage machine to accommodate an outflow of the liquid flowing into the capsule.