Infusion Capsule Bottom Wall Deformation Damping Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing capsules for infusion products are made of rigid and fragile materials, leading to cracking and contamination of beverages during perforation, and result in discontinuous beverage dispensing due to non-uniform hole shapes and conical deformation of the bottom wall.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design featuring a deformation damping member in the bottom wall and material weakening areas, along with centring and stiffening elements, to absorb pressure and prevent cracking, ensuring a uniform and continuous beverage flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the cup-shaped body is made of rigid material to maintain structural integrity, then the capsule can withstand handling and insertion, but cracks are created during perforation causing contamination of the beverage
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom wall is designed with differentiated local properties: a central portion with reduced thickness and material density compared to the peripheral portions. This creates a material weakening area that is more compliant and less prone to cracking during perforation, while the thicker peripheral portions maintain overall structural integrity for handling and insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom wall is segmented into distinct zones with different mechanical properties: a central compliant zone for perforation and peripheral rigid zones for structural support. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the bottom wall is made rigid to prevent deformation, then structural stability is maintained, but conical deformation occurs during perforation causing discontinuous beverage flow
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom wall features a central portion with modified mechanical properties (reduced thickness and material density) that allows controlled deformation during perforation. This localized compliance enables the wall to yield smoothly under pressure, creating uniform holes that ensure continuous beverage flow, while the overall structural stability is maintained by the thicker peripheral portions.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform thickness is used throughout the bottom wall, then manufacturing is simplified, but non-uniform hole shapes are created during perforation leading to intermittent beverage dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom wall is manufactured with non-uniform thickness distribution: a central portion with reduced thickness and material density, and peripheral portions with greater thickness. This deliberate local variation in geometry and material properties ensures that during perforation, the central area yields uniformly to create consistent hole shapes and sizes, thereby ensuring uniform beverage flow. The manufacturing process incorporates this geometric variation as a deliberate design feature rather than a defect.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the bottom wall yields during perforation to prevent cracking, then beverage contamination is prevented, but structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom wall is designed with a central portion that has reduced thickness and material density, making it more compliant and capable of yielding during perforation without cracking. This localized compliance prevents beverage contamination by allowing smooth deformation. Meanwhile, the peripheral portions maintain greater thickness and structural rigidity to preserve overall capsule integrity for handling, insertion, and maintaining pressure differential during beverage dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom wall is segmented into a central compliant zone that yields during perforation to prevent cracking and contamination, and peripheral rigid zones that maintain structural integrity. This segmentation allows the capsule to simultaneously achieve both objectives: preventing contamination through controlled yielding while maintaining strength through the supportive peripheral 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
The capsule design enhances mechanical resistance, prevents contamination, and ensures a continuous and uniform beverage dispensing by allowing the bottom wall to yield during perforation, maintaining structural integrity and improving user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a deformation damping member in the bottom wall and material weakening areas, along with centring and stiffening elements, to absorb pressure and prevent cracking
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A capsule (1) for infusion products having a distal end (ED) and a proximal end (EP) opposite the distal end (ED); the capsule (1) comprises: a cup-shaped body (2), which defines a cavity (7) configured to house an infusion material; the cup-shaped body (2) comprises a side wall (4) and a bottom wall (5); and a closing element (3), which is arranged so as to close the cavity (7) of the cup-shaped body (2) in the area of the proximal end (EP). The bottom wall (5) comprises at least one deformation damping member (21), which is configured to allow at least one portion of the bottom wall (5) to move, in use, between an initial position (PI) and a final position (PF). In the final position (PF), said at least one portion of the bottom wall (5) is longitudinally shifted towards the proximal end (EP) relative to the initial position (PI) .