Capsule Brewing Jet Shaping to Reduce Crema Bubble Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capsule-based coffee machines often produce a coarse crema consistency due to turbulent jets from the stud plate, which introduces large bubbles into the coffee flow, even when there is no direct path from the stud plate to the coffee outlet.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a jet shaping unit and a deflector is introduced, featuring jet shaping elements that reduce the flow speed of pressurized jets from the stud plate, preventing them from directly impacting the coffee flow and thereby minimizing bubble formation. The jet shaping elements, such as projections or orifices, are associated with the stud plate openings to slow down the jets before they reach the outlet, and a deflector is positioned between the stud plate and the outlet to prevent direct jet paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high pressure is used to inject water into the capsule, then brewing efficiency is improved, but large bubbles are formed in the crema layer due to turbulent jets
Solution Approach 1:
A jet shaping unit with jet shaping elements is introduced as an intermediary component between the stud plate and the coffee outlet. These elements reshape the turbulent jets from the stud plate, reducing their velocity and eliminating the harmful large bubble formation while preserving the high pressure brewing process benefits
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the jet shaping unit is added downstream of the stud plate, then jet velocity is reduced and bubble formation is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The jet shaping unit is integrated with existing components in the brewing apparatus. The jet shaping elements are positioned within the chamber downstream of the stud plate, merging the jet shaping function with the existing coffee delivery pathway rather than adding completely separate components
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 solution effectively reduces the formation of large bubbles in the crema, maintaining a smooth and fine consistency of the coffee by slowing down the jets and redirecting them, thus enhancing the quality of the coffee delivered by capsule-based espresso machines.
Implementation Method 1
a jet shaping unit downstream of the stud plate, comprising a set of one or more jet shaping elements, each jet shaping element associated with a respective set of one or more of the openings of the stud plate
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for releasing an ingredient from a capsule has a stud plate (210) which comprises a set of openings (213) for receiving the capsule contents as pressurized jets. A jet shaping unit (400, 500, 600) is downstream of the stud plate (210) having a set of one or more jet shaping elements. A jet shaping element is associated with a set of one or more openings of the stud plate. This reduces the jet flow velocity and thereby prevents the jets generating bubbles which could otherwise decrease the smoothness of the delivered capsule contents.