Capsule Covering Element Breakable Grooves for Uniform Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing single-use capsules for beverage preparation, such as coffee, fail to achieve complete extraction of aromatic components due to the formation of preferential flow channels when high-pressure hot water or steam is used, leading to incomplete infusion and solubilization of the product.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design featuring a covering element with breakable grooves that open under pressure, preventing the formation of preferential channels and ensuring uniform extraction, where the grooves are configured to break at a predetermined threshold pressure, allowing for complete saturation and efficient dispensing of the beverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the container and covering element are perforated with holes for dispensing beverage, then the beverage can be dispensed, but preferential flow channels are formed that prevent complete extraction of aromatic components
Solution Approach 1:
The covering element is made from a porous material that allows water and steam to pass through while retaining the comestible substance. The porous structure prevents preferential flow channel formation by distributing the fluid flow uniformly across the entire surface, enabling complete saturation and extraction of aromatic components from all parts of the product.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces localized breakable portions at specific grooves in the covering element that are designed to break under predetermined pressure thresholds. This creates localized dispensing openings only when needed, while the rest of the porous covering element maintains uniform extraction during the brewing process.
2Reliability
If high-pressure hot water or steam is used to obtain correct consistency and creamy quality, then beverage quality improves, but preferential flow channels connect inlet holes with dispensing holes causing incomplete extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The porous covering element resists the formation of preferential flow channels by its distributed pore structure, which forces high-pressure fluid to flow uniformly through the entire product mass rather than creating shortcuts. This ensures complete extraction of aromatic components even under high-pressure brewing conditions while maintaining consistent beverage quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The breakable portions are pre-configured in the covering element to break at predetermined pressure thresholds. This preliminary design ensures that when high-pressure fluid is introduced, the breakable portions fail in a controlled manner after uniform saturation has occurred, preventing preferential channel formation from the outset.
3Device complexity
If the covering element is made as a slim film fixed on the container flange, then the capsule structure is simple, but it cannot prevent preferential flow channel formation
Solution Approach 1:
The slim film covering element is made porous to enable uniform fluid distribution across the product. This maintains the simplicity of the capsule structure while solving the preferential flow channel problem through the material's inherent pore distribution that forces uniform saturation during brewing.
Solution Approach 2:
The covering element combines the simplicity of a slim film structure with the functional properties of porous material. This composite approach maintains structural simplicity while achieving the desired uniform extraction performance through the porous characteristics of the film material.
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 excellent extraction of aromatic components, achieving near-total solubilization and improved beverage quality by preventing the formation of preferential flow channels and ensuring uniform infusion, particularly effective for high-pressure brewing methods like espresso.
Implementation Method 1
the breakable portion being dimensioned such as to break following flexion of at least one between the first and the second lateral wall towards an outside of the capsule when the pressure internally of the compartment exceeds a predetermined threshold
Implementation Method 2
preparation of beverages obtainable by infusion/extraction or by solution of a granular or powdered comestible substance
Implementation Method 3
solubilizes only those parts of product situated close to the channels
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
A capsule (1) for preparation of beverages, comprising a beaker body (11) provided with an external wall (12) and a bottom wall (13), the external wall defining an opening (15) closed by a covering element (14), the external wall, the bottom wall and the covering element defining a containing chamber of a substance for preparation of the beverage; at least a groove (131) is realized on the covering element (14) of the beaker body (11), which groove (131) is defined by a first (131 A) and a second (131 B) lateral wall, mutually facing and connected by a breakable portion (130), the breakable portion being dimensioned such as to break following flexion of at least one between the first and the second lateral wall (131 A, 131 B) towards an outside of the capsule when the pressure internally of the compartment (51) exceeds a predetermined threshold, thus creating a dispensing opening of the beverage.