Beverage Capsule Filter for Uniform Water Flow and Wetting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage-making systems, particularly for espresso, fail to achieve uniform water flow through powdered substances and adequate compression, resulting in suboptimal organoleptic properties and incomplete wetting of the powdered food substance.
Innovation Solution
A capsule system with a filter element made of permeable material, such as non-woven polyester fibers, is used to ensure uniform water distribution and partial compression of the powdered substance, preventing preferential channels and ensuring thorough wetting and extraction during beverage preparation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If water is passed through powdered substance in capsule, then beverage is produced, but water flow is not uniform and preferred channels form
Solution Approach 1:
A filter element made of porous material is introduced between the water inlet and the powdered substance. This porous filter element distributes water uniformly across its surface area, preventing preferential channel formation and ensuring even water flow through the entire powdered substance mass during beverage extraction.
2Productivity
If powdered substance is compressed in capsule, then extraction efficiency is improved, but compression may be insufficient for optimum supply
Solution Approach 1:
The powdered substance is pre-compressed during capsule manufacturing to achieve optimal density and compression before use. This preliminary compression ensures that the powdered substance has the correct structure for efficient water penetration and extraction, eliminating the need for additional compression steps during beverage preparation.
3Productivity
If all powdered substance is thoroughly wetted, then beverage quality is improved, but existing systems fail to achieve complete wetting
Solution Approach 1:
The porous filter element distributes water uniformly across the entire surface of the powdered substance, ensuring that all particles are thoroughly wetted during extraction. This complete wetting maximizes extraction efficiency and beverage quality by preventing dry spots and ensuring consistent contact between water and powdered substance throughout the capsule.
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 system guarantees thorough wetting of all powdered substance and improved compression, leading to enhanced beverage quality by preventing channel formation and ensuring even water distribution and extraction efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a filter element (10) which is permeable to water and not to the powdered substance... positioned inside the chamber (2) between the powdered food substance and the bottom portion (7)
Implementation Method 2
the filter element (10) is simply resting on the bottom portion (7) and is therefore free to move away from the bottom portion (7)... causes the filter element (10) to move towards the closing element (9)
Implementation Method 3
when pressurised hot water is fed into the housing, it penetrates the capsule through the holes made by the piercing element, and causes an increase in the internal pressure which makes the upper closing sheet swell
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A capsule for making beverages, containing a powdered food substance which can be extracted by passing hot water through it, the capsule (1 ) comprising a cup-shaped containment body (3) which inside it forms a chamber (2) for housing (16) the powdered food substance, and which comprises a bottom portion (7) through which, in use, hot water can be fed into the capsule (1 ), and a lateral wall (4) connected to the bottom portion (7) and forming an access opening for accessing the chamber (2), and a closing element (9) fixed to the lateral wall (4) at the access opening for closing it, and through which, in use, the beverage can come out of the chamber (2). The capsule (1 ) also comprises a filter element (10) which is permeable to water and positioned inside the chamber (2) between the powdered food substance and the bottom portion (7), the filter element (10) resting on the bottom portion (7) and being free to move away from the latter towards the inside of the chamber (2) except for the resistance applied by the powdered food substance. The invention also relates to a system for making beverages which comprises the capsule (1 ).