Coffee Capsule Filtering Element Pre-Infusion Ring Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coffee capsules fail to produce beverages with substantial 'crema' when used in automatic machines, as they lack a mechanism to effectively create a pre-infusion region and post-infusion chamber for optimal coffee extraction.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design featuring a filtering element with inclined portions and a central convex portion to define a pre-infusion ring and post-infusion chamber, where hot water compacts the coffee, allowing it to collect under pressure and dispense with a 'crema-rich' beverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional capsules are used with simple perforation systems, then the device complexity is low and ease of manufacture is high, but the beverage extraction quality and crema formation are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule is segmented into distinct functional regions: a pre-infusion ring region (15) at the periphery and a central compaction chamber (11), separated by a filtering element (5) with a convex central portion (7). This segmentation allows different extraction phases to occur in dedicated zones, improving coffee extraction quality while maintaining a relatively simple single-piece capsule structure that is easy to manufacture.
2Manufacturing precision
If a filtering element with convex central portion is added to define pre-infusion region and compaction chamber, then coffee extraction and crema formation are improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The filtering element (5) combines multiple functions into a single component: it acts as a filter with holes (8), creates the pre-infusion ring region (15) through its inclined portions (6), and forms the central compaction chamber (11) through its convex central portion (7). This merging of functions into one element improves crema formation quality while avoiding the need for multiple separate parts, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture.
3Ease of manufacture
If the capsule structure is simplified for easy manufacture, then production cost is low and ease of manufacture is high, but the ability to create pre-infusion region and post-infusion chamber is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The filtering element (5) implements local quality by having different geometric features in different zones: inclined portions (6) at the periphery that define the pre-infusion ring region (15), and a convex central portion (7) that defines the compaction chamber (11). This localized geometric variation enables precise extraction region definition while maintaining a simple monolithic structure that is easy to manufacture.
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 effectively creates a pre-infusion region that enhances coffee extraction, resulting in a beverage with substantial 'crema', while being reliable, easy to implement, and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
a pre-infusion ring (15) in which the ground coffee (10) is forced to become compacted, by way of the convex geometric shape of the filtering element (5)
Implementation Method 2
hot water in order to obtain an infusion of coffee
Implementation Method 3
the coffee then passes, through the holes (8) of the filtering element (5), into the post-infusion area (11)
Implementation Method 4
a filtering element (5), which is contoured so as to have inclined portions (6) at the edges and a raised central portion (7)
Implementation Method 5
the coffee compulsorily collects... the beverage obtained has a substantial 'crema'
Data Source
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AI summary
A capsule (1 ) for containing beverages in powder form, such as coffee and the like, which comprises a capsule body (2) which is provided in an upward region with a covering membrane (4) and in a downward region with a closed bottom (3), and a filtering element (5) adapted to be arranged at the bottom of the capsule, the filtering element (5) being provided with one or more holes (8), the peculiarity of which consists in that the filtering element (5) is adapted to define a pre-infusion ring (15) in which the coffee collects before passing through the holes (8) of the filtering element (5).