Capsule for making beverages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage capsules face challenges in efficient beverage dispensing and material durability, particularly with the risk of aluminum shreds clogging the filtering element and the need for high-pressure opening, which can lead to unwanted aluminum release in the beverage.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design featuring a thermoformed containment body with a multi-layer flexible material sheet that includes cuts or openings, allowing for higher pressure dispensing without damaging the surrounding material, and a separate dispensing element for guiding the beverage, ensuring efficient extraction and reduced aluminum contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sheet of flexible material is used as a barrier to oxygen that swells and tears against fixed contact elements, then the capsule can be opened for beverage dispensing, but the torn edges of the aluminium sheet may clog the filtering element or come out of the capsule
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful torn edges of the aluminium sheet are extracted and removed from the system by positioning the filtering element's openings away from the spike contact zones, allowing the barrier to tear cleanly without contaminating the beverage flow path
Solution Approach 2:
The filtering element acts as an intermediary between the tearing barrier and the beverage flow, with its peripheral openings positioned to intercept and filter any potential aluminium shreds before they can clog the system or exit the capsule
2Productivity
If pyramid-shaped spikes are used to tear the aluminium sheet barrier, then the beverage can be dispensed, but the spikes may reduce the sheet to shreds that clog the filtering element
Solution Approach 1:
Different zones of the capsule have different functions: the central zone with pyramid spikes is dedicated to barrier tearing and high-speed opening, while the peripheral zone with filtering openings is dedicated to beverage filtration, spatially separating the harmful tearing action from the beverage flow path
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful aluminium shreds generated by spike tearing are converted into a controlled process where the filtering element's peripheral openings capture and contain any shreds, transforming a potential contamination hazard into a managed filtration process
3Strength
If the containment body is made by injection moulding, then the capsule structure is durable, but the manufacturing process is complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process is changed from injection moulding to thermoforming, altering the production parameters while maintaining the functional requirements of the containment body, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs
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 solution enables improved beverage extraction with reduced risk of aluminum contamination and allows for the use of thermoformed materials, providing an alternative to traditional injection-molded capsules with enhanced operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
the capsules comprise a barrier to oxygen made with a sheet of flexible material that, following the injection of water into the capsule, swells and tears against fixed contact elements present in the capsule
Implementation Method 2
said first layer comprises one or more cuts or it comprises one or more through openings, said cuts or said through openings being made at said dispensing zones of said second layer, in such a way as to allow said second layer to swell and tear at said dispensing zones
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
A capsule for making beverages, containing a powdered food substance (2) and comprising a cup-shaped containment body (3) that has a bottom portion (5) equipped with a dispensing hole (9), a lower filtering element (14) mounted in the containment chamber (6) and positioned between the powdered food substance (2) and the bottom portion (5), and a sheet of flexible material (19), impermeable to oxygen, mounted in the containment body (3) between the powdered food substance (2) and the dispensing hole (9), and comprising a first layer (20) made of plastic material and a second layer (21 ) made of aluminium, which are coupled to each other, wherein the first layer (20) comprises one or more through cuts (25), each surrounded by a dispensing zone (26), the first layer (20) being locally detached from the second layer (21 ) at each dispensing zone (26).