Capsule for preparing beverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Plastic capsules used in beverage production machines are prone to deformation under hot water extraction, making manual actuation difficult and affecting the ergonomic feel, and they do not maintain their original shape, which can impact the perceived quality of the beverage.
Innovation Solution
Designing plastic capsules with a housing made from thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers, such as polypropylene, featuring a water injection area with a hole of at least 4 mm diameter, a cross-section varying from circular to triangular with smooth rounded corners, and a hollow annular portion around the hole to prevent deformation and facilitate easy water needle movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If capsules are made of plastic material, then storage cost is reduced and deformation during storage is prevented, but manual actuation becomes difficult and ergonomic feel deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific geometric feature (the hollow annular portion) at the water injection area of the capsule. This localized structural modification reduces material density in a specific region, making the capsule easier to pierce and actuate manually, while the rest of the capsule maintains its full plastic construction for cost-effective storage.
2Ease of manufacture
If capsules are made of plastic material, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but deformation under hot water extraction occurs and shape stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow annular portion acts as a pre-designed cushioning structure that anticipates the deformation caused by hot water extraction. By incorporating this void space beforehand, the capsule has built-in room to expand and deform without compromising its overall shape stability or structural integrity during the brewing process.
3Strength
If the water injection hole is made smaller, then capsule structural integrity is improved, but water needle movement becomes difficult and ergonomic feel deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent solves the hole size dilemma by transitioning from a two-dimensional hole in the capsule wall to a three-dimensional hollow annular portion that extends into the capsule interior. This dimensional change allows the water needle to move freely within the void space, improving ergonomics, while the surrounding capsule material maintains its structural integrity.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
The invention concerns a capsule (1) containing beverage ingredient (11), such as tea leaves, configured for preparing beverage, such as tea, by injection of hot water therein and comprising : - a housing (12) for storing said beverage ingredient, said housing comprising :. a front opened side (121), and. a back side (122) comprising a water injection area (123), and. a rim (125) extending from the front opened side, and said housing (12) presenting a cross section varying from the back side to the front side from a circular section to an essentially triangular section - with smooth rounded corners - respectively, and - a front cover (13) and/or a wall (14) closing the front opened side of the housing, and wherein : - the housing (12) is made of plastic material, and - the water injection area (123) at the back side (122) of the housing comprises a hole (124) in the housing, said hole being covered by a back cover (15), and said hole presenting a diameter of at least 4 mm.