Beverage Capsule Holder Sealing With Annular Lateral Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage-making systems face issues with watertight seals between capsules and holders, requiring precise axial pressure and sophisticated construction, which increases production costs and depends on the presence of indentations or resilient sealing members.
Innovation Solution
A system that creates a watertight seal laterally between the capsule and the capsule holder using a movable contact element and annular projections or teeth, allowing deformation for a secure seal without relying on axial pressure or specific construction precision, and can function even without resilient sealing members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If axial pressure is applied to create a watertight seal between capsule and holder, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but construction precision requirements increase and production costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule holder incorporates a flexible sealing element (membrane or thin wall) that can deform under axial pressure to conform to the capsule surface, creating a watertight seal. This flexibility compensates for surface irregularities and reduces the need for high construction precision while maintaining reliable sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the pressure parameter dynamically during operation - applying axial pressure during the sealing phase to ensure watertight connection, then reducing or releasing the pressure after sealing is established. This allows effective sealing without requiring permanently high precision construction.
2Reliability
If resilient sealing members are used to create watertight seal, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule holder structure serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support, creates the watertight seal through its flexible elements, and applies the necessary axial pressure. By integrating these functions into a single component rather than adding separate resilient sealing members, device complexity is reduced while maintaining sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible sealing element in the capsule holder automatically deforms and conforms to the capsule surface when axial pressure is applied, creating its own seal without requiring additional resilient sealing members or complex adjustment mechanisms. The system self-adjusts to achieve reliable sealing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If indentations are added to capsule holder edge for seal formation, then sealing compatibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible sealing element (membrane or thin wall) in the capsule holder can deform to accommodate various capsule surface profiles without requiring pre-formed indentations. This flexibility provides sealing compatibility across different capsule types while maintaining simple manufacturing processes.
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 solution reduces dependence on axial pressure and construction precision, simplifies production, and maintains a watertight seal regardless of surface irregularities, thereby lowering production costs and ensuring effective beverage extraction.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible sealing element (21) which, when the capsule (2) is inserted in the capsule holder (9), is deformable under the action of an axial pressure applied to the capsule (2) in order to conform to the surface of the capsule (2)
Data Source
AI summary
A system for making beverages includes a capsule and a capsule holder including an annular edge at the top of which there is a projecting annular element and/or respectively an annular seat. The capsule includes a body including a lower wall, a lateral wall and a perimetric edge on which there is an annular groove having a bottom zone and two inner lateral faces, and/or respectively there is an annular tooth having a tip portion and two outer lateral faces. The capsule holder and the capsule can adopt a sealed configuration where the projecting annular element, inserted in the annular groove, is in sealed contact with at least one of the inner lateral faces, and/or respectively the annular seat receives inside it the annular tooth and is in sealed contact with at least one of the outer lateral faces.