Beverage Capsule Inlet Wall Structure for Reliable Piercing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capsules made of harder materials like thermoplastic polymers are difficult to perforate, leading to irregular solvent distribution and beverage quality, and existing reinforcement solutions either increase material usage or result in deformation.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design with a protruding portion on the inlet wall, featuring an inner and outer lateral wall with a perforating wall that allows for effective piercing without deformation, using a width of 1.5 mm to 5 mm and a radius of 5 mm to 9 mm, which accommodates piercing means without additional thickness or reinforcement ribs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If capsules are made of harder materials like thermoplastic polymers, then capsule strength and durability are improved, but perforation difficulty increases leading to irregular solvent distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule incorporates a localized thinning area on the inlet wall where the material thickness is reduced compared to the rest of the capsule body. This local modification creates a specific zone that is easier to pierce while maintaining the overall strength and integrity of the capsule. The thinning area serves as a predetermined weak point that guides the piercing means through the harder thermoplastic material without compromising the capsule's structural durability elsewhere.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule is pre-formed with a thinning area during the manufacturing process, preparing the inlet wall in advance for easy piercing. This preliminary modification of the material structure ensures that when the piercing means is applied, it encounters minimal resistance at the designated location, enabling consistent and reliable solvent injection while maintaining the capsule's overall strength.
2Ease of manufacture
If reinforcement ribs are added to facilitate piercing, then perforation ease is improved, but capsule complexity and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding reinforcement ribs or other complex structural elements to facilitate piercing, the invention extracts or removes material from a specific zone of the inlet wall to create a thinning area. This approach achieves the desired perforation ease by reducing material presence rather than adding structural complexity, thereby simplifying the overall capsule design while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies the physical parameter of material thickness at a specific location on the inlet wall. By changing the thickness parameter from the standard capsule wall thickness to a reduced thickness in the thinning area, the capsule achieves easier perforation without requiring additional reinforcement structures. This parameter change is achieved through controlled material removal or non-uniform forming during manufacturing.
3Strength
If inlet wall thickness is increased for strength, then capsule strength is improved, but piercing reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule employs non-uniform wall thickness with a localized thinning area on the inlet wall. This local quality modification creates a specific zone with reduced thickness that is optimized for reliable piercing, while the rest of the capsule maintains sufficient wall thickness for structural strength. The thinning area acts as a predetermined piercing zone that ensures consistent solvent injection without compromising overall capsule integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet wall is segmented into different thickness zones: a thinning area with reduced thickness for easy and reliable piercing, and the remaining inlet wall structure with standard or increased thickness for maintaining strength. This segmentation allows the capsule to simultaneously achieve both piercing reliability and structural strength by assigning different thickness characteristics to different functional zones.
Data Source
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AI summary
A capsulefor preparing a beverage comprising a lateral wall (2), an inlet wall (3) and an outlet wall (4) forming a hollow body (5) where a brewing product is contained The inlet wall comprises a piercing area, wherein said area is pierced by a brewing device (20)comprising piercing means (21) extending along a predetermined path for perforating said capsule to inject a brewing liquid into the said capsule. The piercing area of the inlet wall (3) comprises at least one portion (10) protruding outside the said inlet wall (3), said portion (10) comprising an inner lateral wall (11), an outer lateral wall (12) and a perforating wall (13).