Capsule Anti-Drip Labyrinth for Beverage Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing capsules for preparing infused or soluble beverages suffer from residual fluid leakage when disengaged from preparation machines, causing dripping issues that are difficult for users to manage.
Innovation Solution
The capsule incorporates a capillary labyrinth system at its base, which utilizes capillary channels to prevent fluid leakage by retaining residual liquids inside the cup when pressure drops, ensuring no dripping occurs upon disengagement from the machine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the capsule is equipped with a simple outlet opening for beverage dispensing, then the device complexity is low and manufacturing is easy, but residual fluid leaks out when the capsule is disengaged from the machine causing dripping
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet opening is equipped with a porous filter element that utilizes capillary forces to retain residual liquid inside the capsule while allowing the beverage to flow out during the dispensing cycle. The porous structure creates capillary pressure that prevents backflow and leakage when the capsule is removed from the machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pressure differential control where the porous filter element responds to the pressure difference between the inside of the capsule and the external environment. During dispensing, positive pressure pushes liquid through the porous filter, while during disengagement, negative pressure or atmospheric pressure combined with capillary forces prevents leakage.
2Reliability
If the outlet opening is equipped with a porous filter element to prevent leakage, then fluid leakage is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The porous filter element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a leakage prevention mechanism, a flow control element, and potentially a filtration component. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous filter element's properties (pore size, porosity, material composition) are optimized to achieve the desired balance between leakage prevention and beverage flow. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves reliable leakage prevention with minimal structural complexity.
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 capillary labyrinth effectively prevents fluid leakage by retaining residual beverages inside the capsule, providing a clean and user-friendly experience by eliminating dripping issues during and after preparation.
Implementation Method 1
The base comprises a labyrinth adapted to prevent, by capillarity, the passage of the infused beverage towards the nozzle when the pressure inside the capsule drops below a threshold value
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
A capsule (1) for the preparation of infusion or soluble beverages comprises, among other things, an inner base (33) having a labyrinth (30) adapted to prevent, by capillarity, the passage of the infused beverage towards the opening (31) when the pressure inside the capsule (1) drops below a threshold value. In particular, the labyrinth (30) comprises a plurality of capillary channels (321), each capillary channel (321) being defined between two adjacent labyrinth portions (30) and closed at the top by the sealing disc (5). Advantageously, the section of the capillary channels (321) ranges from 0.01 mm2 to 0.36 mm2, preferably between 0.08 mm2 and 0.15 mm2.