Beverage Capsule Lip Seal With Centering Protrusions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Nespresso-compatible capsules face issues with precise alignment and centring in beverage making machines due to the unsuitability of lip seals for this purpose, leading to inefficiencies in the brewing process.
Innovation Solution
The capsule design incorporates centring protrusions on the side wall, which facilitate accurate alignment and centring within the machine, combined with a lip seal and annular groove to enhance sealing and unstacking, while maintaining a compact profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lip seals are used for sealing in Nespresso-compatible capsules, then sealing function is achieved, but precise alignment and centring in the beverage making machine deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule is segmented into distinct functional elements: lip seals for sealing and separate centring protrusions for alignment. This segmentation allows each element to specialize in its intended function without compromise - the lip seals maintain their sealing geometry while the centring protrusions provide precise alignment features.
Solution Approach 2:
Centring protrusions act as intermediary elements between the capsule and the beverage making machine's pressure bell element. These protrusions facilitate the centring function without interfering with the lip seal's sealing operation, effectively mediating between the capsule's sealing mechanism and the machine's alignment requirements.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple elements protrude from the lateral surface of the capsule with increasing profile towards the lid area, then centring capability is improved, but the capsule becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The centring protrusions are localized to specific regions of the capsule's lateral surface with controlled dimensions. Rather than having multiple large protruding elements, the invention uses smaller, strategically positioned protrusions that provide adequate centring capability while maintaining a compact overall capsule profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The centring protrusions feature asymmetric geometry with different axial height and circumferential extension characteristics. This asymmetric design allows the protrusions to engage effectively with the machine's centring mechanism while minimizing the radial protrusion distance, thus maintaining a compact capsule shape.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5A
Figure 6
AI summary
A capsule (1), intended for the preparation of a beverage in a device for making beverages, comprises: a bottom wall (101); a side wall (102) which extends around a longitudinal axis (A); an annular flange (103), wherein an outer surface of the side wall (102) includes a first portion (1021), which is proximal to the flange (103), and a second portion (1022), which is distal from the flange (103); a lip seal (104) which juts from a rear surface (103B) of the annular flange (103) and which extends around the longitudinal axis (A), so that the annular flange (103), the lip seal (104) and the side wall (102) delimit an annular groove (106); a plurality of protrusions (105) disposed around the longitudinal axis (A) and jutting from the first portion (1021) of the outer surface of the side wall (102).