Capsule Passageway Wall Design for Reliable Pressurized Brewing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Capsules made of substantially rigid materials used in brewing devices for preparing beverages like espresso coffee and tea often slip due to inadequate retention during pressurized water injection, especially in devices with multiple outlets, leading to unreliable positioning and flow entry issues.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design featuring a lid-like construction with a circular recessed passageway wall and a weakened material region that breaks under pressure, combined with an intercalary region and projection elements for enhanced structural reinforcement and pressurized flow entry, ensuring reliable opening and retention within the brewing device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a capsule is made of substantially rigid material, then structural strength and oxygen barrier are improved, but the capsule slips and rotates during pressurized water injection
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule lid is segmented into a rigid outer envelope and a separate weakened material region that can break independently. This segmentation allows the majority of the capsule to remain rigid for structural strength and oxygen barrier, while the weakened region provides controlled breakage for water entry without compromising overall retention reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule lid features a localized weakened material region with reduced thickness specifically at the water entry zone, while the rest of the capsule maintains full rigidity. This local quality change enables the rigid capsule to reliably retain position during injection while the localized weak zone allows controlled opening for water flow.
2Ease of operation
If the capsule wall thickness is reduced to facilitate water entry, then flow entry is improved, but the capsule loses structural integrity and oxygen barrier
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule lid is divided into a thin weakened material region for water entry and a thicker rigid region for structural support. This segmentation enables the thin zone to facilitate easy water penetration while the thick region maintains structural integrity and oxygen barrier properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule features a localized thin wall region specifically at the water entry zone, while the surrounding and opposite regions maintain full wall thickness. This local quality variation allows improved flow entry where needed without compromising overall structural integrity and oxygen barrier.
3Productivity
If multiple pressurized water injection outlets are used, then productivity is improved, but capsule retention and positioning become unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule lid features an asymmetric design with the weakened material region positioned off-center relative to the capsule axis. This asymmetry, combined with the recessed passageway wall, creates a unique engagement geometry that prevents rotation and ensures reliable positioning even with multiple injection outlets, while still allowing high productivity.
4Reliability
If a recessed passageway wall is added to the capsule, then device complexity is increased, but flow entry and retention are improved
Solution Approach 1:
The recessed passageway wall is merged with the weakened material region to form an integrated flow entry structure. This combination achieves reliable flow entry and capsule retention through a single integrated feature rather than separate components, minimizing the increase in device complexity while maximizing functional benefits.
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 capsule design provides a reliable oxygen barrier and secure retention within the brewing device, improving the entry of pressurized flow and preventing slippage, thereby ensuring consistent preparation of edible products like coffee and tea.
Implementation Method 1
presenting a weakened material region adapted so that said passageway wall breaks in this zone
Implementation Method 2
adapted for entry of a pressurized fluid preferentially without holing of a respective exterior envelope
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention refers to a capsule (1) presenting at least one first construction element (2) configured in a container-like shape, and a second construction element (3) configured in a lid-like shape, adapted so as to contain an individual portion of an edible substance, whereby said second construction element (3) presents a passageway wall (4) provided as a recess region and surrounded in at least most part of respective perimeter by a weakened material region (41) provided as a reduction of thickness in at least one of the upstream and downstream sides of said passageway wall (4). The present invention further refers to a system for preparing edible products including a capsule (1), an apparatus for preparing edible products comprising at least one brewing device (10) presenting injection means (13) adapted so that exert a mechanic pressure upon the passageway wall (4) on a region of the passageway wall (4) opposite to the region of weakened material region (41).