Beverage Capsule Rim Sealing for Wear-Resistant Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation systems face issues with sealing engagement wear, degradation, and fouling due to material differences between the enclosing member and the capsule, particularly when the enclosing member is softer than the capsule, leading to quality deterioration over time.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design featuring a flange-like rim with substantially concentric circumferential ridges made of the same material as the cup, allowing for a sealing engagement that adapts to irregularities and misalignments by compressing to form a secure seal with the enclosing member, even if the enclosing member has irregularities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the enclosing member material is softer than the capsule material at the sealing location, then easier sealing engagement is obtained, but the enclosing member material is subject to wear, degradation and fouling over time
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule incorporates a sealing member made of softer material specifically at the sealing location (flange-like rim), while the rest of the capsule body maintains its original material properties. This localized application of soft material enables effective sealing engagement with the enclosing member without requiring the entire enclosing member to be soft, thereby avoiding wear and degradation issues.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the enclosing member soft to achieve sealing (which causes wear), the invention reverses the approach by making the capsule's sealing member soft. This inversion transfers the sealing function to the capsule side rather than the enclosing member side, eliminating the wear problem while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
2Reliability
If the enclosing member material is harder than the capsule material at the sealing location, then wear and fouling of the enclosing member is reduced, but the sealing engagement may be upset by irregularities on the enclosing member surface
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is designed with locally varied material properties - softer material at the sealing contact surface for compliance with irregularities, while maintaining structural integrity elsewhere. This localized softness allows the sealing member to deform and adapt to surface irregularities on the harder enclosing member, ensuring reliable sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member's material hardness parameter is specifically adjusted at the sealing location to be softer than the enclosing member, creating an optimal hardness differential that enables the sealing member to conform to surface irregularities while the enclosing member maintains its wear-resistant hard surface.
3Ease of manufacture
If the capsule uses the same material for the cup and flange-like rim, then manufacturing ease is improved, but the sealing engagement is more sensitive to irregularities on the enclosing member
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule is manufactured with a localized sealing member at the flange-like rim that has different material properties (softer) than the main cup body. This local differentiation improves sealing robustness by enabling adaptation to enclosing member irregularities, while the majority of the capsule can still be efficiently manufactured using the original material and processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule employs a composite construction where the sealing member is made of a different material (softer polymer) compared to the main cup body. This composite approach combines the manufacturing efficiency of the original material with the sealing benefits of the softer material at the critical sealing interface.
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 design provides a durable and reliable sealing engagement that minimizes wear and fouling, maintains quality over time, and allows for easy manufacturing and adaptation to irregularities, ensuring consistent beverage preparation.
Implementation Method 1
the material of the capsule at the location of the sealing engagement may be compressed
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3a
AI summary
The invention relates to a system (1), method and capsule (2) for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product. The system comprises an exchangeable capsule, and an apparatus (104) comprising a receptacle (106) for holding the exchangeable capsule, and a fluid dispensing device (126) for supplying a fluid to the exchangeable capsule. The exchangeable capsule comprises a circumferential wall (18), a bottom (12), and a lid (16). The wall, bottom and lid enclose an inner space (20) comprising the extractable product. The capsule comprises an exit area to allow draining from the prepared beverage from the capsule there through, wherein the exit area comprises a filter layer (36). The filter layer comprises a layer of non-woven and/or woven fibrous material with at least one first region where the non-woven and/or woven material has been sealed to prevent egress of liquid there through and at least one second region where the non-woven and/or woven material has not been sealed to allow egress of liquid there through.