Capsule Sealing Collar With Elastic Lips for High-Pressure Brewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extraction devices for beverages, such as coffee machines, rely on conical-cup-shaped capsules with a circular skirt for sealing, which are bulky, prone to damage, and not suitable for various capsule shapes or brewing mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An extraction device with an elastically deformable seal and circumferential sealing lips or beads that press the capsule wall against the capsule interior, eliminating the need for a supporting counter element and allowing for reliable sealing across different capsule shapes and mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conical-cup-shaped capsules with a circular skirt are used for sealing, then sealing function is achieved, but the capsule takes up a relatively large amount of space during storage and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the sealing function from the collar structure. Instead of relying on the collar to provide sealing, the patent uses sealing lips or sealing beads that directly engage with the capsule opening, eliminating the need for the collar's sealing function and allowing for more compact capsule designs
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing lips or sealing beads are designed to work with various capsule shapes and sizes without requiring the specific conical-cup shape with collar. This universal sealing mechanism allows different capsule designs to achieve reliable sealing without the bulky collar structure
2Reliability
If conical-cup-shaped capsules with a collar are used, then sealing is achieved through the collar, but the collar can easily be damaged under mechanical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the sealing function from the collar, which is then no longer needed for sealing purposes. This eliminates the collar's vulnerability to mechanical damage while preserving the sealing function through the more robust sealing lips or beads that directly engage the capsule opening
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing lips or sealing beads are designed as flexible elements that can deform to accommodate slight variations in capsule geometry and maintain sealing pressure. This flexibility provides durability under mechanical stress compared to the rigid collar structure
3Ease of operation
If a collar is used to hold and position the capsule, then positioning is achieved, but the capsule takes up more space and the collar is prone to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the positioning function from the collar and implements it through the sealing lips or sealing beads that engage with the capsule opening. This eliminates the need for the collar's positioning function, allowing for compact capsule designs without sacrificing positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using the collar to position the capsule from the outside, the invention uses internal sealing lips or beads that engage with the capsule opening to provide positioning. This inverted approach to positioning eliminates the external collar structure
4Device complexity
If the capsule wall is pressed against the capsule interior by sealing lips or beads, then sealing is achieved without a supporting counter element, but the sealing system must withstand full brewing pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing lips or sealing beads are designed as flexible elements that can deform under brewing pressure to maintain sealing contact. This flexibility allows the sealing system to withstand full brewing pressure without requiring additional supporting counter elements or complex rigid structures
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing lips or beads are designed with specific material properties and geometric parameters that allow them to deform elastically under pressure. By optimizing the hardness, cross-sectional shape, and positioning of these sealing elements, the system can withstand brewing pressure while maintaining a simple structure without supporting counter elements
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 solution provides a versatile and durable sealing system that maintains capsule position and prevents brewing liquid from bypassing the capsule, even under high pressure, suitable for various capsule shapes and brewing mechanisms, enhancing operational reliability and reducing damage risks.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically deformable seal (62) which surrounds piercing tips (12) of the introduction device (4), a capsule positioning and holding encompassing sealing collar (61.7, 62.7) and at least one circumferential sealing lip (61.1, 62.1) and/or a circumferential sealing bead (61.2)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an extraction device comprising a brewing module (1) for accommodating a capsule (51) having an extraction material. The brewing module comprises a first brewing module part and a second brewing module part that can be moved relative to the first brewing module part, the first brewing module part and the second brewing module part having a discharging device (3) for discharging an extraction product from the capsule (51) and an introducing device (4) for introducing an extraction liquid into the capsule (51). A sealing system for such an extraction device according to the invention is substantially characterized in that a seal (61, 62) has at least one circumferential sealing lip and/or one circumferential sealing bead, which lies against a surface of the capsule (51) in the shape of a line or strip and presses the capsule wall toward a capsule interior.