Beverage Capsule Sealing Rim for Wear-Free Pressure Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage production systems face issues with sealing engagement between the liquid inlet and beverage draining side, leading to pressure build-up problems and inefficient extraction, particularly in espresso-style coffee production, due to wear and tear of rubber-elastic sealing means in the production device.
Innovation Solution
A method of applying a resilient sealing composition, such as silicone rubber, directly to the capsule's rim and side wall intersection using a needle or nozzle, allowing the composition to migrate and cure, forming a concave L-shaped sealing portion that enhances the sealing efficiency without requiring precise molds or high precision in tooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rubber-elastic sealing means are used in the beverage production device, then sealing efficiency is improved, but wear and tear occurs leading to reduced reliability over time
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing means is transferred from the beverage production device to the capsule itself. The capsule now carries the sealing function through its rim geometry and sealing composition, while the device uses a simple pressing surface. This inversion makes the sealing component disposable with the capsule, eliminating wear and tear on the device's sealing means.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is implemented as a disposable element on the capsule rather than a durable component in the device. Each capsule provides its own sealing capability through the rim structure and sealing composition, which is discarded after single use, eliminating the need for maintenance of sealing means in the device.
2Manufacturing precision
If precise molds and high precision tooling are used to apply sealing composition, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing composition is applied to the capsule rim in a manner that allows it to self-position and self-form the sealing portion. The composition migrates and cures to form the concave L-shaped sealing portion automatically, eliminating the need for complex molds and precision tooling to guide the sealing material.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing composition undergoes parameter changes through migration and curing processes. The material transitions from an applied state to a cured state, forming the final sealing geometry through controlled parameter changes rather than through complex molding processes.
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
This solution provides a cost-effective, efficient, and hygienic sealing mechanism that maintains beverage quality by ensuring a water-tight seal with minimal material usage, reducing wear and tear, and preventing leakage, thus ensuring consistent pressure for effective extraction.
Implementation Method 1
heating said applied sealing composition such that the sealing composition at least partially migrates towards the side wall
Implementation Method 2
curing the sealing composition after the migration towards the side wall
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4a~4c
AI summary
The present invention proposes a method for providing a rubber-elastic sealing member onto a capsule (1) intended for producing a beverage in a beverage production device, wherein the capsule has a body portion (3) having a side wall (3a) and a flange-like rim portion (2), wherein the rim portion (2) extends from the side wall (3a) of the body portion (3), the method comprising the steps of : - applying an uncured sealing composition (4) in a liquid or viscous state onto the rim portion (2) of the capsule (1), - heating said applied sealing composition (4) such that the sealing composition at least partially migrates towards the side wall (3a) until it reaches the side wall, and - curing the sealing composition (4) after the migration towards the side wall (3a).