Beverage Capsule Sealing Member for Pressure-Retaining Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage capsules face issues with inconsistent sealing due to irregularities in the enclosing members of beverage production devices, leading to pressure drops and potential leaks, which affect the quality of beverages like espresso-style coffee.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design featuring a sealing member with a flange-like rim portion and a second portion that overlaps with the inner surface of the body, connected via adhesive or welding, providing a stable and adaptable sealing solution that compensates for irregularities in the device's sealing surface, ensuring effective sealing across various devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing means are additionally applied to the outer surface of the capsule, then sealing effect is improved, but the sealing means are not sufficiently integrated to the capsule structure and can be peeled off due to external influence or wear and tear
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is integrated with the capsule body portion by connecting it to the inner surface of the sidewall, merging the sealing function into the capsule structure itself rather than applying separate sealing means to the outer surface. This integration prevents peeling off and ensures stable sealing throughout the capsule lifecycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member is positioned within the capsule structure, with its second portion overlapping the inner surface of the sidewall. This nested arrangement embeds the sealing function inside the capsule body, providing better structural integration and protection from external constraints compared to outer surface application.
2Ease of operation
If irregularities are provided on purpose for facilitating removal of the capsule, then ease of removal is improved, but sealing properties are worsened due to potential leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is designed with a flange-like rim portion that provides enhanced sealing at the specific location where the capsule interfaces with the beverage production device. This localized sealing enhancement compensates for irregularities in the enclosing member while maintaining overall sealing integrity, allowing irregularities elsewhere to facilitate capsule removal.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different pressure drops occur within the capsule due to device variations, then adaptability to different devices is improved, but sealing properties are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is designed with adjustable geometric parameters, including the extent of overlap with the sidewall inner surface and the dimensions of the flange-like rim portion. These parameter variations allow the sealing member to adapt to different pressure drops and interface conditions across various beverage production devices while maintaining reliable sealing.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention proposes a capsule for containing beverage ingredients, the capsule being designed for insertion in a beverage production device, the capsule comprising a body portion having at least a circumferential sidewall for enclosing an ingredients compartment of the capsule, and a sealing member, wherein the sealing member comprises a first flange-like rim portion and a second portion which is at least partially overlapping with an inner surface of the sidewall of the body portion.