Buckling Beverage Capsule Sidewall for Bypass-Free Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation systems face challenges in achieving effective sealing during the production of beverages, which can lead to bypass flows and affect the fluid-tightness of the seal, particularly when using capsules with dedicated sealing members.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design featuring a cup-shaped body with a lid, where the side wall is dimensioned to buckle upon closure, forming a valley zone that creates a sealing interface with the enclosing member, allowing for large-scale deformation and effective sealing, even with grooves or other features on the leading edge of the enclosing member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated sealing member is provided on the capsule to prevent bypass flow, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the dedicated sealing member from the capsule structure entirely. Instead, the sealing function is achieved through the interaction between the enclosing member's leading edge and the capsule's side wall, which buckles to form a sealing interface. This extraction of the sealing member simplifies the capsule structure while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule's side wall performs the sealing function itself through buckling deformation when contacted by the enclosing member. The side wall's own structural response (buckling) creates the sealing interface, eliminating the need for a separate sealing component. The system uses the capsule's inherent structural properties to achieve sealing.
2Strength
If the side wall is made rigid to maintain capsule integrity, then structural strength is improved, but sealing capability deteriorates due to inability to deform and form sealing interface
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall is designed with differentiated local properties: the upper portion maintains rigidity to preserve capsule structural integrity, while the lower portion (at the sealing zone) is designed to buckle and deform when contacted by the enclosing member. This local differentiation allows the side wall to simultaneously provide both structural strength and sealing capability through spatially varying mechanical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The side wall transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic structure that changes its configuration during operation. When the enclosing member closes, the side wall dynamically buckles to form the sealing interface, then maintains this deformed state during beverage preparation. This dynamic behavior enables the side wall to adapt its shape for sealing while maintaining overall structural integrity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the enclosing member is designed with grooves or features on the leading edge for sealing, then sealing precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity and difficulty of insertion increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of designing complex features on the enclosing member's leading edge to create the sealing interface, the invention inverts the approach by designing the capsule's side wall to actively form the sealing interface through buckling. The enclosing member's leading edge remains simple and groove-free, while the sealing precision is achieved through the capsule's structural response. This inversion simplifies the enclosing member and facilitates easier capsule insertion.
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 buckling of the side wall forms a reliable sealing interface, preventing bypass flows and ensuring the integrity of the seal, allowing for efficient beverage production without trapping ingredients, thus enhancing the fluid-tightness and operational efficiency of the beverage preparation system.
Implementation Method 1
the side wall is dimensioned to be contacted by the enclosing member on movement of the enclosing member into the closed position to buckle the side wall to form a valley zone bridging the enclosing member
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage producing system is provided comprising a capsule containing beverage ingredients and a beverage preparation machine. The capsule comprises a cup-shaped body and a lid; the cup-shaped body having a base and a side wall and the lid being sealed to the cup-shaped body. The side wall is dimensioned to be contacted by an enclosing member of the beverage preparation machine on closure of the enclosing member to buckle the side wall to form a valley zone bridging the enclosing member. The side wall is adapted such that said valley zone forms at least one sealing interface between the enclosing member and the side wall. A capsule and a method are also disclosed.