Capsule with optimized weakened material region and system for preparing edible products including said capsules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capsules made of substantially rigid materials used in brewing devices for preparing beverages like espresso coffee and tea often slip due to inadequate retention mechanisms, especially when pressurized water injection does not penetrate the capsule envelope, leading to unreliable positioning and flow entry issues.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design featuring a lid-like construction with a passageway wall of reduced thickness, surrounded by a weakened material region that breaks under pressure, and an intercalary region with a thicker wall thickness to provide structural reinforcement and improved retention, along with a recess region that structurally reinforces the passageway wall and provides retention surfaces for the brewing device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a capsule is made of substantially rigid material, then structural strength and integrity are improved, but retention reliability and positioning stability deteriorate due to slippage in the brewing device
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule wall is segmented into multiple regions with different thicknesses: a first region with reduced thickness that facilitates breaking under pressure, and a second region with greater thickness that provides structural reinforcement. This segmentation allows the capsule to both break reliably for water injection while maintaining overall structural integrity and retention stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the capsule wall are assigned different local qualities in terms of thickness and mechanical properties. The first region has reduced thickness (e1) optimized for breaking, while the second region has increased thickness (e2) optimized for structural strength and retention. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between needing to break and needing to maintain strength.
2Ease of operation
If the capsule wall thickness is reduced to facilitate breaking, then pressurized flow entry is improved, but structural strength and retention capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule wall is divided into a first region with reduced thickness for easy breaking and flow entry, and a second region with greater thickness for structural support. This segmentation enables the capsule to facilitate pressurized flow entry while maintaining sufficient structural strength for retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule employs local quality variation where specific zones have different wall thicknesses optimized for their specific functions: thinner walls where breaking is needed, thicker walls where structural strength is needed. This resolves the contradiction between ease of flow entry and structural strength.
3Strength
If the capsule wall is uniformly thick, then structural strength is maintained, but breaking behavior under pressure becomes unpredictable and flow entry reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The uniform capsule wall is segmented into distinct regions: a first region with reduced thickness designed to break predictably under pressure, and a second region with greater thickness maintaining structural strength. This segmentation makes the breaking behavior predictable and reliable while preserving overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniform wall thickness, the capsule employs local quality differentiation with specific zones having optimized thicknesses. The first region's reduced thickness ensures predictable breaking, while the second region's increased thickness maintains structural strength, resolving the contradiction between strength and flow entry reliability.
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 capsule design ensures reliable retention and efficient pressurized flow entry by structurally reinforcing the passageway wall and providing retention surfaces, preventing slippage and ensuring consistent beverage preparation.
Implementation Method 1
a weakened material region adapted so that said passageway wall breaks in this zone
Implementation Method 2
swivels around part of said circumferential alignment
Data Source
AI summary
A capsule (1) having at least one first construction element (2) configured in a container-like shape, and a second construction element (3) configured in a lid-like shape, adapted so as to contain an individual portion of an edible substance. The second construction element (3) presents a passageway wall (4) provided as a recess region and surrounded in at least most part of respective perimeter by a weakened material region (41) provided as a reduction of thickness in the upstream side and downstream side of said passageway wall (4). The capsule is used with an apparatus for preparing edible products comprising at least one brewing device (10) presenting injection means (13) adapted so that exert a mechanic pressure upon the passageway wall (4) on a region of the passageway wall (4) opposite to the region of weakened material region (41).