Molded Cellulose Beverage Capsule With Oxygen and Moisture Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage capsules with metallic or compostable plastic bodies are expensive, difficult to recycle, and complex to produce, while maintaining good oxygen and moisture barrier properties for preserving organoleptic qualities.
Innovation Solution
A capsule body formed by molding cellulose pulp, particularly with microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), which is biodegradable and compostable, produced through dry or wet molding processes, and optionally enhanced with a sealing film for improved barrier properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a capsule body is formed by stamping a sheet of metallic material, then good air-and moisture-tight properties are achieved, but the production cost increases and recyclability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metallic sheet to cellulose pulp, transforming the capsule body into a biodegradable material that maintains barrier properties while reducing cost and improving recyclability. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between reliability (barrier properties) and ease of manufacture (cost).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material structure with cellulose pulp as the base material and incorporates sealing films or coatings to enhance barrier properties. This composite approach allows achieving metallic-like protection with organic, recyclable materials, resolving both the reliability-cost contradiction and the recyclability issue.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a capsule body is formed by injection molding of compostable plastic material, then ecological impact is improved, but production cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adopts disposable cellulose pulp capsules that are inexpensive to produce and easily disposed of through composting. This approach simplifies the production system compared to complex injection molding processes while maintaining ecological benefits, resolving the contradiction between ecological impact and production complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the manufacturing method from injection molding to cellulose pulp forming processes (such as wet forming or dry forming), which are simpler and more eco-friendly. This parameter change reduces production complexity while maintaining or improving ecological performance.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a capsule body is formed by injection molding of compostable plastic material, then biodegradability is achieved, but composting time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameter by using pure cellulose pulp instead of composite plastic materials, which dramatically accelerates biodegradation. Cellulose is naturally rapidly decomposed by microorganisms, reducing composting time from months to weeks while maintaining excellent biodegradability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable cellulose capsules designed for rapid decomposition. The material is specifically selected and processed to ensure quick biodegradation, transforming the composting process from a long-term operation into a rapid waste disposal solution, resolving the contradiction between biodegradability and composting time.
4Ease of manufacture
If a capsule body is formed by molding cellulose pulp, then production cost and ecological impact are improved, but barrier properties may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite structure by combining cellulose pulp with sealing films, coatings, or multi-layer constructions. This composite material approach maintains the cost and ecological benefits of cellulose while providing sufficient barrier properties to protect the beverage, resolving the contradiction between production cost and barrier properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies enhanced barrier properties selectively at critical locations such as the opening areas and seam regions where protection is most needed. By concentrating sealing treatments at these local points rather than throughout the entire capsule, the solution maintains cost-effectiveness while achieving necessary barrier performance.
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 cellulose-based capsules are cost-effective, easily recyclable, and compostable, offering excellent oxygen and moisture barrier properties, preserving beverage quality, with production yields up to 1000 capsules per minute and reduced environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
the substance must be kept in the capsule with good barrier properties against oxygen and air moisture in order to preserve its organoleptic properties
Implementation Method 2
the body being formed by molding a cellulose pulp
Implementation Method 3
these capsules have an improved ecological impact, in that they are in particular biodegradable and compostable, both industrially and domestically
Implementation Method 4
the capsule whose body is formed by molding a cellulose pulp... whose body can be easily composted, both industrially and domestically
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a capsule (1) for receiving a substance for preparing a beverage, said capsule comprising a body having a side wall (2) bordered on either side by a base (3) and by a rim (4) surrounding an opening (5) in said body, the body being formed by moulding a cellulose pulp, and said pulp comprising microfibrillated cellulose (MFC).