Cellulose Beverage Capsule With Sealing Label Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage capsules, whether metallic or compostable plastic, face challenges of high production costs, complexity, and ecological impact, while requiring effective oxygen and moisture barriers for preserving organoleptic properties.
Innovation Solution
A capsule body formed by molding cellulose pulp, optionally reinforced with microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), and covered with a sealing label or coating, provides a cost-effective, biodegradable solution with enhanced oxygen and moisture barriers, achieved through dry or wet molding processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metallic material is used for capsule body, then air and moisture barrier properties are improved, but production cost increases and recyclability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining cellulose pulp (biodegradable base material) with a sealing coating layer (barrier functional layer). This composite structure provides both the environmental benefits of cellulose and the barrier properties traditionally associated with metallic materials, resolving the contradiction between eco-friendliness and protection performance.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If compostable plastic material is used for capsule body, then ecological impact is improved, but production cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential barrier function from complex plastic materials and implements it through a simpler sealing coating applied to cellulose pulp. This separates the structural role (fulfilled by simple cellulose) from the protective role (fulfilled by the coating), reducing production complexity while maintaining protection performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from synthetic compostable plastics to natural cellulose pulp, which offers similar biodegradability but with simpler processing characteristics and lower production costs, while the sealing coating compensates for any performance gaps.
3Ease of manufacture
If cellulose pulp is used for capsule body, then biodegradability and production cost are improved, but oxygen and moisture barrier properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite structure where cellulose pulp serves as the biodegradable substrate and a sealing coating provides the barrier function. This composite approach allows the capsule to benefit from both the low cost and biodegradability of cellulose and the protection properties of the coating layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing coating acts as an intermediary layer between the cellulose pulp and the external environment (oxygen and moisture). It mediates the interaction by providing the barrier function that cellulose alone cannot provide, while allowing the cellulose to maintain its structural and environmental benefits.
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 capsule offers efficient organoleptic preservation, is easily recyclable, and compostable, with reduced production costs and environmental footprint, achieving high production yields and effective barrier properties.
Implementation Method 1
a web of cellulose pulp is formed; the capsule is then thermoformed by hot-molding said web
Implementation Method 2
cellulose fibers from a cellulose source, in particular by grinding a natural cellulose source
Implementation Method 3
the capsule is then thermoformed by hot-molding said web
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 the side wall (2) of said body being covered with a sealing label (18).