Centrifugal Beverage Capsule With Integrated Outer Cavity Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing capsules for beverage preparation using centrifugal forces require an external collecting assembly, leading to food contamination, increased device complexity, and frequent rinsing, which affects beverage taste and device usability.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design with a concave outer and inner wall, featuring beverage outlets on the inner wall's peripheral portion, allowing centrifuged beverage to collect in an outer cavity without contacting the device, eliminating the need for an external collecting assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an external collecting assembly is used to collect and guide the centrifuged beverage, then the beverage can be properly directed to the recipient, but the device becomes more cumbersome and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule integrates both the brewing chamber and beverage collection functions into a single unit. The outer cavity of the capsule serves dual purposes: it contains the beverage ingredients during brewing and collects the centrifuged beverage, eliminating the need for a separate external collecting assembly in the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The collection function is extracted from the device and transferred to the capsule itself. By incorporating the outer cavity as a collection chamber within the capsule structure, the device is freed from the burden of maintaining complex external collecting mechanisms.
2Quantity of substance
If an external collecting assembly is used to collect the centrifuged beverage, then the beverage can be gathered, but the device becomes subject to food contamination requiring frequent rinsing
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage collection function is extracted from the device and relocated to the disposable capsule. The outer cavity of the capsule collects the beverage, keeping it isolated from the device's internal components and preventing contamination of permanent device parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule is designed as a disposable single-use component. After one brewing cycle, the entire capsule including the collected beverage is discarded, eliminating the need to clean and rinse device components that contact the beverage.
3Quantity of substance
If an external collecting assembly is used, then the beverage can be collected, but cross-contamination from previous beverages affects the taste
Solution Approach 1:
The collection function is transferred to the disposable capsule, ensuring that each brewing cycle uses a fresh, uncontaminated collection chamber. The outer cavity of each new capsule is pristine, preventing any cross-contamination from previous beverages.
Solution Approach 2:
By using a new disposable capsule for each brewing cycle, the system guarantees that the beverage collection chamber has never been in contact with previous beverages, thereby maintaining consistent taste quality without risk of cross-contamination.
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 simplifies the device structure, reduces contamination, and maintains beverage quality by allowing direct dispensing of the centrifuged beverage, minimizing liquid dispersion and device contact.
Implementation Method 1
The rotation of the capsule in the device creates a centrifugal pressure gradient in the capsule that forces liquid through the ingredients
Implementation Method 2
beverage outlets or outlet precursors are positioned on the peripheral portion of the inner wall to enable the beverage to be displaced from the inner cavity to the outer cavity under the effect of centrifugal pressure
Data Source
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AI summary
Capsule (1) for the preparation of a beverage by centrifugation in a beverage preparation device; the capsule comprising: a generally concave outer wall (2) and a generally concave inner wall (3); each wall having a peripheral portion (4, 5) extending substantially revolutionary around a central axis (I) and a bottom portion (6, 7); a lid (18) extending transversally to said central axis (I) and covering said outer and inner walls (2, 3); and forming with said inner wall an inner cavity (8) containing beverage ingredients (9), an outer cavity (10) positioned between the inner and outer walls (2, 3).