Centrifugal Coffee Capsule with Sealed Dosing and Peripheral Outlets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee preparation systems using centrifugal forces face challenges with manual handling, inconsistent coffee quality due to uncontrolled dosing and freshness, and lack of control over extraction parameters, leading to suboptimal brewing results and high manual labor requirements.
Innovation Solution
A single-use capsule with gastight material and sealing foil, featuring radially arranged outlet openings for controlled centrifugation, allowing precise control over coffee extraction parameters and maintaining freshness, which includes a collecting recess for homogeneous liquid collection and filtering functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual dosing of coffee powder in a non-removable receptacle is used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision of dosing and freshness control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a permanent holder and a removable capsule. The capsule is pre-filled with a precise amount of coffee powder at the factory, separating the dosing function from the brewing device. This allows the device structure to remain simple while achieving precise dosing control through the pre-dosed capsule.
Solution Approach 2:
The coffee powder is pre-dosed and pre-packaged in the capsule before use. This preliminary action of dosing at the factory eliminates the need for manual dosing by the user and ensures consistent, precise dosing for each brewing cycle.
2Ease of operation
If manual handling and scraping of coffee waste is required, then ease of operation deteriorates, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule containing the coffee waste is extracted as a complete unit from the holder after brewing. The user simply removes the entire capsule and discards it, eliminating the time-consuming scraping operation and greatly improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule is designed as a disposable single-use component. After one brewing cycle, the entire capsule with spent grounds is discarded, eliminating waste removal operations and simplifying the user experience at the cost of continuous consumption of capsules.
3Ease of manufacture
If bulk package coffee or on-demand grinding is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability of coffee freshness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Coffee is segmented into individual single-serving portions, each hermetically sealed in its own capsule. This prevents exposure to air and moisture until the moment of brewing, maintaining freshness without requiring complex bulk packaging or on-demand grinding systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsules are filled and sealed in a protective atmosphere (typically nitrogen or other inert gas) that prevents oxidation and degradation of coffee. This maintains coffee freshness during storage and transport without requiring complex manufacturing equipment.
4Ease of operation
If centrifugal brewing with removable holder and open cup-shaped receptacle is used, then ease of operation improves, but manufacturing precision of dosing and freshness control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the permanent holder (providing ease of operation and removability) from the disposable pre-dosed capsule (providing precise dosing and freshness control). This segmentation allows each component to optimize its function without compromise.
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 solution enables more convenient and consistent coffee preparation with improved in-cup quality, better control over extraction parameters, and reduced manual handling, resulting in higher reproducibility and improved crema texture.
Implementation Method 1
preparing a food liquid from a substance contained in an enclosure of the capsule by introducing water in the capsule and passing water through the substance using centrifugal forces for producing the food liquid which is centrifuged peripherally in the capsule
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of outlet openings of the enclosure for enabling the food liquid to leave the enclosure under the centrifugal forces exerted in the capsule during centrifugation, said outlet openings being arranged at a peripheral portion of wall of the enclosure
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Single-use capsule (1) for preparing a food liquid from a food substance contained in the capsule by introducing water in the capsule and passing water through the substance using centrifugal forces for producing the food liquid which is centrifuged peripherally in the capsule relatively to a central axis (A) of the capsule comprising: an enclosure (14) containing a predetermined amount of food substance (22), a plurality of outlet openings (18) for enabling the food liquid to leave the enclosure under the centrifugal forces exerted in the capsule, said outlet openings being arranged at a substantially peripheral portion of wall (17) of the capsule.