Coffee Capsule Inlet Wall Structure for Precise Water Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capsules made of elastic materials like polymers and biodegradable plastics are difficult to pierce repeatedly, leading to poor flow distribution and quality of extracted beverages, as the piercing members become blunt and fail to create well-defined perforations.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design with a frusto-conical body and an inlet wall featuring a continuous or discontinuous annular portion of reduced thickness and specific geometric features, such as recesses or embossments, to facilitate easy penetration by the injection device blades, ensuring consistent fluid flow and minimizing blade wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If capsules are made of elastic materials like polymers and biodegradable plastics, then the capsules become more environmentally friendly and versatile, but they become difficult to pierce repeatedly and the piercing members become blunt
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the capsule wall with an annular portion of reduced thickness at the inlet wall before the piercing operation. This pre-prepared structural feature facilitates easier penetration by the piercing members, resolving the contradiction between using durable elastic materials and maintaining ease of piercing. The reduced thickness zone is created during capsule manufacturing, so when piercing occurs, the blades encounter less resistance and maintain their sharpness longer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific zone with different structural properties (reduced thickness) at the inlet wall where piercing is needed, while the rest of the capsule maintains its full thickness and material properties. This localized modification allows the capsule to be both durable (made of elastic materials) and easy to pierce (at the specific annular portion), resolving the contradiction between material versatility and ease of operation.
2Device complexity
If a single central injection needle is used, then the device structure is simple, but the flow distribution across the ingredient bed is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by replacing the single central injection needle with multiple injection needles arranged in a circular pattern. This segmentation of the injection function into multiple points improves flow distribution across the ingredient bed, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and flow distribution quality. The multiple needles work simultaneously to create more uniform water flow through the coffee bed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a single-point (0D) or line (1D) injection approach to a distributed circular arrangement (2D pattern) of injection needles. This spatial distribution in a circular pattern improves flow distribution quality without significantly increasing device complexity, as the needles follow a simple geometric arrangement.
3Strength
If the inlet wall has uniform thickness, then the capsule structure is simple and strong, but the piercing members cannot create well-defined perforations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating an annular portion with reduced thickness at the inlet wall, specifically where the piercing members make contact. This localized thinning allows the piercing members to create well-defined perforations with consistent geometry, while the rest of the capsule wall maintains its full thickness and structural strength. The solution resolves the contradiction between overall capsule strength and perforation definition quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the reduced thickness annular portion during capsule manufacturing, before the piercing operation occurs. This pre-prepared structural feature ensures that when the piercing members contact the inlet wall, they encounter a zone designed for easy, precise penetration, resulting in well-defined perforations without compromising the overall capsule strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A capsule for the preparation of a coffee extract from coffee contained therein and hot water injected under pressure in the capsule by a water injection device. The capsule has a frusto-conical body with a rim, sidewall, and an inlet wall and a lower delivery wall sealed to the rim and contains a predosed amount of coffee. The inlet wall may have a flat or convex portion and a structure in relief or in recess arranged for facilitating penetration of blades belonging to the injection device and extending on a substantially circular path of predetermined radius R1 equal to the radius R2 of the circular path along which the blades of the injection device extend.