Water-Repellent Coffee Filter Plate to Prevent Rim Slipping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disposable coffee filters are complex, expensive, and prone to slipping off during use due to cardboard softening when exposed to coffee, requiring cumbersome handling and additional gluing steps.
Innovation Solution
A disposable filter with a water-repellent layer made of heat-sealable material on a cardboard carrier plate, where the filter bag is sealed to the carrier plate, preventing water from reaching the cardboard and enhancing stability, and featuring a design that simplifies handling and manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a cardboard carrier plate is used in the filter, then the filter is simple and inexpensive, but the cardboard softens when exposed to coffee water causing the filter to slip off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining cardboard with a water-repellent coating layer. The cardboard provides structural support and simplicity, while the water-repellent coating prevents water penetration that would cause softening. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by maintaining the simplicity of cardboard while adding the stability needed to prevent slipping when exposed to coffee water.
Solution Approach 2:
The water-repellent coating acts as an intermediary layer between the cardboard carrier plate and the coffee water. This intermediate layer prevents direct contact between water and cardboard, thereby preventing softening and maintaining filter stability on the cup rim while preserving the simplicity of the overall filter structure.
2Reliability
If a complex stiffening frame structure is used, then the filter stability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the carrier plate and the water-repellent coating into a single integrated component rather than using separate stiffening frames. This consolidation reduces the number of parts and assembly steps while maintaining filter stability, directly resolving the contradiction between stability and manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the water-repellent function from a complex mechanical stiffening frame and implements it through a simple coating layer on the carrier plate. This extraction eliminates unnecessary structural complexity while preserving the essential stability function, reducing both device complexity and manufacturing steps.
3Reliability
If multiple separate components are used, then the filter functionality is improved, but the handling and assembly become cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components into a single integrated filter unit where the carrier plate, water-repellent coating, and filter bag work together as one assembly. This merging simplifies handling and assembly operations while maintaining all necessary filter functions, directly addressing the contradiction between functionality and ease of operation.
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 provides a stable, easy-to-handle disposable filter that prevents slipping and softening, allowing for straightforward use and disposal, while maintaining the cardboard's integrity during coffee preparation.
Implementation Method 1
a water-repellent layer made of heat-sealable material on top of the backing sheet
Implementation Method 2
the carrier plate is connected to the edge of the filter bag by sealing
Data Source
Figure 1~6c
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The filter has a support plate with superimposed layers (1.1, 1.2) made of cardboard, and circular through holes (3.1, 3.2) provided in the support plate. A filter bag (5) has filling containing coffee powder, where an edge of a bag aperture is fastened at the support plate around the through hole. The bag is arranged under the support plate together with the filling. Two water-repelling layers are arranged on an upper side and a lower side of the support plate, respectively. The filter bag is made of non-woven fabric.