Compostable Capsule Flexible Flange Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capsules made from biodegradable, compostable materials face sealing issues between piston elements and the capsule due to lower deformability compared to conventional plastic materials, leading to watertight sealing problems during beverage preparation.
Innovation Solution
A compostable capsule design featuring a flexible annular flange with a deformable connecting portion that flexes under piston pressure to create a seal, combined with a frangible covering element and centring means to ensure proper alignment and reduce stress on the piston, allowing for effective sealing and adaptation to dimensional variability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If compostable materials are used for the capsule, then environmental sustainability is improved, but sealing reliability deteriorates due to lower deformability
Solution Approach 1:
The annular flange is designed with a connecting portion that has increased thickness and deformability, allowing it to flex and adapt to the piston surface. This flexible region enables the compostable material to achieve reliable sealing through elastic deformation rather than relying on high plasticity, thus maintaining sealing reliability while using environmentally sustainable materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The thickness of the connecting portion of the annular flange is specifically increased to optimize its deformability. By changing the geometric parameter (thickness) of the sealing region, the capsule compensates for the lower inherent deformability of compostable materials, enabling adequate sealing performance without compromising environmental sustainability.
2Manufacturing precision
If the annular flange is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability to piston dimensional variability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The annular flange is segmented into different functional regions: a rigid main body for structural integrity and manufacturing precision, and a flexible connecting portion with increased thickness for adaptability. This segmentation allows each region to fulfill its specific function optimally while working together as a unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the annular flange are given different mechanical properties. The main body maintains standard thickness for rigidity and manufacturing precision, while the connecting portion has increased thickness locally to provide the necessary flexibility and adaptability to piston dimensional variability, thus resolving the contradiction through localized property optimization.
3Reliability
If the capsule material has high plasticity for good sealing, then sealing performance is improved, but biodegradability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on high plasticity materials, the solution uses a flexible thin film approach where the connecting portion of the annular flange is designed to flex elastically. This allows compostable materials with lower plasticity to achieve sealing performance through geometric design rather than material properties, thus maintaining biodegradability while ensuring sealing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The thickness parameter of the connecting portion is optimized to balance flexibility and biodegradability. By adjusting this geometric parameter, the capsule achieves adequate sealing performance using compostable materials without requiring high-plasticity conventional plastics, thus maintaining both sealing performance and biodegradability.
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 achieves reliable sealing and adaptability to different piston configurations, ensuring effective preparation and dispensing of beverages while being fully compostable, meeting EN 13432 standards for biodegradability and environmental safety.
Implementation Method 1
the seal between the piston elements of the beverage preparation device and the capsule occurs by elastic deformation of the material forming the annular flange around the capsule
Data Source
Figure 1~1a
Figure 2~2a
AI summary
The present invention relates to a capsule (1) for preparing infused beverages comprising a main body (10) having a central axis (A), a first end (10a) and a second end (10b), said main body (10) comprising an axially symmetrical side wall (2) with respect to said central axis (A) and converging from the first (10a) to the second end (10b), a bottom wall (3) connected to the side wall (2) and arranged at said second end (10b), a cavity (4) containing an ingredient for the preparation of beverages, said cavity (4) being defined by said side wall (2) and by said bottom wall (3), said bottom wall (3) being openable for introducing pressurized liquid into said cavity (4), said cavity (4) having an opening (12) arranged at the first end (10a), an annular flange (14) connected to said side wall (2) at said first end (10a) and extending radially from said side wall (2) towards the outside, said flange (14) having an inner surface (l4a) facing said second end (10b) and an outer surface (l4b) opposite the inner surface (l4a). The capsule (1) further comprises a frangible covering element (lla) fastened to the outer surface (l4b) of said flange (14) and superimposed on said opening (12) to hermetically seal said cavity (4). A feature of the invention is that the capsule is made entirely of compostable material and that said flange (14) has an inner flexible area (16) connected directly to the side wall (2) and configured to flex under the action of a hollow piston (100) of a beverage preparing machine, an abutment surface (18) arranged at said inner area (16) and configured to be pushed by said piston (100), said side wall (2) further having a main portion (2a) and a connecting portion (2b), said connecting portion (2b) joining said main portion (2a) to said flange (14) and having an increasing thickness from said main portion (2a) to said flange (14), said connecting portion (2b) being deformable due to a pressure of said piston (100) on said abutment surface (18) to at least partially contact said piston (100) and create a seal against said piston (100).