Elastomeric Pod Adapter for Sealed Moka Coffee Infusion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional moka coffee-makers are limited in using pods due to deterioration of aromatic substances in loose coffee powder, and there is a need to combine the simplicity of single-portion pods with the widespread use of traditional coffee-makers without compromising beverage quality.
Innovation Solution
A coffee-maker assembly with an adapter body made of elastomeric material, featuring internal passages and contact perimeters that create seals on both the perforated walls and the pod, allowing pods to be used in moka coffee-makers with adjustable pressure and infusion modes, ensuring high simplicity of use and quality of infused beverages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If loose coffee powder is used in traditional moka coffee-makers, then the simplicity of use is maintained, but the aromatic substances deteriorate due to oxidation in air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs single-portion pods that are sealed in a controlled atmosphere and designed for single use. These disposable pods contain pre-dosed aromatic substances (coffee powder) protected from oxidation, eliminating the need to store loose coffee powder in air while maintaining simplicity of use - users simply insert a pod and discard it after use.
Solution Approach 2:
The pods are sealed in a controlled atmosphere that protects the aromatic substances from oxidation. This creates an inert environment around the coffee powder, preventing deterioration while allowing the pod to be stored and used conveniently without special storage conditions for loose powder.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If pods are used in moka coffee-makers, then aromatic substance preservation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to need for adapter body
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter body is made of elastomeric material that can deform elastically to conform to the pod and create sealing contact. This flexible material allows the adapter to accommodate the pod shape and maintain seals without complex rigid structures, reducing overall device complexity while enabling pod usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter body integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides sealing contact with the pod, guides the infuser liquid through internal passages, and interfaces with both the beverage container and infusion funnel. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate parts needed, simplifying the overall assembly.
3Reliability
If adapter body with sealing contact is used, then beverage quality is improved through proper sealing, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that the elastomeric material has a surface hardness in the range of 40-70 ShoreA. This parameter change in material properties allows the adapter to deform and conform to the pod and perforated walls, creating reliable seals without requiring extremely precise manufacturing tolerances for the contact perimeters.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric adapter body uses material flexibility to compensate for manufacturing variations. The material can deform to accommodate slight dimensional variations in the pod or chamber components, maintaining sealing quality without requiring ultra-precise manufacturing of all mating surfaces.
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
Enables the use of pods in traditional moka coffee-makers, enhancing caffeine extraction and maintaining beverage quality, with the adapter body being industrially economical and easy to use, allowing for varied taste characteristics and easy removal.
Implementation Method 1
The adapter body 10 is made of an elastomeric material... one or both contact perimeters 20, 26 have a surface hardness in the range of 40-70 ShoreA... by virtue of the elasticity of the elastomeric material, such body 10 elastically works on the pod 16 and the perforated wall 12, 42 to partially compress the aromatic substance 18
Implementation Method 2
the infuser liquid enters into the pod wetting it and, when the pressure generated by the boiler exceeds the resistance of the aromatic substance, passes into the beverage container... the infuser liquid or infused beverage through the internal passage 24
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Coffee-maker assembly (1) comprising a coffee-maker comprising a boiler (2) for an infuser liquid, a beverage container (4) and an infusion funnel (8) delimiting part of an infusion chamber (14) suitable to house at least one pod (16) containing an aromatic substance (18) for the infused beverage, wherein the beverage container (4) and the infusion funnel (8) comprise perforated walls (12, 42) for the passage of said liquid and said beverage. The assembly also comprises an adapter body (10) for the pod, made of elastomeric material, that identifies one or more internal passages (24) and a pair of contact perimeters (20, 26) that surround the perforations (22, 44) of said walls (12, 42) and that are spaced through the thickness of said body (10). At least one of such perimeters rests sealingly on a perforated wall so as to convey the infuser liquid or infused beverage through the internal passage or the plurality of them. The invention also relates to an adapter body, for example usable in the assembly.