Filtration Sheet Beverage Capsule Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation capsules are stiff, expensive, and difficult to produce in a wide range of shapes and sizes, with challenges in achieving full biodegradability and recyclability, and require high system pressure for reliable opening.
Innovation Solution
A beverage preparation capsule with a body made of filtration sheet material, where two opposed edges are bonded to form a sealed edge with a liquid injection nozzle secured in, allowing for flexible shapes and lower production costs, using biodegradable materials and a frangible barrier for easy liquid injection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heat-sealable laminated sheet material is used for capsule construction, then reliable sealing and opening is achieved, but the material becomes stiff, expensive, and difficult to produce in various shapes and sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces stiff heat-sealable laminated sheets with flexible filtration sheet material that can be easily formed into various shapes and sizes. The filtration material is bonded at edges to create sealed edges, providing both flexibility for diverse capsule designs and reliable sealing through the bonding process.
2Reliability
If heat-sealable laminated sheet material is used for capsule construction, then sealing is achieved, but production costs increase and biodegradability/recyclability become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs filtration sheet material that is cheaper to produce than heat-sealable laminated sheets and can be easily manufactured into various capsule forms. The material is suitable for disposable use and can be made from biodegradable sources, reducing production costs and improving environmental sustainability.
3Reliability
If high system pressure is applied in beverage making equipment, then reliable opening of the base seam is ensured, but the system becomes more complex and energy-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sealing mechanism from heat-sealable laminated material to bonded filtration material that can be opened with lower pressure. The bonding process creates seals that are reliable during storage and transport but can be opened reliably at lower system pressures during beverage preparation, reducing energy consumption.
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 capsules can be used in existing machines without adaptation, produce high-quality beverages with lower contamination risk, and are more cost-effective and environmentally friendly, with improved taste extraction profiles and reduced production costs.
Implementation Method 1
two opposed edges of the filtration material are bonded together to form a sealed edge of the body
Implementation Method 2
The nozzle is sealed by a frangible barrier to prevent escape of the beverage preparation ingredient prior to preparation of the beverage
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A beverage preparation capsule comprising: a body (1) formed substantially from a filtration sheet material, a liquid injection nozzle (5) for injecting liquid into the body, and a beverage preparation ingredient retained inside the capsule body. Also provided is a method of manufacture of a beverage preparation capsule comprising the steps of : providing a first web of filtration sheet material (2) in substantially horizontal orientation; depositing a dose of a beverage making ingredient at a location on the said first web; depositing a liquid injection nozzle (5) on the first web adjacent to the location of the dose of beverage making ingredient superimposing a second web of filtration sheet material (3) on the first web, the dose of beverage making ingredient and the nozzle; bonding the first and second webs together along a sealing margin extending around the location of the dose of beverage- making ingredient and including the location of the nozzle, such that the nozzle is sealed between the first and second webs in said margin by said bonding; and cutting the first and second webs around said sealing margin to release said capsule from the webs.