Foamed Beverage Pack With Fluid Jet Air Aspiration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible beverage-producing sachets require high volumes with significant headspace for foaming, leading to increased costs, bulkiness, and the need for larger, more expensive preparation devices, as they need air-filled spaces to achieve foaming, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A flexible pack design with a minimized headspace volume that incorporates a fluid inlet for introducing a high-velocity aqueous fluid jet and an air inlet for controlled air introduction, using a rigid insert and flexible water-impermeable sheets to create a pack that effectively foams beverages by aspirating air through the fluid jet, allowing for adjustable foaming control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high volume sachets with large headspace are used to achieve foaming, then foaming quality is improved, but packaging volume and storage space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a fluid jet (hydraulic element) passing through a restriction to create a low-pressure zone that aspirates air (pneumatic element) through the mixture. This pneumatic-hydraulic mechanism generates foam in-situ within the compact sachet, eliminating the need for large headspace while maintaining foaming quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters by using a high-velocity fluid jet that creates localized low pressure through a restriction. This parameter change (velocity and pressure differential) enables air aspiration and foam generation without requiring large volumes, transforming the foaming process from a volume-dependent to a flow-dependent mechanism.
2Reliability
If large headspace volume is provided for foaming, then foaming performance is improved, but material cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid jet aspiration mechanism uses the kinetic energy of the fluid flow to draw air into the mixture, creating foam without requiring excess packaging material or headspace. This reduces material consumption while maintaining foaming performance.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the flow parameters (velocity, pressure differential through restriction), the system achieves efficient air incorporation and foam generation using minimal material volumes, reducing both packaging material and product quantity required.
3Reliability
If large headspace is used for foaming, then foaming is achieved, but device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses a simple fluid jet through a restriction to aspirate air and create foam, eliminating the need for complex foam generation mechanisms or large device chambers. This pneumatic-hydraulic approach simplifies device design while maintaining foaming capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention relies on flow parameter changes (velocity and pressure) rather than large physical dimensions to achieve foaming. This allows compact device design with minimal internal volume while preserving foam generation capability through optimized fluid dynamics.
4Volume of stationary object
If flexible packaging is used to reduce material and space, then storage efficiency is improved, but foaming capability deteriorates without large headspace
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid jet aspiration system works effectively within the compact flexible packaging by using flow-induced pressure differentials to aspirate air and create foam in-situ. This maintains foaming capability while utilizing the space-efficient flexible packaging format.
Solution Approach 2:
By optimizing fluid flow parameters (velocity, pressure differential) within the constrained flexible packaging volume, the system achieves effective air incorporation and foam generation without requiring the expanded headspace that would be needed in rigid containers.
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 enables efficient foaming of beverages with reduced material and storage volume, resulting in cost-effective and compact packaging while maintaining high-quality foaming performance.
Implementation Method 1
the fluid inlet is configured for introducing an aqueous fluid under the form of a jet in the inner volume of the pack
Implementation Method 2
the air inlet is connected to an aspiration inlet through which the jet enters the inner volume of the pack, configured in such a way that air is aspirated through the air inlet when the jet is introduced inside the pack
Implementation Method 3
when foaming of the food or beverage product is desired
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention refers to a pack (100) for preparing a food or beverage product from one or more food or beverage ingredients comprising an insert (10) and a container (20) where the ingredient or ingredients are stored, the insert (10) comprising a fluid inlet (110) configured for introducing an aqueous fluid under the form of a jet (50) in the inner volume of the pack, and the insert (10) further comprising an air inlet (150) communicating with the exterior of the pack (100) and configured for introducing air in the inner volume of the pack (100). The invention further refers to the use of a pack (100) as described for preparing a food or beverage product.