Gelatin Capsule With Meltable Coating for Hot-Water Concentrate Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current concentrates are marketed in large containers that require manual measurement and dissolution, leading to inefficiencies and potential spills during handling and storage.
Innovation Solution
A capsule with a rugged food-grade gelatin exterior shell and a food-grade paraffin coating is developed, allowing the concentrate to be dissolved in hot water within seconds, protecting the concentrate from external forces and ensuring easy release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If concentrates are packaged in large containers requiring manual measurement and dissolution, then storage capacity is improved, but handling safety and dissolution speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The concentrate is divided into individual single-serving capsules instead of being stored in large containers. Each capsule is a self-contained unit that eliminates the need for manual measurement and reduces handling risks associated with large containers during storage and transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule is designed as a disposable, single-use container that is discarded after one use. This eliminates the need for cleaning and storage of containers, improving handling safety while maintaining convenient storage capacity through the capsule's compact design.
2Volume of stationary object
If concentrates are packaged in prepackaged quantities requiring breaking open, then storage capacity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The concentrate is segmented into individual capsules that are already portioned and ready for use. This eliminates the need to break open prepackaged quantities and simplifies the dissolution process to simply adding hot water to the capsule.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule is designed to dissolve automatically in hot water without requiring manual breaking or opening. The capsule structure is engineered to break down and release the concentrate homogeneously when exposed to hot water, making the operation simple and intuitive.
3Reliability
If a rugged exterior shell is used to protect concentrate during handling, then handling safety is improved, but dissolution speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule has different properties at different locations: the exterior shell is rugged and gelatin-based for protection during handling, while the interior surface has a paraffin coating that melts at body temperature to facilitate quick dissolution. This local differentiation allows the capsule to be both protective and rapidly dissolvable.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule utilizes temperature-dependent parameter changes: the gelatin exterior shell remains stable at room temperature for protection but dissolves quickly in hot water, while the paraffin coating melts at body temperature to release the concentrate. This temperature-based parameter change enables both handling safety and rapid dissolution.
4Stability of the object's composition
If paraffin coating is applied to prevent interaction between concentrate and shell, then storage stability is improved, but dissolution complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The paraffin coating is selected with a specific melting point (around body temperature) that allows it to remain stable during storage and handling but melt automatically when the capsule is placed in hot water or at body temperature. This parameter selection simplifies the dissolution process while maintaining storage stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The paraffin coating acts as an intermediary layer between the concentrate and the gelatin shell during storage, preventing unwanted interactions. During dissolution, this same paraffin layer melts to facilitate homogeneous mixing, serving as both a protective barrier and a dissolution aid.
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 maintains integrity during handling and storage, quickly dissolving in hot water to release the concentrate homogeneously, providing a convenient and spill-proof solution for instant beverages.
Implementation Method 1
the capsule is submerged in hot water which eventually melts the paraffin coating to allow the water-based concentrate to interact with the exterior shell to dissolve the exterior shell and release the concentrate
Implementation Method 2
the capsule is submerged in hot water which eventually melts the paraffin coating to allow the water-based concentrate to interact with the exterior shell
Data Source
AI summary
A product having an internal substance protected by a rugged exterior shell is disclosed. The internal substance is reactive with the exterior shell but is separated therefrom by a coating on an interior surface of the external shell so that the product can be stored for a long period of time without the internal substance reacting with the exterior shell. The coating is meltable so that, when desired, the product may be heated (e.g. immersed in hot water or exposed to heat) in order to melt the coating so that the internal substance can react with the external shell so that the internal substance can excrete out of the exterior shell.