Gelatin Capsule with Paraffin Coating for Instant Drink Dissolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current instant hot water drink concentrates are inconvenient due to the need for manual measurement and dissolution, and they lack protection against handling and storage stresses.
Innovation Solution
A capsule with a rugged food-grade gelatin exterior shell and a food-grade paraffin coating is used to encase a water-based concentrate, allowing it to be dissolved in hot water within 10-30 seconds, providing protection during handling and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If concentrates are packaged in large containers requiring manual measurement and dissolution, then storage capacity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the concentrate into individual single-serving capsules, eliminating the need for manual measurement while maintaining convenient storage. Each capsule is a self-contained unit that dissolves completely in hot water, providing both portability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule structure is designed to automatically dissolve in hot water without requiring user intervention for measurement or mixing. The gelatin exterior shell and paraffin coating work together to enable automatic dissolution, making the system self-sufficient and easy to operate.
2Quantity of substance
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 can be easily handled and dissolved without breaking open. This segmentation maintains storage efficiency while dramatically improving ease of operation through simple dissolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The gelatin exterior shell and paraffin coating are designed to be discarded (dissolved) after serving their protective function. The shell dissolves completely in hot water, releasing the concentrate without requiring the user to break or open any packaging.
3Reliability
If a protective shell is used to protect concentrate during handling, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule uses a composite structure combining gelatin exterior shell with paraffin coating. This composite design provides enhanced protection during handling while maintaining relative simplicity. The gelatin provides structural integrity and the paraffin provides chemical inertness and release functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The paraffin coating undergoes phase transition from solid to liquid when exposed to hot water, enabling the concentrate to be released. This phase transition mechanism provides reliable protection during storage and handling while avoiding complex mechanical release systems.
4Reliability
If paraffin coating is applied to prevent interaction between concentrate and shell, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies a paraffin coating thickness range of 0.01 to 0.05 inches, providing sufficient protection while maintaining manufacturability. This parameter specification balances reliability of protection with practical manufacturing precision requirements.
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 effectively protects the concentrate during storage and handling, ensuring it dissolves quickly and homogeneously in hot water, maintaining integrity and releasing the concentrate without leakage or degradation.
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
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.