Infusion Packaging With Peripheral Seal and Rigid Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging for infusable substances, such as coffee, lacks sufficient mechanical strength and sealing capabilities for effective gravity-flow infusion in beverage preparation machines, leading to leakage and uneven water distribution.
Innovation Solution
A packaging design featuring a pocket with a peripheral reinforcement that applies weight to the support surface and a sealing edge that forms an effective seal on the support's side wall, allowing for even water flow without overpressure, enabling flexible volume adjustment and efficient infusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If packaging uses simple structure without separate reinforcement and seal, then manufacturing is easier and device complexity is reduced, but mechanical strength and sealing capability are insufficient causing leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging is divided into functionally independent components: a reinforcement element providing mechanical strength and a seal element providing sealing capability. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, ensuring reliable sealing and structural integrity without requiring a complex integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal element extends in a direction transverse to the support surface, creating a seal at the interface between the packaging and support. This dimensional approach allows the seal to be formed independently from the reinforcement structure, achieving effective sealing without compromising mechanical strength.
2Adaptability or versatility
If packaging volume is fixed, then manufacturing is simpler, but flexibility in adjusting infusion volume is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The pocket volume is made variable rather than fixed, allowing adjustment according to different infusion requirements. The pocket can be configured with different volumes or allow compression/expansion to match the desired infusion quantity, providing adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process through flexible material selection.
3Productivity
If water flows rapidly through infusable material, then infusion time is reduced and productivity increases, but pressure drop increases causing leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The seal element is positioned and configured in advance to prevent leakage before water flow begins. By establishing the seal at the packaging-support interface prior to infusion, the system can handle rapid water flow through the infusable material without suffering from pressure-induced leakage, thus maintaining high productivity.
4Reliability
If seal and reinforcement are integrated, then device complexity is reduced, but sealing effectiveness is compromised under weight load
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging structure is segmented into a reinforcement element and a seal element that are functionally independent. The reinforcement provides mechanical strength to support the weight of water and packaging, while the seal element specifically addresses sealing at the support interface. This segmentation ensures sealing effectiveness is not compromised by weight loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal element acts as an intermediary component between the packaging and the support surface. It specifically addresses the sealing function at the interface, allowing the reinforcement element to focus on mechanical support without compromising seal effectiveness.
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 packaging ensures a strong, leak-proof seal and even water distribution, allowing for variable infusion volumes and rapid brewing without excessive pressure drops, enhancing the quality of beverages produced by gravity flow.
Implementation Method 1
a peripheral portion around said pocket, characterized in that said peripheral portion comprises a reinforcement (11) capable of being applied, under the effect of the weight of the packaging, on a bearing surface (1) of the support
Implementation Method 2
a seal (20) provided with a sealing edge (13) capable of being applied on a side wall (5) of the support (21)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a system for the infusion by gravity, without additional pressure, of an infusible substance, which can be mounted on a coffee machine, comprising a support (2) and a packaging provided with a pouch (8) containing a dose of infusible material, the packaging being held in an infusion position in the support (2) by the gravitational pressure of a contact zone of the edge thereof on a bearing surface (1) of the support (2), the support (2) comprising a space (7) for filling with water, upstream of the packaging, in an infusion position, characterised in that the packaging comprises a rigid frame (11) arranged on the periphery of the pouch (8) and having a zone which at least partially forms the contact zone, said zone comprising a sealing edge (13) extending continuously around the edge of the packaging, and in that the support comprises a counter-bearing surface (4), the bearing surface (1) and the counter-bearing surface (4) being designed to deform the sealing edge (13) when they are in a tightening position so as to form a tight connection between the filling space (7) and the edge of the packaging.