Oversized Dome Membrane Capsule for Consistent Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food or beverage capsules face challenges in achieving reproducible and efficient membrane engagement with opening means due to the mechanical properties of materials like aluminium, which limit the membrane's ability to stretch and conform correctly to the opening means, leading to inconsistent pressure and filter function.
Innovation Solution
The capsule design includes a membrane with an increased surface area and a dome-like configuration, fastened by an adhesive seal band, allowing it to engage and conform to the opening means effectively, even with stiff materials, ensuring a consistent and efficient filter function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a membrane made of stiff material like aluminium is used, then the membrane can maintain structural integrity and allow pressure to rise inside the chamber, but the membrane cannot be stretched to a great extent to correctly engage with the opening means
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is given an initial three-dimensional dome configuration instead of being flat, providing extra surface area in the radial direction. This allows the membrane to engage the opening means without requiring excessive stretching, resolving the contradiction between maintaining structural integrity and achieving proper engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is pre-formed into a dome shape with creases that predetermine its engagement pattern with the opening means. This preliminary configuration ensures that when pressure rises, the membrane naturally engages the opening means correctly without requiring excessive stretching, thus maintaining both structural integrity and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the membrane surface area is increased to improve engagement with opening means, then the membrane can conform better to the opening means, but the membrane requires more space inside the capsule chamber
Solution Approach 1:
By transforming the membrane from a flat two-dimensional surface to a three-dimensional dome structure, the membrane achieves increased effective surface area for engagement with the opening means without proportionally increasing the horizontal footprint or consuming excessive chamber volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The dome-shaped membrane utilizes curvature to pack more surface area into a compact volume. The spherical geometry allows the membrane to engage the opening means effectively while minimizing the space it occupies within the capsule chamber.
3Stress or pressure
If the membrane is made very stiff to maintain pressure, then the membrane can withstand high pressure, but the membrane cannot deform sufficiently to engage the opening means correctly
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is pre-formed with a dome configuration and predetermined crease patterns that guide its deformation behavior. This preliminary structuring ensures that when pressure is applied, the membrane deforms in a controlled manner to engage the opening means precisely, achieving both high pressure withstand capability and engagement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is designed with creases that segment the dome structure into controlled deformation zones. These segments allow the membrane to deform in a predictable pattern under pressure, ensuring precise engagement with the opening means while maintaining overall structural integrity and pressure containment.
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
This design ensures a regular and predictable opening of the membrane, providing a consistent pressure and filter function, resulting in a constant quality and taste of the prepared beverage.
Implementation Method 1
The membrane is fastened to the body by an adhesive seal band
Implementation Method 2
a pressure, more than the atmospheric pressure, is established inside the chamber by introduction under pressure of a fluid for food or beverage preparation
Implementation Method 3
The membrane is pushed in a direction outwardly of the chamber... before being elastically or plastically deformed, to engage the opening means
Implementation Method 4
The membrane is pushed in a direction outwardly of the chamber... before being elastically or plastically deformed, to engage the opening means
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4c
Figure 5a~5d
AI summary
The invention relates to a capsule (1) for food or beverage preparation, the capsule (1) comprising a hollow body (2) adapted to be punctured for fluid injection inside the capsule (1), a chamber (10) formed inside the body (2) and containing an ingredient, a membrane (9) covering an opening formed in a bottom end of the chamber (10), an edge of the membrane being fastened to a rim (12) surrounding the opening by fastening means which forms a seal between the body (2) and the membrane (9), and opening means disposed outside the chamber (10) in the vicinity of the membrane (9) configured to open the membrane when it is pressed against said opening means under an opening pressure. The part of the membrane (9) which is surrounded by the seal has a developed surface area comprised between 110% and 140% of the area of a flat surface surrounded by said seal.