Pivoting Pod Cradle for Sealing and Gravity Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage extraction devices are not suitable for pods with porous or micro-perforated flexible materials, such as paper filters, as they require stiff flanges and piercing, which is not feasible with low basis weight paper pods, leading to issues with pod retention and sealing during extraction and discharge.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a first and second part with a pivotally mounted third part that allows for synchronized translation and pivoting, enabling the use of pods with flexible materials by supporting the pod through a tilted insertion and vertical extraction chamber, ensuring proper alignment and discharge without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a pod with porous or micro-perforated flexible material (low basis weight paper) is used, then the device can extract flavors from flexible material pods, but the pod cannot be retained and sealed during extraction and discharge because it lacks stiff flanges
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses the flexible paper filter material itself as the sealing element. The pod cover is made of porous or micro-perforated flexible material with low basis weight (12 to 50 g/m2), and this flexible cover forms the seal between the pod and the piston during extraction, eliminating the need for stiff flanges.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical clamping system (which requires stiff flanges to be pinched between plates) with a piercing system. Pins pierce the flexible cover to create liquid flow paths, and the flexible cover itself provides the sealing function through its elasticity and conformability to the piston surface.
2Reliability
If a stiff flange is used to ensure pod retention and sealing, then the pod can be retained and sealed during extraction, but the device cannot be used with low basis weight paper pods
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional approach by making the pod cover itself (the flexible paper filter) the sealing element rather than requiring an external stiff flange. The flexible cover conforms to the piston surface and provides sealing through its material properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the sealing function from the flange structure and transfers it to the pod cover material itself. The stiff flange is completely removed from the design, and the sealing capability is embedded in the flexible cover through its physical properties.
3Extent of automation
If the pod is discharged by gravity without manual intervention, then the discharge process is automated, but the pod may not be properly aligned or retained during the process
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex mechanical ejection systems that push or throw the pod out, the invention inverts the approach by using gravity as the primary discharge mechanism. The extraction chamber is tilted during extraction, and the pod is discharged automatically by gravity when the chamber is returned to vertical position, eliminating the need for manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses dynamic tilting of the extraction chamber to control pod retention and discharge. The chamber tilts during extraction to retain the pod through gravity, then returns to vertical position to enable automatic discharge by gravity, creating a dynamic system that adapts to different operational phases.
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 device provides a simpler, reliable, and efficient method for extracting flavors from pods with flexible materials, allowing for the use of low basis weight paper pods without the need for stiff flanges, ensuring proper alignment and discharge by gravity, and adjustable extraction quality.
Implementation Method 1
a pod comprising a cover, preferably in a porous or micro-perforated flexible material, preferably of the paper filter type, filled with said powder
Implementation Method 2
said discharge compartment being able to receive said pod, said pod may be discharged by gravity
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for preparing a flavored beverage and comprising:a first part or inlet head (1) and a second part or outlet head (2), anda third cradle-shaped part (3) delimiting an insertion compartment for a pod able to synchronously pivot with a relative translation of both first and second parts from an initial insertion position in which the cradle is in a tilted position as far as a final extraction position in which the cradle is in a vertical position, andsaid pod being compressed between both front faces (1-2) and (2-1) facing each other of said first and respectively second parts in a said extraction position.