Pivoting Pod Cradle for Flexible Beverage Pod Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beverage preparation devices are not suitable for pods made of flexible, porous, or micro-perforated materials like paper, as they require a rigid collar for proper extraction and ejection, which can lead to tearing and misalignment issues, especially when using gravity-based ejection systems.

Innovation Solution

A device with a cylindrical front part and a pivoting cradle that allows for synchronized translation and rotation, enabling the pod to be inserted and ejected without manual intervention, while maintaining a sealed extraction chamber using frustoconical surfaces to accommodate flexible pods and ensure proper alignment and ejection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a rigid collar is used in the pod to ensure structural resistance and prevent tearing during extraction and ejection, then the structural strength is improved, but the device complexity increases and the adaptability to flexible materials decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural resistanceVSAvoidadaptability to flexible materials

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a flexible collar made of porous paper material (12-50 g/m²) instead of rigid cardboard, allowing the pod to be made from flexible, biodegradable materials while maintaining sufficient structural integrity during the extraction and ejection processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The collar is pre-formed with a specific geometry and rigidity characteristics that allow it to maintain its shape during insertion and extraction, enabling gravity-based ejection without requiring additional rigid support structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If gravity-based ejection is used to simplify the ejection mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of pod retention during transfer decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveejection mechanism simplicityVSAvoidpod retention during transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is pre-formed with a specific geometry and rigidity that allows it to maintain its shape during insertion and extraction, enabling gravity-based ejection without requiring additional rigid support structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The pod with its flexible collar is designed as a disposable component that is inserted vertically and ejected by gravity, eliminating the need for complex retention mechanisms while ensuring reliable one-way transfer through the extraction chamber

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If the pod is inserted vertically to enable gravity-based ejection, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision required for alignment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepod insertion and ejectionVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is designed with an asymmetric geometry featuring a flat lower face and a curved peripheral part, which provides natural alignment during vertical insertion and ensures proper positioning in the extraction chamber without requiring high-precision manufacturing tolerances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The curved peripheral part of the collar works with frustoconical bearing surfaces in the extraction chamber to provide self-aligning features that accommodate minor variations in pod manufacturing while ensuring reliable sealing and extraction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 allows for efficient extraction and ejection of flavors from flexible pods without the need for a rigid collar, preventing tearing and ensuring accurate alignment, thus improving the reliability and simplicity of the beverage preparation process.

Implementation Method 1

allowing it to be ejected by gravity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

synchronized translation and rotation, enabling the pod to be inserted and ejected without manual intervention, while maintaining a sealed extraction chamber using frustoconical surfaces to accommodate flexible pods and ensure proper alignment and ejection

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP2922447B1Device for preparing beverages by pod infusion having a pivoting cradle

Publication Date: 2016.11.30 TECHNOPOOL

Figure 1~1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 1D

AI summary

The present invention relates to a device for preparing flavoured beverages and comprising: - a first component or inlet head (1) and a second component or outlet head (2), and - a third component (3) in the form of a cradle that delimits a compartment for inserting a pod and is able to pivot in a synchronized manner with a relative movement in translation of the two first and second components from an initial insertion position, in which the cradle is in an inclined position, to a final extraction position, in which the cradle is in a vertical position, and - said pod being compressed between the opposite front faces (1-2) and (2-2) of said first and, respectively, second components in said extraction position.