Pivoting Pod Cradle for Reliable Sealing and Gravity Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for preparing beverages from powder pods with flexible, porous, or micro-perforated materials face challenges in ejection and sealing due to the lack of rigidity and stability, particularly when using low-basis-weight paper pods, leading to issues like misalignment, jamming, and collar sticking.
Innovation Solution
A device design that includes a pivotally mounted cradle with a frustoconical surface to support the pod, allowing it to be inserted and ejected without manual intervention, using relative translation and rotation of parts to create a sealed extraction chamber without stressing the collar, which can be made of ordinary filter paper without the need for reinforced cardboard.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the collar is made of flexible, porous paper material, then the device construction is simplified and manufacturing cost is reduced, but the collar lacks rigidity causing misalignment, jamming, and sealing problems during pod transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The pod transfer process is divided into distinct phases: insertion into the inclined cradle, gravitational transfer to the extraction chamber, and ejection. Each phase utilizes different physical principles (gravitational sliding, friction control, chamber pressure) to handle the flexible pod without requiring rigid structural support throughout the entire process
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined cradle acts as an intermediary device that facilitates gentle pod transfer using gravity and controlled friction. The extraction chamber serves as an intermediary space that receives the pod and provides a sealed environment for brewing, isolating the flexible pod from direct mechanical handling stresses
2Reliability
If the collar is made of rigid reinforced cardboard, then the pod maintains stability and alignment during transfer, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined cradle creates a gravitational equipotential path for pod transfer, allowing the flexible pod to slide smoothly from insertion to extraction chamber without requiring active mechanical support or complex positioning mechanisms. The inclination angle is optimized to provide sufficient gravitational force while maintaining controlled friction
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible pod's own properties (friction, flexibility, weight) are utilized to achieve stable transfer and positioning. The pod naturally conforms to the cradle surface and slides into position under gravity, eliminating the need for rigid structural support or complex alignment mechanisms
3Reliability
If the collar is pinched to ensure sealing, then the seal between parts is ensured, but the flexible collar may tear or deform permanently
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction chamber is pre-configured with sealing surfaces and gaskets that create a seal before the pod is fully inserted or during the insertion process itself. This preliminary sealing action eliminates the need for forceful pinching of the flexible collar, preventing damage while ensuring leak-proof operation
Solution Approach 2:
Sealing gaskets or O-rings act as intermediaries between the extraction chamber and the pod collar, creating the necessary seal without directly stressing the flexible collar material. The intermediary sealing element absorbs the sealing force, protecting the collar from tearing
4Ease of operation
If manual intervention is used for pod insertion and ejection, then precise control is achieved, but the ease of operation decreases and productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined cradle provides a gravitational equipotential path that automatically guides the pod from insertion to extraction chamber without requiring manual positioning. The inclination angle and surface friction are designed to ensure the pod slides smoothly and stops precisely at the extraction chamber entrance
Solution Approach 2:
The pod's own weight and friction properties are utilized to achieve precise automatic positioning during transfer. The pod naturally decelerates and stops at the extraction chamber without requiring active control mechanisms, maintaining precision while enabling automatic operation
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
Enables efficient and reliable extraction of flavors from pods with flexible materials by maintaining coaxiality and preventing collar stress, allowing for ejection by gravity without mechanical complications, thus simplifying the device's construction and operation.
Implementation Method 1
the ejection of the pod is done without the manual intervention of the user because, among other things, the pod is introduced into the machine in the vertical direction allowing it to be ejected by gravity
Implementation Method 2
a pivotally mounted cradle with a frustoconical surface to support the pod
Implementation Method 3
a device for preparing a beverage by infusing a powder pod containing flavorings to be extracted through which a liquid, preferably water, is injected
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
AI summary
The present invention concerns a device for preparing a flavoured beverage capable of extracting flavours from a pod of powder containing same, said device comprising: - a first part (1-1), and - a second part (1-2) having the same longitudinal axis (XX'), and - first means for the relative horizontal coaxial translational and/or rotational movement (XX') of said first male part and second female part, and - a third part (4) delimiting an initial insertion compartment (6) and a discharge compartment (7) between said first and second parts in the open position and at a maximum distance apart, said third part comprising a port (4b), capable of being traversed by at least one of the two first and second parts, said third part being capable of pivoting synchronously with a so-called relative translational and/or rotational movement of the two first and second parts.