Portion capsule and use of same for producing a beverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portion capsules with filter elements produced by injection moulding, deep drawing, or embossing face challenges such as clogging and high manufacturing costs due to the need for small sieve holes to retain coffee particles and additional support structures to prevent deformation under brewing pressure.
Innovation Solution
A portion capsule with a filter element made from deep-drawn non-woven plastic fabric, providing a larger filter area and improved liquid inflow, reducing clogging risk and manufacturing costs, and featuring a 3D shape with indentations or protrusions for enhanced performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If filter elements are produced by injection moulding, deep drawing, or embossing with small sieve holes to retain coffee particles, then particle retention is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and clogging occurs under high brewing pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous sintered plastic filter element that provides particle retention through its porous structure rather than small sieve holes. This approach maintains reliability for retaining coffee particles while avoiding the manufacturing complexity and cost associated with precision-molded small holes, and prevents clogging by allowing uniform flow through the porous matrix.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element is made from sintered plastic particles, creating a composite structure that combines filtration capability with structural integrity. This composite approach eliminates the need for separate support structures required by traditional membrane filters, reducing manufacturing steps and cost while maintaining particle retention and pressure resistance.
2Stability of the object's composition
If additional support structures are added to prevent filter deformation under brewing pressure, then structural stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sintered plastic filter element inherently provides structural stability through its composite structure of fused particles. This self-supporting structure eliminates the need for additional support rings or frameworks, reducing filter assembly complexity while maintaining stability under high brewing pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the filtration function and structural support function into a single integrated sintered plastic filter element. This eliminates the need for separate support structures, simplifying the overall filter assembly while maintaining both filtration performance and structural stability under pressure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If additional support structures are added to prevent filter deformation, then structural stability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (filtration, structural support, and pressure resistance) into a single sintered plastic filter element. This integration eliminates the need for manufacturing and assembling multiple separate components, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining structural stability under brewing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The sintered plastic composite material provides inherent structural stability that eliminates the need for additional support structures. This single-material solution reduces manufacturing complexity and cost compared to multi-component assemblies requiring precise fitting and sealing of multiple parts.
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 deep-drawn non-woven filter element offers improved extraction efficiency, mixing, and draining while maintaining clog resistance under both low and high pressures, ensuring reliable liquid flow and aroma-tight sealing, thus addressing the limitations of prior art.
Implementation Method 1
a filter element is situated between the beverage substance and the capsule bottom
Implementation Method 2
providing a larger filter area and improved liquid inflow
Implementation Method 3
a preparation liquid, preferably hot water, is conveyed under pressure into the portion capsule. The preparation liquid flows through the substrate, and extracts and/or dissolves the substances required for the preparation of the beverage from the beverage substrate
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a portion capsule for producing a beverage, including a capsule body, which has a capsule bottom and a lid, wherein a cavity for accommodating a powdery or liquid beverage Substrate is formed between the capsule bottom and the lid and wherein a filter element is arranged in the cavity. The invention further relates to a method for producing a portion capsule and the use of the portion capsule to produce a beverage.