Reusable Beverage Capsule Assembly Without Adhesives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage capsules for anhydrous materials like coffee, tea, and cocoa are non-reusable, contribute to environmental waste, and require separate capsules for different beverages, lacking versatility and portability.
Innovation Solution
A manually operated, portable device for assembling capsules using a hollow cup-shaped body and a circular membrane, where the membrane is folded and secured without adhesives, allowing for easy reuse and switching of anhydrous materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automated manufacturing plants use adhesives or welding to apply membranes to capsules, then assembly reliability is improved, but device complexity and environmental impact worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex automated adhesive application systems or welding equipment with a simple manual mechanical pressing operation. The membrane is secured to the capsule by manual pressure applied through a pressing device, eliminating the need for adhesives, welding equipment, or complex automated systems while maintaining assembly reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane and capsule structure are designed to self-secure through manual pressing without requiring external adhesives or complex bonding mechanisms. The mechanical pressure applied manually creates sufficient friction and deformation to hold the membrane in place, allowing the system to serve itself without additional bonding agents or equipment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If disposable capsules are used for different beverages, then versatility is improved, but environmental waste worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables recovery and reuse of the capsule components. The cup-shaped body and membrane are designed to be reusable after simple cleaning, allowing the same physical capsule to be refilled with different anhydrous materials for various beverages. This eliminates the need to discard capsules after single use while maintaining versatility for different beverage types.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule design with reusable cup-shaped body and membrane allows a single physical capsule to serve multiple functions across different beverage preparations. The same capsule structure can contain different anhydrous materials (coffee, tea, cocoa, etc.) through repeated cleaning and refilling, making one capsule universally applicable for various beverages rather than requiring dedicated disposable capsules for each type.
3Ease of operation
If manual assembly devices are used for capsule production, then portability and cost are improved, but assembly precision worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is pre-cut and pre-positioned on the capsule before the final pressing operation. The pressing device applies pressure at the correct location and orientation, ensuring proper membrane placement and securing. This preliminary preparation of the membrane and guided pressing action maintains precision even with manual operation and portable device design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex automated positioning and bonding systems with a simplified manual pressing mechanism that maintains sufficient precision through mechanical design. The pressing device's structure guides the application force and position, ensuring accurate membrane securing without requiring sophisticated automated control systems, thereby achieving portability while maintaining adequate manufacturing precision.
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 reliable, inexpensive, and versatile capsule assembly with reduced environmental impact, as capsules can be cleaned and refilled, and different materials can be used without purchasing multiple capsules.
Implementation Method 1
the frustoconical wall (32) is configured to cooperate with the flange (6), when the cup-shaped body (3) is housed inside the channel (10), so as to radially move the cup-shaped body (3) and cause the centring of the axis (A) of the cup-shaped body (3) with the axis (B) of the channel (10)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) and a method for assembling a capsule (2) containing an anhydrous material for the production of a beverage starting from a cup-shaped body (3) open at the top and from a membrane (4) configured to close said cup-shaped body (3) superiorly; the cup-shaped body (3) has an axis of symmetry (A) and comprises an annular flange (6) extending radially from an upper axial end of the cup-shaped body (3); the flange (6) has an upper annular surface (6a) and a lower annular surface (6b); the membrane (4) comprises an annular peripheral portion (4a) protruding radially from the flange (6) when the membrane (4) is superimposed on the upper surface (6a).