Ridged Beverage Capsule Sealing for Wear-Tolerant Brewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage brewing systems face issues with sealing engagement wear, degradation, and fouling due to material differences between the enclosing member and the capsule, leading to quality deterioration over time, especially when the enclosing member has irregularities.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design featuring a cup with concentric circumferential ridges made of the same material as the cup, allowing for a sealing engagement that adapts to irregularities on the enclosing member, providing a unitary piece that can be easily manufactured and ensuring effective sealing despite misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the capsule uses the same material for the wall and sealing location, then the capsule can be manufactured with great ease, but the sealing engagement may be upset by irregularities on the enclosing member
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule is manufactured with a localized elastomeric sealing component at the rim or flange area, distinct from the main capsule wall material. This can be achieved through co-molding, overmolding, or attaching a separate elastomeric ring, providing enhanced sealing capability at the critical sealing location while maintaining ease of manufacture through established multi-material molding techniques.
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 ridged capsule design enhances sealing engagement by allowing for compression and adaptation to irregularities, reducing wear and fouling, and maintaining sealing efficacy even with misalignment, thus improving the longevity and performance of the brewing system.
Implementation Method 1
the material of the capsule at the location of the sealing engagement may be compressed
Implementation Method 2
the material of the enclosing member at the location of the sealing engagement, e.g. an elastomeric material, is softer than the material of the capsule
Data Source
AI summary
A capsule, system and method are usable for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage using an extractable product. The system includes a capsule comprising a cup having a circumferential wall, a bottom at a first end, and a flange-like rim at a second end. The capsule further includes a lid, in use, connected to the flange-like rim. The wall, bottom and lid, in use, enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product. The cup further includes a plurality of substantially concentric circumferential ridges extending outwardly of the cup, wherein the ridges are made of the same material as the cup. The system further includes a beverage brewing device comprising an enclosing member for enclosing the capsule. In use, at least one of the ridges abuts against at least a portion of the enclosing member, such that a sealing engagement between the capsule and the enclosing member is formed.