Self-Opening Beverage Capsule to Eliminate Perforator Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation machines equipped with perforating and/or cutting means for capsules suffer from wear and efficiency loss over time, leading to poor operation in producing infusion beverages.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design that allows water to flow without the need for perforating and/or tearing means, utilizing a collapsible crown portion and programmed breaking lines to create passageways for fluid passage, and optionally incorporating cutting or perforating profiles for the external covering layer, enabling efficient beverage preparation without machine-specific tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If machine-integrated perforating and/or cutting means are used to create passageways in the capsule, then beverage preparation can be enabled, but the machine components are subjected to wear and efficiency loss over time
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the machine creating passageways in the capsule through perforating means, the capsule is pre-designed with programmed breaking lines that allow it to self-open when subjected to pressing force. This inverts the traditional approach where the machine actively perforates the capsule to one where the capsule passively opens itself under pressure, eliminating wear on machine components.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule is equipped with programmed breaking lines that enable it to automatically create its own passageways when subjected to pressing force during the beverage preparation process. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for machine-integrated perforating means, as the capsule itself performs the opening function through its designed breaking lines.
2Ease of operation
If machine-integrated perforating and/or cutting means are used, then capsule opening is achieved, but the means lose efficiency after relevant number of uses causing bad operation
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule is pre-designed during manufacturing with programmed breaking lines strategically positioned to break at specific locations when pressing force is applied. This preliminary preparation ensures that the capsule will reliably open in the correct manner during use, eliminating variability and ensuring consistent operation regardless of machine wear or usage history.
3Device complexity
If a collapsible crown portion with programmed breaking lines is used, then the capsule can create its own passageways without machine tools, but the capsule structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule's first portion is divided into a crown portion and a base portion, with the crown portion being collapsible and connected by programmed breaking lines. This segmentation allows the capsule to be structurally more complex in design but enables the self-opening function, where the crown portion collapses inward to create passageways when pressing force is applied, eliminating the need for machine tools.
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 capsule maintains reliable operation by eliminating the need for machine-integrated perforating and/or cutting means, reducing wear and ensuring consistent beverage preparation performance.
Implementation Method 1
a first portion (5) for introducing at least one fluid, for example infusion water, inside the containing body (3)... at least one first crown portion (19) collapsible towards inside the containing body (3) to create one or more passageways from outside the capsule (1) towards the internal volume through the first portion (5) under the action of the pressing force
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~31
Figure 3~4b
AI summary
A capsule (1) for preparing beverages comprises a containing body (3) that defines the internal volume containing the substance for preparing the beverage, and a first portion (5) for introducing a fluid into said containing body (3). The first portion (5) comprises a the first rigid perimeter edge (13), equipped with one or more first opening profiles (15), a first central portion (17) onto which an external pressing force from outside is adapted to be applied, and at least one first collapsible portion (19). Said first collapsible portion (19) collapses towards inside the containing body (3) by rotating relative to the first perimeter edge (13) and to the first central portion (17) to create first passage openings (26) which communicate the outside of the capsule (1) with the internal volume of the containing body (3), the first openings (26) consequently taking the first portion (5) in its delivering operating position and enabling the delivery of the beverage.