Single Serve Capsule for Preparing a Beverage with the Aid of a Beverage Preparation Machine, and Use of a Single Serve Capsule
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing single serve capsules for beverage preparation machines have limitations in reliability of optically detectable features for machine reading, sensitivity to damage during transport or storage, and high production costs, time, and weight.
Innovation Solution
A single serve capsule design featuring a base element with a cavity and a capsule lid, where the optically detectable feature is located on the flange facing away from the lid, and a further base element surrounds the inner base element, allowing for cost-effective production and improved assembly, with materials like aluminum and plastics used for the base elements and lid, and the optically detectable feature being a machine-readable code.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the optically detectable feature is printed onto the flange of the capsule, then the feature can be read by the machine detector, but the feature becomes sensitive to damage from scratching during transport or storage
Solution Approach 1:
The inner base element containing the optically detectable feature is nested within the outer base element. This nested structure protects the vulnerable printed feature on the inner base element from external damage during transport and storage, while still allowing the machine detector to read the feature through the outer base element or after removal.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional single base element design is used, then production is simpler, but production costs and time are higher
Solution Approach 1:
The base element is segmented into an inner base element and an outer base element. This segmentation allows for specialized production methods where the inner base element can be manufactured with the optically detectable feature using cost-effective techniques, while the outer base element provides structural support and can be produced efficiently, overall reducing production costs and time.
Data Source
AI summary
A single serve capsule for preparing a beverage with aid of a beverage preparation machine, the single serve capsule having a base element with a cavity for receiving a beverage raw material, and a capsule lid which closes the cavity; the base element including a capsule base, an encircling flange and a capsule wall which extends from the capsule base to the encircling flange; the capsule lid being fastened to the encircling flange; the single serve capsule having an optically detectable feature which is optically detectable by a detector of the beverage preparation machine and which is disposed on a side of the encircling flange facing away from the capsule lid, the single serve capsule has a further base element which at least partially surrounds the base element.