Single-Serve Capsule Sealing Bead Design to Reduce Closing Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portion capsules require significant forces to close the brewing chamber due to deformation-based sealing elements, increasing production costs and complicating recycling, while alternative separate sealing materials complicate disposal and recycling processes.
Innovation Solution
A portion capsule design featuring a sealing bead with an inner flank angle of 80 to 90 degrees, which minimizes deformation and achieves a high sealing effect through flat clinging or point contact, reducing the need for increased closing forces and allowing for simpler production and recycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing bead with a flat inner flank (angle of 20 to 60 degrees) is used to achieve easy deformation and improved sealing effect, then the sealing tightness is improved, but significantly increased forces are required to close the brewing chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the sealing bead by inverting the angle of the inner flank. Instead of using a flat angle (20-60 degrees) that promotes deformation, the patent uses a steep angle (greater than 80 degrees, preferably 82-88 degrees, particularly preferably 83-85 degrees). This parameter change transforms the sealing mechanism from deformation-based to contact-based, resolving the contradiction by achieving high sealing tightness without requiring significant closing forces.
2Reliability
If separate sealing elements made of different materials are used to achieve adequate sealing, then the sealing effect is improved, but production costs increase and disposal or recycling becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing function with the capsule body by making the sealing bead an integral part of the base element made of the same material. The sealing bead is formed directly from the flange material through embossing or integral forming, eliminating the need for separate sealing elements. This resolves the contradiction by achieving adequate sealing effect while maintaining low production costs and simple recycling, as the entire capsule can be disposed of or recycled as a single material component.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a single-serve capsule (1) for preparing a beverage in a beverage preparation machine, wherein: the single-serve capsule (1) comprises a base element (2), which has a cavity (3) for receiving a beverage raw material, and a capsule cover (4) sealing the cavity (3); the base element (2) comprises a capsule base (5), a peripheral flange (6), and a capsule wall (7) extending between the capsule base (5) and the peripheral flange (6); the capsule cover (4) is attached to the flange (6) along a sealing plane (8); the flange (6) has a peripheral bulge (9) at its outer free end; a sealing element in the form of a sealing bead (10) pointing away from the capsule cover (4) is provided on the flange (6); the sealing plane (8) extends along the flange (6) on the side of the capsule cover (4), between the bulge (9) and the sealing bead (10); and the sealing bead (10) comprises an inner flank (11) on the capsule wall (7) side and an outer flank (12) on the bulge (9) side; characterised in that the outer flank (12) is oriented at a substantially right angle (α) to the sealing plane and the inner flank (11) is oriented at an angle (β) of greater than 80 to less than 90 degrees to the sealing plane (8).