Support for supplying a plurality of individual portions, cartridge and beverage preparation system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible and elongated supports for individual portions of edible substances, such as coffee, face challenges in efficient displacement, storage, and reliable operation due to space constraints and material limitations, particularly when wet, leading to potential tearing and jamming during use in beverage preparation machines.
Innovation Solution
A supply support with collection confinements formed by juxtaposed support sheets, featuring gas-sealed cavities and connection regions that provide structural resistance and efficient traction, allowing for a zigzag storage configuration that reduces the risk of rupture and improves engagement with machine components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the support is made from flexible material to enable storage in zigzag configuration, then storage efficiency is improved, but the material is prone to tearing and rupture especially when wet
Solution Approach 1:
The support is divided into multiple individual portion holders arranged in sequence, with each holder being a discrete segment. This segmentation allows the support to be stored in a compact zigzag configuration while maintaining structural integrity through the modular design, reducing stress on any single point of the flexible material.
2Ease of operation
If lateral edges with holes are provided for engagement with traction device, then displacement control is improved, but the lateral edges occupy substantial space and are prone to tearing in narrow zones
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement features (holes and lateral edges) are extracted from the critical structural portions of the support and relocated to dedicated traction portions at the ends. This allows the main body of the support to be more compact and less prone to tearing, while the traction portions provide reliable engagement points for the dispensing device.
3Productivity
If a high number of individual portions (more than 10) are included on the support, then productivity is improved, but the displacement and storage efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support is designed with a dynamic zigzag configuration that can be easily dispensed in compact segments. The flexible material allows the support to be stored in a space-efficient zigzag pattern and dispensed in a controlled manner, enabling a high number of portions to be accommodated while maintaining ease of operation through progressive dispensing.
4Reliability
If the support sheets are hermetically sealed to protect portions, then reliability is improved, but the connection regions become vulnerable to tearing under traction
Solution Approach 1:
The support sheets have different local qualities: the connection regions are provided with reinforced structures and appropriate material properties to withstand traction forces, while the sealing regions maintain hermetic properties for portion protection. This local differentiation allows both functions to be optimized simultaneously without compromising either sealing integrity or connection strength.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention refers to a supply support (1) configured in a strip shape and comprising a plurality of collection portions (13) presenting collection confinements (130) of individual portions (2) configured so that can be operated in a beverage preparation machine (100), such as for example a coffee machine of espresso type. The supply support (1) according to the invention is characterized in that presents a simple and efficient construction, with material properties and dimensional aspects adapted so that the supply support can be manufactured with less costs, can be more space efficiently collected inside a cartridge (3) and can be operatively actuated in a more efficient and reliable manner by a traction device (101) of a beverage preparation machine (100). The further invention further refers to a cartridge (3) for collection of supply support (1) and to a beverage preparation system comprising said cartridge (3) and a beverage preparation machine (100).