System and apparatus for preparing a beverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation systems face complexity in constructing brewing chambers adaptable to capsules of different lengths and suffer from insufficient sealing, especially when using capsules of shorter lengths under high pressure.
Innovation Solution
A system with a brew chamber part having two immobile annular abutment surfaces of different diameters to accommodate capsules of varying diameters, ensuring proper sealing during brewing, even under high pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the brewing chamber is constructed to be adaptable to capsules of different lengths using mechanical recognition and movable components, then the system can accommodate various capsule dimensions, but the construction of the brewing chamber becomes relatively complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing chamber is divided into a first brew chamber part and a second brew chamber part that can be positioned at different heights. The first brew chamber part contains immobile annular abutment surfaces at different diameters and heights, allowing selective engagement with capsules of different dimensions without requiring the entire chamber to be complex or movable.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the brewing chamber adaptable through complex mechanical recognition and movable components, the invention fixes the chamber structure and allows the capsule to determine its own positioning through engagement with the immobile abutment surfaces. This inverts the approach from active adaptation to passive selection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the flange-like rim of capsules includes indentations to enable mechanical recognition, then capsule identification is possible, but the surface area of the flange-like rim is reduced, resulting in insufficient sealing contact surface area, especially for shorter capsules under high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented from the identification function. The flange-like rim maintains its full surface area for sealing, while separate immobile annular abutment surfaces at different diameters provide the mechanical recognition and positioning. This segmentation allows both identification and sealing to perform their functions without compromising either.
Solution Approach 2:
The immobile annular abutment surfaces act as intermediaries between the capsule flange and the brewing chamber. These abutment surfaces provide both the mechanical recognition (through diameter matching) and the sealing contact, eliminating the need for indentations in the flange itself and preserving the full sealing surface area.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
A system (1) for preparing a quantity of beverage suitable for consumption includes a second exchangeable capsule (4B) having a second body (6B) with a second flange-like rim (14B) and a second exit face (13B) attached to the second flange-like rim. The system further includes an apparatus (2)for preparing a quantity of beverage suitable for consumption having a first brew chamber part )18)having a cavity (24) for holding the second exchangeable capsule (4B) and a second brew chamber part (20) for closing the first brew chamber part around the second exchangeable capsule. The first brew chamber part (18) has a first substantially annular abutment surface (26) in the cavity (24) and further has a second substantially annular abutment surface (28). A diameter of the second annular abutment surface (28) is larger than a diameter of the first annular abutment surface (26). The second abutment surface (28) is arranged for abutting the second flange-like rim (14B) there against when the cavity holds the second exchangeable capsule.