System for preparing food or beverages from a pack
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible food or beverage packs with embedded process parameters for preparation often suffer from damaged or erroneous identification means, leading to suboptimal product outcomes and user discomfort due to separate data elements requiring manual handling.
Innovation Solution
A flexible pack design with identification means integrated on both sides of the container near the fitment assembly, using a punched-hole code that can be read reversibly, providing process parameters like temperature, fluid volume, and flow, ensuring accurate processing regardless of pack orientation and minimizing errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If identification means are provided separately from the container, then data for the brewing process can be provided, but the consumer needs to manually detach or introduce the separate element, making the process uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the identification means directly with the container structure by printing identifiers on the container walls or seals. This integration eliminates the need for separate data elements that users must manually handle, thereby maintaining reliable data provision while significantly improving ease of operation and user comfort.
2Reliability
If identification means are damaged or contain errors, then the system cannot correctly read the information, but providing separate detachable elements increases the complexity of use
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the identification means into the container structure itself (through printing on container walls or seals), the patent eliminates the complexity of separate detachable elements while maintaining information accuracy. The identifier becomes an inherent part of the container, reducing system complexity and potential for user error.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions identification means on multiple surfaces of the container (walls, seals, edges) rather than relying on a single detachable element. This spatial distribution across different dimensions of the container provides redundancy and ensures the identifier remains accessible and intact during handling and insertion.
3Ease of operation
If the identifier is arranged on a single side of the container, then the structure is simple, but the system cannot read the information when the pack is introduced in the wrong orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent strategically positions identification means on specific surfaces of the container (walls, seals, edges) with asymmetric arrangement that ensures at least one identifier surface remains accessible regardless of insertion orientation. This asymmetric placement on multiple container surfaces enables orientation-independent reading without requiring complex symmetric duplication on all sides.
4Measurement precision
If the identification means are arranged far from the fitment assembly, then there is more space for manufacturing, but the reading accuracy may be compromised due to positioning variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places identification means in specific local regions of the container (near the fitment assembly, on container walls, seals, or edges) where the local structure provides stable positioning and easy access for reading. This localized placement ensures reading accuracy while maintaining manufacturing flexibility, as these specific regions can be easily targeted during the container formation process.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~2a
Figure 2b~2c
AI summary
The invention refers to a pack (10) for preparing food or beverage products comprising: at least one container (10') having an inner volume where at least one base ingredient for the preparation of the food or beverage product is stored, said inner volume being defined by sheets of material joined to one another at their edges; a fitment assembly (20) through which the food or beverage product is delivered, and identification means (30) comprising the information on the food or beverage product to be prepared; wherein the identification means (30) are arranged at least on one side of the edges of the container with respect to the fitment assembly (20), the identification means (30) being further arranged in the vicinity of said fitment assembly (20).