System, method and capsule for preparing a beverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation systems using hermetically sealed capsules often experience preferential fluid paths, leading to variations in beverage strength and potential spills, due to pierced entrance and exit openings.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating entrance and exit filters in the capsules, positioned away from piercing means, to create uniform areas for fluid supply and drainage, preventing capsule piercing and maintaining integrity, thus reducing preferential paths and improving reproducibility and spill risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the capsule is pierced by bottom piercing means to create entrance openings, then fluid can be supplied to the extractable product, but preferential fluid paths occur leading to variations in beverage strength
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom is segmented into multiple small entrance openings distributed across its surface, rather than using a single large opening. This segmentation prevents preferential fluid paths by distributing fluid flow across multiple entry points, ensuring homogeneous wetting of the extractable product and consistent beverage strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom is designed with specific local properties - multiple small openings with controlled size and distribution patterns. This local quality control ensures that fluid enters at many points simultaneously, creating uniform flow paths through the coffee bed and eliminating the variations in extraction that occur with single or few large openings.
2Ease of operation
If the capsule is pierced by lid piercing means to create exit openings, then beverage can drain from the capsule, but capsule integrity is compromised leading to potential spills
Solution Approach 1:
The lid acts as an intermediary element that provides the exit function without compromising capsule integrity. The lid includes exit openings that allow beverage drainage while the lid itself remains attached to the capsule, preventing spills during removal. The lid mediates between the need for drainage and the need for integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid is designed to be discarded with the capsule after use, while the capsule body can be recovered or disposed of separately. The lid with its integrated exit openings serves the drainage function and then is discarded, eliminating the need to pierce the capsule body and compromising its integrity for potential reuse or proper disposal.
3Ease of operation
If entrance openings are created by piercing, then fluid can enter the capsule, but the entrance area is not uniform leading to preferential paths
Solution Approach 1:
The entrance area is segmented into multiple small openings distributed uniformly across the bottom surface. This segmentation creates many identical entry points that distribute fluid flow evenly, preventing the formation of preferential paths and ensuring uniform composition of the wetted coffee bed.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom openings are designed with homogeneous characteristics - uniform size, uniform distribution pattern, and consistent spacing. This homogeneity ensures that fluid enters the capsule uniformly across the entire bottom surface, creating consistent flow paths through the extractable product and eliminating variations in beverage strength.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The filters ensure homogeneous fluid distribution and drainage, enhancing beverage strength consistency and reducing spills, while maintaining capsule integrity and allowing for effective filtration of oils from coffee, improving beverage quality.
Implementation Method 1
supplying an amount of a fluid, such as water, under pressure to the exchangeable capsule... causes the pressure in the inner space of the capsule to rise
Implementation Method 2
exit filter, through which the beverage can drain from the capsule... effective filtration of oils from coffee
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a system, method and capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product. The system comprises an exchangeable capsule, and an apparatus comprising a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, and a fluid dispensing device for supplying a fluid to the exchangeable capsule. The exchangeable capsule comprises a circumferential wall, a bottom, and a lid. The wall, bottom and lid enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product. The receptacle comprises bottom piercing means intended for piercing an entrance area of an alternative capsule for creating at least one entrance opening for supplying the fluid to the extractable product. The entrance area of the capsule according to the invention comprises an entrance filter for supplying the fluid to the extractable product there through. In use, the entrance filter is positioned at a distance from the bottom piercing means, such that the capsule of the system is not pierced by the bottom piercing means.