Coffee machine ventilation channel

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coffee machine ventilation systems are complex, expensive, and prone to leakage due to the use of labyrinths or rubber gaskets, which are difficult to assemble and may not provide a tight seal, leading to uncontrolled condensation and vaporization issues within the device.

Innovation Solution

A ventilation channel system comprising a main profile and a cover with cut-out grooves forming resilient sealing members, allowing for a simple, cost-effective, and convenient assembly that ensures a tight connection between the housing side part and the ventilation channel cover, reducing the risk of leakage and improving humidity control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If labyrinths or rubber gaskets are used for sealing the ventilation channel, then leakage prevention is improved, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleakage preventionVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is extracted from separate components (labyrinths or rubber gaskets) and integrated directly into the ventilation channel structure through cut-out grooves formed in the housing wall, simplifying the overall device while maintaining sealing effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing members are merged with the ventilation channel structure by forming them as integral parts of the housing wall through cut-out grooves, eliminating the need for separate sealing components and reducing assembly complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If labyrinths or rubber gaskets are used for sealing the ventilation channel, then leakage prevention is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleakage preventionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing members are combined with the housing structure as integral components formed through cut-out grooves, eliminating the need for separate sealing parts and reducing overall manufacturing costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing mechanism changes from using separate material components (labyrinths or rubber gaskets) to using the housing material itself shaped into sealing members through cut-out grooves, simplifying manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a tight seal is achieved using traditional sealing methods, then leakage is reduced, but assembly time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseal tightnessVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is extracted from separate assembly components and integrated into the housing structure itself, eliminating the need for separate sealing component installation and reducing assembly time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing wall is segmented with cut-out grooves that form the sealing members, allowing for simple assembly while maintaining tight sealing through the integrated structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution provides a reliable, robust, and easy-to-assemble ventilation channel system that effectively prevents leakage and condensation within the coffee machine, ensuring proper humidity control and reducing assembly time by using a two-part design with integrally built components and flexible sealing members.

Implementation Method 1

sealing members (13), that form resilient sealing member integrated with the ventilation channel cover (7)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a ventilation channel (5) for removing a moisture from inside of the housing (1) to the outside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3881730B1Coffee machine ventilation channel
Publication Date: 2023.03.01 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3881730B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3881730B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3881730B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A coffee machine having a housing (1) comprising a housing side part (2) with an opening (3), a wet chamber (4), a ventilation channel (5) for connecting the wet chamber (4) with the opening (3) and to the surrounding environment via a fresh air opening, wherein the ventilation channel (5) is formed by a main profile (6) of the housing side part (2) and a ventilation channel cover (7), and the ventilation channel cover (7) has an inner and an outer side edges (9, 10), defining cover front walls (11) that are provided with at least one cut out groove (12) arranged along and between the inner and the outer side edge (9, 10) that separates the cover front wall (11) into sealing members (13) that form resilient sealing member.