Drinks Dispenser Housing Layout for Open-Wall Functional Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drinks dispensers do not allow for a functional test when the housing is open, limiting the ability to inspect and diagnose issues such as leaking water hoses, and require unnecessary disassembly during visual inspections.

Innovation Solution

A drinks dispenser with a multi-part housing where the rear wall is free of electronic and tubing elements, allowing for a complete assembly and functional test with the rear wall dismantled, featuring a mounting frame with a base element and vertical partition to create a storage space for the water tank, and latching elements for easy assembly and disassembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the rear wall is firmly attached to the housing with all electronic elements and tubing integrated into it, then the housing structure is stable and complete, but a functional test cannot be performed when the housing is open and only visual inspection is possible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional test capabilityVSAvoidhousing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into separate components: the rear wall is separated from the mounting frame, allowing the rear wall to be removed independently. This segmentation enables functional testing with the housing open while maintaining structural integrity when assembled, as the mounting frame with base element and vertical partition remains stable without the rear wall attached.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the rear wall is removed for visual inspection, then internal components are visible, but electronic elements and tubing ends are exposed and the device cannot be fully tested functionally

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection capabilityVSAvoidfunctional test completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rear wall is extracted as a separate removable component from the housing assembly. This allows the rear wall to be taken off for inspection while the mounting frame, base element, and vertical partition remain in place with all electronic elements and tubing properly connected and positioned, enabling both visual inspection and functional testing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If the housing is designed as a single integrated piece, then manufacturing is simpler, but disassembly for inspection and testing requires unnecessary effort and time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing manufacturing simplicityVSAvoiddisassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into a mounting frame, base element, vertical partition, and rear wall that can be easily assembled and disassembled. This modular design maintains manufacturing simplicity through standardized components while enabling quick removal of the rear wall for inspection and functional testing without requiring disassembly of the entire housing structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If the rear wall is designed to be easily removable, then functional testing with housing open is enabled, but the housing structure may become less stable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverear wall accessibilityVSAvoidhousing structural stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting frame combines the base element and vertical partition into a unified structural unit that provides stability independent of the rear wall. This merged structure ensures the housing maintains its structural integrity and stability even when the rear wall is removed for functional testing, as the frame and partition work together to support the device components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2559361B1Drinks dispenser
Publication Date: 2015.05.06 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2559361B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2559361B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2559361B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A beverage dispenser (1) with a multi-part housing (2) is disclosed, comprising a housing front (4) for defining a dispensing area (16) for removing a prepared beverage and a rear wall (6) for covering an internal area (20) for accommodating device electronics and tubing, wherein the rear wall is free of an electronic element and a tubing element. The invention is particularly suitable for providing a beverage dispenser that is easy to assemble and disassemble and allows for functional testing when the rear wall is removed.