Fermented Milk Apparatus Spiral Heating Wire Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing apparatuses for producing fermented milk-based preparations face challenges in achieving precise heating due to uneven winding of heating wires, leading to inconsistent quality across devices and difficulties in accommodating fermentations at various temperature ranges.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus features a main housing with a spiral-wound lateral heating wire positioned using conformations on the inner wall, accompanied by heat diffusion membranes to ensure uniform heating and a control device with selectable heating modes, allowing for precise temperature regulation across different fermentation temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a heating wire is coiled around the inner wall of the housing, then the construction is simple, but the winding is uneven leading to inconsistent heating quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction simplicityVSAvoidheating uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A mounting element with conformational features acts as an intermediary between the heating wire and the inner wall. The conformational features provide predetermined positioning points that guide the heating wire along a consistent spiral path, ensuring uniform winding density and spacing while maintaining the simplicity of the overall construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If a single heating mode is used, then the device construction is simple, but it cannot accommodate fermentations at various temperature ranges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating mode varietyVSAvoidtemperature range coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control device provides selectable heating modes that allow dynamic adjustment of heating parameters. Users can choose between different heating modes (e.g., rapid heating, gradual heating, temperature maintenance) to accommodate various fermentation temperature ranges from 20-30°C for Kefir/Leben to 40-50°C for yogurts, making the device versatile without requiring multiple separate appliances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This design ensures consistent heating conditions across devices, enabling the production of high-quality fermented preparations across various temperature ranges, including those typically used for yogurts and Kefir, while using cost-effective plastic materials and minimizing heat loss.

Implementation Method 1

a heating device comprising lateral heating means, the lateral heating means comprising at least one wire side heater wound in a spiral over several turns around the inner wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

the lateral heating means comprise a heat diffusion membrane arranged between the internal wall and the lateral heating wire

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3060062B1Apparatus for producing fermented milk-based preparations, in particular liquid preparations
Publication Date: 2017.08.16 SEB SA
  • EP3060062B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3060062B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3060062B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to an apparatus for producing fermented milk-based preparations, in particular liquid fermented preparations, comprising a main housing (1) defining a recess having an upper opening (3), a removable vessel (4) inserted at least partially into the recess, an inner cover (5) associated with the vessel (4), a main cover (6) associated with the main housing (1), the main housing (1) having an outer shell (11) and an inner wall (12) defining an inner chamber (10) housing a heating device (20) including side heating means (21), the side heating means (21) including at least one side heating wire (24) wound in a spiral by a plurality of turns around the inner wall (12). According to the invention, the inner wall (12) has at least one series of shaped portions (41) defining cavities (42) for positioning the side heating wire (24).