Integrated heater for a beverage preparation device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid food or beverage preparation machines face challenges in simplifying the integration of heating functions, leading to increased assembly complexity, manufacturing costs, and reliability issues due to the use of flexible and deformable cables.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an in-line heater with rigid electric components connected via printed circuit boards, utilizing a power connector with resilient spring members for secure connections, and a thermal fuse device with a reversible switch to prevent overheating, allowing for automated assembly and reduced human error.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If flexible cables are used to connect electric components to the heater, then ease of assembly is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to deformable connections and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heater body and electric components into a single integrated assembly where electrical connections are made through rigid printed circuit boards rather than flexible cables. This merging eliminates the deformable connection points while maintaining assembly simplicity through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical flexible cable connection system with an electrical printed circuit board connection system. The rigid PCB provides stable electrical connections without the mechanical deformability issues of flexible cables, thereby improving reliability while keeping the assembly process simple.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used for heating and control, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heater body, heating elements, control components, and electrical connections into a single integrated assembly. This consolidation maintains the functional adaptability of separate components while eliminating the complexity of assembling multiple discrete parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated heater assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously - heating, controlling, and connecting - within a single universal component structure. This multi-functionality approach maintains the adaptability benefits of separate components while reducing overall device complexity.
3Reliability
If rigid connections are used to eliminate flexible cables, then reliability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to assembly difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid mechanical connection structures with electrical printed circuit board connections. The PCB provides rigid, reliable electrical connections that are actually easier to manufacture than traditional rigid mechanical connectors, as PCBs can be mass-produced using standard fabrication processes.
Solution Approach 2:
By integrating all electrical connections onto a single printed circuit board that is part of the heater assembly, the patent eliminates the need for multiple rigid connectors. This merging simplifies manufacturing while maintaining the reliability benefits of rigid connections.
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 solution simplifies the assembly process, reduces manufacturing costs, and enhances the reliability of the machine by eliminating flexible cables and providing a self-regulating heating system that prevents overheating.
Implementation Method 1
at least one thick film heating element for heating water that circulates in the passage
Implementation Method 2
The connector is resilient, in particular made of one or more spring blades, to allow displacements of the socket for self-positioning the socket around the pin
Implementation Method 3
The section of the water circulation passage and/or the heating power of the thick-film decrease along the direction of flow
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 6
Figure 7~10
AI summary
An integrated in-line heater (1,8,9) for a liquid food or beverage preparation machine, in which liquid is circulated through said heater and then guided into a brewing chamber (7) for brewing a food or beverage ingredient, for instance within a pod or capsule (7''), supplied into the brewing chamber. An upstream part of the brewing chamber may be formed by the heater. One or more electric components (5,60,70,75) may be incorporated into the heater and rigidly connected to a printed circuit board (50). The heater may have a tubular inner core (9) that is eccentric with respect to a tubular or prismatic outer member (8) which form together a helicoidal heating chamber (4) of variable cross-section (4',4').