Integrated Thermoblock Assembly With Rigid PCB Connections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid food and 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 and tubes for connecting heating devices to other machine components.

Innovation Solution

An in-line heating device with a thermoblock that integrates electrical and fluid connections without flexible cables, using a metal mass with a heating chamber and rigidly secured electric components connected to a printed circuit board or flex-print, allowing for automated assembly and reduced human intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If flexible cables and tubes are used to connect heating devices to other machine components, then ease of assembly is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to deformable connections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly processVSAvoidconnection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines electrical connections and fluid connections into a single integrated printed circuit board structure. The PCB serves both as an electrical circuit carrier and as a fluid distribution manifold with integrated channels, eliminating the need for separate flexible cables and tubes. This merging of functions into a rigid integrated structure resolves the contradiction by providing both ease of assembly (single component) and high reliability (rigid, non-deformable connections).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If flexible cables and tubes are used for connecting heating devices, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple connection components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection flexibilityVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple connection functions (electrical wiring and fluid piping) into a single printed circuit board structure. The PCB integrates both electrical traces and fluid channels, reducing the number of separate components from multiple cables and tubes to one unified rigid structure. This integration maintains adaptability through standardized mounting interfaces while dramatically reducing assembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If rigid connections are used to integrate electric components, then reliability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to automated assembly requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidassembly process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical connection methods (screws, clips, flexible connectors) with printed circuit board technology. The rigid connections are achieved through standardized PCB mounting holes and soldering processes that are well-suited for automated assembly. The PCB's inherent rigidity provides stable connections while the standardized manufacturing processes maintain ease of manufacture through automation compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 the need for flexible connections, thereby improving the automation and efficiency of the heating function integration.

Implementation Method 1

a thermoblock with a metal mass (1) that incorporates an inlet, an outlet and a heating chamber extending therebetween to form a passage for guiding said liquid circulating through said mass, the mass being arranged to accumulate heat and to supply heat to the liquid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat accumulation and thermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

resistive heating cable cast in the mass

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResistive heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP2218376B1Heating device with an integrated thermoblock for a beverage preparation machine

Publication Date: 2017.02.15 NESTEC SA

AI summary

An in-line heating device (1,2,3,4) for a liquid food or beverage preparation machine in which liquid is circulated through the heating device and then guided into a brewing chamber. This heating device comprises: a thermoblock with a metal mass (1) that incorporates an inlet, an outlet and a heating chamber extending therebetween to form a passage for guiding said liquid circulating through said mass, the mass being arranged to accumulate heat and to supply heat to the liquid; and one or more electric components (60,70,75) that are rigidly secured onto or into the thermoblock and that are connected to a printed circuit board (4) and/or a flex-print (4') arranged to control the thermoblock. The electric components are rigidly connected to the printed circuit board and/or flex-print, in particular via rigid connector pins or blades or rigid plug and socket members.