Cooling device and method for controlling a cooling device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators with cooling devices require manual input of beverage container numbers for cooling time settings, leading to inconvenience and increased manufacturing costs, and have volume constraints that prevent installation in small capacity refrigerators.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device with a mixing motor that automatically detects the weight of beverage containers to set cooling time, reducing the need for manual input and hardware costs, and features a tray design that allows for efficient cooling of multiple containers while minimizing the device's overall volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a button and manual input mechanism are provided for selecting the number of beverage containers, then cooling time can be set according to the number of containers, but manufacturing cost increases and operation becomes inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device automatically detects the number of beverage containers placed on the tray using a sensor (e.g., weight sensor or optical sensor) and autonomously determines the cooling time based on the detected quantity. This eliminates the need for manual button input, making the device self-serving and improving ease of operation while reducing mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical button input system is replaced with an automated sensing system (such as a weight sensor or optical detector) that electronically detects the number of containers. This substitution of mechanical interaction with electronic sensing simplifies the device structure and improves user convenience.
2Quantity of substance
If the tray is made long to accommodate multiple beverage containers, then cooling capacity increases, but the volume of the cooling device case increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the tray length in one dimension to accommodate more containers, the tray is designed to utilize two or three dimensions by arranging containers in multiple rows or layers. This dimensional reorganization allows the same number of containers to be accommodated within a more compact footprint, reducing the overall volume of the cooling device case.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling device employs a compact tray design where containers can be arranged in nested or stacked configurations, or the tray itself is nested within the case structure. This nesting approach maximizes the use of available space and allows multiple containers to be cooled without proportionally increasing the device volume.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cooling device volume is reduced for installation in small refrigerators, then adaptability increases, but the number of beverage containers that can be accommodated decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device incorporates adjustable or reconfigurable tray designs that can adapt to different container sizes and quantities. The tray may feature movable dividers, adjustable racks, or flexible positioning mechanisms that allow optimal space utilization regardless of the number of containers, enabling the device to maintain cooling capacity across various installation environments including small refrigerators.
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
Automatically sets cooling time based on detected weight, reducing manual input and manufacturing costs, and allows for installation in small capacity refrigerators by maintaining the number of accommodated containers while reducing the device's length and volume.
Implementation Method 1
a mixing motor that automatically detects a weight of the beverage container accommodated in the cooling device
Implementation Method 2
an inside of the storage space is cooled using cool air generated by heat exchange with a refrigerant circulated through a refrigeration cycle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A cooling device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a case; a tray installed inside the case and on which a beverage container is placed; a mixing member configured to perform a seesaw motion about a mixing axis to mix a fluid filled in the beverage container; a driving part connected to the mixing member and configured to provide driving force; and a cool air supply part configured to supply cool air into the case, wherein the mixing member comprises: a supporter configured to protrude from a bottom of the case, the tray being connected to an upper end of the supporter to perform the seesaw motion; a driving link connected to one end of the case; and a mixing motor configured to transmit the driving force to the driving link, wherein the tray comprises: a tray body; a first seating part formed on the tray body so that the beverage container is placed in a lengthwise direction of the tray body; and a second seating part formed on the tray body in a direction that crosses the first seating part.