Cable-Pull Door Mechanism for Jam-Free Cooking Appliances

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking appliance door mechanisms are prone to jamming and jerky movements due to reliance on single drive systems, leading to undesirable impacts during automatic operation.

Innovation Solution

A cooking appliance design that combines a motor-driven cable pull device with a spring element and damping module, allowing partial automatic movement and manual completion of the door's path, ensuring jerk-free and jam-free operation by distributing movement actuation between these components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If a single motor-driven drive unit is used to automatically move the door, then automation is improved, but jamming and jerky movements occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic door movementVSAvoidjam-free operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The drive system is segmented into multiple independent components: a motor-driven cable pull device for initial movement, a spring element for continued movement, and a damping module for controlled deceleration. Each component operates during a specific phase of door movement, eliminating the jamming and jerky movements associated with single-drive systems while maintaining automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the door is moved completely automatically by the drive unit, then productivity is improved, but excessive impact in end position occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic door operationVSAvoidimpact in end position
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The damping module is integrated into the drive system to provide beforehand cushioning. As the door approaches its end position, the damping module activates to dissipate kinetic energy through controlled resistance, preventing excessive impact. This allows the door to be moved completely automatically while protecting the system from harmful impact forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of operation

If a complex hinge mechanism with multiple rollers is used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor movementVSAvoidhinge mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex multi-roller hinge mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simplified cable pull device that couples directly to the door. The cable device provides the necessary mechanical advantage and movement control without requiring complex hinge assemblies with multiple rollers, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

The combined system provides a safe, robust, and coordinated door movement, preventing jamming and jerking, while the damping module and spring element ensure smooth transitions and prevent hard impacts during end position alignment.

Implementation Method 1

a spring element, with which a further partial path between the closed position and this intermediate position can be brought about

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

a damping module, with which the movement of the door along this further partial path can be damped

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3622223B1Cooking appliance having a cable pull device for automatically pivoting a door
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3622223B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3622223B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3622223B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a cooking appliance (1) having a housing (2), in which a cooking chamber is formed, and having a door (3) for sealing the cooking chamber, wherein the door (3) is arranged on the housing (2) in a pivotable manner and can be lowered into a storage space (14) in the housing (2), and having a drive unit (17) having a motor (18), by means of which the motion of the door (3) can be automatically effected, wherein the drive unit (17) has a cable pull device (19), which is coupled to the motor (18) and the door (3), wherein the motion of the door (3) can be effected as a factor of a motorized actuation of the cable pull device (19).