Cooking appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking appliances with door locking mechanisms require separate components for door detection and locking, leading to increased complexity, installation space, and difficulty in precise control due to complex structures and high installation heights.
Innovation Solution
A modular door locking device that integrates both door detection and locking functions into a single component, utilizing a gear system to convert motor rotation into linear movement, reducing the number of components and installation space, and allowing for precise torque and speed control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate detection sensor and lever switch are used to detect door closing and implement locking function, then the door locking function can be achieved, but the installation space expands and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the detection sensor and lever switch into a single integrated door locking device. The detection sensor is positioned to directly interact with the lever switch through magnetic coupling, eliminating the need for separate components spaced apart in the casing. This integration reduces the number of components while maintaining the door locking function.
Solution Approach 2:
The door locking device is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting door closing position, generating locking signal, and physically locking the door. The lever switch serves both as a mechanical linkage and a signal generation element when actuated by the detection sensor, providing multi-functionality that reduces overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If cam structure is used to transmit motor rotation force for locking, then the locking function can be achieved, but precise control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the cam structure with a direct magnetic coupling system. The detection sensor uses magnetic attraction to directly actuate the lever switch without mechanical cam conversion. This substitution eliminates the intermediate cam mechanism that made precise control difficult, allowing for more accurate positioning and control of the locking action.
3Power
If gear structure with worm gear is used to change motor rotation force, then proper torque and speed can be achieved, but structure becomes complex and installation height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex gear structure and worm gear from the door locking device. Instead of using mechanical gear conversion to achieve proper torque and speed, the design relies on direct magnetic actuation with optimized motor characteristics. This extraction eliminates the complex structure and reduces installation height while maintaining the required power output.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic field coupling as an intermediary between the motor and the locking mechanism. Rather than using mechanical gears to transmit and transform force, the magnetic field serves as a mediator that directly couples the motor's rotational force to the lever switch actuation, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining control over torque and speed.
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 solution miniaturizes the cooking appliance, improves aesthetic appeal, reduces component exposure, and enhances precise control of the locking mechanism while maintaining a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
a detection sensor and a locking device locking the door are required... a lever switch is provided to detect the locked state of the door
Implementation Method 2
the locking device of the door is operated by a driving source such as a motor
Implementation Method 3
change a rotation movement of a motor into a rectilinear movement by using gears that are engaged with each other to be rotated, and to implement a proper torque and a proper rotation speed through a gear ratio of the gears
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
Disclosure relates to a cooking appliance. The cooking appliance comprises: a casing having a cavity therein; a door disposed at the casing and configured to open and close the cavity; and a door locking device disposed at or on the casing and configured to lock the door, wherein the door locking device comprises: a locking housing disposed at or on the casing; a latch disposed at or partially in the locking housing, and engageable with a fixing hole of the door when being rotated in a first direction such that the door is locked and separable from the fixing hole when being rotated in a second direction, preferably such that the door is unlocked; and a closing button spaced apart from the latch in the locking housing and configured to be pressed by a surface of the door such that the latch is rotated in the first or second direction.