Cooking Appliance Drawer with Automatic Insertion and Impact Dampening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of cooking appliances with drawer units need to bend to insert or withdraw food, which can be inconvenient and physically burdensome.
Innovation Solution
The cooking appliance is designed with a drawer unit that can be selectively withdrawn or inserted by a simple repetitive force in the same direction, and features a sliding control assembly that automatically closes the drawer with reduced impact, improving user convenience and reducing physical strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drawer unit is designed to be manually pulled out and pushed in by users, then the drawer can be opened and closed, but users need to bend which causes physical burden
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer unit is equipped with an automatic opening/closing mechanism that operates without user intervention. The sliding control assembly detects when the drawer needs to be opened or closed and automatically performs the action, eliminating the need for users to bend and manually operate the drawer, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and physical burden
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional manual mechanical operation (user pulling and pushing) with an automated control system. The sliding control assembly uses sensors and automated mechanisms to detect user intent and execute drawer opening/closing actions, substituting the mechanical manual system with an automated control system that eliminates physical strain on users
2Speed
If the drawer is inserted quickly without control, then insertion speed is improved, but impact and shock are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding control assembly incorporates a cushioning mechanism that activates before the drawer completes its insertion. The control assembly detects the insertion motion and gradually reduces the insertion speed near the end position, providing beforehand cushioning that minimizes impact and shock while maintaining overall fast insertion speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of the drawer insertion process. The sliding control assembly continuously adjusts the insertion speed based on real-time detection of drawer position and motion state. The system allows fast insertion initially but dynamically reduces speed as the drawer approaches full insertion, optimizing both speed and impact reduction throughout the insertion process
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a cooking appliance includes a cabinet forming a cavity configured to provide a food accommodation space; at least one door covering the cavity; a handle rotatably coupled to the door; and a handle supporter disposed inside the door and configured to rotatably support the handle relative to the door. In another aspect, a cooking appliance includes a drawer configured to be withdrawn from or inserted into the cooking appliance; a first rail disposed on the drawer; a second rail disposed on a frame of the cooking appliance and configured to accommodate a sliding motion of the first rail; a link component disposed at the first rail; a sliding control assembly disposed at the second rail and configured to accommodate the link component to automatically insert the drawer into the frame and to mitigate an impact of the drawer being fully inserted into the frame.