Cooking Appliance Frame Bracket for Precise Panel Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of cooking appliance components often results in gaps and non-uniform sizes due to assembly tolerance, leading to potential interference and instability, particularly at regions where the side, front, and upper panels converge.
Innovation Solution
A frame bracket system is introduced that securely couples multiple panels to the cavity, including a cavity coupling portion, link support, side panel coupling portion, front panel coupling portion, and upper panel coupling portion, using surface-contact and screw-secured configurations to minimize gaps and ensure stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional assembly methods are used to join panels to the cabinet, then the assembly process is simple, but gaps and non-uniform sizes occur due to assembly tolerance leading to interference and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The frame bracket serves as an intermediary component between the cabinet and the panels (front, rear, side, upper). It includes a cabinet coupling portion that attaches to the cabinet and panel coupling portions that attach to multiple panels, mediating the connection and eliminating direct panel-to-cabinet joining that causes tolerance accumulation and gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame bracket is divided into distinct functional segments: a cabinet coupling portion for attaching to the cabinet, and multiple panel coupling portions (front, rear, side, upper) for attaching to respective panels. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific coupling function while maintaining overall structural integrity and precision.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple panels are joined directly to the cabinet, then the structure is simple, but stability and structural integrity are reduced at convergence regions
Solution Approach 1:
The frame bracket merges multiple coupling functions into a single integrated component. It combines the cabinet coupling portion with front, rear, side, and upper panel coupling portions in one structure, providing centralized support and alignment at the convergence region where multiple panels meet, thereby enhancing stability without requiring multiple separate fasteners or supports.
3Manufacturing precision
If assembly tolerance is not compensated, then the manufacturing process is straightforward, but gaps and non-uniform sizes occur leading to interference
Solution Approach 1:
The frame bracket performs preliminary alignment and positioning actions before the final panel attachment. The cabinet coupling portion is first secured to the cabinet, establishing a precise reference framework. Then the panel coupling portions are attached to the panels, which are already pre-positioned relative to the frame bracket, ensuring uniform gaps and preventing interference before final tightening.
Data Source
AI summary
A cooking appliance may include a cabinet with a cavity that defines a cooking space, an upper panel disposed above the cavity and that is configured to define an upper appearance of the cooking appliance, a front panel disposed in front of the cavity and that is configured to define a front appearance of the cooking appliance, a door that is configured to open and close the cavity, a side panel that is disposed on a side of the cavity and that is configured to define a side appearance of the cooking appliance, a rear panel that is disposed behind the cavity and that is configured to define a rear appearance of the cooking appliance, and a frame bracket that is mounted to a front upper portion of the cabinet and that is configured to secure the upper and front panels to the cabinet.