Folding-Sliding Door Guide System Decoupling Carrier and Receptacle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing guide systems for folding-sliding doors experience uneven wear and premature failure due to one-sided loads and kinematic issues caused by the weight and adjustment of door leaves, leading to twisting and tilting of the carrier, which affects the support rollers and guide rails.

Innovation Solution

The guide system decouples the receiving device from the carrier by allowing them to move relative to each other in the longitudinal direction, with separate rollers on each component, supported on distinct catwalks of the guide rail, ensuring that the receiving device remains unaffected by loads and movements of the carrier, and includes a mechanical spring or damping element for further stabilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the receiving device is rigidly connected to the carrier, then the structure is simpler, but the support roller experiences one-sided loading and uneven wear due to carrier twisting and tilting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidsupport roller wear
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving device is separated from the carrier and allowed to move independently along the guide rail. This segmentation decouples the receiving device from the carrier's twisting and tilting movements, preventing one-sided loading on the support roller while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The receiving device is designed to be movable relative to the carrier along the guide rail, transforming a rigid static connection into a dynamic adjustable connection. This allows the receiving device to compensate for carrier position changes and maintain proper alignment, reducing wear on the support roller.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the carrier and receiving device are rigidly connected, then the alignment is more stable, but the support roller becomes tilted relative to the guide rail due to carrier twisting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment stabilityVSAvoidsupport roller alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the receiving device from the carrier and allowing independent movement, the system maintains alignment stability through the guide rail's constraints while preventing the transmission of twisting forces that would tilt the support roller.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide rail acts as an intermediary between the carrier and receiving device, providing a stable reference that maintains alignment while allowing the receiving device to move independently and compensate for carrier position changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If the receiving device is decoupled from the carrier with separate rollers on distinct catwalks, then wear is reduced and lifespan is extended, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguide system lifespanVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide system is segmented into distinct functional components (carrier, receiving device, support roller, guide device) with separate rollers on distinct catwalks. This segmentation reduces wear by preventing load transmission between components while maintaining reasonable complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide rail serves multiple functions: guiding the carrier's movement, supporting the receiving device's independent motion, and providing alignment reference. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, balancing lifespan extension with controlled complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3880922B1Guide system for guiding a movably mounted door leaf
Publication Date: 2025.01.08 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP3880922B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3880922B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3880922B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a guide system (5) for guiding at least one movably mounted door leaf (3a), particularly a folding-sliding door, relative to a stationary piece of furniture (13b), comprising: - at least one carrier (11) for movably supporting the at least one door leaf (3a), - at least one guide rail (17), to be fastened to the stationary piece of furniture (13b), for guiding the at least one carrier (11), - at least one guide device (14) for slidably supporting the at least one carrier (11) along the guide rail (17), - at least one carriage (6), which can be coupled to the at least one door leaf (3a), - at least one receptacle device (15) for receiving the at least one carriage (6), wherein the at least one receptacle device (15) adjoins the at least one carrier (11) in a longitudinal direction (L1) of the at least one carrier (11), wherein the at least one receptacle device (15) is mounted movably relative to the carrier (11) in the longitudinal direction (L1) of the carrier (11).