Door Rack Pivot Unit With Shorter Receptacle for Easier Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home appliance devices with door rack containers face inefficiencies in assembly, component efficiency, and cost efficiency, as well as usability issues due to their design and functionality, particularly in storing temperature-sensitive, humidity-sensitive, and photosensitive products.
Innovation Solution
A home appliance device with a door rack container featuring a pivot unit coupled to the door rack container about a pivot axis, where the receptacle is shorter than the container door by at least 5%, allowing for improved assembly efficiency, component efficiency, and cost efficiency, and enhanced usability through a design that includes a bearing unit, closure unit, and damping unit for secure and controlled operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the receptacle extension is made shorter than the container door extension (by at least 5%, preferably at least 15%, advantageously at least 25%), then assembly efficiency and cost efficiency are improved, but the storage capacity may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The door rack container is divided into functional zones: the receptacle for product storage and the overhanging door portion for structural support and sealing. This segmentation allows the receptacle to be optimized for assembly efficiency while the door extension provides necessary functional coverage without increasing storage capacity requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The container door extension deliberately exceeds the receptacle extension by at least 5% (preferably at least 15%, advantageously at least 25%), creating an intentional overhang. This partial excess provides sufficient space for the door to perform its sealing and structural functions without requiring the receptacle to be unnecessarily large, thus optimizing assembly efficiency while maintaining adequate storage capacity.
2Ease of operation
If the pivot unit is added to enable the container door to pivot about a pivot axis, then usability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot unit integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides the pivot axis for door rotation, incorporates bearing elements for smooth movement, includes closure elements for securing the door, and integrates damping elements for controlled closing. This merging reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby improving usability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot unit serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it enables the door to pivot for access, provides bearing support for smooth operation, offers closure functionality to secure the door, and incorporates damping for controlled closing. This multi-functionality improves usability without requiring separate components for each function, thus limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Reliability
If the bearing unit, closure unit, and damping unit are integrated into the pivot unit, then secure and controlled operation is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing unit, closure unit, and damping unit are merged into a single integrated pivot unit. This integration ensures that all components work together seamlessly to provide secure and controlled door operation, reducing the number of assembly steps and potential failure points from misalignment between separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated pivot unit is designed and pre-assembled with all necessary components (bearing elements, closure elements, damping elements) already in their correct positions and configurations. This preliminary integration ensures proper alignment and functionality before installation into the door rack container, reducing on-site assembly complexity and ensuring reliable operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A home appliance device, in particular a home appliance chiller device, with improved efficiency, includes a door rack container having an access opening and a pivot unit which is pivotably coupled to the door rack container about a pivot axis. The pivot unit includes a container door for closing the access opening and a receptacle coupled to the container door for storing products. The receptacle includes an extension which is at least substantially parallel to a main extension plane of the access opening and at least substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis. The extension of the receptacle is at least 5% shorter than a corresponding extension of the container door in a closed state of the container door. A home appliance, in particular a home chiller appliance, including a home appliance device, is also provided.