Drawer Front Panel Coupling With Anti-Tilt Lateral Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for coupling drawers with extendable rails of pull-out guides face challenges in lateral adjustment due to component tilting and difficulty in accessing adjustment options, leading to inaccuracies in drawer alignment and assembly.

Innovation Solution

A device with a fastening part and a coupling part that can be adjusted linearly relative to each other using an adjusting wheel, which converts rotary movement into linear movement through axially spaced devices, ensuring even force transmission and preventing tilting, along with a self-locking mechanism for maintaining adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the adjusting wheel is used to move the fastening part and coupling part linearly relative to each other, then lateral adjustment precision is improved, but component tilting occurs making further adjustment more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral adjustment precisionVSAvoidadjustment accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into a fastening part and a coupling part that can move independently relative to each other. The adjusting wheel is integrated into one of these parts, allowing linear movement without tilting the entire assembly. This segmentation enables precise lateral adjustment while maintaining component stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If the device is made compact to be mounted on the underside of the drawer base, then space utilization is improved, but adjustment options become difficult to access

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidadjustment accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The adjusting wheel is integrated into the coupling part, which itself is part of the compact assembly mounted on the drawer base. The adjusting mechanism is nested within the existing structure rather than adding external bulk, maintaining compactness while providing accessible adjustment through the integrated wheel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Manufacturing precision

If the fastening part and coupling part are moved linearly relative to each other, then lateral alignment accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral alignment accuracyVSAvoiddevice structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjusting wheel acts as an intermediary mechanism between the fastening part and coupling part. By using the wheel to convert rotational movement into linear displacement, the design achieves precise lateral alignment without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms or multiple components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables easy assembly and disassembly of drawers, allows for precise lateral adjustment of drawers relative to the rail, and maintains alignment without tilting, ensuring a clean front image of furniture with improved handling and adjustment accessibility.

Implementation Method 1

the adjusting device being a part on the coupling part or on the fastening part having an adjusting wheel rotatably mounted about an axis, with at least two devices arranged at an axial distance from one another for converting a rotary movement of the adjusting wheel into a linear movement of the fastening part relative to the coupling part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotary to linear motion conversion: Rack and Pinion

Implementation Method 2

The adjusting device is designed to be self-locking

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSelf-locking: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2661194B1Device for adjusting a drawer frontpanel
Publication Date: 2015.12.23 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP2661194B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2661194B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2661194B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (5) for detachably coupling a drawer (2) to an extendable rail (3a) of a pull-out guide (3), having an adjusting device by which a position of a drawer (2) connected to the rail (3a) is adjustable relative to the rail (3a) in a lateral direction, wherein the device (5) comprises a fastening part (9) that can be fastened to the drawer (2) and a coupling part (12) that can be coupled to the rail (3a). The fastening part (9) is linearly movable by the adjusting device relative to the coupling part (12) and the adjustment device comprises a setting wheel (8) mounted on the coupling part (9) or on the fastening part (12) so as to rotate about an axis, wherein the adjustment device comprises at least two axially spaced devices (27a, 27b) for converting a rotary movement of the setting wheel (8) into a linear movement of the fastening part (9) relative to the coupling part (12).