Drawer Front Panel Alignment Using Rotary Eccentric Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drawer adjustment devices are either complex and costly to manufacture, require a stable attachment frame, or are unsuitable for drawers with high front panels and low side frames, and lack user-friendly accessibility.

Innovation Solution

A drawer adjustment device with a holding part fixed to the front panel and a supporting part fixed to the side frame, featuring a rotary part for adjustment, allowing for flexible mounting and easy accessibility, using few components and no fastening means, with the rotary part designed as an eccentric or worm wheel for quick adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a frame attachment with adjustment means is provided to adjust the inclination of the front panel, then the front panel alignment is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to numerous components and stable attachment requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefront panel alignmentVSAvoidadjustment device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment device is divided into two separate parts: a holding part that attaches to the front panel and a supporting part that attaches to the side frame. This segmentation allows each part to be simple in structure while working together to achieve the alignment function, reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The holding part and supporting part act as intermediaries between the front panel and side frame, providing a simple connection mechanism that enables adjustment without requiring complex attachment frames or multiple adjustment components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If a slide fixed to the side frame is used for front adjustment, then the structure is simplified, but the device becomes less suitable for drawers with high front panel and low side frame due to fixed attachment requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment device structureVSAvoiddrawer type compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The holding part and supporting part design allows the adjustment device to be universally applied to different drawer types, including those with high front panels and low side frames. The parts can be attached at different positions and orientations to accommodate various drawer configurations.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The holding part and supporting part are designed to be linearly displaceable relative to one another, providing dynamic adjustment capability that adapts to different drawer geometries and panel heights, unlike fixed attachment solutions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the rotary part is arranged directly on the front panel or side frame, then the adjustment mechanism is compact, but the accessibility for user operation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment mechanism compactnessVSAvoidrotary part accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rotary part is positioned at a distance from both the front panel and side frame, creating spatial separation that improves accessibility. The holding part and supporting part extend to bridge the gap between the rotary part and the attachment points, allowing easy user operation while maintaining a compact overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Reliability

If multiple fastening means are used to secure the adjustment device, then the attachment stability is improved, but the assembly effort and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment stabilityVSAvoidassembly effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The holding part and supporting part are designed to work together as an integrated adjustment mechanism, reducing the number of separate fastening means required. The linear displacement capability allows the parts to self-align and secure with minimal fastening, reducing assembly effort while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 simple and cost-effective production and assembly of the adjustment device, allowing for easy alignment of front panels relative to side frames, even with significant height differences, and provides user-friendly and secure adjustment without the need for additional fastening means.

Implementation Method 1

The rotary part is preferably designed as an eccentric, which has an axis of rotation and an eccentric disc, so that an adjustment process can be carried out quickly and effectively.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEccentric: Eccentric

Data Source

PatentEP3009043B1Drawer with a device for adjusting the alignment of the front plate
Publication Date: 2017.10.04 PAUL HETTICH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3009043B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3009043B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3009043B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

An adjusting device (10, 30) for aligning a front panel (4) on a drawer (1) comprises a holding part (11, 33) that can be fixed on the front panel (4) and a holding part (11, 33) that can be fixed on a side frame (3) of the drawer (1). Supporting part (13, 31), wherein the holding part (11, 33) and the supporting part (12, 31) are linearly displaceable relative to each other and a rotating part (13, 35) is provided to rotate the holding part (11, 33) on the supporting part (12, 31) to be adjusted and fixed in the desired position. This enables a stable adjustment even with high front panels (4).