Refrigerator Drawer Rack Assembly for Full Extension and Gap-Free Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator drawers with guide racks and pinions have limitations in pushing distance, precise closure, and are prone to malfunction when sides are not parallel, leading to gaps and potential damage during operation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a cable guide module and rack gear assemblies with an idle gear mechanism allows for precise engagement and full closure of the drawer even when sides are not parallel, using a driving motor and pinions to control the movement and ensure proper alignment and contact between the drawer and cabinet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If guide racks and pinions are used for automatic drawer opening, then the drawer can be moved forward automatically, but the pushing distance is limited and the drawer cannot be fully exposed
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rack is divided into two separate racks positioned at opposite walls of the cabinet, allowing independent engagement with pinions. This segmentation enables the drawer to be pushed further outward since each rack can engage its corresponding pinion independently, extending the total pushing distance beyond what a single centralized rack could achieve.
2Extent of automation
If rack gears and pinions are engaged for drawer movement, then automatic opening is achieved, but precise closure is difficult and gaps may occur between the drawer and cabinet
Solution Approach 1:
Different functional zones are created along the guide racks: engagement zones for automatic opening and closure zones for precise alignment. The closure zones are specifically designed with positioning features that ensure the drawer front panel aligns precisely with the cabinet opening when the racks disengage, eliminating gaps and ensuring accurate closure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rack gears of opposite guide racks engage with pinions simultaneously, then the drawer moves smoothly, but malfunction occurs when sides are not parallel
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from rigid simultaneous engagement to dynamic sequential engagement. The guide racks are designed with staggered engagement zones that allow one pinion to engage its rack before the other, accommodating misalignment between opposite drawer sides. This dynamic engagement sequence prevents binding and malfunction while maintaining smooth overall movement.
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
This solution enhances the usability and reliability of the refrigerator drawer by allowing full exposure of storage space, preventing damage, and ensuring precise closure without gaps, improving user convenience and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a rack and a pinion are used for automatic opening of the drawer in the related art described above. That is, as the rack and the pinion are respectively installed in the drawer and the storage chamber opposed thereto in the cabinet, the drawer can be moved forward automatically.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a refrigerator, wherein a rack gear assembly (600) is provided on a lower surface of a drawer (200), and the rack gear assembly (600) has a first rack member (610) and a second rack member (620) that are pushed out by being moved forward sequentially so that a pushing-out distance of the drawer is maximized and the drawer is fully closed even when opposite sides thereof are pushed in a storage chamber without being in parallel.