Drawer Roller Unit Locking Groove Assembly for Secure Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roller units for drawers require multiple components, including a separate locking member, which increases costs and are prone to corrosion-induced separation, affecting assembly productivity and durability.
Innovation Solution
A roller unit design featuring a rotating support shaft and an idle roller with continuous locking grooves and protrusions for secure coupling, along with assembly guiding grooves to prevent separation, reducing the number of components and enhancing assembly efficiency and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate locking member is used to prevent separation between wheel and support shaft, then reliability of coupling is improved, but device complexity and product cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is merged into the support shaft itself through the locking groove, eliminating the need for a separate locking member. The groove is formed directly on the support shaft surface, integrating the locking mechanism with the main component while maintaining coupling reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking function is extracted from a separate component and integrated into the support shaft structure. The locking groove is created as a feature of the support shaft itself, removing the dependency on additional locking members while achieving the same protective function.
2Ease of manufacture
If plastic deformation is used for coupling between wheel and support shaft, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to corrosion-induced separation
Solution Approach 1:
The locking groove is pre-formed on the support shaft before assembly, creating a permanent structural feature that prevents future separation. This preliminary structural preparation ensures long-term reliability while maintaining ease of assembly through the pre-configured coupling interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism combines plastic deformation for initial assembly with a metal-to-metal locking groove structure for long-term durability. The groove provides a corrosion-resistant mechanical interlock that complements the plastic-deformed coupling, creating a composite solution that addresses both manufacturability and reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components are used in roller unit assembly, then adaptability is improved, but productivity decreases due to increased assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The support shaft and locking mechanism are merged into a single integrated component. The locking groove is formed as an inherent feature of the support shaft, reducing the bill of materials and simplifying assembly operations while maintaining the necessary functional adaptability of the roller unit.
Data Source
AI summary
A roller unit for a drawer capable of decreasing the number of components, improving assembly productivity, and continuously maintaining a normal assembly state of the component by changing a structure of an assembled portion of the components configuring the roller unit. The roller unit includes a rotating support shaft fixed to an accommodation body, an idle roller idle-rotatably coupled to the rotating support shaft, and coupling structures provided at assembled portions of the rotating support shaft and the idle roller, respectively, the coupling structures including a locking groove formed in a circumferential direction with respect to an outer circumferential surface of the rotating support shaft, a protrusion formed on an inner circumferential surface of a fastening hole of the idle roller and coupled to the locking groove, and an assembly guiding groove formed at one end of the outer circumferential surface of the rotating support shaft.