Drawer Roller Coupling Structure for One-Touch Secure Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roller units for drawers require additional components and locking members, leading to increased costs and corrosion issues that cause separation between the wheel and support shaft, affecting assembly productivity and durability.
Innovation Solution
A roller unit design that reduces the number of components by incorporating a locking groove and protrusion on the rotating support shaft and idle roller, along with assembly guiding grooves to facilitate coupling and prevent separation, allowing for a one-touch push operation for assembly and maintaining a stable coupled state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate locking member is provided to prevent separation between the wheel and support shaft, then the reliability of coupling is improved, but the device complexity and product costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is merged into the wheel structure itself through the locking groove formed on the outer circumferential surface. The wheel now serves both as the rotating element and as its own locking mechanism, eliminating the need for a separate locking member while maintaining coupling reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The locking function is extracted from a separate component and integrated directly into the wheel structure. The locking groove is formed as part of the wheel body, removing the dependency on external locking members and simplifying the overall assembly
2Ease of manufacture
If plastic deformation is used for coupling between the wheel and support shaft, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling interface is segmented into distinct functional zones: the locking groove for secure engagement, the assembly guiding groove for alignment, and the bearing surface for rotation. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly guiding groove is pre-formed to guide the support shaft into the correct position during assembly. This preliminary alignment action ensures proper engagement of the locking groove before the final coupling is achieved, preventing misalignment and improving reliability
3Productivity
If the number of components is reduced, then the productivity and assembly efficiency are improved, but the reliability may worsen due to fewer locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs rotation, self-locking through the locking groove, and self-alignment through the assembly guiding groove. This universality reduces the total component count while maintaining or enhancing reliability through integrated functions
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is 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.