Drawer Slide Assembly With Cam Height Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drawer slide assemblies lack a flexible and modular adjusting mechanism to precisely adjust the vertical position of drawer frame members, leading to esthetically compromised products due to manufacturing and assembly tolerances.

Innovation Solution

A drawer slide assembly with an adjusting device featuring a housing, a moving member, and a cam system, where the cam's C-shaped groove and position-limiting groove mechanism allows for vertical adjustment of the drawer frame member by rotating the cam, enabling precise alignment with the slide assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If an adjusting device is added to fine-tune the vertical position of drawer frame members, then manufacturing and assembly tolerances can be compensated and aesthetic quality improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevertical position alignmentVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjusting device incorporates a cam mechanism that enables dynamic adjustment of the drawer frame member's vertical position. The cam's rotating profile transforms rotational motion into linear displacement of the moving member, allowing continuous position adjustment rather than fixed positioning. This dynamic mechanism resolves the contradiction by providing precise adjustment capability through a relatively simple rotating component rather than complex multi-element adjustment systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cam mechanism changes the positional parameter of the drawer frame member by transforming rotational motion into linear displacement. As the cam rotates, its varying radius profile causes the moving member to move vertically, directly changing the position parameter. This parameter transformation approach achieves precise vertical adjustment without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, thereby resolving the technical contradiction between adjustment precision and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of repair

If a modular adjusting device is used to allow individual replacement, then ease of repair improves, but the components cannot be used or replaced individually due to integrated design

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent replaceabilityVSAvoidmodular design
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjusting device is segmented into distinct functional components: the housing mounted on the drawer sidewall, the moving member that displaces vertically, and the cam with rotating profile. These segments are designed to work together while maintaining individual replaceability. The cam can be replaced independently by removing it from the housing, and the moving member can be replaced by detaching it from the cam mechanism. This segmentation enables easy repair and replacement of individual components without replacing the entire adjusting device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cam mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides the adjusting function by converting rotational motion to linear displacement, it acts as a positioning element through its profile geometry, and it enables easy replacement as a standalone component. The housing provides both structural support and mounting functions. This multi-functionality of segmented components achieves ease of repair while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, resolving the technical contradiction between replaceability and complexity.

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

3Ease of operation

If the cam mechanism with C-shaped groove is used to enable vertical adjustment by rotation, then ease of operation improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment operationVSAvoidcam groove dimensions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cam mechanism employs curved geometric profiles including the C-shaped groove and the rotating cam profile. These curved geometries naturally transform rotational motion into controlled linear displacement of the moving member. The curvature of the cam profile acts as a mechanical translator that converts easy rotational operation into precise vertical adjustment. This geometric transformation approach improves ease of operation while the curvature itself provides inherent positioning accuracy, partially offsetting the increased manufacturing precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The cam mechanism is designed to be self-regulating through its geometric profile. As the cam rotates, its profile automatically controls the displacement of the moving member without requiring external control systems or complex feedback mechanisms. The C-shaped groove guides the moving member along a predetermined path, ensuring consistent adjustment behavior. This self-service characteristic improves ease of operation, and the self-guiding geometry helps maintain manufacturing precision by providing inherent mechanical constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Facilitates precise vertical adjustment of the drawer frame member with respect to the slide assembly, ensuring proper alignment and reducing assembly tolerances, thus enhancing the aesthetic quality of multi-drawer products.

Implementation Method 1

a cam; the housing (48) is mounted on the drawer sidewall (18) and includes a first and a second supporting base (62a, 62b) jointly defining a moving space (66) and a passage (68) therebetween which are in communication with each other, wherein the moving member (50) is located in the moving space (66) and corresponds to the passage (68)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCam mechanism: Cam

Data Source

PatentEP3167755B1Drawer slide assembly
Publication Date: 2019.03.20 KING SLIDE WORKS CO LTD
  • EP3167755B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3167755B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3167755B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A drawer slide assembly includes a first rail (28), a second rail (30), a drawer frame member (16), and an adjusting device (40). The second rail (30) can be displaced with respect to the first rail (28) along a longitudinal direction. The drawer frame member (16) includes a carrier (34) and a drawer sidewall (18) connected to the carrier (34). The carrier (34) is mounted on the second rail (30). The adjusting device (40) is mounted on the drawer sidewall (18) and is configured to adjust the drawer frame member (16) vertically with respect to the second rail (30).