Slide unit for drawer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drawer guide rail manufacturing processes are complex and costly, leading to increased production costs and potential corrosion due to incomplete plating, which reduces durability.

Innovation Solution

A simplified process for forming the middle slide rail by rolling, allowing for uniform plating and integration of reinforcing ribs and contact surfaces with rolling surfaces to enhance sliding performance and durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the middle slide rail is formed by a complicated roll forming process, then the manufacturing precision can be maintained, but the productivity decreases and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing precisionVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The middle slide rail is divided into a body portion and a contact portion that are separately formed and then integrated. The body portion is formed by a simple rolling process for high productivity, while the contact portion with precise rolling surfaces is separately manufactured and welded to the body portion, combining high-speed production with precision requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The body portion and contact portion are combined through welding to form the complete middle slide rail. This merging allows the simple rolling process for the body to benefit from high productivity while the separately precision-formed contact portion ensures manufacturing precision for smooth sliding

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Strength

If the middle slide rail is formed by a complicated roll forming process, then the structural integrity can be maintained, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The middle slide rail is segmented into a body portion and a contact portion that can be manufactured through simpler, more cost-effective processes. The body portion uses simple rolling while the contact portion is separately precision-formed and then welded, reducing overall manufacturing cost while maintaining structural integrity through proper welding

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The middle slide rail is constructed as a composite structure combining the body portion and contact portion made from the same material but with different geometries. This composite construction allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity through welding

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If plating is not performed on the side surface portion, then the manufacturing process can be simplified, but corrosion resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoidcorrosion resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The contact portion is pre-formed with its precise rolling surfaces before being attached to the body portion. This preliminary formation allows plating to be applied uniformly to all surfaces including side surfaces that would be inaccessible in the final assembled position, ensuring corrosion resistance without complicating the main manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If the inner rail structure is simplified, then productivity improves, but the sliding smoothness may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoidsliding smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The inner rail is segmented into a body portion formed by simple rolling for high productivity and a contact portion with precisely formed rolling surfaces for smooth sliding. The contact portion includes curved rolling surfaces that guide the slide balls, ensuring smooth operation while the body portion maintains structural support

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The contact portion of the inner rail has locally optimized geometry with curved rolling surfaces specifically designed for smooth interaction with slide balls. This local quality enhancement at the contact interface ensures sliding smoothness while the rest of the structure maintains simplicity for high productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

The solution reduces manufacturing costs, prevents corrosion, and improves durability by allowing smooth sliding of the drawer rails, even under heavy loads.

Implementation Method 1

the inner rail is formed by rolling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling:

Implementation Method 2

the rolling surfaces include: a pair of first rolling surfaces 334 curvedly provided at opposite sides of an upper portion of the contact portion with a pair of first slide balls 351 seated thereon; and a second rolling surface 335 having a diameter larger than a diameter of each of the first rolling surfaces 334, and being provided to be curved in a direction toward the drawer body 20 under the first rolling surfaces 334 with a second slide ball 352 rolling thereon

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling:

Data Source

PatentEP3284369B1Slide unit for drawer
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 SEGOS
  • EP3284369B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3284369B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3284369B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A slide unit for a drawer is disclosed. The present invention provides a slide unit for a drawer, which includes a middle slide rail molded through a simple process to enhance productivity, wherein the middle slide rail has an improved structure to enable each of a main body-side fixed rail and a drawer-side fixed rail to more smoothly slide on the middle slide rail.