Electric Shelf Column-Guided Vertical Movement for Space and Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shelves, particularly ceiling types, face instability during rising or lowering, leading to insecurity and increased installation costs, while also occupying valuable space and being difficult to access items efficiently.
Innovation Solution
An electric shelf design featuring a column-mounted slidable component with a linear driving device, allowing the shelf board to move vertically along a fixed column, reducing friction and enhancing stability, ease of access, and simplifying installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a ceiling type shelf is raised and lowered using ropes and pulleys, then the shelf can be moved vertically to save space, but the shelf becomes unstable and waggles during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rope-pulley mechanical system with an electric motor-driven lifting mechanism. The motor provides controlled, stable vertical movement of the shelf along a guide rail, eliminating the instability and waggle effects inherent in rope-based systems while maintaining the space-saving ceiling-mounted configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a guide rail as an intermediary structure between the ceiling mount and the shelf. This guide rail constrains the shelf's movement path, preventing lateral deviation and waggle, while the electric motor provides the lifting force. This intermediary structure ensures stable, controlled movement.
2Ease of operation
If a shelf is mounted at a lower height for easier access, then item accessibility improves, but more usable home space is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the shelf from a static structure to a dynamic, vertically movable one. The electric motor enables the shelf to move between a high storage position (maximizing usable space) and a low access position (improving ease of operation). This dynamic capability allows the shelf to adapt its position based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the space-accessibility conflict by utilizing the vertical dimension for movement. Instead of compromising horizontal space placement, the shelf moves vertically along the guide rail, allowing high mounting for space efficiency while maintaining easy accessibility through vertical positioning control.
3Reliability
If a ceiling type shelf is installed using traditional mounting methods, then the shelf can be securely mounted, but installation becomes complex and requires multiple people
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the shelf system into modular components: a ceiling mounting bracket, a guide rail assembly, an electric motor unit, and the shelf board. This segmentation allows each component to be independently assembled and positioned, simplifying the overall installation process while maintaining secure mounting through specialized connection interfaces.
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 electric shelf provides a stable, space-efficient, and user-friendly solution by allowing easy access to items while minimizing the occupation of usable space and reducing installation complexities.
Implementation Method 1
a linear driving device connected to the slidable component and the column to actuate the slidable component to move relative to the column
Implementation Method 2
allowing the shelf board to move vertically along a fixed column, reducing friction and enhancing stability
Data Source
AI summary
An electric shelf is provided which comprises at least one column to be installed on a wall, a slidable component arranged on the column to slide along the column vertically, at least one layer of shelf board component connected to the slidable component to move simultaneously with the slidable component, and a linear driving device connected to the slidable component and the column to actuate the slidable component to move relative to the column. Advantages of the present disclosure compared to prior arts include a simpler structure and less space occupied by the shelf board component.