Floating Bearing Plate Alignment for Cabinet Locking Units

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic locking units for cabinets face challenges in maintaining correct positional alignment between door leaf and body side elements, leading to issues with door sagging, impaired RFID fields, and misalignment of contact bolts, especially with increased use and aging, resulting in reduced functionality and increased workload.

Innovation Solution

The electronic locking unit incorporates a floating bearing plate on the door leaf side that automatically aligns with the lock-side receiving holes, ensuring correct positioning regardless of the door leaf's orientation, with additional features like adjustable elements and a damping device to maintain alignment and prevent damage during forced opening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the door leaf is allowed to sag with use, then the locking system maintains simple structure, but the positional alignment between door hanger and lock body deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidpositional alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing plate is made adjustable and repositionable rather than fixed, allowing it to adapt to door sagging over time. The bearing plate can be moved within the frame plate to maintain correct alignment between the door hanger and lock body receiving opening, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and positional precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If adjustable hinges are used to compensate for door sagging, then positional alignment is improved, but the complexity and difficulty of adjustment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositional alignmentVSAvoidadjustment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment mechanism is segmented into a separate bearing plate that can be independently adjusted within the frame plate, rather than requiring complex hinge adjustments. This allows the bearing plate to be repositioned to compensate for door sagging without affecting the hinge structure, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Duration of action of stationary object

If the door leaf sags relative to the body, then the structure accommodates wear, but the LED visibility through the opening deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice lifeVSAvoidLED visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing plate automatically self-aligns with the lock body when the door is closed, carrying the LED opening with it. This self-aligning mechanism ensures that the LED remains visible through the correct opening position even when the door sags, maintaining visibility without requiring external adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Duration of action of stationary object

If the door leaf sags, then the mechanical structure tolerates aging, but the RFID field strength near the cabinet deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice lifeVSAvoidRFID field strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing plate self-aligns with the lock body upon door closure, ensuring that the booster plate on the door side remains in correct contact position with the RFID transmitter coil on the body side. This maintains consistent RFID field strength throughout the service life of the locking system without requiring manual repositioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

5Duration of action of stationary object

If the door leaf sags, then the structure accommodates wear, but the contact bolt engagement with the receiving hole deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice lifeVSAvoidcontact bolt alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing plate automatically self-aligns with the lock body when the door is closed, carrying the receiving hole for the contact bolt with it. This ensures that the contact bolt on the lock side always finds the correct receiving hole position on the door side, maintaining proper engagement despite door sagging over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2685032B1Electronic locking unit for the cabinet in a multiple locking system
Publication Date: 2018.10.10 GANTNER ELECTRONIC GMBH(AT)
  • EP2685032B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2685032B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2685032B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The unit has a lock (1) arranged on a side of a body, where a door wing-side arranged door bracket (4) engages into the lock and is lockable in the lock. The door bracket is received in a support plate (6) that is arranged in a plane vertical to an operation direction of the door bracket floating in a door wing-side inserted support. The door bracket is swingably retained in a door side flange plate (5) at a small degree of angle. The flange plate is connected with a material of the support plate over a break section (31). Alignable elements are located on the support plate.