Foldable Drip Tray Structure for Large-Container Water Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water purifiers have a small drip tray that cannot accommodate large containers like pots or rice cookers, making it inconvenient to fill them with water.
Innovation Solution
A water purifier with a drip tray unit that includes multiple foldable and unfoldable drip trays, supported by a movable drip tray supporter, and an actuator system that adjusts the tray's configuration to accommodate both small and large containers by sliding the supporter, allowing the tray area to expand or contract.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the drip tray is made small to fit within the main body, then the device complexity is reduced, but the tray area is insufficient to support large containers
Solution Approach 1:
The drip tray is designed with movable and foldable components that allow it to dynamically change its configuration. The tray can be folded to expand the supporting area when needed, and unfolded to return to its compact state, enabling the stationary object to adapt its area based on operational requirements without permanently increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The drip tray is divided into multiple segments or panels that can be independently folded or adjusted. This segmentation allows the tray area to be expanded by unfolding the segments to support large containers, while maintaining a compact form when folded, thus resolving the contradiction between area and complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the drip tray is made large to support large containers, then the tray area is increased, but the device complexity increases due to additional support mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The drip tray employs dynamic folding mechanisms that allow it to transform between compact and expanded states. This enables the tray to accommodate various container sizes by adjusting its configuration, providing adaptability without requiring a permanently complex structure that would be needed to support the largest containers at all times
Solution Approach 2:
The drip tray structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it can be folded to support small containers in a compact configuration, and unfolded to support large containers when expanded. This multi-functionality allows a single structure to adapt to different container sizes, increasing versatility without proportionally increasing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A water purifier includes: a main body having a water outlet at one side thereof; and a drip tray unit provided under the water outlet. The drip tray unit includes: a plurality of drip trays supporting a container, storing water drips, and configured to be folded or unfolded; a drip tray supporter to support the plurality of drip trays, the drip tray supporter slidably movable in a first direction with respect to the main body or in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction; and an actuator to adjust a folding or an unfolding of the plurality of drip trays while interlocking with the sliding movement of the drip tray supporter so that the plurality of drip tray folds in response to the drip tray supporter moving in the first direction or unfolds in response to the drip tray supporter moving in the second direction.