Pull-Out Refrigerator Container Rollers for Easy Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigeration appliances face challenges in maintaining hygiene and ease of cleaning, particularly in the refrigerated goods container, due to the integration of bearing mechanisms that are not easily removable or cleanable.

Innovation Solution

A refrigeration appliance design featuring rollers rotatably arranged in intermediate housing components that are detachably attached to the refrigerated goods container, allowing for easy removal and reinstallation, which also shields against dirt and moisture ingress, and facilitates cleaning by allowing access to the interior cavity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If rollers are integrated into the refrigerated goods container, then the container can be pulled out smoothly, but the rollers become difficult to clean and maintain hygiene

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmooth pull-out operationVSAvoiddirt and moisture accumulation in bearing areas
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The roller assembly is divided into separate components: the roller itself, the intermediate housing component, and the bearing. This segmentation allows the roller and intermediate housing to be detached from the refrigerated goods container for cleaning, while the bearing remains in place on the container wall.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The roller and intermediate housing component are extracted as removable units from the refrigerated goods container. This extraction enables easy removal and cleaning of these components, preventing dirt and moisture accumulation while maintaining smooth pull-out operation when assembled.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If rollers are fixed in place, then they provide stable support, but they cannot be easily removed for cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestable support during operationVSAvoiddifficulty of removal for cleaning
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to be easily inserted and removed from the intermediate housing component. During normal operation, the bearing provides stable rotational support for the roller. For cleaning maintenance, the bearing can be quickly removed from the intermediate housing, enabling access to clean both the bearing and the intermediate housing cavity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the roller housing is sealed to protect against dirt ingress, then hygiene is improved, but cleaning access is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against dirt and moisture ingressVSAvoidaccess for cleaning the cavity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into the intermediate housing component that can be detached from the refrigerated goods container. This segmentation allows the intermediate housing to shield the bearing area from dirt and moisture during operation, while enabling easy removal for cleaning access to the cavity when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This design enhances hygiene by enabling easy cleaning of the refrigerated goods container, reduces the effort required to pull out or push in the container due to optimized rolling friction, and prevents tipping through balanced support, thus improving overall appliance maintenance and user experience.

Implementation Method 1

at least one roller which rolls on at least one counter-bearing surface of the inner container

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2609386B1Refrigerator comprising a pull-out container for refrigeration articles
Publication Date: 2015.06.17 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2609386B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2609386B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2609386B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a refrigerator, in particular a domestic refrigerator, having an inner container (2) with a front opening (4), which can be closed by a door leaf, for the removal and/or insertion of refrigeration articles, and a pull-out refrigeration article container (3), as well as mounting means (5) for mounting the refrigeration article container (3) in the inner container (2) in a pull-out manner, the mounting means (5) having on opposite sides of the refrigeration article container (3) in each case at least one roller (8a, 8b) which rolls on at least one counter bearing face (14) of the inner container (2), the at least one roller (8a, 8b) being rotatably disposed in an intermediate housing component (7) which is detachably secured on the refrigeration article container (3).