Microwave Door Opening Mechanism With Motor-Driven Cam Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional domestic appliances with mechanical door opening mechanisms require significant user effort, are unsuitable for disabled or frail individuals, and lack automatic or remote-controlled door opening capabilities, especially after cooking is finished, leading to issues with food safety and cosmetic design.
Innovation Solution
A door opening mechanism featuring a cam-driven system with a rotary motor, a resilient member, and a retention mechanism that allows for automatic or remote-controlled operation, reducing manual effort and enabling automatic door opening after cooking is completed, while eliminating the need for handles or large mechanical buttons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical latched door opening mechanism is used, then the door can be securely retained in a closed position, but considerable user force is required to release the latch or door lock
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical latched opening mechanism with an electromechanical system. A motor-driven cam mechanism substitutes for the manual lever or button operation, converting electrical energy to mechanical motion to release the door retention mechanism, thereby eliminating the need for considerable user force while maintaining secure door retention through the motorized cam system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a motor-driven cam as an intermediary between the control system and the door retention mechanism. The cam mechanism acts as a mediator that translates rotational motor motion into the linear or angular motion needed to release the latch, providing a mechanical advantage that reduces the effort required by the user or control system to open the door
2Ease of operation
If a mechanical push button or handle for door opening is used, then the door can be opened manually, but the appliance requires the user to be physically present at the device and the mechanism may be considered unsightly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visible mechanical push buttons or handles with a motor-driven cam mechanism that can be actuated by various means including remote control, touch panels, or automatic sensors. This substitution allows the control interface to be minimized or integrated into the appliance surface, reducing visual clutter while maintaining door opening capability through the electromechanical cam system
3Adaptability or versatility
If a purely mechanical door opening mechanism is used, then the structure is simple, but the appliance does not support automatic or remote-controlled opening of the door after cooking is finished
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a motor-driven cam mechanism that serves multiple functions: it can be actuated manually through various interfaces (buttons, touch panels), remotely controlled via wireless communication, or automatically triggered by the appliance's control system after cooking cycles. This multi-functional cam mechanism provides universal operation modes while maintaining a relatively compact mechanical structure, achieving adaptability without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The motor-driven cam acts as an intermediary mechanism that can receive actuation signals from multiple sources (manual controls, remote controllers, automatic sensors) and translate them into unified mechanical motion for door opening. This intermediary role allows the system to support automatic and remote-controlled opening functions while maintaining a standardized mechanical interface, adding versatility without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
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 allows for effortless door opening with minimal user effort, reduces moisture buildup, enhances appliance design aesthetics, and ensures food safety by automatically opening the door after cooking, benefiting both able-bodied and disabled users.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient member, for urging the door open
Implementation Method 2
each cam surface being adapted to move the retention mechanism out of said first configuration through camming action
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a door opening mechanism for a domestic appliance, for example a microwave door. The domestic appliance includes a housing, a front door, and a resilient member for urging the door open. The mechanism is adapted to be located within the housing and includes a retention mechanism which is engagable with the door and is movable between a first configuration where there door is retained in a closed position and a second configuration where the door is in a non-retained, open, position. The door also includes a cam with a plurality of cam surfaces. The door includes a door key with an inclined portion engagable with an edge of a sloping section of a hollow slot in the door molding, arranged such that a user is able to manually over-ride the opening mechanism and open the door by means of pulling.