Modular Cooking Appliance Front Frame for Multi-Chamber Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing front frames for cooking appliances with multiple cooking chambers are economically unfeasible due to high tooling costs and handling difficulties, and require multiple models to accommodate different chamber configurations, making them costly and complex to manufacture, assemble, and store.
Innovation Solution
A modular front frame design featuring a coupling region with a coupling device at its outer edge, allowing additional front frame units to be easily connected, providing a uniform appearance and reducing the number of models needed, with identical units usable for single or multiple cooking chambers, and concealed coupling devices for a seamless aesthetic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If front frames for cooking appliances with two adjacent cooking chambers are stamped out in one piece from a metal plate, then the structural integrity and uniform appearance are improved, but the tooling costs increase significantly and the number of units produced is relatively low
Solution Approach 1:
The front frame is divided into multiple separate front frame units that can be produced individually through stamping and then assembled together using coupling devices. This segmentation allows each unit to be manufactured economically with standard tooling while maintaining the overall structural integrity when assembled, resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and manufacturing cost.
2Shape
If front frames for cooking appliances with two adjacent cooking chambers are made in one piece, then the appearance uniformity is improved, but the handling difficulty during manufacture, assembly, storage and shipping increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the front frame into separate units, each unit becomes smaller and more manageable during manufacturing, assembly, storage and shipping operations. The coupling devices are designed to join these units in a way that creates a uniform appearance when assembled, thus resolving the contradiction between appearance uniformity and handling ease.
3Shape
If front frames are designed specifically for different models of cooking appliances or combinations of cooking chambers, then the fit and appearance are improved, but the device complexity and number of models to be produced and stored increase
Solution Approach 1:
The front frame units are designed with standardized coupling regions that can accommodate different configurations of cooking chambers. The same basic front frame unit can be used across multiple appliance models by simply varying the number and arrangement of units, rather than creating entirely different frames for each model. This universality reduces the number of models to be produced and stored while maintaining proper fit and appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular segmented design allows front frame units to be configured differently for various appliance models using the same basic components. This segmentation enables flexibility in arrangement while maintaining consistency in individual unit design, resolving the contradiction between customized fit and reduced model complexity.
4Ease of manufacture
If front frames are designed to be modular with coupling devices, then the ease of assembly and storage is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling devices are integrated as part of the front frame units themselves rather than being separate additional components. This merging of the coupling function into the existing structure minimizes the total number of discrete components while still providing the benefits of modular assembly and storage.
Data Source
AI summary
A front frame for a cooking appliance having at least one first cooking chamber which has a loading opening and a cooking chamber door for closing the loading opening. The front frame includes at least one first front frame unit. The at least one first front frame unit substantially completely frames the loading opening of the first cooking chamber. At an outer edge region of the at least one first front frame unit, a coupling region having at least one coupling device is formed at which an additional front frame unit can be coupled.