Motor-Driven Bolt Lock for Retail Display Cases
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mechanical key lock devices for securing sliding doors in retail display cases are inadequate in terms of security and often obstruct the customer's view, and existing electronic locking systems are not easily adaptable to existing cabinetry.
Innovation Solution
An electronic latching and locking system that uses a motor-driven bolt with a sled mechanism, allowing for secure locking and easy installation into existing or new cabinetry, featuring a low-profile design, manual release option, and adjustable installation for optimal engagement with sliding panels, utilizing a four-start drive screw and minimal moving components for enhanced durability and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional mechanical key lock devices are used, then security is provided, but they obstruct the customer's line of sight to displayed items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical key lock devices with an electronic locking system that uses a motor-driven bolt mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for traditional keys and keyholes that obstruct viewing, while providing enhanced security through electronic control and motorized actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is designed to operate in a dimension that does not interfere with the customer's line of sight. The bolt extends horizontally from the cabinet frame in a manner that secures the sliding door without creating vertical obstructions in the viewing path.
2Reliability
If existing electronic locking systems are used, then security is improved, but they are not easily adaptable to existing cabinetry
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic locking system is designed with universal adaptability to work with existing cabinetry structures. The mechanism can be installed in various cabinet configurations and accommodates different door types, making it a multi-functional solution that does not require complete cabinet replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking system incorporates adjustable components that can be dynamically positioned to fit different cabinet geometries. The mounting structure allows for flexibility in installation location and orientation, enabling adaptation to existing cabinetry without rigid fixed-position requirements.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a low-profile design is used, then view obstruction is minimized, but the motor and drive mechanism must be compact
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism is nested within the lock body housing, with the motor, gear train, and lead screw arranged in a compact nested configuration. This allows the entire actuation system to fit within a low-profile envelope that does not obstruct the customer's view while maintaining sufficient space for all necessary mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism utilizes the depth dimension of the cabinet frame rather than extending outward. By orienting the motor and drive components along the depth axis of the cabinet, the system achieves a low external profile while accommodating complex internal mechanics.
4Speed
If a four-start drive screw is used, then latching speed is increased, but torque requirements must be managed
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a four-start drive screw which changes the lead of the screw mechanism. This parameter change allows the bolt to travel the full latching distance in fewer revolutions of the motor, increasing latching speed. The gear train is simultaneously designed to provide adequate torque multiplication to overcome the reduced mechanical advantage of the four-start screw.
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 system provides robust, secure, and adjustable locking for sliding doors, ensuring high-quality and durable performance with reduced manufacturing costs, capable of withstanding significant forces and allowing for easy retrofitting or installation, while maintaining a low profile to avoid obstructing the view within glass showcases.
Implementation Method 1
the motor drives a drive screw to move the sled
Implementation Method 2
the bolt spring loaded onto the sled, with the spring biasing the bolt towards a locked position
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic locking device to secure linear transitioning or sliding doors. The electronic lock may include a bolt driven by a motor between a locked or extended position and an unlocked or retracted position. The bolt may be coupled to a sled, the sled moved by the motor between a forward position, placing the bolt in the locked position, and a rearward position, placing the bolt in the unlocked position. The motor may drive a drive screw to move the sled.