Refrigerator having door position adjustment device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators with replaceable design panels face misalignment issues between the door and cabinet due to dimensional unevenness during manufacturing, which becomes noticeable when the design panel is replaced, and can lead to a sagging door that affects the exterior quality.
Innovation Solution
A door position adjustment device with a vertical adjustment screw that allows stepless adjustment of the door's position between the door and hinge, using a threaded portion to tighten or loosen the screw, ensuring alignment and preventing sagging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a design panel is made replaceable to allow user customization, then user freedom and design flexibility are improved, but misalignment between the door and cabinet becomes noticeable when the design panel is replaced
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge position is made adjustable through a position adjustment device that allows the hinge to be repositioned along the door's width direction. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to adapt to dimensional variations in the door body, ensuring proper alignment between the door and cabinet even when design panels are replaced. The adjustable hinge mechanism transforms a static structure into a dynamic one that can compensate for manufacturing tolerances.
2Quantity of substance
If the door is made to support heavy items, then storage capacity is improved, but the door may sag causing misalignment and design panel tilt
Solution Approach 1:
The position adjustment device allows for preliminary adjustment of the hinge position before the door is fully installed and before items are placed in the door. By pre-positioning the hinge at the optimal location that accounts for the door's weight and expected load, the system prevents sagging and misalignment from occurring in the first place. This preliminary action ensures the door maintains proper alignment even when carrying heavy items.
3Ease of manufacture
If dimensional tolerance in manufacturing is relaxed to reduce production cost, then manufacturing ease is improved, but misalignment between door and cabinet occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The position adjustment device changes the positional parameter of the hinge along the door's width direction. By providing an adjustable mechanism, the system can compensate for variations in door dimensions that result from relaxed manufacturing tolerances. The hinge position can be shifted to accommodate different door widths, ensuring proper alignment with the cabinet regardless of the specific dimensional variations present in each manufactured unit.
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 ensures precise alignment of the door with the cabinet, maintaining exterior quality by allowing continuous adjustment of the door's position in the vertical direction, thereby addressing misalignment and sagging issues.
Implementation Method 1
The vertical adjustment screw may include a threaded portion. The vertical adjustment screw may adjust the vertical position of the door by a tightening amount and a loosening amount in the vertical direction.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed refrigerator includes a cabinet and a door to open/close an opening of the cabinet. The door is rotatably supported by a hinge. A door position adjustment device is provided between the door and the hinge. The door position adjustment device adjusts steplessly at least the position of the door in a vertical direction. The door position adjustment device includes a vertical adjustment screw. The vertical adjustment screw includes a threaded portion. The vertical adjustment screw is provided between the door and the hinge and adjusts the position of the door in the vertical direction by a tightening amount and a loosening amount in the vertical direction.