Refrigerator Door Opening Control Using Motor-Driven Push Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators require users to exert force greater than the magnetic attraction to open doors, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, especially for users with mobility issues or when multiple doors need to be opened simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A door opening apparatus with a driving motor and push members that rotate to open selected doors, reducing the user's effort by using a combination of gears and position sensing mechanisms to control the motor's direction and stop the push members at optimal positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gasket with magnet is used to attach the door to the cabinet, then the door can be closely attached to prevent cold air leakage, but the user must exert force greater than the magnetic attraction to open the door
Solution Approach 1:
A push member is introduced as an intermediary mechanical element between the user's pulling action and the door. The push member transfers and amplifies the opening force, mediating the interaction between the user and the magnetically attached door, thereby reducing the direct effort required to overcome magnetic attraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the direct mechanical pulling action with an automated push mechanism. A motor-driven push member automatically pushes the door open, substituting the user's mechanical effort with an automated mechanical system that can overcome the magnetic attraction more efficiently.
2Productivity
If multiple doors need to be opened simultaneously, then the refrigerator can be accessed more efficiently, but the user must exert force on multiple doors at the same time
Solution Approach 1:
The push member is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple doors. It can selectively push different doors (freezing compartment door, refrigerating compartment door, or both simultaneously) based on control signals, allowing a single mechanism to perform multiple door-opening functions that would otherwise require separate manual actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit receives opening signals in advance and activates the push member before the user needs to manually open the doors. The system performs preliminary detection of the opening requirement and prepares the push mechanism, allowing doors to be opened automatically or with minimal user intervention before the user would need to exert force.
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
Enables easy and efficient opening of refrigerator doors by reducing the force required for users to pull them open, simplifying the door opening process and allowing simultaneous operation of multiple doors with a single motor.
Implementation Method 1
rotating a driving motor to open a selected door
Implementation Method 2
an inner side of the gasket is provided with a magnet, such that the gasket may be closely attached to the cabinet
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiment relates to a method for controlling a refrigerator. The method for controlling a refrigerator including: inputting an opening signal to open a selected door of a plurality of doors; rotating a driving motor to open a selected door; and opening the selected door by pushing the selected door of the plurality of doors by one of a plurality of push members by the rotation of the driving motor.