Refrigerator Door Opening Mechanism for Quiet Automatic Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators require manual operation to open and close doors, which can be cumbersome and noisy, and lack automatic control for door positioning when powered on.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a door opening device that uses sliding bars and a motor to automatically open and close doors, incorporating position detectors and a controller to manage door operation, reducing noise and ensuring proper door alignment upon power activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual operation is used to open and close refrigerator doors, then the structure remains simple, but user convenience deteriorates and noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated door opening device: one motor drives sliding bars that can selectively open either the refrigerating compartment door or the freezing compartment door. This merging approach automates door opening (improving ease of operation) while using a shared mechanism rather than separate actuators for each door (controlling device complexity).
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding bars act as intermediary mechanical elements between the motor and the doors. The motor rotates to move the sliding bars linearly, which then push the doors open. This intermediary mechanism translates rotational motion to linear motion and provides selective door opening capability, resolving the contradiction between automation and structural simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If motor is used to automatically open doors, then user convenience improves, but noise during direction changing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit prepositions the sliding bars at the end positions (fully retracted or fully extended) before initiating door opening/closing operations. This preliminary positioning ensures the motor starts from optimal positions, minimizing sudden direction changes and reducing noise during operation.
3Extent of automation
If door opening device is added to refrigerator, then door operation automation improves, but initial door positioning when powered on becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback through the control unit monitoring motor position and sliding bar position to determine door state. When power is applied, the control unit receives feedback about the current position and automatically commands the motor to move the sliding bars to the correct initial position, ensuring reliable door positioning despite power interruptions or uncertain startup states.
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 automatic door operation, reduces noise during door changes, and ensures accurate door positioning when the refrigerator is powered on, enhancing user convenience and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a motor which opens/closes the first door or the second door by moving back and forth the sliding bars in directions opposite to each other
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of position detectors detecting at least one protrusion provided at one side of the sliding bars
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator equipped with a door opening device opening doors by driving a motor and a method of controlling the same. In the method of controlling the refrigerator includes a door opening device including a plurality of sliding bars selectively opening first and second doors, a motor opening the first door or the second door by moving back and forth the sliding bars in directions opposite to each other, a plurality of position detectors detecting at least one protrusion provided at one side of the sliding bar, a switch unit inputting door opening signals, and a controller controlling operation of the first door and the second door according to the door opening signals. If door opening signals used to open the first and second doors, the door opening device is controlled so that the first and second doors are easily open/closed.