Refrigerator Drawer Auto-Close Control to Prevent Cold Air Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators with lower drawers positioned at the bottom require users to bend, risking injury and inconvenience, especially when the drawer is not fully closed due to shock or vibration, leading to reduced food freshness and cold air leakage.
Innovation Solution
A control method and system for a refrigerator that automatically opens and closes the drawer, includes a lifting unit that elevates to a set height for easier access, and operates the opening/closing motor to ensure the drawer remains closed, preventing slight openings caused by other door operations or long-term storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the drawer is disposed in a lower portion of the refrigerator, then the storage space utilization is improved, but the user convenience deteriorates as the user needs to bend over to access items
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting mechanism performs preliminary action by raising the drawer to a higher position before the user needs to access items. The controller detects when a user approaches or interacts with the refrigerator and automatically elevates the drawer, so the user doesn't need to bend over to access items in the lower drawer.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the lower bin door is not fully closed due to shock or vibration, then the drawer structure flexibility is improved, but food freshness and cold air retention deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The opening/closing sensor provides feedback about the drawer's closing state to the controller. When the sensor detects that the drawer is not fully closed (even slightly open), the controller activates the opening/closing motor to push the drawer back into the fully closed position, ensuring proper sealing and preventing cold air leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary anti-action by detecting potential opening issues before they cause problems. The sensor continuously monitors the drawer position, and when slight opening is detected, the motor immediately counteracts the opening force to ensure the drawer remains properly closed, preventing food freshness deterioration.
3Ease of operation
If an automatic opening/closing mechanism is added to the drawer, then the user convenience is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting user needs and executing drawer operations without manual intervention. The sensor detects when the user wants to access the drawer, and the motor automatically opens or closes it, eliminating the need for the user to manually pull or push the drawer.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening/closing motor serves multiple functions: it opens the drawer when needed, closes the drawer after use, and corrects any partial opening caused by vibration or shock. This multi-functionality is controlled through a single integrated control unit that processes sensor input and coordinates motor action for various operational scenarios.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a control method therefor. A refrigerator according to the present invention is configured such that a drawer is opened by an opening/closing motor operating by inputting a manipulation of a user and a lifting unit is elevated by a lifting motor, and then the opening/closing motor is again operated, thereby allowing the drawer to be normally closed. After the drawer is normally closed, the opening/closing motor is further operated in a closed direction of the drawer to close the drawer once more. Thus, slight-opening of the drawer is prevented.