Refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators face challenges in user convenience due to the difficulty in accessing drawers, especially when they are positioned deep within the storage compartment, requiring users to crouch or apply high force to open and close doors, which can lead to damage and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with an electric driving unit that automatically moves a drawer from an initial position to a ready position when the door is opened, allowing for easy access without additional user force, and returns it to the initial position when closed, using a combination of motor-driven and elastic mechanisms to minimize interference and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the drawer is positioned deep within the storage compartment to maximize storage capacity, then the storage capacity is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates as users must crouch or apply high force to access the drawer
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerator door automatically moves the drawer to a ready position before the user opens the door, and returns it to initial position after closing. This preliminary automatic positioning eliminates the need for users to crouch or apply force to access deep drawers, while maintaining maximum storage capacity through optimized drawer placement
2Ease of operation
If the drawer is moved automatically to improve ease of operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional electric driving mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer moving mechanism is merged with the door opening/closing mechanism. The same electric driving unit that moves the door also controls drawer positioning, and the door's movement itself assists in drawer return. This integration reduces overall system complexity while maintaining automatic drawer access functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The door's opening and closing actions automatically trigger drawer movement and return without requiring separate control systems. The system uses the door's motion to facilitate drawer positioning, making the drawer serve itself through the door's operation rather than requiring independent complex control mechanisms
3Ease of operation
If the door and drawer move simultaneously to improve ease of operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the loss of energy increases due to extended door open time
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer moves periodically in coordination with door opening/closing cycles rather than remaining continuously extended. The drawer is positioned forward only when the door is open, and returns to initial position when the door closes, creating a rhythmic motion pattern that minimizes energy loss while maintaining accessibility during necessary operations
4Productivity
If the drawer moves at high speed to improve productivity, then the productivity is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to increased risk of collision and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates speed control mechanisms that limit drawer movement speed to prevent collision damage. The electric driving unit is programmed with maximum speed thresholds and acceleration limits, providing beforehand protection against excessive forces that could cause damage to the drawer, door, or moving components
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
Enhances user convenience by allowing easy access to drawers without additional force, reduces the risk of damage, and optimizes energy use by controlling the movement speeds and directions of the drawer and door.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic device configured to be elastically deformed when the drawer moves from the initial position to the ready position and to provide an elastic restoring force to move the drawer from the ready position to the initial position
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a refrigerator. Specifically, a refrigerator that is capable of enabling a user to easily introduce or remove goods into or from the refrigerator is disclosed. More specifically, a refrigerator that is capable of enabling a drawer for receiving goods to be more conveniently used is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage compartment with a food introduction port formed in the front thereof, a door hingedly connected to the cabinet for opening and closing the storage compartment, a plurality of drawers disposed in the storage compartment, the drawers being arranged vertically, a moving frame extending vertically so as to correspond to the height at which the drawers are disposed, the moving frame being configured to selectively push the drawers such that the drawers are moved toward the food introduction port, an electric driving unit coupled to the moving frame for moving the moving frame toward the food introduction port, and a controller for controlling the electric driving unit to move the moving frame when it is sensed that the door is open.