Refrigerator Drawer Electric Positioning for Deep-Storage Access
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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 excessive force, and existing solutions compromise on aesthetics, space utilization, and durability.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with an electric driving unit that automatically moves a drawer to a ready position when the door is opened, allowing for easy access without additional user force, and includes a sensor to control the movement and prevent interference with the door, ensuring efficient operation and reduced wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving 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 excessive force to access it
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer is automatically moved to a predetermined position closer to the door before the user needs to access it. The control unit detects when the door is opened and activates the electric driving unit to reposition the drawer in advance, eliminating the need for users to crouch or apply excessive force while maintaining deep storage capacity.
2Ease of operation
If a mechanical link is used to connect the door and drawer to enable automatic drawer movement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity and aesthetic appearance worsen due to exposed mechanical components
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical link system is replaced with an electric driving unit that includes a motor and gear mechanism housed within a compact structure. This electrical system is controlled by a control unit that detects door opening and automatically positions the drawer, eliminating the need for exposed mechanical links while maintaining the automatic movement function.
3Ease of operation
If the drawer is positioned close to the door to improve accessibility, then the ease of operation is improved, but the storage space utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer position is made dynamic rather than fixed. The drawer can be positioned deep within the storage compartment for maximum capacity when the door is closed, and automatically moves closer to the door when opened for easy access. This dynamic repositioning allows the system to optimize both storage capacity and accessibility at different times.
4Productivity
If the electric driving unit operates at high speed to quickly move the drawer, then the productivity is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to increased wear and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The electric driving unit operates intermittently rather than continuously, activating only when the door is opened to move the drawer to the predetermined position, and then deactivating. This periodic operation significantly reduces cumulative wear and potential damage compared to continuous high-speed operation, while still providing quick drawer access when needed.
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, maintains an aesthetically pleasing appearance, and minimizes the risk of damage while optimizing storage space and energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an electric driving unit for automatically moving the drawer to a ready position spaced apart forward from an initial position by a predetermined distance when the door is opened
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.