Seesaw Beverage Cooling Tray With Auto Time Setting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling devices require manual input of beverage container numbers for cooling time settings, leading to user inconvenience and increased manufacturing costs, and have limited capacity due to the need for a long tray to accommodate multiple objects, making them unsuitable for small refrigerators.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device with a tray that performs a seesaw motion driven by a mixing motor, automatically detecting the weight of beverage containers and calculating cooling time, and a compact design allowing multiple objects to be cooled without increasing the device's volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual input buttons and software are provided for selecting the number of beverage containers, then cooling time can be set according to the number of containers, but user convenience deteriorates and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device automatically detects the number of beverage containers placed on the tray using a sensor, and autonomously determines the cooling time without requiring manual user input. The system serves itself by detecting the load weight and converting it to the number of containers, thereby eliminating the need for manual buttons and software interfaces while improving user convenience and reducing manufacturing costs.
2Quantity of substance
If the tray length is increased to accommodate multiple beverage containers in one direction, then the number of containers that can be cooled increases, but the volume of the cooling device case increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of arranging beverage containers in a single linear direction which requires a long tray, the tray is designed to accommodate containers in multiple directions (e.g., both longitudinal and lateral arrangements). This dimensional change allows multiple containers to be placed on a compact tray without increasing the overall case volume, thereby resolving the contradiction between cooling capacity and device size.
3Quantity of substance
If the case volume is increased to accommodate a longer tray for multiple containers, then more containers can be cooled, but the storage compartment capacity in the refrigerator is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tray design enables multi-directional arrangement of beverage containers, maximizing the use of available tray surface area without requiring increased case volume. This allows the cooling device to maintain its compact size while accommodating multiple containers, thereby preserving storage compartment capacity in the refrigerator.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling device is designed as a compact unit that can be nested within or integrated into the refrigerator's existing structure, utilizing unused spaces efficiently. The tray itself is designed to nest containers in various orientations, maximizing cooling capacity within a minimal footprint that does not encroach on storage compartment capacity.
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
The solution reduces user input errors, lowers manufacturing costs, and enables the cooling device to be installed in small capacity refrigerators by automatically setting cooling times based on detected weights and optimizing tray design for efficient cooling.
Implementation Method 1
a mixing member configured to perform a seesaw motion about a mixing axis to mix a fluid filled in the beverage container
Implementation Method 2
an inside of the storage space is cooled using cool air generated by heat exchange with a refrigerant circulated through a refrigeration cycle
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a case; a tray installed inside the case and on which a beverage container is placed; a mixing member configured to perform a seesaw motion about a mixing axis to mix a fluid filled in the beverage container; a driving part connected to the mixing member and configured to provide driving force; and a cool air supply part configured to supply cool air into the case, wherein the mixing member comprises: a supporter configured to protrude from a bottom of the case, the tray being connected to an upper end of the supporter to perform the seesaw motion; a driving link connected to one end of the case; and a mixing motor configured to transmit the driving force to the driving link, wherein the tray comprises: a tray body; a first seating part formed on the tray body so that the beverage container is placed in a lengthwise direction of the tray body; and a second seating part formed on the tray body in a direction that crosses the first seating part.