Sliding Beverage Container Support for Low-Height Refrigerators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage containers filled with liquid are heavy and difficult to handle, especially when being inserted into or removed from refrigerators with limited height, posing ergonomic challenges for bar staff.
Innovation Solution
A beverage container handling unit with a base part and a supporting part that moves between positions, featuring wheels, guiding elements, and locking mechanisms, allowing for ergonomic handling of heavy containers by facilitating their insertion and removal from refrigerators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beverage containers are made of metal and filled with beverage, then the beverage containers can be stored and cooled in refrigerators, but the beverage containers become heavy and difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a handling unit with a base part and supporting part that acts as an intermediary between the heavy beverage containers and the bar staff. The supporting part with longitudinal elements provides mechanical support during insertion and removal operations, reducing the direct handling burden on staff while maintaining the storage and cooling function in refrigerators
2Length of stationary object
If refrigerators have limited heights, then they can fit in standard spaces, but it becomes difficult to insert and remove heavy beverage containers
Solution Approach 1:
The handling unit employs a dynamic supporting part that can move between a storage position inside the refrigerator and a working position extending outward. The supporting part can be moved manually or automatically, providing mechanical assistance during the insertion and removal operations while maintaining a compact profile during storage, thus resolving the conflict between limited space and operational ease
3Ease of operation
If a supporting part is added to facilitate handling, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handling unit is segmented into distinct functional parts: a base part that remains stationary or moves with the refrigerator, and a supporting part with longitudinal elements that provides the handling assistance. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall structure by assigning specific functions to specific components, reducing unnecessary complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a beverage container handling unit for a refrigerator of a beverage dispensing system, the refrigerator having a space defined by side walls, an end wall, a top face, a bottom face and a door, wherein the beverage container handling unit comprises a base part having a first face and a second face, the base part being movable between a first position and a second position, the first position being within the refrigerator and the second position being partly outside the refrigerator, and a supporting part comprising at least one longitudinal element having a first end and a second end, and a leg element being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal element in a supporting position of the supporting part, the supporting part being configured to support the base part when it is moved from the first position along the longitudinal element to the second position. Further, the present invention relates to a refrigerator for a beverage dispensing system according to the present invention and to a beverage dispensing system comprising a refrigerator and a beverage container handling unit according to the present invention.