Sliding Door Connector With 3-Axis Alignment Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connecting devices for sliding doors in furniture, such as cupboards, are complex and expensive, requiring precise alignment and often necessitate complex drive systems, making adjustments difficult and prone to readjustment needs.

Innovation Solution

A connecting device comprising a mounting plate, a connecting plate, and a coupling plate, which are connected via screws and flange elements, allowing horizontal, vertical displacement, and limited angular adjustment, enabling easy alignment of sliding doors without the need for complex mechanisms or mutual part detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If adjustable devices with mutually displaceable parts are used, then sliding doors can be adjusted in position, but the devices require complex design and often need to be detached before adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability of sliding door positionVSAvoidcomplexity of connecting device
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting device is divided into three separate plates (mounting plate, connecting plate, coupling plate) that can be independently adjusted. Each plate has its own adjusting screw and connecting elements, allowing sequential adjustment without detachment. This segmentation enables complex positioning capabilities while maintaining simple individual components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting device incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities through adjusting screws that allow the plates to be displaced relative to each other in different directions. The first adjusting screw enables displacement in a first direction, the second adjusting screw enables displacement in a second direction, and the third adjusting screw enables angular displacement, creating a dynamically adjustable system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If complex drive devices are used for adjustment, then sliding doors can be adjusted within the carriage device, but the devices become correspondingly expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability of sliding doorVSAvoidmanufacturing cost of connecting device
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The adjusting screws directly enable the displacement and positioning of the plates without requiring external drive mechanisms. The system is self-contained, with each adjusting screw providing the necessary mechanical advantage to move the connected plates, eliminating the need for motors, actuators, or complex drive trains.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the essential adjustment function from complex drive devices and implements it through simple adjusting screws and displaceable plate connections. By removing unnecessary mechanical complexity while retaining the core adjustment capability, the device achieves adaptability at a lower manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If sliding doors are precisely aligned, then collisions during movement are avoided and aesthetic appearance is improved, but the alignment process becomes time-consuming and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveavoidance of collisions during movementVSAvoidtime for alignment and installation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting device is pre-configured with multiple adjustment capabilities built into its structure. The plates are designed with connecting elements and adjusting screws that enable precise positioning to be achieved during installation without requiring subsequent realignment or complex alignment procedures. The adjustment range is built in from the beginning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device allows adjustment of multiple parameters including horizontal position, vertical position, and angular orientation through the three adjusting screws. By enabling changes in these parameters directly at the connecting device, precise alignment is achieved quickly during installation without requiring time-consuming external alignment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Manufacturing precision

If adjustable connecting devices are used, then sliding doors can be positioned correctly, but readjustment is often necessary after initial installation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracy of sliding doorVSAvoidease of readjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting device maintains dynamic adjustability through the three adjusting screws even after initial installation. The adjusting screws can be easily accessed and operated to make fine-tuning adjustments to the position and angle of the sliding door, allowing readjustment without detachment or complex procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The segmented plate design with independent adjusting screws for each degree of freedom allows precise incremental adjustments. Each adjusting screw controls a specific aspect of positioning, enabling fine-tuning of the sliding door position without affecting other parameters, thereby reducing the need for repeated readjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3088645B1Connection device for a sliding door
Publication Date: 2018.06.27 HAWA SLIDING SOLUTIONS AG
  • EP3088645B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3088645B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3088645B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The connecting device (10) comprises a mounting plate (1) which can be screwed to a sliding door (91) by means of mounting screws (99) on the one hand and connected to a carriage device (8A) on the other. According to the invention, a connecting plate (2) is provided which is arranged between the mounting plate (1) and a coupling plate (3) which can be connected to the carriage device (8A), the connecting plate (2) being displaceable in a first direction by means of first connecting elements (41) and connected to the mounting plate (1) so that it can be locked in a selected displacement position by a first adjusting screw (12) and the coupling plate (3) can be displaced in a second direction by second connecting elements (42) and locked in a selected displacement position by a second adjusting screw (23). connected to the connection plate (2).