Swiveling Control Panel Mechanism for Steam Oven Water Tank Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In small-and-medium-sized steam ovens, the control panel obstructs access to the water tank, making it difficult to draw or insert, and existing solutions require manual manipulation, posing safety risks and convenience issues.
Innovation Solution
The control panel is designed to swivel downward and unfold forward, allowing automatic opening and providing a clear path for the water tank, with a hinge module and opening mechanism that uses gravity to facilitate easy access without manual effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the control panel is disposed at the front of the electronic component space to cover and protect the space, then the aesthetic appearance and protection are improved, but the water tank access is obstructed and manual manipulation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel is designed to be movable rather than fixed, capable of swiveling between a closed position (covering the electronic component space) and an open position (providing access to the water tank). This dynamic configuration allows the same component to serve both protective/aesthetic functions and access functions without requiring separate structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The control panel utilizes rotational movement in a third dimension (swiveling motion) to transition between covering and accessing the water tank, rather than requiring linear displacement or separate access mechanisms. This dimensional approach efficiently resolves the spatial conflict between protection and access.
2Ease of operation
If the control panel is made movable to allow automatic opening, then water tank access is improved, but the device complexity increases due to hinge module and opening mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel incorporates a self-opening mechanism that automatically moves the panel to the open position when needed, eliminating the requirement for manual manipulation by the user. The panel serves itself by detecting the need for access and autonomously positioning itself to facilitate water tank removal or installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex manual mechanical operations with an automated opening mechanism that uses simpler mechanical components (hinge module and opening mechanism) to achieve automatic panel movement, reducing the overall mechanical complexity while improving ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If the control panel swivels downward and unfolds forward to provide clear path, then water tank access is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel's movement is divided into two distinct rotational phases: first swiveling downward, then unfolding forward. This segmentation of motion allows each phase to be achieved through simpler mechanical means rather than requiring a single complex multi-degree-of-freedom mechanism, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining the clear access path.
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 ensures safe and convenient access to the water tank by eliminating the control panel as an obstacle, reducing the risk of injury and manual effort, and enhancing the appliance's usability and aesthetic appeal.
Implementation Method 1
a hinge module and opening mechanism that uses gravity to facilitate easy access without manual effort
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is a cooking appliance. In the cooking appliance, a control panel opening and closing the front surface of an electronic component space opens the front surface of the electronic component space while swiveling downward, and opens the front surface of the electronic component space while being unfolded forward.