Turntable and storage cabinet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage solutions, such as refrigerators and cabinets, face inefficiencies due to the need to remove items from one side before accessing items on the other side, and the complexity of existing tray assemblies that can jam, leading to space waste and operational issues.
Innovation Solution
A turntable with a heart-shaped sliding rail and a straight sliding rail on its base allows the tray to rotate smoothly without colliding with the chamber walls, using a simplified structure with fewer components to ensure reliable and efficient item retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a circular-shaped partition is used in a rectangular storage chamber, then items can be rotated for easy access, but space is wasted due to the shape mismatch
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a heart-shaped sliding rail that combines curved and straight segments, allowing the tray to follow a rotational path that adapts to the rectangular chamber geometry. This curved guidance mechanism enables rotational movement while maintaining rectangular tray shapes for optimal space utilization.
2Volume of moving object
If a rectangular partition is used in a rectangular storage chamber, then space is utilized efficiently, but the partition cannot rotate due to collision with inner walls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static rectangular partition into a dynamic rotating assembly by introducing a heart-shaped sliding rail and rod mechanism. This allows the rectangular tray to rotate within the rectangular chamber by following the curved guidance path, enabling item accessibility while maintaining space efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If multiple sliding rails and rotating shafts are used to enable tray rotation, then the tray can avoid inner walls during rotation, but the structure becomes too complex and prone to jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the guidance and rotation functions into a single heart-shaped sliding rail structure. Instead of using multiple separate sliding rails and rotating shafts, the heart-shaped rail integrates both functions, reducing the number of components and simplifying the overall structure while maintaining rotation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The heart-shaped sliding rail is segmented into curved and straight sections, each serving a specific function in the rotation path. The curved segments guide the tray through the rotation arc while the straight segments provide stable positioning, allowing complex rotational movement to be achieved through simple sequential engagement of rail segments.
4Ease of operation
If multiple sliding rails and rotating shafts are used, then rotation is enabled, but the probability of jamming increases affecting normal use
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple potential jamming points (multiple sliding rails and rotating shafts) into a single heart-shaped sliding rail structure, the patent reduces the number of moving interfaces where jamming can occur. The simplified structure with fewer components directly improves reliability and reduces maintenance needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A turn table includes a tray with heart-shaped and straight sliding rails and a base with first and second rods, wherein the first rod is slidably matched with the heart-shaped sliding rail, and the second rod is slidably matched with the straight sliding rail. When the tray is at an initial position, symmetrical lines of the bottom of the tray and the heart-shaped sliding rail are collinear, and the straight sliding rail extends along the symmetrical line of the heart-shaped sliding rail. When the tray switches from the initial position to a picking position, the first rod slides along the heart-shaped sliding rail and the second rod slides along the straight sliding rail, making the tray rotate circumferentially relative to the base with an outer circumferential surface thereof being prevented from interfering with an inner wall of a chamber for placing the turntable and thus accommodating the tray therein.