Drawer mechanism

摘要

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a drawer lifting mechanism, and more particularly to a mechanism that is adapted to bring stored items that are disposed on a supporting surface of a drawer lifting mechanism to a user. The drawer lifting mechanism may be actuated by human power or by use of one or more actuators. In some configurations, the drawer lifting mechanism is disposed and used in the kitchen to enable the delivery of the contents of a kitchen cabinet to a user that is disposed proximate to the cabinet.

主权项

1. An apparatus for positioning supported components, comprising:
a first drawer lifting mechanism that comprises:
two or more linkage structures that each comprise a plurality of linkage bars;a supporting member having a supporting surface, wherein the supporting member is disposed on or coupled to a first linkage bar of the plurality of linkage bars; anda first actuator assembly having an output shaft that is coupled to a second linkage bar of the plurality of linkage bars, and is adapted to move the supporting member from a first position to a second position by changing the orientation of the second linkage bar; a system controller that is in communication with the first actuator, and comprises a processor; a weight sensing assembly that is configured to measure the weight of an object disposed on the supporting member and provide information relating to the measured weight to the system controller; a memory having stored therein a number of instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the apparatus to perform operations comprising:
counting from a first time to a second time using a timing circuit, wherein the object is positioned on the weight sensing assembly while the timing circuit counts from the first time to the second time; andgenerating the alarm when the difference between the first time and the second time exceeds a time value stored in memory, wherein generating the alarm comprises delivering an audio signal to a speaker or a visual prompt generated on a display coupled to the system controller; and a bar-code reading system that is configured to provide information about the object disposed on the supporting member when a bar code disposed on the object is scanned by the bar-code reading system, wherein the time value stored in memory is derived from the information provided from the bar-code reading system.