FLIP-DOWN ELECTRONICS CABINET HAVING CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE

A flip-down electronics cabinet includes a cabinet body, two first and two second sliding rails, a carrying tray, a door plate, and a circuit controlling device disposed in the cabinet body. The circuit controlling device includes a control interface, a controller, a master switch circuit, and a first and a second switch circuit. The control interface includes a master switch key, and a first and a second switch key. The controller enters an operation or a standby mode according to a received master switch signal. The master switch circuit is switched off when the controller enters the standby mode, and is switched on when the controller enters the operation mode. After entering the operation mode, the controller respectively controls the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit to be switched on or off according to a first switch signal and a second switch signal received thereby.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 112112993, filed on Apr. 7, 2023. The entire content of the above identified application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to an electronics cabinet, and more particularly to a flip-down electronics cabinet having a circuit controlling device.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

As the main location for cooking in every household, the kitchen is where various electric appliances (e.g., electric pots, multi-functional cookers, ovens, microwave ovens, and hot water bottles) are placed. Without proper placement of these electric appliances, the kitchen can quickly become disorganized.

Accordingly, an electronics cabinet that can be used for accommodating the above-mentioned electric appliances is available on the market. In addition, two sockets are disposed inside the electronics cabinet for providing electricity to two electric appliances that are placed in the electronics cabinet and connected to the two sockets. Currently, the most common electric appliance that is placed in the electronics cabinet is a multi-functional cooker of a specific brand, which may be used for a long time and is present in almost every household. There is only one pop-up switch on said multi-functional cooker. The multi-functional cooker begins cooking after the switch is pressed. When the switch pops up, the multi-functional cooker starts to keep the food warm. The multi-functional cooker is unable to be automatically switched off, but keeps warming the food and consuming electricity. When warming of the food is not required, or when the multi-functional cooker needs to be switched off, the only way is to manually remove a plug. In a situation where two electric appliances (e.g., a stewing pot and the multi-functional cooker having only one pop-up switch) are placed in the electronics cabinet, and the multi-functional cooker has finished cooking, the switch of the multi-functional cooker will pop up, and the multi-functional cooker starts to keep the food warm. Nevertheless, the stewing pot still needs to perform cooking for a long period of time (e.g., 4 hours to 6 hours). In order for the multi-functional cooker to stop warming the food and consuming electricity, a user usually needs to put his/her hand into the electronics cabinet that is full of hot air for finding and pulling out the plug of the multi-functional cooker. Such a process can be very inconvenient and dangerous. However, if the user presses a power button on a panel of the electronics cabinet to avoid the inconvenience and danger, the power will stop being supplied to both sockets in the electronics cabinet at the same time, thereby causing the stewing pot to suddenly stop operating. This may inconvenience the user greatly. While the multi-functional cooker of this specific brand cannot be easily discarded due to its durability and usefulness, inconvenience and danger in use may arise when being placed in the electronics cabinet. Therefore, there is still room for improvement on this long existing problem in the related art.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In response to the above-referenced technical inadequacies, the present disclosure provides a flip-down electronics cabinet having a circuit controlling device.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one of the technical aspects adopted by the present disclosure is to provide a flip-down electronics cabinet having a circuit controlling device. The flip-down electronics cabinet includes a cabinet body, two first sliding rails, two second sliding rails, a carrying tray, a door plate, and the circuit controlling device. The cabinet body includes a top plate, a bottom plate, a rear plate, and two side plates. A first space and a second space are formed between the top plate, the bottom plate, the rear plate, and the two side plates. An opening is formed at a front side of the cabinet body, and the opening is in spatial communication with the first space and the second space. A first socket and a second socket are disposed at a rear side of the cabinet body, and are each exposed from the first space. The two first sliding rails are oppositely disposed on the two side plates of the cabinet body, and the two first sliding rails are disposed in the first space. The two second sliding rails are oppositely disposed on the two side plates of the cabinet body, and the two second sliding rails are disposed in the second space below the first space. A left side and a right side of the carrying tray are respectively disposed on the two first sliding rails. A left side and a right side of the door plate are respectively disposed on the two second sliding rails, and opening and closing actions of the door plate are performable relative to the cabinet body. The circuit controlling device is disposed in the cabinet body, and includes a control interface, a controller, a master switch circuit, a first switch circuit, and a second switch circuit. The controller is electrically connected to the control interface, the master switch circuit, the first switch circuit, and the second switch circuit. The first switch circuit is electrically connected between the master switch circuit and the first socket, and the second switch circuit is electrically connected between the master switch circuit and the second socket. The control interface includes a master switch key, a first switch key, and a second switch key. The master switch key is configured to generate a master switch signal that is transmitted to the controller, the first switch key is configured to generate a first switch signal that is transmitted to the controller, and the second switch key is configured to generate a second switch signal that is transmitted to the controller. The controller is configured to enter an operation mode or a standby mode according to the master switch signal that is received by the controller. The master switch circuit is switched off when the controller enters the standby mode, and the master switch circuit is switched on when the controller enters the operation mode. After the controller enters the operation mode, the controller is configured to respectively control the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit to be switched on or switched off according to the first switch signal and the second switch signal that are received by the controller.

In one of the possible or preferred embodiments, the first switch circuit includes a first left switch and a first right switch that are connected to each other, and the first left switch and the first right switch are each electrically connected to the controller. The second switch circuit includes a second left switch and a second right switch that are connected to each other, and the second left switch and the second right switch are each electrically connected to the controller. The first left switch and the second left switch are semiconductor switches, and the first right switch and the second right switch are relay switches. The controller is configured to quickly switch off the first left switch or the second left switch, and then switch off the first right switch or the second right switch, such that the first switch circuit or the second switch circuit is switched from on to off.

In one of the possible or preferred embodiments, the controller is further configured to continuously record manually switched-off frequencies of the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit, so as to automatically switch off the first switch circuit or the second switch circuit according to a highest one of the manually switched-off frequencies of the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit.

In one of the possible or preferred embodiments, at least one exhaust fan is disposed inside the cabinet body, the circuit controlling device further includes an exhaust fan controlling circuit, and the exhaust fan controlling circuit is electrically connected between the controller and the at least one exhaust fan.

In one of the possible or preferred embodiments, an off-odor cleaning device is disposed inside the cabinet body, and the off-odor cleaning device is electrically connected to the controller. The off-odor cleaning device is a negative ion cleaning device configured to ionize air molecules when the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit are switched off, so as to generate a large amount of negative ions and a minute amount of ozone for neutralization of an off-odor and sterilization of bacteria.

In one of the possible or preferred embodiments, an off-odor cleaning device is disposed inside the cabinet body, and the off-odor cleaning device is electrically connected to the controller. The off-odor cleaning device is a photocatalytic ultraviolet cleaning device configured to irradiate ultraviolet light on a photocatalyst when the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit are switched off, so as to generate oxygen-containing radicals that have a strong oxidizing property for strong oxidative decomposition of an off-odor and bacteria.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments

Referring toFIG.1toFIG.4, the present disclosure provides a flip-down electronics cabinet900having a circuit controlling device100. The flip-down electronics cabinet900can be used to accommodate electric appliances or other kitchenware, and the flip-down electronics cabinet900can be mounted in base cabinets (i.e., cabinets below a kitchen counter), tall cabinets, or a kitchen island. The flip-down electronics cabinet900essentially includes a cabinet body1, two first sliding rails2, two second sliding rails3, a carrying tray4, and a door plate5.

The cabinet body1is preferably square-shaped. The cabinet body1includes a top plate11, a bottom plate12, a rear plate13, and two side plates14, and the top plate11, the bottom plate12, the rear plate13, and the two side plates14are connected to each other for formation of a hollow body. Since the structure of the cabinet body1is a conventional technology and is not limited in the present disclosure, details thereof will not be elaborated herein.

A first space15and a second space16are formed inside the cabinet body1. That is, the first space15and the second space16can be formed between the top plate11, the bottom plate12, the rear plate13, and the two side plates14mentioned above. Preferably, the first space15is located above the second space16, and a first space height H1is greater than a second space height H2. The first space15can be used to accommodate electric appliances, such as a multi-functional cooker, a stewing pot, a microwave oven, and an oven. An opening17is formed at a front side of the cabinet body1, and the opening17is in spatial communication with the first space15and the second space16, such that the electric appliances can be placed inside the first space15through the opening17.

The two first sliding rails2are oppositely disposed on the two side plates14of the cabinet body1. The two first sliding rails2are disposed in the first space15. Preferably, the two first sliding rails2are disposed adjacent to a bottom portion of the first space15. The two second sliding rails3are oppositely disposed on the two side plates14of the cabinet body1, and the two second sliding rails3are located below the two first sliding rails2. The two second sliding rails3can be disposed in the second space16below the first space15. Preferably, the two second sliding rails3are disposed adjacent to a bottom portion of the second space16. Since the above-mentioned first sliding rails2and second sliding rails3are existing sliding rail structures, and the structure of the first sliding rail2and the second sliding rail3is not limited in the present embodiment, details thereof will not be elaborated herein.

A left side and a right side of the carrying tray4are respectively disposed on the two first sliding rails2, such that the carrying tray4is disposed adjacent to the bottom portion of the first space15. Through guidance of the two first sliding rails2, the carrying tray4can be pulled out or pushed in relative to the cabinet body1. As such, the carrying tray4is movable along a horizontal (front-and-rear) direction within the cabinet body1, and can be pushed into or pulled out of the cabinet body1. When the carrying tray4is pushed into the cabinet body1, the carrying tray4is located in the first space15. In this way, the electric appliances can be placed on the carrying tray4, and accommodation of the electric appliances in the first space15of the cabinet body1can be achieved by use of the carrying tray4.

The door plate5is a board that corresponds to the opening17, and can be used to open or close the opening17. A left side and a right side of the door plate5are respectively disposed on the two second sliding rails3. In the present embodiment, the door plate5is a flip-down door plate. That is, the door plate5can be flipped downward and slide. When the door plate5opens the opening17, the door plate5is disposed adjacent to the bottom portion of the second space16. Through guidance of the two second sliding rails3, opening and closing actions of the door plate5are performable relative to the cabinet body1.

In the present embodiment, the door plate5includes a door plate front portion51and a door plate rear portion52, and the door plate front portion51and the door plate rear portion52are pivotally connected to each other by pivotal connection components53(such as hinges), such that the door plate front portion51and the door plate rear portion52are integrally connected. When the door plate front portion51and the door plate rear portion52move forward, the door plate front portion51can upwardly cover the opening17of the cabinet body1, such that the opening17of the cabinet body1is in a closed state. At this time, the door plate rear portion52is still accommodated in the cabinet body1. When the door plate front portion51and the door plate rear portion52move rearward, the door plate front portion51can be accommodated in the cabinet body1, such that the opening17of the cabinet body1is in an open state. Hence, through guidance of the two second sliding rails3, the door plate5can slidably move along a front-and-rear direction, and be accommodated in the cabinet body1after being flipped downward.

Furthermore, a first socket91and a second socket92are disposed at a rear side of the cabinet body1(as shown inFIG.1andFIG.2). That is, the first socket91and the second socket92can be disposed on the rear plate13of the cabinet body1, and can each be exposed from the first space15. As shown inFIG.3, the cabinet body1can further include at least one dividing plate18for separating the first space15and a mounting space19, and at least one exhaust fan93can be disposed in the mounting space19.

The circuit controlling device100is disposed on an appropriate location of the cabinet body1. As shown inFIG.4, the circuit controlling device100essentially includes a control interface101, a controller102, a master switch circuit103, a first switch circuit104, and a second switch circuit105. The controller102is electrically connected to the control interface101, the master switch circuit103, the first switch circuit104, and the second switch circuit105. The first switch circuit104is electrically connected between the master switch circuit103and the first socket91, and the second switch circuit105is electrically connected between the master switch circuit103and the second socket92. In addition, the circuit controlling device100can further include an exhaust fan controlling circuit106(e.g., a drive circuit or a pulse-width modulation (PWM) circuit), and the exhaust fan controlling circuit106is electrically connected between the controller102and the exhaust fan93.

In the present embodiment, the control interface101can be, but is not limited to being, exposed from the cabinet body1in the form of a control panel. Preferably, the control interface101is exposed from the front side of the cabinet body1. The controller102, the master switch circuit103, the first switch circuit104, the second switch circuit105, the exhaust fan controlling circuit106, or relevant active and passive components can be integrated together for formation of a control substrate, and the control substrate is located in the mounting space19. The controller102can also be integrated into the control panel, which may be designed according to practical requirements and is not limited herein.

Specifically, the control interface101includes a master switch key1011, a first switch key1012, and a second switch key1013. The master switch key1011, the first switch key1012, and the second switch key1013can each be a press-type button or a touch-type button, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. According to the pressing or touching of a user, the master switch key1011is configured to generate a master switch signal that is transmitted to the controller102, the first switch key1012is configured to generate a first switch signal, and the second switch key1013is configured to generate a second switch signal.

The controller102enters an operation mode or a standby mode according to the master switch signal that is received by the controller102. When the user presses or touches the master switch key1011, the master switch signal is generated and transmitted to the controller102, and the controller102enters the operation mode from the standby mode. When the user presses or touches the master switch key1011again, the master switch signal is generated and transmitted to the controller102, and the controller102enters the standby mode from the operation mode. Furthermore, the master switch circuit103is switched off when the controller102enters the standby mode, and the master switch circuit103is switched on when the controller102enters the operation mode. After the controller102enters the operation mode, the controller102is configured to respectively control the first switch circuit104and the second switch circuit105to be switched on or switched off according to the first switch signal and the second switch signal that are received by the controller102. Hence, in a situation where two electric appliances (e.g., a stewing pot and a multi-functional cooker having only one pop-up switch) are placed in the flip-down electronics cabinet900, and the multi-functional cooker has finished cooking, the switch of the multi-functional cooker will pop up, and the multi-functional cooker starts to keep the food warm. However, the stewing pot still needs to perform cooking for 4 hours to 6 hours. At this time, the user may press or touch the first switch key1012or the second switch key1013that is disposed on the control interface101and corresponds to the multi-functional cooker, so as to switch off the first switch circuit104or the second switch circuit105. In this way, the stewing pot continues operating, but the multi-functional cooker is stopped from operating. When warming of the food is not required, the user does not need to put his/her hand into the cabinet body1that is full of hot air for finding and pulling out a plug, thereby significantly improving convenience and safety in use.

In one embodiment, since the plugs of the two electric appliances inside the flip-down electronics cabinet900are usually inserted into the sockets for a long duration (e.g., the plugs of the above-mentioned stewing pot and multi-functional cooker are respectively inserted into the first socket91and the second socket92), the controller102is further configured to continuously record manually switched-off frequencies of the first switch circuit104and the second switch circuit105, so as to automatically switch off the first switch circuit104or the second switch circuit105according to a highest one of the manually switched-off frequencies of the first switch circuit104and the second switch circuit105.

Reference is made toFIG.5. In one embodiment, an off-odor cleaning device94that is electrically connected to the controller102can be disposed on an appropriate location inside the cabinet body1, such as on the side plates14or the rear plate13. The off-odor cleaning device94can be a negative ion cleaning device. When the first switch circuit104and the second switch circuit105are switched off (i.e., when the controller102receives the first switch signal and the second switch signal to switch off the first switch circuit104and the second switch circuit105), the off-odor cleaning device94is configured to ionize air molecules, so as to generate a large amount of negative ions and a minute amount of ozone for neutralization of an off-odor and sterilization of bacteria. Accordingly, hygiene for future use can be ensured by rapid removal of the off-odor and the bacteria in the cabinet body1. The off-odor cleaning device94of the present embodiment can also be a photocatalytic ultraviolet cleaning device. When the first switch circuit104and the second switch circuit105are switched off (i.e., when the controller102receives the first switch signal and the second switch signal to switch off the first switch circuit104and the second switch circuit105), the off-odor cleaning device94is configured to irradiate ultraviolet light on a photocatalyst, so as to generate oxygen-containing radicals that have a strong oxidizing property for strong oxidative decomposition of the off-odor and the bacteria. Due to combined disinfection effects of the ultraviolet light and the photocatalyst, the off-odor and the bacteria in the cabinet body1can be rapidly removed. Moreover, the off-odor cleaning device94of the present embodiment can include the above-mentioned negative ion cleaning device and photocatalytic ultraviolet cleaning device at the same time.

Reference is made toFIG.6. In one embodiment, the first switch circuit104includes a first left switch1041and a first right switch1042that are connected to each other. The first left switch1041and the first right switch1042are each electrically connected to the controller102, such that an electric current can be supplied to the first socket91only when the first left switch1041and the first right switch1042are both switched on.

In addition, the second switch circuit105includes a second left switch1051and a second right switch1052that are connected to each other. The second left switch1051and the second right switch1052are each electrically connected to the controller102, such that the electric current can be supplied to the second socket92only when the second left switch1051and the second right switch1052are both switched on.

In the present embodiment, the first left switch1041and the second left switch1051are semiconductor switches, and the first right switch1042and the second right switch1052are relay switches. Moreover, in order to switch the first switch circuit104or the second switch circuit105from on to off, the controller102is configured to quickly switch off the first left switch1041or the second left switch1051, and then switch off the first right switch1042or the second right switch1052. In this way, when a large electric current is supplied to the first socket91or the second socket92, generation of sparks can be prevented during switching on or off of the first right switch1042or the second right switch1052(the relay switches), thereby improving stability of the overall circuit.

Beneficial Effects of the Embodiments

In conclusion, the flip-down electronics cabinet900provided by the present disclosure includes the cabinet body1, the two first sliding rails2, the two second sliding rails3, the carrying tray4, the door plate5, and the circuit controlling device100. The circuit controlling device100is disposed in the cabinet body1. The circuit controlling device100includes the control interface101, the controller102, the master switch circuit103, the first switch circuit104, and the second switch circuit105. The first switch circuit104is electrically connected between the master switch circuit103and the first socket91, and the second switch circuit105is electrically connected between the master switch circuit103and the second socket92. The control interface101includes the master switch key1011, the first switch key1012, and the second switch key1013. The master switch key1011is configured to generate the master switch signal that is transmitted to the controller102, the first switch key1012is configured to generate the first switch signal that is transmitted to the controller102, and the second switch key1013is configured to generate the second switch signal that is transmitted to the controller102. The controller102enters the operation mode or the standby mode according to the master switch signal that is received by the controller102. The master switch circuit103is switched off when the controller102enters the standby mode, and the master switch circuit103is switched on when the controller102enters the operation mode. After the controller102enters the operation mode, the controller102is configured to respectively control the first switch circuit104and the second switch circuit105to be switched on or switched off according to the first switch signal and the second switch signal that are received by the controller102. Therefore, the user no longer needs to put his/her hand into a cabinet body that is full of hot air for finding and pulling out the plug, such that convenience and safety in use can be significantly improved, and a long existing issue in the related art can be addressed.