Drive for a movable furniture element

IS 2 390 189 T3

DESCRIPTION

Drive for a mobile furniture element

The present invention relates to a drive for a mobile furniture element with the characteristics of the preamble of claim 1.

Drives are already known in which the position and / or magnitudes of movements derived therefrom of the adjusting element or of the movable furniture element can be determined by means of a position measuring device.

For example, document WO 2006/017864 A1 describes on pages 5 to 6 (fourth variant of the invention described in document WO 2006/017864 A1) a drive for a mobile furniture element, with a device for measuring position by means of which it is possible to determine the position of the adjusting element (ejection lever). Furthermore, the named document describes on page 7 the option of coupling the position measuring device with the furniture element itself instead of with the adjusting element. This occurs in the embodiments shown in Figures 18 and 20 by means of a spring loaded pusher or by means of a driver engagable with the movable furniture element along a certain path.

A generic drive with a freewheel clutch results from WO 2006/099645 A1.

The current state of the art presents the problem that it is not possible to record the position or the magnitudes of movements derived from it, optionally or at the same time, both of the furniture element and the adjustment element, specifically in a independent of whether or not the adjustment element of the furniture element is in contact.

The aim of the invention is to eliminate this problem.

Said objective is achieved by means of a drive with the characteristics of claim 1.

Other advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

For this there may be different reasons why the adjusting element and the furniture element are temporarily movable independently of one another. For example, it may be provided that the adjusting element for moving the furniture element can be loosely connected to the furniture element (not part of the invention). Said situation occurs when the adjusting element is configured as an ejection lever or pusher. That is, the ejection lever or the pusher only contacts the furniture element in its pivoting or extension path.

According to the invention, the adjusting element is permanently connected to the furniture element, however in the drive section between the motor that drives the adjusting element and the furniture element a coupling is arranged by means of which the element can be separated. drive section.

For example, it might be desirable for a user to be able to manually move the movable furniture element without the user being hindered by the motor. This is advantageous when the motor is defective or the user wants, for example, a speed greater than that of the furniture element driven by the motor.

However, it may also be that the coupling is configured as an overload coupling to prevent damage and even destruction of the actuating element or the motor. Without such an overload coupling it can happen that when the movable furniture element is loaded with excessive forces, the adjusting element transmits these forces to the motor or a mechanism.

In all these options, in a drive according to the invention it is possible to determine the position or the magnitudes of movements (such as speed or acceleration) derived from the same of the adjusting element and / or the furniture element, also when the adjusting element or the furniture element at that moment move independently of each other.

Since the position or movement quantities derived therefrom of the furniture element are permanently determinable, it is possible, for example, to maintain a Touch-Latch functionality of the drive. This means that a user can cause an activation of the motor by exerting a force on the furniture element and changing the position and / or speed of the furniture element. This is desirable primarily to activate the motor again when the motor is active only in part of the entire path of movement of the furniture element. On the one hand, the determination of the position and / or magnitudes of movements derived from the adjustment element can also be used to carry out a TouchLatch function. That is, for example, in this case, the motor is activated when there is a change in the position or the speed of the adjusting element.

On the other hand, provision can also be made for the motor, by means of the adjusting element, to carry out a specified path, speed or acceleration profile for the furniture element. To enable in a regulated way

The dependence of the position and / or speed or acceleration must, of course, be provided with a corresponding position measuring device and, if necessary, a clock and a calculating unit.

By means of the position measuring device it is also possible to monitor a collision. In this case, the position (position or path) of the movable furniture element is measured and monitored by means of a control or regulation device regarding any change in speed or acceleration. The determination of the speed or acceleration of the movable furniture element can be carried out, for example, by forming the first or second derivation of the position as a function of time. If the change in speed or acceleration deviates from a previously specified rating, a motor trip may occur. Examples for collisions are a user, standing under a mobile furniture made as a lid, which blocks the lid closing process, or an object protruding from a furniture body which hinders the closing of a drawer or lid.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the position measuring device to have at least one potentiometer. However, two potentiometers are particularly preferably provided, one potentiometer being assigned to the adjusting element or to the furniture element, respectively. By means of potentiometers, an absolute determination of the position can be carried out. However, a clearly incremental position determination may also suffice.

With particular preference, provision is made for the motor to be designed as an electric motor.

If a control or regulation of the drive is desired, a control or regulation device must of course be provided to which the signals from the position measuring device can be supplied.

It is understood by itself that a position measuring device can also be configured physically in the form of two components separated from each other. Alternatively, a single component can be provided to which two measuring sensors operating separately from each other (for the adjusting element and the furniture element) are assigned.

Other advantages and details of the invention result from the figures and the respective figure description. They show:

Figures 1 to 4, in different views, an example of embodiment of the invention by means of a cover actuation system and Figure 5, a perspective view of a furniture body with an assembled cover actuation system according to Figures 1 to 4.

Figures 1 to 4 show an example of embodiment of the invention by means of a cover actuation system 1.

In figure 1 can be seen, in this case, a cover surface 24 of a mechanical adjustment unit 2, not shown in detail in figure 2. The cover surface 24 has two projections 241 used to hook the base plate 39 of the electric drive 3. In this case, the coupling is carried out by means of flanges 391. After latching, the electric drive 3 and the mechanical adjusting unit 2 are screwed to each other by means of screws, the cover surface 24 having corresponding housings 242 for the screws in this embodiment. Furthermore, in FIG. 2 the mechanism 33, the electric motor 31 and a motor coupling 34 (in this embodiment, configured in a mechanically flexible manner) can be seen connecting these two components together. On the base plate 39 there is also fixed a plate 38 which presents the circuits of a control or regulation unit.

Here, the interface 6 is configured in the form of a central axis 6 'of the electric drive 3 and a housing (not shown) for the axis 6' arranged in the adjusting unit 2 behind a housing opening 6 ".

In figure 2, the mechanical adjusting unit 2 is illustrated as a complete unit, as it is already attached to a furniture body not shown in figure 2. In this case, as adjusting element, the mechanical adjusting unit 2 shows an adjustment arm 21 that is loaded by an energy accumulator 22 (in this case, a group of springs) not shown in detail in figure 2 but according to the current state of the art.

The housing of the adjusting unit 2 has a base surface 23 by means of which the adjusting unit 2 can be attached to a furniture body. Spaced from it, and essentially parallel to it, the cover surface 24 is arranged, which is used to fix the electric drive 3.

In relation to the electric drive 3, in figure 2 it can be seen, in comparison with figure 1, a potentiometer 37 that interacts with the terminal section of the mechanism 33 (for this, see the exploded view of figure 3). By means of the potentiometer 37 the position of the adjustment arm 21 and, consequently, the position of the cover 4 (not shown in figure 2) can be determined, because the end section of the mechanism 33 interacts without sliding with the adjustment arm 21 by middle of interface 6 (not shown in figure 2).

Not shown separately in the figures, another potentiometer is shown that by means of appropriate circuits is

ES 2 390 189 T3 configured directly on the plate 38 by means of appropriate circuits. By means of said potentiometer, the position of the adjusting element in the form of the output of the electric motor 31 can be determined.

In figure 3 the actual arrangement of the potentiometer 37 with respect to the gear 33 can be seen. For this, a ring gear 371 is connected, fixed in terms of rotation, with the end section of the mechanism 33 and acts with the gear 372 in such a way that a 2: 1 gear ratio of the movement of the end section of the mechanism 33 occurs on the sprocket 372. In this way, the measuring range of the potentiometer 37 with which the gear wheel 372 interacts can be better utilized.

In figure 3 it can also be seen that at the outlet 311 of the electric motor 31 a pin 312 is plugged into the motor coupling 34 (in this case, a flexible mechanical coupling for hoses). On the other side of the motor coupling 34 a worm wheel is arranged in a housing 313 which interacts with the first section of the mechanism.

The electric drive 3 also has an overload coupling 331 and a freewheel clutch 35. In this case, the overload coupling 331 prevents unwanted destruction of the gear wheels of the mechanism 33 due to a load acting excessively on the gear. adjustment arm 21. The free wheel clutch 35 allows, with the cover 4 actuated, the intervention of a user without being hindered by the motor 31.

In a perspective view, Figure 4 again shows the cover drive system 1 according to the previous Figures 1 to 3, the electric drive 3 being attached to the mechanical adjustment unit 2 as an isolated component.

While it is advantageous to fix the electric drive 3 to the adjustment unit 2 even if the adjustment unit 2 is already mounted to a furniture body 5 (not shown here), there can of course also be a prefabrication of the cover drive 1 as illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 5 shows a furniture body 5 with a cover 4 movably mounted thereon and a cover drive system 1 according to Figures 1 to 4,

List of references:

Lid drive system 1

Setting unit 2

Adjustment arm 21

Energy storage 22

Base area 23

Deck surface 24

Outgoing 241

Accommodations 242

Electric drive 3

Electric motor 31

Exit 311

Spike 312

Housing 313

Mechanism 33

Overload coupling 331

Motor coupling 34

Freewheel clutch 35

Potentiometer 37

Ring gear 371

Sprocket 372

IS 2 390 189 T3

Stage 38

Base plate 39

Flanges 91