AT413933B - FURNITURE WITH A MOVABLE FURNITURE - Google Patents

Description

2

AT 413 933 B

The present invention relates to a piece of furniture with a movable furniture part, in particular drawer or door, and an energy store according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the prior art, such power storage, which are usually out as a spring-5, used for ejecting the movable furniture part from the closed end position in or on the furniture.

The problem with this is, for example, that the tensioning of the spring during the closing process on a last, the closed end position of the movable furniture part vorgelager-io th, partial route takes place. The energy required to tension the spring is applied manually by the user. An insufficient force exerted by the user may cause either the energy storage device designed as a spring is either insufficiently charged or the spring after carrying out a half oscillation again gives the energy applied by the user to the movable furniture part, making this from the closed 15 end position into a partial opened end position is moved.

The AT 238 898 B and DE 1 285 360 B relate to generic furniture, but show ejection devices in which the energy storage is charged by the drive unit on the movement of the movable furniture part. 20

DE 199 35 119 A1 shows an ejection device with a tension spring serving as a force accumulator and a drive unit in the form of a spring made of a shape memory metal. Here, the energy storage is charged when ejecting the movable furniture part by the drive unit (stretched) and discharges to retract the movable furniture part in its 25 closed end position in the furniture. This therefore relates to a generic third state of the art, since in the present invention, the energy storage discharges at the ejection of the movable furniture part of this.

The object of the invention is to avoid known problems in the generic state of the art.

This is inventively achieved by the features stated in the characterizing part of patent claim 1. By charging the energy accumulator via a drive unit, on the one hand the charging of the energy accumulator is ensured to the desired degree. On the other hand, the charging of the energy storage device independently of the movable furniture part by the drive unit has the advantage that it can already take place a short time after the ejection of the movable furniture part, ie even before the initiation of the closing operation of the movable furniture part. Da-40 is avoided by the fact that the movable furniture part has to overcome during the closing process in the last stretch before the furniture body a force applied by the energy storage counterforce.

Preferably, the ejection of the movable furniture part by a, for example, 45 designed as a ram ejector, which is acted upon by the power storage. To prevent disturbing noise, the ejector may have a damper at the contact point for the movable furniture part. This could be, for example, in the execution of the ejector as a ram a free ram end covering rubber hood. The triggering of the ejection process can be done by a sensor whose signals can be fed to at least the drive unit. The drive unit may be electrical and include, for example, an electric motor and any control device. The sensors can be designed as optical sensors. Conceivable also other non-contact sensor types, such as capacitive or inductive sensors. But it can also be provided 55 arrangement of contact sensors, such as pressure switch. There will be 3

AT 413 933 B in any case no, user-actuated pushbutton or the like required.

As energy storage, for example, provide fluid pressure accumulator. It may be a piston arranged movably in a cylinder, which defines a variable volume in the piston which is filled with a compressible fluid.

It would also be conceivable to have at least one magnet comprehensive energy accumulator. It may be a system of two, with their poles of the same name to each other arranged magnet, wherein for charging the force accumulator, the relative distance between the magneto-Neten is reduced. However, it would also be conceivable to have a body of conductive material stored separately and of an electromagnet formed energy store, wherein the electromagnet is supplied to trigger the ejection process with electricity, which leads in the body of conductive material to produce a body of the magnet wegstoßenden induction current. 15

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the energy store comprises at least one mass with variable potential energy. This may be, for example, a mass which is alternately moved in the gravitational field of the earth between two different altitudes. In this case, the discharge of the energy storage device corresponds to the movement of the mass from the higher layer to the lower layer, whereby the potential energy of the mass in the gravitational field of the earth is reduced and converted into kinetic energy of the movable furniture part.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the force accumulator comprises at least one spring, which may preferably be a helical spring. The charged energy storage in this case corresponds to the tensioned spring, while the discharge of the energy storage corresponds to the relaxation of the spring. Under tensioned spring is understood as a compressed as well as an expanded spring. Especially when the charging of the energy storage device by the drive unit should already take place a short time after completion of the ejection process, can be advantageously provided that the furniture has a drivable by the drive unit device, preferably crank, in a first and in a second position with the ejector is contactable. The device holds in its first position the ejector against the application 35 by the charged energy storage back. By moving the device away from its first position, the ejector is released, whereby the energy accumulator can discharge and the ejector accelerates the movable furniture part. In its second position, the device contacts the ejector again to return it against being acted upon by the energy storage in the starting position. Since it must be done by the drive unit work against the 40 acting on the energy storage, the energy storage is recharged.

The invention further relates to a method for ejecting a movable furniture part, in particular drawer or door from a closed end position in or on a piece of furniture 45 which has a drive unit and a force accumulator, wherein the force accumulator for ejecting the movable furniture part up to a predetermined or predetermined Degree, but preferably completely unloaded on the movable furniture part and the energy storage is charged after the ejection of the movable furniture part of the drive unit, preferably completely. 50

Preferably, the furniture has an actable from the energy storage, movable between two positions ejector, preferably plunger, and a drivable by the drive unit device, preferably crank on, said device the ejector before initiating the ejection process of the movable furniture part against the impingement of 55 energy storage in holds back the first position, the device the ejector to the introduction 4

AT 413 933 B of the ejection process of the movable furniture part is free and after completion of the ejection process, the ejector from the second position against the application of the energy storage in the first position returns. In the embodiment of the drivable by the drive unit device as a crank is advantageously provided that the crank executes a full revolution from release of the ejector from its first position to the deferral of the ejector in its first position. Furthermore, it can be provided that the crank executes a half turn from the release of the ejector from its first position to the renewed contacting of the ejector in its second position.

In the execution of the energy storage device as a spring, this is stretched in the charged state of the energy storage, that is either compressed or expanded. During the ejection process, the spring relaxes, whereby the stored energy in the spring is converted via the ejector 15 in kinetic energy of the movable furniture part. Preferably, a short time after the ejection of the movable furniture part, the spring is stretched again.

In the embodiment of the force accumulator as a fluid pressure accumulator, the fluid is compressed in the charged state 20 of the energy accumulator. During the discharge of the energy accumulator, the partial or complete expansion of the fluid is allowed, whereby the movable piston of the fluid pressure accumulator is moved outward. As a result, the internal energy of the gas is converted into kinetic energy of the movable furniture part. To charge the force accumulator, the fluid is compressed again by moving the piston in and thereby reducing the volume. Conceivable, of course, would be a fluid energy storage in which the fluid is expanded in the charged state of the energy storage to generate a negative pressure in the fluid volume. After release of the piston takes place by the resulting suction the discharge of the energy storage, which can be converted by suitable mechanical measures in a discharge movement of the movable furniture part. 30

In the embodiment of the energy storage device as mass with variable potential energy, the mass in the charged state of the energy accumulator has a first value of potential energy, which is reduced to a lower second value during the ejection process. To charge the energy storage, the potential energy of the mass is returned to its first higher value by the drive unit. It can be mechanically any device in which a mass in the gravitational field of the earth is arranged with adjustable altitude.

In each of the methods according to the invention it can be provided that the discharge of the energy store on the movable furniture part is sufficient to push the movable furniture part from the closed end position into the fully opened end position. Alternatively, the movable furniture part is moved out of its closed end position only so far that a user can manually engage in the resulting gap and manually open the movable furniture part further. 45

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1, Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4a, 4b 55 Fig. 5a, 5b is a perspective view of an ejection device according to the invention, a sectional view, through the discharge device shown in Fig. 1 in a first state, shown in Fig. 2 Ejector in a second state, sectional views of another embodiment of the invention in a first and a second state,

Sectional views of a further embodiment of the invention in FIG. 5

AT 413 933 B a first and a second state,

6a, 6b are sectional views of another embodiment of the invention in a first and a second state and Fig. 7 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a device according to the invention arranged in a piece of furniture 1, which in this embodiment is composed of an ejector designated by 5 and a device designated 11 for releasing and retrieving the ejector 5, which is drivable via a drive unit 3. The ejector 5 comprises in this embodiment, a piston-shaped base body with a plunger disposed thereon. The drive unit 3 is activated via lines (not shown) of the sensor 6, which in this embodiment is an optical sensor.

Based on the figure 2 and 3, an inventive ejection process will be explained below with reference to the embodiment shown there.

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the device shown in Figure 1, wherein now the internal structure of the energy accumulator 4 can be seen. This is formed in this embodiment by a spring 10 which acts on the guided in a sleeve 15 piston-shaped main body of the ejector 5. The sleeve 15 in this case has a centrally located in its interior further sleeve 16, which serves to guide the spring 10. In the illustrated state, the spring 10 is tensioned and acts on the ejector 5, which is retained by the device 11 (crank). The movable furniture part 2 is not acted upon by a force.

By a force exerted by the user on the movable furniture part 2, this moves a small distance away from the furniture body, which is registered by the sensor 6 and reported via lines of the drive unit 3, not shown. This then triggers an electric motor, not shown, which moves out the executed in this embodiment as a crank device 11 from its first position shown in Figure 2, whereby the ejector 5 is released and the spring 10 can relax. This accelerates thereby guided in the sleeve 15 piston of the ejector 5, which gives the movable furniture part 2 on the plunger shock. The translational movement of the piston is limited in this embodiment by a arranged on the inner sleeve 16 flange 14 and arranged in the sleeve 15 corresponding stops 13. After completion of the ejection process, the piston of the ejector 5 is in its position shown in Figure 3.

In Figure 3, the executed as a crank device 11 has performed approximately half a revolution and now takes on its subsequent half turn the piston of the ejector 5 and thus the plunger arranged on it back to the first position shown in Figure 2. In this case, the spring 10 is stretched again, so that overall results in the state shown in Figure 2 again.

Figures 4a and 4b show a further embodiment of a device according to the invention, in which the force accumulator 4 is designed in the form of a fluid pressure accumulator 7, which comprises a formed in this embodiment in the sleeve 15 punch 17, which together with the piston of the ejector 5 is a variable , with a compressible fluid (here: gas) filled volume 19 defines. To recognize further is a fluid-filled volume 19 sealing seal 19, for example, a rubber ring.

In Figure 4a, the ejector 5 is retained by the device 11 in its charged position against the pressurization of the compressed fluid in the volume 19.

Figure 4b shows the state after triggering of the ejector 5, shortly before the device

Claims (9)

6 AT 413 933 B 11 on its last half turn the piston of the ejector 5 and thus the plunger arranged on it back into the first position shown in Figure 4a. In the discharged state shown in FIG. 4b, the volume 19 which is enlarged compared to FIG. 4a can be clearly seen. FIGS. 5a and 5b show a further embodiment of a device according to the invention, in which the force accumulator 4 comprises two magnets 8 arranged at a variable distance from each other. The magnets 8 are arranged with their homonymous poles to each other. The one magnet 8 is fixed to the back of the sleeve 15, while the other magnet 8 is connected to the piston of the ejector 5. In the charged state of the energy accumulator 4 shown in FIG. 5a, the relative distance between the two magnets 8 is less than in the unloaded state of the energy accumulator 4 shown in FIG. 5b. FIGS. 6a and 6b show a further embodiment of a device according to the invention, in which the energy accumulator 4 comprises a height-adjustable mass 9, which communicates via rods 20, 21 with the device according to the invention. The one rod 20 is hinged to the sleeve 15, while the other rod 21 is pivotally connected to the piston of the ejector 5. In the charged state of the energy accumulator 4 shown in Figure 6a, the mass 9 is at a greater height than in the discharged state shown in Figure 6b of the energy accumulator 4. During the downward movement, the mass 9 pushes the piston of the ejector 5 25 to the outside, while at the inward movement of the piston is lifted by the device 11 through this back to its original height. FIG. 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment in which the energy accumulator 4 comprises a spring 10 as in FIGS. 1 to 3. From the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the embodiment according to FIG. 7 differs in that the tappet of the ejector 5 comprises a damping device 22 (here: fluid damper). As a result, the closing movement of the movable furniture part 2 can be damped. The arrangement of a damping device 22 is of course possible regardless of the nature of the energy accumulator 4. The triggering of the ejection function can be carried out in the handle-less version of the movable furniture part 2, for example, that in the closed end position still some game for manual movement of the movable furniture part 2 against the intended ejection direction remains. The manually caused movement of the movable furniture part 2 can be detected in a manner familiar to those skilled, depending on the type of sensor 40 sensor 6 and fed this detection signal to the drive unit 3, wor after the drive unit 3 via the device 11, the ejector 5 releases. In this embodiment, the user to trigger the ejection process of the movable furniture part 2 so only at any point on the front of the movable furniture part 2 in its closed end position pressure on this exert to the activation of the drive unit 3 and 45 consequently the ejection of the movable furniture part 2 to cause. Of course, when used to eject a drawer, the ejector 5 according to the invention can also be arranged on the rear side of the cabinet 1 and act on the rear side of the drawer. 50 claims: 1. Furniture with a movable furniture part, especially drawer or door, an on-55 drive unit and a power storage, wherein the energy storage for expelling the 7 AT 413 933 B movable furniture part from its closed end position in or on furniture on the movable furniture part discharges and wherein the energy storage is chargeable by the drive unit, characterized in that the energy storage device (4) independently of the movable furniture part (2) by the drive unit (3) is chargeable. 5 2. Furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that the furniture (1) has an ejector (5), preferably plunger, for the movable furniture part (2), which is acted upon by the energy storage device (4). 3. Furniture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the furniture (1) has a sensor (6), preferably an optical sensor, whose signals are at least the drive unit (3) can be fed. 4. Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the drive unit 15 (3) comprises an electric motor. 5. Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the force accumulator (4) comprises a fluid pressure accumulator (7). 20 6. Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the force accumulator (4) comprises at least one magnet (8). 7. Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the force accumulator (4) comprises at least one mass (9) with variable potential energy. 25 8. Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the force accumulator (4) at least one spring (10), preferably coil spring comprises. 9. Furniture according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the furniture (1) 30 one of the drive unit (3) drivable device (11), preferably crank, has, in a first and in a second position with the ejector (5) is contactable. 10. Furniture according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the ejector (5) 35 comprises a damping device (22). 11. A method for ejecting a movable furniture part, in particular drawer or door, from a closed end position in or on a piece of furniture, which has a drive unit and a force accumulator, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the energy accumulator for ejecting the movable furniture part up is discharged to a predetermined or predetermined degree, in particular completely, on the movable furniture part and wherein the energy storage is charged after the ejection of the movable furniture part of the drive unit, in particular completely, characterized in that the energy storage (4) independently of the movable Furniture part (2) by the drive unit (3) is charged. 12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the furniture (1) acted upon by the energy storage device (4) movable between two positions ejector (5), preferably plunger, and one of the drive unit (3) drivable device (11), preferably the crank, wherein the device (11) restrains the ejector (5) in the first position prior to the initiation of the ejection process of the movable furniture part (2) against the action of the force accumulator (4), the device (11) controls the ejector (5 ) to initiate the ejection process of the movable furniture part (2) free and after completion of the ejection process, the ejector (5) from the second position against the 55 loading of the energy accumulator (4) in the first position returns. 8 AT 413 933 B 13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the device (11) is a crank which executes from the release of the ejector (5) from the first position to the deferral of the ejector (5) in its first position one full turn. 14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the device (11) is a crank which executes from the release of the ejector (5) from its first position to contacting the ejector (5) in its second position half a turn , 15. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the power io memory (4) is a spring (10) in the charged state of the energy accumulator (4) is tensioned ge, during the ejection process is relaxed and after the expulsion of the movable furniture part (2) is stretched again. 16. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the force 15 memory (4) is a fluid pressure accumulator (7), in which the fluid is compressed in the charged state of the energy accumulator (4), is expanded during the ejection process and after the ejection of the movable furniture part (2) is compressed again. 17. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the force memory 20 (4) comprises at least one mass (9) with variable potential energy, wherein the mass (9) in the charged state of the force accumulator (4) a has first value of potential energy, the potential energy during the ejection process is reduced to a second value and is brought back to its first value after the ejection of the movable furniture part (2). 25 18. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 17, characterized in that the force from the memory (4) on the movable furniture part (2) force exerted to move the movable furniture part (2) in the fully open end position leads. 30 Including 6 sheets of drawings 35 40 45 50 55