EP0312779B1 - Electric control circuit for a cabinet and/or a table attached to a vertical wall - Google Patents

Abstract

The electric control circuit for furniture with positions of use which can be varied on a vertical attachment surface consists essentially of a ballast, which can be connected to a customary alternating current mains supply, having a transformer, which transforms the mains alternating current to a control low current, and a rectifier, as well as an operating unit, which can be connected to the ballast, an electrical intermediate part, connected to the operating unit, for generating control signals determined by the operating unit, as well as a control part, which is connected to the electronic intermediate part, for operational control of at least one electric motor, which moves the movable furniture parts into the respectively desired position, and at least one safety shutoff device which is arranged on a movable furniture part and operates independently of the operating unit.

Description

The invention relates to an electrical control switching device for cabinet and / or table furniture mounted on a vertical wall, the positions of which can be changed electromechanically on the wall, such that one or more wall cabinets or tables arranged side by side or one above the other are each between an upper end position and are adjustable in a lower end position and can be locked in any position within the adjustment path, one or more wall cabinets arranged at the same height and / or one or more tables below the wall cabinets each being arranged at the same height, each with a known tubular shaft with a non-rotatable therein arranged from a usual Mains power line-fed drive motor are non-positively connected and the drive motor is equipped in a manner known per se with an automatic switch-off device for the upper and the lower end position of the adjusting device.

DE-GM 86 27 923 has made known such cabinet and / or table furniture, which was also shown at exhibitions and demonstrated in function. In this case, at the front of at least one piece of furniture, for example a table, a push-button set is arranged, on which the mains power line with, for example, 220 V is applied, from which the motor or motors for driving the tubular shaft or tubular shafts are also supplied.

Such a control switching device is structurally very simple. The person using the furniture presses the button switch responsible for a certain movement - upwards or downwards - of a furniture part or a row of furniture until the furniture part or the row of furniture is in the desired position, where it remains when the button is released.

However, such a simple control switching device also has considerable disadvantages: it harbors dangers both for the people using the furniture and for the furniture itself and objects placed thereon. Quite apart from the dangers for people from a push button set that is directly connected to a mains voltage of 220V, accidents can result from accidental pressing of the wrong push button switches and thus unwanted movements of the furniture parts. This can not only result in serious injuries to people, but also material damage.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing an electrical control switching device for furniture of the type defined in the preamble of claim 1 and at the outset of the description, in which the above-described deficiencies of the known control switching devices are eliminated. The dangers for persons handling the furniture are to be excluded, which in themselves are based on a manually operated switching device to which the mains voltage of 220 V is directly applied. In particular, it should also be excluded that incorrect operation can result in injuries to people or material damage. The operating elements of the control switching device should be absolutely currentless in the idle state.
Finally, the control switching device should be simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

The object is achieved in that the control switching device has the features in the form of modules according to the characterizing part of claim 1.

Further features of the invention and alternative detailed solutions emerge from claims 2 to 12.

Fig. 1

Ein Schaltbild des Vorschaltgerätes;

Fig. 2

ein Schaltbild einer Bedienungseinheit;

Fig. 3

ein Schaltbild des elektronischen Zwischenteils;

Fig. 4

ein Schaltbild des Steuerteils nebst Antriebsmotor;

Fig. 5

ein Schaltbild einer Sicherheits-Abschalteinrichtung;

Fig. 6

ein Schaltbild einer Bedienungseinheit mit Infrarot-Fernbedienungseinrichtung;

Fig. 7

Ein Schaltbild einer Einschaltverzögerung.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of a drawing, for example, which reproduces it, in terms of structure and function, which can be recognized by the person skilled in the art in the circuit diagrams. Show it:

Fig. 1

A circuit diagram of the ballast;

Fig. 2

a circuit diagram of an operating unit;

Fig. 3

a circuit diagram of the electronic intermediate part;

Fig. 4

a circuit diagram of the control part together with the drive motor;

Fig. 5

a circuit diagram of a safety shutdown device;

Fig. 6

a circuit diagram of a control unit with infrared remote control device;

Fig. 7

A circuit diagram of a switch-on delay.

A ballast (Fig. 1) with a transformer 1 can be connected with the primary side of the transformer to a 220 V AC power line. A power switch 3 is provided in the connection part 2. A fuse 4 is installed in phase 2a of the power line. Phase 2a and neutral conductor 2b of the mains cable are connected by a cable bridge to a control lamp 5 which indicates the operational readiness of the ballast.
The transformer 1 transforms the 220 V mains current into a 15 V low current. A bridge rectifier 6 in the form of a Graetz circuit is connected to its secondary side, through which the 15 V alternating current is rectified into a switching current. In the + phase 6a coming from the rectifier 6, an Ic 7 is arranged as a voltage stabilizer.
Between the + phase 6a and the - phase 6b of the switching circuit, a filter capacitor 8 and an interference suppressor 9 are enclosed before the AND gate 7 and after the AND gate 7.
At the input of the switching current line coming from the ballast (FIG. 1), a key switch 10 is arranged in its + phase 6a, with which the downstream operating unit (FIG. 2) can be locked for unauthorized use. Behind the key switch 10, a light-emitting diode 11 with a series resistor 12 for current limitation for the light-emitting diode is switched on between + phase 6a and - phase 6b of the switching current line. The signal from the light-emitting diode 11 after the + phase 6a has been connected by the key switch 10 indicates that the operating unit is ready for operation.

In the + phase 6a of the switching current line, two pushbuttons 13, 14 are arranged, of which one pushbutton switch 13 is provided for the upward movement of the drive device and the other pushbutton switch 14 for the downward movement of the drive device. A branch 6.1a for the upward movement of the drive device or 6.2a for the downward movement of the drive device leads to an electronic intermediate part of each pushbutton switch 13, 14 - but spatially separated from it - (FIG. 3).
Between the two pushbuttons 13, 14 there is a line cross 15, one leg 15a of which, when the pushbutton switch 13 is actuated, forms a connection between the + phase 6a of the switching current line to the branch 6.1a for the upward movement of the drive device and the other leg 15b of which is actuated Pushbutton switch 14 forms a connection of the + phase 6a to the other branch 6.2a for the downward movement of the drive device.
The line cross 15 precludes the switching current being applied to both branches 6.1a and 6.2a of the + phase 6a by simultaneously pressing both pushbuttons 13, 14. It is rather the case that both when both pushbuttons 13, 14 are not pressed and when both pushbuttons are pressed, the following parts of the control switching device are completely currentless.

An AND gate 16 is arranged in the electronic intermediate part (FIG. 3) in the branch 6.2a of the + phase 6a of the switching current line intended for the downward movement of the drive device. This only generates a signal on its output side 16a if a signal is present at its two inputs - the branch 6.2a of the switching current line and the input 16b, which is connected to a safety shutdown device arranged on the moving furniture part (FIG. 5) .

In the illustrated embodiment, which is intended for a wall cabinet or a row of wall cabinets arranged at the same height next to one another and moving together, the downward movement is inevitably terminated by a limit switch present in the drive motor of the tubular shaft, even if the push-button switch 13 is pressed accidentally. Therefore, no components for a safety shutdown in the upward movement are provided in the electronic intermediate part (FIG. 3) in the branch 6.1a of the + phase 6a.

A transistor 17, 18 is arranged at the ends of the branches 6.1a and 6.2a of the switching current line. Two resistors 19, 20 and 21, 22 are arranged in front of these transistors in each branch 6.1a, 6.2a of the switching current line, of which one resistor 19 or 21 is applied to the phase. The resistor pairs 19, 20 and 21, 22 each form a voltage divider, among other things for voltage limitation at the base of the downstream transistors 17, 18.

The electronic intermediate part (FIG. 3) is followed in the control switching device by a control part (FIG. 4), each with a relay 23, 24 at the ends of branches 6.1a and 6.2a of the switching current line. The switching circuit is electrically isolated from the 220 V mains current feeding the drive motor 25 by the relays 23, 24.

The transistors 17, 18 function here as switches for the relays 23, 24. Between them and the relays, a diode 26, 27 is arranged in the branches 6.1a and 6.2a of the switching current line, which short-circuit induction voltages coming from the relay coils and thus protect the transistors.

In the phase 28 of the 220 V mains power line feeding the relays 23, 24, a switch 29, 30 is arranged for each relay, from which - spatially separated - a branch 28a, 28b of the phase 28 leads to the drive motor 25. One branch 28a is intended for the upward movement and the other branch 28b for the downward movement of the drive motor 25. Between the two switches 29, 30 there is a line cross 31, through which the phase 28 of the operating current for the drive motor 25, depending on the action of one or the other relay 23, 24, on the branch 28a for the upward movement or on the branch 28b for the downward movement of the drive motor 25 is passed. When the switch 29 is actuated by the relay 23, the phase 28 is directed via the switch 30 and the leg 31a of the line cross 31 to the branch 28a of the phase of the operating current for the upward movement of the drive motor 25. If the switch 29 is actuated by the relay 24, the phase 28 is conducted via the switch 29 and the leg 31b of the cross wire to the branch 28b of the phase for the downward movement of the drive motor 25.
In the idle state of the control switching device, phase 28 of the operating current for drive motor 25 is inevitably interrupted.

A safety shutdown device (FIG. 5) is arranged on the underside of a hanging cupboard or a hanging cupboard row not shown in the drawing. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this is a surface light barrier 32 known per se, the transmitter 32 a and receiver 32 b of which are connected to the switching circuit. The signal transmitter 33 emanating from the receiver 32b is connected to the second input 16b of the AND gate 16 in the electronic intermediate part (FIG. 3). As soon as the wall cabinet or the Wall cabinet row the light barrier 32 detects an object, the light beam is interrupted; the signal running from the receiver 32b via the signal transmitter 33 to the AND gate 16 in the electronic intermediate part (FIG. 3) fails; the downstream transistor 18 no longer receives current; the associated relay 24 opens the switch 30; the phase 28 for feeding the drive motor 25 is interrupted; the drive motor stops immediately and the wall cupboard or the wall cupboard row remains in the position it was in when it was switched off.
A further downward movement is only possible again when the obstacle under the cabinet has been removed, for which purpose the cabinet may first have to be raised by actuating the "up" switch 13 on the operating unit (FIG. 2).
Instead of the light barrier 32, another type of surface switch can also be used in the safety shutdown device.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described above with the circuit diagrams shown in the drawing. For example, the operating unit (FIG. 2) can contain an infrared remote control known per se instead of or in addition to the push button switch operation. A corresponding circuit diagram is shown in Fig. 6.

A control switching device according to the invention can also comprise a plurality of pieces of furniture or rows of furniture arranged one above the other, for example a control part for a wall cabinet or wall unit row and a control part for a table furniture or table furniture line arranged underneath. The control part for the lower furniture can be designed in exactly the same way as the device described above for a wall cabinet or a row of wall cabinets. The assemblies of the switching device are to be connected so that the safety shutdown device on the underside of the wall cabinet or the wall unit row also comes into effect - in the same way as described above - when an object standing on it moves upwards when the table furniture is moved upwards Area reached. The drive motor of the table furniture is then switched off.

A perfection of the control switching device according to the invention is that in the electronic intermediate part (Fig. 3) a switch-on delay is arranged in each switching branch 6.1a, 6.2a, as for example from the circuit diagram according to. Fig. 7 can be seen. For this purpose, a further resistor 20a is first provided in the switching branch 6.2a in the + phases in addition to the resistor 20 in the switching branch 6.1a. These two resistors 20 and 20a together with an electrolytic capacitor 34, 35, both of which are connected against the phase, form timing elements known per se. These act in such a way that only after a certain charging time of the electrolytic capacitors 34, 35 does a voltage level build up at the switching stages at the input 6.1b to the transistor 17 and at the input 6.2b to the AND element 16, after which these switching elements and the Turn on element 16 downstream transistor 18. The relays 23, 24 are thus triggered with a time delay. An RF capacitor 36, 37 is arranged in front of the relays 23, 24. These prevent or suppress RF oscillation of the transistors 17, 18.

Claims (12)

1. An electrical control and switching device for cabinets and/or tables mounted to a vertical wall, their positions on the wall being electromechanically variable in such a manner that one or more wall cabinets or tables, being arranged beside or above each other, are each adjustable between an upper end position and a lower end position and may be locked in any position within their travel, with one or more wall cabinets arranged below the wall cabinets at even height being friction-locked to a pipe shaft, known per se, including a drive motor mounted therein with locking against rotation and with power supply from a normal mains line, the drive motor being equipped in known manner to an automatic disconnector each for the upper and the lower end positions of the adjusting device, wherein the following features are provided by way of assemblies:

   a) a control device (Fig. 1) connectable to an 220 V A.C. supply cable (2), the device including a transformer (1) for transforming the 220 V A.C. into 15 V low tension and a rectifier (6) subordinated to the transformer (1), with an intergrated circuit (IC) acting as voltage stabilizer being installed in the + phase;

   b) a control unit (Fig. 2) connectable to the switching circuit (6a, 6b) at the output of the control device or permanently connected to it, having a pushbutton pair (13, 14) for a drive unit including a pipe shaft and a drive motor (25) mounted therein, the pushbuttons being inserted in the + phase (6a) of the control circuit, one of the pushbuttons (13) being provided for the upward movement and the other pushbutton (14) for the downward movement of the drive unit, the + phase (6a) of each pushbutton (13, 14) of the control circuit continuing in separate branches (6.1a, 6.2a), and a line crossing (15) being installed between the two pushbuttons, whereby the control current will be passed to the drive motor (25) only if one of the pushbuttons (13 or 14) is operated;

   c) an intermediate electronic component (Fig. 3) connectable to the branches (6.1a, 6.2a) of the control unit (Fig. 2) or permanently connected to them, wherein at least in the + phase (6.2a) of the control circuit for the downward movement of the drive unit an AND element (16) is installed by way of an integrated circuit (IC) for generating a signal at its output side (16a) if signals are present simultaneously at its two imputs (6.2a, 16b), one of which (16b) being connected to safety shutdown means (Fig. 5), and wherein a transistor (17, 18) each is installed as switching element at the output of the intermediate electronic component in each branch (6.1a, 6.2a) of the + phase;

   d) a control unit (Fig. 4) connectable to the transistors (17, 18) of the intermediate electronic component or permanently connected to them, having one relay each at the ends of the branches (6.1a, 6.2a) of the + phase of the control circuit whereby it is electrically isolated from the 220 V power supply cable feeding the drive motor (25), wherein a motor circuit-breaker each (29, 30) operated by one relay (23, 24) each for the upward and the downward movement of the drive unit is installed in the phase (28) of the 220 V power supply cable and wherein a line crossing (31) is located between the two motor circuit-breakers enabling activation of the drive motor (25) in the upward or the downward direction only if one of the two motor circuit-breakers (29, 30) is operated; and

   e) at least one safety shutdown means (Fig.5) installed at the bottom of a wall cabinet or line of wall cabinets, respectively, forming a loop in the line to the second input (16b) of the AND element (16) and interrupting the power supply to the second input (16b) of the AND element if operated.
2. An electricol control and switching device according to claim 1, wherein the rectifier (6) in the control gear is designed as Graetz circuit bridge rectifier, wherein a filter capacitor (8) is installed in the + phase (6a) of the control circuit between the bridge rectifier (6) and the AND element (7), and wherein a radio interference suppression capacitor (9) is arranged behind the AND element (7).
3. An electrical control and switching device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a mains switch (3) and a fuse (4) are installed in the power supply line (2) to the transformer (1).
4. An electrical control and switching device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a key switch (10) is provided at the input of the + phase (6a) of the control circuit line to the control unit (Fig. 2).
5. An electrical control and switching device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein between the + phase (6a) and the - phase (6b) of the control circuit and before the pushbuttons (13, 14), a cable link with a light-emitting diode (11) is installed providing an equipment-on signal and wherein a series resistor (12) is provided as a current limiter for the light-emitting diode (11) between it and the + phase (6a).
6. An electrical control and switching device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit (Fig. 2) includes an infrared remote control device (Fig. 6) known per se.
7. An electrical control and switching device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a resistor (19, 21) as a voltage divider before the transistors (17, 18) and for interference suppression and another resistor (20, 22) for current limiting are installed at the minus side of the control circuit in the branches (6.1a, 6.2a) of the + phase of the control circuit.
8. An electrical control and switching device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a resistor (21a) is arranged at the minus side of the control circuit in the branch (6.2a) of the + phase of the control circuit for the downward movement of the drive motor (25) and before the AND element (16), preventing electrical charging and other interferences from the + phase of the control circuit, the second input (16b) of the AND element (16) including a so-called pull-up resistor (21b) for preventing shorts during switching processes as well as safety shutdowns.
9. An electrical control and switching device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein one protective diode each (6, 27) is installed in the branches (6.1a, 6.2a) of the + phase of the control circuit between the transistors (17, 18) of the intermediate electronic component (Fig. 3) and the relays (23, 24) of the control unit (Fig. 4).
10. An electrical control and switching device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the safety shutdown means (Fig. 5) or at least one of the safety shutdowns means is designed as a known light barrier switching device (32, 32a).
11. An electrical control and switching device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a turn-on delay means (Fig. 7) is installed at each switching point (6.1a, 6.2a) of the intermediate electronic component (3), wherein the resistor (20) in the branch (6.1a) and another resistor (20a) in the branch (6.2a) in the + phases form RC modules, known per se, in conjunction with one electrolyte capacitor each (34, 35) both of which are connected to the - phases and wherein one H.F. capacitor each (36, 37) is installed between the transistors (17, 18) and the relay (23, 24).
12. An electrical control and switching device according to claim 1, wherein the pushbutttons (13, 14) of the control unit (Fig. 2) are equipped with sensor buttons known per se.

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