Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
  • E05D15/00—Suspension arrangements for wings
  • E05D15/06—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane
  • E05D15/10—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane
  • E05D15/1065—Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane movable out of one plane into a second parallel plane with transversely moving track
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
  • E05F15/00—Power-operated mechanisms for wings
  • E05F15/60—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators
  • E05F15/603—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors
  • E05F15/632—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors for horizontally-sliding wings
  • E05F15/635—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors for horizontally-sliding wings operated by push-pull mechanisms, e.g. flexible or rigid rack-and-pinion arrangements
  • E05F15/638—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors for horizontally-sliding wings operated by push-pull mechanisms, e.g. flexible or rigid rack-and-pinion arrangements allowing or involving a secondary movement of the wing, e.g. rotational or transversal
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
  • E05F15/00—Power-operated mechanisms for wings
  • E05F15/60—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators
  • E05F15/603—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors
  • E05F15/632—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors for horizontally-sliding wings
  • E05F15/643—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors for horizontally-sliding wings operated by flexible elongated pulling elements, e.g. belts, chains or cables
  • E05F15/646—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors for horizontally-sliding wings operated by flexible elongated pulling elements, e.g. belts, chains or cables allowing or involving a secondary movement of the wing, e.g. rotational or transversal
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
  • E05F15/00—Power-operated mechanisms for wings
  • E05F15/70—Power-operated mechanisms for wings with automatic actuation
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
  • E05F15/00—Power-operated mechanisms for wings
  • E05F15/70—Power-operated mechanisms for wings with automatic actuation
  • E05F15/73—Power-operated mechanisms for wings with automatic actuation responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
  • E05Y2201/00—Constructional elements; Accessories therefore
  • E05Y2201/60—Suspension or transmission members; Accessories therefore
  • E05Y2201/606—Accessories therefore
  • E05Y2201/62—Synchronisation of transmission members
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
  • E05Y2201/00—Constructional elements; Accessories therefore
  • E05Y2201/60—Suspension or transmission members; Accessories therefore
  • E05Y2201/622—Suspension or transmission members elements
  • E05Y2201/706—Shafts
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
  • E05Y2400/00—Electronic control; Power supply; Power or signal transmission; User interfaces
  • E05Y2400/80—User interfaces
  • E05Y2400/85—User input means
  • E05Y2400/852—Sensors
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
  • E05Y2400/00—Electronic control; Power supply; Power or signal transmission; User interfaces
  • E05Y2400/80—User interfaces
  • E05Y2400/85—User input means
  • E05Y2400/852—Sensors
  • E05Y2400/856—Actuation thereof
  • E05Y2400/858—Actuation thereof by body parts
  • E05Y2400/86—Actuation thereof by body parts by hand
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
  • E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
  • E05Y2900/20—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for furnitures, e.g. cabinets

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method for opening doors of a cupboard.
• the invention also relates to mechanisms for performing the opening.
• EP 0 648 987 dis- closes a particular advantage where quick opening and closing of such doors as of a refrigerator are desired in order to avoid that the cold from the refrigerator flows out of the refrigerator.
• a mechanism for sideways displacement of a door of a cupboard is shown and disclosed in e.g. FR 2 476 193.
• this mechanism has a disadvantage in that it is impossible to open the door when an obstacle is placed next to the door to be opened, such as a second door of the same cupboard or of a cupboard next to the cupboard in question.
• the space without obstacles must correspond to the width of the door.
• This object is achieved by a method characterised in that the door is opened in planes which are substantially parallel, and said method also comprising the door being initially opened from a first plane where the door is closed, and substantially perpendicularly to the first plane by displacement of the door outwards to a second plane where the door is partly open, and said method further comprising the door being subsequently opened parallel to the second plane by the door being displaced sideways in the second plane until the door is completely open, and said method comprising automatic outwards displacement and subsequent automatic sideways displacement of the door.
• the object is also achieved by a method where the door is opened in planes which are substantially parallel, and said method comprising the door being opened from a first plane where the door is closed and where the door is initially opened by simultaneous displacement substantially perpendicularly and parallel to the first plane by combined displacement of the door outwards and sideways to a second plane where the door is partly open, and said method further comprising the door being subsequently opened parallel to the second plane by displacement of the door further sideways in the second plane until the door is completely open, and said method comprising automatic combined outwards and sideways displacement of the door and subsequent automatic sideways displacement of the door.
• a mechanism to be used with the first mentioned method is characterised in that the mechanism comprises a first actuator designed to initially displace the door from a first plane where the door is closed, substantially perpendicularly to the first plane and outwards to a second plane where the door is partly open, and said mechanism comprising a second actuator designed to subsequently displace the door parallel to the second plane and sideways in the second plane until the door is completely open.
• An alternative mechanism to be used with the first mentioned method is characterised in that the mechanism comprises a single actuator designed to initially displace the door from a first plane where the door is closed, substantially perpendicularly to the first plane and outwards to a second plane where the door is partly open, and said actuator being designed to subsequently displace the door parallel to the second plane and sideways in the second plane until the door is completely open.
• a mechanism to be used with the second mentioned method is characterised in that the mechanism comprises a single actuator designed to initially displace the door from a first plane where the door is closed, and simultaneously substantially perpendicularly and parallel to the first plane by combined displacement outwards and sideways to a second plane where the door is partly open, and said actuator being designed to subsequently displace the door parallel to the second plane and further sideways in the second plane until the door is completely open.
• the cupboard with doors may be used for several purposes, both privately and commercially.
• the cupboard with doors may be used in kitchens and bathrooms, for clinical use, e.g. by doctors and dentists, at institutions and at hospitals as well as for disabled persons who cannot themselves or for whom it is at least difficult to handle doors of a cupboard.
• the doors may be made of any type of material suitable for doors and drawers.
• the doors may e.g. be made of glass.
• the mechanism according to the invention contributes to improving the appearance of the doors and drawers, respectively, and if the doors are made of glass, fingerprints on the glass may be avoided, which may otherwise be a consequence of touching the glass when opening and closing the doors.
• a possible function of methods and mechanisms according to the invention may be the following function, which is described on the basis of a cupboard with doors of which one or more is to be opened, but where adjacent doors of the same or other cupboards are not to be opened at the same time.
• the method must be able to effect opening of cupboards with double doors so that both doors open at the same time.
• the method must alternatively be able to effect opening vertically towards the ceiling and/or towards the floor.
• the cupboard may be provided with an electronic control means for steering the mechanism.
• the electronic control means is made on a printed circuit board and is built into the cupboard. Covering plates may cover the printed circuit board and the mechanism.
• the electronic control means and the mechanism are provided with an adapter which is plugged in. Internal voltages to motors and sensors are no higher than 24 V so that all current in the cupboard is weak current.
• the cupboard is provided with sensors, such as photocells, or an infrared sensor to register any movement in front of the doors of the cupboard.
• the cupboard may be provided with sensors in a finger-touch panel or in a panel having actual control buttons so that opening and possible closing of the doors will be effected by manual operation of the panel.
• the sensors may register when a hand is moved in front of the door.
• the door is closed when movement has not been registered in e.g. between 4 and 30 seconds.
• Control is performed to ensure that an adjacent cupboard is not open. First the door is displaced outwards. Then the door is displaced side- ways. Control is performed under operation to ensure that there is no resistance, as such resistance will stop the displacement. A stop is effected on the basis of time or position or as an end stop.
• a door is closed, the following takes place: First the door is displaced sideways towards the middle of the cupboard. Then the door is displaced inwards. Control is performed under operation to ensure that there is no resistance, as such resistance will stop the displacement. A stop is effected on the basis of time or position or as an end stop.
• the power consumption of the actuators is metered to register if anything prevents displacement of the door. As above this method may also be used for drawers in a chest of drawers.
• Fig. 1 is an outline of a cupboard with a possible first embodiment of a mechanism according to the invention for opening and closing cupboard doors
• Figs. 2A-2C are outlines of the cupboard with the first embodiment of the mechanism and seen in different view
• Fig. 2D is an outline of a cross section of a cupboard seen from above with a mechanism according to the invention and with doors shown in an open position
• Fig. 3 is an outline of a chest of drawers with 5 drawers and with a mechanism according to the invention for opening and closing the drawers
• Figs. 4A-4C are outlines of the chest of drawers with the top drawer shown displaced outwards by means of the mechanism (not shown).
• Figs. 5A-5B are outlines of a cupboard with a second possible embodiment of a mechanism according to the invention for opening and closing cupboard doors
• Fig. 6 shows a detailed drawing of an embodiment of a frame for a cupboard, said frame comprising one or two drive mechanisms according to the invention
• Fig. 7 is a detailed drawing of a third and preferred embodiment of a mechanism according to the invention
• Figs. 8A-8B is an exploded view and an assembly drawing, respectively, of a carriage for the third embodiment of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7,
• Figs. 9A-9B are detailed drawings of a possible embodiment of a mount to be used together with the carriage shown in Figs. 8A-8B and the mechanism shown in Fig. 7, Figs. 10A-10E are detailed drawings of different sections through the third embodiment of the mechanism according to the invention, and Fig. 11 shows successive outlines of the positions of a door when the door is being opened and closed, respectively, by using a third embodiment of the mechanism according to the invention.
• Fig. 1 shows a cupboard 1 having doors 2. Inside the cupboard 1, two actuators 3, 4 are arranged, formed by two electromotors.
• the first electromotor 3 is designed to perform initial opening of the doors 2 of the cupboard, and the second electromotor 4 is designed to perform subsequent and final opening of the doors 2.
• the second electromotor 4 is also designed to perform initial closing of the doors 2
• the first electromotor 3 is also designed to perform subsequent and final closing of the doors 2.
• the initial opening of the doors 2 is effected by the doors 2 being displaced outwards, shown by an arrow, perpendicularly to a plane of the doors 2.
• the plane of the doors 2 extends perpendicularly to the plane of the paper, displacement outwards per- pendicularly to the plane thus being displacement to the left in the plane of the paper as shown by the arrow.
• the displacement outwards is effected when a shaft 5 on the first motor 3 rotates.
• the shaft 5 of the motor is provided with a gear wheel 6 driving a second gear wheel 7 on a vertical shaft 8.
• the vertical shaft 8 moves a connecting element 10 attached to a frame 11 of the doors 2.
• a second drive mechanism see below
• the doors 2 are attached to the frame 11.
• the first motor 3 is secured to the vertical shaft 8 by means of a mount 12 suspended on a bush 13 on the vertical shaft 8.
• the frame 11 is provided with sliding rails 14, 15 retained in sliding grooves 16, 17.
• the sliding grooves 16, 17 are mounted at the top and at the bottom of the cupboard 1.
• the excenter mechanism 9 displaces the frame 11, and thus the doors 2, outwards by means of the connecting element 10, this is effected by the sliding rails 14, 15 being displaced outwards in the sliding grooves 16, 17.
• the doors 2 are displaced adequately outwards to a position where the doors 2 may subsequently be dis- placed sideways parallel to the plane of the doors, i.e. perpendicularly to the plane of the paper.
• the displacement outwards must e.g. take into account any other cupboards having other doors placed next to the cupboard shown so that other cupboards having other doors will be placed perpendicularly to the plane of the paper relative to the cupboard shown.
• the subsequent opening of the doors 2 is effected by the doors 2 being displaced sideways, parallel to the plane of the doors.
• the displacement sideways is effected when a shaft 18 on the second motor 4 rotates.
• the motor 4 is attached to the frame 11 and will thus follow the frame 11 by the initial displacement outwards as described above.
• the shaft 18 of the motor 4 is provided with a driving wheel 19 driving a chain, a belt, a wire or some other type of traction band in a traction system.
• the driving wheel 19 is shown as a driving wheel for a ball chain 21.
• the driving wheel 19 may thus also be a driving wheel for a toothed belt, a wire or some other traction band.
• the chain 21 extends around a number of driving wheels 19, 20. In the view shown, a driving wheel is provided at each outer corner of the doors.
• the driving wheels 19, 20 are connected to gear wheels 24, 25 caused to rotate by the driving wheels 19, 20.
• the shaft 22, 23 is mounted in the frame 11 by means of a bearing.
• the gear wheels 24, 25 drive a toothed rack 26, 27 shaped as a U turned upside down and attached to the inner side of the doors 2.
• the toothed rack 26, 27 is mounted on a sliding block 28, 29 by the arms of the U extending around the sliding block 28, 29 and the bottom of the U resting on the sliding block 28, 29.
• the sliding block 28, 29 is retained to the frame 11 by means of the shaft 22, 23.
• the toothed rack 26, 27 is provided with teeth (not shown) on the outside edge of the right arm of the U. The teeth are engaged with the gear 24, 25 caused to rotate by the driving wheels 19,20.
• the second electromotor 4 drives the driving wheels 19, 20, and the driving wheels 19, 20 drive the pull chain 21 and the wheels 24, 25, the toothed rack 26, 27, which is attached to the inner sides of the doors, will be displaced sideways in the plane of the doors, i.e. perpendicularly to the plane of the paper.
• the doors are thus also displaced sideways in the plane of the doors.
• the displacement is effected until complete sideways displacement of the doors has been performed so that full access to the inside of the cupboard is established.
• partial sideways displacement, and thus only partial opening, of the doors could be effected.
• Control of the sideways displace- ment may be performed by the user actively declaring when opening of the door may stop, e.g. by using a press button or by acting on a sensor.
• the doors may be provided with a sensor registering a given position of a user and that a given position determines that further opening of the doors may stop.
• Figs. 2A-2C show the mechanism in double right-angled views seen from the side, from above and from the front, respectively.
• the mechanism is arranged in the cupboard along an inner side of the cupboard.
• Fig. 2D shows a cupboard having two doors, both initially being displaced outwards and subsequently being displaced sideways. It is shown in section how the doors are flush with the side panels of the cupboard when the doors are closed, and how the doors are displaced outwards and sideways relative to the side panels when the doors are open.
• the mechanism for opening the doors is mounted behind the side panels, and as a starting point a mechanism is provided for each door of the cupboard.
• the mechanism may be provided for a plurality of doors of the cupboard, and by means of suitable transmission mechanisms (not shown and not described), the actuators may drive the relevant plurality of doors.
• the actuators it will be possible to omit the first actuator. If the second actuator is capable of performing axial displacement of the shaft besides also being capable of performing a rotation of the shaft, it will be possible to perform the initial opening in the form of the outwards displacement of the frame and thus of the doors by performing initial axial displacement of the shaft. Subsequently, it will be possible to perform the rotation of the shaft mentioned above in order to perform the subsequent opening of the door. In this alternative embodiment, it will be possible to omit altogether the first motor, the excenter mechanism, the vertical shaft and the connecting element. Not only will this make the construction more technically simple, it will also reduce the space requirement of the mechanism and reduce the price of the mechanism for providing the desired opening of the doors.
• Fig. 3 and Figs. 4A-4C are schematic views of a chest of drawers and show how an actuator driving a traction band may be used for opening drawers in a chest of drawers.
• the actuator is mounted at the back of the chest of drawers, and in a manner similar to that in which the second actuator, described above in Fig. 1, performs sideways displacement of the doors, the actuator for the chest of drawers may perform outwards and inwards dis- placement of the drawers.
• Not all subelements necessary to perform the displacement are shown, but the elements will be the same as the elements for performing the sideways displacement of the doors of the cupboard, i.e. driving wheel, driving belt, gear wheel and toothed rack with sliding blocks, which means that the control of pulling out and closing the drawer is effected in a way which is fully comparable with the control of the doors de- scribed above.
• the drawers may be provided with sensors registering if a person is within a distance shorter than the outwards displacement obtained by the drawers.
• the sensor may send a signal to the actuator to suspend further displacement outwards to avoid that the drawer is pushed into the person standing in front of the drawer.
• FIG. 5A and Fig. 5B are schematic views of a further alternative manner in which an initial outwards displacement and a subsequent sideways displacement of the doors of a cupboard may be performed.
• the figures show the cupboard 1 having doors 2 seen from above. Opening of the doors 2 is effected by the cupboard 1 being provided with a guide rail (not shown) having a guide groove 30 for each of the doors 2.
• the doors 2 are provided with guide mounts 31 and guide pins 32, 33.
• the guide pins 32, 33 on the guide mounts 31 are engaged with the guide grooves 30 in the guide rail.
• the guide grooves 30 determine partly the initial displacement and partly the subsequent displacement of the doors.
• a single actuator 34 is mounted inside the cupboard. The actuator 34 drives a traction band, a pull chain or a pull wire 35 (shown with a broken contour) running in the sideways direction of the entire cupboard.
• the inner guide pin 33 When the outer guide pin 32 is moved from the inclined path 38 to the outer path 39 of the guide groove 30 by means of further sideways displacement, the inner guide pin 33 will simultaneously be moved from the inner path 37 to the inclined path 38 of the guide groove 30. This causes the doors to remain in a slide angle relative to the plane of the doors when they are closed. By means of further displacement sideways, the inner guide pins 33 will also be moved from the inclined path 38 to the outer path 39. This causes both the inner guide pins 33 and the outer guide pins 32 to be in the outer path 39. The doors will then be in an outer plane P2 as shown in Fig. 5B, parallel to the inner plane PI, when the doors were closed.
• the guide groove 30 is shown as an inner path 37, an inclined path 38 and an outer path 39, where the inclined path 38 forms a discontinuous transition between the inner path 37 and the outer path 39.
• the guide groove 30 may have other shapes and in particular the inclined path 38 may have another shape, e.g. in order to form a continuous transition between the inner path 37 and the outer path 39 to allow given desired simultaneous displacement of the doors outwards and sideways.
• Figs. 6A-6B are perspective views of a preferred embodiment of a mechanism for opening and closing doors (not shown) of a cupboard (not shown).
• the drive mechanism is primarily designed for glass doors (not shown) but will also be useful for doors made of other materials, such as wood and metal.
• the drive mechanism comprises a frame 40 designed to form part of the cabinet of a cupboard.
• the drive mechanism is housed in a bottom frame 40B and a top frame 40T, except for the parts of the drive mechanism formed by an actuator 43.
• the bottom frame 40B and the top frame 40T respectively, form a bottom and a top part of the overall frame 40.
• the bottom frame 40B and the top frame 40T are designed to be mounted on a body (not shown) of the cupboard in such a manner that the frame 40 with the bottom frame 40B and the top frame 40T forms the outer part of the body, and such that the frame 40 with the bottom frame 40B and the top frame 40T forms a natural elongation of the outwards extension of the body of the cupboard.
• the figure shows a drive mechanism mounted in both a bottom frame 40B and in a top frame 40T for a cupboard.
• only the bottom frame 40B has an associated actuator 43 to drive 5 the mechanism.
• the drive mechanism in the top frame 40T is driven by the same actuator 43 such as described below.
• the drive mechanism itself for displacing the doors is housed in a top frame 40T and a bottom frame 40B, respectively, of the overall frame 40, and the actuator
• the printed circuit board 44 for controlling opening and closing of the doors are housed in a side frame 40S of the overall frame 40. All components of the drive mechanism for driving the doors and for controlling the drive mechanism are thus housed in the frame 40 and will be concealed in the frame under daily use.
• the printed circuit board 44 for controlling the actuator 43 is placed in a plane
• the printed circuit board 44 does not take up more space than the actuator 43, except for in the direction along the actuator 43.
• the side frame 40S is provided with grooves (not shown) for receiving edge areas of the printed circuit board.
• mounts 45, 46 for retaining the doors 25 to the drive mechanism.
• two mounts 45, 46 are shown for each drive mechanism, but actually each drive mechanism is only provided with one mount 45, 46.
• the two mounts shown are the same mount shown in an inner position (the position to the right) where the door is closed, and an outer position (the position to the left) where the door is open, respectively.
• the mounts 45, 46 are the only members of the drive 30 mechanism that are visible under daily use.
• the doors may be retained to the mounts 45, 46 in any appropriate manner, i.e. by gluing, by screwing on, by soldering, by welding or by yet other joining processes, depending on what material the doors are made of.
• Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a drive mechanism for opening and closing a single door.
• the drive mechanism comprises a first profile 47 and a second profile 48, in the view shown illustrated separately from each other, but under use being designed to be joined at shown faces 47S, 48S in abutment against each other.
• the two profiles 47, 48 are joined, they are designed to be housed in the bottom frame 40B (see Fig. 6A).
• the two profiles 47, 48 are mutually combined by means of a hinge mechanism (not shown) to make it easy to tip the two profiles 47, 48 from each other as shown, but without having to perform an actual separation of the two profiles 47, 48.
• the two profiles 47, 48 are joined at the faces 47S, 48B in abutment against each other, the two profiles 47, 48 together have a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the profiles, said cross section corresponding to a corresponding inner cross section in the parts 40B, 40T of the frame 40 (see Figs. 10A-10E).
• the two profiles 47, 48 may readily and simply and without using tools be displaced in the longitudinal direction inwards into the parts 40B, 40T of the frame 40.
• the parts 40B, 40T of the frame are provided with guide rails (see Figs. 10A-10B) ensuring correct positioning of the two profiles 47, 48 inside the parts 40B, 40T of the frame 40.
• the first profile 47 houses driving wheels 49, 50, 51 and driving belt 52, all of which are driven from the actuator 43 (see Fig. 6B) by means of the one the driving wheel 49.
• the second profile 48 is provided with a guide groove 53 designed to guide the outwards movement of the mounts 45, 46 relative to sideways displacement of the mounts 45, 46 performed by the driving wheels 49, 50, 51 and the driving belt 52.
• the guide groove 53 has a first section 54, which is the end of the groove guiding the mounts 45, 46 when the doors are closed, and a remaining second section 55, which is the end of the groove guid- ing the mounts 45, 46 when the doors are opened.
• the course of the curve of the guide groove 53 in the second section 55 of the guide groove is substantially the course which will be exhibited by the faces of the doors when the doors are opened and closed (see Fig. 11).
• the guide groove 53 is a little convex in a direction corresponding to outwards when the profile 48 is mounted in the frame 40.
• the mounts to which the doors are mounted are provided with guide pins (see Figs. 9A-9B) corresponding to the guide grooves and designed to be engaged with the guide grooves.
• the first profile 47 has a first end 57 provided with the driving wheel 49 with an outer toothing.
• the outer toothing on the driving wheel 49 corresponds to similar inner toothing 58 on the driving belt 52.
• Driving wheel 49 has a square hole 59 capable of receiving a corresponding driving shaft (not shown) having a square cross section.
• the driving shaft is designed to drive a corresponding driving wheel in a corresponding profile mounted in an opposite top frame 40T (see Fig. 6A-6B) of the frame 40.
• the driving belt 52 extends around the driving wheel 49, further through a recess 60 in the first profile 47 to a second end 61 of the first profile 47.
• a driving chain as shown in Fig. 1 or an un- toothed driving belt may be provided.
• engagement between the driving wheels and the driving belt must be established by sufficient friction between the driving wheels and the driving belt or by the driving wheels being provided with smaller toothing or a milling capable of forming a resilient engagement with the driving belt, such as a rubber band being driven by the driving wheel with a fine milling on the outer periphery of the driving wheel.
• the second end 61 of the first profile 47 is provided with a second driving wheel 50, also having outer toothing (not shown).
• the outer teeth on the second driving wheel 50 also correspond to the corresponding inner toothing 58 on the driving belt 52.
• the second driving wheel 50 has a square hole 62 also being capable of receiving a corresponding second driving shaft 63 (see Fig. 6B) having a square cross section.
• the second driving shaft 63 is designed to drive a corresponding second driving wheel in a corresponding profile mounted in an opposite top frame 40T of the overall frame 40 (see Figs. 6A-6B).
• the drive mechanism has its own driving wheel 51, which is also provided with outer toothing (not shown).
• the outer toothing on the own driving wheel 51 also corresponds to the corresponding inner toothing 58 on the driving belt 52.
• the own driving wheel 51 has a hole 64 designed to receive a corresponding driving shaft (not shown) from the actuator 43 (see Fig. 6B) so that the actuator is designed to drive the own driving wheel 51.
• the corresponding drive mechanism in the opposite frame part 40T of the frame 40 (see Figs. 6A-6B) will either not be provided with its own driving wheel, or the own driving wheel in the corresponding drive mechanism will not be driven by an actuator.
• the drive mechanism is provided with a tensioning wheel 65 designed to retain a given tension of the driving belt 52.
• the tensioning wheel 65 may either be automatically controllable by being spring-loaded (not shown) so that the tensioning wheel exerts a substantially constant tensioning force on the driving belt.
• the tensioning wheel may be manually controllable (not shown) so that tensioning is to be performed manually at regular intervals in order to maintain sufficient tensioning of the driving belt.
• the tensioning wheel may be securely mounted as shown and may thus simply contribute to establishing the path followed by the driving belt in the first profile.
• On the driving belt a carriage 66 is mounted, designed to drive a mount 45 sideways 5 by means of the drive mechanism.
• the drive mechanism functions in the following way.
• the actuator 43 When the actuator 43 is actuated, either manually or automatically, depending on the cupboard in question, the actuator will drive the own driving wheel 51.
• the own driving wheel 51 will then drive the driving belt
• the driving shaft will drive the corresponding driving wheel in the corresponding drive mechanism in the top frame 40T.
• the corresponding driving wheel will drive a corresponding driving belt which will in turn drive a corresponding carriage (see
• the corresponding carriage will displace a corresponding mount 46 sideways in the top frame 40T.
• a completely uniform and synchronous displacement of a mount 46 in the top frame 40T (see Figs. 6A-6B) of the frame 40 will thus be performed simply by using the one actuator 43 associated with one of the drive mechanisms, namely the drive mechanism mounted in the bottom frame 40B.
• Figs. 8A-8B are a perspective view of an exploded drawing and an assembly drawing of a possible embodiment of a carriage 66 for sideways displacement of a mount 45, 46 (see Figs. 6A-6B and Figs. 9A-9B).
• the carriage 66 is retained to the driving belt (not shown) by means of gripping grooves 67, 68 retaining each of the free ends of the driving belt.
• the driving belt thus does not form an infinite driving belt, but forms a band joined in the two gripping grooves 67, 68 in the carriage 66.
• the gripping grooves 67, 68 are provided with teeth 69, 70 corresponding to the teeth 58 (see Fig. 7) on the driving belt.
• the carriage is thus retained to the driving belt without using actual fastening means at the same time as the free ends of the driving belt are joined without using actual means for joining a belt.
• the driving belt may be a infinite driving belt
• the carriage may be provided with a through-going groove provided with teeth corresponding to the teeth on the driving belt, in order to retain the carriage to a driving belt, which is infinite and has no free ends.
• the carriage is provided with a projection 71 designed to be engaged with a corresponding groove in a mount (see Figs. 9A-9B).
• the carriage is also pro- 10 vided with rolls 72, 73 designed to abut on a bottom profile of the bottom frame when the drive mechanism is housed in the frame profile (see Figs. 10A-10E).
• the rolls 72, 73 are mounted in the carriage by means of shafts 74, 75.
• Figs. 9A-9B are perspective views of a possible embodiment of a mount 45, 46 to be used 15 in connection with the drive mechanism shown in Fig. 6B and Fig. 7.
• the mount consists of a part 76 being in engagement with the drive mechanism and a part 77 being designed to retain a door of the cupboard.
• the part 76 being in engagement with the drive mechanism is provided with guide projections 78 designed to be engaged with the guide groove 53 (see Fig. 7) in the second profile 48 for the drive mechanism.
• This part 76 of the mount is 20 also provided with a groove 79 designed to be engaged with the projection 71 (see Figs. 8A-8B) on the carriage.
• Fig. 7 and Figs. 10A-10D show how the mount 45, 46 is displaced outwards relative to the carriage 66 and the remaining part of the drive mechanism when the carriage is displaced
• both guide projections 78 on the mount are in the first section 54 of the guide groove 53 (see Fig. 7), and the projection 71 on the carriage 66 is at the end of the groove 79 on the mount, facing the part 77 of the mounts designed to retain the door.
• the mount 45, 46 When the carriage 66 is displaced sideways to open the door, the mount 45, 46 will be moved sideways due to the projection 71 on the carriage 66 being engaged with the groove 79 in the mount 45, 46. When the mount 45, 46 is moved sideways, the guide projections 78 on the mount will be displaced from the first section 54 of the guide groove
• the groove 79 in the mount will also be moved outwards so that the projection 71 on the carriage 66 is at the end of the groove 76 in the mount, facing away from the part 77 of the mount 45, 46, retaining the door, but the carriage 66 will keep maintaining the sideways displacement of the mount by means of the projection 71 in the groove 79 in the mount 45, 46.
• the mount 45, 46 is in a projecting position relative to the carriage 66 and the remainder of the drive mechanism (see Fig. 7 and Figs. 10A-10D).
• Figs. 10A-10E show sections in different planes of a bottom frame 40B, where a first profile 47 and a second profile 48, which are joined, and the drive mechanism as shown in Fig. 7 are housed.
• the bottom frame consists of two parts, a bottom profile 80 for housing the first profile 47, the second profile 48 and the drive mechanism, and a top profile 81 forming a top on the bottom frame, respectively.
• the bottom frame is provided with small guide rails 82 in engagement with corresponding guide grooves 83 in the first profile 47 and the second profile 48 for the drive mechanism.
• a space 84 is formed, forming a groove in the bottom frame.
• the mount 45 extends out through this groove 84, and the mount 45 is displaced sideways and outwards and inwards, respectively, in the groove 84 when the door is opened and closed, as previously described.
• the bottom frame is provided with a flange 85 being provided along the extension of the flange with screw holes 86 for attaching the bottom frame to the body of the cupboard by means of screws, i.e. for attaching the bottom frame to outer ends of a bottom of the cupboard.
• the top profile 81 has an extension causing the top profile to cover the screw holes when the bottom frame is attached to the outer ends of the bottom of the cupboard.
• Fig. 11 shows a displacement pattern of a door by illustrating successive views of a door seen in the plane of the door during the combined sideways and outwards displacement of the door. It appears that using the two guide projections 78 (see Figs. 9A-9B) in the guide groove 53 (see Fig. 7) causes the outermost edge of the door to be displaced outwards and sideways at the same time when one of the guide projections is displaced out into the second section of the guide groove at the beginning of the displacement at the same time as the second guide projection is still in the first section of the guide groove at the beginning of the displacement. As the second guide projection is also displaced out into the second section of the guide groove, the initial outwards displacement of the door will be reduced at the same time as the sideways displacement is increased.
• the combined reduction of the initial displacement outwards and increase of the simultaneous displacement sideways could cause a slightly changed displacement pattern relative to the one shown.
• the course of the curve of the guide groove may be fixed so that a given displacement pattern is obtained, and the course of the curve shown in Fig. 7 and the corresponding displacement pattern shown in Fig. 11 thus merely form a possible course of the curve and a possible displacement pattern. It will be possible to establish other courses of the curve and other displacement patterns belonging thereto, depending on the desired displacement of the door.
• Top cupboard A new type of top cupboard having an automatic glass door opening and also with a sensor system, which is capable of opening the doors automatically by movement of a hand in front of the doors at the same time as the light is turned on. And by removal of the hand, the doors will automatically reclose.
• Bottom cupboard A new type of bottom cupboard with automatic glass door opening and also with a sensor system, which is capable of opening the doors automatically by movement of a hand in front of a sensor at the same time as the drawer is automatically pulled out. By means of a push, the drawer will automatically drive back into place, and the glass door will also be able to move automatically back in front of the drawer.
• Corner/corridor cupboard A new type of corner cupboard with automatic glass door opening and also with a sensor system, which is capable of opening the doors automatically by movement of a hand in front of a sensor at the same time as the light is turned on. And by removal of the hand, the doors will automatically reclose.
• the inside of the cupboard is equipped with glass shelves and a mirror on the inside back lining so that the light may be reflected through the shelves and fall on the mirror to make the whole cupboard light up.
• the cupboard may be mounted on a wall or placed on a base.
• system may be extended to be used within the medical or dental fields.

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• 2002
  • 2002-05-01 EP EP20020740394 patent/EP1407105A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-05-01 WO PCT/DK2002/000282 patent/WO2003002838A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

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