EP1934424B1 - Device and method for closing or opening and closing at least one drawer, flap - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 15th

State of the art

From the EP 1 347 732 A1 is a starting aid for a drawer with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known. This start-up aid has a drive unit and a control and regulating device for controlling and regulating the at least one drive unit. Furthermore, a sensor unit for detecting the direction of rotation and / or the number of revolutions of the drive shaft in the form of an acceleration measuring device is provided. The detected by this sensor unit number of revolutions and the direction of rotation of the drive shaft is fed to the control and regulating device. The drawer is in direct operative connection with the drive shaft of the drive. As soon as an acceleration, for example by a manual actuation of the drawer, is detected by the acceleration measuring device of this device, the drive is activated to assist the manual actuation.

EP 1 323 363 discloses another example of a device for opening / closing a drawer.

problem

In this prior art, it is necessary to determine the force applied to the drawer by manual operation in the form of acceleration. However, this is expensive because the acceleration is a vectorial quantity, which is also defined over the second time derivative of the distance traveled. Therefore, both the direction and the magnitude of this time-dependent vector must be determined.

Invention and advantageous effects

The object of the invention is therefore to further develop a device having the features of the preamble of claim 1 or a method having the features of the preamble of claim 15 such that the operation of the device or the method is simplified.

To solve the device task a device with the features of claim 1 is provided. Advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention can be found in the subclaims 2 to 14.

The method is achieved by a method with the features of claim 15. Advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention can be found in the subclaims 16 to 21.

By the measure that a timer is provided, which in a detection of revolutions of the drive shaft, which were not generated by the drive, a predetermined time interval starts, wherein on the basis of the number of not in the predetermined time interval generated by the drive revolutions of the drive shaft angular velocity is determined with which the drive after the predetermined time interval, it is achieved that the drive started alone due to the detected revolutions of the drive shaft becomes. Elaborate acceleration measurements are not necessary here.

Once a movement of the drive shaft is detected by the sensor unit, this is communicated to the control and regulating device, which in turn causes the timer to start a time interval. On the basis of the number of detected in the time interval by the sensor unit and summed up by the control and regulating unit revolutions of the drive shaft is determined by the control and regulating device, a constant angular velocity for the drive shaft. Then the drive is started, wherein the drive shaft is rotated by the motor with the previously determined angular velocity. Thus, the at least one drawer, a flap, is moved out of its respective position at a constant speed.

If, for example, the at least one drawer, a flap, is in a closed position, the motor initiates the opening movement of the motor. If the at least one drawer, a flap, is in the maximum open position, the closing movement is started by the drive. Of course, it is also possible from any intermediate position due to the detected in the time interval revolutions of the drive shaft an opening or closing movement of the at least one drawer to start a flap.

The angular velocity of the drive shaft is maintained during the motorized actuation of the drive shaft in order to avoid possible surprise effects or even risks of injury when opening, closing or moving the at least one drawer, a flap which, in particular at high angular speeds of the drive shaft and thus during rapid opening or closing of at least a drawer, a flap could occur.

According to a first advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one comparison device is provided, in which a lower limit for the detected by the sensor unit in the predetermined time intervals revolutions of the drive shaft can be stored, when falling below this lower limit of the drive activated and the drive shaft for moving the at least a drawer, a flap around which included in the predetermined time interval revolutions is rotatable to its original starting position. Advantageously, carried out by this measure, that the drive shaft and thus also the at least one drawer, a flap are moved back to their original starting position, which they had taken before the start of the time interval. Elaborate maintenance for readjustment of at least one drawer, a flap can thus be omitted.

In the same direction, the design of the sensor unit aims to detect a change of direction of rotation of the drive shaft which occurred during the time interval. As a result, it is precluded that vibrations through which the drive shaft first moves in one direction of rotation and then in the other direction of rotation lead to an unwanted opening or closing of the drawer. The direction of rotation of the drive shaft is detected by the sensor unit and communicated to the control and regulating device, so that no accumulation of the individual pulses of the sensor unit takes place as revolutions of the drive shaft.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the at least one comparison device for storing a table of values and / or a proportional relationship for the included in the predetermined time interval revolutions of the drive shaft and the drive side to be generated revolutions of the drive shaft is formed. By this measure, it is determined based on the detected in the time interval revolutions of the drive shaft, how many revolutions of the drive shaft to be generated by the motor drive. This determines how far the at least one drawer, flap should be moved.

Advantageously, the at least one comparison device is designed for storing an upper limit value for the revolutions detected in the predetermined time interval. It is thereby achieved that the drive shaft of the drive can be converted into its end positions, which the closing or opening position of the at least one drawer, a Corresponding flap when the revolutions of the drive shaft determined in the time interval exceed this upper limit.

By detecting the direction of rotation of the sensor unit is also ensured that it is detected whether a closing or opening of the at least one drawer, a flap should be made.

It has proven to be advantageous that the timer is designed to start after the time interval another time interval. By this measure can be checked in a simple manner, if further speed pulses are measurable. In particular, when the lower limit is exceeded by the detected revolutions of the drive shaft, this can be checked in a simple manner, whether the drive shaft is rotated further. If this is not the case, the drive shaft is moved to its end position, which corresponds to the closed position of the at least one drawer, a flap. In the other case, the time interval is restarted as long as further rotations of the drive shaft can be detected by the sensor unit until the lower limit is exceeded. This ensures that the drive shaft is moved by a sensible number of revolutions in order to be able to load or unload the drawer, for example.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sensor unit is designed as a Hall sensor with at least one corresponding magnet. This ensures in a simple manner that the revolutions of the Drive shaft detected as signals of the Hall sensor and can be forwarded to the control and regulating device. In the control unit, the individual signals are added up, so that the number of revolutions of the drive shaft in the time interval can be determined.

Advantageously, the magnet is designed as a magnetic wheel, which is arranged on the drive shaft. By this measure, not only an accumulation of the individual signals to the number of revolutions of the drive shaft is possible, but also a fixing of the direction of rotation of the drive shaft.

In order to drive the drive shaft after the expiration of the time interval, the drive comprises an electric motor. Such electric motors are available in small-sized versions and ensure low-energy consumption a trouble drive for the drive shaft.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the control and regulating device has a computing unit with which the detected in the predetermined time interval by the sensor unit revolutions of the drive shaft to the number of revolutions of the drive shaft in the time interval can be summed up. Such arithmetic units are also available in the form of micro-processors or microcontrollers also small-scale and inexpensive and ensure trouble-free operation with also low energy consumption.

Advantageously, in the at least one comparison device values for the revolutions of the drive shaft can be stored, the end positions or predefined intermediate positions of the at least one drawer, a flap correspond. As a result, the control and regulating device can compare the revolutions of the drive shaft included in the time interval with the stored values, and the final or intermediate positions can be easily approached.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is defined as the end position for the closed state of the at least one drawer, a flap, a position in which the drive shaft is rotatable in both directions. In this case, this end position is detected by the control and regulating device and upon detection of revolutions of the drive shaft in the predetermined time interval, a rotation of the drive shaft from this closed state of at least one drawer defining a flap end position of the drive shaft allows. Of course, it is also possible, as the maximum opening position of the at least one drawer, to define a flap, a position in which the drive shaft can be moved in both directions. The occurring in the predetermined time intervals revolutions of the drive shaft then leads to a closing of the at least one drawer, a flap.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the timer is designed to generate no time intervals when the drive is activated. As a result, miscalculations of positions and angular velocities of the drive shaft are avoided by the control and regulating device. Such a calculation will only take place if the drive is not yet the drive is activated or will be activated after such a calculation.

In terms of method, the object is achieved in that, in a method having the features of the preamble of claim 14, an angular velocity with which the drive shaft of the one activated after the time interval has elapsed is determined from the number of revolutions of the drive shaft not generated by the drive within a predetermined time interval Drive is turned. This measure ensures that the drive shaft of the drive is driven at the end of the time interval with a constant angular velocity of the drive, provided that within the time interval revolutions of the drive shaft could be detected. Elaborate acceleration measurements are not necessary because the mere detection of the movement of the drive shaft in the time interval causes a motor drive of the drive shaft. The advantage here is that the drive shaft is rotated at a constant angular velocity. As a result, when opening a drawer, for example, it also opens at a constant speed. The speed is thus maintained, so that surprise effects or even a risk of confusion is avoided by an increased traversing speed of the drawer or rotational speed of the drive shaft.

According to a first advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the number of revolutions of the drive shaft not generated by the drive in a predetermined time interval is compared with a stored lower limit value. It falls below the lower Threshold of the drive is activated and the drive shaft for moving the at least one drawer, a flap, by the number of revolutions not generated by the drive in the predetermined time interval is rotated to its original starting position. In this way, it is ensured that, for example, movements of the drive shaft generated by vibrations do not lead to a rotational movement of the drive shaft through the drive which opens or closes the at least one drawer, a flap. Rather, the drive shaft and thus also the at least one drawer, a flap back to its original starting position. Later maintenance work to re-adjustment is thus prevented, as always the starting position is approached.

The aim in the same direction is to detect a reversal of the direction of rotation of the drive shaft which occurred during the time interval. Also thus cause vibrations that rotate the drive shaft alternately in one or the other direction, not to misinterpretations that cause activation of the drive.

According to a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the number of revolutions of the drive shaft is calculated based on the determined in the given time interval revolutions of the drive shaft, for which the drive is to be activated. As a result, the revolutions of the drive shaft determined in the predetermined time interval are a measure of the number of revolutions of the drive shaft to be generated by the drive. The at least one drawer, a flap, is thus one by the in the Time interval determined revolutions of the drive shaft corresponding predefined value. This can mean an opening or a closing, depending on which direction the drive shaft was moved in the time interval.

Advantageously, the number of revolutions detected in the predetermined time interval is compared with an upper limit value. Once this limit has been exceeded, depending on the direction of rotation of the drive shaft is a method of the drive shaft in the respective end position. This means that when exceeding this limit, the at least one drawer, a flap by the drive in their Schließ- .bzw. maximum opening position is moved.

Furthermore, it has proved to be advantageous for a further time interval to be started after a predetermined time interval has elapsed. As a result, in particular when the lower limit value is not reached, it is ensured that the rotational movement of the drive shaft is tracked in a further time interval. If no rotational movement of the drive shaft takes place in this time interval, the drive shaft and thus also the at least one drawer, a flap is moved back to its original starting position before starting the first time interval.

embodiment

Other objects, advantages, features and applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment with reference to the Drawings.

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung,

Figur 2

eine ausschnittsweise skizzierte Schublade, welche mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in ihrer Führung verschiebbar ist.

Show it:

FIG. 1

a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device according to the invention,

FIG. 2

a fragmentary sketched drawer, which is displaceable with a device according to the invention in their leadership.

The embodiment of FIG. 1 iw consists of a control and regulating device 1, a sensor device 2 and a drive 9. In the present embodiment, the control and regulating device 1 comprises two comparison devices 3, 4, a rotation direction detection device 6, a timer 5, a computing unit 7 and a motor output stage 8 for the drive 9.

The drive 9 is provided with a (not shown) drive shaft, which has no self-locking. That is, the drive shaft can be rotated manually or by external force. The drive shaft is in operative connection with a in FIG. 2 illustrated drawer 10. A manual opening or closing of the drawer 10 causes it by the operative connection with the drive shaft of the drive 9, a rotation of the same.

A caused by manual movement of the drawer 10 rotational movement of the drive shaft is detected by the sensor unit 2 and forwarded to the control and regulating device 1. Once the control and regulating device 1 has detected a revolution of the drive shaft by manually moving the drawer 10 is started by means of the timer 5 in the time interval. The now generated in this time interval by manually moving the drawer rotations of the drive shaft are detected by means of the sensor unit 2 and forwarded to the control and control unit 1, where they are added up by means of the arithmetic unit 7. If the sum of these revolutions determined in the time interval is smaller than a lower limit value stored in the comparison device 3, then the drive 9 is activated via the engine output stage 8 of the control and regulation unit 1 and the drawer is moved back to its original position before starting the time interval.

An alternative possibility is to start after the time interval by the timer a new time interval to check whether further revolutions of the drive shaft can be detected by means of the sensor unit 2. If this is not the case, the drawer is moved to its original position before the beginning of the first time interval after the expiry of the renewed time interval. Be in the second time interval turn revolutions of the drive shaft is determined, as long as a new time interval is started, as more revolutions of the drive shaft can be determined. If it exceeds a limit for the revolutions ensures that the drawer opens at least a predetermined, meaningful way to load or unload the drawer, the drive is activated and move the drawer accordingly.

In the comparison device 4, an upper limit is stored. If the number of revolutions of the drive shaft detected in the time interval is greater than this upper limit value, activation of the drive takes place after the time window has elapsed, the drawer, if it is in its closed position, being moved into its maximum open position. If the drawer is in the maximum open position, the drawer is closed by the motor drive after the time window has expired.

Depending on the direction of rotation of the drive shaft, which can be detected by the direction of rotation detection device 6, closing or maximum opening of the drawer 10 by the drive 9 can also be effected for each intermediate position if the upper limit is exceeded in the time interval.

The direction of rotation detection device 6 in this case cooperates with the sensor device 2, the sensor device 2 being realized, for example, by a Hall sensor (not shown) and a magnetic wheel mounted on the drive shaft (likewise not shown). By such an arrangement is in easy way, the direction of rotation of the drive shaft detectable because the magnetic wheel initiates several signals in the Hall sensor in a revolution of the drive shaft.

The in FIG. 2 shown section of a drawer 10, this represents in the closed position. The drawer 10 is in the body 12 slidably mounted back and forth. Furthermore, the drawer 10 has a handle-less front 13. In this closed position of the drawer 10, a gap 11 is formed between the body 12 and front 13. This gap 11 serves to allow the drawer 12 to be opened despite its handle-less front 13. For this purpose, the front 13 is pressed by the operator in the direction of the body 12. This reduces the gap 11 and due to the operative connection of the drawer to the drive shaft of the drive 9, the revolutions of the drive shaft thus generated are detected by the sensor unit 2. The sensor unit 2 passes the signals to the control and regulating device 1, where these are summed up to revolutions of the drive shaft, wherein the control and regulating device 1 interprets this action as a command to open the drawer 10. The drive is therefore activated after expiration of the time window, which was started by the timer after detection of the first revolution of the drive shaft by the sensor unit 2. In this case, the drive shaft is rotated against the motor generated by the operation of the drawer rotation of the drive shaft.

The further operation or the further method of such a drawer 10 with a handle-less front 3 is analogous to the previously described manner.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

- Control and regulating device

2

- Sensor unit

3

- Comparative device

4

- Comparative device

5

- Timer

6

- Direction of rotation detection device

7

- arithmetic unit

8th

- Motor output stage

9

- Drive

10

- drawer

11

- split

12

- Body

13

- handle-less front

Claims (21)

1. Device for displacing and/or opening and closing at least one drawer or flap having at least one drive unit (9) and at least one control and regulating device (1) for the at least one drive unit (9), and comprising at least one sensor unit (2) for detecting the direction of rotation and/or the number of rotations of the drive shaft of the drive (9), wherein the number of detected rotations and/or the direction of rotation of the drive shaft can be supplied to the control and regulating device (1), and wherein the at least one drawer or flap is in an active connection with the drive shaft, characterised in that a timer (5) is provided which in the case of detecting rotations of the drive shaft which are not generated by the drive (9) starts a predetermined time interval, and in that at least one comparison device (3, 4) is provided, in which a lower threshold value for the rotations or partial rotations of the drive shaft within the predetermined time interval can be saved, wherein if the lower threshold value is exceeded the drive (9) can be activated for opening or closing the at least one drawer or flap and the at least one drawer or flap is moved at constant speed out of its respective position.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that an angular velocity is determined on the basis of the rotations or partial rotations of the drive shaft not generated during the predetermined time interval by the drive (9), by means of which angular velocity the drive (9) can be activated at the end of the predetermined time interval.
3. Device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that a lower threshold value of the rotations of the drive shaft detected by the sensor unit (2) in the predetermined time interval can be deposited in the at least one comparison device (3, 4), wherein on falling below said lower threshold value the drive (9) can be activated and can be moved into its original starting position by the amount of rotations detected during the predetermined time interval for moving the at least one drawer or flap.
4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that by means of the sensor unit (2) a change in the direction of rotation of the drive shaft during the time interval is detected.
5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one comparison device (3, 4) is designed for storing a value table and/or a proportional connection between the rotations of the drive shaft detected during the predetermined time interval and the rotations of the drive shaft which must be generated on the driving side.
6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one comparison device (3, 4) is designed for storing an upper threshold value for the rotations detected in the predetermined time interval.
7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the timer is designed to start a further time interval at the end of the time interval.
8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sensor unit (2) is designed as a Hall sensor with corresponding magnets.
9. Device according to claim 8, characterised in that a magnetic wheel is arranged on the drive shaft.
10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the drive (9) comprises an electric motor.
11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control and regulating device (1) comprises a computer unit (7), by means of which based on the number of rotations of the drive shaft detected during the predetermined time interval, the number of rotations of the drive shaft can be determined for which the drive (9) is to be activated.
12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that values for the rotations of the drive shaft can be stored in the at least one comparison device (3, 4), which correspond to the end positions or predefined intermediate positions of the at least one drawer or flap.
13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a position can be defined as the end position for the closed state of the at least one drawer or flap in which the drive shaft can be rotated in either direction.
14. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the timer is designed not to generate time intervals when the drive (9) is activated.
15. Method for displacing and/or opening and closing at least one drawer or flap, by means of a device having at least one drive unit (9) and at least one control and regulating device (1) for the at least one drive unit (9), and comprising at least one sensor unit (2) for detecting the direction of rotation and/or the number of rotations of the drive shaft of the drive (9), wherein the number of detected rotations and/or the direction of rotation of the drive shaft can be supplied to the control and regulating device (1), and wherein the at least one drawer or flap is in active connection with the drive shaft, characterised in that a timer (5) is provided which in the case of detecting rotations of the drive shaft which are not generated by the drive (9) starts a predetermined time interval, and in that at least one comparison device (3, 4) is provided, in which a lower threshold value for the rotations or partial rotations of the drive shaft within the predetermined time interval can be saved, wherein if the number falls below the lower threshold value the drive (9) can be activated for opening or closing the at least one drawer or flap and the at least one drawer or flap is moved at constant speed out of its respective position.
16. Method according to claim 15, characterised in that an angular velocity is determined on the basis of the number of rotations, or partial rotations of the drive shaft not generated during the predetermined time interval by the drive (9), by means of which angular velocity the drive shaft of the activated drive is rotated at the end of the predetermined time interval.
17. Method according to either claim 15 or claim 16, characterised in that the number of rotations of the drive shaft not generated during the predetermined time interval by the drive (9), is compared with a stored lower threshold value, wherein if the number falls below this lower threshold value the drive (9) is activated and for moving the at least one drawer or flap, the drive shaft is moved by the number of rotations not generated during the predetermined time interval by the drive (9) into its original initial position.
18. Method according claim 15 to 17, characterised in that a change in the direction of rotation, which took place during the time interval, is detected.
19. Method according to any one of claims 15 to 18, characterised in that by means of the rotations of the drive shaft detected during the predetermined time interval, the number of rotations of the drive shaft is calculated, for which the drive (9) is to be activated.
20. Method according to any one of claims 15 to 19, characterised in that the number of rotations of the drive shaft detected during the predetermined time interval is compared with an upper threshold value.
21. Method according to any one of claims 15 to 20, characterised in that a further time interval is started following the end of the predetermined time interval.

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