EP2004010B1 - Device for influencing the displacement of furniture parts which can be displaced in relation to each other and associated furniture - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for influencing the movement of mutually movable furniture parts according to the preamble of claim 1 and a furniture according to claim 16.

State of the art

Devices for influencing the movement of mutually movable furniture parts with a drive unit for the driven movement of a first furniture part relative to a second furniture part are already known, for example from the WO 2004/100717 A , of the WO 2005/079630 A or the GB 2374521 A , If, as a result of the movement of the first furniture part, it strikes against an object, undesirable consequences can occur on the furniture part or the object in question. In order to minimize or avoid possible negative effects, the furniture part, for example, comparatively very slowly and gently driven moves. Thus, the movable furniture part often can not be used as quickly enough or effectively as desired.

Purpose and advantages of the invention

The object of the present invention is to improve the possibilities of use of devices mentioned in the introduction for influencing the movement of furniture parts which can move relative to one another or to increase the user-friendliness of furniture provided with a corresponding device, without an increased risk with regard to undesirable consequences due to a collision of the movable element To have to enter furniture part with an object.

The object is solved by the claims 1 and 16.
In the subclaims advantageous embodiments of the invention are shown.

The invention is initially based on a device for influencing the movement of mutually movable furniture parts with a drive unit by means of which a control unit for movement control of a first furniture part this is driven relative to the second furniture part movable and that the control unit is configured in a meeting of the moving first Furniture part with an object to detect a movement pattern of the first furniture part and to lay the further movement control of the first furniture part based. An essential aspect of the invention is that the control unit is designed to make a differentiation between a collision with an object and a movement stop of the first furniture part intentionally triggered by an operator on the basis of a movement pattern. Thus, an immediate control process to avoid undesirable effects caused by the meeting of the first furniture part with the object. In addition, an assessment of possible consequences can take place through the meeting of the objects in question or, if applicable, the person on whose basis a subsequent action is exercised. Because it has been shown that advantageously on the determined at a meeting of the movable furniture part with an object movement pattern a conclusion on the nature of the collision or the previously unknown object
is possible. In particular, it is possible to achieve a meaningful assessment of the coincidence with regard to associated potential dangers. This is advantageously possible via movement patterns of the first furniture part already at the moment of the meeting. In particular, it is possible to obtain very exact information about the movement pattern of the first furniture part at the moment of the coincidence or impact on an object with a correspondingly designed or almost instantaneous operating control unit. Thus, on the one hand a high level of user-friendliness of the furniture parts realized by an operator and on the other hand required relatively high security requirements can be met. In general, this is a prerequisite for a wide application of the devices under consideration, since for example safety standards by the legislator for equipped with a drive unit devices or furniture are mandatory to meet.

For example, a control unit, which may include, for example, a control and / or control unit, a microprocessor control or a modern computing unit, within relatively short periods of time to process a relatively large amount of information, evaluate or save if necessary and based on this information within a very short time trigger a corresponding action. In particular, with the help of the control unit on the basis of the detected movement pattern when meeting the first furniture part with an object a respective suitable measure with respect to the movement of the first furniture part are triggered by which negative consequences are minimized or almost excluded by the coincidence of the objects considered can.

In an advantageous embodiment of the subject invention, the control unit is configured so as to detect a movement pattern of the first furniture part in a closing movement of the first furniture part at the meeting of the moving first furniture part with an object and to base the further movement control of the first furniture part. In particular, an anti-pinch protection can thus be realized in which e.g. an object or e.g. a person's hand is trapped between a furniture front of the first furniture part and a body edge of the second furniture part or triggers a collision. In the case of collision detection, after the movement has stopped, the first furniture part is preferably moved backwards or in the opening direction in order to reliably exclude any contact of the clamped object with the first furniture part.

According to the invention, with the distinction between an unwanted collision and a desired movement stop, a higher incentive for the relevant device or a piece of furniture equipped therewith can be achieved. For with the possibility of stopping the driven movable furniture part, for example by hand, a very comfortable or individual operation of the movable furniture part can be realized, for example, in which the driven furniture part can be stopped depending on the desire of the operator in one of many possible positions. This can be done, for example, by hand or with another body part. Advantageously, can also be achieved by a deliberately gentle action on the moving first furniture part a precise stop position of the movable furniture part become. On the other hand, a collision with an object, for example with a small child, another furniture part, a beverage crate standing in front of it, etc., can advantageously be reliably recognized with regard to possible damage or risk of injury and their consequences can be significantly mitigated. With the proposed control unit, as it were an intelligent detection or differentiation of Kollisionsumständen possible.

For example, according to the invention, a comparatively fast opening or closing of a movable furniture part, for example a drawer, can be realized without having to fear negative effects in the event of a collision.

In a preferred embodiment of the subject of the invention, the control unit is configured to evaluate signals detectable by sensor means for characterizing the movement pattern. Thus, for example, in the presence of an electric drive unit, the control unit on the recorded and detected by the drive unit current the differentiation of the movement pattern with almost no time delay in a meeting of the movable furniture part to make an object. In addition, a large number of further sensors or suitable sensor-detectable signals can be used to characterize the movement pattern of the first furniture part. By way of example, optical sensors can be used, for example with the aid of images detectable by a camera or mechanical, inductive or capacitive sensors, or correspondingly generated signals for the characterization of the movement pattern can be evaluated.

In a further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the control unit is designed such that for detecting the movement pattern pulses of a Inkrementalgebers evaluate which generates pulses in response to the movement of the first furniture part. About an incremental encoder, the movement of the movable furniture part can be characterized over almost any number of pulses generated thereby, whereby a comparatively very precise assessment of the movement pattern of the first furniture part can be done. For example, in a predefinable time window, for example of the order of a fraction of a second, the number of pulses of the incremental encoder detectable in this time window can be recorded and evaluated.

Advantageously, the control unit is configured to make the differentiation between the collision with an object and the movement stop of the first furniture part triggered intentionally by an operator on the basis of a comparison of the detected pulses of the incremental encoder per unit time. By means of the comparison of the detected pulses or signals of the above-mentioned alternatively signal devices with a corresponding reference value, the differentiation can be carried out meaningful. The reference value can be determined, for example, by results obtained by means of tests, wherein a large amount of information can be included in the reference value. In the case of a meeting of the first furniture part with an object can be deduced in this way, for example, with a relatively large reduction of the pulses in a given time window compared to a comparison value or a threshold, a possible collision of the movable furniture part with a collision object. If, on the other hand, a comparatively small decrease in the detectable pulses of the incremental encoder takes place in a considered time window, it is possible to conclude that a movement stop of the first furniture part triggered by an operator has occurred.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the subject invention, the control unit is designed such that after the encounter of the moving first furniture part with an object to stop the movement of the first furniture part. By a movement stop or by a possibly immediate standstill state of the movable furniture part, especially in the case of a collision of the movable furniture part with a person adverse consequences can be reduced by the collision or almost completely excluded. Advantageously, in a suitable embodiment of the control unit or devices acting together to stop the movable furniture part, at the moment of the meeting or thereafter e.g. within a fraction of a second, the movement stops abruptly.

It is particularly advantageous if the control unit is designed to decelerate the movement of the first furniture part comparatively strongly after a collision with an object. Thus, undesirable or disadvantageous consequences can be avoided or minimized by a collision of the movable furniture part with an object, for example a child or a person.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the control unit is designed to brake the movement of the first furniture part relatively gently for the movement stop of the first furniture part triggered by an operator. This may contribute to the operator being able to easily set up an exact adjustment of the stop position of the movable furniture part by the moderately decreasing moving speed of the movable furniture part.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the control unit is formed, the first furniture part after the collision with a Move object to a predefinable position. Often can be avoided or at least kept within acceptable limits by a spacing of the movable first furniture part of the collision object immediately after the collision, the damage possibly resulting from the collision. For example, with this measure, a possible cause of injury can be excluded by a first furniture part which is stopped at the collision location. If the first furniture part is moved sufficiently far away from the collision location after the collision with the collision object, damage or injuries occurring after the actual collision can be avoided by the furniture part remaining or struck in the collision position. Depending on the setting, the specifiable position in direction and amount can be determined.

Particularly advantageously, the control unit is constructed to stop the first furniture part after colliding with an object and to move after a defined period of time in the predetermined position. In this way, a temporal safety distance to the collision can be set up, after which e.g. is returned to a normal operating state, without a conscious action by a person is necessary.

In a further preferred embodiment of the subject invention, the control unit is designed to stop the first furniture part in particular after collision with an object and to bring it into a closed position of the first furniture part relative to the second furniture part. This can be after a collision move the first furniture part in its maximum retracted or in its closed position, optionally after a period of time, whereby a further possible injury or damage potential can be excluded by the open of the first furniture part.

In an alternative advantageous embodiment of the subject invention, the control unit is constructed to stop the first furniture part after the collision with an object in particular and to bring in an open position of the first furniture part relative to the second furniture part. This can advantageously be reduced or avoided possible unwanted or negative consequences of a collision. Because in individual cases, it is possible that by the movement of the first furniture part in its open position subsequent to the collision, the damage is less or thus a further hazard potential is avoidable, as if the first furniture part in the collision position or get into the closed position.

Further, it is preferred if the control unit is designed to move the first furniture part after the collision by a predetermined distance against the direction of movement of the first furniture part before the collision and stop there. Constellations are conceivable in which it is advantageous if, after a collision, a comparatively small return movement of the movable furniture part takes place, for example to make the actual collision location accessible, but the furniture part is not moved away, in particular not up to a greater distance in the closed or open position.

Further, it is advantageous that the control unit is configured, upon an opening movement of the first furniture part from the closed position at a meeting of the first furniture part with an object within a predeterminable distance to stop the first furniture part, in particular to move back to the closed position. For example, within a relatively short distance of a few centimeters from the closed position of the first furniture part, For example, about 15 centimeters, the fact that it is unlikely that occurs in this range of motion of the first furniture part intentionally triggered by an operator movement stop. For only after a movement of the first furniture part over the predetermined distance with a minimum distance to the closed position, for example, a movable drawer can be operated or loaded or unloaded by an operator. Therefore, within the minimum distance of the drawer from the closed position, a collision with a certain damage or injury potential is generally to be assumed when the drawer meets an object. Therefore, it is advantageous to stop in any case, the drawer or the first piece of furniture or possibly go back a bit or move back to the closed position.

Finally, it is further proposed that the control unit is configured to associate, within a predeterminable distance, a coincidence of the movable first furniture part with an object exclusively to a movement stop intentionally triggered by an operator. When the moving first furniture part coincides with an object, a collision can possibly be ruled out or an adverse effect in the event of a collision of the movable furniture part with an object is virtually ruled out. This fact can apply over particular sections of the entire path of movement of the movable furniture part.

The invention also relates to a piece of furniture with furniture parts which are movable relative to one another and which comprises one of the aforementioned devices. This can be achieved with the respective device achievable advantages for a piece of furniture with relatively movable furniture parts. In particular, the furniture includes movable Furniture parts such as drawers, doors, flaps and the like, which are movably guided by suitable guide means on a second furniture part, in particular a furniture body. As guide means come for drawers in particular guide rails or doors or flaps in particular fittings or hinges in question.

figure description

Further advantages and features of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the figures shown schematically.

Figur 1

ein erfindungsgemäßes Möbel mit einer in einem Korpus bewegbaren Schublade in perspektivischer Ansicht und

Figur 2

eine stark schematisierte Schnittansicht von der Seite durch ein erfindungsgemäßes Möbel mit drei in einem Korpus angetrieben bewegbaren Schubladen.

In detail shows:

FIG. 1

an inventive furniture with a movable drawer in a carcass in perspective view and

FIG. 2

a highly schematic sectional view from the side by an inventive furniture with three driven in a body movable drawers.

FIG. 1 shows obliquely from above an inventive piece of furniture 1 with a body 2 and a movably guided in the body 2 drawer 3. The arranged in the lower part of the body 2 drawer 3 is shown in the open or pulled out state, the drawer 3 via a pull-out or a drawer guide 4 relative to the body 2 is slidably movable. In the body 2, another drawer, not shown, can be accommodated via a further drawer slide 5 to drawer 3 corresponding manner. The drawer 3 can be moved relative to the body 2 or pulled or pushed in accordance with the double arrow P1. For holding or

Motion control of the drawer is in the lower region of both sides of a drawer bottom 3a upwardly projecting drawer 3 b each drawer guide 4 drawer side attached. In FIG. 1 only the drawer guides 4 and 5 are visible, which are attached to a visible body inside. The drawer 3 can be moved driven, wherein the drive unit not visible, for example, in the rear region of the body or on the drawer guides 4, 5 may be arranged.

FIG. 2 shows a highly simplified and schematic representation of a side view of another piece of furniture 6 according to the invention with a body 7, wherein a side wall of the body 7 is omitted. In the body 7 three superimposed and driven displaceable movable drawers 8, 9 and 10 are housed. The drawers 8, 9 and 10 are each connected via drive elements 11, 12 and 13 with drive units 14, 15, 16, which are each assigned to one of the drawers 8 to 10. For this purpose, each of the drive elements 11 to 13 engages on the one hand on the respective drawer 8 to 10 or their parts and on the other hand on the respective drive unit 14 to 16.

The drawer 8 is shown in an extended state relative to the body 7 and in an open position. The drawer 9 is in a closed position or is shown in a retracted in the body 7 state, wherein a drawer front 9a is spaced by about one to two inches from a front edge 7a of the body to the drawer 9 by means of a touch, not shown. Serve Latch system or to be able to open by counter-pressing against the drawer front 9a. To open the drawer 9 this is moved by pressure on the drawer front 9a by a small distance in the direction of the body 7, whereby after a triggering action, the drive unit 15 via the drive element 12, the drawer 9 driven forward can move.

The drawer 10 is extended over a partial distance from the closed position, resulting in a distance 17 between a drawer front 10a and the front edge 7a. The drawer 10 is in the state after a collision or collision with an object, for example, an article 18 in the form of a crate. When the drawer 10 was extended, a collision was detected and further processed on the basis of the movement pattern of the drawer 10 detected at the meeting. In the case shown in accordance with FIG. 2 was the immediate strong stopping of the drawer 10 at the moment of collision damage to the article 18 and the drawer 10 avoided, in particular, the article 18 was advantageously not repelled, whereby a further damage caused by the repulsion can be excluded. The drawer 10 has also been moved back after stopping a small distance in the direction of the body 7, so that a small distance or gap 19 between the drawer front 10a and the article 18 is present after stopping.

A control unit for controlling the movement of the drawers 8 to 10 or individual to each drawer 8 to 10 belonging and communicating with each other control units are not shown. However, a control unit may, for example, be housed respectively in the drive units 14 to 16. For example, to intentionally stop a drawer 8 to 10 in an extended position between a fully opened position as shown in the drawer 8 and a closed position as shown in the drawer 9, for example, an operator may manually move against the drawer during an opening movement of the drawer concerned Press or let the drawer run against the hand, which thereby deliberately triggered coincidence of the concerned Drawer and the hand of the operator a movement pattern can be detected by the control unit and this movement pattern for the movement control of the drawer concerned is based. When the drawer is intentionally stopped, it can then be gently braked within a few centimeters, for example, into a stop position.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

furniture

2

corpus

3

drawer

3a

drawer base

3b

drawer

4

drawer guide

5

drawer guide

6

furniture

7

corpus

7a

leading edge

8th

drawer

9

drawer

9a

drawer front

10

drawer

10a

drawer front

11

driving element

12

driving element

13

driving element

14

drive unit

15

drive unit

16

drive unit

17

distance

18

object

19

gap

Claims (16)

1. Device for controlling the movement of furniture parts which can be moved relative to one another comprising a drive unit (14, 15, 16) by means of which a first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) can be moved in a driven manner relative to a second furniture part (2, 7) by means of a control unit for controlling the movement thereof, and the control unit is configured to detect a movement pattern of the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) on the occurrence of a collision between the moved first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) and an object (18) and to use this movement pattern as the basis for further controlling the movement of the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10), characterised in that the control unit is configured on the basis of a movement pattern to differentiate between a collision with an object (18) and a stopping motion of the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) which has been deliberately initiated by an operator.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the control unit is designed to detect a movement pattern of the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) during a closing movement of the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) on the occurrence of a collision between the moved first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) and an object (18) and to use this movement pattern as the basis for further controlling the movement of the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10).
3. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control unit is configured to evaluate signals detectable by a sensor in order to characterise the movement pattern.
4. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control unit is designed to evaluate pulses of an incremental encoder in order to detect the movement pattern, which incremental encoder generates pulses as a function of the movement of the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10).
5. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control unit is designed, on the basis of a comparison of the detected pulses of the incremental encoder per unit of time with a reference value, to make a differentiation between the collision with an object (18) and the stopping motion of the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) which has been deliberately initiated by an operator.
6. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control unit is designed to stop the movement of the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) after the collision of the moved first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) with an object (18).
7. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control unit is designed to brake the movement of the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) comparatively strongly after a collision with an object (18).
8. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control unit is designed to brake the movement of the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) relatively gently to stop the movement of the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) when deliberately initiated by an operator.
9. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control unit is designed to move the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) into a predefinable position after the collision with an object (18).
10. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control unit is designed to stop the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) after the collision with an object (18) and move it into the predetermined position after a defined time interval has passed.
11. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control unit is designed in particular to stop the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) after the collision with an object (18) and move the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) into a closed position relative to the second furniture part (2, 7).
12. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control unit is designed in particular to stop the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) after the collision with an object (18) and move the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) into an open position relative to the second furniture part (2, 7).
13. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control unit is designed to move back the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) after the collision by a predefinable distance opposite the direction of movement of the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) before the collision and to stop it there.
14. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control unit is designed to stop the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) during an opening movement of the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) from the closed position on the occurrence of a collision between the first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) and an object (18) within a predefinable distance.
15. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control unit is designed to assign a collision between the moved first furniture part (3, 8, 9, 10) and an object (18) within a predefinable distance exclusively to a stopping motion which has been deliberately initiated by an operator.
16. Piece of furniture (1, 6) with furniture parts (2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10) which are movable relative to one another comprising a device according to any of the preceding claims.

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