EP2142740A1

EP2142740A1 - Flap drive system

Info

Publication number: EP2142740A1
Application number: EP08733256A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Klaus Mattle
Original assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
Current assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
Priority date: 2007-05-07
Filing date: 2008-04-25
Publication date: 2010-01-13
Anticipated expiration: 2028-04-25
Also published as: CN101675204B; AT505126A1; JP2010526225A; CN101675204A; JP5559039B2; US8011741B2; AT505126B1; WO2008134786A1; TR201809823T4; EP2142740B1; HUE039415T2; US20100026153A1

Abstract

A flap drive system (1) for a flap (4) mounted in a movable manner on the body (5) of a piece of furniture has a mechanical actuating unit (2) with an actuating arm (21) that can be linked to the flap (4) and with an energy accumulator (22) that can apply a force to the actuating arm (21). The flap drive system (1) also has an electric drive (3) secured to the actuating unit (2) for driving the flap (4). The electric drive (3) has at least one electric motor (31) and is designed as a self-contained component, such that the electric drive (3) can be secured to the actuating unit (2) even when the actuating unit (2) is already mounted on the body (5) of the piece of furniture.

Description

Flap drive system

The present invention relates to a valve drive system for a movably mounted on a furniture body flap.

WO 2006/099645 A1 shows a flap movably mounted on a furniture body with a mechanical setting unit which has an actuating arm which can be connected to the flap and an energy store which acts on the setting arm. Furthermore, an electric motor for driving the flap is provided as an integral part of the mechanical actuating unit. A damper drive system with units or components separated from each other is not shown.

A disadvantage of the prior art is on the one hand the fact that a once made decision for a purely mechanical actuator or a mechanical actuator with integrated electric motor can be changed only by a complete replacement of the mechanical actuator by such with or without an integrated electric motor. In other words, it is not possible to retrofit an already installed in a furniture body mechanical actuator with an electric motor. If the electric motor must be replaced due to a defect, this is the entire mechanical actuator to disassemble or replace the entire actuator with the defective electric motor against an actuator with intact electric motor.

The object of the invention is to remedy these problems of the prior art.

This object is achieved in that a flap drive system is provided in which the electric motor is arranged in an electric drive, wherein the electric drive is designed as a closed component, so that the electric drive can also be fastened to the present as a closed assembly actuator when the actuator already mounted on the furniture body. As a result, the replacement of a defective electric drive is made possible without having to remove the mechanical actuator from the furniture body. The fastening of the electric drive can be done, for example, without tools, preferably by a snap connection, or by a screw connection or in another suitable manner. For fixing the electric drive to the mechanical setting unit, suitable fastening means are to be arranged on the mechanical setting unit and / or the electric drive.

The simplest design of the electric drive as a completed component is achieved in that all components of the electric drive are attached to a common base plate. In this case, the electric drive can be fixed with its base plate to the mechanical actuator. Of course, the base plate may be completely or at least partially enveloped by a housing to protect the components of the electric drive.

Alternatively, it can also be provided that all components of the electric drive are arranged in a common housing. In this case, it is not necessary that all components are attached to the base plate of the housing.

Particularly preferred is an embodiment of the invention in which it is provided that the transmission of the driving force from the electric drive to the setting unit takes place via a preferably single interface. This interface can be formed for example by a shaft journal, which connects an output of the electric motor or arranged on the part of the electric drive transmission with the mechanical actuator. The shaft journal is introduced, for example, in an opening on the actuator rotatably. It can be provided, for example, that the interface interacts directly with the actuator arm of the actuator, so that the drive of the flap via the electric motor, the interface and the actuator is done.

Of course, a transmission may be provided in the power train between the electric motor and the actuator arm.

Particularly preferred in the embodiment with interface provided that the interface by attaching the electric drive to the actuator so to speak automatically establishes a connection for power transmission between the electric drive and the actuator. This can be done in the formation of the actuator as a shaft journal such that the shaft journal on the electric drive is fixed and engages in the attachment of the electric drive by its positioning in a corresponding exception opening on the actuator.

If the actuating unit has a housing with a base surface which can be fastened to the furniture body and a cover surface which is at a distance therefrom, it can be provided to fasten the electric drive to the cover surface. Alternatively, it may be provided to attach the electric drive laterally next to the actuating unit at this. In both cases it is not necessary to use the actuator for mounting the

Electric drive to remove from the furniture body, if the actuator is already mounted on the furniture body.

Quite generally, of course, it may be provided to fasten the electric drive to the setting unit on the furniture carcass prior to mounting the setting unit. In this case, the essential advantage of the invention over the prior art is that the electric drive after installation of the actuator is easily removable from this, which is for example in a defective electric motor advantage.

If it is provided that the electric drive has a transmission, can further be provided that the interface is coupled to the side of the electric drive to the transmission. This embodiment preserves the advantage that no modification of already existing mechanical actuators is required, provided that they have an interface.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that between the least one electric motor and the interface or between the at least one electric motor and the transmission, a clutch is connected.

The coupling may be designed, for example, mechanically flexible (for example as a hose coupling). Such a mechanically flexible design of the coupling helps to transmit the drive noise of the electric motor to a lesser extent on the transmission and possibly the housing part in which the transmission is arranged. This is of importance insofar as preferably the electric motor is floatingly mounted in the housing of the electric drive and therefore even hardly gives off any vibrations to the housing. The acoustic properties of the electric drive can be further improved, if provided is that additional weights are connected to the at least one electric motor. This makes it possible to advantageously change the ratio between stator mass and rotor mass of the electric motor.

The floating mounting of the electric motor can be done with the help of foam pads.

Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that the electric drive has a freewheeling coupling for the at least one electric motor. Such a freewheeling coupling is described in the aforementioned WO 2006/099645 A1 and therefore need not be explained in detail at this point.

For various reasons, it may be advantageous if a position-measuring device is provided for determining the position of the actuating arm. Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided to provide a position-measuring device for determining the electric motor. In particular, in the arrangement of a one-way clutch can namely from a known position of the actuating arm or electric motor is not necessarily closed to the position of the other of the two components actuator arm and electric motor. In this case, it is advantageous if separate position-measuring devices are provided for each component (actuating arm or electric motor). Of course, it can also be provided a common position measuring device, which has separate sensor for the actuator arm and the electric motor.

At least one of the position measuring devices can have a rotary potentiometer. Other embodiments of the position measuring device (s) are conceivable.

The measuring signals of the position measuring device or position measuring devices can be supplied to a control or regulating device. This can control or regulate the electric motor depending on the received measurement signals. For example, this makes it possible to realize a touch-latch functionality in which the electric motor for driving the flap is triggered and / or braked by the action of a user on the flap. Furthermore, various speed or acceleration profiles, quite well depending on the strength and / or direction of a force exerted by the user can be driven. Furthermore, derived movement quantities of the electric motor and / or the flap, such as rotational acceleration and rotational speed or acceleration and speed, can be determined via the position-measuring devices.

Since the flap in the fully open state is not always easily accessible (especially for smaller users), a separate switch can be provided on the furniture body through which the closing can be done. If the switch is intended only for closing, it is covered by the flap in the closed end position of the flap, in which this rests against the furniture body. Of course, it can also be started by a movement of the flap by the user of the closing operation by the electric motor.

An inventive valve drive system can be arranged on one or both sides of a furniture body. In the case of a two-sided arrangement, it can be provided that one of the damper drive systems (or its control unit) acts as a master and the other damper drive system (or its control unit) acts as a slave.

Further advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the figures and the associated description of the figures. Showing:

1 shows a mechanical actuating unit for a flap with an electric motor according to the prior art,

Fig. 2 to 5 a first embodiment of an inventive

Damper drive system in various views, Fig. 6 to 11, a second embodiment of an inventive

Flap drive system and Fig. 12a, 12b each show a perspective view of a furniture body with a mounted flap drive system according to the first and second embodiment

Fig. 1 shows a mechanical actuating unit according to the prior art, which is mounted on a base plate 9 on a furniture body 8. The mechanical actuator In this case has an energy storage device 13 for acting on two actuating arms 10, 11. The actuating arms 10, 11 are hinged on the one hand to the base plate 9 and on the other hand hinged to a fitting part 12 of the flap 4. Via an electric motor 7, the actuating arm 10 and thus the flap 4 can be driven.

FIGS. 2 to 5 show a first exemplary embodiment of a flap drive system 1 according to the invention.

In FIG. 2, a top surface 24 of a mechanical actuating unit 2, which is not shown in detail in FIG. 2, can be seen. The top surface 24 has two projections 241, which serve to mount the base plate 39 of the electric drive 3. The hanging takes place via tabs 391. After successful hooking the electric drive

3 and the mechanical actuator 2 are screwed together by screws, in this embodiment, the top surface 24 has corresponding receptacles 242 for the screws. Furthermore, in Fig. 2, the transmission 33, the

Electric motor 31 and one of these two components interconnecting (in this

Embodiment mechanically flexible trained), clutch 34. On the

Base plate 39 is further mounted a circuit board 38, which the circuits of a

Control unit has.

The interface 6 is here in the form of the central axis 6 'of the electric drive 3 and behind a receiving opening 6 "arranged on the setting unit 2 receptacle (not shown) for the axis 6' is formed.

In Fig. 3, the mechanical actuator 2 is shown as a whole unit as it may already be mounted in a furniture body, not shown in Fig. 3. The mechanical actuator 2 in this case has an actuating arm 21, which is acted upon by a not shown in FIG. 3 but the prior art energy storage 22 (here: spring assembly).

The housing of the actuating unit 2 has a base surface 23 with which the actuating unit 2 can be fastened to a furniture carcass. From this spaced and substantially parallel to this, the top surface 24 is arranged, which serves for the attachment of the electric drive 3. With reference to the electric drive 3, a potentiometer 37 can be seen in FIG. 3 in comparison to FIG. 2, which cooperates with the final stage of the transmission 33 (see the exploded view of FIG. 4 for this). About the potentiometer 37, the position of the actuating arm 21 and thus the position of the flap 4, not shown in FIG. 3 can be determined, since the output stage of the gear 33 cooperates with the actuator arm 21 without slippage via the interface 6, not shown in FIG.

Not shown separately in the figures, another potentiometer, which is formed directly on the board 38 by suitable circuits. About this potentiometer, the position of the output of the electric motor 31 can be determined.

In Fig. 4, the actual arrangement of the potentiometer 37 relative to the transmission 32 can be seen. In this case, a sprocket 371 is rotatably connected to the output stage of the transmission 32 and cooperates with a gear 372 such that a 2: 1 translation of the movement of the output stage of the gear 33 to the gear 372 takes place. As a result, the measuring range of the potentiometer 37, with which the gear 372 cooperates, can be better utilized.

In Fig. 4 is further recognizable that at the output 311 of the electric motor 31, a pin 312 is plugged, which in the coupling 34 (here: mechanically flexible hose coupling) is inserted. On the other side of the clutch 34, a worm wheel is arranged in a housing 313, which cooperates with the first stage of the transmission 33.

The electric drive 3 further has an overload clutch 331 and an overrunning clutch 35. The overload clutch 331 prevents unwanted destruction of the gears of the transmission 33 by an excessive force acting on the actuator arm 21 load. The one-way clutch 332 allows a user to engage with the door 4 driven without being hindered by the motor 31.

Fig. 5 shows in a perspective view again the flap drive system 1 according to the previous Fig. 2 to 4, wherein the electric drive 3 is attached as a closed component to the mechanical actuator 2. Although a significant advantage of the invention is that it is possible to secure the electric drive 3 to an actuator unit 2, when the actuator 2 is already mounted on a furniture body 5, not shown here, of course, a pre-assembly of the damper drive 1 in of the form shown in Fig. 5 take place. (This of course also applies to the embodiment explained below in FIGS. 6 to 11).

6 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a flap drive system 1 according to the invention comprising a mechanical setting unit 2 and an electric drive 3 before the electric drive 3 is mounted on the setting unit 2.

In Fig. 6, the formation of the interface 6 in the form of an electric motor 31 driven by the arm 61, to which a bolt 62 is attached, recognizable. The bolt 62 engages in the assembly of the electric drive 3 on the setting unit 2 in a recess 63 on the setting unit 2 a. As a result, a force-transmitting connection between the electric drive 3 and the actuator 2 is created.

7 shows an exploded view of the electric drive 3.

In a housing 32 while all components of the electric drive 3 are arranged. The housing 32 can be covered by a cover 321.

The electric motor 31 is arranged floating in an engine mount. In the engine storage while weights 36 are not recognizable. The output 312 of the electric motor 31 interacts with a worm wheel 314 via an overrunning clutch 35 (here: jaw clutch). The worm wheel 314 drives the arm 61 via the gear 33.

8 shows a plan view of the flap drive system 1 according to the invention, wherein the electric drive 3 has already been fastened to the setting unit 2.

Fig. 9 shows a corresponding perspective view.

Figs. 10 and 11 show a top and front view, respectively. FIG. 12 a shows a furniture carcass 5 with a flap 4 movably mounted thereon and a flap drive system 1 according to FIGS. 2 to 5.

FIG. 12 b shows a furniture carcass 5 with a flap 4 movably mounted thereon and a flap drive system 1 according to FIGS. 6 to 11.

Claims

claims:

A flap drive system (1) for a flap (4) movably mounted on a furniture body (5), comprising:

A mechanical actuating unit (2) which has an actuating arm (21) which can be connected to the flap (4) and an energy store (22) which acts on the actuating arm (21) and

• an electric drive (3) attached to the setting unit (2) for driving the flap (4), wherein the electric drive (3) has at least one

Electric motor (31), wherein the electric drive (3) is designed as a closed component, so that the electric drive (3) on the setting unit (2) can be fastened even if the setting unit (2) is already mounted on the furniture body (5) ,

Second damper drive system (1) according to claim 1, wherein all components of the electric drive (3) on a common base plate (39) are attached.

3. damper drive system (1) according to claim 1, wherein all components of the electric drive (3) in a common housing (32) are arranged.

4. damper drive system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an interface (6) for transmitting the driving force from the electric drive (3) on the setting unit (2) is provided.

5. damper drive system (1) according to claim 4, wherein the interface (6) by the attachment of the electric drive (3) on the setting unit (2) connects to the power transmission between the electric drive (3) and the setting unit (2).

6. flap drive system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the actuating unit (2) comprises a housing with a furniture body (5) attachable base (23) and a spaced therefrom top surface (24) and wherein the electric drive (3 ) is attached to the top surface (24).

7. damper drive system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the electric drive (3) laterally adjacent to the adjusting unit (2) is fixed thereto.

8. flap drive system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the electric drive (3) has a transmission (33).

9. damper drive system (1) according to claim 8, wherein the interface (6) on the side of the electric drive (3) with the transmission (33) is coupled.

10. flap drive system (1) according to one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the

Interface (6) on the side of the actuating unit (2) with the actuating arm (21) is coupled.

11. damper drive system (1) according to one of claims 4 to 10, wherein between the at least one electric motor (31) and the interface (6) or between the at least one electric motor (31) and the transmission (33), a clutch (34) is provided is.

12. damper drive system (1) according to claim 11, wherein the coupling (34) is formed mechanically flexible.

13. Damper drive system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the electric drive (3) has an overrunning clutch (35) for the at least one electric motor (31).

14. Damper drive system (1) according to one of claims 3 to 13, wherein the at least one electric motor (31) is floatingly mounted in the housing (32) of the electric drive (3).

15. damper drive system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the at least one electric motor (31) additional weights (36) are connected.

16. Damper drive system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherein a position measuring device (37) for determining the position of the actuating arm (21) is provided.

17. Damper drive system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 16, wherein a position measuring device for determining the position of the electric motor (31) is provided.

18. Damper drive system (1) according to claim 15 or 17, wherein the position measuring device (s) (37) has a rotary potentiometer (have).

19. Furniture with a furniture body and a movably mounted on the furniture body flap, characterized by a on the furniture body (5) mounted

Damper drive system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the actuating arm (21) of the damper drive system (1) is connected to the flap.