EP2321486A1

EP2321486A1 - Drive device for a furniture flap

Info

Publication number: EP2321486A1
Application number: EP09775576A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christian Omann; Wolfgang Bohle
Original assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
Current assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
Priority date: 2008-08-29
Filing date: 2009-07-28
Publication date: 2011-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-28
Also published as: EP2321486B1; ES2380901T3; ATE542014T1; CN102131998B; AU2009287381B2; AT507279A1; US9500015B2; JP2012500917A; RU2011111695A; CN102131998A; WO2010022414A1; MY152531A; JP5571084B2; RU2495989C2; AU2009287381A1; US20110138960A1

Abstract

Drive device for a flap (2) of a piece of furniture (3), having at least one actuating arm (6) which is, or can be, activated by a spring device (4) and is intended for moving the flap (2), and having a pushing-out device (5), via which the flap (2) can be moved from the closed position, in the direction of the open position, over a first opening-angle range (M1), wherein the spring device (4) exerts substantially no force on the flap (2) in the first opening-angle range (M1), and the spring device (4) moves the flap (2) in the opening direction only in a second opening-angle range (M2), wherein the second opening-angle range (M2) adjoins the first opening-angle range (M1) or, at most, slightly overlaps the same.

Description

Drive device for a furniture flap

The present invention relates to a drive device for a flap of a piece of furniture, with at least one actuating arm acted on or acted upon by a spring device for moving the flap and with an ejection device, via which the flap over a first opening angle range from the closed position in the open position is movable ,

Furthermore, the invention relates to a piece of furniture with a drive device of the kind to be described.

Such a drive device has become known, for example, from the German Utility Model DE 20 2006 000 535 U1 of the Applicant, wherein an ejection device is provided with a touch-latch functionality for ejecting the flap from a closed end position. In addition, an additional spring device is provided, which takes over the compensation of the flap weight. However, the spring device brings on the flap and a relatively large clamping force, so that the flap is pressed towards the end of the closing movement after overcoming a dead center in the full closed position and held in this end position of a certain closing force. A disadvantage of this prior art is the fact that the ejection device - when the flap is in the fully closed position - must overcome the force of the spring device, which also requires a relatively large-sized ejection device.

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a drive device of the type mentioned above while avoiding the above-mentioned drawback.

This is inventively achieved in an advantageous embodiment in that the spring device in the first opening angle range exerts substantially no force on the flap and that the spring device moves the flap in a second opening angle range in the opening direction, wherein the second opening angle range adjoins the first opening angle range or at most overlaps with this. In other words, the ejection device and the spring device are coordinated so that the spring device in the closed end position exerts substantially no force on the flap, so that the ejector for ejecting the flap essentially only the moment of inertia of the flap (taking into account the angular velocity to be achieved the flap) must overcome. The flap can thus be moved out of the closed end position particularly easily.

The force of the ejection device can be dimensioned relatively small in this way and thus be realized in a space-saving and cost-effective. Only at the end of the ejection stroke of the ejection device - preferably following this ejection stroke - the spring device begins to act, so that on the actuator arm (and thus on the hinged flap) an active pivoting moment is exerted in the opening direction, so that the flap by the force of Spring device moves automatically upwards.

According to one embodiment, it can be provided that the drive device has exactly one spring device. In principle, it is conceivable that the drive device could comprise two or more spring devices, all of which, however, are effective in the second opening angle range (for example in the form of a carriage run). According to the aspect of the invention, however, it is desirable if the spring device (s) in the first opening angle range does not exert a tightening force on the flap or if no spring force is provided which holds the flap in the fully closed position.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that a third opening angle range adjoins the second opening angle range in which the spring device holds the flap essentially balanced. In this way, the flap is held in a fully open position immediately upstream region substantially in each open position, whereby the flap is not necessarily pressed into the full open position. However, it is also possible to move the flap by the spring device in the full open position and to provide a damping device for damping the last opening movement of the flap. In one possible embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the first opening angle range extends from 0 ° to 10 °, preferably between 0 ° and 5 °, starting from the complete closed position of the flap. It may also be beneficial if the second opening angle range to about 30 °, preferably to about 10 °, open position of the flap is effective.

An expedient embodiment results from the fact that between the spring device and the actuator arm mounted around an axis of rotation control cam with a positioning or arranged thereon actuating contour is effective, during the pivotal movement of the actuating arm a pressure roller runs along the control contour. In this context, it may be advantageous if the curve portion of the control contour, which is in engagement with the pressure roller during the first opening angle range of the flap, at least approximately the same radial distance from the axis of rotation of the control cam. By approximately the same radial distance of this curve section can be avoided that the spring device exerts a substantial force on the flap in the very last closing area. At best, even a slight closing force of the spring device would be tolerable, as long as the opposite force of the ejector is dimensioned sufficiently stronger.

To achieve a particularly compact design, it may be favorable if the spring device and the drive device are arranged in a common structural unit. Of course, it is also possible that the spring device and the drive device are arranged in mutually separate units. In this way, if necessary, existing actuators can be retrofitted with an ejector.

It can be provided that the ejection device acts directly or indirectly on the flap. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible that the ejection device acts on the actuator arm. In an expedient embodiment, it can be provided that the ejection device has at least one, preferably lockable, energy accumulator, by means of which an ejection element for ejecting the flap and / or for ejecting the actuating arm can be acted upon. For the realization of the ejection device, there are several possibilities. In this context, all known according to the prior art touch-latch functionalities are conceivable, as described, inter alia, in DE 20 2006 000 535 U1 the applicant. The energy accumulator can thus have at least one mechanical spring element and / or be at least partially formed by an electric motor. Likewise, energy storage in the form of gas springs and / or an electromagnet are conceivable. The energy accumulator can be charged when opening or closing, wherein the touch latch fitting can be triggered by pulling on the flap and / or by manual pressure on the flap (starting from the closed position). In a release by applying pressure to the flap, it may be advantageous if the flap has a first end position corresponding to the closed position of the flap and that the flap starting from this first end position by applying pressure in the closing direction of the same in a closer lying on the body, the second End position is movable.

Thus, the flap is kept sufficiently stable relative to the furniture body in the full closed position, it may be advantageous if the flap is held in the closed position by a locking device. Thus, a per se known construction can be provided, wherein the locking device comprises at least two parts, wherein a first part on the furniture body and a second part are arranged on the flap or can be arranged, wherein the two parts in the closed position of the flap on each other a magnetic Exercise attraction.

Alternatively, as a locking device and a collection device can be used, as they are already known for example for drawer extension guides for some time. As an example, reference is made to the European patent EP 0 391 221 B1 of the Applicant. This collection devices usually have at least one coupling part, wherein a furniture body associated with the coupling part towards the end of the closing movement of the flap associated with a flap driver is coupled, whereupon the coupled driver (and thus the flap) by an energy storage device in the full closed position can be pulled. Of course, this closing movement can also be damped by a damper in order to prevent a hard impact of the flap on the furniture carcass. The locking device can in principle also be designed as a simple locking device which can be released again by the ejection device. In all variants of the locking device, the force of the ejection device opposite the locking device must naturally be sufficiently higher in order to allow a reliable ejection of the flap from the closed end position.

Further details and advantages of the present invention will be explained with reference to the following description of the figures. It shows or show:

1 is a schematic representation of the opening angle ranges of the flap,

Fig. 2a, 2b shows a representation of the furniture in a perspective view from the front and an enlarged detail of this, Fig. 3 shows the furniture in a perspective view from behind, Fig. 4 shows the furniture in a further perspective view from behind, and

Fig. 5a, 5b, a possible embodiment of an actuator for moving the flap.

1 shows a schematic representation of the different opening angle ranges M1, M2 and M3 of a flap 2 which can be moved up relative to a furniture carcass 1. In this schematic illustration, the flap 2 is in the fully open position. The flap 2 is adjustably mounted between a cabinet compartment in the furniture body 1 closing vertical position (characterized by the vertical axis S) and an upwardly moved open position (axis O). For ejecting the flap 2 from the closed position is an ejector, not shown, for compensation or for at least partially support the opening movement is provided (also not shown) spring device. Starting from the complete closed position of the flap 2 (vertical axis S), this is moved by the ejection device over the first opening angle range M1 in the open position, wherein in this first opening angle range M1 of the spring device substantially no force is exerted on the flap 2. In this way, the flap 2 is particularly easy to move from the closed end position. Towards the end of the first opening angle range M1, a second opening angle range M2 is provided, which either adjoins the first opening angle range M1 or coincides with this overlaps at best. This overlap is symbolically marked by the dashed extension line of the second opening angle range M2. In the second opening angle range M2, an active pivoting moment is exerted on the flap 2 by the provided spring device, so that the flap 2 moves in the direction of the open position following the ejection stroke of the ejection device by the spring device (even without manual support of the flap 2). Subsequent to the second opening angle range M2, a third opening angle range M3 is provided, in which the spring device keeps the flap 2 essentially balanced. The flap 2 is thereby held within the third rotation angle range M3 substantially in each pivotal position against gravity, so that the flap 2 is not automatically pressed into the full open position for reasons of improved accessibility.

Fig. 2a shows a possible embodiment of a piece of furniture 3, wherein a highly movable flap 2 is mounted relative to a furniture body 1 adjustable. The flap 2 comprises in the figure shown two partial flaps 2a and 2b, wherein the upper part flap 2a is pivotable relative to the furniture body 1 and the lower part flap 2b is pivotally mounted relative to the upper part flap 2a. The flap 2 assumes an open position in the illustration shown. If the flap 2 is moved starting from the position shown in the closed position, the two partial flaps 2a, 2b move apart again until they form a common plane in the closed position, thereby closing the cabinet of the furniture body 1 in a vertical position. To move the flap 2, an actuator 8 is initially provided, which has a spring device 4 for acting on an actuating arm 6. The actuator 8 is preferably mounted on both opposite side walls of the furniture body 1. The actuator arm 6 of the right actuator 8 is covered by the flap 2 in the figure shown. In addition, an ejection device 5 is provided for moving the flap 2, by means of which the flap 2 is movable starting from the complete closed position over the first opening angle range M1 shown in FIG. For reasons of clarity, the ejection device 5 is shown as a separate from the actuator 8 assembly, of course, the ejector 5 may also be an integral part of the actuator 8. The spring device 4 of the actuator 8 exerts on the actuator arm 6 in the immediate vicinity of the full closed position substantially no force, so that the flap 2 by the ejector. 5 is particularly easy to move into an open position. The actuating arm 6 is mounted on the one hand relative to the furniture body 1 about a horizontal axis, on the other hand articulated about a likewise horizontal axis on one of the lower part flap 2b associated fitting part 7.

Fig. 2b shows the circled in Fig. 2a area in an enlarged view. Visible is the ejection device 5, which has a housing 5a and a relative to the housing 5a movably mounted ejection element 5b. As in the discussed exemplary embodiment, the ejection element 5b can be linearly displaceable relative to the housing 5a. The ejection device 5 has, for example, a touch-latch functionality, wherein a lockable force accumulator is arranged within the housing 5a. As shown, the ejection element 5b can act on the flap 2 or, according to a variant, also on the actuating arm 6. The ejection device 5 can be triggered either by pressure on the flap 2 or by pulling on the flap 2. On the closer functionality of such touch-latch devices is not discussed in the context of the present invention, since these are well known in the prior art.

Also visible in FIG. 2b is a part 9a which forms part of a locking device 9 for the flap 2. The locking device 9 is used to fix the flap of the full closed position and will be explained in more detail below.

Fig. 3 shows the furniture 3 in a perspective view from the rear, for reasons of clarity, the rear wall of the furniture body 1 is omitted. Evident is the actuator 8 with the spring device 4, through which the actuator arm 6 for moving the flap 2 can be acted upon. The arranged on or in the furniture body 1 ejection device 5 with the housing 5a and the relatively movable ejection element 5b in the form of a plunger acts in the closed position on the lower part flap 2b.

Fig. 4 also shows a representation of the furniture 3 in a perspective view from behind. Evident here is a part 9b of a locking device 9, by which the flap 2 can be kept sufficiently stable in the fully closed position. In the figure shown, the locking device 9 comprises a part 9b which, in the closed position of the flap 2, has a part 9a arranged on the ejection element 5b (Fig. 2b) is in magnetic connection. In this way, the flap 2 is held sufficiently stable on the furniture body, by triggering the ejector 5, however, the magnetic force can be overcome, so that the flap 2 is movable in an open position.

5a shows a possible embodiment of an actuator 8 which is to be fastened to at least one side wall of the furniture body 1. The actuator 8 comprises a housing 10 with a first spring bearing 11a, on which the spring device 4 shown schematically is supported. In addition, an intermediate lever 12 which can be pivoted over the axis of rotation R is provided, wherein the spring device 4 acts on the intermediate lever 12 on the second spring bearing 11b. The spring bearing 11b is adjustable by a setting device 16 in a variable state to the rotation axis R of the intermediate lever 12, so that the force of the spring device 4 can be selectively adjusted to the weight of the flap 2 to be moved. Furthermore, a rotatably mounted about a rotation axis L control cam 13 is provided with a control contour 13a, wherein the intermediate lever 12 associated pressure roller 14 is pressed against the control contour 13a of the control cam 13 by the force of the spring device 4. During the pivotal movement of the actuating arm 6, not shown here, the pressure roller 14 runs along the control contour 13a of the control cam 13 from. The rotatable control cam 13 has a coupling part 15, on which the actuating arm 6 can be snapped on.

Fig. 5b shows the circled in Fig. 5a area in an enlarged view. Evident is the pivotable about the rotation axis R intermediate lever 12, on which the adjustably mounted spring bearing 11b is arranged. The pressure roller 14 is pressed against the control contour 13a of the control cam 13 mounted about the axis of rotation L, wherein the pressure roller 14 runs off at the peripheral edge (control contour 13a) of the control cam 13. Schematically drawn is the first rotation angle range M1, wherein the radial distance - based on the rotation axis L of the control cam 13 - the setting contour 13a in this rotation angle range M1 is at least approximately equal. In this way, essentially no force is exerted by the spring device on the actuating arm 6 (and thus on the flap 2), so that the flap 2 can be moved into an open position starting from the complete closed position by a relatively small-sized ejection device 5. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, but includes all variants and technical equivalents, which may fall within the scope of the following claims. Also, the position information selected in the description, such as top, bottom, right, etc. related to the immediately described and illustrated figure and are mutatis mutandis transferred to the new situation in a change in position.

Claims

claims:

1. Drive device for a flap of a piece of furniture, with at least one acted upon by a spring device or acted upon actuating arm for moving the flap and with an ejection device, over which the

Flap over a first opening angle range from the closed position in the direction of the open position is movable, characterized in that the spring device (4) in the first opening angle range (M1) substantially no force on the flap (2) exerts and that the spring device (4) the flap ( 2) only in a second opening angle range (M2) in

Opening direction moves, wherein the second opening angle range (M2) adjoins the first opening angle range (M1) or at least slightly overlaps with this.

2. Drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that adjoins the second opening angle range (M2), a third opening angle range (M3), in which the spring device (4) holds the flap (2) substantially balanced.

3. Drive device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that extending the first opening angle range (M 1) - starting from the complete closed position of the flap (2) - between 0 ° and 10 °, preferably between 0 ° and 5 °.

4. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second opening angle range (M2) to about 30 °, preferably to about 10 °, the open position of the flap (2) is effective.

5. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that between the spring device (4) and the actuating arm

(6) a control cam (13) mounted around a rotation axis (L) with a positioning contour (13a) arranged thereon or effective, wherein during the pivoting movement of the actuating arm (6) a pressure roller (14) on the setting contour (13a) expires.

6. Drive device according to claim 5, characterized in that the curved portion of the control contour (13a), which is in engagement with the pressure roller (14) during the first opening angle range (M1) of the flap (2), at least approximately the same radial distance from the axis of rotation (L ) of the control cam (13).

7. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the spring device (4) and the ejection device (5) are arranged in a common structural unit.

8. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the spring device (4) and the ejection device (5) are arranged in mutually separate units.

9. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the ejection device (5) acts on the flap (2).

10. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the ejection device (5) acts on the actuating arm (6).

11. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the ejection device (5) has at least one, preferably lockable, energy storage, through which an ejection element (5a) for ejecting the flap (2) and / or for ejecting the actuating arm (6) can be acted upon.

12. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the flap (2) is held in the closed position by a locking device (9).

13. Drive device according to claim 12, characterized in that the locking device (9) comprises at least two parts (9a, 9b), wherein a first part (9a) on the furniture body (1) and a second part (9b) on the flap (2 are arranged or can be arranged, wherein the two parts (9 a, 9 b) in the Closed position of the flap (2) to each other exert a magnetic attraction.

14. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the drive device exactly one spring device

(4).

15. Furniture with a drive device according to one of claims 1 to 14.