EP3133959A1

EP3133959A1 - Method for producing a sensor for a furniture part

Info

Publication number: EP3133959A1
Application number: EP15804129.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Boris Kruedener; Markus Herper
Original assignee: Grass GmbH Deutschland
Current assignee: Grass GmbH Deutschland
Priority date: 2015-01-22
Filing date: 2015-12-03
Publication date: 2017-03-01
Also published as: CN106572749A; DE102015100914A1; US10681981B2; WO2016116200A1; US20170172302A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (1) for producing a sensor (15, 16) for a furniture part (11), a layer of the sensor (15, 16) required for the actual sensor function being printed onto the furniture part (11). The invention further relates to a corresponding sensor, a furniture part, a switching device and a piece of furniture.

Description

"Method for producing a sensor for a furniture part"

The invention relates to a method for producing a sensor for a furniture part according to the preamble of claim 1 and a sensor for a furniture part, a furniture part, a switching device and a piece of furniture.

State of the art

In the field of furniture construction, furniture is increasingly being provided with electrical and electronic components in order to prevent their use, e.g. easier, especially comfortable to design.

Compared to mechanical devices for actuating and

Driving e.g. Of movable furniture parts such as drawers and doors, electrical and electronic equipment often offer advantages in terms of their space requirements and their adaptability. However, so far resulting in the replacement of mechanical devices by electrical or

Electronic for a production of furniture or furniture parts no significant advantages. If necessary, the

Manufacturing costs even increased, because in addition electrical lines for the transmission of energy and possibly also signals in a piece of furniture must be integrated.

The present invention is based on the object a furniture part in a rational way with a pla zsparenden sensor to provide.

The object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1.

Preferred and advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on a method for producing a sensor for a furniture part. The essence of the invention is that one for the actual sensor function

required layer of the sensor on the furniture part

is printed. Preferably, several and in particular all layers of the sensor are printed on the furniture part. An advantageous rational production results from the fact that in particular the entire sensor is produced such that one or more layers of the sensor are printed on the furniture part. There are a variety of printing methods such as e.g. High pressure, planographic printing and through-pressure (for example screen printing) known, which advantageously to the most diverse requirements of both the material of the sensor layer and the material and the shape of the furniture part, in particular a

Au tragungsstelle for the sensor can be adjusted.

In this case, a printing of a furniture part can be carried out comparatively quickly. In particular, if the sensor can be produced for the most part or completely by printing on one or more layers, the method according to the invention makes it possible to rationally equip a furniture part with the sensor in a design which is advantageously inconspicuous on a clearly visible outside, in particular a front side of a furniture part of a Furniture is arranged. Especially with larger quantities in which a furniture part is produced, the inventive method allows manufacturing costs for a furniture part with a sensor

advantageous to reduce.

A required for an actual sensor function layer may for example consist of an electrically conductive Coating material exist, with the example, an electrode for a capacitive sensor can be printed. As another example, a piezoelectric

Lead coating material with which a layer for a pressure-sensitive sensor can be formed. In contrast, with one for the actual sensor function

required layer not a layer such as e.g. a

Adhesive layer meant, which is provided only the attachment of the sensor to a surface of the furniture part.

Also a layer - e.g. a color layer - which serves only to highlight the sensor visibly or to make the sensor appear as inconspicuous as possible, is not understood here as a layer that is required for the actual sensor function. Furthermore, even a layer which only serves to assist printing is not considered necessary for the sensor function. However, if a layer such as e.g. Mounting layer or such as e.g.

Color layer is selected so that e.g. one

unwanted or even disturbing influence of the furniture part is shielded on the operation of the sensor, it is a required for the actual functioning layer. Thus, e.g. a primer layer on a metallic surface of the furniture part also for electrical insulation of the sensor, in particular electrically conductive layer structures of the sensor, relative to the

metallic surface of the furniture part provided and applied for this purpose in a suitable layer thickness.

So that the sensor can be used, for example, as an actuating element, it is preferred that one or more

Layers of the sensor on a surface area of the

Furniture part to be printed as the outside of the

Furniture part is provided.

In order to supply the sensor for operation, for example, with energy and optionally to provide signal lines for sensor detection, preferably at least one line for a transfer of energy and / or signals, which is connected to the sensor, printed on the furniture part. This can advantageously be dispensed with, lead wires or cables for an energy or signal connection on or in the furniture part.

Preferably, a signal transmission device for a signal of the sensor is at least partially printed on a furniture part, in particular the same furniture part. Thus, a measured value detected at the sensor can be prepared in the vicinity of the sensor for transmission to a control device, whereby a sensor detection during a transmission can be disturbed less. It can on appropriate

Transmission lines are waived if the

Signal transmission device for a wireless

Signal transmission via e.g. Radio waves or e.g. light

is interpreted.

In addition, it is preferable that a

Energy supply device for the sensor - at least partially - on a furniture part, in particular the same furniture part is printed. For this example, on a

Outside of the furniture part e.g. a photovoltaic element are printed. Preferably, the furniture part with a power supply device in the form of an electrical

Accumulator and in particular with a self-sufficient

Energy generator provided to time fluctuations of the

At least partially offset energy supply. If the furniture part is e.g. is a door, it can, for example, with an energy recovery device, in particular a

Energy generator for a so-called energy harvesting

be equipped with the e.g. Movements of the furniture part or e.g. a heating of a portion of the furniture part in contact with e.g. a hand in electrical energy

can be converted. So that sufficient energy is always available for the operation of the sensor, the furniture part is provided with an energy store such as a rechargeable battery, which may also be applied to the furniture part, at least in part is printed.

Furthermore, it is preferred that after printing one or more layers of the sensor onto the furniture part, a protective layer is applied over the sensor. With the protective layer, for example, a wear of the sensor can be reduced or avoided by abrasion, wherein the sensor itself is optionally not visible covered with a color layer.

In addition, a preferred embodiment of the invention is that one prepared for printing the sensor

Layer is applied to the furniture part, before a first layer of the sensor is applied to the furniture part. With the prepared layer, the sensor can be compared to the

Material of the furniture electrically isolated and, where appropriate, be improved on its adhesion to the ground.

Preferably, a layer of the sensor is printed on the furniture part before an electrical or an electronic component is attached to the furniture part. In this case, the component may also be a component of the sensor, which is required for its function, when the sensor is e.g. can only be partially produced by printing. The electrical or electronic component may optionally be a conventional three-dimensional component, such as a

Lead wire, a passive component such as an electrical capacitor or an electrical resistance

Semiconductor device, a populated or an unpopulated

Circuit board, a switch reiais and the like more.

In addition, a layer of the sensor can be printed on the furniture part after an electric or a

electronic component was attached to the furniture part. In this case, if appropriate, a recess can be formed on a surface on the furniture part, which is adapted to the component in such a way that with the component inserted into the recess a uniformly flush or smooth, eg flat Surface for printing a layer of the sensor is formed. For example, could electric or

electronic components that contribute to the function of the sensor in the form of SMD components on a surface of the furniture part, in particular in recesses are glued and by a example by a specially shaped with a

Pressure stamp applied layer at least partially with other e.g. connected to conductive elements of the sensor.

In the spirit of the invention, a sensor for a furniture part of a piece of furniture is proposed according to a

Method according to at least one of claims 1 to 11 printed on the furniture part. The sensor can be left

comparatively flat and thus advantageously save space.

A furniture part with a sensor according to the invention can

accordingly, for example, provide more storage space. In addition, the furniture part by a

imprinted sensor has less elevations on the

possibly in use with other items

collide and can be damaged. It is particularly preferred that the furniture part is provided for a movable attachment to a piece of furniture, whereby

For example, a sensor for actuation of a movably mounted furniture part can be used, for example, to extend. On a movable furniture part, the sensor can also be arranged relatively easily accessible.

The basic idea of the invention can be turned into one

Further develop switching device for influencing a controllable functional unit of a piece of furniture. The

Switching device comprises a sensor element with which a switching operation of the functional unit is controllable. The core of the switching device according to the invention is that layers of the sensor element on a surface of a

Furniture part of the furniture are applied. Preferably that is Sensor element thereby at least partially printed on the furniture part. As a result, the sensor element can advantageously be designed to save space. At least because of

partially layered construction, the sensor is advantageously adapted for an arrangement on a surface of a furniture part. As a result, the sensor element and optionally the switching device is advantageously inconspicuous on one

Surface, in particular attachable to an outer side of a furniture part and a piece of furniture.

The functional unit may be an electronic e.g.

Control unit or e.g. Be control unit. In this case, the functional unit can be designed to control a particular electrical unit, which, inter alia, a drive of a movable furniture part such. a drawer can be. The sensor element may be provided in the switching device as a switching element, in particular two

Switching states differ from each other. As a result, the switching device is, for example, as an actuating element bar.

In addition, the sensor element may be provided in the switching device as part of a measuring device, with which the switching device for distinguishing more than two -. continuous or e.g. discrete - switching conditions is formed. The switching device may be e.g. be a signal generator for the functional unit, with which, in addition to a change in a use condition as such, a magnitude of the change in discrete or continuous form can capture and use to control the functional unit. For example, the switching device by means of

Transmit sensor element in different stages, a temperature change to the functional unit.

According to the sensor element, the switching device can be switched with different actions. A

electrical conductivity of the sensor element can be changed by pressure and / or temperature. In addition, one can electrical capacitance of the sensor element by pressure and / or by temperature and / or by a distance of a

be polarizable object changeable. In particular, for the transmission of a continuously variable value, the switching device is designed so that the sensor element by a galvanic line to the functional unit

is connectable. Furthermore, wireless can

Connecting means may be provided, with which the sensor element can be connected to the functional unit.

The invention will be explained by means of embodiments and described in more detail with the aid of the drawings. The drawings are not to scale and give the invention

schematically again. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a diagram to illustrate a sequence of a method according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of a horizontal section through a furniture according to the invention.

In Fig.l an embodiment of an inventive method 1 is shown, in which a furniture part 11 of a piece of furniture 10 in four process steps 2, 3, 4 and 5 is produced. An embodiment of a piece of furniture 10 according to the invention is shown in FIG. The furniture part 11 may be a part of a furniture carcass 12 or a movable furniture part such as e.g. a door and e.g. to be a drawer.

In a first Ver step 2, the furniture part 11 can be prepared so far that the furniture part can be printed. The Verfhenensschritt 2 may include a plurality of processing steps (not shown), with which the furniture part 11 can be made to a large extent or completely to its final mechanical dimensions. For example, the method step 2 a

Processing step (not shown), in which the Furniture part is removed as a raw form from a plate-shaped base example. Preferably, a

Area A of a surface IIa of the furniture part 11, which is provided for arranging a sensor 15, prepared in the course of the process step 2 such that a printing is possible and a print on the surface area A in a subsequent process step 3 can adhere permanently. The surface at area A may be for this purpose e.g. by grinding or e.g. be smoothed by applying a filling material and optionally leveled.

In the method according to the invention is in a

Process step 3 at least one layer (not shown) of the sensor 15, for the actual sensor function

is required, printed on the area A The process step 3 can in several

Processing steps are carried out in which different layers of the sensor, e.g. one above the other and e.g. side by side on the area A are printed. In this case, the method step 3 may comprise as a processing step at least one fixing phase (not shown), in which a

printed layer of the sensor 15 e.g. dried and e.g. by irradiation - e.g. with light - is fixed. By a fixing phase, e.g. the material of a printed layer for a subsequent printing process are stabilized and a connection between two printed

Layers are formed. The process step 3 can be printed as a processing step, a finishing layer with which the sensor 15 can be protected against external influences.

After the sensor 15 has been printed on the furniture part 11 in method step 3, the furniture part 11 can be completed in a method step 4 by further processing steps (not shown). In this case, the furniture part 11 can be connected, for example, with an electrical line element or with a elec- onic component. Furthermore, the furniture part 11 for a color design with a Ink application eg printed, sprayed or dipped for example. In addition, at least one additional part (not shown) such as a fitting element, a handle element, a decorative strip or a lighting means can be attached to the furniture part 11.

In Fig. 2 is an embodiment of a

Inventive furniture 10 in the form of a cabinet furniture

shown that a movable furniture part 11 in the form of a

Furniture door has. The furniture door 11 is pivotally mounted with at least one hinge fitting 13 about a vertical axis pivotally mounted on a side wall 12 b of a furniture body 12 of the furniture 10. The hinge fitting 13 is constructed mechanically such that a drive unit 14 can be coupled thereto, with the forces on the

Hinge fitting 13 can be transferred to the furniture part 11 and with the opening and / or closing movement of the furniture part 11 can be driven.

At an outer surface area IIa of the furniture part, in this case the furniture door 11, a sensor 15 according to the method of the invention is at least partially printed on the application area A at an application area A. Optionally, further, not shown in detail components of the sensor 15 may be attached to the application area A. The sensor

15 is preferably provided as a trigger for actuating in particular the drive unit 14.

The furniture part 11 may be connected to another sensor 16

be equipped with the example, a concern of an inner surface IIb of the furniture door 11 can be detected on the furniture body. In this case, e.g. a component (not shown) of the sensor

16 require a comparatively large three-dimensional installation space, which is provided in the form of a recess 11c. In this case, this sensor may also be partially printed by, for example, electrical line connections (not shown) after insertion of the component in the recess 11c on the inner surface IIb and the component used be printed.

Supply lines (not shown) for electrical energy and transmission lines for an electrical,

Conducted signal transmission can be performed, for example via the hinge fitting 13. Furthermore, the furniture 10 may include a detection device 18, the

for example, on a compartment or furniture floor 12d in

Furniture carcass 12 is arranged in particular front side to detect changes in state of the sensors 15 and 16, for example, a short-range radio transmission from the sensors 15 and 16 to the detection device 18th

can be sent. The detection device 18 in turn has a signal connection 19, which may comprise a cable or a radio link and with which the

Detection device 18 is connected to the drive unit 14. In a side wall 12 c of the furniture body 12, a

Damping element 17 may be installed, which is preferably provided with an energy recovery device (not shown). As a result, for example, the detection device 18 can be supplied with energy autonomously and with comparatively little effort.

Reference sign list:

1 procedure

2 process step

3 process step

4 process step

5 method step

10 furniture

11 furniture part

115 surface area

IIb surface area

11c recess

12 furniture carcass

12a rear wall

12b sidewall

12c side wall

12d floor

13 flocks fogging

14 drive unit

15 sensor

16 sensor

17 damping element

18 detection device

19 signal connection

Claims

Claims :

1. Method (1) for producing a sensor (15, 16) for a furniture part (11), characterized in that a required for the actual sensor function layer of the sensor (15, 16) on the furniture part (11) is printed.

2. Method (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of layers of the sensor (15, 16) are printed on the furniture part (11).

3. Method (1) according to one of the preceding claims, that the entire sensor (15, 16) is made such that one or more layers of the sensor (15, 16) are printed on the furniture part (11).

4. Method (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more layers of the sensor (15, 16) on a surface region (IIa) of the

Furniture part (11) are printed, which is provided as the outside of the furniture part (11).

5. The method (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one line for a transmission of energy and / or signals, which is connected to the sensor (15, 16) is printed on the furniture part (11).

6. The method (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a

Signal transmission device (18) for a signal of the sensor (15, 16) is printed on a furniture part.

7. Method (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a

Power supply device for the sensor (15, 16) is printed on a furniture part.

8. The method (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that after a printing of one or more layers of the sensor (15, 16) on the furniture part (11) a protective layer over the sensor (15, 16) applied becomes.

9. The method (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for printing the sensor (15, 16) preparatory layer on the furniture part (11)

is applied before a first layer of the sensor (15, 16) is applied to the furniture part (11).

10. The method (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a layer of the sensor (15, 16) is printed on the furniture part (11) before a

electrical or an electronic component on the furniture part (11) is mounted.

11. The method (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a layer of the sensor (15, 16} on the furniture part (11) is printed after a

electrical or electronic component was attached to the furniture part (11).

12. sensor (15, 16) for a furniture part (11) of a piece of furniture (10), characterized in that the sensor (15, 16} according to a method (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 11 on the furniture part (11 ) is printed.

13. Furniture part (11) with a sensor which is produced according to a method (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 11.

14. Furniture part (11) according to claim 10, characterized in that the furniture part (11) is provided for a movable attachment to a furniture (10).

15. Switching device (15, 16, 18) for influencing a controllable functional unit (14) of a piece of furniture (10), with a sensor element (15, 16), with which a switching operation of the functional unit (14) is controllable, characterized

characterized in that on a surface (IIa, IIb) of a

Furniture part (11) layers of the sensor element (15, 16) are applied.

16. furniture (10) with a sensor (15, 16), which is produced according to one of claims 1 to 11.