EP3649896A1 - Electro-motoric drive for furniture and piece of furniture having such a drive - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electromotive furniture drive for adjusting movable furniture parts (5, 6) of a functional piece of furniture (1), comprising a control device (9), at least one adjustment drive (7, 8) with an electric motor and at least one evaluation circuit (10) with an input (11, 12), which can be connected in an electrically conductive manner together with a sensor attached to the functional furniture (1) and forms a proximity and / or touch detector. The electromotive furniture drive is characterized in that at least two proximity and / or contact detectors are formed by a sensor or a group of sensors with the at least one evaluation circuit (10), the different movable furniture parts (5, 6) of the functional furniture (1 ) are assignable. There is an evaluation circuit (10) with at least two inputs (11, 12), each of the inputs (11, 12) being coupled to a sensor or a group of sensors, and the evaluation circuit (10) having a multiplexer, Via which the at least two inputs (11, 12) can be connected sequentially to a detector circuit of the evaluation circuit (10). The invention further relates to functional furniture (1) with at least two groups of movable furniture parts (5, 6) and such an electromotive furniture drive.

Description

The invention relates to an electromotive furniture drive for adjusting movable furniture parts of a functional piece of furniture, comprising a control device, at least one adjusting drive with an electric motor and at least one evaluation circuit with an input, which can be electrically conductively connected together with a sensor attached to the functional piece of furniture and an approximation and / or forms a touch detector. The invention also relates to functional furniture with such an electromotive furniture drive.

Electromotive furniture drives of this type are known and include, for example, a number of adjustment drives, for example linear drives. A linear drive generates a linear movement on a driven member and has at least one electric motor, a gear train and the driven member, the gear train with the driven member being connected downstream of the electric motor. The linear drive and its output member are connected to furniture components and move or adjust them relative to one another when the motors are operating. The furniture components are e.g. movably connected to a base frame and / or to one another by so-called functional or movement fittings. These fittings are usually made of metallic materials, such as Stole.

A functional piece of furniture is provided with at least one electromotive furniture drive. Such an electromotive furniture drive is mounted in the furniture, which has fixed and movable furniture components. Fixed furniture components are e.g. Frame components. Movable furniture components are e.g. firm or resilient support surfaces of an upholstery or mattress of the seating and / or reclining furniture as well as sections or elements of the furniture that can be adjusted manually or by an electric motor.

The electromotive furniture drive is used to adjust the movable furniture components. The adjustment movement and driving force generated by the electromotive furniture drive is transmitted to the respective movable furniture component, wherein the electromotive furniture drive is supported on a fixed furniture component and the movable furniture component is adjusted relative to the fixed furniture component. The electromotive furniture drive can also be attached between two movable furniture components, whereby it can be adjusted relative to one another.

Electromotive furniture drives are known from the prior art in a variety of different designs for different applications and purposes, e.g. as single drives, double and multiple drives.

Control devices are also known, which are designed to control the respective electric motor of an adjustment drive on command or as a result of an event, e.g. to control a control command of a manual control, a limit switch, a detector, etc. The control devices have inputs and outputs. The outputs are electrically conductively connected to the respective electric motor, for example. The inputs are connected, for example, to manual remote controls or, if necessary via evaluation circuits, to sensors and detectors in an electrically conductive manner. Other control devices have other outputs which exclusively transmit an electrical or an electromechanical signal to a further control device which have the previously described outputs for operating the respective electric motor.

In particular, the control devices described at the outset have proven their worth. From the publication DE 297 07 795 U1 a control device with an input is known, the input being electrically conductively connected to a metallic functional fitting, for example via a connecting line. The functional fitting or parts of the functional fitting forms / form a detector together with an evaluation circuit of the control device and the connecting line. The evaluation circuit of the control device determines the level of the electrical capacity of the functional fitting with respect to a reference variable, for example the floor, via said connecting line. Furthermore, the control device determines the change over time in the measured variable of the electrical capacitance detected by the evaluation circuit. Rapid changes in the electrical capacity of the functional fitting during the operation of the engine indicate a fault, for example the occurrence of an upcoming or imminent pinching of an object or a body part, provided that a person or an object moves into a danger zone of the functional fitting or touches it. The respective electric motor is then switched off and, if necessary, reversed for a short period.

The term "functional fitting" also includes metallic frames and parts, such as Feet to understand functional furniture. The term "sensor" here means an element of a functional fitting or a separate, electrically conductive element, such as e.g. a cable, rod antenna, flat iron, etc., which is attached to the furniture.

The control device mentioned at the outset has proven its worth. However, there is a disadvantage with large pieces of furniture, such as with wide beds or with complex pieces of furniture, such as when the functional fittings are divided into several groups.

Several groups can be formed if, for example, in a bed an upper frame is connected to a lower frame via electrically insulating rollers or sliders. A further group can be formed if a foot flap fitting section of a functional fitting of an armchair with plastic bearings is arranged in an electrically insulated manner from the base frame. Other groups can be formed if the piece of furniture has a plurality of functional fittings, which are each used for partial areas of the piece of furniture.

In order to provide protection against trapping for all movable furniture parts, according to the prior art, all movable furniture parts or all sections of all functional fittings of the furniture must be electrically connected to one another via flexible lines. Although this method has also proven itself, the effort of the control device is very high, which is reflected in the high quality and the assembly effort of the electrical measuring circuit. It has also turned out that a complex adjustment of the system is necessary to prevent false triggering of the pinch protection.

The invention is based on the object of providing an electromotive furniture drive with a control device of the type mentioned, the disadvantages described no longer occurring or being reduced significantly, and which is also easy to assemble and is easy to handle.

The task is solved by arranging more than one proximity and / or touch detector on a functional piece of furniture. A sensor or a group of sensors with an evaluation circuit forms such a detector, each sensor or group of sensors being connected to an input of the evaluation circuit. In an inventive manner, the piece of furniture has a plurality of detectors, which are individually connected in an electrically conductive manner to an input of the evaluation circuit of the control device.

The design of the various detectors makes it possible to reliably monitor even a large functional fitting, such as the bed shown as functional furniture, without having to ensure that furniture parts to be monitored are galvanically connected to one another or that there is sufficient capacitive coupling of the furniture parts is given among themselves. The division of the movable furniture parts to be monitored in a functional piece of furniture for anti-trap protection into at least two groups, which are assigned to different detectors, also prevents an undesirable false response due to interference radiation, which can otherwise be coupled in more easily if the sensor surface is otherwise too large.

The control device has an evaluation circuit with a plurality of at least two inputs, each input being coupled to a sensor or a group of sensors. In addition, the evaluation circuit has a multiplexer, via which the at least two inputs can be connected sequentially to a detector circuit of the evaluation circuit. This measure of dividing into several groups combined with a sequential evaluation using only one detector circuit enables inexpensive production and easy assembly of a highly sensitive pinch protection with high operational reliability at the same time.

In an advantageous embodiment of the electromotive furniture drive, the sensor or the group of sensors is conductively connected to one of the inputs of the at least one evaluation circuit. Alternatively, the sensor or the group of sensors is capacitively coupled to one of the inputs of the at least one evaluation circuit.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the electromotive furniture drive, the sensor is a sensor line and / or a conductive movable furniture part and / or a conductive element of a functional fitting.

A functional furniture according to the invention has at least two groups of movable furniture parts and at least one electromotive furniture drive according to one of the preceding claims. The advantages mentioned above in connection with the furniture drive result.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Perspektivansicht einer beispielhaften Möbelanordnung; und

Fig. 2

ein Blockschaltbild der von Komponenten der Möbelanordnung.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with the aid of figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic perspective view of an exemplary furniture arrangement; and

Fig. 2

a block diagram of the components of the furniture arrangement.

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary furniture arrangement with a functional furniture 1. As a functional furniture 1, a bed is shown here as an example. The functional furniture 1 has a basic element 2, here a frame-like frame with feet. A slatted frame with a functional fitting 3 is inserted into the base element 2. The slatted frame carries a mattress M.

In the example shown, the functional furniture 1 has two movable furniture parts 5 and 6, which can be moved relative to a fixed base part 4 arranged between them. Specifically, the two movable furniture parts 5, 6 are a back part and a leg section. For the sake of simplicity, they are also referred to below as back part 5 and leg part 6.

The movable arrangement of the movable furniture parts 5 and 6 is realized by the functional fitting 3, also called a movement fitting. The movement is displaceable and / or pivotable.

The movably mounted back part 5 and the leg part 6 are each coupled to an electromotive adjustment drive 7, 8. The back part 5 is coupled to the electromotive adjustment drive 7. The electromotive adjusting drive 8 is provided for moving or adjusting the leg part 6.

The electromotive adjustment drives 7, 8 are designed here as linear drives. The linear drives have one or a number of electric motors, each motor being followed by a speed reduction gear with at least one gear stage. The speed reduction gear can be followed by a further gear, for example in the form of a threaded spindle gear, which generates a linear movement of the output member from the rotational movement of the motor. The last transmission link or a further link connected to it forms an output link. The output member of the respective electromotive adjustment drive is connected to the respective furniture component (back part 5, leg part 6) or alternatively to a component connected to the base frame 2, so that when the electric motor of the respective adjustment drive 7, 8 is in operation, the movable furniture components are adjusted relative to one another will.

The electromotive adjustment drives 7, 8 are connected to a control device 9. This connection can be made, for example, as a pluggable cable connection, which is not shown here. The control device 9 has an electrical supply unit, which provides the electrical energy, for example from the network, for the electromotive adjusting drives 7, 8. For this purpose, the control device 9 in this example can be connected to a power connector with a power connector via a power cord (not shown). The mains plug leads the mains voltage on the input side to the electrical supply unit the control device 9, which emits a low voltage in the form of a DC voltage on the secondary side and forwards it to a motor controller.

As an alternative to this, the control device 9 is connected upstream of a line-dependent voltage supply, also not shown, with a mains input and with a secondary-side low-voltage output, which supplies the low-voltage in the form of a DC voltage via a line.

An operating unit 20 is also assigned to the furniture 1, with its operating elements 21 the electromechanical adjusting drives 7, 8 can be controlled via the control device 9. When an operating element 21 is actuated, a control signal for controlling the respective electromechanical adjustment drive 7, 8 is transmitted to the control device 9 wirelessly or by wire via a transmission link.

The control device 9 has switching elements which convert the control signals of the transmission link into switching signals for switching the respective adjustment drive 7, 8. The switching elements can e.g. Relay switch and / or semiconductor switch. The manually operable control elements 21 of the control unit 20 generate control signals which are converted by the receiver of the control device 9 into control currents for the switching elements. In the case of a wired control unit 20, the control elements 21 switch the control current of the relay switches or the semiconductor switches. In both cases, the circuit breakers of the relay switches or the semiconductor switches switch the high motor current of the respective electromotive adjusting drive 7, 8.

In order to prevent a body part from getting caught when moving the movable furniture parts 5, 6, the functional furniture 1 shown is equipped according to the application with proximity and / or touch detectors which prevent actuation of the adjusting devices 7, 8 via the control device 9 when approaching one Sensor or a touch of the sensor is detected. This is discussed below in connection with Fig. 2 explained in more detail.

Fig. 2 shows the system of Fig. 1 in a schematic block diagram. The same reference numerals in this figure denote the same or equivalent elements as in Fig. 1 .

As related to Fig. 1 is described, the furniture fitting has the two movable furniture parts, the back part 5 and the leg part 6, which are movable relative to a fixed base part 4. The movement is achieved via the two electromotive adjusting drives 7, 8, which act on the back part 5 and the leg part 6. The mechanical coupling of the adjustment drives 7, 8 on the back or leg part 5, 6 is with the Fig. 2 symbolized only by a dashed line. The adjustment drives 7, 8 are controlled by the control device 9 and supplied with current. A power supply to the control device 9, for example via an integrated or external power supply unit, is shown in FIG Fig. 2 not shown.

In order to prevent a body part from being pinched when moving one of the movable furniture parts 5, 6, for example between the movable furniture part 5, 6 and a fixed part of the functional furniture 1, an evaluation circuit 10 is provided which contacts one of the movable furniture parts 5, 6 detected. In the example shown, the evaluation circuit 10 is arranged externally by the control device 9 and is electrically connected to it via an output 13 of the evaluation circuit 10. In alternative configurations, the evaluation circuit 10 can be integrated in the housing of the control device 9.

In the example shown, the evaluation circuit 10 has two inputs 11, 12 which are coupled to the furniture parts 5, 6 via sensor lines 111, 121. Correspondingly, two sensor groups are formed, each of which comprises the sensor line 111 or 121 and the furniture part 5, 6. Together with the evaluation circuit 10, two independent contact and / or proximity detectors are formed as anti-trap protection.

Touching or approaching the furniture parts 5, 6 is detected by the evaluation circuit 10 via the sensor lines 111, 121. A signal is generated at an output 13 of the evaluation circuit 10, which causes the control device 9 to stop at least one of the two adjustment drives 7, 8. Here It can be provided that a touch of the furniture part 5 or approach to the furniture part 5 detected via the sensor line 111 only stops the assigned adjustment drive 7, whereas the detection of a touch of the furniture part 6 or approach to the furniture part 6 via the sensor line 121 the assigned one Adjustment drive 8 stops. Preferably, however, each touch, regardless of which sensor line 111, 121 or which of the inputs 11, 12 of the evaluation circuit 10 detects, leads to a stopping of any adjustment drives 7, 8 which may be actuated simultaneously.

In a further development it can also be provided that the adjustment drives 7, 8 are not only stopped, but that a moving adjustment drive 7, 8 is operated in the reverse direction of movement for a predetermined short period after stopping, in order to release a body part that may already be jammed .

The detection of touching of the sensors by the evaluation circuit 10 is preferably capacitive. This capacitive contact or proximity detection can be set so sensitively that no direct galvanic contact of an input 11 or an exposed section of the sensor line 111, 121 is required, but rather a contact or approach to insulated sections of the sensor line 111 or with it coupled furniture parts 5, 6 or sections of a functional fitting also coupled therewith can be detected. In this way, detection of contact with a painted or plastic-coated area of the movable furniture parts 5, 6 is made possible.

If moving elements to be monitored, for example the furniture parts 5, 6 or other sections of functional fittings are made entirely of an insulating material, for example wood or plastic, a conductive element can be applied. The conductive element can consist in the continuation of the sensor line 111, 121 itself. Alternatively, metallized foils can, for example, be glued to the non-conductive material. Furthermore, it is possible to make an insulating material with a conductive coating, for example based on a conductive polymer, superficially conductive. Fabrics or Yarns with woven metallic threads or fibers can be used as conductive elements.

In the Fig. 2 Two different types of coupling of the sensor lines 111, 121 to the movable furniture parts 5, 6 are shown as examples. The sensor line 111 makes direct contact with the furniture part 5 in a conductive connection 112. If the furniture part 5 is a painted steel tube, the paint can be removed at one point, for example, and the sensor line 111 can be attached at this point. Alternatively, for example, a self-tapping screw can be screwed into the metal tube of the furniture part 5, via which the conductive connection 112 takes place.

In contrast, the sensor line 121 is coupled to the furniture part 6 via a capacitive coupling 122. For this purpose, the sensor line 121 has a flat electrode at its end, which is glued to a painted area of the furniture part 6, for example by means of a self-adhesive layer. The change in capacitance of the furniture part 6 by approaching or touching a body part is transmitted through this capacitive coupling 122 to the sensor line 121 and thus to the evaluation circuit 10.

In the illustrated embodiment of the Fig. 2 two inputs 11, 12 and two corresponding sensor lines 111, 121 are provided by way of example. It is understood that this number is purely exemplary. It is also possible to provide more than the two sensor lines 111, 121 shown, by means of which more than two groups of monitored movable furniture parts 5, 6 on the functional furniture 1 are defined.

The design of the various detectors makes it possible to reliably monitor even a large functional fitting, such as, for example, in the bed shown as functional furniture 1, without having to ensure that furniture parts 5, 6 to be monitored are galvanically connected to one another or that they are sufficient capacitive coupling of the furniture parts to one another is given. The division of the movable furniture parts 5, 6 to be monitored overall in a functional piece of furniture for an anti-trap protection into at least two Groups that are assigned to different detectors also prevent an undesirable false response due to interference radiation, which, if the sensor area is otherwise too large, can be coupled in more easily.

In the evaluation circuit 10 can internally have a single detector circuit for the change in capacitance, which is connected in a multiplex process to the at least two inputs 11, 12 in rapid alternation (sequential evaluation). This measure of dividing into several groups and the sequential evaluation with only one detector circuit enables inexpensive production and easy assembly of a highly sensitive pinch protection with high operational reliability at the same time.

Alternatively, the evaluation circuit 10 can have a number of detector circuits for a change in capacitance corresponding to the number of inputs 11, which are coupled to one another on the output side via a corresponding logic circuit, for example a "or" link, so that when each of the detector circuits responds, a corresponding output signal at the output 13 is output. In order to be able to use the evaluation circuit 10 universally for a plurality of functional fittings or furniture, a larger number of inputs 11, 12 can be provided, for example four inputs 11, 12, which also offers a sufficient number of groups for larger functional fittings.

When using such an evaluation circuit in furniture which only requires two or three monitored groups, inputs 11, 12 which are not used can be set inactive, for example by connection to a ground potential. Alternatively, individual inputs 11, 12 can be selectively deactivated by parameterizing a multiplexer used on the input side or a logic used on the output side in the evaluation circuit 10.

The detector circuits for detecting a change in capacitance are preferably self-adjusting, so that a slow change in capacitance, which is caused, for example, by changing environmental conditions such as changing air humidity, does not lead to false triggering. The sensor lines 111, 121 are prefers ordinary single-core cables without shielding, which are inexpensive and can be easily laid.

If several control devices are provided on one functional piece of furniture, one evaluation circuit each can be assigned to one control device.

Reference numerals

1

Functional furniture

2nd

Basic element

3rd

Functional fitting

4th

fixed base

5

movable furniture part (back part)

6

movable furniture part (leg part)

7, 8

Adjustment drive

9

Control device

10th

Evaluation circuit

11, 12

entrance

111, 121

Sensor cable

112

conductive connection

122

capacitive coupling

13

exit

20th

Control unit

21

Control element

M

mattress

Claims (8)

Electromotive furniture drive for adjusting movable furniture parts (5, 6) of a functional piece of furniture (1), comprising a control device (9), at least one adjustment drive (7, 8) with an electric motor and at least one evaluation circuit (10) with an input (11, 12 ), which can be electrically conductively connected to a sensor attached to the functional furniture (1) and forms a proximity and / or touch detector,
characterized in that
at least two proximity and / or contact detectors are formed by a sensor or a group of sensors with the at least one evaluation circuit (10), which can be assigned to different movable furniture parts (5, 6) of the functional furniture (1), wherein
there is an evaluation circuit (10) with at least two inputs (11, 12), each of the inputs (11, 12) being coupled to a sensor or a group of sensors, and wherein
the evaluation circuit (10) has a multiplexer, via which the at least two inputs (11, 12) can be connected sequentially to a detector circuit of the evaluation circuit (10). Electromotive furniture drive according to claim 1, in which a plurality of control devices (9) are provided, each control device (9) being assigned an evaluation circuit (10) and each of the evaluation circuits (10) being coupled to at least one sensor or a group of sensors. Electromotive furniture drive according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the sensor or the group of sensors is conductively connected to one of the inputs (11, 12) of the at least one evaluation circuit (10). Electromotive furniture drive according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the sensor or the group of sensors is capacitively coupled to one of the inputs (11, 12) of the at least one evaluation circuit (10). Electromotive furniture drive according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sensor is a sensor line (111, 121) and / or a conductive movable furniture part (5, 6) and / or a conductive element of a functional fitting. Functional furniture (1) with at least two groups of movable furniture parts (5, 6), having at least one electromotive furniture drive according to one of the preceding claims. Functional furniture according to Claim 6, in which each of the at least two groups of movable furniture parts (5, 6) each represents a sensor and, together with at least one evaluation circuit (10), each forms a proximity and / or touch detector. Functional furniture according to Claim 7, in which each of the at least two groups of movable furniture parts (5, 6) is assigned to a functional fitting of the functional furniture.

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