EP3969704A1

EP3969704A1 - Furniture drive

Info

Publication number: EP3969704A1
Application number: EP20720896.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andreas Holzapfel
Original assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
Current assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
Priority date: 2019-05-17
Filing date: 2020-04-15
Publication date: 2022-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-15
Also published as: JP2022533174A; JP7234419B2; CN113840971B; US20220056747A1; AT522446A4; WO2020232485A1; EP3969704B1; CN113840971A; AT522446B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a furniture drive (4) for moving a furniture part (3) which is movably mounted relative to a furniture carcass (2), comprising: - a support (9) for fastening to or in a furniture panel (6) of the furniture carcass (2), - an actuating arm assembly (5) which is arranged on the support (9) and has at least one movably mounted actuating arm (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) for moving the movable furniture part (3), - a spring device (10) for exerting force on the actuating arm assembly (5), - an adjusting device (19) for adjusting a force exerted by the spring device (10) on the actuating arm assembly (5), the adjusting device (19) having an adjusting element (19a), which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (R), and a threaded portion (17) having a longitudinal direction (L). A point of application (18) of the spring device (10) along the threaded portion (17) can be adjusted by rotating the adjusting element (19a) about the axis of rotation (R), the axis of rotation (R) of the adjusting element (19a) and the longitudinal direction (L) of the threaded portion (17) forming an angle relative to one another. The angle formed by the axis of rotation (R) of the adjusting element (19a) and the longitudinal direction (L) of the threaded portion (17) relative to one another can be changed as the at least one actuating arm (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) is moved.

Description

Furniture drive

The present invention relates to a furniture drive for moving a furniture part mounted movably relative to a furniture body, comprising:

- a carrier for attachment to or in a furniture panel of the furniture body,

- an actuating arm arrangement arranged on the carrier with at least one movably mounted actuating arm for moving the movable furniture part,

- a spring device for applying force to the actuating arm arrangement,

- An adjusting device for adjusting a force of the spring device on the actuating arm arrangement, the adjusting device having an adjusting element rotatable about an axis of rotation and a threaded section with a longitudinal direction, a point of application of the spring device being adjustable along the threaded section by rotating the adjusting element about the axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation of the adjusting element and the longitudinal direction of the threaded section enclose an angle to one another.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a piece of furniture with a furniture body, a furniture part mounted so as to be movable relative to the furniture body, and with a furniture drive of the type to be described for moving the movable furniture part.

The support of such furniture drives is usually attached in or on a side wall of the furniture body, the actuating arm arrangement of the furniture drive being pretensioned by at least one spring device and being connected to the movable furniture part in an assembled state.

In WO 2018/192819 A1 a furniture drive with the features of the preamble is disclosed. A rotatable tool holder is provided at a front end region of the housing of the furniture drive, a spindle nut mounted on a spindle being movable along the spindle by rotating the tool holder by means of a tool. A spring assembly is supported on the spindle nut, a force of the spring assembly acting on the actuating arm arrangement being adjustable through the adjustable mounting of the spindle nut along the spindle. The spindle is fixed in relation to the housing of the furniture drive. Further furniture drives with an adjusting device for adjusting a torque on a movably mounted actuating arm are known, for example, from WO 2014/134642 A1, from CN 107461100 A and from CN 106175199 B.

A disadvantage of known furniture drives is that the construction of the furniture drive has to be dimensioned relatively large due to the position of the spring assembly to be adjusted, with the adjustment path of the spring device along the threaded spindle also being restricted.

The object of the present invention is to specify a furniture drive of the type mentioned at the beginning, whereby at least one of the disadvantages discussed above is avoided.

According to the invention, this is achieved by the features of claim 1. Further exemplary embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, it is provided that the angle which the axis of rotation of the adjusting element and the longitudinal direction of the threaded section enclose with one another can be changed when the at least one actuating arm is moved.

In other words, the setting element and the rotatable threaded section are supported in an angularly movable manner relative to one another when the setting arms move, so that the setting device for setting a force of the spring device and the setting arm arrangement can assume different positions with respect to one another. The components of the furniture drive can thus be nested in one another and consequently arranged closer to one another. In this way, the furniture drive can be made more compact, the adjustment path of the spring device at the threaded section can be increased and higher performance ranges of the furniture drive can be covered.

Another advantage of the invention is that the arrangement of the setting element on the furniture drive is not fixed, but rather when the Furniture drive - depending on the type and area of application - is possible in various desired positions.

For example, it can be provided that the adjusting element of the adjusting device faces the movable furniture part when the furniture drive is installed and is arranged in a front region of the carrier. As a result, the accessibility to the setting element can be considerably improved. This is particularly advantageous if the support of the furniture drive is designed to be received in a mounted state on the furniture panel at least in some areas, preferably essentially completely, within the furniture panel. In the case of a furniture drive integrated in the furniture panel, the adjustment element can only be accessed from the side through bores in the furniture panel, which weakens the furniture panel, is often found to be unsightly, and means additional assembly work. For this reason, accessibility of the adjustment element from a front face of the carrier is definitely advantageous.

The furniture drive can have at least one angularly movable coupling device for transferring a rotary movement of the setting element into a rotary movement of the threaded section. Various options are available to those skilled in the art for implementing an angularly movable coupling device which enables torque to be transmitted in a kinked shaft train. The angularly movable coupling device can have at least one elastic member, preferably a bellows, a molded rubber element or a helical spring clutch, and / or at least one gear, preferably a bevel gear, and / or a joint, preferably a universal joint or cardan joint.

The furniture drive can have at least one shaft, which can be driven by the adjusting element, for driving the threaded section, the at least one shaft being slidably mounted in or along a guide, preferably an elongated hole, relative to the carrier. In this way, compensatory movements of components of the furniture drive, which are caused by the angularly movable coupling device are caused, to avoid tilting and jamming of components of the furniture drive at least partially compensated.

The setting element of the setting device can have a receiving device for a tool, preferably a screwdriver, wherein the setting element can be driven by exerting a torque on the receiving device by means of the tool. The receiving device can, for example, have a cross-slot shape (for example a Pozidriv profile), a square profile, a hexagonal profile or a hexagon (for example a Torx profile).

The support of the furniture drive can be designed as a mounting plate or as a particularly cuboid housing. The carrier can be designed essentially rectangular, it is preferably provided that the ratio of a length of the carrier to a height of the carrier is greater than 1 to 0.7, preferably greater than 1 to 0.5. By dimensioning the carrier in this way, a reduced overall height of the furniture drive can be achieved.

The furniture according to the invention has a furniture body, a furniture part mounted so as to be movable relative to the furniture body, and at least one furniture drive of the type in question. It can be provided that the furniture body has a, preferably horizontally or vertically running, furniture panel for fastening the carrier, the carrier of the furniture drive being at least partially, preferably essentially completely, received within the furniture panel of the furniture body.

Further details and advantages of the present invention emerge from the following description of the figures.

1 a, 1 b show a piece of furniture with a movable furniture part in a perspective view and in an exploded view,

2a, 2b show two different perspective views of a

Furniture drive,

3a, 3b show the furniture drive in a closed position and in one

Open position with minimal adjustment of the force of the spring device, 4a, 4b show the furniture drive in a closed position and in an open position with the force of the spring device being set to the maximum, FIG. 5 shows the furniture drive in an exploded view.

6a, 6b an angularly movable coupling device in a detailed view and a furniture drive sunk into a furniture part in a cross section.

1 a shows a perspective view of a piece of furniture 1 which has a furniture body 2, a furniture part 3 mounted movably relative to the furniture body 2 and at least one furniture drive 4 for moving the movable furniture part 3. The furniture 1 has furniture panels 6 in the form of side walls, an upper floor 7 and a lower floor 8. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the furniture drive 4 is at least partially, preferably essentially completely, integrated in the side wall designed as furniture panels 6, the movable furniture part 3 being movably supported between a closed position covering the furniture body 2 and an open position raised relative to the furniture body 2. Of course, it is also possible to integrate the furniture drive 4 in a horizontally extending furniture panel, for example in the top panel 7, in the bottom panel 8 and / or in a shelf arranged between the top panel 7 and the bottom panel 8. In such a case, the movable furniture part 3 is mounted so as to be pivotable relative to the furniture body 2 about an axis that runs vertically in the assembled position. The furniture drive 4 has an actuating arm arrangement 5 for moving the movable furniture part 3 and at least one spring device 10 (FIG. 1 b) for applying force to the actuating arm arrangement 5.

1 b shows the piece of furniture 1 in an exploded view, with two furniture drives 4, preferably of identical design, being provided for moving the movable furniture part 3. The furniture drives 4 each have a carrier 9 to be fastened to the furniture body 2. According to one exemplary embodiment, it can be provided that the carrier 9 in an assembled state is at least partially, preferably essentially completely, received within a recess 11 of the side walls designed as furniture panels 6. In an assembled state, the carrier 9 can terminate essentially flush with an end face 6a of the furniture panel 6. The recess 11 is designed, for example, as a blind hole, the carrier 9 being insertable into the pocket-shaped recess 11 of the furniture board 6 during assembly from the front (ie starting from the narrow end face 6a of the furniture panel 6). In or on the carrier 9, at least one spring device 10 for applying force to the actuating arm arrangement 5 is arranged. A cover 12 is provided at the front end region of the carrier 9, at least one movably mounted actuating arm 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e (FIG. 2a) of the actuating arm arrangement 5 being able to be guided through the cover 12 in a relative position.

2a shows the furniture drive 4 in a perspective view, the carrier 9 having at least one flat housing wall 9a. A pivotable bearing part 14 is provided on the housing wall 9a, which is pivotably mounted about a hinge axis 13 fixed on the carrier 9. The spring device 10 can therefore be supported with a first end region on the stationary hinge axis 13. The spring device 10 can comprise at least one helical spring, preferably at least one compression spring, or alternatively a gas compression spring. A second end region of the spring device 10 acts on a pressure piece 20, which is connected in an articulated manner via an adjustable contact point 18 to an intermediate lever 16 pivotable about a preferably stationary hinge axis 15. A force of the spring device 10 on the actuating arm arrangement 5 can be adjusted by means of an adjusting device 19. The adjusting device 19 comprises an adjusting element 19a which can be rotated about an axis of rotation (R), a position of the point of attack 18 along a threaded section 17 being adjustable by rotating the adjusting element 19a about the axis of rotation (R). The threaded section 17 has a longitudinal direction (L). The angle which the longitudinal direction (L) of the threaded section 17 and the axis of rotation (R) of the adjusting element 19a enclose to one another can be changed when the actuating arm arrangement 5 is moved. A rotational movement of the setting element 19a can be transmitted to the threaded section 17 by means of an angularly movable coupling device 25, so that the threaded section 17 is set in a rotational movement and the point of attack 18 is thereby moved along the threaded section 17. Provision is preferably made for the setting element 19a of the setting device 19 to face the movable furniture part 3 in an assembled state of the furniture drive 4 and to be arranged in a front region of the carrier 9. To this The setting element 19a can be conveniently operated from the front by means of a tool.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, at least one shaft 28 that can be driven by the adjusting element 19a is provided for driving the threaded section 17, the at least one shaft 28 being slidably supported in or along a guide 30, preferably an elongated hole, relative to the carrier 9. In this way, compensatory movements of components of the furniture drive 4, which are caused by the angularly movable coupling device 25, can be at least partially compensated. The shaft 28 is arranged in or on a shaft bearing 29, the guide 30 being arranged on the shaft bearing 29 and a pin 32 fixedly mounted on the carrier 9 engaging in the guide 30, which is preferably linear. In the event of a compensating movement, the shaft bearing 29 can be displaced relative to the stationary pin 32.

The actuating arm arrangement 5 comprises at least one, preferably several, actuating arm (s) 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e for moving the movable furniture part 3. A fitting part 21 is to be attached to the movable furniture part 3, the fitting part 21 having at least one or more fastening points 22 and can be releasably locked with an actuating arm 5e of the actuating arm arrangement 5. The locked state between the actuating arm 5e and the fitting part 21 is shown in FIG. 2a.

At the front end of the housing wall 9a a cover 12 is provided which has at least one laterally projecting flange 12a. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the flange 12a is essentially annular and forms a depth stop for the carrier 9 that can be placed against an end face 6a of the furniture panel 6.

FIG. 2b shows the furniture drive 4 according to FIG. 2a, the carrier 9 being closed by a second housing wall 9b. The first housing wall 9a and the second housing wall 9b are each made flat and together form an essentially cuboid carrier 9. The housing walls 9a, 9b are spaced parallel to one another, a front opening 23 being formed between the housing walls 9a, 9b, the cover 12 in the region of this opening 23 is arranged and a passage of a tool for actuating the adjustment device 19 is allowed.

Fig. 3a shows the furniture drive 4 with the carrier 9 in a side view. The threaded section 17 is arranged on an intermediate lever 16, which is mounted pivotably about a hinge axis 15 arranged stationary on the carrier 9. In the figure shown, the spring device 10 exerts a minimal torque on the actuating arm arrangement 5 because the point of application 18 of the spring device 10 is located in an area adjacent to the hinge axis 15 of the intermediate lever 16. An imaginary connecting line between the hinge axis 15 of the intermediate lever 16 and the point of application 18 of the spring device 10 forms a relatively short flexible arm, whereby a minimal torque acts on the actuating arm arrangement 5. The axis of rotation (R) of the adjusting element 19a of the adjusting device 19 and the longitudinal direction (L) of the threaded section 17 enclose an angle to one another which can be changed when the actuating arm arrangement 5 is moved. The advantage of the invention can be clearly seen from Fig. 3a, since in the shown closed position of the furniture drive 4 - due to the angularly movable mounting of the axis of rotation (R) and the longitudinal direction (L) - the actuating arms 5a-5e of the actuating arm assembly 5 together with the The spring device 10 and the adjusting device 19 occupy a very compact position with respect to one another.

The carrier 9 can be designed essentially rectangular, it is preferably provided that the ratio of a length (L1) of the carrier 9 to a height (H1) of the carrier 9 is greater than 1 to 0.7, preferably greater than 1 to 0, 5, is. Such a dimensioning allows a reduced height (H1) of the carrier 9 to be achieved. As a result, the height of the recess 11 (FIG. 1 b) of the furniture panels 6 can also be made small, with the manufacturing cost of the recess 11 and a weakening of the furniture panel 6 being low.

FIG. 3b shows the furniture drive 4 according to FIG. 3a with the minimum force setting of the spring device 10, the actuating arm arrangement 5 with the actuating arms 5a-5e being in an open position. It can be seen that the angle which the axis of rotation (R) of the adjusting element 9 and the longitudinal direction (L) of the Include threaded portion 17 to each other, has reduced in relation to the closed position shown in Fig. 3a.

The actuating arm arrangement 5 has a first actuating arm 5a pivotable about a first hinge axis 26 and at least one second actuating arm 5b mounted pivotably about a second hinge axis 27. The first hinge axis 26 and the second hinge axis 27 are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction (L2) of the carrier 9, the second hinge axis 27 being arranged in a front region of the carrier 9 in relation to the first hinge axis 26. The intermediate lever 16 is directly connected to the second (front) actuating arm 5b via a preferably arcuate push lever 24. The first actuating arm 5a is therefore not directly connected to the push lever 24 via any hinge axis, but instead is guided displaceably within the push lever 24. This can be seen clearly from FIG. 2a. In this way, an improved and direct introduction of force from the spring device 10 into the actuating arm arrangement 5 is made possible.

FIG. 4a shows the furniture drive 4 according to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 3a and 3b. The spring device 10 now exerts a maximum torque on the actuating arm arrangement 5 because the point of application 18 of the spring device 10 was moved into a position remote from the hinge axis 15 of the intermediate lever 16 by rotating the adjusting element 19a about the axis of rotation (R). An imaginary connecting line between the hinge axis 15 of the intermediate lever 16 and the point of application 18 of the spring device 10 now forms a longer lever arm compared to FIGS. 3a, 3b, whereby a maximum torque is exerted on the actuating arm arrangement 5 by the spring device 10.

FIG. 4 b shows the furniture drive 4 according to FIG. 4 a in an open position of the actuating arm arrangement 5, with a maximum torque being exerted on the actuating arm arrangement 5 by the spring device 10. The axis of rotation (R) of the adjusting element 19a and the longitudinal direction (L) of the threaded section 17 enclose an angle to one another, which can be changed by the presence of the angularly movable coupling device 25 and by a movement of the actuating arm arrangement 5. Fig. 5 shows the furniture drive 4 in an exploded view. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the carrier 9 has two housing walls 9a, 9b spaced parallel to one another, between which the spring device 10 and the actuating arm arrangement 5 with the actuating arms 5a-5e are received. The setting device 19 for setting a torque acting on the actuating arm arrangement 5 has an setting element 19a which can be rotated about the axis of rotation (R) and drives the threaded section 17 via the shaft 28 for the adjustable mounting of the point of attack 18.

The angularly movable coupling device 25 can have, for example, a first toothing 31 a arranged on the shaft 28, which is in angular engagement with a second toothing 31 b arranged on the threaded section 17. The toothings 31a, 31b can jointly form a bevel gear, the angle enclosed between the axis of rotation (R) of the setting element 19a and the longitudinal direction (L) of the threaded section 17 being variable when the actuating arm arrangement 5 is moved. The shaft 28 is rotatably mounted in or on a shaft bearing 29, the shaft bearing 29 being displaceable relative to the carrier 9 by the guide 30 to compensate for compensatory movements.

Fig. 6a shows the angularly movable coupling device 25 in a detailed view. The shaft 28 can be driven by rotating the setting element 19a about the axis of rotation (R), the shaft 28 driving the threaded section 17 in the longitudinal direction (L) via the toothing 31b and the point of application 18 of the spring device 10 being moved along the threaded section 17 . The threaded section 17 is arranged on the intermediate lever 16, which is mounted on the carrier 9 so as to be pivotable about the hinge axis 15. By means of the guide 30 of the shaft bearing 29, compensatory movements which are caused by the angle-dependent coupling device 25 can be compensated.

FIG. 6 b shows the furniture drive 4 in a cross section which, in an assembled state, is essentially completely received within the recess 11 of the furniture panel 6. The furniture drive 4 can have at least one damping device 33, for example a piston-cylinder unit, for damping a movement of the actuating arm arrangement 5. A movement of the actuating arm arrangement 5 during the closing movement can be carried out via a rocker arm 34 pivotable about a hinge axis 35 are introduced into the damping device 33. In the embodiment shown, the thrust lever 24 hits the rocker arm 34 during the closing movement of the actuating arm arrangement 5, a closing movement of the actuating arm arrangement 5 (and thus a closing movement of the movable furniture part 3) being able to be braked by a relative movement of the piston-cylinder unit.

Claims

1. Furniture drive (4) for moving a furniture part (3) movably mounted relative to a furniture body (2), comprising:

- A carrier (9) for attachment to or in a furniture panel (6) of the furniture body (2),

- An actuating arm arrangement (5) arranged on the carrier (9) with at least one movably mounted actuating arm (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) for moving the movable furniture part (3),

- A spring device (10) for applying force to the actuating arm arrangement

(5),

- An adjusting device (19) for adjusting a force of the spring device (10) on the actuating arm arrangement (5), the adjusting device (19) having an adjusting element (19a) rotatable about an axis of rotation (R) and a threaded section (17) with a longitudinal direction ( L), a point of attack (18) of the spring device (10) along the threaded section (17) being adjustable by rotating the adjusting element (19a) about the axis of rotation (R), the axis of rotation (R) of the adjusting element (19a) and the longitudinal direction (L) of the threaded section (17) enclose an angle to one another,

characterized in that that angle which the axis of rotation (R) of the adjusting element (19a) and the longitudinal direction (L) of the threaded section (17) enclose to one another, when the at least one adjusting arm (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) moves is changeable.

2. Furniture drive according to claim 1, characterized in that the furniture drive (4) has at least one angularly movable coupling device (25) for transmitting a rotary movement of the adjusting element (19a) into a rotary movement of the threaded portion (17).

3. Furniture drive according to claim 2, characterized in that the angularly movable coupling device (25) has at least one elastic member, preferably a bellows, a molded rubber element, a helical spring clutch, and / or at least one gear, preferably one Bevel gear, and / or a joint, preferably a universal joint or cardan joint.

4. Furniture drive according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one shaft (28) which can be driven by the adjusting element (19a) is provided for driving the threaded section (17), it is preferably provided that the at least one shaft (28 ) is mounted in or along a guide (30), preferably an elongated hole, relative to the carrier (9).

5. Furniture drive according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the adjusting element (19a) of the adjusting device (19) faces the movable furniture part (3) in an assembled state of the furniture drive (4) and in a front region of the carrier (9 ) is arranged.

6. Furniture drive according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the spring device (10) is supported with one end region on a hinge axis (13) fixedly mounted on the carrier (9) and with a second end region on the point of application (18).

7. Furniture drive according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the spring device (10) has at least one helical spring, preferably at least one compression spring.

8. Furniture drive according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the carrier (9) of the furniture drive (4) is designed to, in a mounted state on the furniture panel (6) at least partially, preferably substantially completely, within the furniture panel (6) to be included.

9. Furniture drive according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the carrier (9) is substantially rectangular, it is preferably provided that the ratio of a length (L1) of the carrier (9) to a height (H1) of the carrier (9) is greater than 1 to 0.7, preferably greater than 1 to 0.5.

10. Furniture drive according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the threaded section (17) is arranged on an intermediate lever (16) of the furniture drive (4) which is pivotably mounted on the carrier (9).

11. Furniture drive according to one of claims 10, characterized in that the actuating arm arrangement (5) has a first actuating arm (5a) pivotable about a first hinge axis (26) and at least one second actuating arm (5b) pivotably mounted about a second hinge axis (27) , wherein the first hinge axis (26) and the second hinge axis (27) are spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction (L2) of the carrier (9) and the second hinge axis (27) in relation to the first hinge axis (26) in a front region of the carrier (9) is arranged, the intermediate lever (16) being connected directly to the second actuating arm (5b) via a thrust lever (24).

12. Furniture drive according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the adjusting element (19a) of the adjusting device (19) has a receiving device for a tool, preferably a screwdriver.

13. Furniture drive according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the furniture drive (4) has at least one damping device (33), preferably a piston-cylinder unit, for damping a movement of the actuating arm arrangement (5).

14. Furniture (1) with a furniture body (2), a furniture part (3) movably mounted relative to the furniture body (2) and with at least one furniture drive (4) according to one of claims 1 to 13 for moving the movable furniture part (3).

15. Furniture according to claim 14, characterized in that the furniture body (2) has a furniture panel (6) for fastening the carrier (9), the carrier (9) of the furniture drive (4) at least partially, preferably substantially completely, within a recess (11) of the furniture panel (6) is added.