JP2009119269A - Furniture drive - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a furniture drive capable of suppressing the number of components to the minimum so as to reduce a manufacturing cost and adjusting at least two movable furniture constituent elements. <P>SOLUTION: The electric furniture drive (10) for adjusting at least two movable furniture constituent elements (11, 12) is provided with a drive motor (15) with reversible rotation direction and a single speed reduction gear device (16) having an output member (18) connected to the drive motor which can be rotationally driven. The adjustable furniture constituent elements (11, 12) are functionally connected to the output elements (19, 20, 21) of the furniture drive (10) at least in a specific portion. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a furniture drive (driving device) that adjusts at least two movable furniture components of one furniture item, includes a drive motor, and has a reversible rotation direction.

  Such furniture drives are commonly referred to in the industry as dual drives. Its main functional components are, in each case, two drive units which are drive motors, a reduction gear device coupled thereto, a spindle securely connected to the output member of the reduction gear device, and against rotation A fixed and disposed spindle nut is attached to a common elongated housing. The spindle nut of each drive unit is operatively connected to the drive member or pivot fitting of the furniture component to be adjusted. This type of furniture drive is preferably used to adjust the back and foot portions of the lath lattice.

  A furniture drive in the form of a double drive with a drive motor is also already known. Since the two-speed rotating gear device is coupled to the drive motor via a coupling, either drive unit or both drive units can be selectively started. However, since this solution is more cost intensive than the previously described embodiments, the furniture drive is considered a mass-produced product intended to be manufactured very cheaply, This solution has not proven to work in practice.

  The present invention is a furniture of the type initially described in detail in a manner that ensures the adjustment of at least two movable furniture components while minimizing the number of parts so as to reduce manufacturing costs. This is based on the purpose of implementing the drive.

  According to a first solution, the furniture drive has a single reduction gear device coupled to the drive motor and having a rotationally driveable output member, the adjustable furniture component being at least in certain parts Functionally connected to the output element of the furniture drive.

  This solution according to the invention provides a furniture drive which is regarded as a double drive and which comprises only one reduction gear unit and preferably only one output element, which itself is Reduce the number of functional parts. Furthermore, since only a single drive motor is still needed, one of these drive motors is omitted compared to the embodiment with two drive motors. Since the furniture drive has only one drive motor, the control device and the manual switch are also simplified accordingly.

  In a further configuration, the reduction gear device is a worm drive and the driven output member is fixed with respect to rotation and has a female screw hole into which a spindle forming the output element of the furniture drive is inserted. It is a wheel. In this case, a sliding sliding element in the form of a thrust cap or a pressure cap is operatively connected to the respective furniture component to be adjusted and can be reliably arranged in at least one end region of the screw-in spindle. Preferably, however, the slide-like sliding element is securely arranged in both end regions of the screw spindle. As a result, each sliding element forms an output element of the furniture drive.

  This is not only a simple design, but is also an operational safe solution since the screw rotation is elastic, and the spindle can be procured as a conventional off-the-shelf part. This screw is in the preferred embodiment either a square screw or a trapezoidal screw. Depending on the direction of rotation of the drive motor, the spindle moves relative to the lateral front face of the output member of the reduction gear device, thereby actuating the associated furniture component to be adjusted.

  The spindle protrudes beyond the two front faces of the output member of the reduction gear device at each position of the furniture component to be adjusted. In this case, in a preferred embodiment, in the lowered position of the at least two furniture components to be adjusted, the output element of the furniture drive or the front face of the spindle is also from the output member of the reduction gear device or the lateral front face of the worm drive. Positioned at the same distance or approximately the same distance.

  However, if the adjustment paths of the at least two furniture components are different, their distance to the output element of the furniture drive can also be different.

  The front surface of the output element of the furniture drive or the front surface of the spindle forms the drive member of the at least two furniture components or the drive member of the pivoting fitting in the lowered position of the at least two furniture components It is further advantageous if it is functionally connected to the drive lever. These levers can be used to vary the torque required to adjust the furniture component using the length of the lever arm. If the output element of the furniture drive or spindle places the at least one drive lever away from the lowered position of the at least two furniture components, this allows the drive train (drive train) to be adjusted while almost unloaded. It is further particularly advantageous because each furniture component to be mounted is placed or stopped at each end position. This distance can be 2 mm, for example.

  Due to the relatively small dimensions of the output element or spindle, the drive lever does not contact the front surface at that particular adjustment angle. Thus, the output element of the furniture drive or the respective thrust cap or pressure cap to be placed in the front end area of the spindle increases the size of this contact area. These thrust caps or pressure caps are then guided by corresponding guides in the housing of the furniture drive, so that the connection element is implemented as a press fitting, so that the output element or the spindle is secured against rotation. Fixed to. Different types of shape adaptations are also conceivable.

  Furthermore, at least one end switch is also associated with the output element or spindle of the furniture drive. This terminal switch can be arranged on the holding strip and can be inserted into at least one housing part or forms an integral molded part with said housing part, so that at least one terminal switch Can be inserted into the holding strip at various positions. In this case, in a preferred embodiment, the design is then selected in such a way that, for example, a termination switch in the front end region of the output element is switched to limit the end position of the opposing furniture component. This provides a simple design. This is because, as a result, the remote front surfaces of the strips of termination switches do not protrude beyond the output element of the furniture drive or the front surface of the spindle in the lowered position of the furniture component.

  According to a second solution, they are positioned in alignment with each other and can be coupled to or released from the output member of the reduction gear device via a switchable coupling. Two possible output elements are arranged on both sides of the output member of the reduction gear device. This solution has the advantage that the respective drive train for the furniture component to be adjusted is releasable, i.e. if the furniture component functionally connected to it by the release of the drive unit is, for example, a power failure Offers the advantage of being able to descend completely or in other limited ways.

  A solution that is concise in terms of design is achieved when the drive element is implemented as a rotary driveable spindle, one spindle having a right-hand thread in at least a specific part and the other spindle in at least a specific part This is the case with a left-hand thread. The corresponding spindle nut is operatively connected to the drive element of the furniture component to be adjusted or to the pivoting fitting and is then arranged on the spindle in a rotationally fixed manner.

  According to a third proposal for achieving the set of objectives, the output member of the reduction gear device is implemented as a rotating body and is coupled to at least one winding drum, and a plurality of deflection rollers are used with the winding drum. It is provided as at least one flexible pulling element that can be wound and unwound.

  Since the winding drum is a concise component, this solution is also very simple in terms of design. The flexible tensile element can also be procured as a bulk material, and in the preferred embodiment consists of a wire cable. There are several possibilities for adjusting the connected furniture components. Thus, first, the free end of each flexible pulling element is secured to a lever that can pivot about a horizontal axis. This generates torque to pivot the furniture component or pivot fitting. According to a second solution, the free end of each flexible pulling element can also be unwound from a further winding drum to pivot the furniture component or pivot fitting.

  In order to control the furniture drive, the drive is provided with a switch device. The switch device includes end position switches for switching off the motor at each end position. Furthermore, at least one further switch can also be provided for switching off the motor. In one intermediate position located between the end positions of each furniture component or in a plurality of intermediate positions.

  In addition, a further end switch can also be provided to switch off the motor in the lowered position of the furniture component or pivot fitting.

  In order to switch off the motor in the basic position, the switch operates with respect to the basic position. The switch is coupled to the motor's electrical circuit or to the control circuit. In the preferred embodiment, this switch is implemented as what is known as a contact breaker and opens the electrical circuit so that no energy flows to the motor. Furthermore, further contacts that can be connected to the control device as well, such as the contacts of this switch, can be activated simultaneously. Only when each manual switch is pressed again then the drive moves in the desired direction.

  Control of these positions, known as central or intermediate positions, requires at least one marker, which can be, for example, a flip-flop, a bistable electromechanical switch, a self-switching electromechanical switch, or Can be implemented in the form of corresponding control device control means.

  As before, the electromechanical furniture drive is operated by a manual switch with at least two push buttons. These two push buttons are buttons for moving in a direction toward each end position of each output member or each furniture component. When these buttons are held, the drive moves to the next central position, or to an intermediate position, or to each end position.

  Once the central or intermediate position is reached, the traveling drive activates the switch, resulting in the motor being switched off. Only when the already activated button is released and this button or a different button is pressed again, the drive continues to move in the preselected direction until it reaches a further central or intermediate position or end position .

  When the manual switch has more than two buttons, two of the push buttons are buttons for moving in the direction toward the respective end positions. When they are pressed, the drive moves to the next central position, to an intermediate position, or to each end position.

  Each further button indicates a further central or intermediate position. When a further button is pressed and held, the drive moves in the direction of the central position associated with the button, regardless of the current position of the drive, and as soon as this position is reached, the motor is switched off.

  If the furniture drive has two output elements, this drive can be described as a dual drive. However, further output elements that may be offset from one another can also be arranged. These further output elements can be functionally connected to further furniture components, for example a third or fourth furniture component, so that only one furniture component always drives one electric motor. Either functionally connected to the train, or on the other hand, a plurality of furniture components are grouped together or functionally connected in sequence to an electric motor drive train at least in certain parts It is. This embodiment of the furniture drive can also be referred to as a multiple drive, but since the drive has only one electric motor, the drive can also be referred to as a single drive.

  According to a further embodiment of the double drive, the output member of the reduction gear device can be coupled to two screw parts, which in turn are in the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis of the output member of the reduction gear device. At least in a particular part with a screw rotating in the same direction or a screw rotating in the opposite direction. In this case, the screw portion can be driven to rotate by a motor. At least one of the threaded portions can also form an integral molded portion at least in a specific portion together with the output member of the reduction gear device. The thread driven by the motor can also be implemented as an internal thread and / or as an external thread.

  According to the dual drive embodiment, which can be driven rotationally and has a screw turn with a reverse screw pitch, the output element of the furniture drive moves in the opposite direction. The furniture component coupled to it also moves in the opposite direction, so that, for example, the head and foot portions of the lath lattice move up and down together or move in an off-center manner. In this case, the individual threads can have different pitches in order to provide different adjustment speeds or different adjustment paths.

  Furniture drives having the features described above can be designed in different embodiments with respect to function. According to the first embodiment, in the basic position of the furniture drive, all adjustable furniture components are in the basic position, starting from this basic position and in any case only the furniture components connected to the furniture drive The drive element of the furniture drive is configured in such a way that is adjusted between the basic position and the end position. According to this embodiment, for example in furniture items implemented as a lath lattice, only the head part is adjusted between the lowered basic position and the raised position, or the foot between the lowered basic position and the raised position. Either only the part is adjusted.

  According to the second embodiment, all adjustable furniture components can be adjusted jointly between the basic position and the raised or adjusted position. As a result, in furniture items implemented, for example, as a lath lattice, the head part and the foot part can be adjusted jointly between a lowered basic position and a raised position.

  According to the third embodiment, all adjustable furniture components are adjusted between the basic position and the raised or adjusted position, jointly in a specific part or continuously in a specific part be able to. As a result, in an item of furniture implemented, for example, as a lath lattice, the head portion can first be led from the basic position to the adjustment position, where further furniture, such as the foot portion of the lath lattice, is taken from a specific adjustment path. The component is further adjusted from its basic position.

  The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a side view of a preferred exemplary embodiment of a furniture drive according to the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the left drive train shown by FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the right drive train shown by FIG. 1.

  The furniture drive 10 shown in FIG. 1 is known as a double drive, for example for adjusting the back and foot portions of a lath lattice. Only the side beams 11, 12 are shown of the backrest and foot parts, which according to another embodiment are furniture to be adjusted either directly or via further levers in any case. It is implemented as a lever that is securely fitted and coupled to the component in a movable or articulated manner. These side beams 11, 12 are arranged on two tubular shafts 13, 14 in a manner that is rotatably fixed.

  According to the present invention, the furniture drive 10 in the form of a double drive comprises a single drive motor 15. The drive motor 15 is coupled to the reduction gear device 16. The reduction gear device 16 is conventionally a worm drive, in which either the worm 17 is arranged in a manner that is rotatably fixed to the output journal of the drive motor 15 or the output journal is implemented as a worm. It is. The worm 17 engages a worm wheel 18 with a central internal thread hole in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. The worm wheel 18 forms an output member of the reduction gear device 16. A spindle 19 forming an output element of the electric furniture drive 10 is inserted into this female screw hole. This spindle 19 is fixed against rotation. Two end caps 20, 21 for fixing the spindle 19 in a rotationally fixed manner are securely arranged in the end region of the spindle 19. Angular articulated levers 22, 23 are arranged on each shaft 13, 14 in a manner that is rotatably fixed. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the side beams 11, 12 are shown in the lowered position. In this position, the distance of the front end of the spindle 19 from the side surface of the worm wheel 18 is the same. The end caps 20 and 21 are in contact with the surfaces of the articulating levers 22 and 23 facing each other.

  In contrast to the illustrated embodiment, the surfaces of the end caps 20, 21 and the articulated levers 22, 23 opposite to each other are in the lowered position of the side beams 11, 12, and for example from 1 mm from each other. A distance of 2 mm can also be positioned. End switch strips 24, 25 are associated with the end region of the spindle 19 in order to switch off the drive motor 15 at the end position of the side beams 11, 12. The termination switch 26 can be inserted into the termination switch strips 24, 25, optionally at different locations. According to this exemplary embodiment, the termination switch strips 24, 25 are integrally formed with at least one housing portion of the furniture drive 10. As shown in the figure, the inner terminal switch 26 switches the respective beams 11, 12 at their respective upper end positions, while once reaching the lower end positions of the beams 11, 12, so that the adjustable furniture components Assuming a basic position, these end switches 26 are switched in such a way that the end switches 26 located far left in the drawing switch off the motor 15.

  In order to suspend the furniture drive 10 from the shafts 13, 14, the housing of the furniture drive 10 is provided with crossers 27, 28 that can be moved laterally to the spindle 19. These crossers 27 and 28 are inserted into guides joined by dovetails in a manner that matches the shape.

  In contrast to the illustrated embodiment, the electric furniture drive 10 may also comprise two spindles that can be driven by a common drive motor 15. For this purpose, in any case at least in certain parts, one spindle is provided with a right-hand thread and the other spindle is provided with a left-hand thread, which is formed with the worm wheel 18 as an integral molding part. be able to. Spindle nuts that are fixed against rotation can then be arranged on these spindles.

  In contrast to the illustrated embodiment, the worm wheel 18 forming the output member of the reduction gear device 16 can also be coupled with one or two winding drums. As a result, the flexible pulling elements are each wound around the winding drum or unwound from the winding drum, respectively. The free ends of the flexible pulling elements can be connected to the shafts 13, 14 via deflection roller devices. For this purpose, the ends can be fastened in turn to the levers or further winding shafts will be arranged on the shafts 13,14.

  2 and 3 show the left and right halves of a furniture drive implemented as a double drive. The same components are also provided with the same reference numbers.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Furniture drive, 11, 12 ... Side beam, 13, 14 ... Tubular shaft, 15 ... Drive motor, 16 ... Reduction gear device, 17 ... Worm, 18 ... Worm wheel, 19 ... Spindle, 20, 21 ... Termination Cap, 22, 23 ... articulated lever, 24, 25 ... end switch strip, 26 ... end switch, 27, 28 ... crosser

Claims (31)

An electric furniture drive (10) for adjusting at least two movable furniture components (11, 12) of one furniture item, comprising a drive motor (15), the direction of rotation of which is In an electric furniture drive (10) that is reversible,
The furniture drive (10) has a single reduction gear device (16) connected to the drive motor (15), and an output member (18) that can be driven to rotate.
The adjustable furniture component (11, 12) is operatively connected to the output element (19, 20, 21) of the furniture drive (10) at least in certain parts, Furniture drive.   The reduction gear device (16) is a worm drive (17, 18), a driven output member is fixed against rotation, and a spindle (19) that forms the output element of the furniture drive (10) 2. A drive for furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a worm wheel (18) with internal thread holes inserted therein.   A slide-like sliding element in the form of a thrust cap or pressure cap (20, 21) and operatively connected to each furniture component to be adjusted is arranged in at least one end region of the screw-in spindle. The furniture drive according to claim 2, wherein:   A furniture drive according to claim 2, characterized in that the spindle (19) projects beyond the two front faces of the worm wheel (18).   In the lowered position of the at least two furniture components (11, 12) to be adjusted, the output element of the furniture drive (10) or the front of the spindle (19) is on the side of the worm wheel (18). The furniture drive according to claim 4, wherein the furniture drive is arranged at the same distance or substantially the same distance from the front surface.   The output element of the furniture drive (10) or the front surface of the spindle (19) is in the lowered position of the at least two furniture components (11, 12), the at least two furniture components (11, 12). 6) or a pivotable drive lever (22, 23) which forms the drive member of the pivoting fitting. Drive for furniture as described in.   At least one output member of the furniture drive (10) or the spindle (19) is moved from at least one drive lever (22, 23) in the lowered position of the at least two furniture components (11, 12). The furniture drive according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the furniture drive is arranged at a distance.   A thrust cap or pressure cap (20, 21) is arranged in a manner that is rotatably fixed to the front end region of the output element of the furniture drive (10) or to the front end of the spindle (19). A furniture drive according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is characterized in that   An on-switch or a plurality of switches (26) are arranged on the holding strip (25) and can be inserted into at least one housing part or together with this housing part form an integral molding part The furniture drive according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that:   A thrust pad or pressure pad (20, 21) guided by the guide of the housing of the furniture drive (10) is arranged in a manner that is rotatably fixed to the spindle (19). The furniture drive according to any one of claims 1 to 9.   The output member (18) of the reduction gear device (16) is coupled or released to the output member of the furniture drive (10) via a switchable coupling. Furniture drive (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.   The output member of the electric furniture drive (10) is a spindle having a right screw and a left screw, and each spindle is coupled to the output member (18) of the reduction gear device (16). The furniture drive according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the drive is for furniture.   13. The output element (19) of the electric furniture drive (10) has threads formed in the same direction or in opposite directions at least in certain parts. A furniture drive as set forth in claim 1.   The furniture drive according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a spindle nut fixed so as not to rotate is arranged on each spindle. Electric furniture drive (10) for adjusting at least two movable furniture components (11, 12), comprising an electric drive motor (15), the direction of rotation of which is reversible In drive (10)
The output member (18) of the reduction gear device (16) is configured as a rotating body and coupled to at least one winding drum;
A drive for furniture, characterized in that a plurality of deflecting rollers are provided for at least one flexible pulling element that can be wound and unwound using the winding drum.   16. A furniture drive according to claim 15, characterized in that the free end of each flexible pulling element is fastened to a lever that can pivot about a horizontal axis.   16. A furniture drive according to claim 15, characterized in that the free end of each flexible pulling element is fastened to a further winding drum which can be rotated about a horizontal axis.   18. A furniture drive according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the furniture drive (10) comprises a switching device (24, 25, 26) for control purposes. .   19. A furniture drive according to claim 18, characterized in that the furniture drive (10) comprises two end position switches (26) for switching off the motor at respective end positions.   At least one further switch (26) is provided for switching off the drive motor (15), so that in one intermediate position between the end positions, the drive motor (15) is switched off. 20. A furniture drive according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that   At least one further switch is provided at a basic position of the furniture component (11, 12) for switching off the drive motor (15), each furniture component (11, 12) being The furniture drive according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the furniture drive is lowered to a basic position. At least one switch is coupled to an electrical circuit of the drive motor (15) or to a control circuit;
22. A furniture drive according to claim 21, characterized in that the switch is configured as a contact breaker and opens the electrical circuit to prevent the flow of energy to the drive motor (15).   The control of the intermediate position is performed by at least one marker implemented in the form of a flip-flop, a bistable electromechanical switch, or at least one electromechanical switch, or a corresponding control device control means. The drive for furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized by the above. The manual switch has two push buttons,
These push buttons are pressed until they reach the end position,
The furniture drive according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the furniture drive is switched on to the next intermediate position or to each end position. . In the intermediate position of the at least two furniture components (11, 12) to be adjusted, one switch can be activated to switch off the drive motor (15);
25. A furniture drive according to claim 24, characterized in that the drive motor (15) is switched on as soon as the actuated push button is released or as soon as a further push button is actuated. . A manual switch having at least three buttons is provided on the furniture drive (10);
21. An operation according to any one of claims 17 to 20, characterized in that two push buttons are held in a direction towards their respective end positions by actuation so that the drive can be moved to an intermediate position. Drive for furniture as described in.   The further push button is provided with respect to an intermediate position by actuation, and the furniture drive (10) moves in the direction of the central position with respect to the further push button, regardless of the current position, and upon reaching this position the drive motor 27. The furniture drive according to claim 26, characterized in that the switch of (15) is switched off.   The furniture drive is configured as a dual drive, characterized in that it comprises more than two output elements arranged offset from each other and operatively connected to the adjustable furniture component; The drive for furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 27.   The furniture drive is configured as a double drive, and the output member (18) of the reduction gear device (16) has a screw rotating in the same direction or a screw rotating in the opposite direction in at least a specific part. 29. A furniture drive according to any one of claims 1 to 28, characterized in that it can be coupled to two screw parts that can be rotationally driven by the drive motor (15).   At least one of the screw parts forms an integral molded part together with the output member (18) of the reduction gear device (16), and the screw part includes a female screw and / or a male screw. The furniture drive according to claim 29.   The furniture drive according to any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein the pitch of the threaded portions has different pitches in order to obtain different adjustment speeds or different adjustment paths.

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