WO2005012657A1

WO2005012657A1 - Displacement device for displacing a sealing element that is used to seal an outflow opening

Info

Publication number: WO2005012657A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/007830
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gert Spruner V. Mertz; Dirk Bittger
Original assignee: Blanco Gmbh + Co Kg
Priority date: 2003-07-24
Filing date: 2004-07-15
Publication date: 2005-02-10
Also published as: CN100529282C; EP1649114A1; CA2532843C; DE10333658A1; US20060156460A1; CA2532843A1; RU2370599C2; RU2006105477A; DE202004021416U1; JP2006528738A; CN1826449A; DE202004021417U1

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to provide a displacement device (183) for displacing a sealing element (120) that is used to seal an outflow opening (108, 110), in particular of a sink (100) or a washbasin, said displacement device being easily and reliably actuated and permitting a versatile configuration of the sink and the connections of the sink or washbasin. This is achieved by a displacement device (183) comprising an electric drive element (152).

Description

Movement device for moving a closure element for closing a drain opening

The present invention relates to a movement device for moving a closure element for closing a drain opening, in particular a drain opening of a sink or a washstand.

Known sinks are provided with a mechanical movement device for moving a closure element for closing a drain opening of the sink, which comprises a rotary actuation button provided on the top of the sink, which causes the closure element to move from an open position to a closed position or in the reverse direction when used by a user the sink is turned. The rotary movement of the rotary actuation button is converted into a linear movement of the closure element, for example by means of a cable connection.

With such a cable pull connection, however, it is disadvantageous that twisting the cable pull in an unfavorable installation position can make it considerably more difficult to operate the rotary control button. Furthermore, the cable connection limits the options with regard to the design of the pipe connections of the sink. In addition, a rotary control button protruding from the top of the sink prevents cleaning of the sink and allows the build-up of lime, dirt and bacteria. Under certain circumstances, the rotary control button protruding over the top of the sink can also have an unfavorable effect on the overall aesthetic impression of the sink. The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide a movement device for moving a closure element for closing a drain opening of a sink or a washbasin, which can be operated easily and reliably and has great flexibility in the design of the sink and the connections of the sink or Wash stands allowed.

This object is achieved in a movement device with the features of the preamble of claim 1 in that the movement device comprises an electrically operated drive element.

The fact that the movement of the closure element from the open position into the closed position or in the opposite direction is effected by means of an electrically operated drive element means that the force required for the movement of the closure element is no longer used by the user when actuating an actuation element, for example a rotary actuation button, must be applied, but that this driving force is generated independently of the user by the electrically operated drive element. This allows a more ergonomic, simple and safe operation of the movement device, especially when the user has wet hands.

Since in the movement device according to the invention there is no longer any need for a mechanical drive train to be guided from a rotary actuation button to the closure element, the movement device is easier to assemble and can be designed more flexibly with regard to the arrangement, alignment and design of its components. When the closure element reaches one of its end positions, the movement device can be switched off by means of a limit switch.

In particular, it can be provided that the movement device comprises an electric motor.

It is preferably provided that the movement device comprises an electrically operated servomotor.

In order to achieve a relatively slow movement of the closure element, which is generally preferred by users of the sink or the washbasin, the electric motor can be provided with a reduction gear, in particular with a spur gear.

Alternatively or in addition to this, it can be provided that the movement device comprises an electromagnet.

In particular, it can be provided that the electromagnet comprises a movable element which can be moved from a first end position which is associated with the open position of the closure element to a second end position which is associated with the closed position of the closure element.

It can further be provided that the movement device comprises a coupling device, by means of which a linear movement of an element of the electromagnet can be converted into a rotary movement.

In particular, it can be provided that such a coupling device comprises a Bowden cable. In a preferred embodiment of the movement device according to the invention it is further provided that the movement device comprises a control device for controlling the drive element.

A particularly high degree of flexibility with regard to the operating and control options of the movement device is achieved if the control device comprises a programmable control device, in particular a microcontroller.

It is also preferably provided that the movement device comprises at least one actuating element for triggering movement of the closure element.

Such an actuating element can comprise, for example, a switch, in particular a button.

As an alternative or in addition to this, such an actuating element can comprise, for example, a capacitive sensor.

In a preferred embodiment of such an actuating element, it is provided that the actuating element comprises a cover, preferably on the visible side, for the sensor.

In order to ensure that a change in capacitance in the area above the cover can be detected by the sensor, it is advantageously provided that the cover is formed from a dielectric material. Alternatively or in addition to a capacitive sensor, it can also be provided that the actuating element comprises a pressure-sensitive sensor.

In particular, it can be provided that the actuating element comprises a piezoelectric sensor.

In order to avoid a false triggering of a pressure-sensitive sensor due to a pressure load on the sink outside the detection range of the sensor, it can be provided that the actuating element comprises a cover that is movable relative to the sink or the washstand. The application of pressure to the cover then triggers a response of the pressure-sensitive sensor, while the cover which is movable relative to the sink or the wash basin is decoupled from the sink or the wash basin in such a way that a false triggering due to a pressure load on another part of the sink or the washstand is excluded.

In order to avoid a false triggering of the actuating element by large objects placed on the sink or the washstand and / or by water standing on the top of the sink or the washstand, a preferred embodiment of the movement device provides that the actuating element has at least two sensors comprises detection areas which differ from one another, a movement of the closure element being triggered when one of the sensors responds and the other sensor does not respond.

In order to avoid false triggering of the actuating element, it is also advantageous if the actuating element comprises at least one sensor with adjustable sensitivity. The sensitivity can be set either on the sensor itself or by means of the control device of the movement device.

In order to protect a sensor from moisture and dirt, it can be provided that the movement device comprises a sensor arranged in a housing.

In preferred embodiments of the movement device according to the invention, it is provided that the actuating element is designed and arranged on the sink or the washstand in such a way that it does not protrude above the top of the area of the sink or washstand surrounding the actuation element. It is thus avoided that the actuating element forms an elevation on the sink or the washstand, which makes cleaning the surface of the sink or the washstand difficult and enables the accumulation of lime, dirt and / or bacteria.

In this regard, it is particularly favorable if the actuating element is arranged on the underside of the sink or the washbasin, where it is particularly well protected against dirt and splash water.

In order to indicate the position of the actuating element to the user of the sink or washstand in this case, a marking, for example a color marking, is preferably a local elevation on the sink or at the location of the top of the sink or washstand lying above the actuation element. the watch table or an embossing, which indicates to the user the position of the actuating element. If the sink or the washstand has a plurality of drain openings, it is advantageously provided that the movement device comprises a plurality of drive elements for moving a closure element of each drain opening.

In particular, it can be provided that a drive train is provided for each closure element, the drive trains being selectively connectable to a drive motor via a coupling device.

As an alternative to this, it can also be provided that a separate drive motor is provided for each drive train.

In order to be able to actuate the drive elements for the closure elements of the different drain openings independently of one another, it can be provided that the movement device comprises a plurality of actuation elements, with each actuation element being able to trigger the movement of a closure element assigned to this actuation element.

As an alternative or in addition to this, it can also be provided that the movement device has at least one actuating element with which the movement can optionally be triggered by one of at least two closure elements. In this way, the number of actuating elements to be provided is reduced.

In this case, it can be provided, for example, that the actuating element can be actuated in at least two mutually different types of actuation, each actuation type triggering a movement of a closure element assigned to the relevant actuation type. For example, it can be provided that at least two of the actuation types of the actuation element differ with regard to the duration of a user's influence on the actuation element.

In particular, it could be provided that one closure element is moved when the actuation element is operated for a long time and another closure element is moved when the actuation element is operated for a short time.

As an alternative or in addition to this, it can also be provided that at least two of the types of actuation differ from one another with regard to the number of actions of a user on the actuating element which follow one another within a predetermined time interval.

Thus, it could be provided that a single action by a user triggers a movement of one locking element, while two successive actions by a user trigger the movement of another locking element within a predetermined time period.

The movement device according to the invention advantageously has an additional overflow protection function if the movement device comprises at least one sensor which, when a predetermined level is reached in a basin of the sink or the washbasin, triggers a movement of the closure element associated with the relevant basin into the open position. A capacitive sensor is preferably used as such an overflow sensor, which triggers an actuation signal due to the change in capacitance in the vicinity of the sensor due to the water rising in the detection area of the overflow protection sensor.

In particular, it can be provided that the drive element is controlled so that it moves the closure element into an open position when the level in the basin exceeds a first threshold value, and that the drive element moves the closure element into a closed position when the level in the basin unites falls below the second threshold, the second threshold being lower than the first threshold. Because the first and second threshold values are different from one another, a switching hysteresis is achieved which results in stable switching behavior of the control circuit comprising the overflow sensor, the drive element and a control device for the drive element.

For this purpose, it is also favorable if the overflow sensor generates a signal from which it can be seen whether the level in the basin is above the first threshold value or below the second threshold value.

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that at least two overflow sensors are arranged on the basin, a first overflow sensor generating a signal from which it can be seen whether the level is above the first threshold value, and a second overflow sensor generating a signal from which it can be seen whether the level is below the second threshold. Furthermore, it can be provided in a special embodiment of the invention that the drive element is controlled in such a way that it moves the closure element into a first open position when the level in the basin exceeds a first threshold value, and that the drive element moves the closure element into a second open position when the level in the basin exceeds a second threshold value, the second threshold value being above the first threshold value and the drain opening being wider in the second open position than in the first open position.

In this case, a drain opening is also to be regarded as “further open” if the size of the released drain opening does not change between the two open positions, but the closure element is further away from the drain opening in the second open position than in the first open position, so that access to the drain opening for the draining water is facilitated and the water can thus drain away more quickly.

In this embodiment of the invention, the level in the pool can be regulated particularly finely and the pool volume can be better utilized.

In particular, it can be provided that the overflow sensor generates a signal from which it can be seen whether the level in the basin is above the first threshold value or above the second threshold value.

Alternatively or in addition to this, it can also be provided that at least two overflow sensors are arranged on the basin, a first overflow sensor generating a signal from which it can be seen whether the level is above the first threshold value and a second overflow sensor Signal generated from which it can be seen whether the level is above the second threshold.

Furthermore, it can be provided in a special embodiment of the invention that the drive element is controlled in such a way that it moves the closure element into an open position and leaves it in the open position for a predetermined minimum opening time when the level in the basin exceeds a threshold value. In this way, a stable switching behavior of the movement device can also be achieved if a digital overflow sensor is used which only indicates the presence of water in the detection area of the overflow sensor, without information about the level of the level being able to be derived from the sensor signal.

In this case, it is also advantageously provided that the drive element is controlled such that it moves the closure element into a closed position after the minimum opening time has elapsed, if the level in the basin falls below the threshold value after the minimum opening time has elapsed.

In order to prevent an overflow sensor from causing an unnecessary opening of the drain opening by means of a sensor signal which has been triggered by water splashes and / or briefly sloshing up water, it can be provided that at least two overflow sensors are arranged on the basin, with a movement of the closure element is only triggered by the drive element when at least two of these overflow sensors indicate an elevated water level in the basin.

In this case, it is particularly favorable if the at least two overflow sensors are arranged on mutually different side walls of the basin.

In order to keep a user of the sink or the washbasin informed about the operating state of the movement device, it is expedient if the movement device comprises a signal device with a signal generator which generates a signal which can be perceived by a user when the closure element is moved by means of the drive element.

It is particularly expedient if the signaling device generates a signal which can be perceived by a user when the closure element is moved as a result of a signal from an overflow sensor, that is to say without the user himself having caused the movement of the closure element by actuating an actuating device.

Such a signal device can in particular comprise an optical signal transmitter.

Alternatively or in addition to this, it can be provided that the signal device comprises an acoustic signal transmitter.

In order to protect the signal transmitter from dirt and the ingress of moisture, it is preferably provided that the signal transmitter is arranged on the underside of a sink or a washstand.

In order to inform the user in as much detail as possible about the respective operating state of the movement device, it is advantageous if the signal transmitter generates at least two, preferably at least three, different signals which are assigned to different operating states of the movement device.

In a special embodiment of the movement device according to the invention it can further be provided that the movement device comprises at least one actuating element for triggering a movement of the closure element and a control device connected to the actuating element, which can be switched into a “teach” mode, in which one of a user preferred type of actuation of the actuating element is adjustable.

When the “teach” mode is switched on, the user of the sink or the washstand can set his own way of actuating the actuating element, that is to say the control device “learns” in the “teach” mode whether the user is, for example, a short or a short long contact time with the actuating element is preferred in order to trigger actuation of the movement device.

For this purpose, the user repeats his preferred type of actuation of the actuating element several times in succession when the "Teach" mode is switched on, the control device in each case registering the length of the actuation duration.

After switching from the "teach" mode to the normal working mode of the control device, the control device only reacts to an actuation of the actuation element if the actuation duration corresponds to the actuation durations "taught" during the "teach" mode. In addition to a preferred actuation duration, a preferred number of actuation pulses that follow one another in a predetermined time interval can also be “learned” by the control device in the “teach” mode.

Claim 44 is directed to a sink or a washstand, which comprises the at least one drain opening and a closure element for closing the at least one drain opening and a movement device according to the invention for moving the closure element to close the drain opening. ι

Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the drawing of exemplary embodiments. I

The drawings show:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a movement device for moving a closure element for closing the drain opening of a sink, which comprises a control device, an actuating device, a power supply and a drive device for the closure element.

2 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a sink with a movement device for moving the closure element for closing the drain opening; FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view from below of the sink from FIG. 2;

4 shows a schematic view from behind of the sink from FIGS. 2 and 3;

5 shows a schematic side view from the left of the sink from FIGS. 2 to 4;

6 shows a schematic side view from the right of the sink from FIGS. 2 to 5;

7 shows a schematic section through the sink from FIGS. 2 to 6 in the region of an actuating device of the movement device of the sink;

FIG. 8 shows an enlarged representation of area I from FIG. 7;

9 shows a schematic plan view of a two-zone sensor field;

10 shows a schematic section through a pressure-sensitive actuating device;

11 is a schematic side view of a drain valve assembly including a drain port with a closure member and an actuator for moving the closure member with the closure member in a closed position; 12 shows a schematic section through the drain valve arrangement from FIG. 11, the closure element being in a closed position;

13 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 11, the closure element being in an open position;

14 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 12, the closure element being in an open position;

15 shows a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of a movement device for moving a closure element for closing the drain opening of a sink, the movement device comprising an electromagnet as the drive element;

16 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a sink with the second embodiment of a movement device;

17 shows a further perspective illustration of a sink with the second embodiment of a movement device;

Figure 18 is a bottom plan view of the sink of Figures 16 and 17;

19 shows a schematic view from behind of the sink from FIGS. 16 to 18;

20 shows a schematic side view from the left of the sink from FIGS. 16 to 19;

21 shows a schematic side view from the right of the sink from FIGS. 16 to 20;

22 shows a schematic section through a basin of a sink with a third embodiment of a movement device with an overflow sensor;

23 shows a schematic section through a basin of a sink with a fourth embodiment of a movement device with two overflow sensors arranged one above the other;

24 shows a schematic section through a basin of a sink with a fifth embodiment of a movement device with two overflow sensors arranged at the same height; and

25 shows a schematic section through a basin of a sink with a sixth embodiment of a movement device with two overflow sensors and a signal transmitter.

Identical or functionally equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference symbols in all figures.

1 to 14, designated as a whole by 100, comprises a substantially horizontal sink surface 102, in which a main basin 104 and a smaller and less deep additional basin 106 are arranged and over which a battery bank arranged behind the additional basin 106 is located 107 rises.

The additional basin 106 is provided at its bottom with a drain opening 108.

The main pool 104 is provided with a drain opening 110 at its bottom.

As can best be seen from FIGS. 12 and 14, the drain opening 110 of the main basin 104 is arranged at the bottom 126 of a drain opening recess 112 which protrudes downward from the bottom 114 of a closure element receiving recess 116.

The closure element receiving recess 116 in turn protrudes downward from the bottom 118 of the main basin 104.

The drain opening 110 can be closed by means of a closure element 120, which is essentially rotationally symmetrical about a vertical closure element axis 122.

The closure element 120 comprises a substantially cylindrical closure element base body 124 which passes through a central through hole in the bottom 126 of the drain opening recess 112.

The central through hole at the bottom 126 of the drain opening recess 112 is surrounded by a plurality of further through holes 128, through which water can exit from the drain opening recess 112 downward into an angled drain pipe piece 130.

The upper section of the closure element base body 124 is surrounded in a collar-like manner by a strainer basket element 132. The sieve basket element 132 is provided with sieve through openings 134 distributed equidistantly along its circumference.

Arranged below the strainer basket element 132 is a sealing collar 136 which likewise surrounds the closure element base body 124 and from whose outer edge projects an elastic sealing lip 138 which surrounds the sealing collar 136 in an annular manner.

As can be seen from FIG. 12, in the closed position of the closure element 120, this sealing lip 138 bears against the inner edge of the bottom 114 of the closure element receiving recess 116 and thus prevents water from the closure element receiving recess 116 into the drain opening recess 112 in the closed position arrives.

The closure element 120, the closure element receiving recess 116 and the drain opening recess 112 together form a drain valve arrangement 139.

Below the bottom 126 of the drain opening recess 112, the closure element main body 124 is displaceably guided in a hollow cylindrical holding sleeve 140 along the closure element axis 122. At the lower end 142 of the closure element main body 124, a lever 144 engages, which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a rotary shaft 148 which is rotatable about its axis of rotation 146.

The rotary shaft 148 can be driven to rotate about the axis of rotation 146 by means of an electric servomotor 150 (see FIGS. 11 and 13).

The electric servomotor 150 forms a drive unit 152 for the closure element 120, which is connected to a control device 158 (see FIG. 1) by means of power supply lines 154, 156.

The control device 158 comprises a programmable microcontroller arranged in a housing 160.

The control device 158 is connected via signal lines 162, 164 to an actuating device 165 which comprises an actuating element 166 which is arranged, for example, on the underside of the battery bank 107.

The actuating element 166 comprises a sensor 168, which can be designed, for example, as a capacitive sensor 168a or as a piezoelectric sensor 168b.

As shown in FIG. 1, it can be provided that the actuating element 166 comprises a housing 170 in which the sensor 168 is arranged on a sensor board 169 and which is inserted into a suitable recess 172 on the underside of the sink 100. This recess 172 can in particular be an additional tap hole, which is usually present on the sink 100 anyway.

The housing 170 can be designed, for example, as an essentially cylindrical plastic housing, which is fixed in the recess 172 by an interference fit.

As an alternative or in addition to a fixation by means of an interference fit, it can also be provided that the housing 170 is glued to the underside of the sink 100.

It can further be provided that the housing 170 is fixed to the underside of the sink 100 by means of screws and / or rivets which engage in fastening holes provided on the underside of the sink 100.

If the sink 100 is a cast from a plastic material or a composite material, it can be provided that an additional retaining lug is cast onto the underside of the sink 100, on which the housing 170 by a suitable fastening means, for example a screw or a mounting pin.

A capacitive sensor 168a is particularly suitable for use on a sink 100 made of a plastic material or a composite material. Such a capacitive sensor senses a change in capacitance which arises in that a user of the sink 100 introduces a body part, for example a finger, into the detection area of the sensor 168.

So that the capacitive sensor can detect the change in capacitance caused by the user's finger, it is necessary that between the Sensor 168a and the detection area is arranged a dielectric medium that is not electrically conductive.

A plastic material or a composite material fulfills this requirement, so that the capacitive sensor 168a can easily be arranged on the underside of a sink 100 made of such a material without further precautions.

In the case of a sink 100, which is made of an electrically conductive material, in particular of a chromium-nickel stainless steel, the sink 100 must be provided with a through opening into which a dielectric material, for example a pane made of a glass ceramic, is inserted, in order to protect the sensor 168a arranged under the dielectric material from environmental influences, in particular from splash water, and at the same time to enable the detection of a change in capacitance in the detection region 174 of the sensor.

In this case, the sensor 168 or a housing 170 in which the sensor 168 is arranged can be fixed to the pane made of the dielectric material, for example glued or screwed onto this pane.

In order to prevent the capacitive sensor 168 from being triggered by splash water entering the detection area 174, the sensitivity of the sensor 168 is set so that it only triggers an actuation signal that is transmitted to the control device 158 when it is over a change in capacitance in the detection area 174, which is generated when the top of the sink 100 is touched in the detection area 174 by a finger of a user. In order to prevent an actuation signal of the sensor 168 from being inadvertently triggered by the placement of larger objects, for example pots, cleaning rags, etc., or by a layer of water on the top of the sink, the capacitive sensor 168a can be designed as a two-zone sensor with an inner sensor, which detects a change in capacitance in a central, circular detection area 174a, and an outer sensor, which detects a change in capacitance in an outer detection area 174b surrounding the inner detection area 174a.

If a user touches only the inner detection area 174a, only the inner sensor triggers an actuation signal which is transmitted to the microcontroller of the control device 158 via the signal lines 162, 164.

If both detection areas 174a and 174b are touched by a larger object or by water on the top of the sink, both the inner and the outer sensor each generate an actuation signal which is transmitted to the microcontroller. In this case, the microcontroller ignores the actuation signals since they cannot be attributed to the actuation element 166 being actuated properly.

Likewise, the microcontroller ignores any actuation signal that is only generated by the outer sensor due to touching the outer detection area 174b. If the sink 100 is made of a metallic conductive material, for example of a chromium-nickel steel, then a piezo crystal sensor 168b is preferably used, which is arranged on the underside of the sink 100 and reacts to pressure caused by the (relatively thin) Material of the sink 100 is transferred.

The shifting of lattice planes in the piezo crystal creates an electrical current which is transmitted as an electrical signal via the signal lines 162, 164 to the microcontroller of the control device 158.

In the case of a sink 100 made of relatively thin material, the same bends over a large area in the event of a point pressure, which is why a piezo crystal sensor could possibly also be activated by a point pressure in a region of the sink 100 lying outside the sensor field.

In order to rule out this source of error, it can be provided, as shown in FIG. 10, that the actuating element 166 comprises a movable plate 176, for example made of metal, which is inserted into a correspondingly shaped cutout of the sink 100 and relative to the sink 100 (in is essentially perpendicular to the top of the sink), so that the plate 176 receives a compressive force illustrated by the double arrow 178, but does not transmit it to the sink 100.

Arranged on the underside of the plate 176 is the piezo crystal sensor 168b, which detects a pressure load on the plate 176. Since in this embodiment of the actuating element 166 the plate 176 is decoupled from the rest of the upper side of the sink 100 by the sensor 168b, a false triggering of the sensor 168 due to a pressure load on the sink 100 outside the plate 176 is excluded.

In any case, ie when using a capacitive or a piezo crystal sensor 168, the microcontroller of the control device 158 receives a signal via the signal lines 162, 164 when the sensor 168 responds, depending on which of the microcontrollers controls the servomotor 150.

The response of the microcontroller to the signal coming from sensor 168 depends on the software installed in the microcontroller.

The microcontroller can be set so that the sensitivity of the sensor 168 can be influenced.

In particular, it is possible to set the minimum period of time over which the sensor 168 must respond before actuation of the servomotor 150 is triggered by the microcontroller.

The microcontroller, the electric servomotor 150 and the actuating element 166 are supplied with the required electrical power by means of a power supply unit 180 which can be connected to the public power supply and which is connected to the control device 158 via a power cable 182.

The drive unit 152, the control device 158, the actuating device 165 and the power pack 180 together form a movement device 183 for moving the closure element 120 of the drain valve arrangement 139. In a variant of the movement device, it can also be provided that the microcontroller and the sensor 168 are not housed in different housings, but in a common housing.

The microcontroller of the control device 158 can have a so-called “teach” mode, which can be switched on and off by a switch arranged on the microcontroller, for example.

If the “teach” mode is switched on, the user of the sink 100 can set his own way of actuating the actuating element 166, that is to say the microcontroller “learns” in the “teach” mode whether the user has a short or a long contact time the sensor field preferred to trigger actuation of the movement device.

For this purpose, the user repeats his preferred type of actuation of the actuating element 166 several times in succession when the “teach” mode is switched on, the microcontroller in each case registering the length of the actuation period.

After switching off the "teach" mode, the microcontroller only reacts to actuation of the actuating element 166 if the actuation duration corresponds to the actuation durations "taught" during the "teach" mode.

If the microcontroller of the control device 158 receives an actuation signal from the actuating element 166, which is recognized as a regular actuation signal on the basis of the conditions defined in the control program of the microcontroller, the microcontroller controls on the basis of this Actuation signal a movement of the closure element 120 by means of the electric servomotor 150, in that the circuit containing the power supply lines 154, 156 of the servomotor 150 is closed.

The polarity of the servomotor supply circuit is set by the microcontroller so that after the circuit is closed, the rotary shaft 148 rotates in the direction around the axis of rotation 146 which the closure element 120 has from its current position (for example that in FIGS. 11 and 12 shown closed position) in the other position (for example, the open position shown in FIGS. 13 and 14) moved.

The electric servomotor 150 is set in such a way that it rotates the rotary shaft 148 comparatively slowly, for example at a rotational speed of approximately 5 revolutions per minute. This slow rotation of the rotary shaft 148 is achieved in that a gear with a very low transmission ratio of, for example, 1000: 1 is connected between the servomotor 150 and the rotary shaft 148. The comparatively slow rotation and therefore slow movement of the closure element 120 is generally more pleasant for users of the sink 100 than a quick opening or closing.

The angular distance between the positions of the rotary shaft 148 and the lever 144 in the closed position on the one hand and the open position on the other hand is approximately 40 °, for example.

In the closed position and in the open position of the closure element 120, the lever 144 abuts a lower and upper stop, respectively. When the upper or the lower stop is reached, the electric servomotor 150 draws a higher current by blocking the rotary shaft 148. This increase in current is registered by the microcontroller of the control device 158, whereupon the microcontroller switches off the electric servomotor 150 by opening the supply circuit.

The microcontroller's reaction to the current increase takes place within a very short time, for example within a few milliseconds, which ensures that the electric servomotor 150 is not unnecessarily loaded.

Alternatively or in addition to a shutdown of the servomotor 150 due to a current increase, it can also be provided that the servomotor 150 is switched off by means of limit switches, in particular limit switches, which are actuated when the closed position or the open position is reached.

After opening the circuit, the microcontroller of the control device 158 reverses the polarity of the supply circuit of the servomotor 150, so that the servomotor 150 rotates in the other direction the next time the actuating element 166 is actuated (i.e. after the closing element 120 has been closed, back to the open position and after an opening process of the closure element 120 back to the closed position).

For example, a direct current small geared motor can be used as the electric servomotor, as it is sold under the name 1.61.065.428 by Buhler Motor GmbH in 90212 Nuremberg, Germany. This motor is equipped with a spur gear.

In a variant of the above-described embodiment of a movement device for the closure element 120 of a sink 100 could it can also be provided that the drain opening 108 of the additional basin 106 of the sink 100 is also provided with a closure element which, by means of an additional drive unit, which is also controlled by the control device 158, moves from the closed position to the open position or from the open position to the closed position is movable.

In order to be able to actuate the drive units of the closure elements for the drain opening 110 of the main pool 104 and for the drain opening 108 of the additional pool 106 independently of one another, it can be provided that the actuation device 165 of the movement device 183 comprises two sensors 168, each of which is assigned to one of the closure elements 120 are such that the actuation of one sensor triggers a movement of the closure element 120 for the drain opening 110 of the main basin 104 and the actuation of the other sensor triggers a movement of the closure element for the drain opening 108 of the additional basin 106.

As an alternative to this, it can be provided that only one sensor 168 is provided for actuating the two closure elements 120, a distinction being made by the type of actuation of the sensor 168 which of the closure elements 120 is to be moved (so-called “intelligent control”).

In particular, it could be provided that with a long actuation period of the sensor 168 the one closure element and with a short actuation period the other closure element is moved.

As an alternative to this, provision could also be made for the microcontroller of the control device 158 to recognize which of the closure elements 120 is moving based on the number of actuation actions which follow one another in a short time shall be. It could thus be provided that a single actuation action triggers a movement of the closure element 120 for the drain opening 110 of the main basin 104, while two actuation actions in succession within a predetermined period of time trigger a movement of the closure element for the drain opening 108 of the additional basin 106.

Furthermore, the movement device 183 for the closure element (s) 120 of the sink 100 can be triggered in addition to actuation by means of the actuation element 166 by automatic actuation when a predetermined water level is reached in the respectively assigned basin 104 or 106 of the sink 100.

For this purpose, an additional sensor (not shown) is mounted on the relevant pool 104 or 106 instead of the conventional overflow valve.

This sensor is designed as a capacitive sensor and thus serves as a water detector which, when the capacitance changes due to the rise in the water level, produces an electrical signal which is forwarded to the microcontroller of the control device 158.

If this signal exceeds a predetermined minimum duration and thus indicates that the water in the relevant pool 104 or 106 is permanently at the level of the additional sensor, the microcontroller of the control device 158 controls the electric servomotor 150 of the relevant drive unit 152 in such a way that that the respective closure element 120 is moved into the open position by rotating the rotary shaft 148. In this way, the drain opening of the relevant pool is released so that the water can drain from this pool and overflow of the water is prevented.

A second embodiment of a movement device 183 for the sink 100 shown in FIGS. 15 to 21 differs from the first embodiment described above only in that the drive unit 152 for driving the movement of the closure element 120 comprises an electromagnet 184 instead of an electric servomotor 150 , which has a movable armature (not shown) which, when the electromagnet 184 is switched on, is moved into one of two end positions by means of the microcontroller of the control device 158, depending on the polarity of the supply circuit of the electromagnet 184 set by the microcontroller, a first of which the closed position of the closure element 120 and a second of the open position of the closure element 120 is assigned.

The movable armature of the electromagnet 184 is connected to the rotary shaft 148 by means of a Bowden cable 186, the rotary shaft end of the wire core of the Bowden cable 186 engaging in the circumferential direction on the circumference of the rotary shaft 148, so that a linear movement of the wire core of the Bowden cable 186 causes a rotation of the Rotary shaft 148 around the axis of rotation 146 results.

In this way, the closure element 120 is also moved from the open position to the closed position or from the closed position back to the open position by means of the electromagnet 184 and the Bowden cable 186 in the second embodiment, if the actuating element 166 is more suitable Is actuated in a manner or when an overflow protection sensor arranged on one of the basins 104, 106 responds, as in the first embodiment by means of the servomotor 150.

In this embodiment too, after each movement of the closure element 120, the polarity of the supply circuit of the electromagnet 184 is reversed by the microcontroller of the control device 158 in order to change the direction of movement of the closure element 120 for the next movement thereof.

Otherwise, the second embodiment of a movement device 183 for the closure element 120 of the drain opening 110 of the sink 100 corresponds in terms of structure and function to the first embodiment, to the above description of which reference is made in this regard.

A third embodiment, shown in FIG. 22, of a movement device 183 for the closure element 120 of the drain opening 110 of the basin 104 of the sink 100 differs from the two embodiments described above in that the movement device 183 alternatively or in addition to one operated by a user of the sink Actuating element 166 comprises an overflow sensor 188 which is arranged in the upper region of a side wall 190 of the main basin 104 of the sink 100.

The overflow sensor 188 is designed as a capacitive sensor, which is connected to the control device 158 of the movement device 182 via a signal line (not shown) and sends a sensor signal to the control device 158 when the water level 192 in the basin 104 reaches the detection range of the overflow sensor 188 rises. Alternatively or in addition to this, the overflow sensor 188 can also be designed as a resistance measuring sensor which comprises two electrodes which are inserted in a side wall or in two side walls of the basin at the desired height and which are connected to different electrical potentials, so that a current flows as soon as the water in the pool 104 has risen to the height at which the electrodes are arranged.

The overflow sensor 188 can in particular be designed as an analog sensor, the sensor signal of which varies depending on the level 192 of the water in the basin 104, so that a certain level 192 can be assigned to the amount of the sensor signal.

If the level 192 (and thus the amount of the sensor signal) exceeds a first threshold value, the control device 158 controls the drive unit 152 of the actuating device 165 in such a way that the closure element 120 is moved from the closed position into an open position, in which water from the basin 104 can drain through the drain opening 110.

If, as a result of the water flowing out of the pool 104, the level 192 drops below a second threshold value, which is lower than the first threshold value, the control device 158 controls the drive unit 152 in such a way that the closure element 120 is moved back from the open position into the closed position, in which the closure element 120 closes the drain opening 110 so that no more water flows out of the basin 104.

Because the first and the second threshold value are different from one another, a switching hysteresis is achieved which ensures a stable switching behavior of the the overflow sensor 188, the control device 158 and the drive unit 152 comprising the control circuit.

Alternatively or in addition to this, it can also be provided that a switching hysteresis is generated by the provision of a dead time (by means of a dead time element in the evaluation circuit of the sensor or in the control device 158).

As an alternative to this, it can also be provided that the overflow sensor 188 is designed as a digital sensor which sends a constant-sized sensor signal to the control device 158 as long as the level 192 is in the detection range of the overflow sensor 188.

As soon as such a digital overflow sensor 188 reports to the control device 158 that the level 192 in the pool 104 has risen to the detection range of the overflow sensor 188, the control device 158 controls the drive unit 152 in such a way that the closure element 120 is moved into the open position and during a minimum opening time remains in the open position. If the overflow sensor δδ still reports after the minimum opening time that there is water in its detection area, the closing element 120 remains in the open position for a further predetermined period of time, after the expiration of which the signal from the overflow sensor 188 is again queried. If the overflow sensor 188 no longer reports the presence of water in its detection area after the predetermined minimum opening time or after a further predetermined period of time, the control device 158 controls the drive unit 152 so that the closure element 120 is moved back into the closed position. A stable switching behavior of the movement device 183 is also achieved in this way.

The control of the drive unit 152 by the control device 158 can take place in both cases, ie when using an analog or a digital overflow sensor 188, with or without a time delay.

If a sink 100 has several basins, for example an additional basin 106 next to the main basin 104, each of these basins can be provided with an overflow sensor 188 which, when a threshold value for the level 192 in the basin in question is exceeded, causes a movement of the closure element 120 of the relevant basin Beckens triggers in an open position.

With the help of the overflow sensor 188, overflow of the water from the basin of the sink 100, which is monitored with the aid of the relevant overflow sensor 188, is reliably prevented. In the basin monitored with the aid of an overflow sensor 188, the otherwise conventional overflow opening can therefore be omitted.

A fourth embodiment of the movement device 183 shown in FIG. 23 differs from the third embodiment described above in that two overflow sensors 188 and 194 are arranged at different heights on one of the side walls 190 of the basin 104 on a monitored basin 104 of the sink 100. Alternatively, the two overflow sensors 188, 194 could also be arranged on different side walls of the basin 104. The two overflow sensors 188, 194 can each be an analog or a digital sensor.

If the lower overflow sensor 194 reports to the control device that the level 192 has risen to its detection range, the control device 158 controls the drive unit 152 in such a way that the closure element 120 is moved into a first open position, in which the drain opening 110 is partially for the Outflow of water from the pool 104 is released.

If the level 192 still rises further, so that the upper overflow sensor 188 reports that the level 192 has reached its detection range, the control device 158 controls the drive unit 152 in such a way that the closure element 120 is moved into a second open position, in which the Drain opening 110 is completely released for the drainage of water from the pool 104.

If the level 192 has then dropped so far that none of the overflow sensors 188, 194 no longer reports the presence of water in its detection area, the control device 158 controls the drive unit 152 in such a way that the closure element 120 is moved back into the closed position.

This embodiment offers the advantage that the level 192 in the basin 104 can be regulated more precisely and the basin volume can be better utilized.

Furthermore, moving the closure element 120 into the first open position serves as a warning for the user of the sink, which alerts the user to the excessive rise in the water level 192.

Such fine adjustment of the level 192 can also be realized with a single analog overflow sensor 188, if the control device 158, depending on the sensor signal, moves the closure element 120 into the first open position when a first threshold value is reached and when a second threshold value above the first threshold value is reached triggers a movement of the closure element 120 into the second open position.

A fifth embodiment of the movement device 183 shown in FIG. 24 differs from the third embodiment shown in FIG. 22 in that, in addition to the first overflow sensor 188, a second overflow sensor 196 is provided on the monitored pool 104, which is at the same height as the first Overflow sensor 188 is arranged on a further side wall 198 of the basin 104 opposite the side wall 190.

In this embodiment, the closure element 120 is only moved into the open position when both the overflow sensor 188 and the overflow sensor 196 report the presence of water in their respective detection areas. The sensor signals of both overflow sensors 188, 196 are logically AND-linked by the control device 158.

In this way it is prevented that a single overflow sensor 188 or 196 causes an unnecessary opening of the drain opening 110 by a sensor signal which has been triggered by water splashes and / or briefly splashing up water. Similarly, in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 23, for each of the two overflow sensors 188, 194, a further overflow sensor arranged at the same height on another side wall of the basin 104 could be provided, with the sensor signal of one of the overflow sensors 188 or 194 is only taken into account by the control device 158 if it is confirmed by the second sensor assigned to the respective overflow sensor 188 or 194.

A sixth embodiment of the movement device 183 shown in FIG. 25 differs from the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in that the movement device 183 additionally comprises a signal transmitter 200 which informs a user of the sink by means of a signal which can be perceived by the same that this Closure element 120 is moved by means of the drive unit 152.

The signal generator 200 can be an optical signal generator which (for example by means of an LED) generates a light signal. In order to protect the signal transmitter 200 from splash water, it is preferably provided that the signal transmitter 200 is arranged on the underside of the sink 100. In the case of an optical signal transmitter 200, the region of the sink 100 above the signal transmitter 200 is then preferably made with a sufficiently small material thickness to allow light from the signal transmitter 200 to pass through the sink 100.

As an alternative or in addition to this, the signal generator 200 can also be designed as an acoustic signal generator. The signal generator 200 is preferably designed such that it can generate different signals depending on the respective operating state of the movement device 183.

For example, it can be provided that an acoustic signal generator 200 generates the following signals depending on the respective operating state of the movement device 183:

- quiet beep while the closure element is moved into the open position or the closed position due to an actuation of the actuating device 165 by the user of the sink 100;

- loud beep as a warning for the user when the level 192 in the pool 104 has reached a lower threshold value;

- loud double beep when the level 192 in the pool 104 has reached an upper threshold value and / or when the closure element 120 is actuated automatically by the drive unit 152, that is to say without the actuation device 165 being operated by the user, on the basis of a message from one of the overflow sensors 188, 196 is moved into the open position or in the closed position.

In the case of an optical signal transmitter 200, it is preferably arranged in the vicinity of the actuating element 166 of the actuating device 165 on the sink 100, because this area of the sink requires special attention from the user.

Claims

claims

1. Movement device for moving a closure element (120) for closing a drain opening, in particular a drain opening of a sink (100) or a washstand, characterized in that the movement device comprises an electrically operated drive element (152).

2. Movement device according to claim 1, characterized in that the movement device (183) comprises an electric motor (150).

3. Movement device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the movement device (183) comprises an electrically operated servomotor (150).

4. Movement device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the movement device (183) comprises an electromagnet (184).

5. Movement device according to claim 4, characterized in that the movement device (183) comprises a coupling device by means of which a linear movement of an element of the electromagnet (184) can be converted into a rotary movement.

6. Movement device according to claim 5, characterized in that the coupling device comprises a Bowden cable (186).

7. Movement device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the movement device (183) comprises a control device (158) for controlling the drive element (152).

8. Movement device according to claim 7, characterized in that the control device (158) comprises a programmable control device, in particular a microcontroller.

9. Movement device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the movement device (183) comprises at least one actuating element (166) for triggering a movement of the closure element (120).

10. Movement device according to claim 9, characterized in that the actuating element (183) comprises a switch, in particular a button.

11. Movement device according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the actuating element (166) comprises a capacitive sensor (168a).

12. Movement device according to claim 11, characterized in that the actuating element (166) comprises a, preferably visible, cover for the sensor (168a).

13. Movement device according to claim 12, characterized in that the cover is formed from a dielectric material.

14. Movement device according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the actuating element (166) comprises a pressure-sensitive sensor (168b).

15. Movement device according to claim 14, characterized in that the actuating element (166) comprises a piezoelectric sensor (168b).

16. Movement device according to one of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the actuating element (166) comprises a cover (176) movable relative to a sink (100) or relative to a washstand.

17. Movement device according to one of claims 9 to 16, characterized in that the actuating element (166) comprises at least two sensors (168) which have mutually different detection areas (174a, 174b), movement of the closure element (120) then being triggered , if one of the sensors responds and the other sensor does not respond.

18. Movement device according to one of claims 9 to 17, characterized in that the actuating element (166) comprises at least one sensor (168) with adjustable sensitivity.

19. Movement device according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the movement device (183) comprises a sensor (168) arranged in a housing (160).

20. Movement device according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the movement device (183) comprises a plurality of drive elements for moving a respective closure element (120) of a drain opening (108, HO).

21. Movement device according to claim 20, characterized in that the movement device comprises a plurality of actuating elements (166), with each actuating element (166) in each case being able to trigger the movement of a closure element (120) associated with this actuating element.

22. Movement device according to one of claims 20 or 21, characterized in that the movement device has at least one actuating element (166) with which the movement of one of at least two closure elements (120) can be triggered selectively.

23. Movement device according to claim 22, characterized in that the actuating element (166) can be actuated in at least two mutually different types of actuation, each actuation type triggering in each case a movement of a closure element (120) assigned to the relevant actuation type.

24. Movement device according to claim 23, characterized in that at least two of the types of actuation of the actuating element (166) differ with regard to the duration of the influence of a user on the actuating element (166).

25. Movement device according to one of claims 23 or 24, characterized in that at least two of the types of actuation differ from one another in terms of the number of successive actions of a user on the actuating element (166) within a predetermined time interval.

26. Movement device according to one of claims 1 to 25, characterized in that the movement device (183) comprises at least one overflow sensor (188) which, when a predetermined level is reached in a basin (104, 106) of a sink (100) or one Washstand triggers a movement of the closure element (120) assigned to the relevant basin.

27. Movement device according to claim 26, characterized in that the drive element (152) is controlled so that it moves the closure element (120) into an open position when the level (192) in the basin (104) exceeds a first threshold value, and that it moves the closure element (120) into a closed position when the level (192) in the basin (104) falls below a second threshold value, the second threshold value being lower than the first threshold value.

28. Movement device according to claim 27, characterized in that the overflow sensor (188) generates a signal from which it can be seen whether the level (192) in the basin (104) is above the first threshold value or below the second threshold value.

29. Movement device according to one of claims 27 or 28, characterized in that at least two overflow sensors (188, 194) are arranged on the basin (104), a first overflow sensor (188) generating a signal from which it can be seen whether the Level (192) is above the first threshold, and a second overflow sensor (194) generates a signal from which it can be seen whether the level (192) is below the second threshold.

30. Movement device according to one of claims 26 to 29, characterized in that the drive element (152) is controlled so that it moves the closure element (120) into a first open position when the level (192) in the basin (104) one exceeds the first threshold, and that it moves the closure element (120) into a second open position when the level (192) in the basin (104) exceeds a second threshold, the second threshold being above the first threshold and in the second open position the Drain opening (110) is wider than in the first open position.

31. Movement device according to claim 30, characterized in that the overflow sensor (188) generates a signal from which it can be seen whether the level (192) in the basin (104) is above the first threshold or above the second threshold.

32. Movement device according to one of claims 30 or 31, characterized in that at least two overflow sensors (188, 194) are arranged on the basin (104), a first overflow sensor (194) generating a signal from which it can be seen whether the Level (192) is above the first threshold, and a second Uberiaufsensor (188) generates a signal from which it can be seen whether the level (192) is above the second threshold.

33. Movement device according to one of claims 26 to 32, characterized in that the drive element (152) is controlled so that it moves the closure element (120) into an open position and for a predetermined minimum opening time in the open position when the level (192 ) in the pool (104) exceeds a threshold.

34. Movement device according to claim 33, characterized in that the drive element (152) is controlled so that it moves the closure element (120) after the minimum opening time in a closed position when the level (192) in the basin (104) after expiration the minimum opening time falls below the threshold.

35. Movement device according to one of claims 26 to 34, characterized in that at least two overflow sensors (188, 196) are arranged on the basin (104), movement of the closure element (120) being triggered only by the drive element (152) , if at least two of these overflow sensors (188, 196) indicate an elevated water level (192) in the basin (104).

36. Movement device according to claim 35, characterized in that the at least two overflow sensors (188, 196) are arranged on mutually different side walls (190, 198) of the basin (104).

37. Movement device according to one of claims 1 to 36, characterized in that the movement device (183) comprises a signal device with a signal generator (200) which generates a signal perceptible by a user when the closure element (120) by means of the drive element (152 ) is moved.

38. Movement device according to claim 37, characterized in that the signal device generates a signal perceptible by a user when the closure element (120) is moved as a result of a signal from an overflow sensor (188).

39. Movement device according to one of claims 37 or 38, characterized in that the signal device comprises an optical signal transmitter.

40. Movement device according to one of claims 37 to 39, characterized in that the signal device comprises an acoustic signal generator.

41. Movement device according to one of claims 37 to 40, characterized in that the signal transmitter (200) is arranged on the underside of a sink (100) or a washstand.

42. Movement device according to one of claims 37 to 41, characterized in that the signal transmitter (200) generates at least two, preferably at least three, different signals which are assigned to different operating states of the movement device (183).

43. Movement device according to one of claims 1 to 42, characterized in that the movement device comprises at least one actuating element (166) for triggering a movement of the closure element (120) and a control device (158) connected to the actuating element (166), which in one "Teach" mode can be switched, in which a preferred type of actuation of the actuating element (166) can be set by a user.

44. sink or washstand, comprising at least one drain opening (108, 110) and a closure element (120) for closing the at least one drain opening (108, 110), characterized in that the sink (100) or the washstand is a movement device according to a of claims 1 to 43.