Furniture drive for moving a front part of furniture

Abstract

The invention relates to a furniture drive for moving a furniture front relative to a furniture body, comprising a base body and an actuating arm, which is rotatably mounted on the base body about a first rotation axis, the actuating arm having a plurality of bars, the actuating arm having a fixing interface, by means of which the furniture front can be fixed to the actuating arm, the actuating arm being movable about the first rotation axis between a first and a second rotation position, the first rotation position corresponding to a closed position of the furniture front and being able to correspond to a rotation angle alpha of 0°, the second rotation position corresponding to a maximum open position of the furniture front and being able to correspond to a rotation angle alpha greater than 0°, the fixing interface plane and the furniture front undergoing different front angles beta during the rotational movement of the actuating arm, each rotation angle alpha being able to correspond to a front angle beta=f(alpha) by means of a function f, starting from a front angle beta of 0°, which can correspond to a rotation angle alpha of 0° of the actuating arm, the bars of the actuating arm being arranged relative to one another such that the slope f'(alpha) of the function f is greater than 0.2 at least over a rotation angle range of the actuating arm between 0° and 25°.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a furniture drive mechanism for moving the front portion of a piece of furniture relative to the main body of the furniture. The invention also relates to a piece of furniture comprising a main body, a front portion, and at least one such furniture drive mechanism. Finally, the invention relates to a method for moving the front portion of a piece of furniture relative to the main body of such furniture. Background Technology

[0002] Figure 1a Figure b shows a side view of a furniture drive device 101 according to the prior art. The furniture drive device 101 includes a base 104 that can be fixed to a furniture body and includes an actuating arm 105 rotatably supported on the base 104 about a first rotation axis 106 and a second rotation axis 105. The actuating arm 105 has a plurality of hinged rods 107, 108, and 109, which are connected to each other via a pivot point 144 and a pivot point 143. Rods 107, 108, and 109 constitute two effective lever arms 145 and 146, which extend on one hand between pivot points 115 and 143 and on the other hand between pivot points 106 and 144. Figure 1b An abstract schematic diagram of lever arms 145 and 146 is shown.

[0003] The disadvantage of the existing furniture drive mechanism is that, when used in conjunction with another furniture drive mechanism within the furniture body to move the front of the furniture relative to the furniture body, the furniture drive mechanism must be coupled to the other furniture drive mechanism via a synchronizing rod to synchronize the rotational movements of the actuating arms and thus stabilize the system comprising the two furniture drive mechanisms and the front of the furniture. Without the synchronizing rod, the system would be unstable, especially at the start of the opening movement of the front of the furniture.

[0004] However, the synchronizing rod also has problems because it occupies a portion of the internal space, which is actually used as loading space for the items to be loaded. Furthermore, the synchronizing rod is not aesthetically pleasing. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The objective of this invention is to provide an improved furniture drive mechanism relative to the prior art, a piece of furniture having such an improved furniture drive mechanism, and a method for moving the front of the furniture relative to the main body of such furniture, wherein the aforementioned disadvantages are eliminated, in particular the use of a synchronizing rod is abandoned, and a stable system comprising two furniture drive mechanisms and the front of the furniture is still achieved.

[0006] The task is solved through the features described below.

[0007] Therefore, the furniture drive device according to the present invention for moving the front part of furniture relative to the main body of furniture includes a base that can be fixed to the main body of furniture and includes an actuating arm that is rotatably supported on the base about at least one first rotation axis. The actuating arm has a plurality of rods that are hinged to each other. The actuating arm has a fixing interface disposed in an imaginary fixing interface plane. The front part of furniture can be fixed to the actuating arm through the fixing interface. The actuating arm can move continuously between a first rotation position and a second rotation position about the at least one first rotation axis. The first rotation position corresponds to a closed position of the front part of furniture that can be fixed to the actuating arm and corresponds to a rotation angle α of 0°. The second rotation position corresponds to a closed position of the front part of furniture that can be fixed to the actuating arm. The largest open position of the front part corresponds to the second rotation position, which can correspond to a rotation angle α greater than 0°. During the rotational movement of the actuating arm, the fixed interface plane and therefore the front part of the furniture that can be fixed to the actuating arm experiences different front angles β, and each rotation angle α of the actuating arm can correspond to a front angle β=f(α) of the fixed interface plane through a function f. Starting from a front angle β of 0°, the 0° front angle can correspond to a 0° rotation angle α of the actuating arm. In the furniture drive device according to the invention, the rods of the actuating arms are configured relative to each other such that the slope f'(α) of the function f is greater than 0.2 at least in the rotation angle range of the actuating arm between 0° and 25°, preferably in the entire rotation angle range of the actuating arm, and preferably greater than 0.3.

[0008] This invention is based on the knowledge that, starting from a limit value of the slope f'(α) of the function f, a furniture drive device can be realized that has sufficiently high stability, particularly at the start of the opening movement, such that an additional synchronization device can be omitted in a configuration system comprising two furniture drives used to move the front of the furniture relative to the main body. Below this limit value, there are unstable configuration systems (as known from the prior art), and above this limit value, there are stable configuration systems.

[0009] The accompanying drawings are used in the explanation of the drawings. Figure 6a b will further explain the facts stated therein.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, the lever of the actuating arm constitutes a four-rotation-point geometry, wherein one of the four rotation points of the four-rotation-point geometry corresponds to the at least one first rotation axis of the actuating arm. The four rotation points of the four-rotation-point geometry of the lever of the actuating arm are arranged relative to each other such that the slope f'(α) of the function f is greater than 0.2 at least over the rotation angle range of the actuating arm between 0° and 25°, preferably over the entire rotation angle range of the actuating arm, and preferably greater than 0.3. Furniture drive devices having such a four-rotation-point geometry are particularly suitable for realizing an upward swinging motion of the front part of the furniture relative to the furniture body about at least one horizontal axis.

[0011] Alternatively or supplementally, it has proven advantageous that the actuating arm is rotatably supported on a base about at least one second rotation axis, the base of the furniture drive device having an end face opening through which the actuating arm extends at least partially in its maximum open position, the second rotation axis having a smaller normal distance from the end face opening than the first rotation axis, and / or the base of the furniture drive device having an upper side facing the top plate of the furniture body when the furniture drive device is fixed to the furniture body, the second rotation axis having a smaller normal distance from the upper side than the first rotation axis. In contrast, according to Figure 1a The second rotating shaft 115 of the furniture drive device 101, as known in the prior art, has a greater distance from the normal of the end face opening.

[0012] It has also proven advantageous, in relation to the four-rotation-point geometry of the actuator arm's lever, that the second rotation axis corresponds to one of the rotation points of the four-rotation-point geometry.

[0013] Another advantageous embodiment is characterized in that the actuating arm comprises at least three rods connected to each other in a hinged manner, and / or includes at least one curved rod, preferably with two parts of the curved rod forming an angle of substantially 90° with respect to each other, and / or at least two of the rods of the actuating arm are nested relative to each other in at least one rotational position of the actuating arm, preferably in each rotational position, such that the two rods are configured to be substantially without gaps in a side view, and / or at least one rod is configured to have a U-shaped cross-section and another rod is at least partially disposed or can be disposed between the vertical arms of the U-shape. The nested arrangement and / or partial arrangement within the U-shape particularly enable the actuating arm to be configured symmetrical with respect to an imaginary intermediate plane, thereby allowing the use of a single actuating arm and therefore the entire furniture drive mechanism, regardless of which side wall and / or body of the furniture drive mechanism is fixed to.

[0014] A technically simple and stable lever configuration system can be achieved by the following method: the actuating arm has at least one first lever and one second lever, the actuating arm is rotatably connected to the base via the first and second levers, and the actuating arm has at least one third lever on which the fixed interface is formed, the first and second levers being hinged to the third lever.

[0015] The assembly of the front of the furniture onto the furniture body can be significantly simplified by the following: at least one, preferably at least two, of the rods of the actuation arm can be detachably connected to the base of the furniture drive device.

[0016] It has proven advantageous that the furniture drive device has at least one force memory preferably supported on a base, preferably having at least one spring element, through which a force can be applied to the actuating arm to compensate for the weight of the front of the furniture that can be fixed to the actuating arm.

[0017] In this regard, it is suitable to have a transmission mechanism that can transmit the force stored in the at least one force memory to the actuating arm. Preferably, the transmission mechanism includes at least one intermediate rod, and the at least one force memory is connected to the at least one intermediate rod via a preferably adjustable force hinge point. And / or the transmission mechanism includes at least one pressure member and at least one actuation profile, the at least one pressure member being movably supported on the actuation profile. Preferably, the at least one pressure member is disposed on at least one intermediate rod of the transmission mechanism and the at least one actuation profile is disposed on the actuating arm, or vice versa.

[0018] As mentioned at the beginning, protection is also claimed for a type of furniture comprising a furniture body, a furniture front portion, and at least one furniture drive device according to the invention, wherein the base of the at least one furniture drive device is fixed to the furniture body, preferably fixed in and / or on the side wall of the furniture body, and the furniture front portion is fixed to the actuator arm of the at least one furniture drive device via a fixing interface.

[0019] The advantages of the furniture drive device according to the invention come into play, especially when the furniture includes at least one other furniture drive device connected to the furniture body and the front of the furniture, wherein the two furniture drive devices are connected to each other only via the front of the furniture and the furniture body, thus eliminating the need for a synchronization device separate from the front of the furniture, such as a synchronization rod known in the prior art.

[0020] An advantageous embodiment of the furniture is characterized in that, when the front of the furniture moves between a closed position and a maximum open position, the instantaneous center of the rod configuration system of the front of the furniture or the rod of the actuating arm can move in space relative to the furniture body along an imaginary curve, the furniture body having a top plate, and the distance between the endpoint of the curve of the instantaneous center corresponding to the closed position and the upper side of the top plate is less than 500 mm, preferably less than 250 mm, and / or the furniture body has an end side facing the front of the furniture in the closed position, and the distance between the endpoint of the curve of the instantaneous center corresponding to the closed position and the imaginary upward extension of the end side beyond the furniture body is less than 75 mm, preferably less than 50 mm.

[0021] When a rigid object moves in a plane, the instantaneous center is the point in space around which the object can be considered to rotate at that moment. When a rigid object moves in a plane with both translational and rotational motions, these motions are combined into a pure rotational motion around an instantaneous point of rotation, which is called the instantaneous center.

[0022] During the movement of the front of the furniture, the instantaneous center continues to change at each detected position. If these positions are determined, a trajectory is obtained relative to a spatially fixed reference frame, and in the current case, relative to the fixed position of the furniture body, on which the instantaneous center travels. The instantaneous center of the front of the furniture can be determined for each arbitrary point on the front of the furniture, or for a point on another component connected to the front of the furniture.

[0023] In a four-rotation-point geometry, the instantaneous center can be determined as the intersection of two effective lever arms in relation to the lever configuration system of the actuator arm.

[0024] It has now been proven that a particularly stable system can be obtained if the instantaneous center is set as close as possible, especially at the start of the opening movement, to the fixed rotation point of the furniture drive mechanism. The smaller the distance between the mentioned endpoints of the curve of the instantaneous center, the more rigid and stable the configuration system achievable using the furniture drive mechanism will be. The accompanying drawings will also be used in the illustration. Figure 10a b provides a more detailed explanation of the facts stated therein.

[0025] Preferably, the furniture body includes a flange strip, and the front part of the furniture can move unimpeded around the flange strip when moving between the closed position and the maximum open position, and the upper edge of the front part of the furniture facing the flange strip in the closed position does not collide with the flange strip. Preferably, the furniture body has a top plate and the distance between the upper side of the flange strip and the upper side of the top plate is between 75mm and 100mm, and / or the furniture body has an end side facing the front part of the furniture in the closed position and the distance between the front side of the flange strip and the imaginary upward extension of the end side beyond the furniture body is between 40mm and 75mm.

[0026] It is preferable that the furniture body has an end side facing the front of the furniture in the closed position, wherein the front of the furniture has a front angle β of 0° relative to the end side in the closed position, and preferably the front of the furniture has a front angle β of between 60° and 80° relative to the end side in the fully open position.

[0027] Regardless of the limiting value of the slope f'(α) of the function f defined in this invention, a furniture, unknown from the prior art, includes a furniture body, a furniture front, and at least one furniture drive device for moving the furniture front relative to the furniture body. This furniture drive device includes a base that can be fixed to the furniture body and includes an actuating arm rotatably supported on the base about at least one first rotation axis. The actuating arm has a plurality of rods articulated together, and has a fixing interface disposed in an imaginary fixing interface plane. The furniture front can be fixed to the actuating arm via the fixing interface. The actuating arm can be positioned in a first rotational position relative to the at least one first rotation axis. The movement is continuous between two rotational positions. The first rotational position corresponds to the closed position of the front part of the furniture that can be fixed to the actuating arm and corresponds to a rotation angle α of 0°. The second rotational position corresponds to the maximum open position of the front part of the furniture that can be fixed to the actuating arm and corresponds to a rotation angle α greater than 0°. During the rotational movement of the actuating arm, the fixed interface plane and therefore the front part of the furniture that can be fixed to the actuating arm experiences different front angles β. Each rotation angle α of the actuating arm corresponds to a front angle β = f(α) of the fixed interface plane through a function f. Starting from a front angle β of 0°, this 0° front angle corresponds to a 0° rotation angle of the actuating arm. Corresponding to angle α, the base of the at least one furniture drive device is preferably fixed in and / or on the side wall of the furniture body, wherein, when the front of the furniture moves between a closed position and a maximum open position, the instantaneous center of the rod configuration system of the front of the furniture or the rod of the actuating arm can move in space relative to the furniture body along an imaginary curve, the furniture body having a top plate, and the distance between the endpoint of the curve of the instantaneous center corresponding to the closed position and the upper side of the top plate is less than 500 mm, preferably less than 250 mm, and / or the furniture body having an end side facing the front of the furniture in the closed position, and the imaginary upward distance between the endpoint of the curve of the instantaneous center corresponding to the closed position and the end side is... The distance from the extension of the main body of the furniture is less than 75mm, preferably less than 50mm, and the main body of the furniture includes a flange strip and the front part of the furniture can move unimpeded around the flange strip when moving between the closed position and the maximum open position, and the upper edge of the front part of the furniture does not collide with the flange strip in the closed position. Preferably, the main body of the furniture has a top plate and the distance between the upper side of the flange strip and the upper side of the top plate is between 75mm and 100mm, and / or the main body of the furniture has an end side facing the front part of the furniture in the closed position and the imaginary upward distance between the front side of the flange strip and the end side extending beyond the extension of the main body is between 40mm and 75mm.

[0028] According to an advantageous embodiment, the furniture has at least one other furniture drive device connected to the furniture body and the front of the furniture, the two furniture drive devices being connected to each other only via the front of the furniture and the furniture body.

[0029] Finally, protection is claimed for a method of moving the front part of the furniture according to the invention relative to the furniture body, wherein the front part of the furniture moves from a closed position toward a maximum open position and vice versa, preferably the furniture body includes a flange and the front part of the furniture moves unimpeded around the flange when moving between the closed position and the maximum open position, and the front part of the furniture does not collide with the upper edge of the flange in the closed position toward the flange. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, provides a more detailed explanation of further details and advantages of the invention. In the drawings:

[0031] Figure 1a Figure b shows a side view of a furniture drive mechanism according to the prior art, wherein sub-figure b shows an abstract schematic diagram of a lever arm.

[0032] Figure 2a Figure b shows an embodiment of the furniture drive device according to the invention in a side view, wherein sub-figure b shows an abstract schematic diagram of the lever arm.

[0033] Figure 3 An embodiment of furniture having a furniture drive mechanism according to the invention is shown in a schematic cross-sectional view from the side.

[0034] Figure 4 An embodiment of the furniture drive device according to the invention with the housing open is shown.

[0035] Figure 5a -e illustrates an embodiment of the furniture drive device according to the present invention, wherein the actuating arm is disposed in different rotational positions relative to the base, between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, the first rotational position corresponding to a closed position of the front of the furniture that can be fixed to the actuating arm (sub-figure a), and the second rotational position corresponding to the largest open position of the front of the furniture that can be fixed to the actuating arm (sub-figure e).

[0036] Figure 6a Figures 1 and 2b show graphs that illustrate the relationship between the front angle β (sub-figure a) and the slope f'(α) (sub-figure b) with respect to the turning angle α, and more specifically, the curves (dotted lines) of a furniture drive or furniture according to the prior art and the curves (solid lines) of a furniture drive or furniture according to the invention, for comparison with the curves (dashed lines) of a furniture fitting with single-turn kinematics.

[0037] Figure 7 The diagram shows a comparison of the positions of the front of a piece of furniture relative to the main body (solid line) according to the prior art and the positions of the front of a piece of furniture relative to the main body (dashed line) according to the present invention, illustrated by superimposed side views.

[0038] Figure 8a -f shows a sequence of abstract schematic diagrams of a lever arm of a furniture drive device according to the prior art, wherein sub-figure a corresponds to a first rotational position of the actuating arm and sub-figure f corresponds to a second rotational position of the actuating arm.

[0039] Figure 9a -f shows a sequence of abstract schematic diagrams of the lever arm of the furniture drive device according to the present invention, wherein sub-figure a corresponds to a first rotational position of the actuating arm and sub-figure f corresponds to a second rotational position of the actuating arm.

[0040] Figure 10a A schematic cross-sectional view from the side shows the orientation of the furniture according to the prior art, along with the instantaneous center, wherein the wraparound of the flange strip is shown in an enlarged partial view, and

[0041] Figure 10b The furniture according to the invention, along with the orientation of the instantaneous center, is shown in a schematic cross-sectional view from the side, wherein the wraparound of the flange strip is shown in an enlarged partial view. Detailed Implementation

[0042] The furniture drive device 101 according to the prior art has already been shown at the beginning. Figure 1a It has been described with b.

[0043] In comparison, Figure 2a Figures b and c illustrate an embodiment of a furniture drive device 1 according to the invention for moving the front part 2 of the furniture relative to the body 3 of the furniture (see also the following). Figure 3 The furniture drive device includes a base 4 that can be fixed to the furniture body 3 and includes an actuating arm 5 that is rotatably supported on the base 4 about at least one first rotation axis 6.

[0044] The actuator arm 5 has multiple rods 7, 8, and 9 that are connected to each other in a hinged manner.

[0045] The actuating arm 5 has a fixing interface 11 disposed in a hypothetical fixing interface plane 10, through which the front part of the furniture 2 can be fixed to the actuating arm 5. The fixing interface plane 10 is indicated by a dashed line.

[0046] The actuating arm 5 is capable of continuous movement between a first rotational position and a second rotational position about at least one first rotational axis 6. The first rotational position corresponds to a closed position of the furniture front portion 2 that can be fixed to the actuating arm 5 and corresponds to a rotation angle α of 0°. The second rotational position corresponds to the maximum open position of the furniture front portion 2 that can be fixed to the actuating arm 5 and corresponds to a rotation angle α greater than 0°. For example, the edge of the rod 7, marked with a dashed line on the left side of the figure, can be considered as a reference for measuring the rotation angle α. However, the rotation angle α can also be determined about another rotational axis and / or about another reference. The rotation angle α is exemplarily... Figure 5a It is displayed in the middle.

[0047] As the actuator arm 5 rotates, the fixed interface plane 10, and therefore the furniture front part 2 that can be fixed to the actuator arm 5, experiences different front angles β. These front angles β exemplarily vary in… Figure 5a It is displayed in the middle.

[0048] Each rotation angle α of the actuator arm 5 can correspond to a front angle β=f(α) of the fixed interface plane 10 through the function f. Starting from the front angle β of 0°, the 0° front angle can correspond to the 0° rotation angle α of the actuator arm 5.

[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, the rods 7, 8, and 9 of the actuator arm 5 constitute a four-rotation-point geometry, wherein one of the four rotation points of the four rotation points corresponds to at least one first rotation axis 6 of the actuator arm 5.

[0050] An actuating arm 5 is rotatably supported on a base 4 about at least one second rotation axis 15, wherein the base 4 of the furniture drive device 1 has an end face opening 16, the actuating arm 5 extends at least partially through the end face opening in at least the maximum open position, the second rotation axis 15 has a smaller normal distance 17 from the end face opening 16 than the first rotation axis 6, and the base 4 of the furniture drive device 1 has an upper side 18, which faces the top plate 19 of the furniture body 3 when the furniture drive device 1 is fixed to the furniture body 3, the second rotation axis 15 has a smaller normal distance 20 from the upper side 18 than the second rotation axis 6.

[0051] The second rotation axis 15 corresponds to one rotation point of the four rotation point geometry of the actuator arm 5's rods 7, 8, and 9.

[0052] According to Figure 1a Compared with the furniture drive device 101 known from the prior art, the distance between the two rotating shafts 6 and 15 of the furniture drive device 1 is significantly smaller than the distance between the two rotating shafts 106 and 115 of the furniture drive device 1.

[0053] The actuating arm 5 includes three rods 7, 8, and 9 that are hinged to each other and includes a curved rod 9, wherein two parts 21 and 22 of the curved rod 9 form an angle 23 of approximately 90° with respect to each other.

[0054] Two of the rods 7, 8, and 9 of the actuating arm 5, namely rods 7 and 8, are nested relative to each other in at least one rotational position of the actuating arm 5, such that the two rods 7 and 8 are configured to be substantially without gap in a side view. Rod 7 is configured to have a U-shaped cross-section, and the other rod 8 is at least partially provided or can be provided between the vertical arms of the U-shape.

[0055] The actuating arm 5 has a first rod 7 and a second rod 8, which are rotatably connected to the base 4. The actuating arm also has a third rod 9, on which the fixing interface 11 is formed. The first rod 7 and the second rod 8 are hinged to the third rod 9. A rotation point 43 connecting rods 7 and 9 and a rotation point 44 connecting rods 8 and 8 are provided for this purpose.

[0056] The two rods 7 and 8 of the actuator arm 5 can be detachably connected to the base 4 of the furniture drive device 1.

[0057] exist Figure 2b The image also shows the positions of two effective lever arms 45 and 46 relative to the base 4 in the first rotational position, i.e., the closed position, of the actuator arm 5.

[0058] Figure 3 An embodiment of furniture 31 with a furniture drive device 1 is shown. The furniture 31 includes a furniture body 3, a furniture front portion 2, and at least one furniture drive device 1, wherein the base 4 of the at least one furniture drive device 1 is fixed to the furniture body 3, preferably fixed in and / or on the side wall 32 of the furniture body 3, and the furniture front portion 2 is fixed to the actuating arm 5 of the at least one furniture drive device 1 via the fixing interface 11.

[0059] The furniture 31 may also include at least one other furniture drive device 1 connected to the furniture body 3 and the furniture front 2, the two furniture drive devices 1 being connected to each other only through the furniture front 2 and the furniture body 3.

[0060] The furniture body 3 has an end side 37 facing the front part 2 of the furniture in the closed position. The front part 2 of the furniture has a front angle β of 0° relative to the end side 37 in the closed position, and a front angle β of between 60° and 80° relative to the end side 37 in the maximum open position. The maximum open position is... Figure 3 As shown in the image.

[0061] In addition to the top panel 19, the furniture 31 may also include a partition 47 and / or a flange strip 39.

[0062] Figure 4 An embodiment of the furniture drive device 1 is shown with the housing open, so that the internal structure of the furniture drive device 1 can be seen.

[0063] The furniture drive device 1 may have at least one force storage device 24 preferably supported on the base 4. Preferably, the force storage device has at least one spring element 25. The force storage device can apply a force to the actuating arm 5 to compensate for the weight of the furniture front part 2 that can be fixed on the actuating arm 5.

[0064] As shown, a transmission mechanism 26 may be provided, which can transmit forces stored in the at least one force memory 24 to the actuator arm 5 via the transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism 26 includes at least one intermediate rod 27, and the at least one force memory 24 is connected to the at least one intermediate rod 27 via an adjustable force hinge point 28.

[0065] The transmission mechanism 26 includes a pressure member 29 and at least one actuation profile 30. The at least one pressure member 29 is movably supported on the actuation profile. The at least one pressure member 29 is disposed on at least one intermediate rod 27 of the transmission mechanism 26 and the at least one actuation profile 30 is disposed on the actuation arm 5, or vice versa.

[0066] The furniture drive device 1 may also include a buffer 48, which can buffer the movement of the actuator arm 5 in the opening and / or closing directions.

[0067] Figure 5a -e illustrates an embodiment of the furniture drive device 1, wherein the actuating arm 5 is positioned in different rotational positions relative to the base 4. Between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, the first rotational position corresponds to a closed position of the furniture front portion 2 that can be fixed to the actuating arm 5 (sub-figure a), and the second rotational position corresponds to the largest open position of the furniture front portion 2 that can be fixed to the actuating arm 5 (sub-figure e). Figure 5b , 5c And 5d indicates the intermediate rotation position.

[0068] If we describe the front angle β as a function of the rotation angle α, then we obtain... Figure 6a The curve shown is a solid line. In contrast, the curve (dotted line) of the front angle β of the furniture drive device 101 known from the prior art and the curve (dashed line) of the furniture drive device with single-rotation point kinematics are shown.

[0069] If we form the derivative f'(α) and describe its relationship with the rotation angle α, we obtain the following: Figure 6b The curve shown in the figure.

[0070] In a furniture drive mechanism with single-rotation-point kinematics, the slope is 1 at each point. In a furniture drive mechanism 101 known from the prior art, the front angle β initially changes weakly and then changes increasingly larger. In contrast, in the furniture drive mechanism 1, the front angle β changes relatively significantly at the start of the opening movement. This is technically achieved by setting the four rotation points of the levers 7, 8, and 9 of the actuating arm 5, or the four rotation point geometry of levers 7, 8, and 9 of the actuating arm 5, relative to each other, such that the slope f'(α) of the function f is greater than 0.2, preferably greater than 0.3, at least over the rotation range of the actuating arm 5 between 0° and 25°, and preferably over the entire rotation range of the actuating arm 5.

[0071] If we now compare the stability of the furniture drive mechanism with single-rotation-point kinematics, the furniture drive mechanism 101 known in the prior art, and the furniture drive mechanism 1 according to the invention, it can be confirmed that the furniture drive mechanism with single-rotation-point kinematics is the most stable solution, and the furniture drive mechanism 101 known in the prior art is the least stable solution requiring a synchronization device. It is now surprisingly proven to those skilled in the art that the furniture drive mechanism 1 (where the slope f'(α) of the function f is greater than 0.2, preferably greater than 0.3, at least over the angular range of the actuating arm 5 between 0° and 25°) already possesses sufficiently high stability, which makes it possible to abandon the use of a synchronization device separate from the front part of the furniture. In the specific case shown, the slope f'(α) of the function f is greater than 0.4 over the entire angular range of the actuating arm 5.

[0072] Figure 7 A comparative diagram shows the position (dashed line) of the front portion 2 of the furniture 31 according to the invention relative to the main body of the furniture, and the position (solid line) of the front portion 102 of the furniture according to the prior art relative to the main body of the furniture. It can be clearly seen that in the furniture 31 according to the invention, the front portion 2 begins to rotate immediately upon the initiation of the opening movement; while in the prior art, the front portion first moves substantially parallel to the end side of the main body. In both cases, the flange strip 39 is bypassed.

[0073] Figure 8aFigures 9a to 9f show, in contrast, the movement of lever arms 145 and 146 in the opening motion of a furniture drive device 101 according to the prior art, and the movement of lever arms 45 and 46 in the opening motion of a preferred embodiment of the furniture drive device 1 according to the invention, the opening motion starting from the closed position shown in subfigure a, i.e., the first rotational position of the actuating arm 5, until the maximum opening position shown in subfigure f, i.e., the second rotational position of the actuating arm 5.

[0074] It is certain that in the furniture drive device 101, the dead point of the rod geometry is passed at an earlier point in time during the opening movement.

[0075] exist Figure 9c and 9d The diagram exemplarily illustrates the instantaneous center of the lever geometry, which originates from the spatial intersection of the two lever arms 45 and 46. If the instantaneous center is depicted for each rotational position of the furniture drive units 1 and 101, then the instantaneous center is obtained as follows: Figure 10a Curves 134 and 34 are shown in 10b (for furniture drive unit 101) and 10b (for furniture drive unit 1).

[0076] Depend on Figure 10b It is understood that when the front part 2 of the furniture moves between the closed position and the maximum open position, the instantaneous center 33 of the rod configuration system of the front part 2 of the furniture or the rods 7, 8, 9 of the actuating arm 5 can move in space relative to the main body 3 of the furniture along an imaginary curve 34. The main body 3 of the furniture has a top plate 19, and the distance (marked as distance 49 in the figure) of the endpoint 35 of the curve 34 of the instantaneous center 33 corresponding to the closed position from the upper side 36 of the top plate 19 is less than 500 mm, preferably less than 250 mm. Furthermore, the main body 3 of the furniture has an end side 37 facing the front part 2 of the furniture in the closed position, and the distance (marked as distance 50 in the figure) of the endpoint 35 of the curve 34 of the instantaneous center 33 corresponding to the closed position from the imaginary upward extension 38 of the end side 37 beyond the main body 3 of the furniture (the distance is less than 75 mm, preferably less than 50 mm).

[0077] In contrast, in the furniture drive unit 101, the distance 135 of the endpoint 134 of the instantaneous center 133 from the upper side 136 of the top plate 119 of the furniture 131 is approximately 1700 mm and the distance 150 from the imaginary extension 138 is approximately 190 mm, which is significantly larger. This results in an unstable configuration system that must be stabilized with a synchronizing rod.

[0078] exist Figure 10a The enlarged partial view of b also shows the wraparound of flange strips 139 and 39.

[0079] The furniture body 3 of the furniture 31 includes a flange strip 39. The front part 2 of the furniture can move unimpeded around the flange strip 39 when moving between the closed position and the maximum open position. In the closed position, the upper edge 40 of the front part 2 facing the flange strip 39 does not collide with the flange strip 39. Preferably, the furniture body 3 has a top plate 19, and the distance between the upper side 41 of the flange strip 39 and the upper side 36 of the top plate 19 (marked as distance 12 in the figure) is between 75mm and 100mm. And / or the furniture body 3 has an end side 37 facing the front part 2 of the furniture in the closed position, and the distance between the front side 42 of the flange strip 39 and the imaginary upward extension 38 of the end side 37 beyond the furniture body 3 (marked as distance 13 in the figure) is between 40mm and 75mm.

[0080] exist Figure 10a In the middle, the edge of the front part 102 of the furniture is provided with reference mark 140, the upper side of the flange strip 139 is provided with reference mark 141, and the front side 142 of the flange strip 139 is provided with reference mark 142.

[0081] It is unknown from the prior art that there is furniture that satisfies the following two conditions: on the one hand, the curve 34 of the instantaneous center 33 is set very close to the fixed rotation point of the furniture drive device 1, and on the other hand, there is the possibility of circumventing the optional flange strip 39 without collision.

Claims

1. A furniture drive device (1) for moving the front part (2) of a piece of furniture relative to the body of a piece of furniture (3), the furniture drive device comprising a base (4) fixable to the body of the furniture (3) and including an actuating arm (5) rotatably supported on the base (4) about at least one first rotation axis (6). The actuator arm (5) has a plurality of rods (7, 8, 9) that are connected to each other in a hinged manner. The actuator arm (5) has a fixing interface (11) disposed in an imaginary fixing interface plane (10), and the front part of the furniture (2) can be fixed to the actuator arm (5) through the fixing interface. The actuating arm (5) can move continuously between a first rotational position and a second rotational position about the at least one first rotational axis (6). The first rotational position corresponds to the closed position of the furniture front part (2) that can be fixed to the actuating arm (5) and corresponds to a rotation angle α of 0°. The second rotational position corresponds to the maximum open position of the furniture front part (2) that can be fixed to the actuating arm (5) and corresponds to a rotation angle α greater than 0°. During the rotational movement of the actuator arm (5), the fixed interface plane (10) and therefore the furniture front part (2) that can be fixed to the actuator arm (5) experience different front angles β, and Each rotation angle α of the actuator arm (5) can correspond to a front angle β=f(α) of the fixed interface plane (10) through a function f. Starting from the front angle β of 0°, the 0° front angle can correspond to the 0° rotation angle α of the actuator arm (5). Its features are, The rods (7, 8, 9) of the actuator arm (5) are configured relative to each other such that the slope f'(α) of the function f is greater than 0.2 at least over the range of rotation angles of the actuator arm (5) between 0° and 25°.

2. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The slope f'(α) of the function f is greater than 0.2 over the entire rotation range of the actuator arm (5).

3. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The slope f'(α) of the function f is greater than 0.3 at least over the rotation angle range of the actuator arm (5) between 0° and 25°.

4. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The rods (7, 8, 9) of the actuator arm (5) form a four-rotation point geometry, one of the four rotation points of the four-rotation point geometry corresponds to at least one first rotation axis (6) of the actuator arm (5), and the four rotation points of the four-rotation point geometry of the rods (7, 8, 9) of the actuator arm (5) are set relative to each other such that the slope f'(α) of the function f is greater than 0.2 at least in the rotation angle range of the actuator arm (5) between 0° and 25°.

5. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 4, wherein, The slope f'(α) of the function f is greater than 0.2 over the entire rotation range of the actuator arm (5).

6. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 4, wherein, The slope f'(α) of the function f is greater than 0.3 at least over the rotation angle range of the actuator arm (5) between 0° and 25°.

7. The furniture drive device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The actuating arm (5) is rotatably supported on the base (4) about at least one second rotation axis (15), wherein, The base (4) of the furniture drive device (1) has an end face opening (16), the actuating arm (5) extends at least partially through the end face opening at least in the maximum open position, the second rotating shaft (15) has a smaller normal distance (17) from the end face opening (16) than the first rotating shaft (6), and / or The base (4) of the furniture drive device (1) has an upper side (18) which faces the top plate (19) of the furniture body (3) when the furniture drive device (1) is fixed on the furniture body (3). The second rotating shaft (15) has a smaller normal distance (20) from the upper side (18) than the first rotating shaft (6).

8. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 7, wherein, The second rotation axis (15) corresponds to one rotation point of the four rotation point geometry of the rods (7, 8, 9) of the actuator arm (5).

9. The furniture drive device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The actuator arm (5) Includes at least three rods (7, 8, 9) that are hinged together, and / or Includes at least one bent rod (9), and / or At least two of the rods (7, 8, 9) of the actuator arm (5) are nested relative to each other in at least one rotational position of the actuator arm (5), such that the two rods (7, 8) are configured to be substantially without gap in a side view, and / or At least one rod (7) is configured to have a U-shaped cross-section and another rod (8) is at least partially provided or can be provided between the vertical arms of the U-shape.

10. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 9, wherein, The two parts (21, 22) of the curved rod (9) form an angle (23) of approximately 90° with respect to each other.

11. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 9, wherein, At least two of the rods (7, 8, 9) of the actuator arm (5) are nested relative to each other in each rotational position of the actuator arm (5).

12. The furniture drive device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The actuator arm (5) has at least one first rod (7) and a second rod (8), the actuator arm (5) is rotatably connected to the base (4) through the first rod and the second rod, and the actuator arm has at least one third rod (9), on which the fixed interface (11) is formed, the first rod (7) and the second rod (8) are hinged to the third rod (9).

13. The furniture drive device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, At least one of the rods (7, 8, 9) of the actuator arm (5) can be detachably connected to the base (4) of the furniture drive device (1).

14. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 13, wherein, At least two of the rods (7, 8, 9) of the actuator arm (5) can be detachably connected to the base (4) of the furniture drive device (1).

15. The furniture drive device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The furniture drive device (1) has at least one force memory (24) through which a force can be applied to the actuating arm (5) to compensate for the weight of the furniture front (2) that can be fixed to the actuating arm (5).

16. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 15, wherein, The force storage device (24) is supported on the base (4).

17. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 15, wherein, The force storage device has at least one spring element (25).

18. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 15, wherein, A transmission mechanism (26) is provided, which can transmit the force stored in the at least one force memory (24) to the actuator arm (5) via the transmission mechanism.

19. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 18, wherein, The transmission mechanism (26) Includes at least one intermediate rod (27), and / or It includes at least one pressure member (29) and at least one actuation profile (30), the at least one pressure member (29) being movably supported on the actuation profile.

20. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 19, wherein, The at least one force storage device (24) is connected to the at least one intermediate rod (27) via a force hinge point (28).

21. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 20, wherein, The force hinge point (28) is adjustable.

22. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 19, wherein, The at least one pressure member (29) is disposed on at least one intermediate rod (27) of the transmission mechanism (26) and the at least one actuation profile (30) is disposed on the actuation arm (5), or vice versa.

23. Furniture (31), said furniture comprising a furniture body (3), a furniture front (2), and at least one furniture drive device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein, The base (4) of the at least one furniture drive device (1) is fixed on the furniture body (3), and the front part (2) of the furniture is fixed to the actuating arm (5) of the at least one furniture drive device (1) via the fixing interface (11).

24. The furniture (31) according to claim 23, wherein, The base (4) of the at least one furniture drive device (1) is fixed in and / or fixed on the side wall (32) of the furniture body (3).

25. The furniture (31) according to claim 23, wherein, The furniture (31) includes at least one other furniture drive device (1) connected to the furniture body (3) and the furniture front (2), the two furniture drive devices (1) being connected to each other only via the furniture front (2) and the furniture body (3).

26. The furniture (31) according to any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein, When the front part of the furniture (2) moves between the closed position and the maximum open position, the instantaneous center (33) of the rod configuration system of the front part of the furniture (2) or the rods (7, 8, 9) of the actuating arm (5) can move in space relative to the main body of the furniture (3) along an imaginary curve (34), wherein The main body of the furniture (3) has a top plate (19), and the endpoint (35) of the curve (34) of the instantaneous center (33) corresponding to the closed position is less than 500 mm away from the upper side (36) of the top plate (19), and / or The furniture body (3) has an end side (37) facing the front part (2) of the furniture in the closed position, and the endpoint (35) of the curve (34) of the instantaneous center (33) corresponding to the closed position is less than 75 mm away from the imaginary upward extension (38) of the end side (37) beyond the furniture body (3).

27. The furniture (31) according to claim 26, wherein, The endpoint (35) of the curve (34) of the instantaneous center (33) corresponding to the closed position is less than 250 mm away from the upper side (36) of the top plate (19).

28. The furniture (31) according to claim 26, wherein, The endpoint (35) of the curve (34) of the instantaneous center (33) corresponding to the closed position is less than 50 mm away from the imaginary upward extension (38) of the end side (37) beyond the furniture body (3).

29. The furniture (31) according to any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein, The furniture body (3) includes a flange (39), and the front part (2) of the furniture can move unimpeded around the flange (39) when moving between the closed position and the maximum open position, while the upper edge (40) of the front part (2) of the furniture facing the flange (39) in the closed position does not collide with the flange (39).

30. The furniture (31) according to claim 29, wherein, The furniture body (3) has a top plate (19), and the distance between the upper side (41) of the flange strip (39) and the upper side (36) of the top plate (19) is between 75 mm and 100 mm, and / or The furniture body (3) has an end side (37) facing the front part (2) of the furniture in the closed position, and the distance between the front side (42) of the flange strip (39) and the imaginary upward extension (38) of the end side (37) beyond the furniture body (3) is between 40 mm and 75 mm.

31. The furniture (31) according to any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein, The furniture body (3) has an end side (37) facing the front part (2) of the furniture in the closed position, and the front part (2) of the furniture has a front angle β of 0° relative to the end side (37) in the closed position.

32. The furniture (31) according to claim 31, wherein, The front part (2) of the furniture has a front angle β between 60° and 80° relative to the end side (37) in the maximum open position.

33. A method for moving the front part (2) of the furniture (31) according to any one of claims 23 to 32 relative to the main body (3), wherein, The front part (2) of the furniture moves from the closed position toward the largest open position and vice versa.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein, The furniture body (3) includes a flange (39) and the front part of the furniture (2) moves unimpeded around the flange (39) when moving between the closed position and the maximum open position, while the upper edge (40) of the front part of the furniture (2) facing the flange (39) in the closed position does not collide with the flange (39).

35. Furniture (31), the furniture comprising a furniture body (3), a furniture front (2), and at least one furniture drive device (1) for moving the furniture front (2) relative to the furniture body (3), the furniture drive device comprising a base (4) fixable to the furniture body (3) and comprising an actuating arm (5), the actuating arm being rotatably supported on the base (4) about at least one first rotation axis (6), the actuating arm (5) having a plurality of rods (7, 8, 9) articulated together, the actuating arm (5) having a fixing interface (11) disposed in an imaginary fixing interface plane (10), the furniture front (2) being fixable to the actuating arm (5) via the fixing interface, the actuating arm (5) being able to rotate in a first rotational position and a second rotational position about the at least one first rotation axis (6). The movement is continuous between positions, the first rotational position corresponds to the closed position of the furniture front part (2) that can be fixed on the actuator arm (5) and the first rotational position can correspond to a 0° rotation angle α, the second rotational position corresponds to the maximum open position of the furniture front part (2) that can be fixed on the actuator arm (5) and the second rotational position can correspond to a rotation angle α greater than 0°, when the actuator arm (5) rotates, the fixed interface plane (10) and therefore the furniture front part (2) that can be fixed on the actuator arm (5) experiences different front angles β, and each rotation angle α of the actuator arm (5) can correspond to a front angle β=f(α) of the fixed interface plane (10) through a function f, starting from a 0° front angle β, the 0° front angle can correspond to a 0° rotation angle α of the actuator arm (5), characterized in that, When the front part of the furniture (2) moves between the closed position and the maximum open position, the instantaneous center (33) of the rod configuration system of the front part of the furniture (2) or the rods (7, 8, 9) of the actuating arm (5) can move in space relative to the main body of the furniture (3) along an imaginary curve (34), the main body of the furniture (3) having a top plate (19), and the distance (35) of the curve (34) of the instantaneous center (33) corresponding to the closed position from the upper side (36) of the top plate (19) being less than 500 mm, and / or the main body of the furniture (3) having an end side (37) facing the front part of the furniture (2) in the closed position, and the distance (35) of the curve (34) of the instantaneous center (33) corresponding to the closed position from the imaginary upward extension (38) of the end side (37) beyond the main body of the furniture (3) being less than 75 mm, and The furniture body (3) includes a flange (39), and the front part (2) of the furniture can move unimpeded around the flange (39) when moving between the closed position and the maximum open position, while the upper edge (40) of the front part (2) of the furniture facing the flange (39) in the closed position does not collide with the flange (39).

36. The furniture (31) according to claim 35, wherein, The base (4) is fixed in the side wall (32) of the furniture body (3) and / or fixed on the side wall of the furniture body.

37. The furniture (31) according to claim 35, wherein, The endpoint (35) of the curve (34) of the instantaneous center (33) corresponding to the closed position is less than 250 mm away from the upper side (36) of the top plate (19).

38. The furniture (31) according to claim 35, wherein, The endpoint (35) of the curve (34) of the instantaneous center (33) corresponding to the closed position is less than 50 mm away from the imaginary upward extension (38) of the end side (37) beyond the furniture body (3).

39. The furniture (31) according to claim 35, wherein, The furniture body (3) has a top plate (19) and the distance between the upper side (41) of the flange strip (39) and the upper side (36) of the top plate (19) is between 75 mm and 100 mm, and / or the furniture body (3) has an end side (37) facing the front part (2) of the furniture in the closed position and the distance between the front side (42) of the flange strip (39) and the imaginary upward extension (38) of the end side (37) beyond the furniture body (3) is between 40 mm and 75 mm.

40. The furniture (31) according to any one of claims 35 to 39, wherein, The furniture (31) includes at least one other furniture drive device (1) connected to the furniture body (3) and the furniture front (2), the two furniture drive devices (1) being connected to each other only via the furniture front (2) and the furniture body (3).

41. A method for moving the front part (2) of the furniture (31) according to any one of claims 35 to 40 relative to the main body (3), wherein, The front part (2) of the furniture moves from the closed position toward the largest open position and vice versa.

Images