ACTUATOR FOR MOVING A FURNITURE HATCH

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an actuator for moving a furniture flap that is mounted movably relative to a furniture body, comprising: at least one actuating arm pivotably mounted about a rotational axis for moving the furniture flap, wherein the at least one actuating arm is movably mounted between a closed position, which in an assembled state of the furniture flap corresponds to a closed position of the furniture flap relative to the furniture body, and an open position, a force accumulator for applying force to the at least one actuating arm, a coupling device for braking or preventing a pivoting movement of the at least one actuating arm, wherein the coupling device has at least one movably mounted first coupling element with a toothing, wherein the at least one first coupling element can be brought into engagement with a second coupling element when a predetermined pivoting speed of the actuating arm is exceeded, whereby the pivoting movement of the at least one actuating arm is braked or prevented, wherein the second coupling element has at least one engagement section,through which the two coupling elements can be brought into engagement with each other.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a piece of furniture with a furniture body, a furniture flap mounted so as to be movable relative to the furniture body and with an actuator of the type to be described for moving the furniture flap.

[0003] Actuators for moving furniture flaps typically have at least one pivoting actuating arm and an energy accumulator in the form of a spring device for applying force to the actuating arm. The energy accumulator at least partially compensates for the weight of the furniture flap, making it easier for a person to move the flap. Depending on the size and weight of the furniture flap, the actuating arm is subjected to extremely high preload forces from the energy accumulator in the open position. Critical situations can arise, particularly when the furniture flap is not yet connected to the actuating arm. In such a case, there is no counterweight acting on the actuating arm, meaning the force of the energy accumulator can cause the actuating arm to swing massively, causing injury to people and damage to objects.

[0004] WO 2006 / 069412 A1 and WO 2010 / 051569 A1 disclose actuators for moving furniture flaps. These actuators are equipped with a centrifugal clutch to prevent uncontrolled deflection of the actuator arm toward the open position. The centrifugal clutch ensures that the actuator arm can be moved in a controlled manner below a predetermined pivoting speed. Above the predetermined pivoting speed of the actuator arm, the centrifugal clutch automatically locks the actuator arm, locking the actuator arm in its pivoting position and preventing it from deflecting further toward the open position.

[0005] In practice, problems with the centrifugal clutch can arise if the actuator is already pre-assembled on the furniture and the actuating arm is hinged on the one hand to the furniture body and on the other hand to the furniture flap. If the furniture flap is in a closed position relative to the furniture body, it can happen that the coupling elements of the centrifugal clutch become wedged together in an undesirable way, for example during transport or due to a tilting movement of the furniture body during assembly. The actuating arm is locked in its closed position by the blocked centrifugal clutch and can no longer be pushed further towards the closed position by the furniture flap resting on the furniture body, which could release the wedging of the centrifugal clutch and the blockage of the actuating arm.Opening the furniture flap is then often only possible with the associated damage to the furniture flap or the actuator.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide an actuator of the type mentioned at the outset while avoiding the disadvantages discussed above.

[0007] This is achieved according to the invention by the features of patent claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0008] According to the invention, it is provided that the second coupling element has at least one freewheel section separate from the engagement section, wherein the first coupling element is arranged within the freewheel section of the second coupling element in the closed position of the actuating arm, whereby the two coupling elements are decoupled from one another in the closed position of the actuating arm.

[0009] In other words, the second coupling element has at least one freewheel section which prevents engagement, in particular a positive locking, of the two coupling elements with respect to one another in the closed position of the actuating arm and / or in a pivoting region immediately upstream of the closed position of the actuating arm.

[0010] In the closed position of the actuating arm, the first coupling element can be applied to the freewheel section of the second coupling element, whereby the surface of the freewheel section can be designed to be essentially toothless or essentially smooth. The freewheel section can also have a different surface finish, but in any case, it should be ensured that locking between the two coupling elements is not possible in the closed position of the actuating arm.

[0011] According to one embodiment, it can be provided that the two coupling elements are decoupled from one another by the freewheel section of the second coupling element within a pivot angle range of the actuating arm, which results between the closed position of the actuating arm and an open position of the actuating arm of a maximum of 30°, preferably a maximum of 20°.

[0012] According to the invention, it is provided that the second coupling element has a substantially annular inner contour, wherein both the engagement portion and the freewheel portion are arranged or formed on the annular inner contour of the second coupling element.

[0013] The engagement portion of the second coupling element can, for example, have a counter-toothing for positive locking with the first coupling element. The freewheel portion, on the other hand, can form a substantially smooth contact surface against which the first coupling element can be placed when the actuating arm is in the closed position.

[0014] Further details and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the figures. Fig. 1 shows a side view of a piece of furniture with a furniture body, a furniture flap in an open position and with an actuator for moving the furniture flap, Fig. 2 shows the furniture according to Fig. 1 , wherein the furniture flap assumes a closed position relative to the furniture body, Fig. 3a-3c show the actuator in a side view and two enlarged detailed views thereof, wherein the actuating arm is in a closed position, Fig. 4a-4c show the actuator in a side view and two enlarged detailed views thereof, wherein the actuating arm is in a locked open position, Fig. 5a, 5b show a perspective view of the coupling piece of the actuator to be connected to the actuating arm and an enlarged detailed view thereof, Fig. 6a, 6b show the coupling device in an exploded view and an enlarged detailed view thereof.

[0015] Fig. 1 shows a piece of furniture 1 with a furniture body 2 in a side view, wherein a furniture flap 3 is movably mounted relative to the furniture body 2 by an actuator 4. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the furniture flap 3 is designed in two parts and comprises a first partial flap 3a, which is pivotally attached to an underside of a cover plate 2a of the furniture body 2 by hinges 10. The second partial flap 3b is pivotally connected to the first partial flap 3a. The actuator 4 has a housing 5 to be fastened to the furniture body 2 and at least one actuating arm 7, which is pivotally mounted on the housing 5 and is preferably designed to be adjustable in length, for moving the furniture flap 3. The actuating arm 7 is pivotally connected to a fitting part 9 via a joint axis 8, wherein the fitting part 9 is to be fastened - preferably via a mounting plate - to an inner side of the second partial flap 3b.

[0016] Fig. 2 shows a side view of the furniture 1 according to Fig. 1 with a furniture flap 3 closed in relation to the furniture body 2. The actuator 4 has a force accumulator 11 ( Fig. 3a ) for applying force to the actuating arm 7, whereby the weight of the furniture flap 3 can be at least partially compensated. Furthermore, the actuator 4 has a coupling device 19 (not visible here) for braking or preventing a pivoting movement of the at least one actuating arm 7, so that an unintentional opening or deflection of the empty actuating arm 7, to which no furniture flap 3 is yet attached, can be prevented by a force of the energy accumulator 11 acting in the opening direction. If the furniture flap 3 is attached to the actuating arm 7, the coupling device 19 is not active because the pivoting speed of the actuating arm 7, with a furniture flap 3 mounted on the actuating arm 7, is always well below a predetermined critical value.However, the coupling device 19 of the actuator 4 can jam in the shown closed position of the furniture flap 3, so that the furniture flap 3 can neither move in the opening direction nor in the closing direction and the jamming of the coupling device 19 cannot be released.

[0017] Fig. 3a shows the actuator 4 with the housing 5 to be fastened to the furniture body 2 in a side view. The actuator arm 7 (not shown here) can be detachably connected to a coupling piece 17 which can rotate about the axis of rotation 6, wherein the coupling piece 17 has a plurality of recesses 18 for the positive fastening of the actuator arm 7. To apply force to the actuator arm 7, an energy accumulator 11 is provided which has at least one helical spring, for example at least one compression spring or at least one helical spring. According to a preferred embodiment, the energy accumulator 11 has a spring assembly with a plurality of compression springs arranged in parallel. The energy accumulator 11 is movably connected via an engagement point 16 to an intermediate lever 12 which can pivot about a rotation axis 13, wherein a pressure roller 14 is rotatably mounted on the intermediate lever 12.A control contour 15 is formed on the coupling piece 17, wherein the pressure roller 14 of the intermediate lever 12 can be moved along the control contour 15 of the coupling piece 17 when the actuating arm 7 moves about the rotation axis 6.

[0018] The actuator 4 has a coupling device 19 for braking or preventing a pivoting movement of the at least one actuating arm 7, thereby preventing an unintentional deflection of the actuating arm 7 in the direction of the open position due to a force exerted on the actuating arm 7 by the energy accumulator 11. The coupling device 19 can, for example, have a centrifugal clutch. The coupling device 19 is drivable by a gear 20 rotatable about the rotation axis 22, wherein the gear 20 can be moved along a preferably arcuate toothed rail 21 upon movement of the actuating arm 7 about the rotation axis 6. The toothed rail 21 is arranged or formed on the housing 5 of the actuator 4.The gear wheel 20 and the toothed rail 21 form a transmission gear, by means of which a pivoting speed of the actuating arm 7 is converted over a range of the pivoting path of the actuating arm 7 to a higher rotational speed of a shaft 30 (. Fig. 6a ). With a transmission ratio of 1:4, this means that a 15° change in the angle of the actuating arm 7 results in a fourfold change in the angle of the shaft 30 mounted on the rotational axis 22. The shaft 30 is thus rotated by 60°. In this way, the reaction time of the clutch device 19, designed as a centrifugal clutch, can be significantly shortened.

[0019] Fig. 3b shows the Fig. 3a framed area in an enlarged view. When the actuating arm 7 (ie the coupling piece 17) moves, the gear 20 runs along the toothed rail 21. The coupling device 19 has at least one movably mounted first coupling element 23a, 23b ( Fig. 3c ) which can be brought into engagement with a second coupling element 24 when a predetermined pivoting speed of the actuating arm 7 is exceeded, whereby the pivoting movement of the actuating arm 7 is braked or prevented.

[0020] Fig. 3c shows an enlarged detailed view of the coupling device 19, wherein two first coupling elements 23a, 23b are arranged on a common shaft 30 rotatable about the rotation axis 22. The two first coupling elements 23a, 23b are spaced apart from one another in an axial direction of the shaft 30 and can be driven about the rotation axis 22 by the gear 20 running on the toothed rail 21. The coupling elements 23a, 23b each have a toothing 34a, 34b, which can be positively locked with a counter toothing 35 of an engagement section 25 arranged on the second coupling element 24 when a predetermined pivoting speed of the actuating arm 7 is exceeded. It can be seen that at least one freewheel section 26 is arranged on the second coupling element 24, which prevents locking of the first coupling element 23a with the second coupling element 24 in the shown closed position of the actuating arm 7.For the exemplary case where the angular range of the freewheel section 26 extends over an angular range of 28°, locking of the actuating arm 7 is not possible within an angular range of 7° with the aforementioned transmission ratio of 1:4. The freewheel section 26 can have an arcuate, smooth contour that is free of depressions or elevations.

[0021] The first coupling elements 23a, 23b are preloaded by spring elements 27a, 27b toward a position decoupled from the second coupling element 24. The spring elements 27a, 27b serve to press the coupling elements 23a, 23b into a compact rest position and provide a defined release force. Only after the defined release force has been overcome can the two first coupling elements 23a, 23b be releasably locked to the second coupling element 24.

[0022] Fig. 4a shows a side view of the actuator 4, wherein the actuator arm 7 (ie the coupling piece 17) is locked in an open position of approximately 20° by the coupling device 19. Fig. 4b shows the Fig. 4a framed area in an enlarged view, wherein the actuating arm 7 is positively locked by exceeding the predetermined swivel speed by locking the two first coupling elements 23a, 23b with the second coupling element 24. Starting from the Fig. 4b In the position shown, the locking of the actuating arm 7 can be released by manually pushing the actuating arm 7 toward the closed position. The two first coupling elements 23a, 23b can then be unlocked from the second coupling element 24 by the force of the spring elements 27a, 27b.

[0023] Fig. 4c shows an enlarged view of the coupling device 19, wherein the teeth 34a, 34b of the first coupling elements 23a, 23b engage with the counter-teeth 35 of the engagement portion 25 of the second coupling element 24. The engagement portion 25 can, for example, extend over an angular range of 330°, while the freewheel portion 26 extends over 30°.

[0024] Fig. 5a shows a perspective view of the coupling piece 17 of the actuator 4, which is to be connected to the actuating arm 7. The coupling piece 17 has a plurality of recesses 18, in which, when the actuating arm 7 is assembled, any fastening elements of the actuating arm 7, in particular pins and / or a spring-loaded rocker arm of the actuating arm 7, are received. The control contour 15 for the movable mounting of the pressure roller 14 is formed by a peripheral edge of two disc parts 28a, 28b, which are spaced parallel from one another. The actuating arm 7, together with the coupling piece 17, is pivotally mounted about the rotation axis 6, wherein the gear 20, which is rotatable about the rotation axis 22, is movable along the curved toothed rail 21 of the actuator 4. The actuating arm 7, on which no furniture flap 3 is mounted, can be positively locked by the coupling device 19 when a predetermined pivoting speed is exceeded.The rotational axis 6 of the actuating arm 7 and the rotational axis 22 of the gear 20 are essentially parallel and spaced from each other. Fig. 5b shows the Fig. 5a circled area in an enlarged view.

[0025] Fig. 6a shows the coupling device 19 in an exploded view, wherein the coupling device 19 is accommodated between the two disc parts 28a, 28b and rotates about the rotation axis 6 during a pivoting movement of the actuating arm 7. On both sides of the disc parts 28a, 28b, gear wheels 20 are arranged, each of which is connected to a toothed rail 21 ( Fig. 3a ) mesh. The gears 20 are motionally coupled to one another via the shaft 30, with a rotatable rotor 29 for movably supporting the first coupling elements 23a, 23b being arranged on the shaft 30. The first coupling elements 23a, 23b are mounted on the rotor 29 offset by 180°. The rotor 29 has two pivot bearings 31a, 31b for supporting the first coupling elements 23a, 23b. The second coupling element 24 has an engagement portion 25 for releasably locking the first coupling element 23a and a freewheel portion 26 which is separate from the engagement portion 25 and prevents locking between the first coupling element 23a and the second coupling element 24 when the actuating arm 7 is in the closed position. The other coupling element 23b is spaced apart from the coupling element 23a in an axial direction of the shaft 30, wherein the coupling element 23b can be brought into engagement with a further second coupling element 24a.The further coupling element 24a also has a freewheel section 26a, which is arranged offset by 180° relative to the freewheel section 26 of the other coupling element 24.

[0026] Fig. 6b shows the Fig. 6a Enlarged view of the circled area. The first coupling elements 23a, 23b are each constructed in two parts and are connected to each other by rivets 32a, 32b. The rotor 29 has two pivot bearings 31a, 31b, in which the pivot parts 33a, 33b of the first coupling elements 23a, 23b can be received.

Claims

1. An actuating drive (4) for moving a furniture flap (3) movably-supported relative to a furniture carcass (2), comprising: - at least one actuating arm (7) pivotally supported about a pivoting axis (6) for moving the furniture flap (3), the at least one actuating arm (7) being movably supported between a closed position corresponding to a closed position of the furniture flap (3) relative to the furniture carcass (2) in a mounted condition of the furniture flap (3), and an open position, - a force storage member (11) for applying a force to the at least one actuating arm (7), - a coupling device (19) for braking or for preventing a pivotal movement of the at least one actuating arm (7), the coupling device (19) including at least one movably-supported first coupling element (23a, 23b) having a tooth arrangement (34a, 34b), and the at least one first coupling element (23a, 23b), when a predetermined pivotal speed of the actuating arm (7) is exceeded, is engageable with a second coupling element (24), whereby the pivotal movement of the at least one actuating arm (7) is braked or prevented, wherein the second coupling element (24) includes at least one engagement section (25) for engaging the two coupling elements (23a, 23b, 24) with each other, - wherein the second coupling element (24) includes a substantially annular-shaped inner contour, the engagement section (25) being formed or arranged on the annular-shaped inner contour of the second coupling element (24), characterized in that the second coupling element (24) includes at least one freewheel section (26) separate from the engagement section (25), wherein the first coupling element (23a, 23b), in the closed position of the actuating arm (7), is arranged within the freewheel section (26) of the second coupling element (24), whereby the two coupling elements (23a, 23b, 24) are decoupled from each other in the closed position of the actuating arm (7),and that also the freewheel section (26) is formed or arranged on the annular-shaped inner contour of the second coupling element (24).

2. The actuating drive according to claim 1, characterized in that by the freewheel section (26) of the second coupling element (24), the two coupling elements (23a, 23b, 24) are decoupled from each other within a pivoting angle range of the actuating arm (7) extending from the closed position of the actuating arm (7) to an opening position of the actuating arm (7) of maximum 30°, preferably maximum 20°.

3. The actuating drive according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one first coupling element (23a, 23b) is movably supported on a rotor (29), wherein the rotor (29) is rotationally supported about a rotational axis (22).

4. The actuating drive according to claim 3, characterized in that the rotor (29) includes at least one pivot bearing (31a, 31b) for receiving a pivot portion (33a, 33b) of the first coupling element (23a, 23b).

5. The actuating drive according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the rotational axis (22) of the rotor (29) and the pivoting axis (6) of the actuating arm (7) are spaced apart from each other in a parallel relationship.

6. The actuating drive according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first coupling element (23a, 23b) is pre-stressed by a force of a spring element (27a) in a direction of a decoupled position from the second coupling element (24).

7. The actuating drive according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the actuating drive (4) includes a step-up gearing for transmitting a pivotal speed of the actuating arm (7), over at least a region of a pivoting path of the actuating arm (7), into a higher rotational speed of the first coupling element (23a).

8. The actuating drive according to claim 7, characterized in that the step-up gearing includes at least one gear (20) for driving the first coupling element (23a, 23b), the gear (20) being movable along a, preferably curved-shaped, toothed rack (21) of the actuating drive (4) upon a pivotal movement of the actuating arm (7) about the pivoting axis (6).

9. The actuating drive according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first coupling element (23a, 23b) includes a tooth arrangement (34a, 34b) and the engagement section (25) of the second coupling element (24) includes a, preferably curved-shaped, counter-toothing (35), wherein the tooth arrangement (34a, 34b) of the first coupling element (23a, 23b) and the counter-toothing (35) of the second coupling element (24) are configured to be engaged with one another in a form-locking manner.

10. The actuating drive according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least two first coupling elements (23a, 23b) are provided, each of the at least two first coupling elements (23a, 23b) being configured to be engaged with an engagement section (26, 26a) of a second coupling element (24, 24a).

11. The actuating drive according to claim 10, characterized in that the two first coupling elements (23a, 23b) are arranged offset on the rotor (29) by 180°.

12. An item of furniture (1) comprising a furniture carcass (2), a furniture flap (3) movably-supported relative to the furniture carcass (2), and an actuating drive (4) according to one of the claims 1 to 11 for moving the furniture flap (3).

13. The item of furniture (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the furniture flap (3) covers the furniture carcass (2) in a closed position, and achieves an elevated position relative to the furniture carcass (2) in an open position.