ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR A DRAWER

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an adjusting device for a drawer with a front panel which is held on at least one front panel support which has a slide with at least one locking element, and a holder which can be fixed on or in a side frame and on which an eccentric with a locking structure is rotatably mounted in order to adjust the slide in the height direction upon a rotational movement of the eccentric.

[0002] EP 3 544 467 B1 discloses a drawer with a side frame in which a plurality of molded parts are arranged within a casing. An adjustment device is provided on the molded part arranged at the end of the front panel, by means of which the height of the front panel can be adjusted in the assembled position of the drawer. The adjustment device comprises an eccentric, by means of which a carriage, on which the front panel is held, can be vertically adjusted. Such adjustment devices have proven themselves to be effective, but vibrations or other influences can lead to rotation of the eccentric and undesired adjustment of the front panel.

[0003] EP 2 713 818 B1 discloses a locking mechanism for a drawer, by means of which a front panel can be held in a desired height position. The locking mechanism comprises an eccentric having a locking structure on its outer circumference, which engages with a resilient latching structure on a mounting plate. Through the interaction of the resilient latching structure and the locking structure, the eccentric can be held in the desired position via spring force. This adjustment device also has the problem that rotation and thus adjustment of the eccentric cannot be reliably prevented due to vibrations or high weight forces on the front panel, especially when the front panel is subject to high weight loads.

[0004] CN 107 912 899 A discloses a drawer with an adjusting device for adjusting the position of a front panel of the drawer with an eccentric that can be locked in different positions via a locking contour.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an adjusting device which ensures that a front panel of the drawer is held securely.

[0006] This object is achieved with an adjusting device having the features of claim 1.

[0007] In the adjustment device according to the invention, a front panel is held by at least one front panel support on a carriage having at least one locking element, wherein a holder that can be secured to a side frame rotatably mounts an eccentric with a locking structure in order to adjust the carriage in the vertical direction during a rotational movement, wherein the at least one locking element engages with the locking structure and the eccentric in an upper region and a weight force of the front panel has a self-locking effect. In the solution according to the invention, the weight force of the front panel is thus used to self-lockingly hold the set locking position, so that adjustment of the eccentric is prevented even in the case of high weight loads on the front panel or in the event of vibrations.The weight of the front panel acts via the at least one front panel support and the slide on the at least one locking element, which engages with the locking structure on the eccentric in an upper area, so that the at least one locking element presses against the eccentric from above and prevents adjustment. The greater the weight of the front panel, the greater the holding force of the locking connection. The term "above" refers to the installation situation, particularly when the adjustment device is mounted on a drawer with a side frame and a front panel.

[0008] Preferably, the carriage is guided along a vertical guide on the holder so that it can be adjusted. The holder can be constructed in several parts and, in addition to the height adjustment, also have a depth adjustment and / or a lateral adjustment. The adjustment device is preferably used as a height adjustment to hold the front panel in a predetermined height position relative to the side frame. Guide webs, projections, receptacles, or other guide means can be provided to guide the carriage on the holder.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the locking element and the locking structure are designed as a locking recess and a locking projection. The locking projection can be formed on both the eccentric and the locking element on the slide, while the locking recess is arranged on the other component. The locking projection is preferably curved in an arcuate manner, while the locking recess forms an arcuate recess into which the locking projection engages in a substantially positive-locking manner.

[0010] To ensure stable fixation of the front panel, the slide can have a locking element and a counter-locking element that engages with the locking structure on the eccentric on the opposite side. Thus, both the locking element and the counter-locking element are provided on the slide to ensure stable support. The weight of the front panel rests on the locking element located at the top, and the counter-locking element provides counterpressure when the eccentric is adjusted.

[0011] For a compact design, the eccentric comprises a disc with a locking structure on its outer circumference, in particular a plurality of locking recesses. The locking structure can extend over only part of the circumference, for example, by 180° to 300°, so that a defined end position is achieved during an adjustment process. Alternatively, the locking structure can also be designed circumferentially, allowing adjustment without an end position.

[0012] To increase the holding forces, meshing teeth can be formed on the holder and the eccentric, which can be fixed in various locking positions. The locking positions of these teeth can be arranged in the same position as the locking positions between the locking structure and the locking element, so that a set position of the eccentric is fixed both by the locking element and by the teeth. The teeth can protrude in the axial direction of the eccentric or be designed as a recess. Preferably, the teeth are provided with at least one tooth that can be inserted into a receptacle. Either the tooth or the receptacle can be formed integrally with the eccentric disc, and at least one tooth or receptacle is also formed on the holder. Preferably, several teeth or several receptacles can be used to increase the holding forces.Another advantage of the interaction between the tooth and the holder is haptic feedback for the user when adjusting the height.

[0013] The eccentric is preferably designed with a tool holder, wherein a rotational axis of the eccentric preferably runs centrally through the tool holder, so that a torque can be effectively introduced by a tool.

[0014] The holder and / or the slide are preferably made of plastic, ensuring sufficient elasticity to allow the eccentric to lock relative to the holder. Other materials, such as metal, can also be used.

[0015] The invention will be explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an adjusting device according to the invention; Figures 2A to 2C show several views of the adjusting device in a middle position; Figures 3A to 3C show several views of the adjusting device with the slide in a raised position; Figures 4A to 4C show several views of the adjusting device with the slide in a lowered position; Figures 5A and 5B show two views of the holder of the adjusting device; Figures 6A and 6B show two detailed views of the holder of the adjusting device; Figures 7A to 7C show several views of the toothing of the adjusting device, and Figure 8 shows a view of a drawer with an adjusting device in the installed position.

[0016] An adjusting device 1 for adjusting a front panel of a drawer relative to a side frame comprises a front panel support 2 to which a front panel can be fixed using fastening means such as dowels.

[0017] A slide 3 is fixed to the front panel support 2 and is slidably guided on a holder 4. In the installed position, the slide 3 can be moved vertically along a guide, as indicated by the symbolic arrows on the holder 4.

[0018] An eccentric 5 is rotatably mounted on the holder 4 to move the carriage 3 in the vertical direction. The holder 4 is essentially U-shaped and comprises an upper arm 40 and a lower arm 41, between which the carriage 3 is arranged. The holder 4 can be connected to a molded part in a side frame via recesses 6 or other fastening means, as shown, for example, in EP 3 544 467 B1.

[0019] In the Figures 2A to 2C the adjustment device 1 is shown in a middle position in which the carriage 3 is positioned at substantially the same distance from the arms 40 and 41. In Figure 2BThe holder 4 is not shown, so that it can be seen that an upper support element 7 with a locking element 8 in the form of a locking projection is provided on the carriage 3. The locking element 8 engages in a locking structure 11 on the eccentric 5, which is formed on the outer circumference of a disc of the eccentric 5. On a lower side of the eccentric 5, a support element 9 is provided on the carriage 3, which has a counter-locking element 10 in the form of a locking projection.

[0020] In Figure 2C The area of ​​the eccentric 5 is shown in detail. It can be seen that the locking structure 11 has a plurality of locking receptacles, each of which is arcuate and extends over a portion of the circumference. The eccentric 5 further has a tool holder 12, with a rotational axis of the eccentric 5 extending through the tool holder 12.

[0021] To adjust the height of the front panel, the eccentric 5 can be rotated to move the carriage 3 with projections 13 along receptacles on the holder 4.

[0022] In the Figures 3A to 3C The carriage 3 is shown in a raised position, in which the carriage 3 is arranged closer to the upper arm 40 than to the lower arm 41. This adjustment was effected by a rotation of the eccentric 5, so that the locking structure 11 was rotated relative to the upper locking element 8 and the counter-locking element 10, which then lock into other locking receptacles of the locking structure 11. In Figure 3C The eccentric 5 is shown in detail, and it can be seen that the counter-locking element 10 is arranged in the last locking receptacle of the locking structure 11, since the locking structure 11 is not provided circumferentially, but only over a part of the circumference. Due to the rotation, the tool holder 12 is located adjacent to the counter-locking element 10.

[0023] In the Figures 4A to 4C A position is shown in which the eccentric 5 for lowering the front panel has been adjusted so that the carriage 3 is arranged closer to the lower arm 41 than to the upper arm 40. As shown in Figure 4C, the locking element 8 is now located on the end-mounted locking receptacle of the locking structure 11, and the tool holder 12 is arranged adjacent to the locking element 8.

[0024] Regardless of the set locking position, the locking of the adjustment device is self-locking, since the weight of the front panel acts at least partially on the locking element 8, which engages in an upper area with the locking structure 11 of the eccentric 5. The heavier the front panel, the higher the holding forces due to the locking of the locking element 8 to the locking structure 11. This self-locking effect ensures secure fixation of the front panel, even when high loads act on the front panel.

[0025] In the Figures 5A and 5B The holder 4 is shown without the front panel support 2 and the slide 3. A receptacle 42 is formed on each of the upper arm 40 and the lower arm 41, which serves to vertically guide the slide 3. The slide 3 comprises a strip-shaped projection 13 on opposite sides, which is at least partially inserted into the respective receptacle 42 and can be displaced there in the vertical direction. Other geometries for vertical guidance of the slide 3 can also be used.

[0026] The holder 4 has a bearing plate 43 adjacent to the eccentric 5, which at least partially covers the eccentric 5 outside the tool holder 12. Furthermore, a bearing projection 45 is formed on the holder 4 to secure the eccentric 5 in the axial direction to the holder 4. The eccentric 5 is held between the bearing projection 45 and the bearing plate 43.

[0027] To increase the holding forces, a toothing is provided between the bearing plate 43 and the eccentric 5. In the illustrated embodiment, a tooth 44 is formed integrally with the bearing plate 43, which engages a tooth receptacle 50 on the eccentric 5.

[0028] In the Figures 6A and 6B A detailed view of the holder 4 of the adjusting device 1 in the area of ​​the eccentric 5 is shown. The eccentric 5 is located in Figure 6B in a higher setting position compared to Figure 6A The tooth 44 engages with a tooth receptacle 50. In addition, the interaction between tooth 44 and tooth receptacle 50 generates haptic feedback for the user during adjustment.

[0029] In the Figures 7A to 7C The adjusting device 1 is shown partly in section, with the Figures 7B and 7CThe toothing is shown with the tooth 44 and the tooth receptacle 50. A plurality of tooth receptacles 50 are located on an axial surface of the eccentric 5, while one or more teeth 44 are provided on the bearing plate 43. The position of the tooth 44 and the tooth receptacles 50 is selected such that the corresponding locking positions of the toothing are identical to the locking positions of the locking element 8 or the counter-locking element 10 and the locking structure 11, so that the locking is reinforced by the toothing.

[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, the tooth 44 is formed on the bearing plate 43 and the tooth receptacles 50 on the eccentric 5. It is of course also possible to provide one or more teeth on the eccentric 5, which engage in tooth receptacles formed on the bearing plate 43 and / or the bearing projection 45.

[0031] The locking structure 11 has a plurality of locking receptacles. It is of course also possible to provide locking projections on the eccentric 5 instead of the curved locking receptacles, which engage in locking receptacles formed on the carriage 3. The depth of the locking receptacles and the height of the locking projections can be selected such that sufficiently high holding forces are achieved, with the holder 4 possessing a certain elasticity via the arms 40 and 41. The locking element 8 and the counter-locking element 10 can also be moved slightly relative to one another on the carriage 3.

[0032] In Figure 8Two adjustment devices 1 are shown in a position installed on a drawer 51, although it is also possible to provide only one adjustment device 1 or more than two adjustment devices 1. The drawer 51 comprises a front panel 52 which is held on two side frames 53. The side frames 53 connect the front panel 52 to a rear wall 54 and hold a base 55. Two adjustment devices 1 are fixed to each side frame 53, wherein the front panel 52 can be fixed to the front panel support 2 via a connecting part 56 in order to be held adjustably on the side frame 53. The number of adjustment devices 1 per side frame 53 can be selected depending on the weight of the front panel 52. List of reference symbols

[0033] 1 Adjustment device 2 Front panel support 3 Slide 4 Holder 5 Eccentric 6 Recess 7 Support element 8 Locking element 9 Support element 10 Counter-locking element 11 Locking structure 12 Tool holder 13 Projection 40 Arm 41 Arm 42 Mount 43 Bearing plate 44 Tooth 45 Bearing projection 50 Tooth mount 51 Drawer 52 Front panel 53 Side frame 54 Rear wall 55 Base 56 Connecting part

Claims

1. Adjusting device (1) for a drawer (51) having a front panel (52) which is held on at least one front panel support (2) which has a carriage (3) with at least one latching element (8), and a holder (4) which can be fixed on or in a side frame and on which an eccentric (5) with a latching structure (11) is rotatably mounted, in order to adjust the carriage (3) in the height direction during a rotary movement, characterized in that the at least one latching element (8) is in engagement with the latching structure (11) on the eccentric (5) in an upper region so that the at least one latching element (8) presses on the eccentric (5) from above and prevents an adjustment and a weight force of the front panel has a self-locking effect as the weight force of the front panel (52) acts at least in part on the latching element (8).

2. Adjusting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the carriage (3) is guided adjustably along a vertical guide on the holder (4).

3. Adjusting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one latching element (8) and the latching structure (11)are designed as a latching recess and a latching projection.

4. Adjusting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carriage (3) has a latching element (8) and a counter-latching element (10) which is in engagement with the latching structure (11) on the eccentric (5) on the opposite side.

5. Adjusting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the eccentric (5) comprises a disc which has the latching structure (11) on the outer circumference.

6. Adjusting device according to claim 5, characterized in that the latching structure (11) extends only over part of the circumference.

7. Adjusting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an engaging toothing (44, 50) is formed on the holder (4) and the eccentric (5), which toothing can be fixed in various latching positions.

8. Adjusting device according to claim 7, characterized in that the latching positions of the toothing (44, 50) correspond to the latching positions between the latching structure (11) and the at least one latching element (8).

9. Adjusting device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the toothing (44, 50) comprises at least one tooth which can be inserted into a receptacle, wherein optionally the tooth or the receptacle is formed integrally with the eccentric (5).

10. Adjusting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a tool holder (12) is formed on the eccentric (5).

11. Adjusting device according to claim 10, characterized in that an axis of rotation of the eccentric (5) extends centrally through the tool holder (12).

12. Adjusting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holder (4) and / or the carriage (3) is made of plastic.