DRIVE DEVICE FOR MOVING A MOVABLE PART OF A PIECE OF FURNITURE AND PIECE OF FURNITURE WITH SUCH A DRIVE DEVICE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive device for moving a movable part of a piece of furniture and to a piece of furniture with such a drive device.

[0002] Furniture can be open, e.g., as a shelf, or at least partially closed, with a movable part allowing the furniture to be opened and closed. Movable parts include, in particular, doors, flaps, and drawers with lockable fronts. For convenience, the movable parts can be motorized to move between a closed and an open position.

[0003] EP 2 660 544 A2 discloses a drive device for a door of a refrigerator. A straight toothed rack can be moved along a movement axis. The movement of the rack drives a stationary gearwheel, which meshes with the rack and has a constant base circle diameter, to rotate. The gearwheel also meshes with a pivotably mounted pivot lever, to which the refrigerator door is attached, so that rotation of the gearwheel causes the pivot lever to pivot. US 2006 / 053916 A1 and KR 2007 0111856 A each also disclose a drive device in which a stationary gearwheel meshes with a toothed rack, so that a movable part pivots relative to a fixed part.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of providing a drive device for moving a movable part of a piece of furniture that enables variable drive of the movable part of the furniture. Furthermore, the invention is based on the object of proposing a piece of furniture with such a drive device.

[0005] To achieve the object, a drive device for moving a movable part of a piece of furniture is proposed, comprising: a housing that can be connected to a body of the furniture; an actuator that is connected to the housing; a first rack that can be moved by the actuator along a movement axis between a first end position and a second end position; a second rack that is fixedly connected to the housing; and a toothed actuating element that engages with the first rack and the second rack and is connectable to the movable part of the furniture.

[0006] In one possible embodiment, the toothed adjusting element can be movably mounted between the first rack and the second rack along an adjusting track. The adjusting track can have a course that deviates from a straight line.

[0007] In another possible embodiment, a resulting contact force between the first rack and the toothed actuator can be directed along a first contact force line. The angle between the first contact force line and the movement axis can be variable depending on the position of the first rack along the movement axis.

[0008] A first position range of the first rack can be limited on one side by positioning the first rack in the first end position. The angle between the first contact force line and the movement axis in the first position range can increase with increasing distance of the first rack from the first end position. The increase in the angle between the first contact force line and the movement axis can, in particular, be progressive in the first position range.

[0009] Alternatively or in combination, a second position range of the first rack can be arranged behind the first position range in a direction from the first end position to the second end position. In the second position range, the angle between the first contact force line and the movement axis in the second position range can decrease with increasing distance of the first rack from the first end position. The decrease in the angle between the first contact force line and the movement axis in the second position range can, in particular, be degressive.

[0010] In one possible embodiment, a measuring gear can be rotatably mounted on the housing and engage with a measuring section of the toothing of the first rack. The measuring section can be designed as a straight rack. The measuring gear can have a constant base circle diameter. The measuring gear can be configured to detect the position of the first rack.

[0011] In one possible embodiment, a threaded rod of the actuator can be rotatable about a rotational axis. A threaded element can engage with a thread of the threaded rod with a counter thread, so that when the threaded rod rotates, the threaded element is displaced along the movement axis. The threaded element can be firmly connected to the first rack.

[0012] In another possible embodiment, a resulting contact force between the second rack and the toothed actuator can be directed along a second contact force line. The angle between the second contact force line and the movement axis can vary depending on the position of the first rack along the movement axis.

[0013] A third position range of the first rack can be limited, on the one hand, by the positioning of the first rack in the first end position and, on the other hand, by the positioning of the first rack in the second end position. In the third position range, the angle between the second contact force line and the movement axis can increase, at least in sections, with increasing distance of the first rack from the first end position. The increase in the angle between the second contact force line and the movement axis can, in particular, be progressive in the third position range.

[0014] In another possible embodiment, the toothed adjusting element can have a first toothed outer contour section and a second toothed outer contour section. The toothed adjusting element can engage with the first rack via the first toothed outer contour section and with the second rack via the second toothed outer contour section.

[0015] The toothed adjusting element can have a connecting pin. The connecting pin can extend transversely, in particular orthogonally, to the axis of movement. The toothed adjusting element can be kinematically connected to the movable part of the furniture via the connecting pin.

[0016] The connecting pin can be guided in a slot of the housing. When the first rack moves along the movement axis between a first end position and a second end position, the connecting pin can move along the adjustment track.

[0017] To achieve the object, a piece of furniture is further proposed, comprising: a body, a part movable relative to the body, an actuating arm, and a drive device in a previously described embodiment, wherein the housing is connected to the body; and the toothed actuating element is connected to the movable part via the actuating arm.

[0018] An exemplary embodiment of a drive device according to the invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Herein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a drive device for moving a movable part of a piece of furniture in an embodiment according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a side view of the drive device from Figure 1 without the cover element; wherein the first rack is arranged in the first end position; Figure 3 the view from Figure 2; wherein the first rack is arranged in a first intermediate position; Figure 4 the view from Figure 2 ; wherein the first rack is arranged in a second intermediate position; Figure 5 the view from Figure 2 ; wherein the first rack is arranged in a third intermediate position; Figure 6 the view from Figure 2 ; wherein the first rack is arranged in the second end position; and Figure 7 shows an enlarged view of detail VII from Figure 3 .

[0019] In the Figures 1 to 7, which are described together below, a drive device 1 for moving a movable part of a piece of furniture is shown. The drive device 1 comprises a housing 2 that can be connected to a side wall of a piece of furniture (not shown). The movable part of the furniture is also not shown in the present case. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that this is a door, a flap, a lid, or similar elements that can optionally open or close the interior of the furniture. The drive device 1 is connected to the movable part of the furniture via an actuating arm (not shown).

[0020] In particular, a spring force accumulator can be arranged between the side wall of the piece of furniture and the housing 2, by means of which spring force can be applied to the actuating arm. The housing 2 can thus be indirectly connected to the side wall via the spring force accumulator. In this case, the drive device 1 can be connected to the movable part of the piece of furniture via the spring force accumulator and the actuating arm.

[0021] The housing 2 comprises a front wall 3 and a rear wall 4. The front wall 3 is detachably connected to a frame of the housing 2. The front wall 3 can thus also be referred to as a cover element. The rear wall 4 is integrally formed with a frame of the housing 2.

[0022] An electric motor 7 is mounted in the housing 2 of the drive device 1 and is connected to a threaded rod 9 via an angular gear 8. The electric motor 7 is connected to a power source and a control unit via cables (not shown). The power source and the control unit can be arranged either inside the housing 2 or outside it.

[0023] The threaded rod 9 is straight and extends along a rotation axis L_9. In the present case, a rotor axis L_7 of the electric motor 7 and the rotation axis L_9 are arranged transversely, in particular orthogonally, to each other. The rotor axis L_7 and the rotation axis L_9 can be arranged skew to each other. It is understood that the rotor axis L_7 of the electric motor 7 and the rotation axis L_9 can also be aligned parallel to each other or identically, in which case an angular gear could be omitted.

[0024] The threaded rod 9 is mounted at one end in the angular gear 8 and at an opposite end in the frame of the housing 2. A threaded element 10 is arranged on the threaded rod 9. The threaded element 10 comprises an internal toothing that engages with an external toothing of the threaded rod 9. By rotating the threaded rod 9, the threaded element 10 can be displaced along the rotation axis L_9 between a first end position and a second end position.

[0025] The threaded element 10 is firmly connected to a first rack 11. If the threaded element 10 is displaced along the rotation axis L_9 due to the rotation of the threaded rod 9, the first rack 11 is also displaced in a movement axis B. The movement axis B and the rotation axis L_9 are arranged parallel to each other in the present case. However, it is also conceivable that the movement axis B and the rotation axis L_9 are identical. By rotating the threaded rod 9, the rack 11 can thus be displaced along the movement axis B between a first end position and a second end position. The first rack 11 is in Figure 2 in the first final position and in Figure 6 shown in the second final position.

[0026] The first rack 11 has a first toothed section and a second toothed section. The first rack 11 meshes with the first toothed section having a toothed adjusting element 16 and with the second toothed section having a measuring toothing 21 of a measuring gear 20. The first toothed section can thus also be referred to as the movement toothing 12, and the second toothed section 13 as the measuring toothing.

[0027] The motion gearing 12 has a shape that deviates from a straight line. The tooth tips and roots of the individual teeth of the motion gearing 12 thus each lie on a path that deviates from a straight line, or rather, on a curve. It is understood that the curves of the tooth tips and roots do not have to be exactly identical. From the perspective of the first rack 11, the curve or curves each have a concave initial section and a concave end section, which are connected to each other via a convex intermediate section.

[0028] The curve or curves can also be described as having a starting section and an end section which are connected to one another via an intermediate section, wherein the curve, in the direction of view from the second end position towards the first end position, has an increasing distance from the rotation axis L_9 in the starting section and the end section and has a decreasing distance in the intermediate section.

[0029] Alternatively, the shape of the motion gear 12 that deviates from a straight line can be described by the curve formed by connecting the center points of the flanks of the individual teeth of the motion gear 12. A center point of the flanks is the point that divides the flank into exactly two equal parts.

[0030] The curve of the center points has a shape that deviates from a straight line. From the perspective of the first rack 11, the curve of the center points has a concave initial section and a concave end section, which are connected by a convex intermediate section.

[0031] The curve of the center points can also be described as having a starting section and an end section which are connected to one another via an intermediate section, wherein the curve, in the direction of view from the second end position towards the first end position, has an increasing distance from the rotation axis L_9 in the starting section and the end section and a decreasing distance in the intermediate section.

[0032] The measuring gear 13 is designed as a straight rack. The measuring gear 13 meshes with a gear 21 of the measuring gear 20. The measuring gear 13 and the gear 21 of the measuring gear 20 are complementary to each other. The measuring gear 20 is mounted on the housing 2 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis. The gear 21 extends over part of the circumference of the measuring gear 20. The measuring gear 20 is connected to a sensor (not shown) for determining the angle of rotation of the measuring gear 20, for example, to an incremental sensor. The sensor can detect the position of the first rack 11 by determining the angle of rotation of the measuring gear 20. The sensor transmits the corresponding signal to the control unit.

[0033] The movement gearing 12 and the measuring gearing 13 can be arranged offset from one another transversely to the rotation axis L_9 or lie in a common plane. The movement gearing 12 and the measuring gearing 13 can be arranged axially overlapping one another with respect to the rotation axis L_9.

[0034] The toothed adjusting element 16 has a first toothed section and a second toothed section. The first section of the adjusting element 16 engages with the movement toothing 12 of the first rack 11 and can thus also be referred to as movement toothing 17. The movement toothing 17 of the adjusting element 16 is designed to complement the movement toothing 12 of the first rack 11. The movement toothing 17 of the adjusting element 16 and the movement toothing 12 of the first rack 11 mesh with one another. The movement toothings 12 and 17 are designed such that when the first rack 11 moves in one direction, at least one tooth is in contact with a respective counter tooth. In other words, the profile overlap of the tooth pair of the movement toothings 12 and 17 is greater than or equal to 1 at every point.

[0035] The second toothed portion of the adjusting element 16 engages with a supporting toothing 15 of a second rack 14 and can thus also be referred to as a supporting toothing 18. The second rack 14 is firmly connected to the housing 2 or is integrally formed therewith.

[0036] The supporting toothing 15 has a shape that deviates from a straight line. The tooth tips and roots of the individual teeth of the supporting toothing 15 thus each lie on a path that deviates from a straight line, or rather, on a curve. It is understood that the curves of the tooth tips and roots do not have to be exactly identical. The curve or curves are convex from the perspective of the second rack 14.

[0037] Alternatively, the shape of the support toothing 15 which deviates from straight can be described by the curve which is formed by connecting the centre points of the flanks of the individual teeth of the support toothing 15.

[0038] The curve of the center points has a shape that deviates from straight. The curve of the center points has a convex shape from the perspective of the second rack 14.

[0039] The support teeth 18 of the adjusting element 16 are designed to complement the support teeth 15 of the second rack 14, so that the two support teeth mesh with each other when the first rack 11 moves. The support teeth 15 and 18 are designed such that when the first rack 11 moves in one direction, at least one tooth is in contact with a respective counter tooth. The profile overlap of the tooth pair of the support teeth 15 and 18 is thus greater than or equal to 1 at every point.

[0040] In other words, the adjusting element 16 is mounted between the first rack 11 and the second rack 14 in each position of the first rack 11 between the first end position and the second end position.

[0041] A resulting contact force between the first rack 11 and the toothed actuator 16 is directed in the direction of a first contact force line K1. An angle α1 is formed between the first contact force line K1 and the movement axis B, which angle varies depending on the position of the first rack 11 along the movement axis B.

[0042] A first position range of the first rack 11 is limited on one side by positioning the first rack 11 in the first end position. The Figures 2 and 3The positions of the first rack 11 shown, for example, lie within the first position range. In this first position range, the angle α1 between the first contact force line K1 and the movement axis B increases with increasing distance of the first rack 11 from the first end position. In the present case, the increase in the angle α1 between the first contact force line K1 and the movement axis B is progressive in the first position range. However, a linear increase is also conceivable, for example, depending on the desired course of the actuating track of the actuating element 16.

[0043] A second position range of the first rack 11 is arranged behind the first position range in a direction from the first end position to the second end position. Figure 4The position of the first rack 11 shown, for example, lies within the second position range. The angle α1 between the first contact force line K1 and the movement axis B decreases in the second position range with increasing distance of the first rack 11 from the first end position and becomes negative. The decrease in the angle α1 between the first contact force line K1 and the movement axis B in the second position range is degressive in the present case. However, a linear decrease is also conceivable, for example, depending on the desired course of the actuating track of the actuating element 16.

[0044] A third position range of the first rack 11 is arranged behind the second position range in a direction from the first end position to the second end position. Figures 5 and 6The position of the first rack 11 shown, for example, lies within the third position range. The angle α1 between the first contact force line K1 and the movement axis B increases in the third position range with increasing distance of the first rack 11 from the first end position and becomes positive. The decrease in the angle α1 between the first contact force line K1 and the movement axis B in the third position range can be selected depending on the desired course of the actuating track of the actuating element 16.

[0045] A resulting contact force between the second rack 14 and the toothed actuating element 16 is directed in the direction of a second contact force line K2. The angle α2 between the second contact force line K2 and the movement axis B varies depending on the position of the first rack 11 along the movement axis B. The angle α2 between the second contact force line K2 and the movement axis B increases, at least in sections, with increasing distance of the first rack 11 from the first end position. The decrease in the angle α2 between the second contact force line K2 and the movement axis B is progressive in the present case. However, a linear increase is also conceivable, for example, depending on the desired course of the actuating track of the actuating element 16.

[0046] The actuating element 16 has a connecting pin 19 that extends orthogonally to the movement axis B of the first rack 11. When the first rack 11 moves from the first end position toward the second end position, the movement pin 19 is displaced along an actuating track. The actuating track is designed to deviate from a straight line. In this case, the actuating track essentially follows a parabola. However, it is also conceivable, for example, for the actuating track to follow a circular path.

[0047] The connecting pin 19 extends through a slot 6 in the rear wall 4 and can be connected to the actuating arm directly or indirectly via the spring force accumulator. The slot 6 extends along the actuating track with a slot width that essentially corresponds to the diameter of the connecting pin 19.

[0048] A slot 5 is also formed in the front wall 3, which extends along the adjusting track and into which the connecting pin 19 extends. List of reference symbols

[0049] 1Drive device 2Housing 3Front wall 4Rear wall 5Slot 6Slot 7Motor 8Angle gear 9Threaded rod 10Threaded element 11Tooth rack 12Movement gearing 13Measuring gearing 14Tooth rack 15Support gearing 16Adjusting element 17Movement gearing 18Support gearing 19Connecting pin 20Measuring gear 21Measuring gearing BMovement axis KForce contact line LAxes αAngle

Claims

1. A drive device for moving a movable part of a piece of furniture, comprising: a housing (2) that can be connected to a body of the furniture; an actuator (7), which is connected to the housing (2); a first toothed rack (11), which can be moved by the actuator (7) along an axis of movement (B) between a first end position and a second end position; a second toothed rack (14) which is firmly connected to the housing (2); and a toothed actuating element (16) which engages with the first toothed rack (11) and the second toothed rack (14) and can be connected to the movable part of the furniture.

2. Drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that the toothed actuating element (16) is mounted between the first toothed rack (11) and the second toothed rack (14) so as to be movable along an actuating track, wherein the actuating track has a course that deviates from a straight line.

3. Drive device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that a resulting contact force between the first toothed rack (11) and the toothed actuating element (16) is orientated in the direction of a first contact force line (K1), wherein the angle (α1) between the first contact force line (K1) and the axis of movement (B) varies depending on the position of the first toothed rack (11) along the axis of movement (B).

4. Drive device according to claim 3, characterized in that a first position range of the first toothed rack (11) is limited on one side by a positioning of the first toothed rack (11) in the first end position, and that the angle (α1) between the first contact force line (K1) and the axis of movement (B) in the first position range increases with increasing distance of the first toothed rack (11) from the first end position, wherein the increase in the angle (α1) between the first contact force line (K1) and the axis of movement (B) is particularly progressive in the first position range.

5. Drive device according to claim 4, characterized in that a second position region of the first toothed rack (11) is arranged behind the first position region in a direction from the first end position towards the second end position, that the angle (α1) between the first contact force line (K1) and the axis of movement (B) in the second position range decreases and particularly becomes negative with increasing distance of the first toothed rack (11) from the first end position, wherein the decrease in the angle (α1) between the first contact force line (K1) and the axis of movement (B) is particularly degressive in the second position range.

6. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a measuring gear (20) is rotatably mounted on the housing (2) and engages with a measuring section (13) of the first toothed rack (11), that the measuring section (13) is designed as a straight toothed rack, and that the measuring gear (20) has a constant base circle diameter, wherein the measuring gear (20) is designed to detect the position of the first toothed rack (11).

7. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a threaded rod (9) of the actuator (7) is rotatable about an axis of rotation (L_9), and that a threaded element (10) with a mating thread engages in a thread of the threaded rod (9) so that the threaded element (10) is displaced along the axis of movement (B) when the threaded rod (9) is rotated, wherein the threaded element (10) is firmly connected to the first toothed rack (11).

8. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a resulting contact force between the second toothed rack (14) and the toothed actuating element (16) is orientated in the direction of a second contact force line (K2), wherein the angle (α2) between the second contact force line (K2) and the axis of movement (B) varies depending on the position of the first toothed rack (11) along the axis of movement (B).

9. Drive device according to claim 8, characterized in that the angle (α2) between the second contact force line (K2) and the axis of movement (B) increases at least in sections as the distance of the first toothed rack (11) from the first end position increases, wherein the decrease in the angle (α2) between the second contact force line (K2) and the axis of movement (B) is particularly progressive in the third position range.

10. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the toothed actuating element (16) has a first toothed outer contour section (17) and a second toothed outer contour section (18), wherein the toothed actuating element (16) engages with the first toothed rack (11) via the first toothed outer contour section (17) and with the second toothed rack (14) via the second toothed outer contour section (18).

11. Drive device according to claim 10, characterized in that the toothed actuating element (16) has a connecting pin (19) which extends transversely, in particular orthogonally, to the axis of movement (B) and via which the toothed actuating element (16) can be connected to the movable part of the furniture, wherein the connecting pin (19) is guided in particular in a slot (5, 6) of the housing (2).

12. Drive device according to claim 11, characterized in that when the first toothed rack (11) moves along the axis of movement (B) between a first end position and a second end position, the connecting pin (19) moves along the adjustment track.

13. Furniture comprising: a body, a part that can be moved relative to the body, a actuating arm, and a drive device according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the housing (2) is connected to the body; and the toothed actuating element (16) is connected to the movable part via the actuating arm.