Furniture drive device for driving a movable furniture part

Abstract

A furniture drive (1) for driving a movable furniture part (2), comprising: at least one housing (3, 21); at least one electric motor (4); at least one bearing (5) for supporting said electric motor (4) in and / or against said housing (3, 21), said bearing (5) comprising at least one damping element (6, 15) made of a sound-absorbing material; at least one actuator (7) for applying a force to the furniture part (2) to be driven, said actuator (7) being preferably reciprocable between two end positions; A furniture drive (1) comprising a transmission mechanism (8) interposed between an electric motor (4) and an actuator (7), and at least one coupling device (9, 10) for coupling the electric motor (4), preferably a shaft (11) of the electric motor (4) or a gear (12) coupled to the shaft (11), to the transmission mechanism (8), the coupling device (9, 10) being at least partially made of a sound-absorbing material, and the housing (3, 21) having a maximum width (24) of less than 18 mm, preferably less than 16 mm.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a furniture drive for driving a movable furniture part according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a piece of furniture comprising at least one movable furniture part and such at least one furniture drive, the furniture part being movably mounted on the furniture via the at least one furniture drive.

[0002] From the prior art, furniture drives are known in which the electric motor is supported in and / or against the housing by a bearing device with a damping element made of sound-absorbing material, thereby reducing the sound transmission of noise caused by the electric motor.

[0003] Until now, servomotors with relatively low rotational speeds have been used as electric motors, and this has been sufficient. At the same time, the furniture drives have a relatively large structural form and, in the case of hinged fittings, are mounted on the outside of the hinged fitting and are therefore surrounded by air, so sound is in any case only relatively poorly transmitted.

[0004] However, in recent years, there has been a trend towards reducing the structural dimensions of furniture drives, which allows them to be arranged concealed, especially within one wall of the furniture. On the one hand, this requires the use of a separate electric motor with a higher rotation speed. On the other hand, the integration within one wall makes it easier for sound to propagate. In the worst case scenario, the furniture cabinet can act as a resonator.

[0005] Given this, the means for sound reduction known from the prior art are not sufficient.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved furniture drive device compared to the prior art, which is superior in terms of reducing sound transmission, particularly of noise caused by an electric motor, and furniture equipped with such an improved furniture drive device.

[0007] This problem is solved by the features of claims 1 and 13.

[0008] That is, in the furniture drive, at least one coupling device is provided for connecting the electric motor, preferably the shaft of the electric motor or a gear coupled to this shaft, to the transmission mechanism, and this coupling device is at least partially made of a sound-absorbing material.

[0009] In this way, the electric motor is completely decoupled from the housing and the drive train, and on the one hand, it is decoupled from the housing via a bearing device, and on the other hand, it is decoupled from the drive train via a coupling device. In other words, not only is there noise insulation between the motor and the housing, but also noise insulation within the drive train at the same time. This effectively reduces the sound transmission of noise caused by the electric motor.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, at least one coupling device comprises a belt, preferably a toothed belt, which in this case can perform a double function: on the one hand, it forms the first stage of the speed change in the transmission, and on the other hand, the use of the belt provides noise isolation between the motor and the transmission.

[0011] Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that at least one coupling device in the form of a gear wheel is used, which is preferably interposed with a sound-absorbing material in the form of an insert, so that sound can be decoupled in the geared transmission stages.

[0012] The advantages of the present invention are particularly apparent in embodiments in which at least one electric motor is configured as an outer rotor motor or a disk rotor motor. Such motors are advantageous in that they have a relatively flat design. However, they also have high rotational speeds and therefore increased noise emissions, which can be technically advantageously addressed by the present invention.

[0013] A particularly preferred embodiment is characterized in that the at least one bearing device has at least one bearing element connected to the electric motor, preferably configured as a steel mandrel, rivet, or pin. In this connection, it has proven advantageous to arrange at least one first damping element and at least one second damping element on the bearing element, where the first damping element reduces sound transmission between the electric motor and the housing in a first spatial direction and the second damping element reduces sound transmission between the electric motor and the housing in a second spatial direction transverse to the first spatial direction. Preferably, the first and / or second damping elements are configured as damping disks or damping sleeves. In this case, it is conceivable to use foam-molded damping disks and / or damping sleeves into which the steel mandrels / rivets / pins are inserted. A preload can be applied to the damping disks via the housing cover and the housing bottom plate.

[0014] Further advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[0015] Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, which are based on illustrative examples. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a piece of furniture according to one embodiment; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a piece of furniture according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a side plan view of a furniture drive device according to an embodiment without a housing cover. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly including an electric motor. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of an assembly including an electric motor. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a plan view from above of an assembly including an electric motor. [Figure 7]3 is a cross-sectional view along the transverse plane 38 of the assembly with the electric motor, in which the section 44 is additionally shown enlarged. [Figure 8] 1 is a plan view of a part of a furniture driving device including an electric motor, seen from the side. [Figure 9] 4 is a cross-section along a transverse plane 43 of a part of a furniture drive with an electric motor, in which section 45 is additionally shown enlarged. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coupling device including a gear with an insert member. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a coupling device including a gear with an insert member. [Figure 12] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a coupling device with a gear with an insert, in which section 46 is additionally shown enlarged.

[0017] 1 and 2 show a piece of furniture 25 in the form of an upper cabinet, which comprises a movable furniture part 2 in the form of an upwardly openable flap and a furniture drive 1, wherein the furniture part 2 is movably supported on the furniture 25 via the furniture drive 1.

[0018] The furniture part 2 is pivotable about a horizontal axis 31 .

[0019] The furniture 25 may have a facing wall 28, a top panel 29, and a bottom panel 30, as in the illustrated example.

[0020] The furniture 25 may have a wall 26 in which the housings 3, 21 of the furniture drive 1 are each substantially completely inserted into a recess 27 provided in the wall 26.

[0021] The housing 3, 21 suitably has a maximum width 24 of less than 18 mm, preferably less than 16 mm.

[0022] An electric motor 4 is arranged in a housing 3, which is only shown diagrammatically in Figure 2. In the housing 21, in particular, an actuator 7 is arranged pivotably, which is connected or can be connected to a furniture part.

[0023] It is not necessary for all furniture drives 1 to be equipped with an electric motor drive unit: in the illustrated example, only one furniture drive 1 has an electric motor drive unit.

[0024] Alternative configurations of furniture in which the furniture drive according to the invention is used are possible.

[0025] 3 shows a furniture drive 1 for driving a movable furniture part 2, the furniture drive 1 comprising at least one housing 3, 21, at least one electric motor 4, at least one bearing 5 for supporting the electric motor 4 in and / or against the housing 3, 21, the at least one bearing 5 comprising at least one damping element 6, 15 made of a sound-absorbing material, at least one actuator 7 for applying a force to the furniture part 2 to be driven, which is preferably movable back and forth between two end positions, and a transmission 8 interposed between the electric motor 4 and the actuator 7, with at least one coupling 9, 10 for connecting the electric motor 4, preferably a shaft 11 of the electric motor 4 or a gear 12 connected to the shaft 11, to the transmission 8, the coupling 9, 10 being at least partially made of a sound-absorbing material. Optional details of the bearing 5 and the coupling 9, 10 are shown in the following figures.

[0026] The electric motor 4 and the transmission mechanism 8 may be arranged in a first housing 3, as in the illustrated case, and the actuator 7 may be arranged in a second housing 21 structurally separated from the first housing 3, preferably in this case both housings 3, 21 being arranged one above the other in a connected state and substantially in one common plane.

[0027] At least one transmission 20 is provided which couples the transmission mechanism 8 to the actuator 7, in this case the transmission 20 comprising at least one lever. Alternative configurations of the transmission 20 are possible.

[0028] At least one lever assembly 22 is provided which pivotally couples the actuator 7 to the housing 21. In the specific case, this lever assembly 22 forms a 7-joint assembly.

[0029] At least one mechanical energy accumulator 23 is provided, which can apply a force to the actuator 7 to compensate for the weight of the furniture part 2 to be driven. This mechanical energy accumulator 23 may comprise one or more compression springs 34.

[0030] A force transmission lever 35 may be provided to transmit the force stored in the mechanical force accumulator 23 to the actuator 7 .

[0031] Furthermore, a force adjusting device 33 may be provided which is preferably accessible from one end face of the housing 21 and which allows the spring preload of the spring 34 to be adjusted.

[0032] The actuator 7 is arranged substantially completely within the housing 21 in a first end position which corresponds to the closed position of the furniture part 2 .

[0033] The powertrain 8 comprises a number of powertrain stages 32 which may also incorporate overload protection clutches and / or freewheel clutches.

[0034] 4 to 7 show an assembly comprising an electric motor 4.

[0035] In this assembly, the coupling device 9 comprises a belt which may be configured as a toothed belt in the illustrated case, and which may have an internal toothing which cooperates with the teeth of a gear wheel 12 arranged on the shaft 11 of the electric motor 4. This internal toothing is not shown in the drawings.

[0036] The teeth arranged on the inner surface of the belt may be made of an elastomer, such as rubber, chloroprene rubber, hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, or the plastic polyurethane.

[0037] In the illustrated example, the at least one electric motor 4 is configured as an outer rotor motor, although it is also conceivable to use a disk rotor motor as an alternative.

[0038] The electric motor 4 is supplied via an energy and signal line 36 .

[0039] The electric motor 4 has a motor flange 37 .

[0040] The at least one bearing device 5 has at least one bearing element 14 connected to the electric motor 4, in this case the bearing element being formed as a steel mandrel, rivet or pin.

[0041] In the particular case, more than one, preferably three, bearing devices 5 are provided for supporting the electric motor 4 in and / or against the housing 3 .

[0042] The sound-absorbing material of the damping elements 6, 15 of the bearing device 5 and / or the connecting device 9, 10 is, for example, rubber, plastic or an open-cell or closed-cell material, preferably polyurethane elastomer, rubber foam, silicone foam, EVA foam or PE foam.

[0043] 8 and 9 show part of a furniture drive 1 with an electric motor 4.

[0044] At least one first damping element 6 and at least one second damping element 15 are arranged on the support member 14, where the first damping element 6 is arranged to reduce the transmission of sound between the electric motor 4 and the housing 3 in a first spatial direction 16, and the second damping element 15 is arranged to reduce the transmission of sound between the electric motor 4 and the housing 3 in a second spatial direction 17 transverse to the first spatial direction 16, preferably where the first and / or second damping element 6, 15 are formed as damping disks or damping sleeves.

[0045] The bearing device 5 has at least one free end 18 arranged in a recess 19 in the housing 3 .

[0046] The electric motor 4 and the motor flange 37 are not in direct contact with the housing 3 at any point.

[0047] 10-12 show a coupling device 10 comprising gears interposed with sound absorbing material, preferably in the form of interposers 13. In the embodiment shown in FIG.

[0048] The interposer 13 is arranged between a first gear element 39 and a second gear element 40. The first gear element 39 is connected to the interposer 13 via a first form-locking connection 41. The second gear element 40 is connected to the interposer 13 via a second form-locking connection 42. The interposer 13 reduces sound transmission between both gear elements 39, 40.

[0049] Gears may be used, for example, as a first powertrain stage and / or may be combined with a belt as shown in the previous figures.

Claims

1. A furniture drive (1) for driving a movable furniture part (2), comprising: at least one housing (3, 21); at least one electric motor (4); at least one bearing (5) for supporting said electric motor (4) in and / or against said housing (3, 21), said at least one bearing (5) comprising at least one damping element (6, 15) made of a sound-absorbing material; - at least one actuator (7), preferably reciprocable between two end positions, for applying a force to said furniture part (2) to be driven; a transmission mechanism (8) interposed between the electric motor (4) and the actuator (7); In a furniture driving device (1), The furniture drive device (1) is characterized in that at least one coupling device (9, 10) is provided for coupling the electric motor (4), preferably a shaft (11) of the electric motor (4) or a gear (12) coupled to the shaft (11) to the transmission mechanism (8), and the coupling device (9, 10) is at least partially made of a sound-absorbing material.

2. 2. Furniture drive (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one coupling device (9) comprises a belt, preferably a toothed belt.

3. 3. Furniture drive (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one coupling device (10) comprises a gear wheel interposed with a sound-absorbing material, preferably in the form of an interposing piece (13).

4. 4. The furniture drive (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electric motor (4) is configured as an outer rotor motor or a disk rotor motor.

5. 5. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one bearing device (5) has at least one bearing element (14) connected to the electric motor (4), the bearing element preferably being formed as a steel mandrel, rivet or pin.

6. 6. The furniture drive (1) according to claim 5, wherein at least one first damping element (6) and at least one second damping element (15) are arranged on the support member (14), the first damping element (6) being arranged to reduce sound transmission between the electric motor (4) and the housing (3) in a first spatial direction (16), and the second damping element (15) being arranged to reduce sound transmission between the electric motor (4) and the housing (3) in a second spatial direction (17) transverse to the first spatial direction (16), and preferably the first and / or second damping elements (6, 15) being formed as damping disks or damping sleeves.

7. 7. Furniture drive (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the bearing device (5) has at least one free end (18) arranged in a recess (19) in the housing (3).

8. 8. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 1, further comprising more than one, preferably three, bearing devices (5) for supporting the electric motor (4) within and / or against the housing (3).

9. 9. The furniture drive (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sound-absorbing material of the damping elements (6, 15) of the bearing device (5) and / or the connecting device (9, 10) is rubber, plastic or an open-cell or closed-cell material, preferably polyurethane elastomer, rubber foam, silicone foam, EVA foam or PE foam.

10. 10. The furniture drive device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising at least one transmission device (20) for connecting the transmission mechanism (8) to the actuator (7), the transmission device (20) preferably comprising at least one lever.

11. 11. The furniture drive device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor (4) and the transmission mechanism (8) are arranged in a first housing (3), and the actuator (7) is arranged in a second housing (21) structurally separated from the first housing (3), and preferably both housings (3, 21) are arranged one above the other in a coupled state substantially in one common plane.

12. - at least one lever assembly (22) is provided which pivotally couples said actuator (7) to said housing (21); and / or at least one mechanical energy accumulator (23) is provided which is able to apply a force to the actuator (7) to compensate for the weight of the furniture part (2) to be driven, and / or - the actuator (7) is arranged substantially completely within the housing (21) in the first end position; Furniture drive (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. 13. Furniture drive (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (3, 21) has a maximum width (24) of less than 18 mm, preferably less than 16 mm.

14. A piece of furniture (25), preferably an upper cabinet, comprising at least one movable furniture part (2), preferably in the form of an upwardly openable flap, and at least one furniture drive (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the furniture part (2) is movably supported on the piece of furniture (25) via the at least one furniture drive (1).

15. 15. The furniture (25) according to claim 14, wherein the furniture (25) has at least one wall (26), and the housing (3, 21) of the at least one furniture drive device (1) is substantially completely inserted into a notch (27) provided in the wall (26).

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