Furniture Drawer Drive With Integrated Ejection and Retraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drives for movable furniture parts, such as drawers, can only eject the part from a closed position to an open position but cannot move it back to the closed position, limiting their functionality without increasing complexity during installation.
Innovation Solution
A drive system that integrates both ejection and retraction mechanisms, using a common housing and electric motor with a planetary gear system, allowing for bidirectional movement with a single motor and tool-free assembly, utilizing a magnetic brake to switch between ejection and retraction functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a drive system integrates both ejection and retraction mechanisms, then functionality is expanded to enable bidirectional movement, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ejection device and retraction device into a single integrated drive unit with a common housing, allowing both functions to be performed by one drive system rather than requiring separate independent mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
A single electric motor is designed to perform multiple functions by sequentially driving both the ejection lever (for opening) and the roller (for closing), making the motor a multi-functional component that replaces what would traditionally require two separate motors
Solution Approach 3:
The system uses a dynamic clutch mechanism that can switch between different power transmission paths, allowing the single motor to dynamically engage with either the ejection device or retraction device as needed, rather than requiring simultaneous mechanical connections to both functions
2Reliability
If separate electric motors are provided for ejection and retraction devices, then functional independence is achieved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Two separate motors are merged into one common motor that serves both functions, reducing the total component count while maintaining functional independence through sequential operation and clutch-based power distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The clutch mechanism enables dynamic switching of power transmission, allowing the single motor to independently control either the ejection or retraction function as required, maintaining functional independence without requiring two permanently connected motors
3Ease of manufacture
If ejection and retraction devices are arranged in a common housing, then installation simplicity is improved, but space for mechanical components is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The planetary gear set is nested within the common housing, with the sun gear, planet gears, and ring gear arranged in a compact concentric configuration that maximizes space utilization while maintaining mechanical functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The planetary gear mechanism transforms the linear space requirement into a radial arrangement, allowing power transmission components to be packed more efficiently in three-dimensional space rather than requiring linear alignment
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy installation and expanded functionality by allowing the furniture part to be moved both into and out of its closed position with a single drive system, maintaining simplicity and compactness.
Implementation Method 1
which brake can be designed, for example, as a magnetic brake
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a movable furniture part, particularly a furniture drawer, comprising a ejector device having an ejector lever and an electric motor for driving the ejector lever, wherein a retracting device is provided with traction means (4) that can be wound onto a roll (8), wherein the roll (8) can be driven by an electric motor (6, 7), and the ejector device and retracting device are mechanically connected to one another such that they can be mounted as a unit in or on a furniture body.