Furniture Drive Guide Path Switching for Adjustable Retraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture drives for retracting movable furniture parts face challenges in adjusting retraction path length and spring force, particularly when combined with ejection devices, leading to interference between retraction and ejection forces, and complexity in production due to adjustable components.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a guide track with two spaced bends and a movably mounted switching element that can be switched between two positions to control the driver's locking, allowing for adjustable retraction path lengths and spring forces, and integrating an ejection device with a touch-latch mechanism to facilitate easier opening without handles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the driver is provided with adjusting means (movable pin) to select between two guideways of different lengths, then the retraction path length can be adjusted, but the production complexity increases and the driver can only be guided on one side
Solution Approach 1:
The guideway is segmented into multiple sections with different lengths, and the switching element divides the guideway path into alternative routes. This allows the driver to travel along different path lengths without modifying the driver itself, thereby reducing driver structure complexity while maintaining adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
A switching element is introduced as an intermediary component between the driver and the guideway bends. This switching element controls which bend the driver engages, enabling retraction path length adjustment without requiring adjustable components on the driver, thus simplifying driver production.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the driver is provided with a movable pin for adjusting between two guideways, then retraction path length can be selected, but the driver can only be guided on one side increasing tilting risk
Solution Approach 1:
The guideway is divided into multiple segments with different lengths, allowing the switching element to direct the driver along alternative paths. This segmentation enables path selection without requiring the driver to have movable adjustment components, maintaining driver structural integrity and guiding stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching element acts as a mediator that redirects the driver onto different guideway bends without requiring the driver itself to be adjustable. This keeps the driver structurally simple and stable, eliminating the tilting risk associated with movable pins on the driver.
3Force
If the retraction path is extended to increase spring force for heavily loaded drawers, then the retraction capability improves, but the interference with ejection device forces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the retraction path length based on the operational mode. When ejection is required, the switching element selects the shorter guideway path, reducing the retraction distance and consequently the spring force accumulation, thereby minimizing interference with the ejection device while maintaining adequate retraction capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The retraction path length parameter is made variable through the switching element. By changing the path length parameter, the spring force parameter is consequently adjusted - shorter paths produce less spring force that interferes with ejection, while longer paths provide greater retraction force for heavily loaded drawers.
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
This solution enables variable adjustment of retraction path and spring force, ensuring the movable furniture part can be securely retracted into a closed position while allowing for easy ejection, reducing production complexity and interference between retraction and ejection forces.
Implementation Method 1
a spring device (29) for applying force to the driver (30)
Implementation Method 2
the guideway (26) having a first bend (27) for releasably locking the driver (30)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
A furniture drive (7) for retracting a moveably mounted furniture part (3) into a closed position relative to a furniture body (2), comprising: – a housing (9), – a driver (30) which can be detachably coupled to the movable furniture part (3), – a spring device (29) for applying force to the driver (30), – at least one guide path (26) formed or arranged on the housing (9), along which guide path the driver (30) is movably mounted, wherein the guide path (26) has a first bend (27) for releasable locking of the driver (30), wherein the guide path (26) has at least one second bend (28) for releasable locking of the driver (30), wherein at least one movably mounted switch element (15) is provided with a first and a second switch position, wherein the switch element (15) blocks the first bend (27) in the first switch position, so that the driver (30) can be moved into the second bend (28), and wherein the switch element (15) releases the first bend (27) in the second switch position, so that the driver (30) can be moved into the first bend (27).