Furniture Drive Latching Slide Coupling for Quiet Retraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive devices for movable furniture parts require complex and costly separate coupling processes for ejection and retraction mechanisms, leading to increased noise and design complexity.
Innovation Solution
A drive device where the retraction slide is coupled to the ejection slide via a latching element, which serves both for locking the ejection slide to the housing and the retraction slide, simplifying the mechanism and reducing noise by integrating the locking and unlocking processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate coupling processes are used for ejection element and retraction device, then reliable locking and unlocking is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ejection slide and retraction slide into a single integrated drive device with a common housing. The ejection slide and retraction slide share the same structural platform and are coordinated through a unified control mechanism, eliminating the need for separate coupling processes while maintaining reliable locking and unlocking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive device housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for both the ejection and retraction mechanisms, houses the control system for coordinated operation, and integrates the locking/unlocking control for both slides. This multi-functional design reduces overall device complexity while ensuring reliable operation.
2Reliability
If separate locking and unlocking devices are used for retraction slide and ejection slide, then reliable position control is achieved, but noise and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a unified control mechanism that coordinates the locking and unlocking operations of both the ejection slide and retraction slide. Instead of separate locking devices operating independently, a single control system manages both mechanisms, reducing the number of mechanical interactions that generate noise while maintaining precise position control.
Solution Approach 2:
The control mechanism ensures continuous and coordinated operation of the ejection and retraction slides, eliminating gaps or interruptions in the locking/unlocking sequence. This continuous action reduces impact noise and vibration by ensuring smooth transitions between states, while maintaining reliable position control throughout the entire operation cycle.
Data Source
AI summary
A drive device for a movable furniture part, with a housing, an ejecting slide which is mounted movably in or on the housing and is intended for ejecting the movable furniture part from a closed position in the opening direction, a draw-in slide which is movable relative to the housing and is intended for drawing the movable furniture part from an open position into the closed position, and a latching element which is mounted movably on the ejecting slide and via which the ejecting slide is locked to the housing at least in the closed position, wherein the draw-in slide is coupleable to the ejecting slide via the latching element.