Drive device for a moveable furniture part and method for opening and closing a moveable furniture part

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drive devices for movable furniture parts require a large installation space due to pivotable levers, which can lead to reliability issues and plastic deformation, compromising operational safety.

Innovation Solution

A compact drive device design featuring an ejector and retraction mechanism with a slidably guided control element, eliminating the need for pivotable levers by using a slide pretensioned by an energy store, allowing for efficient force transmission and reliable operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pivotable locking lever is used to control the ejector device, then the ejector can be unlocked and locked, but the installation space increases and switching reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitching reliabilityVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the pivotable locking lever mechanism with a control element that moves linearly along a guide track on the slide. This substitution eliminates the need for angular movement and pivot points, reducing installation space requirements while improving switching reliability by avoiding bending loads on lever arms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a pivotable lever that rotates to control unlocking, the invention uses a linearly moving control element that travels along a guide track. This inverts the traditional rotational motion approach into a linear motion approach, achieving the same control function with reduced space and improved reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If a long lever arm is used in the locking mechanism, then the angular movement for unlocking is sufficient, but plastic deformation occurs and operational safety is endangered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangular movement capabilityVSAvoidresistance to plastic deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the long lever arm with a compact control element moving along a guide track. This substitution eliminates the lever arm structure entirely, providing sufficient angular movement capability through the linear motion mechanism while completely avoiding the plastic deformation issues associated with long lever arms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a rotational lever arm mechanism operating in one dimension to a linear control element moving along a guide track, utilizing a different dimensional approach to achieve the necessary movement capability without the structural weaknesses of long lever arms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Area of stationary object

If a compact drive device design is used, then installation space is reduced, but force transmission capability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation spaceVSAvoidforce transmission capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the pivotable lever system with a linearly moving control element on a slide with guide track. This substitution achieves compact design with reduced installation space while maintaining force transmission capability through the direct linear contact between the control element and the guide track, eliminating bending loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

The solution ensures reliable control of the ejector device with a compact structure, preventing bending loads and enabling high force transmission without compromising safety, thus enhancing the operational reliability and safety of the system.

Implementation Method 1

an ejector device for moving the movable furniture part from a closed position to an open position, the ejector device being unlockable by moving the furniture part into an overpressure position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnergy storage device (spring): Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3484327B1Drive device for a moveable furniture part and method for opening and closing a moveable furniture part
Publication Date: 2020.11.11 PAUL HETTICH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3484327B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3484327B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3484327B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a drive device for a movable furniture part (3), which drive device comprises a lockable ejection device (6), by means of which the movable furniture part (3) can be ejected from a closed position in the opening direction by a force accumulator (22), wherein the ejection device (6) can be unlocked by overpressing of the movable furniture part (3) from the locked closed position in the closing direction, and a retraction device, which can be coupled to the movable furniture part in a closing range in order to pull the movable furniture part (3) in the closing range into the closed position in the closing direction, wherein the force accumulator (22) of the ejection device can be loaded in a stressing range, which is arranged substantially before the closing range in the closing direction, wherein the ejection device (6) has a slide (30) preloaded by the force accumulator (22), wherein a control element (40) is slidably guided on the slide (30), which control element is coupled to the movable furniture part (3) by means of a driver element (12) and is coupled to a guide track (17) of the ejection device (6). The invention further relates to a method for opening and closing a movable furniture part.