Furniture Ejection Mechanism With Dual Moving Spring Bases

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drive devices for movable furniture parts face challenges in simplifying the tensioning and relaxation of ejection force accumulators, often requiring complex mechanisms to retract the parts back into a closed position.

Innovation Solution

A drive device design where both energy storage bases are movable relative to the carrier during ejection and tensioning, allowing for different movement speeds and directions, enabling simpler tensioning and relaxation of the ejection force accumulator, and incorporating a spring-based ejection force accumulator with a linearly displaceable ejection carriage and rotatable ejection lever.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If one force storage base is fixed during ejection, then the ejection force accumulator can be tensioned effectively, but the device complexity increases and the movement sequence becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveejection force accumulator tensioningVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making both force storage bases movable relative to the carrier during ejection, rather than fixing one base. This dynamic configuration allows the ejection force accumulator to be tensioned effectively while simplifying the overall device structure and movement sequence, as both bases can move freely during the ejection stroke without requiring complex fixed-point mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If the ejection element is tensioned over the same movement path during closing, then the structure is simple, but the ejection element protrudes or retraction becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidejection element retraction
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by implementing a dynamic movement path differentiation. During ejection, both force storage bases move relative to the carrier, allowing the ejection element to extend fully. During closing, the bases return to their initial positions through a different movement sequence. This dynamic approach maintains structural simplicity while preventing ejection element protrusion and enabling smooth retraction without complicated mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If both force storage bases are moved at different speeds during ejection, then the ejection force accumulator is tensioned efficiently, but the control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveejection force accumulator tensioning efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the self-service principle where the different movement speeds of the two force storage bases during ejection are achieved automatically through the mechanical interaction of the spring-based ejection force accumulator itself. The spring mechanism naturally creates the differential movement as it expands, tensioning the accumulator efficiently without requiring external control systems or complex speed-regulation mechanisms. The system self-regulates the movement speeds through its inherent mechanical properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Facilitates easy and efficient ejection and clamping of furniture parts with reduced complexity, allowing for a smooth user experience and optimal adaptation of force to movement sequences, while enabling the ejection force accumulator to be easily tensioned and released.

Implementation Method 1

it is preferably provided that the ejection force accumulator is designed in the form of a spring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

this ejection force accumulator is designed as a tension spring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3374585B1Drive device for a movable furniture part
Publication Date: 2021.09.15 JULIUS BLUM GMBH
  • EP3374585B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3374585B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3374585B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Drive device (1) for a movable furniture part (2), in particular a door or a flap, with a support (3), with an ejection device (4) which is movable relative to the support (3) and intended for ejecting the movable furniture part (2) from a closed position (SS) in the opening direction (OR), wherein the ejection device (4) has an ejection element (5), which is movably mounted on the support (3), and an ejection force accumulator (6) which acts on the ejection element (5) during the ejection process, wherein the ejection force accumulator (6) has a first force accumulator base (K1) and a second force accumulator base (K2), and with a tensioning device (7) for tensioning the ejection force accumulator (6), wherein the entire ejection force accumulator (6) is movable together with the ejection device (4) relative to the support (3), wherein both force accumulator bases (K1, K2) are movable relative to the support (3) during the tensioning process, wherein both force accumulator bases (K1, K2) are movable relative to the support (3) during the ejection process.