Variable-Length Ejection Lever for Furniture Ejector Torque Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ejectors for furniture parts require multiple designs for varying ejection travel and torque, leading to increased manufacturing costs and potential bending issues during the ejection process.

Innovation Solution

A variable-length ejection lever with a mechanical adjusting device that changes length during the ejection process, allowing for a stable and compact design that influences ejection travel and torque, using a telescopic mechanism with a lever mechanism and transmission to adjust the lever's length.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If different ejection lever designs are used for varying ejection travel and torque requirements, then the ejection process can be optimized for specific applications, but manufacturing costs increase due to multiple designs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveejection process optimizationVSAvoidmanufacturing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The ejection lever is designed with variable length capability, allowing it to dynamically adjust its length during the ejection process. This dynamic adjustment enables a single lever design to optimize ejection travel and torque for different applications, eliminating the need for multiple fixed-length lever designs and reducing manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical parameter of the ejection lever (its length) during operation. By adjusting the lever length between a first position and a second position, the system can optimize performance for different ejection requirements while using a single lever design, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If the ejection lever length is fixed, then manufacturing is simpler, but the ejection process cannot be optimized for different travel and torque requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidejection process adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than using multiple fixed-length levers, the invention employs a single lever that can dynamically change its length. This dynamic capability provides adaptability for different ejection requirements while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardization of the lever design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The variable-length ejection lever is designed to perform multiple functions by adjusting its length. A single universal lever design can handle different ejection travel and torque requirements, replacing the need for multiple specialized lever designs and providing both manufacturing simplicity and operational versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Length of moving object

If the ejection lever is long throughout the entire ejection process, then ejection travel is improved, but the torque requirement increases and space consumption grows

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveejection travelVSAvoidtorque requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The ejection lever dynamically adjusts its length during the ejection process, being longer when ejection travel is needed and shorter when torque requirements would be excessive. This dynamic length adjustment optimizes the balance between ejection travel and torque requirements throughout the motion sequence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The lever length is adjusted in advance to appropriate positions before specific phases of the ejection process. The lever is positioned at a first length for initial ejection phases and adjusted to a second length for subsequent phases, optimizing performance while controlling torque requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Force

If the ejection lever is short, then torque characteristics are improved and space consumption is reduced, but ejection travel is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetorque characteristicsVSAvoidejection travel

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The ejection lever dynamically extends to provide sufficient ejection travel when needed while maintaining shorter lengths during phases where short lever characteristics are advantageous for torque and space considerations. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to achieve both long and short lever benefits during different phases of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8668284B2Ejector for ejecting a movable furniture part

Publication Date: 2014.03.11 JULIUS BLUM GMBH

AI summary

An ejector for ejecting a movable furniture part from a closed end position in or on a furniture body includes an ejection lever that can be driven by an electrical drive unit, in particular an electric motor. The ejection lever has a first ejection lever part and a second ejection lever part that can be moved relative to the first ejection lever part. An adjusting device causes the length of the ejection lever to change during the ejection process as a result of the two ejection lever parts sliding relative to each other.