Abstract
Workstation for a user (10), in particular intended for a user's (10) keyboard work, the workstation (11) comprising a working surface (12) which is movable in relation to the workstation (11), a motor (16) arranged to drive the working surface (12) of the workstation (11), when the workstation (11) with the working surface (12) thereof is situated on a first lower vertical level (LL), downward and forward from an upper position (UTP) to a lower position (LTPSit) and from said lower position (LTPsit) back to said upper position (UTP) according to a determined length of stroke (42, 43) of a first movement pattern, wherein said motor (16) is adapted to drive said working surface (12) of the workstation (11) when the workstation (11) with the working surface (12) thereof is situated on a second upper vertical level (UL) in a second movement pattern deviating from the first movement pattern.
Claims
1. A workstation, comprising: a working surface movable in relation to the workstation, a motor configured to drive the working surface, and a control unit configured to control the motor to: continuously drive the working surface, when the workstation is situated on a first lower vertical level, in a reciprocating movement downward and forward from an upper position to a lower position and from said lower position back to said upper position according to a first movement pattern in which the working surface moves with a predetermined length of stroke, and continuously drive said working surface, when the workstation is situated on a second upper vertical level, in a reciprocating movement according to a second movement pattern deviating from the first movement pattern and having at least one measure of vertical position change or one measure of horizontal position change.
2. The workstation of claim 1, wherein the length of stroke of the movement of the working surface on the second upper vertical level is smaller than the length of stroke of the movement of the working surface on the first lower vertical level.
3. The workstation of claim 1, wherein the working surface or a part thereof is displaceable laterally for at least one of adjustment or for driven lateral movement.
4. The workstation of claim 1, wherein the working surface is angled away from a user when the working surface is moving away from the user and is angled toward the user when the working surface is moving toward the user.
5. The workstation of claim 4, wherein the maximal angle movement on the first lower vertical level is 020.
6. The workstation of claim 4, wherein the maximal angle movement on the second upper vertical level is 035.
7. The workstation of claim 1, wherein the movement downward and the movement forward of the first movement pattern take place simultaneously.
8. The workstation of claim 4, wherein the maximal angle movement on the first lower vertical level is 10.
9. The workstation of claim 4, wherein the maximal angle movement on the second upper vertical level is 20.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Now, the invention will be described in more detail, references being made in connection with the accompanying drawing figures.
(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows a workstation on a lower level according to an embodiment of the invention.
(3) FIG. 2 schematically shows a workstation on an upper level according to an embodiment of the invention.
(4) FIG. 3 shows a control panel of the workstation.
(5) FIG. 4 shows a first movement pattern of the working surface.
(6) FIG. 5 shows a second movement pattern of the working surface.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(7) FIG. 1 schematically shows a sitting user 10 at a workstation 11 on a first lower vertical level LL. The workstation 11 is provided with a movable working surface 12, which is movable at least downward and forward from an upper position to a lower position and from said lower position back to said upper position according to a determined length of stroke of a movement path of a first movement pattern. The working surface constitutes a part of a support base, usually a tabletop on which for instance a keyboard and a mouse may be placed, which perform the movement pattern which will be described in the following. With working surface, reference is henceforth accordingly made also to the base that comprises the working surface. The working surface 12 is in its top position situated flush with the surface of the stationary tabletop 14 of the workstation 11. The working surface 12 in the figure is shown in two positions according to a selected movement pattern wherein the working surface 12 in the shown upper position has moved downward and forward from the level of the table face. In the shown lower, second position in the figure, the working surface 122 has moved further downward and forward from the level of the table face and has also been angled 15 away from the user 10. The workstation 11 is provided with a front means 13 formed as a metal sheet, which eliminates the arisen gap between the stationary table 14 of the workstation 11 and the movable working surface when this is moving downward. The purpose of the front means is primarily to avoid crushing injuries but also to prevent the keyboard from falling off the movable working surface. The table is preferably provided with a retraction arranged in the edge of the table and in this, a smaller leaf is fitting with said working surface 12, which leaf with working surface is movable in a path that extends downward and in under the table, i.e., from the user. The leaf with the working surface 12 is suspended on the underside of the table in swinging arms attached to a bracket, not shown. The figure also shows a motor 16 which in the embodiment illustrated is placed on the underside of the table 14 and intended to drive the working surface 12 according to a preselected movement pattern.
(8) Independently of the angle position or the extent of projection of the leaf, the angle between the hand and the leaf can be retained. This means that the hands 15 of the user, during the entire movement path of the working surface 12, can retain the position thereof in relation to, for instance, a keyboard and possibly the appurtenant support at the same time as the wrist is working at different angles in relation to the forearm. In this way, parts of the musculoskeletal system, for instance the tendons that connect the fingers with the appurtenant muscles, will obtain a superimposed movement.
(9) Also the elbow joint and the shoulder obtain continuous angular changes during the motor driven movement of the leaf backwards and forwards between the positions shown in FIG. 1.
(10) FIG. 2 shows the workstation 11 on an upper vertical level UL, which corresponds to a standing workplace for a user 10. On this upper level UL, the movement path is identical to the movement path of the lower level LL, indicated by a dashed line, but the movement pattern is however different. In the figure, this movement pattern is shown as the working surface 12 in the shown upper position having moved downward and forward from the level of the table face. In the shown lower position, the working surface 122 has moved further downward and forward from the level of the table face but, however, not as far downward as when the workstation with the working surface thereof is situated on the first lower vertical level according to FIG. 1. Within the scope of the invention, also the movement path may be deviating between the two levels shown, for instance that the working surface in the sitting position according to FIG. 1 moves further in under the table than in the standing position according to FIG. 2. In such an embodiment having deviating movement paths, the front means 13 is manufactured from a resilient material, for instance plastic or rubber, or replaced by safety equipment for avoiding risk of crushing. The movement pattern according to FIG. 2 has an angulation of the working surface 12 that is smaller than its angulation in FIG. 1.
(11) Thus, the working surface 12 has a movement pattern deviating from the first movement pattern according to FIG. 1 when the workstation 11 is situated on a second upper vertical level UL according to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 also shows that the length of stroke of the movement of the working surface 12 on the second upper vertical level UL of the workstation 11 is shorter than the length of stroke of the movement of the working surface 12 on the first lower vertical level LL of the workstation 11. The motor 16 may also be adapted to a driving of the workstation with the working surface thereof between the first lower vertical level LL and the second upper vertical level UL. The movement path defines the horizontal and vertical move of the working surface while the movement pattern comprises the movement path, the upper and lower positions of the movement path and the angulation of the working surface.
(12) The leaf with the working surface 12 is also movable laterally, which may be effected in its own pace alternatively synchronized with some one of the other movements. Instead of letting the entire leaf move laterally, it is conceivable that a part of the leaf is movable laterally and intended to support a keyboard, not shown in more detail. By the lateral movement of the keyboard, it is guaranteed that the reciprocating movement of the arms does not take place along exactly the same path each time, which additionally decreases the risk of wear, at the same time as the blood supply is improved. This lateral movement may also comprise an angular movement of the working surface.
(13) The motor driven movement or movements does/do not have to follow the same cycle all the time but the length of stroke and the turning-points may be varied in time by, for instance, reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor. The variation may also be effected randomly.
(14) Instead of motor operation, it is conceivable that the user presses the table from himself/herself against the action of a spring. It is also conceivable that the table in addition to the motor driving also has a limited resilience.
(15) The desirable movements and the movement ranges, respectively, may also be provided using other movement elements than those described above, for instance co-operating linear controls or rotary motors acting directly on relevant shafts, admitting varying movement paths.
(16) By the fact that a static working posture is avoided, the work also becomes more comfortable and less tiring.
(17) FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a control panel 30 to control and program the movements of the working surface. The control panel 30 is provided with home level button 31 by which the vertical level of the workstation returns to the upper level thereof and the panel is shut off. A start button 32 regulates the continuous movement of the workstation. A pause button 33 is used to stop the movements of the workstation. In addition, a parameter adjustment button 34 is arranged to increase and decrease, respectively, +/, speeds and positions and possibly angles of the working surface. The control panel 30 is furthermore provided with setting buttons 35, 36, 37 one speed button 35 of which regulates the speed of movement of the working surface and a top position button 36 for a determination of the upper turning position, UTP, of the working surface as well as a bottom position button 37 for a determination of the lower turning position, LTP, of the working surface. These setting buttons are used together with the +/button 34 to indicate selected position, which is displayed on a stroke length indicator 38. Correspondingly, the +/button 34 is used together with the speed button 35 to indicate selected speed on a speed indicator 39. The indicators for length of stroke and speed are formed as light emitting diodes.
(18) Within the scope of the invention, a further embodiment could be mentioned for a control panel which also can regulate the extent of the angular change of the working surface and the distance within which the angular change should be effective.
(19) FIG. 4 shows a first movement pattern of the working surface wherein the upper turning position, UTP, of the working surface 12 is situated near the maximal upper position, which is indicated on the Z-axis. In case the workstation is situated on an upper vertical level, which corresponds to a standing workplace, the working surface 12 will move downward and forward, i.e., in a direction away from the user, from the upper turning position, UTP, to the lower turning position, LTP.sub.stand, and from said lower turning position back to said upper turning position according to a determined horizontal and vertical length of stroke of this first movement pattern. The horizontal length of stroke 41 is equivalent to the horizontal move of the working surface 12. As seen in the figure, the working surface is held essentially horizontal during the entire movement, which generally is equivalent to the curvature of the front means 13. The vertical length of stroke is UTP-LTP.sub.stand according to the figure.
(20) In case the workstation is situated on a lower vertical level, which corresponds to a sitting workplace, see FIG. 1, the working surface 12 will also move downward and forward, i.e., in a direction away from the user, from the upper turning position, UTP, to the lower turning position, LTP.sub.sit, and from said lower turning position back to said upper turning position, UTP, according to a determined horizontal and vertical length of stroke of this first movement pattern. This movement is defined as a movement cycle of the working surface 12. As seen in FIG. 4, the horizontal length of stroke 42 in the sitting position is longer than the horizontal length of stroke 41 in the standing position. In addition, the vertical length of stroke 43 in the sitting position, UTPLTP.sub.sit, is longer than the vertical length of stroke 44 in the standing position UTPLTP.sub.stand, which is LTP.sub.sit.+LTP.
(21) The movements of said first movement pattern may be continuous or be intermittent and in which latter case the movement is stopped after a certain number of cycles and after that is restarted after a determined lull period and continues in the same intermittent way. A stop may also take place within a movement cycle.
(22) FIG. 5 shows a second movement pattern of the working surface 12 wherein the front edge thereof moves along the front means 13. According to this second movement pattern, the working surface 12 will also undergo an angular rotation, which in the lower turning position of the sitting position, LTP.sub.sit, assumes the value from it in the upper turning position, UTP, having been 0 or near 0. In a similar way, the working surface 12 in the lower turning position of the standing position, LTP.sub.stand, will undergo an angular rotation, which assumes the value from it in the upper turning position, UTP, having been 0 or near 0. As seen in the figure, usually <.
(23) For possible embodiments, 020 applies, preferably 10 and that 035, preferably 20.
(24) Thus, =0 and =0 for the first movement pattern shown in FIG. 4 while the angles for the second movement pattern shown in FIG. 5 assumes angles different from 0.
(25) Also a third movement pattern wherein the working surface in the position in LTP.sub.stand has =0 while the working surface in the position LTP.sub.sit has 0 and for instance assumes the value 20.
(26) Correspondingly, a fourth movement pattern can be identified wherein the working surface in the position in LTP.sub.stand has 0 and for instance assumes the value 10 while the working surface in the position LTP.sub.sit has =0.
