FURNITURE DRIVE FOR DRIVING A MOVABLE FURNITURE COMPONENT

Abstract

A furniture drive for driving a movable furniture component includes: at least one electric motor; at least one actuator preferably movable back and forth between two end positions for exerting force on the furniture component to be driven; and a gear mechanism connected between the electric motor and the actuator. At least one belt, preferably a toothed belt, connects the electric motor, preferably a shaft of the electric motor or a belt pulley connected thereto, to the gear mechanism, and the electric motor is a disc motor and/or an external rotor motor.

Claims

1. A furniture drive for driving a movable furniture component, the furniture drive comprising: at least one electric motor, at least one actuator, which is preferably movable back and forth between two end positions, for exerting force on the furniture component to be driven, and a gear mechanism connected between the electric motor and the actuator, wherein at least one belt, preferably a toothed belt, is provided, which connects the electric motor, preferably a shaft of the electric motor or a belt pulley connected thereto, to the gear mechanism, wherein the electric motor is designed as a disc motor and/or as an external rotor motor.

2. The furniture drive according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electric motor is designed as a brushless motor, in particular as an EC motor with at least one electronic control unit for magnetic field commutation.

3. The furniture drive according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor: has a width of less than 16 millimeters, preferably less than 10 millimeters, and particularly preferably less than or equal to 8 millimeters, and/or has a diameter of less than 80 millimeters, preferably less than 50 millimeters, particularly preferably less than or equal to 40 millimeters, and/or has a holding torque and/or a maximum torque of less than or equal to 0.3 Newton meters, preferably when a voltage of less than or equal to 50 volts is applied.

4. The furniture drive according to claim 1, wherein the external rotor motor: is designed as a radial flux motor, and/or has a rotor with, preferably at least 6, particularly preferably exactly 14, magnetic poles, and/or has a stator with preferably at least 9, particularly preferably exactly 12, coils.

5. The furniture drive according to claim 1, wherein the disc motor: is designed as an axial flux motor, and/or has a rotor with, preferably at least 4, particularly preferably exactly 8, magnetic poles, and/or has a stator with preferably at least 3, particularly preferably exactly 6, coils.

6. The furniture drive according to claim 1, wherein: the belt and the electric motor are arranged substantially in the same plane, and/or the belt is or can be applied to the shaft or to a belt pulley connected thereto within the electric motor, and/or the belt is arranged or can be arranged partly in an intermediate space between at least two coils and/or magnetic poles arranged on the stator of the electric motor, which is in particular designed as a disc motor, preferably wherein a first strand of the belt is arranged or can be arranged in a first intermediate space and a second strand of the belt is arranged or can be arranged in a second intermediate space different from the first intermediate space.

7. The furniture drive according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of the electric motor is aligned substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of at least one element, preferably all elements, of the gear mechanism.

8. The furniture drive according to claim 1, wherein the belt is made at least in regions of a sound-absorbing material, preferably wherein the sound-absorbing material of the belt is a rubber, a caoutchouc, a plastic, or an open-cell or closed-cell material, preferably a polyurethane elastomer, caoutchouc, silicone, EVA or PE foam and/or neoprene.

9. The furniture drive according to claim 1, wherein the furniture drive comprises at least one housing.

10. The furniture drive according to claim 9, wherein the furniture drive has at least one bearing device via which the electric motor is mounted in and/or on the housing, wherein the at least one bearing device comprises at least one damping element made of a sound-absorbing material, preferably wherein the at least one bearing device has at least one bearing part connected to the electric motor, preferably wherein the bearing part is designed as a steel axle, rivet or pin.

11. The furniture drive according to claim 1, wherein at least one transmission device is provided, with which the gear mechanism is connected to the actuator, preferably wherein the transmission device comprises at least one lever.

12. The furniture drive according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor and the gear mechanism are arranged in a first housing and the actuator is arranged on a second housing which is structurally separate from the first housing, preferably wherein the two housings are arranged in a coupled state substantially in a common plane one above the other.

13. The furniture drive according to claim 1, wherein: at least one lever arrangement is provided, via which the actuator is pivotally connected to the housing, and/or at least one mechanical energy accumulator is provided, with which a force for compensating the weight force of the furniture component to be driven, can be exerted on the actuator, and/or the actuator is arranged substantially completely in the housing in a first end position.

14. The furniture drive according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a maximum width of less than 18 mm, preferably less than 16 mm.

15. A piece of furniture, preferably an upper cabinet, comprising: at least one movable furniture component, preferably in the form of a flap that can be opened upwards, and the furniture drive according to claim 1, wherein the furniture component is movably mounted on the piece of furniture via the at least one furniture drive.

16. The piece of furniture according to claim 15, wherein the piece of furniture comprises at least one wall, wherein the housing of the at least one furniture drive is substantially completely inserted into a recess in the wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Further details and embodiments are shown in the figures, in which:

[0039] FIGS. 1, 2 show a piece of furniture according to an exemplary embodiment in a perspective view (FIG. 1), and in an exploded view (FIG. 2),

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a furniture drive according to an exemplary embodiment without housing cover in a plan view from the side,

[0041] FIGS. 4a, 4b show a housing without housing cover with a gear mechanism and an electric motor in perspective view and side view,

[0042] FIG. 5 shows a housing cover with a gear mechanism and an electric motor in a perspective view,

[0043] FIG. 6 shows a housing with a gear mechanism and an electric motor in exploded view,

[0044] FIG. 7 shows a housing for gear mechanism and electric motor in closed state,

[0045] FIGS. 8a, 8b show the gear mechanism and the electric motor in a side view, opaque and transparent,

[0046] FIGS. 9a, 9b show the gear mechanism and electric motor in an alternative side view, opaque and transparent,

[0047] FIGS. 10a, 10b show the housing without housing cover with the gear mechanism and electric motor with worm gear in perspective view and perspective detailed view,

[0048] FIGS. 11a, 11b show the housing without housing cover with the gear mechanism and electric motor with worm gear in side view and detailed view,

[0049] FIG. 12a shows the disc motor in perspective view,

[0050] FIG. 12b shows the disc motor in exploded view,

[0051] FIG. 13 shows the disc motor with the belt located in the same plane,

[0052] FIGS. 14a, 14b show the external rotor motor in perspective view and side view,

[0053] FIG. 15 shows the external rotor motor in exploded view, and

[0054] FIGS. 16a-16c show the external rotor motor in sectional view, plan view and side view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0055] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a piece of furniture 25 in the form of a wall cabinet, comprising a movable furniture component 2 in the form of a flap that can be opened upwards and furniture drives 1, wherein the furniture component 2 is movably mounted on the piece of furniture 25 via the furniture drives 1. The furniture component 2 can be pivoted about a horizontal axis 31.

[0056] The furniture 25 can comprise a rear wall 28, an upper shelf 29 and a lower shelf 30, as in the case shown, and can comprise walls 26, wherein housings 3, 21 of the furniture drives 1 are each inserted substantially completely into a recess 27 in the walls 26. The housings 3, 21 preferably have a maximum width 24 of less than 18 mm, preferably less than 16 mm.

[0057] An electric motor 4 is arranged in the housing 3, which is only shown schematically in FIG. 2. In particular, the actuator 7, which is connected or connectable to the furniture component 2, is pivotally arranged on the housing 21. Not all furniture drives 1 have to be provided with an electric motor drive unit. In the case shown, only one of the furniture drives 1 has an electric motor drive unit.

[0058] Alternative designs of a piece of furniture are conceivable in which the furniture drives 1 according to the invention are used.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a furniture drive 1 for driving a movable furniture component 2, which furniture drive has at least one electric motor 4, at least one actuator 7, which can preferably be moved back and forth between two end positions, for exerting force on the furniture component 2 to be driven, and a gear mechanism 8 connected between the electric motor 4 and the actuator 7.

[0060] At least one belt 9, preferably a toothed belt, is provided, via which the electric motor 4, preferably a shaft 11 of the electric motor 4 or a belt pulley 12 connected thereto, is connected to the transmission 8. In particular, the belt 9 is connected to a second belt pulley 10 of the gear mechanism 8. The belt 9 can be tensioned by means of a preferably pivotable belt tensioner 13, which engages in the belt 9, for example by a roller.

[0061] Alternatively or additionally, the electric motor 4 can be mounted so that it can be displaced, whereby the belt 9 can be tensioned by displacing the electric motor 4. The electric motor 4 is designed as a disc motor 45 and/or as an external rotor motor 46.

[0062] The electric motor 4 and the gear mechanism 8 can be arranged in a first housing 3, as in the case shown, and the actuator 7 can be arranged on a second housing 21 that is structurally separate from the first housing 3, preferably wherein the two housings 3, 21 are arranged one above the other in a coupled state essentially in a common plane.

[0063] At least one transmission device 20 is provided, with which the transmission 8 is connected to the actuator 7, wherein the transmission device 20 comprises at least one lever. Alternative embodiments of the transmission device 20 are also conceivable. In particular, the transmission device 20 is coupled to the gear mechanism 8 via a non-circular gear 19.

[0064] At least one lever arrangement 22 is provided, via which the actuator 7 is pivotally connected to the housing 21. In the specific case, the lever arrangement 22 forms a 7-joint arrangement.

[0065] At least one mechanical energy accumulator 23 is provided, with which a force for compensating the weight of the furniture component 2 to be driven can be exerted on the actuator 7. The mechanical energy accumulator 23 can have one or more compression springs 34.

[0066] A force transmission lever 35 can be provided to transmit a force stored in the mechanical energy accumulator 23 to the actuator 7. Furthermore, a force adjustment device 33 can be provided, which can preferably be actuated from a front side of the housing 21 and with which a spring preload of the springs 34 can be adjusted. In a first end position, which corresponds to a closed position of the furniture component 2, the actuator 7 is arranged essentially completely in the housing 21.

[0067] The gear mechanism 8 comprises multiple gear stages 32, in which an overload and/or a freewheel clutch can also be integrated. The gear stages 32 can be formed by gears 18 of different sizes.

[0068] FIG. 4a shows an electromotive drive unit with a housing 3 without housing cover, gear mechanism 8 and electric motor 4 in a perspective view. FIG. 4b shows a corresponding side view.

[0069] The axis of rotation of the electric motor 4 is aligned substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of at least one element, preferably all elements, of the gear mechanism 8, in particular the gears 18. In such an installation position, axially flat electric motors 4 require little space in the width direction of the furniture drive 1 and thus allow the provision of a flat furniture drive 1.

[0070] FIG. 5 shows the missing part of the housing 3 not shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b and the gear mechanism 8 and the electric motor 4 from the other side compared to FIGS. 4a and 4b. FIG. 6 shows the housing 3, the gear mechanism 8 and the electric motor 4 in an exploded view. FIG. 7 shows the closed housing 3.

[0071] FIGS. 8a to 9b show the gear mechanism 8 and the electric motor 4 without the housing 3. FIGS. 8a and 8b show the gear mechanism 8 and the electric motor 8 from a first side, FIGS. 9a and 9b show the gear mechanism and the electric motor 8 from a second side. FIGS. 8b and 9b do not show the gear wheels 18 in a opaque manner, whereby the design of the gear stages 32 is visible.

[0072] The gear mechanism 8 reduces the rotation speed. The fastest rotating part, the electric motor 4, is the loudest due to its high speed and should be decoupled. A reduction in the transmission of sound to the gear mechanism 8 is achieved by the fact that the first gear stage is embodied by the belt 9. It can be provided that the belt 9 consists at least in regions of a sound-absorbing material, preferably wherein the sound-absorbing material of the belt 9 is a rubber, a caoutchouc, a plastic, or an open- or closed-cell material, preferably a polyurethane elastomer, rubber, silicone, EVA or PE foam and/or neoprene.

[0073] The sound transmission to the housing 3 can be reduced if the furniture drive has at least one bearing device, via which the at least one electric motor 4 is mounted in and/or on the housing 3, wherein the at least one bearing device comprises at least one damping element made of a sound-absorbing material.

[0074] FIGS. 10a to 11b show an embodiment not according to the invention, in which the first gear stage is realized by means of a worm gear 38. A disadvantage of this embodiment is that sound from the electric motor 4 is easily transmitted to the worm gear 38. In FIGS. 10a to 11b, the axis of rotation of the electric motor 4 is not aligned parallel to the axis of rotation of the elements of the transmission 8. The electric motor 4 would have to have in this case a very small diameter if the furniture drive 1 is to be built flat.

[0075] FIGS. 12a and 12b show an exemplary embodiment of a flat disc motor 6 according to the invention. The rotor 39 and the stator 40 are essentially disc-shaped and arranged axially offset from one another. As can be seen from the exploded view in FIG. 12b, eight magnetic poles 17 are arranged on the rotor 39. However, a different number of magnetic poles 17 is also conceivable.

[0076] A coil carrier 43 is provided on the stator 40, with six coils 16 arranged on the coil carrier 43. However, a different number of coils 16 is also conceivable. In this embodiment, the coils 16 are designed to be core-less.

[0077] A flux conducting part 42 is arranged axially offset on each coil 16. A flux conducting part 42 has essentially the shape of a disc segment with a hole. The flux conducting part 42 consists of a sintered material. The flux conducting part 42 serves to conduct the magnetic flux.

[0078] A coil cover 41 is arranged above the coils 16 and the flux conducting parts 42, wherein preferably a separate coil cover 41 is provided for each coil-flux conducting pair.

[0079] The disc motor 6 is designed as an axial flux motor. Due to the arrangement of the coils 16, the magnetic flux therefore runs in the direction of the axis of rotation of the disc motor 6.

[0080] Since only passive magnetic poles 17 are arranged on the rotor 39, the disc motor 6 can be designed brushless. Preferably, the disc motor 6 is designed as an EC motor (EC means electronically commutated) with an electronic control unit for commutating the magnetic field. The rotor 39 and the stator 40 are connected to each other via a bearing 37.

[0081] The shaft 11, via which the output takes place and on which, for example, the belt pulley 12 is arranged, can project axially beyond the rotor 39 and/or the stator 40, as in FIGS. 3 to 8b. The belt 9 must be arranged axially offset to the electric motor 4. A disadvantage of this embodiment is that the belt 9 contributes to the minimum width of the furniture drive 1.

[0082] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 13, the belt 9 and the electric motor 4 are arranged substantially in the same plane. In particular, the belt 9 is or can be applied to the shaft 11 or a belt pulley 12 connected thereto within the electric motor 4. The belt 9 is partially arranged in an intermediate space between at least two coils 16 arranged on the stator 40 of the electric motor 4 designed as a disc motor 6. Thus, the belt 9 can be guided from the inside of the electric motor 4 to the outside to a second belt pulley 10. In particular, a first strand of the belt 9 is arranged in a first intermediate space and a second strand of the belt 9 is arranged in a second intermediate space different from the first intermediate space. A coil 16, in particular including a coil cover 41, is arranged between the two strands.

[0083] FIGS. 14a and 14b show an external rotor motor 5 according to the invention. The external rotor motor 5 comprises a rotor 39 with 14 magnetic poles 17. However, a different number of magnetic poles 17 is also conceivable. The rotor 39 is in particular ring-shaped, wherein the magnetic poles 17 are arranged on the inside of the ring with alternating polarity. In particular, the magnetic poles 17 are formed as alternately magnetized regions of the ring.

[0084] The external rotor motor 5 also comprises a stator 40 with 12 coils 16. However, a different number of coils 16 is also conceivable. The stator 40 preferably has a star-shaped coil core 15, wherein a coil winding 14 is arranged around each arm of the star-shaped coil core 15, thus forming the coils 16. Due to the orientation of the coils, the external rotor motor 5 is designed as a radial flux motor. Since only passive magnetic poles 17 are arranged on the rotor 39, the external rotor motor 5 can be designed brushless. Preferably, the disc motor 6 is designed as an EC motor (EC means electronically commutated) with an electronic control unit for commutating the magnetic field. The coils 16 are controlled via power and signal lines 36. Sensors, such as Hall sensors, can also be provided in the electric motor 4, for example to determine the position of the rotor 39.

[0085] FIG. 15 shows an external rotor motor 5 in an exploded view. A coil winding 14 is shown removed from the coil core 15. The rotor 39 is connected to the shaft 11 in a rotationally fixed manner via a pressed-in ring 44, with the output being provided via the shaft 11. FIGS. 16a to 16c show a sectional view and a plan view of the external rotor motor 6. In the sectional view (FIG. 16a), the coil winding 14 and the coil core 15 can be seen.

[0086] The electric motor 4, in particular the disc motor 6 shown in FIGS. 12a to 13 and the external rotor motor 5 shown in FIGS. 14a to 16c, can have the following properties: [0087] a width of less than 16 millimeters, preferably less than 10 millimeters and particularly preferably less than or equal to 8 millimeters, and/or [0088] a diameter of less than 80 millimeters, preferably less than 50 millimeters, particularly preferably less than or equal to 40 millimeters, and/or [0089] a holding torque and/or a maximum torque of less than or equal to 0.3 Newton meters, preferably when a voltage of less than or equal to 50 volts is applied.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0090] 1 furniture drive [0091] 2 furniture component [0092] 3 housing [0093] 4 electric motor [0094] 5 external rotor motor [0095] 6 disc motor [0096] 7 actuator [0097] 8 gear mechanism [0098] 9 belt [0099] 10 second belt pulley [0100] 11 shaft [0101] 12 belt pulley [0102] 13 belt tensioner [0103] 14 coil winding [0104] 15 coil core [0105] 16 coil [0106] 17 magnetic pole [0107] 18 gears [0108] 19 non-circular gear [0109] 20 transmission device [0110] 21 housing [0111] 22 lever arrangement [0112] 23 mechanical energy accumulator [0113] 24 maximum width [0114] 25 piece of furniture [0115] 26 wall [0116] 27 recess [0117] 28 rear wall [0118] 29 upper shelf [0119] 30 lower shelf [0120] 31 horizontal axis [0121] 32 gear stages [0122] 33 force adjustment device [0123] 34 compression spring [0124] 35 force transmission lever [0125] 36 power and signal lines [0126] 37 bearing [0127] 38 worm gear [0128] 39 rotor [0129] 40 stator [0130] 41 coil cover [0131] 42 flux conducting parts [0132] 43 coil carrier [0133] 44 ring