AU2008248881B2

AU2008248881B2 - Panel fitting

Info

Publication number: AU2008248881B2
Application number: AU2008248881A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Florian Hettich; Werner Ihnofeld; Andreas Montecchio
Original assignee: Hettich Heinze GmbH and Co KG; Grass GmbH Deutschland
Current assignee: Hettich Heinze GmbH and Co KG; Grass GmbH Deutschland
Priority date: 2007-05-07
Filing date: 2008-03-06
Publication date: 2014-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2028-03-06
Also published as: CN101688412B; EP2142734B1; EP2142734A1; PL2142734T3; ES2543422T3; AU2008248881A1; WO2008135299A1; TW200905058A; DE202007006690U1; RU2455443C2; TWI451021B; RU2009144385A; CN101688412A

Abstract

The invention relates to a panel fitting, particularly for cabinets, comprising a pivot part (4), which can be connected to a panel (3) and is supported on two guide levers (7, 9), and a retaining plate (20), which can be connected to the furniture body (2), wherein on the retaining plate (20) two levers (11, 12) are supported, of which a first lever (11) is connected to the two guide levers (7, 9) in an articulated manner, and a second lever (12) is connected to a guide lever (7) in an articulated manner. A coupling element (30) is provided on a lever (11, 12), or a guide lever (7, 9), the element being displaceable by a drive (32) for moving the pivot part (4). To this end, the coupling element (30) can be mounted with comparatively little effort.

Description

I A panel fitting The present invention relates to a panel fitting, especially for cabinets. In a first aspect there is provided a panel fitting for when used with cabinets, comprising a pivot part which can be connected with a panel and is supported on two guide levers and a retaining plate which can be connected with a furniture body, with two levers comprising a first lever and a second lever being supported on the retaining plate, of which a the first lever is connected with the two guide levers in an articulated manner and a the second lever is connected with one of the two guide levers in an articulated manner, wherein a coupling element is provided on and connected with the first a lever and one of the two guide levers on a hinge axis, which coupling element is displaceable by a drive for moving the pivot part, the drive comprising an electric motor. There are panel fittings for cabinets in which a panel is swiveled upwardly in order to expose an inside space. Such panel fittings are used especially in wall units especially for kitchen furniture. When the flap is in the opened position, the user often needs to grasp upwardly in order to close the panel again. This is conceived to be laborious and not every user is capable of opening and closing the panels disposed in the upper region. Therefore the present invention seeks to provide a panel fitting which is connected in a simple way with a drive for automatically opening and closing the pivot part. This may be achieved by a panel fitting in accordance with the first aspect of the invention. In an embodiment of the invention a coupling element is provided on a lever or guide lever in the panel fitting, which coupling element is displaceable by a drive for moving the pivot part. The arrangement of the coupling element on a lever or guide lever leads to the advantage that the panel fitting can be mounted in a functional way on furniture without the drive device, so that retrofitting of the drive is possible for certain applications. The coupling element can be mounted on the lever or guide lever with a comparatively low amount of mounting work. The coupling element is connected with at least one random lever, i.e. a movable fitting part, in order to enable automatic opening of the panel fitting. The coupling element is connected on one hinge axis with the guide lever and the lever in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The arrangement on the hinge 4859429_2 (GHMatters) P82190.AU 4112113 2 axis is simple for mounting on the one hand and leads to predetermined force conditions for the drive elements on the other hand, depending on the opening angle of the pivot part. The drive is arranged adjacent to the retaining plate on the side averted from the pivot part or beneath the retaining plate for a compact configuration. As a result, the drive is distanced relatively far from the opening region of the panel and can therefore only be seen with difficulty. For simple handling, the pivot part can be fixed by clamping or frictional forces in an opening range, preferably between an opening position of at least 450 to 110*. The drive can thus ensure the opening of the pivot part which can be fixed in a desired angular position. It is not necessary to always open or close the pivot part completely. According to a further embodiment of the invention, a spring is provided by means of which the pivot part is pretensioned in a closed position in the closed position and, after the pivoting of the pivot part beyond the dead center, into the opened position. The spring can be arranged as a spiral spring, pneumatic springs, pressure springs, tension springs or other energy storage means. The spring can reduce the necessary force for displacing the pivot part because a part of the weight is compensated by the spring during the opening of the panel. The motor can thus be provided with a comparatively small configuration. Moreover, the spring pulls the panel to a closed position in order to avoid slight protrusion. Preferably, the driving power of the drive for pivoting the pivot part is differently large depending on the opening position and the opening angle of the pivot part where the largest adjusting force is applied is not the opening angle where the largest power requirement of the drive occurs. In other words, the drive is coupled with the levers or guide levers in such a way that in the maximum opened position in which the largest weight of the panel acts on the pivot part there is a power transmission, so that the drive does not have to provide the maximum power in this opening range. As a result, the motor of the drive can be arranged to be slightly smaller than in the case of a construction in which the power output of the motor occurs directly proportional to the introduction of 3 forces. Preferably, power output is at least 10% to 20% lower than in the case of a drive construction in which there is a direct drive on a lever or a guide lever. The transmission between motor and the lever or guide lever need not occur over the entire pivoting range, but especially only in an end opening range where the largest weights are present. Preferably, the drive comprises an electric motor which is connected with the coupling element via a gear. The coupling element can be held on one side on a gearwheel spaced from its rotational axis and on the opposite side on a hinge axis between a lever and a guide lever. A drive device can thus be provided when using standard components such as gearwheels. In order to ensure rapid opening, the coupling element can achieve a maximum opening speed of the pivot part in a middle swiveling range of the pivot part at constant speed of the drive, since the user wishes to achieve fast opening of the panel in a middle swiveling range, but does not wish to be scared by a protruding panel right at the beginning or be disturbed by loud noises by a hard impact of the flap at the end of the opened position. In this respect, swiveling with different speeds is advantageous. The coupling element is connected with a spindle drive according to a further embodiment of the invention. It can also be mounted in a simple way on the retaining plate or any other component for moving the pivot fitting. It is further possible to provide a drive with a rod assembly which can be moved by a cable that can be wound up. A pivoted lever can also be provided for the drive of the fitting, which lever is held on a hinge point of a lever and is driven on a section that goes beyond the lever. The invention is now explained in closer detail by reference to several embodiments shown in the enclosed drawings, wherein: Figs. lA to IC show different views of a panel fitting in accordance with the invention in different opening positions; Figs. 1 D to IF show several diagrams on mechanical conditions in the panel fitting of Figs. IA to IC depending on the opening angle; 4 Figs. 2A to 2D show several views of a modified panel fitting in different opening positions; Figs. 3A to 3C show several views of a panel fitting in accordance with the invention with a spindle drive; Fig. 3D shows a diagram on the mechanical conditions in the panel fitting according to Figs. 3A to 3C; Figs. 4A to 4C show several views of a further fitting in different opening positions; Figs. 4D and 4E show two diagrams on the mechanical conditions in the panel fitting according to Figs. 4A to 4C, and Figs. 5A and 5B show two different views of a panel fitting according to a further embodiment. Fig. lA shows a panel fitting I which is mounted on a furniture body 2, preferably a cabinet, in order to enable the upward swiveling of a flap 3. For this purpose, a pivot part 4 is fixed to the flap which is arranged in an angular manner and comprises a hinge axis 6 on a section 5 perpendicular to the plane of flap 3 on which a guide lever 7 is held. A further axis 8 is arranged on the section 5 spaced from the axis 6, on which a second guide lever 9 is rotatably held. The guide lever 9 is connected via an axis 16 with a first lever 11 at the end averted from the pivot part 4, which first lever is also coupled with the guide lever 7 in an articulated manner via an axis 17. A second lever 12 is provided spaced from the first lever 11 which is connected one on side in an articulated manner via an axis 13 with the guide lever 7 and at the other end via an axis 14 with a retaining plate 20. As is shown in the Figs. lB and IC, the pivot part 4 can be swiveled relative to the retaining plate 20 for opening the flap 3. The illustrated panel fitting 1 concerns a fitting 5 with seven hinge axes 6, 8, 17, 13, 14 and 15. The arrangement of these axes and the geometry of the levers 7, 9, 11 and 12 can be varied according to the respective application. In order to enable moving the pivot part 4 in an easier manner to the opening position, a spring 25 is provided which is held at one end on an axis 24 which forms a hinge point for a lever 21 and a lever 22. The lever 21 is held in a swiveling manner on the hinge axis 13 and the lever 22 is fixed to an axis 23 on the side averted from the axis 24, which axis 23 is provide on the retaining plate 20. The spring 25 is fixed to a pin 26 on the side averted from the axis 24, which pin is adjustably held on a screw 27 in order to set the spring tension. In the closed position of flap 3, the spring 25 presses the pivot part 4 to the closed position because levers 21 and 22 are moved at first towards one another with the axes 13 and 23 via the mechanism for opening the pivot part 4, so that the length of spring 25 is slightly increased at the beginning. Only after an angle of 150 to 25' for example will the length of the spring be reduced and the spring 25 presses the pivot part 4 to an opened position. After exceeding a dead center, the opening movement is thus supported by the spring 25. A drive device is provided in order to enable opening and closing the panel fitting not only manually but also automatically. It comprises a coupling element 30 in the form of a lever which is held on one side on the hinge axis 13 and on the opposite side on an axis 35 on a gearwheel 33. The gearwheel 33 is rotatably held about a rotational axis 34, with the axis 35 being arranged to be spaced from the rotational axis 34. The gearwheel 33 can be driven by a motor 32 which is connected via an output shaft with a worm 40 and several gearwheels 36, 37, 38 and 39 with the gearwheel 33. A transmission is provided by the gearwheels 36 to 39, so that the electric motor 32 can be provided with a comparatively small overall size. The gearing 31 can also be modified as required. In order to automatically open the flap 3, the motor 32 drives the gearwheel 33 from the position as shown in Fig. 1A in a counter-clockwise manner until the position as shown 6 in Fig. lB is reached at first. In this position, a line is arranged between the axes 13 and 35 of the coupling lever 30 approximately perpendicular to a radial line between the rotational axis 34 and the axis 35, which means the opening of the flap 3 occurs especially quickly in this position because the movement of the coupling rod 30 and the guide lever 7 occurs substantially in a straight line. During further opening, the maximum opening position of the flap is reached according to Fig. 1C. In this position, the gearwheel 33 turns the axis 35 in one direction, which displaces, and even more swivels, the coupling lever 30 only slightly in one direction according to the line of the axes 13 and 35. That is why the opening movement of the flap 3 is comparatively slow at the end of the opening movement, whereas the opening movement of the flap 3 at constant speed of the gearwheel 33 is high in a medium range. Fig. ID shows a diagram on the mechanical conditions during the opening of the panel fitting 1. The force on axis 13 which acts on the guide lever 7 is shown with the line A. A certain amount of force needs to be applied at first for opening the flap 3 against the force of spring 25, with a dead center being passed at which the force of spring 25 acts in the opening direction and the weight force of flap 3 is still comparatively low by the low opening angle. From a certain opening angle, the weight of flap 3 presses the guide lever 7 however and this force will become increasingly larger up until the end position according to Fig. 1C. Graph B shows the torque acting on the gearwheel 33 during the opening of the flap 3. As a result of the arrangement of the drive device with the coupling rod 30 and the gearwheel 33, the torque is slightly lower especially at the end of the opening process, which can be explained with the bearing of the axis 35 on gearwheel 33, since at the end of the opening process the rotation of the gearwheel 33 only causes a slight movement of the flap 3. The required motor output is schematically shown with graph C, depending on the opening angle.

7 Fig. 1 E shows the motor output according to graph C in another resolution, with graph D showing the motor output depending on the opening angle. It can be seen that according to graph B for the torque on the gearwheel the motor output does not rise especially at the end of the opening process, but decreases again. As a result, the maximum required motor output is lower than in a motor which would drive the lever 12 directly for example. The respective electric motor can thus be provided with a comparatively small configuration. Fig. IF schematically shows a power curve for a direct drive, in which the motor drives the lever 12 directly. The required motor output increases up to a maximum at the end of the opening process where the largest weight by flap 3 is present. The motor needs to be provided with a respectively powerful configuration as a result of the higher power consumption at the end of the opening process. In the following embodiments, the fitting parts with the retaining plate 20, the guide levers 7 and 9, the levers 11 and 12 and the pivot part 4 are arranged as in the first embodiment. These components will therefore not be explained again in detail. In the panel fitting as shown in Figs. 2A to 2D, the coupling rod 30' is provided with a modified arrangement and is rotatably held in a modified gearwheel 33'. The gearwheel 33' does not rotate in a counter-clockwise manner as in the first embodiment, but rotates clockwise in order to move the flap 3 at first from a closed position (Fig. 2A) to a slightly opened position (Fig. 2B). The flap 3 is moved to the maximum opening position by further rotation of the gearwheel 33' in a clockwise manner, as is shown in Fig. 2C. Fig. 2D shows a perspective view of the panel fitting, which shows that the fitting parts are arranged to be relatively thin and compact. The mechanical forces, torques and powers are similar to those of the first embodiment. Figs. 3A to 3C show a further embodiment of a panel fitting. The panel fitting comprises a rod-shaped coupling element 50 which is rotatably connected on axis 13 with the guide lever 7. A driver 54 is arranged on the coupling element 50 in a middle region, which 8 driver comprises a spindle nut and is displaceable on a rotatable spindle 53. The spindle 53 is fixed to a spindle housing 52 and driven by a motor 55. The spindle nut with the driver 54 moves by rotation of the spindle 53 and can thus move the coupling element 50 from a closed position (Fig. 3A) via a middle opening position (Fig. 3B) to a fully opened position (Fig. 3C). The spindle drive 51 is fixed to the retaining plate 20. Fig. 3D shows the mechanical conditions in the spindle drive 51 in a diagram. Graph G shows the force on guide lever 7 in the region of bearing 13, with the expenditure of force on guide lever 7 also rising with rising opening angle. Graph H shows the force on spindle 53 which at the end no longer rises but drops, other than the force on guide lever G. This is caused by the alignment of the spindle 53 which is arranged at a predetermined angle relative to the guide lever 7. A respective ratio of gearing in the region of the opening path can thus also be obtained. This leads to a motor output according to graph I which is also lower at the end than in the middle region. Figs. 4A to 4C show a further embodiment of a panel fitting, in which the drive device comprises a coupling element 60 in the form of a lever which is rotatably connected with a further lever 61 via an axis 62. The lever 61 is further fixed on a further axis 63 to the furniture body 2 or a respective retaining plate 20. A cable 64 is provided for opening and closing the flap 3, which cable is fixed on one side to axis 62 and on the opposite side can be wound up on a roller 65. The roller 65 can be driven via a toothed segment 66 which is connected via a gearing with an electric motor 67. By pulling the cable 64, the flap 3 is moved at first from a closed position (Fig. 4A) to a slightly opened position (Fig. 4B). When the cable 64 is wound up further on the roller 65, the flap opens up to a maximum opening position, as is shown in Fig. 4C. Fig. 4D shows the mechanical conditions during the opening of the panel fitting. Graph K shows the force acting on cable 64 depending on the opening angle of flap 3. The force 9 on cable K passes through a maximum which is at a distance from the maximum opening angle. This is caused by the fact that the position of axis 62 changes during the opening of the panel fitting and the force conditions become more favorable. Graph J however shows the force on guide lever 7 in the region of axis 13 which rises continually with increasing opening angle. Graph L shows the necessary motor output which is necessary in opening the flap 3. Since the force on the cable decreases again at the end of the opening path, the motor output also drops again at the end of the opening path, so that the electric motor 67 can be provided with a comparatively small configuration. Fig. 4E shows the power curve of the motor in the drive device with the cable 64 on an enlarged scale. Graph M shows the power curve which demands different output from the electric motor 67 depending on the opening angle, with the power slightly decreasing again especially during the maximum opening angle despite the weight by the flap 3. Fig. 5A shows a further embodiment of a panel fitting, in which the guide lever 7 is moved via a coupling element 70 which is arranged as a lever which can be swiveled about an axis 71 which is simultaneously the axis 14 of lever 12. The coupling element 70 is further coupled via an axis 72 with the guide lever 7, with the axis 72 being identical to the axis 13. The coupling element 70 protrudes beyond the lever 12 and comprises a drive 73 which is swivelable together with the coupling element 70. Drive 73 combs over a gearwheel with a toothed segment 74 which is arranged to be fixed and is fixed to the retaining plate 20 for example. The guide lever 7 and the pivot part 4 are moved by rotating the coupling element 70 about the axis 71, through which the flap 3 is moved from the closed position (Fig. 5A) to an opened position (Fig. 5B). The illustrated embodiments only explain a driven opening and closing of the panel fitting. It is obviously also possible to manually open and close the panel fitting instead. In this case, a coupling in the form of an overload clutch, e.g. a slip clutch arranged on the gearing for example, is provided which permits a manual movement of the pivot part in relation to the retaining plate.

10 It is further possible to connect the drive for the panel fitting with a controller so that an opening or closing of the panel fitting occurs through buttons, switches, sensors or a remote control system. Contact sensors, radio sensors and other sensors and switches for the controller can also be arranged on the furniture body. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 4659429 1 (GHMatters) P82190.AU 5/09/13

Claims

1. A panel fitting when used with cabinets, comprising a pivot part which can be connected with a panel and is supported on two guide levers and a retaining plate which can be connected with a furniture body, with two levers comprising a first lever and a second lever being supported on the retaining plate, of which a the first lever is connected with the two guide levers in an articulated manner and a the second lever is connected with one of the two guide levers in an articulated manner, wherein a coupling element is provided on and connected with the first a lever and one of the two guide levers on a hinge axis, which coupling element is displaceable by a drive for moving the pivot part, the drive comprising an electric motor.

2. The panel fitting according to claim 1 wherein the drive is arranged adjacent to the retaining plate on the side averted towards the pivot part.

3. The panel fitting according to claim I or 2, wherein the pivot part can be fixed by clamping or frictional forces.

4. The panel fitting according to claim 3 wherein the pivot part can be fixed at an opening position of at least 450 to 110*.

5. The panel fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein a spring is provided, by means of which in a closed position the pivot part is pretensioned into the closed position and, after the pivoting of the pivot part beyond the dead center, into an opened position.

6. The panel fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the driving power of the drive for pivoting the pivot part is different at different opening positions, such that the opening angle of the pivot part where the largest adjusting force is applied is not the opening angle where the largest power requirement of the drive occurs. 4859429_3(GHMatteIS)P82190.AU 17/0104 12

7. The panel fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the drive comprises an electric motor which is connected with the coupling element via a gear.

8. The panel fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the coupling element is held on one side on a gearwheel spaced from its rotational axis and on the opposite side on a hinge axis between one of the two levers and one of the two guide levers.

9. The panel fitting according to claim 8 wherein the coupling element achieves a maximum opening speed of the pivot part in a middle swiveling range of the pivot part at constant speed of the drive.

10. The panel fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the coupling element is connected with a spindle drive.

11. The panel fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the drive comprises a rod assembly which can be moved by a cable that can be wound up.

12. The panel fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the coupling element comprises a pivoted lever which is held on a hinge point of one of the two levers and is driven on a section that goes beyond the said lever. 4859429_2 (GHMatters) P82190,AU 2/12/13