Movement mechanism for moving a closure element for the purposes of sealing a waste outlet opening

• US 20060156460A1
• Filed: 12/28/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blanco GmbH + Company KG (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Blanco GmbH + Company KG (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Inventors: Von Mertz, Gert Spruner, Bittger, Dirk
• Application Number:
  US11/321,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20060156460A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/286
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/2304 the actuation force being transmitted to the plug via flexible elements, e.g. chain, Bowden cable
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/242 automatically actuating supply or draining valves

Abstract

In order to provide a movement mechanism for moving a closure element for the purposes of sealing a waste outlet opening, in particular in a sink or a washstand, which is adapted to be operated in a simple and reliable manner and permits of a large degree of flexibility in regard to the design of the sink and the connections to the sink or the washstand, it is proposed that the movement mechanism comprise an electrically operated drive element.

Claims

1. A movement mechanism for moving a closure element for the purposes of sealing a waste outlet opening, in particular a waste outlet opening of a sink or a washstand,

wherein the movement mechanism comprises an electrically operated drive element.

2. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism comprises an electric motor.

3. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism comprises an electrically operated servomotor.

4. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism comprises an electromagnet.

5. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 4, wherein the movement mechanism comprises a coupling device by means of which a linear movement of an element of the electromagnet is convertible into a rotary movement.

6. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 5, wherein the coupling device comprises a Bowden cable.

7. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism comprises a control device for controlling the drive element.

8. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 7, wherein the control device comprises a programmable controller, in particular a micro-controller.

9. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism comprises at least one actuating element for initiating a movement of the closure element.

10. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 9, wherein the actuating element comprises a switch, in particular a push-button switch.

11. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 9, wherein the actuating element comprises a capacitive sensor.

12. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 11, wherein the actuating element comprises a cover for the sensor, preferably on the viewing side.

13. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 12, wherein the cover is formed from a dielectric material.

14. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 9, wherein the actuating element comprises a pressure-sensitive sensor.

15. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 14, wherein the actuating element comprises a piezoelectric sensor.

16. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 14, wherein the actuating element comprises a cover which is moveable relative to a sink or relative to a washstand.

17. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 9, wherein the actuating element comprises at least two sensors which have detection regions that differ from one another, wherein a movement of the closure element is initiated if one of the sensors responds and the respective other sensor does not respond.

18. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 9, wherein the actuating element comprises at least one sensor having adjustable sensitivity.

19. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism comprises a sensor arranged in a housing.

20. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism comprises a plurality of drive elements for moving a respective closure element of a waste outlet opening.

21. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 20, wherein the movement mechanism comprises a plurality of actuating elements, wherein each actuating element is adapted to initiate the movement of a respective closure element associated with said actuating element.

22. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 20, wherein the movement mechanism comprises at least one actuating element with the aid of which the movement of one of at least two closure elements is adapted to be selectively initiated.

23. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 22, wherein the actuating element can be actuated in at least two mutually differing manners, wherein each manner of actuation initiates a respective movement of a closure element that is associated with the manner of actuation concerned.

24. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 23, wherein at least two of the manners of actuation of the actuating element differ in regard to the duration of the effect produced by a user on the actuating element.

25. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 23, wherein at least two of the manners of actuation differ from one another in regard to the number of successive times that an effect is produced by the user on the actuating element within a given time interval.

26. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism comprises at least one overflow sensor which initiates a movement of the closure element associated with the basin concerned upon a given level being reached in a basin of a sink or a washstand.

27. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 26, wherein the drive element is controlled in such a way that it moves the closure element into an open position if the level in the basin exceeds a first threshold value, and wherein it moves the closure element into a closed position if the level in the basin falls below a second threshold value, wherein the second threshold value is lower than the first threshold value.

28. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 27, wherein the overflow sensor produces a signal from which it is apparent as to whether the level in the basin lies above the first threshold value or below the second threshold value.

29. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 27, wherein at least two overflow sensors are arranged on the basin, wherein a first overflow sensor produces a signal from which it is apparent as to whether the level lies above the first threshold value, and a second overflow sensor produces a signal from which it is apparent as to whether the level lies below the second threshold value.

30. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 26, wherein the drive element is controlled in such a way that it moves the closure element into a first open position if the level in the basin exceeds a first threshold value, and wherein it moves the closure element into a second open position if the level in the basin exceeds a second threshold value, wherein the second threshold value lies above the first threshold value and the waste outlet opening is opened to a further extent in the second open position than in the first open position.

31. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 30, wherein the overflow sensor produces a signal from which it is apparent as to whether the level in the basin lies above the first threshold value or above the second threshold value.

32. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 30, wherein at least two overflow sensors are arranged on the basin, wherein a first overflow sensor produces a signal from which it is apparent as to whether the level lies above the first threshold value, and a second overflow sensor produces a signal from which it is apparent as to whether the level lies above the second threshold value.

33. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 26, wherein the drive element is controlled in such a way that it moves the closure element into an open position and leaves it in the open position for a given minimum period of opening if the level in the basin exceeds a threshold value.

34. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 33, wherein the drive element is controlled in such a way that it moves the closure element into a closed position at the expiration of the minimum period of opening if the level in the basin falls below the threshold value at the expiration of the minimum period of opening.

35. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 26, wherein at least two overflow sensors are arranged on the basin, wherein a movement of the closure element is initiated by the drive element only if at least two of these overflow sensors indicate that there is an increased level in the basin.

36. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 35, wherein the at least two overflow sensors are arranged on mutually differing side walls of the basin.

37. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism comprises a signalling device incorporating a signal generator which produces a signal that is perceptible to the user when the closure element is moved by means of the drive element.

38. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 37, wherein the signalling device produces a signal that is perceptible to a user when the closure element is moved as a result of a signal from an overflow sensor.

39. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 37, wherein the signalling device comprises an optical signal generator.

40. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 37, wherein the signalling device comprises an acoustic signal generator.

41. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 37, wherein the signal generator is arranged on the lower surface of a sink or a washstand.

42. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 37, wherein the signal generator produces at least two, preferably at least three, different signals which are associated with different operative states of the movement mechanism.

43. A movement mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism comprises at least one actuating element for initiating a movement of the closure element and a control device which is connected to the actuating element and can be switched into a “

Teach”

mode, in which a manner of actuating the actuating element that is preferred by a user can be set.

44. A sink or washstand, comprising at least one waste outlet opening and a closure element for sealing the at least one waste outlet opening, wherein the sink or the washstand comprises a movement mechanism in accordance with claim 1.