FLAP DRIVE SYSTEM

• US 20100026153A1
• Filed: 10/15/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Julius BLUM GmbH (BLUM Verwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Julius BLUM GmbH (BLUM Verwaltung GmbH)
• Inventors: MATTLE, Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 8,011,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/319.500
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/401 specially adapted for overhead wings E05D15/403 - E05D15/46 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/46 with two pairs of pivoted arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1058 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/22 Locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/221 Touch latches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/232 by automatically acting means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/3013 during manual wing operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/51 Screwing or bolting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/528 Hooking, e.g. using bayonets; Locking
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/56 Positioning, e.g. re-positioning, or pre-mounting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/626 Plates or brackets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/205 forming a unit
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/232 of motors and transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/238 of springs and transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/70 Retrofitting of elements
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/20 for furniture, e.g. cabinets

Abstract

A flap drive system for a flap mounted in a movable manner on the body of a piece of furniture has a mechanical actuating unit with an actuating arm that can be linked to the flap and with an energy accumulator that can apply a force to the actuating arm. The flap drive system also has an electric drive secured to the actuating unit for driving the flap. The electric drive has at least one electric motor and is designed as a self-contained component, such that the electric drive can be secured to the actuating unit even when the actuating unit is already mounted on the body of the piece of furniture.

Claims

1. A flap drive system for a flap mounted in a movable manner on the body of a piece of furniture, with:

a mechanical actuating unit having an actuating arm which can be connected to the flap and an energy accumulator which acts on the actuating arm and

an electric drive fastened to the actuating unit for driving the flap, the electric drive having at least one electric motor,

wherein the electric drive is embodied as a closed-off component, so that the electric drive can be fastened to the actuating unit even when the actuating unit is already mounted on the body of the piece of furniture.

2. The flap drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein all the components of the electric drive are fastened to a common base plate.

3. The flap drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein all the components of the electric drive are arranged in a common housing.

4. The flap drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an interface is provided for transmitting the drive force from the electric drive to the actuating unit.

5. The flap drive system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the interface establishes a connection for transmitting force between the electric drive and the actuating unit as a result of the fastening of the electric drive to the actuating unit.

6. The flap drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating unit has a housing with a base which can be fastened to the body of the piece of furniture and a covering surface set apart from said base and wherein the electric drive is fastened to the covering surface.

7. The flap drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric drive is fastened to the actuating unit, laterally next to said actuating unit.

8. The flap drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric drive has a gear mechanism.

9. The flap drive system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the interface is coupled to the gear mechanism on the side of the electric drive.

10. The flap drive system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the interface is coupled to the actuating arm on the side of the actuating unit.

11. The flap drive system as claimed in claim 4, wherein a coupling is provided between the at least one electric motor and the interface or between the at least one electric motor and the gear mechanism.

12. The flap drive system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the coupling is embodied in a mechanically flexible manner.

13. The flap drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric drive has a freewheeling coupling for the at least one electric motor.

14. The flap drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one electric motor is mounted in a floating manner in the housing of the electric drive.

15. The flap drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein additional weights are connected to the at least one electric motor.

16. The flap drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a position measuring device is provided for determining the position of the actuating arm.

17. The flap drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a position measuring device is provided for determining the position of the electric motor.

18. The flap drive system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the position measuring device(s) has (have) a rotary potentiometer.

19. A piece of furniture with the body of a piece of furniture and a flap mounted on the body of the piece of furniture in a movable manner, characterized by a flap drive system, mounted on the body of the piece of furniture, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating arm of the flap drive system is connected to the flap.