ACTUATING DRIVE FOR FURNITURE FLAPS

• US 20160333620A1
• Filed: 07/25/2016
• Published: 11/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Julius BLUM GmbH (BLUM Verwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Julius BLUM GmbH (BLUM Verwaltung GmbH)
• Inventors: HOLZAPFEL, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 9,719,283 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/00 Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups A47B43/00 - A47B95/00; General details of furniture doors E06B
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2003/163 Horizontal pivot-axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/06 with two or more pins E05D7/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/16 with seven parallel pins and four arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/0407 the hinges having two or more pins and being specially adapted for cabinets or furniture
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/105 with a compression spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1058 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1253 with a compression spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/14 with double-acting springs, e.g. for closing and opening or checking and closing no material
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/02 specially for preventing the slamming of swinging wings during final closing movement, e.g. jamb stops
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/618 Transmission ratio variation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/638 Cams; Ramps
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/20 for furniture, e.g. cabinets

Abstract

An actuating drive for moving a flap of an item of furniture, including: an actuating arm pivotally mounted about a pivoting axis for moving the flap, a spring device for applying a force onto the actuating arm, a transmission mechanism for transmitting a force of the spring device onto the actuating arm in a closing direction and for transmitting a force of the spring device onto the actuating arm, and an adjusting device for adjusting a position of an actuating portion of the actuating drive in or along a guide. The actuating drive includes a coupling device coupling the spring device, the pivoting axis of the actuating arm, and the actuating portion to one another. By adjusting the actuating portion in or along the guide, the position of the dead-center of the actuating arm and the force of the spring device acting towards the opening direction can be variably adjusted.

Claims

1. An actuating drive for moving a flap of an item of furniture, including:

at least one actuating arm which is pivotally mounted about a pivoting axis for moving the flap,

a spring device for acting a force onto the actuating arm,

a transmission mechanism for transmitting a force of the spring device onto the actuating arm in a closing direction and, after exceeding a dead-center position, for transmitting a force of the spring device onto the actuating arm in an opening direction,

an adjusting device by way of which a position of an actuating portion of the actuating drive can be adjusted in or along a guide,

wherein the actuating drive includes a coupling device which couples the spring device, the pivoting axis of the actuating arm and the actuating portion to one another, wherein by adjusting the actuating portion in or along the guide, the position of the dead-center of the actuating arm as well as the force of the spring device acting towards the opening direction onto the actuating arm can be variably adjusted, so that upon an increase of the force acting towards the opening direction, also the pivoting angle of the actuating arm, at which the position of the dead center lies, can be reduced.

2. The actuating drive according to claim 1, wherein by way of the adjusting device, the position of the dead-center of the actuating arm, starting from the fully closed position of the actuating arm, can be variably adjusted between 10°

and 30°

, preferably between 15° and

25°

.

3. The actuating drive according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device includes at least one lever which is pivotally mounted about a hinge axis, wherein the guide is arranged or formed on said lever.

4. The actuating drive according to claim 3, wherein the spring device engages the actuating portion via at least one pushing lever and that the pivoting axis of the actuating arm is coupled to the actuating portion via at least one adjusting lever, wherein by adjusting the actuating portion in or along the guide, the position of the pushing lever as well as the position of the adjusting lever relative to the lever can be variably adjusted.

5. The actuating drive according to claim 3, wherein by way of the adjusting device, the position of the actuating portion in or along the guide can be adjusted in a direction towards to and away from the hinge axis of the lever, wherein the relative distance between the actuating portion and the hinge axis of the lever can be reduced and enlarged along a notional connecting line between the actuating portion and the hinge axis of the lever.

6. The actuating drive according to claim 5, wherein by way of the adjusting device, the position of the actuating portion can be adjusted in or along the guide in a direction transverse to said notional connecting line.

7. The actuating drive according to claim 1, wherein the transmission mechanism includes a two-armed deflection lever with two lever ends, the deflection lever is pivotally mounted about a pivoting axis, wherein a first lever end interacts with the spring device and a second lever end interacts with the actuating portion.

8. The actuating drive according to claim 7, wherein the spring device is connected to the first lever end of the deflection lever via at joint, wherein the joint is non-adjustably arranged relative to the pivoting axis of the deflection lever.

9. The actuating drive according to claim 1, wherein the transmission mechanism includes an actuating portion which is movement-coupled to the actuating arm, a control curve and a pressure portion which is acted upon by the spring device, wherein the pressure portion, upon a movement of the actuating arm, can be displaced along the control curve, wherein by adjusting the actuating portion in or along the guide, the position of the pressure portion can be variably adjusted.

10. The actuating drive according to claim 9, wherein the pressure portion is in the form of a rotatably mounted pressure roller.

11. The actuating drive according to claim 10, wherein the actuating portion forms the pivoting axis of the pressure roller.

12. The actuating drive according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting device has an adjusting wheel, wherein by rotating the adjusting wheel, the position of the actuating portion can be adjusted in or along the guide.

13. The actuating drive according to claim 1, wherein the spring device includes at least one coil spring, preferably at least one pressure spring.

14. An arrangement with a flap of an item of furniture and with an actuating drive according to claim 1, wherein by way of the actuating drive, the flap can be moved between a vertical closed position and an open position which is arranged above a furniture carcass.