EP1517625A1

EP1517625A1 - Height adjustable working table

Info

Publication number: EP1517625A1
Application number: EP03712042A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rainer Schmidt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-06-20
Filing date: 2003-03-17
Publication date: 2005-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-17
Also published as: AU2003218784A1; ATE308261T1; US20050172869A1; DK1517625T3; EP1517625B1; DE50301570D1; ES2252662T3; WO2004000067A1; DE20209604U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a height adjustable working table ( 1 ) with two guide tracks ( 3 ) for mounting a working surface ( 2 ) which may adjusted for height by means of a drive motor ( 15 ) with cable pulleys and draw cables ( 13 ).

Description

Height adjustable work table

The invention relates to a height-adjustable work table with two guide rails for receiving a worktop, which is adjustable in its working height by a drive motor with cable drums and pull cables.

Work tables are known, which also include desks or workbenches which consist of a metallic frame which carries the so-called worktop. The frame initially consists of a base frame, which consists of at least two outer tubes which are spaced apart via a strut and which can have a different cross-sectional shape and cross-sectional size. Inner tubes are slidably guided in the outer tubes, which are connected to one another either exclusively via the worktop, but if necessary also additionally via a strut. An outer tube and an inner tube each form a support leg of the work table. In order to be able to change or enlarge the height of the worktop, a rope is connected in the upper area of the base frame, preferably in the upper area of the outer tube, which leads to the lower end of the inner tube, deflects there, leads up again and then in protrudes the upper region of the outer tube into the base frame and is picked up there by a pulling unit, which can be designed, for example, as a cable drum. All cables of the support legs are connected to the traction unit. By moving the traction unit accordingly, the inner tubes are now gradually pushed out of the outer tubes, but within predetermined limits, so that the worktop is raised. When the traction unit moves in the opposite direction, the traction cables are released again and the inner tubes move back into the outer tubes due to the weight, in particular the worktop. The pulling unit can be moved either manually or using a special drive.

Such work tables are relatively complex and expensive to manufacture. This is due in particular to the fact that the outer and inner tubes that form the support legs are special profiles and have special sliders have to be brought together very precisely. Due to the design of the upper and lower frame, the work table is always fully assembled before delivery, which entails high transport costs. Such a work table is also relatively heavy, which has a disadvantageous effect when it is set up.

The invention is based on the object of creating a work table with a height-adjustable worktop which has a relatively low weight and is extremely inexpensive. In addition, the work table should be designed so that it can be easily dismantled into its individual parts, can be packed in a small space and can be easily assembled by a layperson.

To solve this problem, a work table according to claim 1 is proposed according to the invention.

A work table designed in this way has a relatively low weight with high stability and is inexpensive to produce. Standard tubes can be used for the guide rails, so that no special production is required. The work table can be disassembled into individual pieces and packed into a carton with a small footprint, stored at low cost and thus transported in a space-saving manner. Its design enables any layperson to assemble the work table according to the invention without any special skill. The worktop is moved downwards by its weight, so that the risk of the user being crushed is considerably reduced. The rope guide is designed so that the rope never falls out of its career. The worktop can be suspended on more than two ropes, each of which is driven. All drive cables are guided on a drum. The suspension point is above the highest table position. When at least one rope is relieved, the motor preferably switches off automatically and / or the motor is reversed by electronic control in order to avoid tilting of the worktop or injury to the user. Different table heights can be saved. The worktop can be tilted or completely folded away. Further features of a work table according to the invention are disclosed in claims 2 to 9.

The invention is explained below with reference to drawings 1-14. These explanations are only examples and do not limit the general idea of the invention.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the work table according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the drive of the worktop

Figure 3a shows an embodiment of the storage of the pull rope

Figure 3b shows an embodiment of the storage of the worktop on the

guide rail

Figure 4 shows the arrangement of the motor on the table top

FIGS. 5-14 show further embodiments of the work table according to the invention.

FIG. 15 shows a further embodiment of the work table according to the invention.

In Figure 1, a work table 1 according to the invention in side elevation is shown in section, the section running parallel to the narrow side of a worktop 2. The work table 1 consists of two vertically running guide rails 3, which in the exemplary embodiment shown are designed as support legs, are arranged on the rear of the worktop 2 and are each made from a square tube and advantageously have a square cross section. Of course, other cross-sectional shapes can also be selected. It is advisable to use cross-sectional shapes that are available on the market as standard tubes and that do not require special production do. The outer cross-sectional dimension of the support legs 3 is approximately 40 to 50 mm. In the lower area of each support leg 1, two struts 4, 5, which run obliquely to the support leg 3, are connected, for example by welding, which also consist of a commercially available tube, which run at an angle of approximately 90 ° to one another and over which the support leg 3 extends supports the ground. The support leg 3 is thus formed in one piece with the two struts 4, 5.

Both support legs 3 formed in one piece with the struts 4, 5 are fixed, but releasably connected by a sheet 6 having an L-shaped cross section. This connection is made, as indicated in the drawing, by screws 7. These screws 7 are inserted into so-called gusset plates 8, which are inserted in the plate 6. However, it is also possible to connect these parts to one another in a form-fitting manner, for example by “hooking in.” This detachable connection enables the work table 1 to be disassembled and then the support legs 3 with the struts 4, 5 to be packed in the smallest space Actual assembly, the two support legs 3 are first set up and connected to one another via the sheet 6. This creates a stable, load-bearing unit 6. The sheet 6, which has an L-shaped cross section, can be used as a so-called cable duct.

The work table 1 also has two crossbeams 9, which are bent in a U-shape from sheet metal with a wall thickness of 2.00 to 4.00 mm and are open at the bottom. The web of these cross members 9 is notched at their rear ends, so that one cross member 9 can be slid on from above via a support leg 3. Both trusses 9 are firmly connected to one another by a U-shaped sheet 10 with a wall thickness of 1.50 to 3.00. This connection can already be made at the factory and can be designed to be detachable or non-detachable. For the packaging of the work table 1, however, this connection does not have to be separated, since the base area of this unit is not larger than the total area of the support legs 3. In order to be able to move the two crossbeams 9 on the support legs 3 and thus be able to raise and lower them , Each crossmember 9 has an upper, rear and a lower, front rollers 11, 12, which are formed, for example, by a ball bearing and are rotatably held between the legs of a crossmember 9 and on one Support leg 3. In addition, on each side leg of the crossbeams 9 there is also a sliding piece which bears against the vertical support leg 3, so that good and secure guidance of the crossbeams 9 on the support legs 3 is ensured.

The U-shaped plate 10 is inserted open between the two traverses 9 and accommodates a drive motor known per se with a shaft and at least one cable drum with two pull cables 13 guided over deflection rollers. The arrangement of two rope drums is also possible. These parts are known per se and were therefore not shown in the drawing.

As soon as the assembly described above has been carried out, the free ends of the traction cables are each attached to an upper end of the support legs 3, which are specially designed for this purpose. The traction cables 13 are guided in deflection pulleys in such a way that they can never leave the running groove of the deflection pulleys, even when the cable tension decreases. This also applies when the work table 1 is disassembled for transport and the traction cables 13 are unhooked for this purpose. After the drive motor has been switched on, both traverses 9 are pulled upwards simultaneously and smoothly by the motor, or let down by their own weight and the weight of the worktop 2. The worktop 2, which is fastened on the two cross members 9, for example by means of screws, can thus be raised or lowered. The downward movement of the crossbeams 9 and thus the lowering of the worktop 2 takes place exclusively through the dead weight of worktop 2, crossbeams 9 and U-shaped sheet metal 10 with the drive parts located therein. The drive does not exert any forces on the crossbeams 9. If the tension of the traction cables diminishes, the drive motor is switched off immediately via a special switch. The adjustment stroke of the worktop 2 is approximately 600 mm and enables a working height of the worktop 2 between 650 and 1250 mm.

In a modification of the exemplary embodiment explained, it is possible not to arrange the vertical tubes of the support legs 3 on the rear, but laterally on the worktop 2. The crossbeams 9 should then run as far as possible in front of the support legs 3 so that sufficient stability of the work sches 1 is guaranteed. If necessary, the support legs 9 with the struts 4, 5 are then to be designed differently.

Figure 2 shows a possible embodiment of the drive of the worktop 2, which is mounted on the guide rails 3 as described above. The pull rope 13 is supported at one end at the upper end of the guide rail 3. The traction cable is rolled up and down on the cable drum 14 by means of the motor 15.

Figure 3a shows a preferred embodiment of the suspension 16 of the rope 13 at the upper end of the guide rail. The suspension 16 essentially consists of a stopper 17, which is preferably at least partially positively received by the guide rail 3 and is supported on the wall thereof. The rope is arranged in the plug 17 in such a way that it can be subjected to tension (represented by the arrow). To assemble the work table according to the invention, the plug 17 is pushed onto the guide rail 3 and can be accepted again during the disassembly.

Figure 3b shows a preferred embodiment of the mounting of the crossmember 9 on the guide rail 3 in two views. In the present case, the rollers 11, 12 engage the inner cross section of the profile 3, the rollers 12 being arranged at the front and the rollers 11 at the rear. The person skilled in the art recognizes that in this case the profile must have a slot 20 in which the crossmember moves up and down. In addition, a roller 18 is attached in the traverse, around which the cable 13 is deflected by the cable drum (not shown) to the holder 16 (not shown).

FIG. 4 shows the mounting of the motor 15 and the cable drum 14 on the worktop 2, the worktop 2 not being shown. The pull rope 13 is guided by the rope drum 14 via a roller 19 to the roller 18. It can be seen that two traction cables 13 run on a roller 14, so that the up and down movement on the two guide rails 3 (only one shown) does not have to be synchronized. The person skilled in the art recognizes that three or more traction cables can also be guided on a cable drum. FIGS. 5-14 show possible embodiments of the work table according to the invention. In the embodiment according to FIG. 8, the work table has three guide rails 3, so that the worktop is raised or lowered at three points. The work table according to FIG. 10 has a hinge 21 so that the worktop 2 can be folded down and hinges 25 with which the leg supports 26 can be folded in. In the embodiment according to FIG. 11, the work table is arranged in a box, for example in order to be able to raise or lower a television. In Figure 12, the guide rails 3 are mounted on a wall and in Figure 13, the guide rails 3 are designed as support legs and non-positively connected by the cross member 22. FIG. 14 shows a further embodiment of the crossmember 22, which in the present case interacts positively with the support legs 3, which are braced together by the ropes 23.

FIG. 15 shows a further embodiment of the work table 1 according to the invention. The work table 1 consists of two vertically running guide rails 3, which in the exemplary embodiment shown are designed as support legs, are arranged on the rear of the worktop 2 and are each made from a square tube and advantageously have a square cross section. Of course, other cross-sectional shapes can also be selected. It is advisable to use cross-sectional shapes that are available on the market as standard tubes and that do not require special production. The outer cross-sectional dimension of the support legs 3 is approximately 40 to 50 mm. In the lower region of each support leg 1, two struts 4, 5, which run obliquely to the support leg 3, are connected, for example by welding, which also consist of a commercially available tube, which run at an angle of approximately 90 ° to one another and over which the support leg 3 extends supports the ground. The support leg 3 is thus formed in one piece with the two struts 4, 5.

Both support legs 3 formed in one piece with the struts 4, 5 are fixed to one another by a sheet metal (not shown), but are detachably connected to one another. This detachable connection gives the opportunity to disassemble the work table 1 and then pack the support legs 3 with the struts 4, 5 in the smallest space. In the Actual assembly, the two support legs 3 are first set up and connected to one another via the sheet metal. This creates a stable, load-bearing unit.

The work table 1 also has two crossbeams 9, which are bent in a U-shape from sheet metal with a wall thickness of 2.00 to 4.00 mm and are open at the bottom. In order to be able to move the two crossbeams 9 on the support legs 3 and thus raise and lower them, each crossbeam 9 has an upper, rear and a lower, front roller 11, 12, which is formed, for example, by a ball bearing and rotatable between the legs of a crossbeam 9 are held and rest on a support leg 3. The person skilled in the art recognizes that in this case the profile must have a slot in which the crossmember moves up and down.

As soon as the assembly described above has been carried out, the pull cable 13 is guided by the motor 15 over a deflection roller 30 and fastened to the cross member 9 in the region of the roller 12. After the drive motor has been switched on, both traverses 9 are pulled upwards simultaneously and smoothly by the motor, or let down by their own weight and the weight of the worktop 2. The worktop 2, which is fastened on the two cross members 9, for example by means of screws, can thus be raised or lowered. The downward movement of the crossbeams 9 and thus the lowering of the worktop 2 takes place exclusively through the weight of the worktop 2 and crossbeams 9. The drive does not exert any forces on the crossbeams 9 for this purpose. If the tension of the traction cables diminishes, the drive motor is switched off immediately via a special switch. The adjustment stroke of the worktop 2 is approximately 600 mm and enables a working height of the worktop 2 between 650 and 1250 mm.

Claims

claims:

1. Height-adjustable work table with at least two guide rails (3) for receiving a worktop (2), which is adjustable by a drive motor with at least one cable drum and pull cables in its working height, characterized in that each guide rail (3) is formed by a profile and the worktop (2) is slidably mounted on the guide plates so that the downward movement of the worktop is due to its own weight.

2. Work table according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive motor (15) with the cable drum (14) is arranged in the region of the worktop (2).

3. Work table according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide rails (3) have means (16) with which one end of the pull cables (13), preferably at the upper ends of the guide rods, can be suspended.

4. Work table according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive motor (15) with the cable drum (14) is arranged in the region of the guide rail (3).

5. Work table according to claim 4, characterized in that in the upper region of the guide rail a deflection roller (30) is arranged around which runs between the cable drum (14) and worktop (2) traction cable (13).

6. Work table according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the worktop (2) has a means (11, 12) which cooperates with the guide rails 3 on the inner and / or outer cross section.

7. Work table according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide rail (3) is essentially designed as a square tube.

8. Work table according to claim 6 or 7, that the means is a front and a rear roller (11, 12).

9. Work table according to claims 8, characterized in that the front roller (12) below and the rear roller (11) abuts and in each case on the outer cross section of the guide rail (3).

10. Work table according to claims 8, characterized in that the front roller (12) above and the rear roller (11) below and the inner cross section of the guide rail (3).

11. Working table according to at least one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the rollers (11, 12) are formed by ball bearings.