Abstract:
A running mechanism assembly for a sliding door ( 9 ) includes a roller carrier ( 13 ) which is vertically (height) adjustable by an eccentric disk ( 15 ) relative to the sliding door ( 9 ). The adjustment takes place with a tool, for example a socket head cap screw wrench, by rotating the eccentric disk ( 15 ). After adjustment, the adjusted position can be fixed with a locking screw ( 19 ) mounted in a thread ( 20 ) on the eccentric disk ( 15 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a running mechanism assembly for a sliding door including at least one running roller which is rotatably attached to a height-adjustable roller carrier, an eccentric disk rotatably arranged on the roller carrier with a wrench fixture for adjusting the eccentric disk, and a fastening plate having a cylindrical extension for insertion into a pot bore hole on the sliding door and a recess for the roller carrier. 
     Running mechanism assemblys for sliding doors are known in many designs. They serve to guide sliding doors hanging on rollers. In the process of minimizing costs and simplifying assembly, the running mechanisms must be subsequently connectable with the sliding door with little assembly expenditure. For this purpose, with most known constructions of running mechanisms, pot bore holes, i.e., cylindrical bore holes which do not completely penetrate the sliding door, are created in the sliding door. Into these bore holes, cylindrical extensions of the running mechanisms, which are already mounted in a carrier rail on the ceiling of the cabinet or closet, can then be inserted and fastened. 
     So that manufacturing inaccuracies on the sliding door and/or on the cabinet can be compensated for, qualitatively superior running mechanism assemblies require equipment by which any sliding door is adjustable as to height. For this purpose, an eccentric disk is provided, which is inserted into the running mechanism and which can be activated with a screw driver. Most designs have locking screws which, after adjustment, connect the carrier plate of the running mechanism immovably with the sliding door. Such devices fulfill their purpose, but a subsequent readjustment becomes troublesome. Moreover, after adjustment, the locking screw must be installed in an additional operation. For these reasons, it is often forgotten or deliberately omitted, and the sliding door will, after being used for a certain period, no longer hang exactly adjusted on the guide rail. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to create a running mechanism assembly with simple construction and with a locking device for height adjustment which requires no subsequent installation of a set screw, and which permits a subsequent adjustment at any time. This objective is accomplished by a running mechanism assembly in which the roller carrier with the eccentric disk fastened to it is firmly clampable and height-adjustable on the fastening plate. 
     The integration of the locking screw into the eccentric disk for height adjustment makes possible a compact construction and the use of the same screw driver, e.g., a socket head cap screw driver for height adjustment as well as for locking. By loosening the lock, a readjustment can take place at any time, for example when, owing to changes in humidity in the room, the sliding door or the cabinet expands or contracts. Since the adjustment screw is arranged in the eccentric, and the locking screw is arranged on the cabinet interior, servicing them is especially simple because it can take place with the same screw driver, and no additional bore holes for locking are necessary after mounting the sliding doors. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiment(s) which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise assemblys and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a rear view of a sliding door guided with a running mechanism in a cabinet (carrier rail shown in longitudinal section); 
     FIG. 2 is a cross section along line II—II through the sliding door (including its bottom guide); 
     FIG. 3 is a horizontal section through the eccentric disk along line III—III in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a horizontal section through the fastening plate along line III—III in FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 5 is a view as in FIG. 1, but with a tandem roller running mechanism. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     On the ceiling  1  of a cabinet  3 , a carrier rail  5  is fastened by means of screws  7  or by locking in a groove. A sliding door  9  is suspended by a running mechanism assembly  11  on the carrier rail  5 . 
     The running mechanism assembly  11  includes a roller carrier  13  on which, mounted eccentrically on axis A, an eccentric disk  15  is pivoted. The rotation axis A is formed by a sleeve  17  with a hexagonal recess and penetrates the roller carrier  13 . The hexagonal recess in sleeve  17  is accessible from the back side of the running mechanism. 
     A locking screw  19  which penetrates the roller carrier  13  is likewise accessible from the back side of the roller carrier  13 . This penetrates the roller carrier  13  in a slot-like opening  21 , which is constructed as a circular (arc-shaped) segment lying concentrically to axis A. The locking screw  19  is held guided axially adjustable in a threaded hole  20  in the eccentric disk  15  (see FIG.  3 ). 
     On the upper end of the roller carrier  13 , on a horizontally lying rotation axis B, a pair of rollers  23  is rotatably mounted. The pair of rollers  23  rolls within the carrier rail  5  on two rolling surfaces  27  arranged laterally of a slot  25  in the carrier rail  5  (see FIG.  2 ). 
     In the embodiment acording to FIG. 5, a tandem pair of rollers, which is mounted on a balance, replaces a single pair of rollers  23 , which guarantees an even support of both pairs of rollers  23  on the rolling surfaces  27 . The remaining parts of the running roller assembly correspond to those in FIG.  1 . 
     The eccentric disk  15  is rotatably mounted in a fastening plate  31 . The latter includes a cylindrical extension  33  which is held substantially free of play in a pot bore hole  35  in the sliding door. In the interior of the cylindrical extension  33 , a cage  37  is formed which has a radially elastic wall preferably consisting of a plurality of tongues  39  forming the cage  37 . The roots of the tongues  39  are located on the base place  41  of the fastening plate  31 . On the fastening plate a plurality of bore holes  43  is provided, which serve for passage of the fastening screws  45  (see FIG. 2) by which the fastening plate  31  is mounted on the sliding door  9 . On the free ends of the tongues  39 , radially inwardly directed thickenings or cams  47  are formed, which are designed to engage in a peripheral groove  49  on the eccentric disk  15 , when this is axially inserted into the fastening plate  31 . Following the axial insertion, the substantially rectangular roller carrier  13  lies in a vertically running recess  51  in the fastening plate  31  and is guided play-free with its lateral edges  53  along the lateral boundaries  55  of the recess  51  (see FIG. 5 for clarity). 
     The mode of functioning or the mounting of the running mechanism assembly is briefly explained below. 
     The roller carrier  13  is introduced into the carrier rail  5  during manufacture of the cabinet  3  and is thereby secured, i.e., the roller carrier can no longer exit from the carrier rail or through its underlying slot. The pot bore hole  35  is bored in the sliding door in a conventional manner, and after this the fastening plate  31  or, more specifically, its extension  33  is inserted into the pot bore hole  35 , and the fastening plate is firmly connected with the sliding door by fastening screws  45 . In the installation position of the cabinet, the sliding door  9  is brought into functioning position and the roller carrier  13  or, more specifically, the eccentric disk  15  fastened to it is inserted axially into the cage  37  until the peripheral groove  49  of the disk locks on the cams  47 . Subsequently, the sliding door  9  is exactly aligned relative to the horizontal with a socket head cap screw wrench. With the same socket head cap screw wrench, the locking screw  19  can now be drawn firmly directly beside the sleeve  17 , and the sliding door can thereby now be firmly set in relation to the cabinet  3 . 
     If the sliding door  9  needs to be resuspended at a later point in time, the roller carrier  13  can be pried out of the cage  37  with a screw driver  59  (FIG.  2 ). 
     Preferably, identical wrench fixtures are formed on the eccentric disk  15  and on the locking screw  19 , so that only one screw driver or wrench can be used for both activations. 
     For guiding the sliding door  9  in the region of its lower edge  61 , a spring bolt  63  or some other guiding device known in the art can be used. This is not part of the present invention. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiment(s) described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.