Abstract:
An automated drawer slide integrates a linear motor drive system into a drawer slide mechanism. The drawer slide chassis comprises: a case rail of channel profile, a drawer rail of channel profile, and some extension slide. A linear motor unit having a primary (a stator) and a secondary (a mover) provided for the slide and away from the primary (a stator) with a gap interposed there between.

Description:
[0001]    This invention relates specifically to automated drawer slides. The subject invention was developed following engineering assessment and analysis of prior art united States Pats. including: Kobayashi, U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,815; Andoh, U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,088; Armstrong, U.S. Pat. No. 3,901,564 and Sakagami, U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,583; Sasaki, U.S. Pat. No. 7,786,631. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Attempts to meet the need of automated operation of the drawer. Generally, the mechanisms are either inadequate or deficient, or are too complex and expensive to satisfy all requirements of the office furniture industry and specify furniture, and leave much to be desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention constitutes a automated slide driven by Electromagnetic force. This slide was designed to slidably support a drawer in such manner that it may be slidably withdrawn in its entirety or partial from its case enclosure, and returned to closed position, with free manual effort. 
         [0004]    In one preferred embodiment, the drawer extensible slide comprises: a case rail of channel profile adapted for attachment to the interior of a desk or cabinet structure, a drawer rail of channel profile adapted for attachment to a side of a drawer, and some extension slide (options based on the travel length), and the drawer rail is slidably correlated with the extension slide. Accordingly, this rail arrangement accommodates disposition of a plurality of propulsion balls at each side between the slide rails, the ball is made by the aluminum, the stainless steel and other non-magnetable materials. A plurality of permanent magnets row on the top and bottom in line. The correspond magnet having opposite pole (namely, N pole face-to-face S pole) form a magnet gap. A plurality of coils (or armature coils) attached on the rail of channel profile therebetween the magnets row follow the linear motor principle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front view outlining the configuration of an automated drawer slide according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a section view taken alone  1 - 1  shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a section view taken alone  1 - 1  shown in  FIG. 1  with multi-coils; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is an outlined perspective view of an automated drawer slide according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is an outlined perspective view of an automated drawer slide according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a front view outlining the configuration of an automated drawer slide according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a section view taken alone  1 - 1  shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a section view taken alone  1 - 1  shown in  FIG. 6  with multi-coils; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is an outlined perspective view of an automated drawer slide according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is an outlined perspective view of an automated drawer slide according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a plan view of a bar notched; 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a front view outlining the configuration of an automated drawer slide according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a section view taken alone  1 - 1  shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  is a section view taken alone  1 - 1  shown in  FIG. 12  with multi-coils; 
           [0019]      FIG. 15  is an outlined perspective view of an automated drawer slide according to a eighth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 16  is an outlined perspective view of an automated drawer slide according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 17  is an outlined perspective view of an automated drawer slide according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Throughout this description, the embodiments and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus and methods of the present invention. 
         [0023]    Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, the components identical to those shown in any other figure are designated by the same reference numerals. 
       First Embodiment 
       [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , an automated drawer slide is derived by the electromagnetic force based on the AC synchronous linear motor principle. The AC linear motor generates a thrust causing a linear motion between a primary and a secondary of the motor along a horizontal movement axis X (As shown in  FIG. 2 ). At the secondary for the linear motor comprise a parallel rows of permanent magnets  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33  , . . . ,  3   n.  The parallel rows of permanent magnet  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33  , . . . ,  3   n  are mounted on the bracket  5 , respectively, to form a magnetic gap  8  therebetween. Successive magnets of each of the rows are of alternate polarity. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the permanent magnets  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n  are arranged with a given magnet pitch P along the axis X. The bracket  5  is mounted on the plate  6  which is mounted on the drawer rail of the channel profile  1 . 
         [0025]    The primary for the linear motor comprises a three coils or a plurality of coils (combined into 3 group coils, as shown in  FIG. 3 ) to form U-phase, V-phase and W-phase. The coils are mounted on the base plate  7  which is attached to a case rail of channel profile  9 . As shown in FIG.  2 , 3 . The coils are energized with AC power to generate a moving magnetic field. An AC synchronous motor principle is applied to drive a drawer rail of the channel profile  1  away from a case rail of the channel profile  9 . 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0026]    A description will now be given, with reference to  FIG. 4  of an automated drawer slide of a second embodiment according to the present invention based on an AC synchronous motor principle. At the primary for the linear motor comprise a parallel rows of permanent magnets  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n.  The parallel rows of permanent magnet  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n  are mounted on the bracket  11 , respectively, to form a magnetic gap  8  therebetween. Successive magnets of each of the rows are of alternate polarity. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the permanent magnets  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n  are arranged with a given magnet pitch P along the axis X. The bracket  11  is mounted on the case rail of the channel profile  9 . Another way. The bracket  11  is used as the case rail of the channel profile. 
         [0027]    The secondary for the linear motor comprises a three coils or a plurality of coils (combined into  3  group coils, as shown in  FIG. 3 ) to form U-phase, V-phase and W-phase. The coils are mounted on a drawer rail of channel profile  1 . 
       Third Embodiment 
       [0028]    A description will now be given, with reference to  FIG. 5  of an automated drawer slide of a third embodiment according to the present invention based on an AC synchronous motor principle. At the primary for the linear motor comprise a parallel rows of permanent magnets  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n.  The parallel rows of permanent magnet  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n  are mounted on the bracket  12 , respectively, to form a magnetic gap  8  therebetween. Successive magnets of each of the rows are of alternate polarity. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the permanent magnets  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n  are arranged with a given magnet pitch P along the axis X. The bracket  12  is mounted on the case rail of the channel profile  9 . Another way. The bracket  12  is used as the case rail of the channel profile. 
         [0029]    The secondary for the linear motor comprises a three coils or a plurality of coils (combined into  3  group coils, as shown in  FIG. 3 ) to form U-phase, V-phase and W-phase. The coils are mounted on a drawer rail of channel profile  1 . 
       Fourth Embodiment 
       [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 6  of an automated drawer slide of a fourth embodiment according to the present invention based on an AC induction motor principle. The AC linear motor generates a thrust causing a linear motion between a primary and a secondary of the motor along a horizontal movement axis X. At the secondary for the linear motor comprise a iron(aluminum and so on) bar  2  and  3 . The parallel iron(aluminum and so on) bar  2  and  3  are mounted on the bracket  5  attached to the plate  6  which is mounted on the drawer rail of the channel profile  1 . 
         [0031]    The primary for the linear motor comprises a three coils or a plurality of coils (combined into 3 group coils, as shown in  FIG. 8 ) to form U-phase, V-phase and W-phase. The coils are mounted on the base plate  7  which is attached to a case rail of channel profile  9 . As shown in FIG.  7 , 8 . The coils are energized with AC power to generate a moving magnetic field. An AC induction motor principle is applied to drive a drawer rail of the channel profile  1  away from a case rail of the channel profile  9 . 
       Fifth Embodiment 
       [0032]    A description will now be given, with reference to  FIG. 9  of an automated drawer slide of a fifth embodiment according to the present invention based on an AC induction motor principle. At the primary for the linear motor comprise a parallel iron(aluminum and so on) bar  2  and  3 . The parallel iron(aluminum and so on) bar  2  and  3  are mounted on the bracket  11  attached to the case rail of the channel profile  9 . Another way. The bracket  11  is used as the case rail of the channel profile. 
         [0033]    The secondary for the linear motor comprises the three coils or a plurality of coils (combined into  3  group coils, as shown in  FIG. 8 ) to form U-phase, V-phase and W-phase. The coils are mounted on a drawer rail of channel profile  1 . 
       Sixth Embodiment 
       [0034]    A description will now be given, with reference to  FIG. 10  of an automated drawer slide of a sixth embodiment according to the present invention based on an AC induction motor principle. At the primary for the linear motor comprise a parallel iron(aluminum and so on) bar  2  and  3 . The parallel iron(aluminum and so on) bar  2  and  3  are mounted on the bracket  12  attached to the case rail of the channel profile  9 . Another way. The bracket  12  is used as the case rail of the channel profile. 
         [0035]    The secondary for the linear motor comprises a three coils or a plurality of coils (combined into  3  group coils, as shown in  FIG. 8 ) to form U-phase, V-phase and W-phase. The coils are mounted on a drawer rail of channel profile  1 . 
         [0036]    The bar  2  and  3  may also be made to separate small blocks or cut the notch on a long bar. Reference to  FIG. 11 . 
       Seventh Embodiment 
       [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 12  of an automated drawer slide of a seventh embodiment according to the present invention based on an DC linear motor principle. The DC linear motor generates a thrust causing a linear motion between a primary and a secondary of the motor along a horizontal movement axis X. At the secondary for the linear motor comprise a parallel rows of permanent magnets  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n.  The parallel rows of permanent magnet  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n  are mounted on the bracket  5 , respectively, to form a magnetic gap  8  therebetween. Successive magnets of each of the rows are of alternate polarity. As shown in  FIG. 13 , the permanent magnets  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n  are arranged with a given magnet pitch P along the axis X. The bracket  5  is mounted on the plate  6  which is mounted on the drawer rail of the channel profile  1 . 
         [0038]    The primary for the linear motor comprises a two coils or a plurality of coils (combined into 2 group coils, as shown in  FIG. 14 ) with two Hall effect element  15  and  16  (magnetic detection sensor, for example: Honeywell SS40A-F). The hall effect element corresponding to the respective coils are arranged at intervals ½+2 m (m=0, 1, 2, 3, . . . ) of the magnet pitch P and any of these hall effect element and its corresponding coil are arranged at the determined distance in accordance with the magnet pitch P. In accordance with the signal from each of the hall effect element detecting an electric flow direction therebtween A and B (or C and D) to generate the polarity of the magnet body, an electric flow switching means transfers the electric flow polarity to the two coils. A force for moving the coils  13  and  14  is generated according to the Fleming&#39;s left-hand rule. The coils and the hall effect elements are mounted on the base plate  7  which is attached to a case rail of channel profile  9 . As shown in FIG.  13 , 14 . A DC linear motor principle is applied to drive a drawer rail of the channel profile  1  away from a case rail of the channel profile  9 . 
       Eighth Embodiment 
       [0039]    A description will now be given, with reference to  FIG. 15  of an automated drawer slide of an eighth embodiment according to the present invention based on an DC linear motor principle. At the primary for the linear motor comprise a parallel rows of permanent magnets  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n.  The parallel rows of permanent magnet  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n  are mounted on the bracket  11 , respectively, to form a magnetic gap  8  therebetween. Successive magnets of each of the rows are of alternate polarity. The permanent magnets  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n  are arranged with a given magnet pitch P along the axis X. The bracket  11  is mounted on the case rail of the channel profile  9 . Another way. The bracket  11  is used as the case rail of the channel profile. 
         [0040]    The secondary for the linear motor comprises a two coils or a plurality of coils (combined into 2 group coils, as shown in  FIG. 14 ) with two Hall effect element  15  and  16  (magnetic detection sensor, for example: Honeywell SS40A-F). The hall effect element corresponding to the respective coils are arranged at intervals ½+2 m (m=0, 1, 2, 3, . . . ) of the magnet pitch P and any of these hall effect element and its corresponding coil are arranged at the determined distance in accordance with the magnet pitch P. In accordance with the signal from each of the hall effect element detecting an electric flow direction therebtween A and B (or C and D) to generate the polarity of the magnet body, an electric flow switching means transfers the electric flow polarity to the two coils. A force for moving the coils  13  and  14  is generated according to the Fleming&#39;s left-hand rule. The coils and the hall effect elements are mounted on a drawer rail of channel profile  1 . As shown in  FIG. 15 . A DC linear motor principle is applied to drive a drawer rail of the channel profile  1  away from a case rail of the channel profile  9 . 
       Ninth Embodiment 
       [0041]    A description will now be given, with reference to  FIG. 16  of an automated drawer slide of a ninth embodiment according to the present invention based on an DC linear motor principle. At the primary for the linear motor comprise a parallel rows of permanent magnets  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n.  The parallel rows of permanent magnet  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n  are mounted on the bracket  12 , respectively, to form a magnetic gap  8  therebetween. Successive magnets of each of the rows are of alternate polarity. The permanent magnets  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n  are arranged with a given magnet pitch P along the axis X. The bracket  12  is mounted on the case rail of the channel profile  9 . Another way. The bracket  12  is used as the case rail of the channel profile. 
         [0042]    The secondary for the linear motor comprises a two coils or a plurality of coils (combined into 2 group coils, as shown in  FIG. 14 ) with two Hall effect element  15  and  16  (magnetic detection sensor, for example: Honeywell SS40A-F). The hall effect element corresponding to the respective coils are arranged at intervals ½+2 m (m=0, 1, 2, 3, . . . ) of the magnet pitch P and any of these hall effect element and its corresponding coil are arranged at the determined distance in accordance with the magnet pitch P. In accordance with the signal from each of the hall effect element detecting an electric flow direction therebtween A and B (or C and D) to generate the polarity of the magnet body, an electric flow switching means transfers the electric flow polarity to the two coils. A force for moving the coils  13  and  14  is generated according to the Fleming&#39;s left-hand rule. The coils and the hall effect elements are mounted on a drawer rail of channel profile  1 . As shown in  FIG. 16 . A DC linear motor principle is applied to drive a drawer rail of the channel profile  1  away from a case rail of the channel profile  9 . 
       Tenth Embodiment 
       [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 17 , another type of an automated drawer slide layout according to the present invention based on the linear motor principle. For the AC synchronous and DC linear motor principle. At the secondary for the linear motor comprise a parallel rows of permanent magnets  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n.  The parallel rows of permanent magnet  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n  are mounted on the bracket  5 , respectively, to form a magnetic gap  8  therebetween. Successive magnets of each of the rows are of alternate polarity. The permanent magnets  21 ,  22 ,  23 , . . . ,  2   n  and  31 ,  32 ,  33 , . . . ,  3   n  are arranged with a given magnet pitch P along the axis X. The bracket  5  is mounted on the drawer rail of the channel profile  1 . For the AC induction motor principle. At the secondary for the linear motor comprise a iron(aluminum and so on) bar  2  and  3 . The parallel iron(aluminum and so on) bar  2  and  3  are mounted on the bracket  5  attached to the plate  5  which is mounted on the drawer rail of the channel profile  1 . 
         [0044]    The primary for the linear motor comprises a three coils or a plurality of coils (combined into 3 group coils, as shown in  FIG. 3 ) on each side to form U-phase, V-phase and W-phase. The coils are attached to a case rail of channel profile  9 . The coils are energized with AC/DC power to generate a moving magnetic field. The electromagnetic force is applied to drive a drawer rail of the channel profile  1  away from a case rail of the channel profile  9 .