TRAY, SCREEN, AND SCREEN FRAME SET

Abstract

 The invention concerns to an assembly (1) formed by a tray (2), a screen support (3) and a screen (4), wherein the tray (2) is intended to be embedded in a table and comprises a housing (H) for the support (3), wherein the support (3) is hinged to the tray (2) by a rotational axis of the support (3), comprising a mechanism for moving the support (3) between a position in which said screen (4) is fitted in the housing (H) and a position in which said screen (4) is upright, characterized in that the mechanism comprises a toothed wheel sector (5) which is attached to the support (3) at the rear bottom thereof and which has an axis aligned with the rotational axis of the support (3); a pinion (6) which engages with the toothed wheel sector (5) and which has a shaft attached to the tray (2); and a motor (M) driving the pinion (6).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly formed by a tray, a screen and a screen support, of great simplicity, easy to assembly, safe against possible trapping and which guarantees many cycles of use.

Background of the invention

[0002] Assemblies formed by a tray, a screen and a screen support are known, wherein the tray is intended to be embedded in a table and comprises a housing for the support, the support being hinged to the tray by a rotational axis of the support, comprising a mechanism for moving the support between a position in which said screen is fitted in the housing and a position in which said screen is upright.

[0003] An example of this assembly is the one disclosed in DE10109137.

[0004] This example, as well as others available in the market, have the drawback that they have complex and not very reliable mechanisms, that resist few cycles and the manufacturing of which is not simple.

Description of the invention

[0005] To overcome the shortfalls of the state of the art, the present invention proposes an assembly formed by a tray, a screen support and a screen, wherein the tray is intended to be embedded in a table and comprises a housing for the support, wherein the support is hinged to the tray by a rotational axis of the support, comprising a mechanism for moving the support between a position in which said screen is fitted in the housing and a position in which said screen is upright, characterized in that the mechanism comprises:

• a toothed wheel sector which is attached to the support at the rear bottom thereof and which has an axis aligned with the rotational axis of the support;
• a pinion which engages with the toothed wheel sector and which has a shaft attached to the tray; and
• a motor driving the pinion.

[0006] This mechanism is very simple and allows its compact disposal in a limited space, as shall be seen below.

[0007] In the present description it distinguishes between screen support and screen. The screen support, in the present invention, can be the screen frame, or a support to which the screen is fixed. The invention can be applied to existing screens which already have a frame incorporated, which is usually considered as part of the screen.

[0008] According to various optional characteristics of the invention, which could be combined provided they are technical possible:

• The assembly comprises a piston the cylinder of which is attached to the tray, and having a rod with an end linked to the toothed wheel sector by means of a connecting rod. This piston makes it possible to partially or totally compensate for the weight of the screen, in particular, providing a pre-compression of the piston in the lowest part of the screen, i.e. flush with the upper surface of the tray. In this way, the motor will have much lower momentum, which will allow reducing its power, dimensions and extending its life.
• The assembly comprises a cross-member, or fixing plate, fixed to the bottom of the tray in its middle part, with the motor and the shaft of the pinion fixed to this cross-member. In this way, it is possible to fix to this cross-member these and other components of the mechanism, which facilitates the manufacturing and mounting of the assembly.
• The cylinder is fixed to the cross-member and parallel and according to the direction thereof, so that the extension of the rod occurs in the direction of distancing of the rotational axis of the support.
• The assembly comprises a rotating encoder linked to the pinion by means of a belt.
• The encoder shaft is fixed to the cross-member or fixing plate.
• The cross-member comprises close to the distal end of the rotational axis of the support and at its upper part a stop element for the support of the support.
• The cross-member comprises close to the distal end of the rotational axis of the support and at its upper part a switch disposed to be actuated when the screen support is fitted in the housing.

[0009] In short, as regards the cross-member, this may support practically all components of the mechanism, so that they can be mounted on the cross-member, before its fixing to the tray. The mechanism, as devised, can be mounted with all its components disposed in a line, close to the middle plane of the tray-screen set, i.e. the plane of symmetry of the assembly throughout its length. Obviously, it is possible to mount the cross-member in a plane parallel to the plane of symmetry conserving its compactness and ease of assembly, but inevitably it will introduce undesired forces or stresses.

[0010] Advantageously, the support comprises in its lower part a lid provided in its inner part with pressure sensors, so that it is possible to detect the trapping of an object between the lid and the tray.

[0011] Finally, an inner lid is provided disposed in the housing, so that it conceals all components of the mechanism, except the toothed wheel sector. This is another advantageous characteristic allowed by the mechanism of the invention.

Brief description of the figures

[0012] For a better understanding of all that has been stated, drawings are attached wherein, schematically and only by way of non-limiting example, a practical embodiment has been represented.

Figure 1 is a perspective of the type of tray-monitor assembly of the invention wherein the screen is upright.

Figure 2 is a perspective wherein the screen is folded and flush with the upper surface of the tray, i.e. with the table when the tray is embedded in it.

Figure 3 shows the rear part of the screen and the housing when the screen is in its raised position.

Figure 4 shows a rear view when the lid has been removed.

Figure 5 shows the detail of the components of the mechanism.

Figure 6 shows a front perspective of the assembly when the screen is half-raised, which is when there are most risks of trapping.

Description of a preferred embodiment

[0013] As can be seen in figures 1 and 2, the invention relates in general to an assembly 1 formed by a tray 2, a screen 4 and a screen support 3, wherein the tray 2 is intended to be embedded in a table and comprises a housing H for the support 3, wherein the support 3 is hinged to the tray 2 by a rotational axis of the support 3, comprising a mechanism for moving the support 3 between a position in which said screen is fitted in the housing H and a position in which said screen is upright.

[0014] These characteristics being known, according to the present invention and as can be observed in figures 4 and 5, the mechanism comprises:

• a toothed wheel sector 5 which is attached to the support 3 at the rear bottom thereof and which has an axis aligned with the rotational axis of the support 3;
• a pinion 6 which engages with the toothed wheel sector 5 and which has a supporting shaft attached to the tray; and
• a motor M driving the pinion 6.

[0015] For the toothed wheel sector, a sector of approximately 90° is usually sufficient, since this is at maximum the rotation that the screen can be given.

[0016] To reduce the momentum to which the motor shall be subjected, a piston 7 is provided the cylinder 8 of which is attached to the tray 2, and having a rod 9 with an end linked to the toothed wheel sector 5 by means of a connecting rod or strap 10. The piston must be disposed and dimensioned so that the toothed wheel transmits a minimum part of the momentum produced by the weight of the screen to the pinion and a maximum part to the piston. In this way, the maximum momentum and lifting power, to be developed by the motor that drives the pinion are minimum.

[0017] Very preferably, the assembly comprises a cross-member 11, or fixing plate, fixed to the bottom of the tray in its middle part, with the motor M and the shaft of the pinion 6 fixed to this cross-member 11. This cross-member or fixing plate is mounted on the plane of symmetry of the assembly in the bottom of the tray, as observed in the figures.

[0018] The cylinder 8 is fixed to the cross-member 11 and parallel and according to the direction thereof, so that the extension of the rod 9 occurs in direction of distancing of the rotational axis of the support 3.

[0019] The assembly also comprises a rotating encoder 12 linked to the pinion 6 by means of a belt 13. The encoder shaft is fixed to the cross-member 11. The encoder, moved by drive wheel, counts the steps in the opening and closing trajectory of the monitor, in the event that this movement is braked, the encoder detects it and the system stops.

[0020] The cross-member 11 comprises close to the distal end of the rotational axis of the support 3 and in its upper part a stop element 14 for the support of the support 3. This stop may be disposed on one side. On the other side, a switch 15 may be disposed to be actuated when the screen support 3 is fitted in the housing H.

[0021] Therefore, as can be observed in figure 5, the cross-member practically supports all components of the motor.

[0022] This allows great simplicity of manufacturing and assembly. It also allows an easy replacement in the case of failure of any of the components.

[0023] As can be observed in figure 6, the support 3 comprises in its lower part a lid 16 provided in its inner part with pressure sensors, so that it is possible to detect the trapping of an object between the lid and the tray. This type of safety mechanism is already known and is described in more detail in the published utility model no. ES 1 078 560 U in the name of the present applicant.

[0024] Aside from this safety measure, it also provides that the screen movement stops due to detection of stoppage of the mechanism by the encoder.

[0025] As observed in figure 3, the assembly comprises an inner lid 17 disposed in the housing, so that it conceals and protects all components of the mechanism, except the toothed wheel sector.

[0026] The equipment is controlled by the side buttons, button B1 raises the equipment, B3 lowers it and button B2 memorizes the most suitable working position. Depending on how the buttons are pushed, they make the screen act in one way or another.

[0027] Button B1 (raise): 1 press of the button, the monitor automatically rises until the limit stop is reached or until another press of the same button. If the button is continuously pressed, the monitor will rise until the button stops being pressed.

[0028] Button B2 (memory): In a certain position we press this button continuously until hearing a buzz. This position will be saved and later wherever the monitor is by pressing the middle button (M) with a single press it will go to the memorized position.

[0029] Button B3 (lower): 1 press of the button, the monitor automatically lowers until the limit stop is reached or until another press of the same button. If the button is continuously pressed, the monitor will lower until the button stops being pressed.

[0030] Despite the fact that reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is evident for a person skilled in the art that the set described is susceptible to numerous variations and modifications and that all the details mentioned can be replaced by other technically equivalent ones, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.

Claims

1. An assembly (1) formed by a tray (2), a screen support (3) and a screen (4), wherein the tray (2) is intended to be embedded in a table and comprises a housing (H) for the support (3), wherein the support (3) is hinged to the tray (2) by a rotational axis of the support (3), comprising a mechanism for moving the support (3) between a position in which said screen (4) is fitted in the housing (H) and a position in which said screen (4) is upright, characterized in that the mechanism comprises:

- a toothed wheel sector (5) which is attached to the support (3) at the rear bottom thereof and which has an axis aligned with the rotational axis of the support (3);

- a pinion (6) which engages with the toothed wheel sector (5) and which has a shaft attached to the tray (2); and

- a motor (M) driving the pinion (6).

2. Assembly according to claim 1, comprising a piston (7) the cylinder (8) of which is attached to the tray (2), and having a rod (9) with an end linked to the toothed wheel sector (5) by means of a connecting rod (10).

3. Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a cross-member (11), or fixing plate, fixed to the bottom of the tray in its middle part, with the motor (M) and the shaft of the pinion (6) fixed to this cross-member (11).

4. Assembly according to claim 3, wherein the cylinder (8) is fixed to the cross-member (11) and parallel and according to the direction thereof, so that the extension of the rod (9) occurs in direction of distancing of the rotational axis of the support (3).

5. Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a rotating encoder (12) linked to the pinion (6) by means of a belt (13).

6. Assembly according to claim 5 when depending on claim 3, wherein the encoder shaft is fixed to the cross-member (11).

7. Assembly according to claim 3, wherein the cross-member (11) comprises a proximity of the distal end of the rotational axis of the support (3) and in its upper part a stop element (14) for the support of the support (3).

8. Assembly according to claim 3, wherein the cross-member (11) comprises close to the distal end of the rotational axis of the support (3) and at its upper part a switch (15) disposed to be actuated when the screen support (3) is fitted in the housing (H).

9. Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the support (3) comprises in its lower part a lid (16) provided in its inner part with pressure sensors, so that it is possible to detect the trapping of an object between the lid and the tray.

10. Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, comprising an inner lid (17) disposed in the housing, so that it conceals all the components of the mechanism, except the toothed wheel sector.

Drawing