Driving device for a support column

Abstract

The invention relates to a driving device for an articulated support column, like a column for supporting a desk, the driving device comprising; a drivable rope drum for winding a rope, which driveable rope drum is supported by a drum support frame, an endless rope coupled with the drum, wherein the rope comprises a drum coupling section coupled with the drum such that the drum coupling section is tangentially fixed with respect to the drum.

1 . Driving device ( 1 ) for an articulated support column, like a column for supporting a desk, the driving device having a central longitudinal axis ( 5 ) and comprising;
 a drivable rope drum ( 2 ) for winding a rope ( 6 ), which driveable rope drum is supported by a drum support frame ( 3 ),   a pulley ( 4 ) for reversing a rope, which pulley is supported by a pulley bracket ( 7 ),   a first elongate frame member ( 8 ) extending along the central longitudinal axis of the driving device and having one end coupled with the drum support frame and an opposite end coupled with the pulley bracket for spaced arrangement of the drum support frame and the pulley bracket, and wherein the elongate frame member is configured for tensioning a rope between the rope drum and the pulley,   an endless rope ( 6 ) coupled with the drum and pulley, which rope is wound a number of rope turns ( 9 ) around the drum and turned around the pulley,   a second elongate frame member ( 10 ) moveably arranged with respect to the first elongate frame member, and coupled with the rope for moving with the rope over a second elongate frame member stroke between a retracted and an extended position,   wherein the rope comprises a drum coupling section ( 11 ) permanently coupled with the drum such that the drum coupling section is tangentially fixed with respect to the drum, wherein the drum coupling section is coupled with the drum through a coupling piece ( 12 ), wherein the coupling piece extends radially into the drum, and wherein the number of rope turns determines the second elongate frame member stroke.   
     
     
         2 . Driving device according to  claim 1 , wherein the drum coupling section is part of a central rope turn ( 13 ). 
     
     
         3 . Driving device according to a preceding claim, wherein the number of rope turns is such that when the second elongate frame member takes its retracted position or its extended position, always at least one adjacent rope turn extends along each side of the drum coupling section of the rope. 
     
     
         4 . Driving device according to a preceding claim, wherein the rope drum is rotatable around a drum axis ( 14 ), the pulley is rotatable around a pulley axis ( 15 ), and, seen along the central longitudinal axis of the driving device, the drum axis and the pulley axis enclose an angle α such that the pulley bridges about the width of the drum. 
     
     
         5 . Driving device according to  claim 4 , wherein the angle α is about 45°. 
     
     
         6 . Driving device according to a preceding claim, wherein the number of rope turns covers about half of the width (w) of the drum. 
     
     
         7 . Driving device according to a preceding claim, wherein the rope is prestressed with a rope force of about 1000 N. 
     
     
         8 . Driving device according to a preceding claim, wherein the first elongate frame member and the second elongate frame member extend parallel next to each other. 
     
     
         9 . Driving device according to a preceding claim, wherein the first elongate frame member and the second elongate frame member are arranged at a mutual distance by a single spacing frame ( 16 ). 
     
     
         10 . Driving device according to  claim 9 , wherein the spacing frame is fixedly coupled with the first elongate frame member proximate the pulley bracket and wherein the spacing frame is slideably coupled with the second elongate frame member. 
     
     
         11 . Driving device according to a preceding claim, wherein the second elongate frame member is coupled with the rope at its end which faces towards the drum frame and wherein the second elongate frame member comprises a guiding element ( 24 ) for engaging said column in a sliding manner, wherein the guiding element is arranged proximate said end. 
     
     
         12 . Driving device according to a preceding claim, comprising coupling means ( 19 ,  25 ) for coupling the driving device to an articulated column.