Mechanized drawer

Abstract

A modular drive unit for controllably extending a storage receptacle such as a drawer or shelf, wherein the drive unit comprises a drive pulley, a take up pulley and an elongate spring member biased such that the spring member has a tendency to wind about one of the take up pulley and the drive pulley. The modular drive unit further includes a drive wheel rotatably coupled to the drive pulley, a rotation thereof providing a drive force for extending of the storage receptacle. The drive wheel includes either or both of a toothed gear wheel and a cylindrical shaft for receiving a drive cable windable thereon.

1 . A drive module for extending a storage member in a controlled fashion comprising: 
 a housing;    a drive pulley rotatably mounted to said housing and comprising an armature;    at least one substantially circular drive wheel mounted to said drive pulley, said drive wheel rotating with said armature;    a take up pulley rotatably mounted to said housing;    an elongate spring member having a first end fixed relative to said armature, and a second end fixed to said at least one take up pulley, a bias of said spring imparting a tendency to said spring to wrap about said take up pulley.    
   
   
       2 . The drive module of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first and a second take up pulley rotatably mounted to said housing; and    a first and a second elongate spring member, each of said spring members having a first end fixed relative to said armature, and a second end fixed to one of said take up pulleys, a bias of each said spring member imparting a tendency to each said spring member to wrap about one of said take up pulleys.    
   
   
       3 . The drive module of  claim 1  wherein said at least one drive wheel comprises a gear wheel having a plurality of teeth.  
   
   
       4 . The drive module of  claim 3  wherein said gear wheel comprises a spiral groove with an inner terminus and an outer terminus, said groove adapted for sliding receipt of a peg fixed relative to said housing in a first linear direction and movable relative to said housing in a second linear direction substantially perpendicular to said first linear direction.  
   
   
       5 . The drive module of  claim 4  wherein said spiral groove has a radius decreasing around a clockwise traversal of said groove, said groove adapted for receipt of said pin at said inner terminus when said spring is substantially de-energized.  
   
   
       6 . The drive module of  claim 1  wherein said at least one drive wheel comprises a drive shaft fixed to said armature and flanked by two discs, said discs being positioned at separate axial positions relative to a rotational axis of said armature, and wherein said drive pulley is adapted to receive between said discs a drive cable windable there around.  
   
   
       7 . The drive module of  claim 6  wherein said at least one drive wheel further comprises a gear wheel having a plurality of teeth.  
   
   
       8 . The drive module of  claim 6  further comprising a roller mounted to said housing, said roller receiving said drive cable thereacross and reorienting same by at least about 90°.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for controlled extension of a storage member comprising: 
 a housing;    at least one drive pulley rotatable relative to said housing for providing a drive force relative thereto;    a shaft assembly mounted to said housing and axially reciprocable between a first axial position at which said shaft assembly may be rotated relative to said housing, and a second axial position at which said shaft assembly is fixed relative to said housing;    an elongate spring member having a first end fixed to said shaft assembly, and a second end fixed to an inside of said drive pulley;    wherein a radial position of said shaft assembly relative to a radial position of said drive pulley defines a tensioning of said spring member, and a rotational spring force thereof.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a toothed wheel rotatably fixed to said drive pulley and a toothed rack mating therewith, a rotation of said toothed wheel meshing said toothed wheel with said toothed rack and urging said housing therealong.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising an outer cylindrical surface integral with said drive pulley, a rotation of said drive pulley winding a drive cable about said cylindrical surface.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said housing is attached to a reciprocable storage cassette, a drive force provided to said housing thereby urging said cassette in a linear direction.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said shaft assembly comprises a first end shaped to engage with an adjustment tool, and a second end shaped to engage with a protrusion on said housing, said shaft assembly biased toward said second position.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said shaft assembly comprises a shaped recess at said first end and a slotted nut threadedly received at said second end; 
 said nut is disengaged with said protrusion when said shaft assembly is at said first axial position whereat said shaft assembly is rotatable relative to said housing; and    said nut is engaged with said protrusion when said shaft assembly is at said second axial position, thereby preventing a rotation thereof.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising a push-push latch.  
   
   
       16 . A controllably extensible storage apparatus comprising: 
 a storage unit having a storage unit body and at least one receptacle movable between a retracted and an extended position;    a modular drive unit for providing a drive force for moving said receptacle to said    extended position, said drive unit comprising:    a housing;    a drive pulley rotatably mounted to said housing and comprising an armature; at least one substantially circular drive wheel mounted to said drive pulley, said drive wheel rotating with said armature;    a take up pulley rotatably mounted to said housing;    an elongate spring member having a first end fixed relative to said armature, and a second end fixed to said at least one take up pulley, a spring bias imparting a tendency for said spring to rotate said drive pulley and move the receptacle to said extended position;    a latch for retaining said receptacle at said retracted position whereat said spring is wrapped in a substantially energized state.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said spring bias imparts a tendency for said spring to wrap about said armature.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said spring bias imparts a tendency for said spring to wrap about said take up pulley.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said drive unit is mounted to said storage receptacle.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising an elongate toothed rack attached to an interior of said storage unit body, wherein said drive wheel comprises a toothed drive wheel engageable with said toothed rack, a rotation of said drive wheel meshing said drive wheel with said rack and urging the storage receptacle toward its extended position.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said drive wheel comprises a drive shaft fixed to said armature and adapted to receive a drive cable windable there around, said drive cable having a first end fixed to said drive shaft and a second end fixed to said storage unit body.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein said drive unit is mounted to said storage receptacle.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 21  further comprising a plurality of drive cables windable about said drive shaft, each of said cables having a first end fixed to said drive shaft and a second end fixed to said storage unit body.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein at least one of said drive cables is passed through a roller that alters an orientation of said at least one drive cable.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein said roller is attached to said storage receptacle.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein said roller is attached to said storage unit body.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein said plurality of drive cables comprises at least two drive cables windable about said drive shaft in opposite directions.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said drive unit is mounted to said storage unit body.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein: 
 said drive wheel comprises a drive shaft integral with said armature and adapted to receive a drive cable windable there around, said drive cable having a first end fixed to said drive shaft and a second end fixed to a ring; and    said storage receptacle comprises a member adapted to insert through said ring upon positioning said storage receptacle in said storage unit body at said retracted position, an urging of said storage receptacle toward said retracted position energizing said elongate spring member.    
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 28  further comprising an elongate toothed rack attached to said housing, wherein said drive wheel comprises a toothed drive wheel engageable with said toothed rack, a rotation of said drive wheel meshing said drive wheel with said rack and urging said storage receptacle toward its extended position.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein said drive wheel comprises a drive shaft fixed to said armature and adapted to receive at least one drive cable windable there around, said drive cable having a first end fixed to said storage unit body drive shaft and a second end fixed to said storage unit body.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 31  further comprising a plurality of drive cables windable about said drive shaft, each of said cables having a first end fixed to said storage unit body and a second end fixed to said drive shaft.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein said at least one drive cable is passed through a roller that alters an orientation of said cable.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein said roller is attached to said storage receptacle.  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein said roller is attached to said storage unit body.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein said plurality of drive cables comprises at least two drive cables windable about said drive shaft in opposite directions.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said drive unit is mounted upon a carriage body having an elongated gear rack attached thereto.  
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 37  wherein said elongated gear rack meshes with teeth on said drive wheel.  
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 37  wherein said carriage body is mounted on rollers.  
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 37  wherein said drive unit comprises a drive shaft fixed to said armature and adapted to receive at least one drive cable windable there around, said drive cable having a first end fixed to said drive shaft and a second end fixed to said carriage body.  
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 40  wherein said drive cable is passed through at least one roller that alters an orientation thereof.  
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 40  further comprising a plurality of drive cables.