EP0371170A1

EP0371170A1 - Rolling device for rolling elements such as blinds, curtains, awnings or the like

Info

Publication number: EP0371170A1
Application number: EP88202731A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fabio Farne
Original assignee: Asa Motoriduttori SNC
Current assignee: Asa Motoriduttori SNC
Priority date: 1988-11-30
Filing date: 1988-11-30
Publication date: 1990-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 2008-11-30
Also published as: EP0371170B1; DE3880491D1

Abstract

A rolling up device for rolling elements such as blinds, curtains, awnings or the like comprises: a rolling up roller (2) with engaging means for an end of a rolling element; a box (1) able to be fixed to a wall; an end (3) fitted with a pin (4) inserted in a support (5) secured to a wall to permit rotation of roller (2) relative to box (1); an electric motor (6) placed in roller (2) with a shaft (7) integral to a wheel (8) engaged to roller (2); a control power unit (9) to control the functioning state of motor (6) connected with micro-switches (10,11) and with a push-button; a bushing (13) adapted to mesh with a wheel (17); a worm (20) integral with roller (17) and fitted with a groove (22) to house a stopping ring (23) for two toothed gear wheels (24,25) fitted respectively with through holes (26,27) threaded and able to screw of the thread of worm (20); a first and a second toothed rollers (28,29) fitted with toothings identical to the toothing of said wheels (24,25).

Description

The invention is related to rolling up devices for rolling elements such as blinds, curtains, awnings or the like, comprising: a rolling up roller fitted with fixing means for one of said elements, an electric motor located inside the roller for rotation thereof around its own symmetry axis; a pivot at a fisrt end of said roller to allow said rotation; a box, at the second end of the roller for cooperating with said pivot to support the roller; a bushing supported by the second end of the roller to transmit it the rotations provided by the motor; stop devices to stop movements of the motor, at two predetermined positions , both when the rolling element rolls up and when it unrolls. Said devices being provided, further, with electric control means for the motor at the disposal of an operator, for example with a push-button.
In particular the present invention is related to a control device for stopping the motor at predetermined positions of the rolling element and to safety means to prevent the device from being damaged when it is operated manually or when it is necessary to set the stops.
It is known that this kind of rolling up devices is provided with means for manual work which allow operation when the current fails or when the motor is broken; it is also known that these devices are provided with stops for automatic set of up- or un-rolling abutments of the rolling elements; said means being displaceable as a function of the dimension of the rolling device.
The problems, which must be solved by a device according to the present invention are the followings:
- to prevent the device from being damaged in case of manual work;
- to prevent the device from being damaged during set of the stops;
- to minimize the encumbrance dimensions to control rolling up rollers having a rather small diameter.
A device is known from prior art which comprises a rolling up roller; an electric motor placed in the roller and a stop system to define the stop and the reversal of the rotation direction of the motor.
Said system consists substantially of a toothed roller located inside the rolling up roller and kinematically connected thereto; said toothed roller meshes with two gears for rotation thereof meanwhile said roller rotates since it is dragged by the rolling up roller. Each of the gears is supported by a worm thus allowing combination of their rotation movements with a translation movement, so that each gear moves axially by rotating on its own worm. More precisely, upon a certain rotation direction, one of said gears moves to a predetermined direction and at the same time the other gear moves to the opposite direction. One of the gears is thus allowed to reach a bushing supported by an axis located at an end of the worm relative to the concerned gear; a spring acts on said bushing to maintain it at a predetermined position. Since the bushing is kinematically connected to a micro-switch, the operation of the gear on the busing can define an intervention on the micro-switch; the latter is electrically connected to a control unit for the electric motor so that the operation of the gear on the bushing is translated in a stop of the motor.
The main disadvantage of this known device is that it must have two worms which must have two opposite rolling up directions to allow opposite rotations of the two gears, this entails: a great encumbrance dimension of the device with respect to the diameter of the rolling up roller; an expensive assembly of the two worms and a complicated connection system between the bushings and the micro-switches.
The present invention, as claimed, is intended to remedy these drawbacks. It solves the problem of creating a rolling up device for rolling elements such as blinds, curtains, awnings or the like. By using a device according to the present invention the following results are achieved: the up- and un- rolling stops of the rolling element are set very easily.
The advantages offered by the invention are mainly that the device is prevented from being damaged in case of manual work or during set of the stops. Furthermore the encumbrance dimensions of the device are minimized to control rolling up rollers having a diameter rather small.
One way of carrying out the invention is described in detail below with reference to drawings which illustrate a preferred but not limiting embodiment.

Fig.1 shows schematically an assembly drawing of a device in accordance with the invention
Fig.2 shows a constructive detail of the device
Fig.3 shows a device control kinematic assembly
Fig.4 shows a detail which points out the relation between a gear and a micro-switch (some structures are inverted for graphic necessities)
Figs.5-7 show safety systems for the device.

The figures show a rolling up device for rolling elements such as blinds, curtains, awnings or the like and parts thereof.
Fig.1 shows schematically a device according to the invention including a box 1, adapted to be fixed for example to a wall by known means and which houses manual work means, not shown, to operate a rolling up roller 2 fitted with engaging means for an end of a rolling element, not shown; said work means are subject matter of the Italian Patent Application No. 3382 A/84 filed by the Applicant to which reference is made for comprehension thereof.
The internal part of roller 2 houses an electric meter 6 whose stator, not shown, is structurally connected to box 1 for not to rotate in respect with a reference system fixed to said box 1. The rotor of the motor 6 is kinematically connected to a shaft 7, angularly integral with a wheel 8 which is in turn integral with roller 2 by known means, not shown (pins, drive fits or the like). Motor 6 is electrically connected with a control power unit 9 adapted, as known, to control the functioning state of the motor 6 and in particular to define the rotation directions and the stopping state thereof. As better shown in Fig.2, roller 2 is angularly integral, by a spline 12, with a bushing 13 supported by a hub 14 which is part of box 1. Bushing 13 has an internal toothing 15 adapted to mesh with an external toothing 16 of a wheel 17, free to rotate around a pivot 18 supported by a wall 19 of box 1.
As it is apparent from Fig.3, pivot 18 is integral with a worm 20 supported by a wall 21 at a second end of worm 21. Worm 20 is fitted with a first groove 22, substantially at the middle of the whole length thereof; groove 22 is able to house a first stopping ring 23 for two gear wheels 24 and 25 fitted with through holes 26 and 27, respectively; said through holes being threaded and being able to screw in the thread of worm 20.
Worm 20 is fitted also with a second groove 50, placed near the wall 19 and able to house a second stopping ring 51 for wheel 24, a third groove 52, adapted to house a third stopping ring 53 for wheel 25, being made in worm 20 near wall 21.
Wheels 24 and 25 have external toothings for mesh on identical external toothings made in a first toothed roller 28 and in a second toothed roller 29, respectively. Wheel 24 has a first invitation bevel 60 to operate a push button 35, of the micro-switch 10, gently; a second bevel 61 is made in wheel 25 to operate a push-button, not shown, of micro-switch 11; said first and second bevels 60 and 61 being located on the relevant wheels 24 and 25 facing each other.
The first and the second rollers 28 and 29 are supported by a first and a second supporting arms 30 and 31, respectively, which are in turn supported by walls 19 and 21; said roller 28 developing approximately from said wall 19 to said ring 23; said roller 29 developing approximately from said ring 23 to said wall 21.
The wall 21 supports a beam structure 32 (better shown in Fig.4) adapted to support said first and second micro-switches 10 and 11. In operation, when motor 6 rotates roller 2 to the direction of arrow A, the rotation movement is transmitted to the bushing 13 fitted with the spline 12 and to the worm 20 which feeds toward the direction A the weels 24 and 25 whose rotation is voided by the mesh with toothing of rollers 28 and 29, respectively; said rollers being prevented from rotating by a kinematic motion which will be described below.
When, for example, wheel 24 is in contact with push button 55 of micro-switch 10, the latter sends an electrical signal to stop motor 6 and to reverse its polarity to enable it to rotate to the opposite direction after a subsequent manual operation on the push-button. When motor 6 rotates to the opposite direction, indicated by arrow B in Figs.1 and 3, the movement of wheel 25 to the direction B allows to reach a push-button, not shown, of the micro-switch 21 enabling the latter to send to the power unit an electric signal to stop the motor 6 and to reverse its polarity. Two identical mechanisms, shown in Figs.3, 4, 5 and 6 are provided to define the position of wheels 24 and 25 in respect to the relevant micro-switches 10 and 11.
To simplify, we are referring to Fig.4 in which one of these mechanisms includes a pair of conic wheels 36 and 37 engaging each other. Wheel 36 is integral with a shaft 38 supported by a wall 40 of box 1; said shaft 38 having an end in which an hexagonal hole is made for introduction of a known operation tool. Wheel 37 is integral with a shaft 33 supported by a wall 41 of bow 1 and which is fitted with a toothed end 42 able to mesh on the toothed roller 28. By rotating wheel 36, by means of the tool, to the direction E, also wheel 37 is rotated to the direction E; the same rotation direction is transmitted to wheel 42 which in turn transmitts an opposite motion to roller 28, wheel 24 is dragged rightward and approaches micro-switch 10. In a similar manner wheel 25 is positioned with respect to micro-switch 11.
The device according to the present invention is fitted with two safety systems the first of which is intended to prevent wheels 24 and 25 from being damaged in case of manual operation on bushing 13.
The supporting shafts 30 and 31 inflect resiliently under the effort applied by the tangential force of one of the two wheels 24 or 25 abutting on the stopping ring 29. The inflection enables one of the wheels 24 or 25 to exit from the toothed profile of roller 28 or 29 by moving away the pitch lines and by allowing the external circumpherence to displace tangentially thus slipping one on the other. This concept is visually expressed in Fig.7.
The second safety system voids damages to the pairs of conic wheels 37 and 38.
As it is apparent from Figs.5 and 6, the position of wheel 37, relative to wheel 38, which allows a correct mesh between the respective pitch lines, is defined by an elastic ring 43 which, under excessive efforts applied by wheel 38 to wheel 37, which is fortuitously not free to rotate, permits, by inflecting as shown in Fig.6, to move away the pitch line circumpherences of wheel 37 and 38 until the external circumpherences of the wheels dispose tangentially and slip one on the other.
When, for example, wheel 24 abuts on the stopping ring 51, it is not possible to achieve a sufficient inflection of shaft 30 to permit tangency between the external circumpherences of wheel 24 and roller 28. Nevertheless, wheel 24 transmits to roller 28 the rotation which is transmitted to conic wheels 36 and 37 by end 42 and shaft 33. In this manner, even if the axial movement of wheel 24 stops, the device is not subjected to damages because of the rotation movement allowed to the wheel 24. An identical function occurs for wheel 25 when it abuts on ring 53.
In an embodiment of the present invention, not shown, the adjustment of the position of wheels 24 and 25 relative to micro-switches 10 and 11 is obtained by acting directly on the supporting shafts 30 and 31 supported by walls 19 and 21. One of the ends of each shaft 30 is provided with an operating element such as a slot or the like and at least one of the support ends of the same shafts 30 and 31 is fitted with a brake element, for example with a light drive fit, between the support hole and the end of the shaft.

Claims

1. Rolling up device for rolling elements such as blinds, curtains, awnings or the like including: a rolling up roller (2) fitted with engaging means for an end of a rolling element; a box (1) adapted to be fixed to a wall by known means and which houses known manual operation means to operate said rolling up roller (2); an end (3) of said roller (2) closed and opposite to the end relative to said box (1), said end (3) being shaped such to support a pivot (4) inserted in a support (5) fixed, for example, to a wall to allow rotation of said roller (2), with respect to a fix reference system, with said box (1); an electric motor (6) housed inside the roller (2) fitted with a stator connected structurally to said box (1) to not to rotate relative to said reference system and with a rotor, kinematically connected to a shaft (7) angularly integral with a wheel (8) in turn integral with said roller (2); a control power unit (9) adapted to control the functioning state of the motor (6), to define the rotation directions and the stopping state of the rotor; said unit (9) being connected with a first and a second micro-switch (10,11) and with a push-button at the disposal of an operator for operating said motor (6); a bushing (13) supported by a hub (14) made in said box (1); said bushing being provided with a spline (12) to obtain angular engagement between said roller (2) and said bushing (13); said bushing (13) having an internal toothing (15) able to mesh with an external toothing (16) of a wheel (17) integral with a pivot (18) supported by a wall (19) made in said box (1); characterized by the fact that it includes also: a worm (20) angularly integral with said wheel (17); said worm (20) having a first groove (22) adapted to house a stopping ring (23) for two gear wheels (24,25) fitted with through holes (26,27), respectively, said holes (26,27) being threaded and being able to screw in the thread of said worm (20); a first and a second toothed rollers (28,29) fitted with toothings identical to the toothings of said wheels (24,25); said first and second rollers (28,29) being supported by a first and a second supporting shafts (30,31), respectively; said roller (28) developing approximately from said supporting wall (19) to said ring (23); said roller (29) developing approximately from said ring (23) to a wall (21) able to support said worm (20) and said supporting shafts (30,31); a first safety system to void damages to wheels (24,25) in case of manual operation of roller (2); operating elements to define the position of said wheels (24,25) in respect to said micro-switches (10,11); a second safety system to void damages to said operating elements.

2. Rolling up device as in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said supporting shafts (30,31) are able to inflect resiliently under the effort applied by the tangential force of said wheel (24 or 25), abutting on said stopping ring (29), to allow exit of said wheel (24 or 25) from the toothed profile of said roller (28 or 29) moving away the pitch lines and allowing the external circumpherences to dispose tangentially and slip one on the other.

3. Rolling up device as in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said operating elements consist of a pair of conic wheels (36,37) which mesh one to the other; said wheel (36) is integral with a shaft (38) supported by a wall (48) of said box (1); said shaft (38) having an end with a hexagonal hole for insertion of a known operating tool; said wheel (37) being integral with a shaft (33) supported by a wall (41) of said box (1) and which has a toothed end (42) able to mesh on said roller (28).

4. Rolling up device as in claims 1 and 3, characterized by the fact that said second safety system includes an elastic ring (43) able to define the exact position of said wheel (37) in respect to said wheel (38) which allows correct mesh between the relevant pitch lines; said elastic ring (43) being able to inflect under excessive efforts applied by said wheel (38) to said wheel (37) to move away the pitch lines of the two wheels (37,38) until the external circumpherences of the wheels dispose tangentially and slip the one on the other.

5. Rolling up device as in claims 1 and 3, characterized by the fact that said worm (20) has a second and a third grooves (50,51) adapted to house a second and a third stopping rings (51,53), respectively; said second groove (50) being placed near said wall (19) and said third groove (51) being place near said wall (21).