EP0671532A1 - High speed closure means - Google Patents

Abstract

The closure appts. has a contact bar (17), perpendicular w.r.t. the appts. direction of motion, which operates with a light detection arrangement to detect a holding position before a closed position. The detector arrangement includes a light source (15) associated with one lateral guide (13) and a light receiver (16) associated with the another (14). Their optical axes lie parallel to the direction of motion. The contact bar has reflection elements (18,19) coaxial with the optical axis of the source or receiver and with reflection surfaces inclined in the direction of the opening so as to form a closed light path from the source to the receiver via the two reflection elements. Interruption of the light path is detected.

Description

The invention relates to a high-speed opening closure, in particular for gates, which can be moved by means of a drive along guides arranged in the running direction between an opening position and a closing position, the opening closure having a contact strip which extends vertically to the running direction of the opening closure and which is equipped with light-optical detector means for detecting a the stop position upstream of the closed position is in operative connection.

Such a device is known from DE 37 40 326. For this purpose, the contact strip is designed as a so-called safety contact strip, in which an elastic hollow profile is provided, in each of which an infrared transmitter or an infrared sensor are arranged opposite one another in alignment. This device detects that there is an object between the contact strip and the remaining opening when the light path between the infrared transmitter and the infrared sensor is interrupted by the indentation of the hollow profile. Due to the inertia force of the opening closure, however, the opening closure can be placed roughly on a device of the type mentioned at the beginning Obstacle, for example a person or a vehicle, which is between the contact strip and the remaining opening.

In contrast, the invention is based on the object of further developing a high-speed opening closure of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that faults when the opening closure strikes an obstacle are eliminated.

According to a first variant of the invention, this object is achieved in that the detector means are a light transmitter assigned to one lateral guide and a light receiver assigned to the other lateral guide, the optical axes of which each run parallel to the direction of movement, and that the contact strip is arranged upstream of two of the the contact strip and each with the optical axis of the light transmitter or light receiver aligned reflector elements are provided, the reflection surfaces of which are inclined in the direction of the opening in such a way that a closed light path is formed from the light transmitter via the first, the second reflector element to the light receiver, the interruption of the detector means is detectable.

This variant of the invention is characterized in that a closed light path is formed between the light transmitter, the reflector elements and the light receiver in front of the closing edge of the opening closure, which is moved together with the closing edge. This light path is interrupted when an obstacle is within a predeterminable distance in front of the closing edge of the opening closure. In this variant, the specified distance is defined by the course of the Light beam in front of the closing edge, the evaluation unit connected to the detector unit emitting a corresponding signal to the drive control of the opening closure in such a way that, if the light beam is interrupted, the opening closure is braked. This variant has the advantage that the transmitter and receiver are arranged in a fixed position, while the only elements that move together with the contact strip of the opening closure remain the reflector means. In this way, in contrast to a unit composed of light transmitter and receiver, which is moved together with the opening closure, the wiring can be implemented more easily.

If the light beams from the transmitter and receiver run inside the guides designed as hollow profile rails, in addition to the advantage of reduced contamination, there is also less loss of light intensity.

It is preferably provided that the reflector element is held by a tubular support, in particular, which is guided in an axially movable but non-rotatable manner by a guide sleeve attached to the contact strip. The purpose of the guide sleeves is to guarantee the movement together with the contact strip on the one hand and to maintain an adjustment of the optical system with each axial position of the support tube. The axial position of the carrier can be changed when the opening closure is placed in the closed position, the closed light path being maintained until either an obstacle enters the area between the contact strip and the closed position or the contact strip reaches the closed position. Due to the axially movable Guiding the carrier in the guide sleeve also results in a high flexibility of the device in relation to the adjustment of the distance between the light path and the contact strip.

According to a second variant of the invention, the stated object is achieved in that the detector means are light transmitters or light receivers carried by the closing edge and spaced apart from one another, the optical axes of which are each inclined by predeterminable first inclination angles in the direction of the forward movement of the opening closure and towards the respectively adjacent guide are, and that fixed, in particular attached to or in the guides, assigned to the light transmitter or the light receiver first or second reflector means are provided, the surfaces of which are inclined in each case by a second inclination angle relative to the direction of movement such that a closed light path from the light transmitter is formed via the first and second reflector means to the light receiver, the interruption of which can be detected by the detector means.

The second variant of the invention is characterized in that a closed light path in front of the closing edge of the opening end is formed by the unit of light transmitter and light receiver on the one hand and the inclined reflector elements on the other hand, which is moved together with the closing edge. This light path is interrupted if an obstacle is within a predeterminable distance in front of the closing edge of the opening closure. The specified distance is defined by the foremost position of the light beam. In the event of an interruption, the evaluation unit connected to the detector unit emits a corresponding signal to the drive control of the opening closure in that that now the opening closure is slowed down. This solution has the advantage that the opening closure can be moved at high speed during the position of the opening termination in which the light path is uninterrupted and that only in the state after the light path has been interrupted does a slow entry into the end position have to take place.

genügt. Durch die geometrische Anordnung von Lichtsender, und Lichtempfänger einerseits und den Reflektormitteln andererseits ist sichergestellt, daß der Lichtweg die Form eines sich nach unten öffnenden Trapezes aufweist, d.h. daß die Schließkante des Trapezes parallel zur Schließkante des Öffnungsabschlusses verläuft. Hierdurch ergibt sich eine hohe Reproduzierbarkeit im Aufbau der Detektoreinrichtung, da die Schräglage der Reflektormittel in beiden Führungen exakt vorgebbar ist.It is preferably provided that the light transmitter and the light receiver are arranged symmetrically with respect to one another with respect to the central axis of the opening closure and at the same first angle of inclination on the closing edge of the opening closure, and that the second angle of inclination of both reflector means corresponds in each case to the equation $$\text{β = 1/2 (90 ° -α)}$$

enough. The geometric arrangement of the light transmitter and light receiver on the one hand and the reflector means on the other hand ensures that the light path has the shape of a trapezoid opening downwards, ie that the trapezoid's closing edge runs parallel to the closing edge of the opening end. This results in a high level of reproducibility in the construction of the detector device, since the inclined position of the reflector means can be precisely specified in both guides.

If it is also provided that the light transmitter and light receiver can be moved along the closing edge of the opening closure while maintaining the first angle or inclinations, the height of the trapezoid, ie the distance between the closing edge of the opening closure, can be selected by preselecting the distance between the light transmitter and light receiver and adjust the lower course of the light path. So can an adaptation to different inertia conditions takes place by iterative testing to determine the optimal distance corresponding to the respective mass. The braking process and the gentle entry into the end position are carried out in a known manner by means of a distance measurement, for example using a pulse counter.

In terms of construction, the invention provides two possibilities, namely, firstly, that the light transmitter and light receiver are fitted within the closing edge of the opening closure. This allows a compact structure.

As an alternative to this, it is provided that the light transmitter and the light receiver are attached to the side of the closing edge of the opening closure and that there are adapted, for this purpose, holding means for the first and second reflector means which run parallel to the lateral guides. This alternative is particularly suitable for simple retrofitting to existing opening closures, since the holding means for the reflector means can be placed on already existing guides. Both a one-sided lateral arrangement is possible, namely on the side to be protected, or a two-sided arrangement, each with two reflector arrangements and two holding means.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention are presented in further subclaims.

Fig. 1

ein Ausführungsbeispiel für die erste Variante der Erfindung.

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels einer zweiten Variante der Erfindung

Fig. 3

eine Ansicht der Schließkante des Öffnungsabschlusses nach Fig. 2 von unten

Fig. 4

eine Ansicht der Schließkante des Öffnungsabschlusses von unten nach einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel der zweiten Variante der Erfindung

Fig. 5

ein Detail aus Fig. 2

Fig. 6, 7a,7b

Skizzen zur Erläuterung der Funktion

Fig. 8

eine Ansicht eines dritten Ausführungsbeispiels der zweiten Variante der Erfindung und

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of a drawing showing exemplary embodiments. Show:

Fig. 1

an embodiment for the first variant of the invention.

Fig. 2

a view of a first embodiment of a second variant of the invention

Fig. 3

a view of the closing edge of the opening closure of FIG. 2 from below

Fig. 4

a view of the closing edge of the opening end from below according to a second embodiment of the second variant of the invention

Fig. 5

a detail from Fig. 2nd

6, 7a, 7b

Sketches to explain the function

Fig. 8

a view of a third embodiment of the second variant of the invention and

Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment for the first variant of the invention. Here, an opening is delimited laterally by guides 13, 14 for an opening closure, the opening closure, of which only the closing edge 17 is shown, moving vertically in the direction of the arrow between the guides 13, 14.

The closing edge 17 carries a rubber strip 26 on its underside, which faces the closing position.

The lateral guides 13, 14 are designed as hollow profiles and have an infrared transmitter 15 or an infrared receiver 16 at their respective upper ends. The optical axes of infrared transmitter 15 and infrared receiver 16 are aligned so that they run parallel to one another within guides 13, 14. Carried by the closing edge 17, two guide sleeves 22, 23 are provided, which are arranged in alignment with the optical axes of the transmitter 15 or receiver 16 below the underside of the lateral guide rails 13, 14 facing the closed position.

Each of the guide sleeves 22, 23 serves to guide a carrier 20, 21, which is tubular and has a reflector element 18, 19 on its side facing the closed position and, for limitation, a rubber buffer 24, 25 as a damping element. The carrier 20, 21 is axially displaceable within the guide sleeve 22, 23 along the optical axis of the transmitter 15 or receiver 16, but is secured against rotation.

The reflector means 18, 19 are each designed as a prism and have a reflector surface which is inclined by 45 °, so that the light beam emanating from the infrared transmitter 15 is reflected by the reflector means 18 by 90 °, then reaches the reflector means 19 and again by 90 ° reflected by the light receiver 16 is received.

The distance a of the light beam running parallel to the closing edge 17 to the closing edge 17 can be varied by moving the carriers 20, 21 together.

This variant of the invention has the advantage that, on the one hand, the closed light path is maintained until the closing position is completely reached, until the light path is interrupted by the closing edge 17, since the supports 20, 21 are always displaced in parallel.

In addition, the transmitter 15 and receiver 16 can be arranged stationary within the guide rails 13, 14, while only the reflector elements 18, 19 are moved together with the opening closure.

If the light beam is interrupted, a signal is sent to the drive control of the motor for the opening closure, so that the drive is stopped or - depending on the inertia of the overall system - a gentle running into the closed position takes place (see below).

According to its embodiment in FIG. 2, the second variant of the invention shows an opening which is laterally delimited by guides 4, 5 for an opening closure and whose upper edge is defined by the upper edge O and the lower edge of which is defined by the base line G.

Vertically between the lateral guides 4, 5, an opening closure moves in the direction of arrow V, of which only the closing edge 1 is shown in the drawing.

The opening closure can be moved between an open position and a closed position by means of known drive means, which are accommodated in the area of the upper edge. In the closed position, the closing edge 1 of the opening closure sits on the base line G of the opening.

The closing edge 1 of the opening closure is arranged with lateral play between the guides 4, 5.

The closing edge 1 carries both a light transmitter 2 and a light receiver 3, which are at a distance A from one another. The light transmitter 2 has the lateral distance A _{R from} the lateral guide 4, while the light receiver 3 has the lateral distance A _{L from} the lateral guide 5. In the exemplary embodiment, the distances A _R and A _{L are the} same.

Both the light transmitter 2 and the light receiver 3 are inclined with their optical axis at an angle α with respect to the vertical outward in the direction of the adjacent guide 5 or 6.

The sides of the lateral guides 4 and 5 facing the opening closure carry reflector elements 6 and 7, which are each formed by plane reflector elements arranged vertically one above the other. Each of the flat reflector elements is inclined with respect to an angle β with respect to the vertical such that the light beam striking the reflector element is reflected inwards within the plane of the drawing shown. The arrangement of the reflector elements in a vertical sequence results in the "sawtooth structure" shown in the drawing.

The spatial association between the angle β and the angle α is chosen so that the relationship is fulfilled: $$\text{β = 1/2 (90 ° -α).}$$

This angular relationship is chosen so that the light beam emerging from the light transmitter 2 at the angle α from the reflector element, which this light beam strikes, is reflected in such a way that it then has a horizontal course parallel to the closing edge 1 of the opening closure and that the light beam impinging on the reflector arrangement 7 from a reflector element of the reflector arrangement 6 is then again reflected at such an angle that it is received by the light transmitter 3. In this way, there is a closed light beam path from the transmitter 2 via the reflector elements 6, 7 to the receiver 3, the distance H being between the closing edge 1 of the opening closure and the horizontal line of the light beam.

The principle of operation of the invention is as follows:
By adjusting the angle α of light sensor 2 or light sensor 3, the inclination of the reflector elements 6, 7 is determined at the angle β. This results in the described closed course of the light beam. For a given distance A between the light sensor 2 or light receiver 3, the distance H between the closing edge 1 and the horizontal light beam area is fixed.

During the movement of the opening closure, which usually takes place at a very high speed, the described light beam arrangement thus moves along with the light beam being interrupted when the distance between the closing edge 1 of the opening closure and the base line G becomes at least H. Due to the interruption of the light beam path, the light receiver 3 receives a signal which is sent to the downstream drive control (not shown further) for the opening closure and can also be processed as a test signal for the entry into the closed position.

Depending on the mass of the opening closure, the distance A between the light sensor 2 or the light receiver 3 can now be set so that the desired height H is obtained, which is large enough, on the one hand, that sufficient braking from the rapid run-up to an obstacle is still possible without touching the obstacle and that, on the other hand, an optimal course of time arises in the sense of a target braking operation. When the distance A between light transmitter 2 and light receiver 3 is adjusted, the inclination at the angle α is maintained in each case.

According to the variant shown in FIG. 3, light transmitter 2 or light receiver 3 can be attached to the closing edge of the opening closure 1. Installation can also take place in an installed profile rubber under the rail of the closing edge. In this variant, the reflector elements 6, 7 are located directly in the guides 4, 5 for closing the opening.

In the variant shown in FIG. 4, light receivers or light transmitters 2, 3 are mounted laterally in front of the closing edge 1 and cooperate with reflector elements 6, 7 which are offset laterally with respect to the guides 4, 5 and are supported by additional guide strips 9, 10. This solution variant is particularly suitable for retrofitting existing opening closures with the modification according to the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a variant in which the guide 5 carrying the reflector element 7 is provided with a shield 8, so that protection against contamination is possible. The shield is transparent to the light used, namely IR light.

The arrangement of the reflector elements 6, 7 shown in FIG. 2 is easily achieved in terms of production technology in that the sawtooth structure described results from molded, punched or drawn material, which are provided with a mirrored surface after the molding process. As an alternative to this, reflective foils can also be used, which are applied to the appropriately designed support. In addition, other optical systems such as Fresnel, diffraction and interference systems based on foils are conceivable for the design of the reflector elements.

The light transmitter 2 is fed and the signals extracted by the light receiver 3 are evaluated in the manner customary in the prior art.

As a special design according to the invention, however, the evaluation electronics downstream of the light receiver can be seen, which, in addition to the pure detection of the reflected light beam, also measures the absorption of the light signal on its way along the described path and thus monitors whether the system has possibly been contaminated .

The output signal of the evaluation electronics thus supplies two commands, namely on the one hand information to the gate control such that in the event of an interruption of the light beam, the drive is stopped and the closing edge 1 now runs into an obstacle in an optimal time, following its inertia force, and on the other hand a signal, which emits a warning signal to the operator when a certain presettable absorption is exceeded in order to initiate cleaning of the lighting system before the system reacts incorrectly.

FIG. 6 shows the intensity curve measured by the light receiver 3 along the movement of the opening closure. For the sake of illustration, only the closing edge 1 is shown, below which the light beam extends at a distance H. As long as the closing edge 1 is in the active area between the vertical positions A and E, the received light intensity is maximum (100%). If the light beam is interrupted (position E of the closing edge 1), the intensity drops from 100 to 0%, as a result of which a corresponding control signal is emitted as described.

As can be seen from FIGS. 7a and 7b, displaceable upper and lower absorption elements 11, 12 can additionally be provided in the region of the reflector elements 6. These elements, for example in the form of foils, which have a predeterminable absorption for the light used, for example infrared light, have the effect that the light beam is attenuated in accordance with the predefinable absorption. Figure 6a shows the intensity of the received light signal as a function of the position of the light beam. The light beam is reflected unhindered between positions A and B, while being absorbed in the area between B and C by a predetermined value, for example 50%, which is noticeable by a corresponding drop in intensity. In the positions between positions C and C ', ie in the active area, there is again 100% light reflection. Between positions C 'and D there is again absorption as a result of the absorption element 12.

Thus, the absorption elements 11 and 12 can take over the function of conventional limit switches and retrofitting existing door systems without path detection is possible in this way.

In contrast to the detection of an obstacle, as was shown in FIG. 6, and in which the intensity value drops from 100 to 0%, the reduction in intensity shown in FIG. 7a to an intermediate value (for example 50%) can be used to recognize that certain definable end positions for the opening closure have been reached. In these positions, braking or gentle running into the end positions can then be initiated regardless of the presence of an obstacle.

On the one hand, the absorption elements 11, 12 can be arranged within the region of the reflector elements 6, as can be seen from FIG. 7a. However, it is also possible, as can be seen from FIG. 7b, to place these directly on the edges of the reflector elements 6, so that after the state of the partial absorption (50%) there is no more reflection (0%) when the opening closure continues to move .

FIG. 8 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the second variant of the invention, which differs from the ones described above in that a large number of light transmitters 2 or light receivers 3 are provided, which together form a so-called “light curtain”. Each pair of light transmitters 2 or light receivers 3 is arranged symmetrically to the central axis of the opening closure, so that there is a corresponding strip-shaped course of mutually parallel light beams. Depending on the number of individual detector elements, a more or less large area can thus be above the closing edge are monitored, and it is also possible to extend the monitoring to the lower closing area.

The measurement signals of the individual light elements are usually evaluated using the time-division multiplex method.

The solution according to the invention is suitable both for equipping vertically running roller doors and also for laterally running sliding doors, the reflector elements in the latter being arranged in the floor or ceiling area.

Claims (23)

High-speed opening closure, in particular for gates, which can be moved by means of a drive along guides arranged in the running direction between an opening position and a closing position, the opening closure having a contact strip which extends vertically to the running direction of the opening closure and which has light-optical detector means for detecting a holding position upstream of the closing position is in operative connection, characterized in that the detector means are a light transmitter (15) assigned to one lateral guide (13) and a light receiver (16) assigned to the other lateral guide (14), the optical axes of which each run parallel to the direction of movement, and that Upstream of the contact strip (17) in the direction of movement, two reflector elements (18, 19) carried by the contact strip (17) and each aligned with the optical axis of the light transmitter (15) or light receiver (16), the R Reflection surfaces are inclined in the direction of the opening such that a closed light path from the light transmitter (15) via the first (18), the second (19) reflector element to the light receiver (16) is formed, the interruption of which can be detected by the detector means. Device according to claim 1,
characterized in that the light beams for light transmitter (15) and light receiver (16) each run inside the guide (13, 14) designed as a hollow profile rail. Device according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that the reflector element (18, 19) is held by a tubular support (20, 21), in particular, which is guided by a guide sleeve (22, 23) attached to the contact strip (17) so that it cannot rotate and is axially movable. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized in that the carrier (20, 21) has an elastic damping element (24, 25) at its one end pointing in the closed position. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized in that the reflector element (18, 19) is a prism with a reflection angle of 45 °. High-speed opening closure, in particular for gates, which can be moved by means of a drive along guides arranged in the running direction between an opening position and a closing position, the opening closure having a contact strip extending vertically to the running direction of the opening closure with light-optical detector means for detecting a stopping position upstream of the closing position,
characterized in that the detector means are light transmitters (2) or light receivers (3) carried and spaced apart from one another by the closing edge (1), the optical axes of which in each case by predeterminable first inclination angles (α) in the direction of the forward movement of the opening closure and to the respectively adjacent guide (4,5) are inclined, and that fixed, in particular attached to or in the guides (4,5), the light transmitter (2) or the light receiver (3) assigned to the first or second Reflector means (6, 7) are provided, the surfaces of which are each inclined inward by a second inclination angle (β) with respect to the direction of movement such that a closed light path from the light transmitter (2) via the first (6) and the second (7) reflector means Light receiver (3) is formed, the interruption of which can be detected by the detector means (2, 3). Apparatus according to claim 6,
characterized in that the light transmitter (2) and light receiver (3) are arranged symmetrically with respect to one another with respect to the central axis of the opening closure and are arranged at the same first inclination angle (α) on the closing edge (1) of the opening closure, and in that the second inclination angle (β) both reflector means (6,7) each of the equation $$\text{β = 1/2 (90 ° -α)}$$

enough. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7,
characterized in that the light transmitter (2) and light receiver (3) can be displaced relative to one another along the closing edge (1) of the opening closure while maintaining the first angle or angles of inclination (α). Device according to one of claims 8 to 8,
characterized in that the light transmitter (2) and light receiver (3) are mounted within the closing edge (1) of the opening closure. Device according to one of claims 6 to 9,
characterized in that the light transmitter (2) and the light receiver (3) are attached to the side of the closing edge of the opening closure and that, adapted to this, holding means (9, 10) for the first and second reflector means (6) running parallel to the guides (4, 5) , 7) are provided. Device according to one of claims 6 to 10,
characterized in that the reflector means (6, 7) is in each case a light-reflecting tape, preferably made of aluminum. Device according to one of claims 6 to 11,
characterized in that the reflector means (6, 7) are each formed from a plurality of vertically offset reflector elements of the same angle of inclination (β). Device according to one of claims 6 to 12,
characterized in that the guide elements (4,5) containing the reflector means (6, 7) each carry a translucent cover (8) pointing towards the opening closure. Device according to one of claims 6 to 13,
characterized in that the reflector means (6, 7) is designed as a reflective film. Device according to one of claims 6 to 14,
characterized in that the reflector means (6, 7) extend along subregions of predeterminable length and in that the evaluation device can be supplied with an input signal for the current position of the closing edge (1) such that only in the areas equipped with reflector means (6, 7) an interruption of the light beam is passed on as a control signal for driving the opening closure. Device according to one of claims 6 to 15,
characterized in that a plurality of light transmitters (2) or light receivers (3) are provided, which are arranged in parallel on the closing edge with the same orientation in each case, the received signals of the light receivers (3) being evaluated in the multiplex method. Device according to one of claims 6 to 16,
characterized in that the reflector means (6, 7) are embedded in the floor or ceiling. Device according to one of claims 6 to 17,
characterized in that absorption elements (11, 12), the light absorption value of which can be predetermined, are provided in the region of the reflector means (6, 7), in particular in the direction of movement. Device according to claim 18,
characterized in that the absorption elements are arranged in the edge regions of the reflector means. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the detector unit formed from light transmitter (2) and light receiver (3) is connected to an evaluation device, the output signal of which is passed on to the drive control of the opening closure. Device according to claim 20,
characterized in that the evaluation device has a monitoring unit for the size of the received light intensity in such a way that a warning signal is output when a predeterminable light absorption value is exceeded. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the opening closure is a vertically extending closure, in particular a roller door. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the opening closure is a horizontally extending closure, in particular a sliding gate.

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