EP0676524B1 - 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. <IMAGE>

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 laterally delimiting the opening between an opening position and a closing position, the opening closure having a contact strip with light-optical detector means for detecting the stopping position and for switching off the drive, which extends vertically to the direction of movement of the opening closure.

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, in a device of the type mentioned at the outset, the opening closure can be roughly placed on an obstacle, for example a person or a vehicle, which is located 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.

This object is achieved in that the contact strip is formed by the closing edge of the opening closure and that the detector means are carried by the closing edge and spaced apart from each other light emitters or light receivers, the optical axes of which in each case by predeterminable first inclination angles in the direction of the forward movement of the opening closure and for each adjacent guide are inclined, and that fixed, in particular attached to or in the guides, the light transmitter or the light receiver associated 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 that a closed light path is formed from the light transmitter via the first and second reflector means to the light receiver, the interruption of which can be detected by the detector means.

The invention is characterized in that a closed light path below 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 below the closing edge of the opening closure. The specified distance is defined by the lowest position of the light beam. The evaluation unit connected to the detector unit emits a corresponding signal to the drive control of the opening closure in such a way that the opening closure is now braked.

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. An adaptation to different inertia conditions can thus take place by iterative testing determining the optimal distance corresponding to the respective mass. The braking process and the gentle entry into the end position takes place in a known manner by means of a path measurement, for example using a pulse counter.

In terms of construction, the invention provides two variants, namely on the one hand 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

eine Ansicht eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht der Schließkante des Öffnungsabschlusses nach Fig. 1 von unten

Fig. 3

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

Fig. 4

ein Detail aus Fig. 1

Fig. 5, 6a,6b

Skizzen zur Erläuterung der Funktion und

Fig. 7

eine Ansicht eines dritten Ausführungsbeispiels.

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

Fig. 1

a view of a first embodiment

Fig. 2

a view of the closing edge of the opening closure of FIG. 1 from below

Fig. 3

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

Fig. 4

a detail from Fig. 1st

5, 6a, 6b

Sketches to explain the function and

Fig. 7

a view of a third embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows an opening which is delimited laterally by guides 4, 5 for an opening closure and whose upper edge is defined by the upper edge O and whose lower edge 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 to the outside in the direction of the adjacent guide 4 or 5.

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 is reflected by the reflector element, which this light beam strikes, in such a way that it then has a horizontal course parallel to the closing edge 1 of the opening closure and that of a reflector element of the reflector arrangement 6, the light beam incident on the reflector arrangement 7 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. At predetermined 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. 2, 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. 3, light receivers or light transmitters 2, 3 are attached laterally in front of the closing edge 1 and cooperate reflector elements 6, 7 arranged laterally offset with respect to the guides 4, 5, which are carried 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. 4 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 reflective elements 6, 7 shown in FIG. 1 is achieved in terms of production technology simply by the fact 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 information to the gate control such that, in the event of an interruption in the light beam, the drive is stopped and the closing edge 1 now runs into an obstacle in a time-optimized manner based on its inertial 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. 5 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. 6a and 6b, 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 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. 5, and in which the intensity value drops from 100 to 0%, the reduction in intensity shown in FIG. 6a 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. 6a. However, as can be seen from FIG. 6b, it is also possible to place these directly on the edges of the reflector elements 6, so that after the state of the partial absorption (50%), when the opening closure continues to move, reflection (0%) no longer occurs .

FIG. 7 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the invention, which differs from those 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 A more or less large area above the closing edge of the individual detector elements can thus be monitored, it also being 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 (18)

1. A high-speed closure means, in particular for gates, which is movable by means of a drive between an opening and closing position along guiding means arranged in the running direction, with the closure means being provided with a contact strip extending vertical to the running direction of the closure means with light-optical detector means for recognizing a holding position arranged prior to the closing position,
   characterized in that the contact strip is formed by the closing edge (1) of the closure means and that the detector means are light transmitters (2) and light receivers (3) which are mutually distanced and carried by the closing edge (1) and whose optical axes are each inclined by a predeterminable first angle of inclination (α) in the direction of the advance movement of the closure means and towards the respectively adjacent guiding means (4, 5) and that fixed first and second reflector means (6,7) are provided which are attached in particular to or in the guiding means (4,5) and are allocated to the light transmitter (2) or the light receiver (3) and whose surfaces are inwardly inclined towards the direction of movement by a second angle of inclination (β) so that a closed light path is formed from the light transmitter (2) via the first (6) and the second (7) reflector means to the light receiver (3) whose interruption is detectable by detector means (2,3).
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the light transmitter (2) and light receiver (3) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the closure means and are arranged under the same first angle of inclination (α) on the closing edge (1) of the closure means, and that the second angle of inclination (β) of both reflector means (6,7) fulfills the equation $$\text{β = 1/2 (90°-α).}$$

   
3. An apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light transmitter (2) and light receiver (3) are displaceable alongside the closing edge (1) of the closure means whilst maintaining the first angle(s) of inclination (α).
4. An apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light transmitter (2) and the light receiver (3) are attached within the closing edge (1) of the closure means.
5. An apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light transmitter (2) and the light receiver (3) are attached laterally to the closing edge of the closure means and that, adapted thereto, holding means (9,10) extending parallel to the guiding means (4,5) are provided for the first and second reflector means (6,7).
6. An apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reflector means (6,7) is a light-reflecting strip, preferably made of aluminium.
7. An apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reflector means (6,7) are made from a plurality of vertically offset reflector elements with the same angle of inclination (β).
8. An apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide elements (4,5) comprising the reflector means (6,7) each carry a light-permeable cover (8) facing the closure means.
9. An apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reflector means (6,7) is arranged as a reflex foil.
10. An apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detector unit formed by the light transmitter (2) and the light receiver (3) is connected to an evaluation device whose output signal is supplied to the drive control of the closure means.
11. An apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reflector means (6,7) extend along partial zones of predeterminable length and that the evaluating device can be supplied with an input signal for the current position of the closing edge (1) in such a way that an interruption of the light beam is supplied as control signal for the drive of the closure means only in the zones equipped with reflector means (6,7).
12. An apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that evaluating device comprises a monitoring unit for the dimension of the received light intensity in such a way that a warning signal is issued when a predeterminable light absorption value is exceeded.
13. An apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of light transmitters (2) or light receivers (3) are provided which are arranged with the same orientation in a parallel offset manner on the closing edge, with the signals received by the light receivers (3) being evaluated in the multiplex method.
14. An apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure means is a vertically extending closure, in particular a rolling door.
15. An apparatus as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the closure means is a vertically extending closure, in particular a sliding door.
16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the reflector means (6,7) are embedded in the floor or ceiling.
17. An apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that absorption elements (11,12) which are displaceable particularly in the direction of movement are provided in the zone of the reflector means (6,7), with their light absorption value being predeterminable.
18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the absorption elements are arranged in the edge zones of the reflector means.

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