EP1736628B1 - Guide for a sliding door - Google Patents

Abstract

The guide has a rail (8) covered by a belt (3) as the door slides open. As the door is closed the belt does not wind up but moves over a guide pulley (4). The belt which is made from a textile material, plastics or metal or from a sequence of links is fixed at one end to the door and at the other end to a second pulley or traction member for pulling the belt. The belt passes over the first guide pulley in the opposite direction to the sliding direction of the door. The belt can be fixed at both ends to the rail so that when the door is opened the belt moves over pair of pulleys fixed on the door and into the covering position.

Description

The invention relates to the field of sliding doors in buildings, and more particularly to a guide for such a sliding door according to the preamble of claim 1.

STATE OF THE ART

Such a guide is for example from the US 5,203,116 known. It describes a guide rail into which a paper strip is drawn when the door is opened and thus covers the inner regions of the rail. The paper strip is rolled up when closing the door on a roll. For this purpose, the winding on a torsion spring, which applies the necessary tension for winding the paper tape. The described type of cover is limited to smaller windows or doors in the living area.

JP 2005 133298 discloses a guide for a sliding door with a band for covering the rail in a fully or partially opened state of the sliding door, wherein the band is introduced when opening the door in a covering position in the rail and when moving the door through a U shaped deflection slides.

US 4,893,435 shows a door drive in which a toothed belt for moving the door revolves around a Umlenkzahnrad.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a guide for a sliding door in a building of the type mentioned, which allows a cover of the guide even with larger doors.

This object is achieved by a guide for a sliding door in a building having the features of patent claim 1.

The guide for a sliding door in a building has a rail with a band for covering the rail in a fully or partially opened state of the sliding door. In this case, the band is introduced when opening the sliding door in a covering position in the rail. When closing the door, the tape is not wound, but moved over a pulley.

By means of the deflection roller, it is possible to hold the band outside the area to be covered of the sliding door in an extended state. Thus, the band is mostly stretched except for the areas where the band wraps around one or more pulleys. As a result, no additional essential space for winding the tape is needed. For example, instead, the band can be guided in a narrow area along the rail, so that increase the theoretically possible minimum dimensions of the rail only a few millimeters according to the thickness of the tape.

It also makes it possible to avoid the winding of the tape. The winding is delicate and involves the risk that the tape is not rolled up exactly when rolling up or unwinding, and tilted or jammed. This is particularly the case when a band of a stiff and thicker material such as metal or plastic is used. A certain stiffness is required so that the tape stays straight in the rail and does not sag.

Such a band would result in a thick roll when winding, which in turn results in a corresponding space requirement. The longer the door is, the larger would be the space required for a wound tape. Thus, the invention is particularly suitable for use with a fire door, which may have lengths of about three to more than five meters. Usually they are open and are closed only in exceptional cases, so that a cover of the rail in the open state with respect to aesthetics and contamination of the rail is particularly advantageous. In an open state of the door so a portion of the rail is covered by the band in the open area of the sliding door

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the band is fastened at a first end to the sliding door and is deflected by at least one first stationary deflection roller in a direction opposite to a direction of displacement of the sliding door. At a second end opposite the first end, the band is attached to a means for pulling the band, for example a toothed belt, a V-belt or a wire rope. The sliding direction of the sliding door is a linear movement. Depending on the direction of movement, it is referred to as the opening direction or closing direction of the sliding door. Upon displacement of the sliding door in the opening direction, the band is deflected by the first deflection roller in the opposite direction (ie the closing direction of the door). The reverse applies when closing the sliding door.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for pulling the tape on a second deflection roller, which deflects the tape again in the direction of displacement of the sliding door, wherein the tape is attached to the second end of the sliding door. So it is the band pulled by the movement of the sliding door itself from the covering position in the area behind the first guide roller. Thus, no further means such as springs or drives to retract the tape are required. The first diverting pulley is attached to a first end of the rail and the second diverting pulley is attached to a second end of the rail.

Preferably, this embodiment of the invention, as well as the subsequent, means for tensioning the tape. As a result, variations in length of the circulating belt or the rail are compensated. The Means for clamping can be realized by a resilient suspension of at least one of the pulleys or by a resilient attachment between the sliding door and the band at least one end of the sliding door.

In a variant of the just described embodiment of the invention, the means for pulling the tape on a traction means such as a V-belt, a toothed belt or a wire rope, which traction means is attached to the second end of the belt, deflected by a second deflection roller in the direction of displacement of the sliding door is attached to the sliding door at the second end. In contrast to the previous embodiment, therefore, the tape does not run completely around the pulleys from one end of the door to the other, but is about half replaced by the traction means. As a result, the traction means can be better used, inter alia, for other purposes such as driving or slowing down the door movement.

In another variant of the previous embodiment of the invention, the means for pulling the tape on a tensioning means, which clamping means is attached to the second end of the belt and is rollable on a winding roll. The winding roll may be biased by a spring or driven by a motor. The tensioning means is, for example, a wire rope or another thin element which requires less space than the band during winding. Here, therefore, the winding of the tape is replaced by a winding of the clamping means, wherein the tape itself is substantially stretched and unwound.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the traction means respectively the tensioning means runs along the belt to a tümahen end of the belt. This means that the traction means and the tensioning means are substantially parallel to the belt and move together. The band and the traction means and the clamping means are both attached to the door near the end of the first side of the sliding door. This can be at a motor driven door the force to close the door on the traction means or clamping means are transmitted without loading the belt. Preferably, the traction means and the clamping means in the covered region of the rail are guided substantially parallel but spaced from each other. This prevents that the traction means respectively the clamping means in the covered area rest on the tape and thereby bulge down.

Preferably, the said spacing is achieved by the traction means or the tensioning means is guided via a first deflection roller to the first side of the sliding door, and the band is additionally guided by a third deflection roller further down along the covering position to the first side of the sliding door.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the band is secured to the sliding door at a first end and is deflected by at least one first fixed pulley in a vertical direction with a weight attached to the second end of the band. Thus, the door construction also extends down the frame, but allows a simple construction - for doors whose opening is not much wider than high.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the band is attached to both ends of the rail, so it is not circumferential. When the sliding door is opened, the belt is brought into the covering position via a pair of revolving deflection rollers attached to the sliding door. In the covering position, the band, as in the previous embodiments, rests on the running surfaces of the rail. In the area above the door, the belt is in a higher storage position. By a Z- or S-shaped movement of the band around the pair of idler pulleys, it is unrolled from the storage position to the capping position upon opening the door.

The rail is preferably arranged above the sliding door, wherein the sliding door is suspended by a suspension in the rail slidably. The band is preferably made of fabric or plastic or metal or a series of linked rigid and flat members.

In a further preferred variant of the embodiments of the invention described above, it is the belt itself, which is driven by a motor drive or gravity drive and pulls the door. Thus, no further means for power transmission such as wire ropes or timing belts are needed.

Further preferred embodiments emerge from the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figuren 1 bis 3

eine erste Ausführungsform der Erfindung in verschiedenen Ansichten; und

Figuren 4 bis 7

prinzipiell unterschiedliche Anordnungen gemäss weiteren Ausführungsformen der Erfindung.

In the following, the subject invention will be explained in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each show schematically:

FIGS. 1 to 3

a first embodiment of the invention in various views; and

FIGS. 4 to 7

in principle, different arrangements according to further embodiments of the invention.

The reference numerals used in the drawings and their meaning are listed in the list of reference numerals. Basically, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

WAYS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the invention in different views. FIG. 1 shows a simplified side view of a sliding door 1, which is suspended by means of a suspension 9 with rollers 2 in a rail 8 horizontally displaceable. The rollers 2 roll on a tread or rolling surface 15 of the rail 8. At the left end of the sliding door 1, a first end of a belt 3 is fixed, which is guided over a first guide roller 4 and a third guide roller 6 and so after the first guide roller 4 a Movement opposite to the direction of movement of the sliding door 1 performs. At a second end of the belt 3, the belt 3 is connected at an attachment point 10 with a toothed belt 7, which toothed belt 7 is guided around a second deflection roller 5 again in the direction of movement of the sliding door 1 and attached at its end to the right side of the sliding door 1 is. When moving the sliding door 1 so runs the combination of belt 3 and timing belt 7 to the pulleys 4, 5, 6 in an orbit within the rail 8 to. The toothed belt 7 acts as a traction device, which pulls the band 3 around part of the orbit.

Preferably, the toothed belt 7 is guided along the belt 3 and substantially parallel thereto. In this case, the toothed belt 7 but, with the exception of the attachment point 10, not attached to the band 3. In the area of the cover, the toothed belt 7 is guided separately and above the belt 3. For this purpose, the toothed belt 7 is deflected by the first deflection roller 4 to a height above the rolling surface of the rail 8. The belt 3 is lowered by a third deflection roller 6 to the height of the rolling surface in the covering position and thus spaced from the toothed belt 7. The toothed belt 7 or one of the deflection rollers can be provided with a drive for moving the sliding door 1.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a cross section AA 'in the region of the suspension 9. In the upper part of the rail 8 is the space-saving arrangement of the opposite direction for suspension 9 moving belt 3 and the belt 7 visible. In the in FIG. 1 drawn position of the sliding door 1, the band 3 is not visible in cross section. If the sliding door 1 is moved to the left, then the band 3 enters the position shown in dashed lines. In the FIG. 1 For reasons of illustration, the band 3 is thicker than the toothed belt 7. The Figures 2 and 3 show more typical proportions, with a toothed belt 7 with two rows of offset teeth and a height of about 1 to 2cm, and a band 3 with a height of several tenths of a millimeter (in a metal band) to a few millimeters (in a plastic band).

FIG. 3 schematically shows a cross section BB 'in the region of the spaced guide of toothed belt 7 and 3 band. The band 3 is in the covered area on the rolling surfaces 15, respectively, is pulled over these surfaces 15. The moving in the same direction lower portion of the toothed belt 7 is spaced from the band 3. In the upper section, the belt 3 and the toothed belt 7 can be loose on each other.

In the embodiment according to the FIG. 1 the rail 8 is not covered when the door 1 is closed - that is, shifted to the left - on the right side. However, the right-hand side can also be designed as a mirror image of the left-hand side, so that, for example, if the sliding door 1 has the function of a displaceable room divider, the rail 8 is always covered on both sides of the sliding door 1.

FIG. 4 shows in principle an arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention. Therein, the band 3 itself is performed in the rail 8 completely encircling, and is attached at its second end to the right side of the sliding door 1. In this case, the band 3 also act on the right of the sliding door 1 as a cover. Here, by way of example, there is no toothed belt 7 which pulls the band or the door.

FIG. 5 shows in principle an arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention. Here, the band is brought over the first guide roller 4 in a vertical course and is stretched by a weight 11.

FIG. 6 shows in principle an arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention. The tape will be similar as in the FIG. 1 pulled by another element via an attachment point 10. The other element or clamping means, here a wire rope 13 is not connected to the sliding door 1, but wound up on a winding roll 14. The fact that the clamping means has a substantially smaller cross-sectional area than the band 3, the problems mentioned above, which would be associated with the winding of the band 3, do not occur.

FIG. 7 shows in principle an arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention. Here is the band 3 at both ends fixed or possibly still sprung connected to the rail 8. In the covered area, the band 3 rests on the rolling surface 15 of the rail 8. When closing the sliding door 1, the band 3 is conveyed over two follower pulleys 12 on the sliding door 1 upwards in runs from then on above the suspensions 9 in the upper region of the rail 8. The lower of the two follower pulleys 12 is mounted in a holder, which surrounds the vertically extending portion of the band 3 (viewed in cross-section of the rail) on the left and right. Any drive for pulling the sliding door 1 can also be performed left and right of this band section.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

sliding door

2

caster

3

tape

4

first pulley

5

second deflection roller

6

third pulley

7

toothed belt

8th

rail

9

suspension

10

attachment point

11

Weight

12

follower pulleys

13

Wire rope

14

reel

15

rolling surface

Claims (8)

1. Guiding mechanism for a sliding door (1) in a building, comprising a rail (8) for guiding the sliding door (1) when it is displaced, with a tape (3) for covering the rail (8) in a completely or partially open condition of the sliding door (1), wherein the tape (3) is attached to the sliding door (1) at a first end and when opening the sliding door (1) is brought into a covering position in the rail (8), characterised in that the tape (3) by means of at least one first deflecting roller (4) is deflected into an opposite direction to a displacement direction of the sliding door (1), and at a second end is attached to a means (13, 14; 7; 1) for pulling the tape (3).
2. Guiding mechanism for a sliding door (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means for pulling the tape (3) comprises a second deflecting roller (5), which deflects the tape once again into the displacement direction of the sliding door (1), and the tape at the second end is attached to the sliding door (1).
3. Guiding mechanism for a sliding door (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means for pulling the tape (3) comprises a means for pulling (7), which means for pulling (7) is attached at the second end of the tape (3), by means of a second deflection roller (5) is deflected into the displacement direction of the sliding door (1) and at the second end is attached to the sliding door (1).
4. Guiding mechanism for a sliding door (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means for pulling the tape (3) comprises a tensioning means (13), which tensioning means (13) is attached to the second end of the tape (3) and is capable of being rolled-up on a winding roller (14).
5. Guiding mechanism for a sliding door (1) in accordance with claim 3 or 4, wherein the means for pulling (7) or, respectively, the tensioning means (13) extends along the tape (3) up to an end close to the door, the tape (3) at its first end is attached to a first side of the sliding door (1), and the means for pulling (7) or, respectively, the tensioning means (13) at an end close to the door is also attached to the first side of the sliding door (1), and the means for pulling (7) or, respectively, the tensioning means (13) are guided in the covered zone of the rail (8) at a distance from one another.
6. Guiding mechanism for a sliding door (1) in accordance with claim 5, wherein the means for pulling (7), respectively, the tensioning means (13) by the first deflection roller (4) are deflected to the first side of the sliding door (1), and the tape (3) by the first deflection roller (4) and additionally by a third deflection roller (6) is deflected to the first side of the sliding door (1) and into the covering position.
7. Guiding mechanism for a sliding door (1) in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein the rail (8) is arranged above the sliding door (1) and the sliding door (1) by a suspension device (9) is suspended capable of being displaced in the rail (8).
8. Guiding mechanism for a sliding door (1) in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein the tape (3) consists of cloth or plastic material or metal or of a sequence of interlinked rigid and flat links.

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