EP2166188B1 - Sliding door - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a sliding door for automatic and / or manual operation with a movable door leaf.

There are different sliding doors in the market, whether straight or in curved form, which can be used for a wide variety of applications. These known sliding doors require a large space for their construction and the drive in the upper area. In addition, it is difficult in confined spaces to make such sliding doors easy to install and easy to maintain. This requires that such sliding doors could not be used in particular in confined spaces. Because the sliding doors on the market are driven by means of belts, ropes or toothed belt, which in addition to a large space also brings a certain susceptibility to wearing parts with it. In the belt or rope drives beyond also a tensioning device is available for the drive means. Such clamping devices are readjusted with decreasing voltage of the drive means. In addition to high frictional forces such drives cause high wear on the rotating or moving parts of the drive and thus only a short life. In addition, the energy used is consumed mainly for overcoming frictional resistance. The known sliding doors are suspended above rollers or the like on the door leaf and run in a corresponding profile. At the bottom, the door leaf is guided laterally by a rail or the like. The drive is either manual or driven by a motor or by pneumatic cylinders. In a fault, such doors can be made in a manual operation only with an immense force or not at all.

The DE 42 07 058 C2 describes a method for controlling an automatic sliding door with a learning function. In this document does not provide an alternative manual operation.

The DE43 32 301 C2 discloses a powered sliding door, wherein the transmission between the drive and door leaf is switched on and disengaged. This can be switched between manual and automatic operation. The sliding door is suspended, which takes up a lot of space in the vertical direction. The force is transmitted via toothed or worm wheels. Especially with curved doors, this solution means a high design effort. The contact force is applied in the vertical direction. A special guide of the door is not specified.

The DE 8135350 U1 discloses a curved powered door leaf. The door leaf is guided by rollers hanging on a rail. In addition, the door leaf is driven by a door attached to the drive profile by means of a friction wheel. This embodiment has the disadvantage that on the one hand a roller guide above the door leaf and beyond an additional profile for driving the door leaf is provided. The hanging led door leaves a lot of space. This is especially detrimental to requirements in which only a low ceiling height is available, and yet to ensure a maximum high door opening. To guide the door, a stationary roller is provided which guides the door leaf in a U-profile.

A disadvantage of the proposed implementations of the optionally manually as well as automatically driven sliding doors according to the prior art are that the drive unit and sliding door guide device constitute separate components, and therefore require a lot of space, in particular in a vertical extent.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a sliding door system which can be operated manually or automatically, and which requires the least possible installation space, in particular in a vertical extent, and furthermore which is smooth and low-maintenance. In addition, the sliding door system should be able to be used both in the mobile area and in the immobile area and be suitable for the disabled.

The object of the invention is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1 in conjunction with the preamble features.

The dependent claims form advantageous developments of the invention.

As a solution, a simple, efficient and energy-saving drive a sliding door is proposed, which in dual, d. H. can be used selectively manual and automatically driven usage.

In known manner, the sliding door comprises a door leaf, which is guided at its upper end in particular by means of brushes in the horizontal direction, and which is mounted in a lower guide in the vertical direction on rollers. In addition, a drive unit, comprising a geared motor, and a drive wheel, a coupling unit, a counter-pressure wheel and a measuring device are provided.

According to the invention, the measuring device is designed as a measuring wheel, which is mounted on the opposite side of the counter-pressure wheel. As a result, in addition to the Wegaufnahme, which is indispensable for automatic operation, at the same time a guide and adjustment means made available in the unit. By permanently guiding the door between the measuring wheel and the counter-pressure wheel in its horizontal orientation, it is therefore possible to remove the drive wheel from the contact surface without affecting the guidance and orientation of the door.

This type of drive, in particular the intervention orthogonal to the door leaf surface engagement, has the advantage that this drive is suitable for both curved and straight doors. Furthermore, an automatic door operation is possible due to the side to be attached drive unit without significantly reducing the door height compared to the ceiling height. By removing the drive roller from the tread in manual mode, the frictional resistance of the door for this operating condition can be reduced.

In a further embodiment, the sliding door according to the invention comprises in a known manner a door leaf, which is guided at its upper end in particular by means of brushes in the horizontal direction, and which is mounted in a lower guide in the vertical direction on rollers.

By counter-pressure wheel and measuring wheel a horizontal device and guidance of the door leaf is made possible. This guide also allows application of the drive force orthogonal to the door surface compensate without tilting them. The door leaf is secured at its upper end between mating wheel and measuring wheel against tilting. This ensures a quiet, smooth movement of the door. The lower guide by rollers can be designed in low height. The brush guide allows a close-to-ceiling guide of the door leaf, which ensures a maximum clearance height. The drive is designed such that the gear motor for automatic operation below the upper door edge is attachable.

In particular, the counter-pressure roller is adjustable. This allows an accurate installation of the door leaf in the horizontal direction and ensures a particularly smooth and smooth running of the sliding door.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the drive wheel is decoupled in the de-energized state. For example, if the drive energy fails, the sliding door can be manually operated fully functional. This ensures that the sliding door can be opened manually even in emergency situations.

By deliberately pressing, for example a button, the drive unit and coupling unit can be activated, which ensures automatic operation of the sliding door.

The door leaf preferably runs on two adjustable rollers, which are embedded in the bottom of the door and are guided on a guide rail in the bottom area. Such a guide rail can be embedded in the ground or mounted with a low height on the ground. So it is possible that this guide rail also provides no obstacle to wheelchairs.

Advantageously, in addition, the upper guide of the sliding door takes place at least at the ends or even over the entire area of the sliding door, in particular by laterally attached brushes. As a result, the door leaf is guided with low friction. The brush guide allows accurate running and also reduces the ingress of dust and dirt. In addition, they facilitate the assembly clearly, since no adjustment is necessary.

The brushes are preferably supported against a U-profile, which is designed as an upper guide profile. This U-profile is mounted over the entire doorway on the ceiling or via attachments to a wall. The U-profile has on the one hand a low height, on the other hand, the door with its upper edge can be easily inserted into the U-profile, which ensures easy installation. The brushes can be mounted either on the profile or on the door leaf.

In particular, the drive unit is mounted in the middle of the entire travel path on the upper guide profile. This has the advantage that a maximum Vorfahrweg the door is made possible without moving the drive unit.

In particular, the modules of the modular drive unit, essentially comprising a gear motor with drive wheel, an adjustable counter-pressure roller, a coupling unit and a measuring unit, which are mounted on a mounting plate or a mounting frame in mutual relation to each other.

The populated mounting plate thus forms a module which can be used unchanged or with only minor adjustments for a variety of drives.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the contactless measuring device is formed. For example in the form of a laser measuring system.

It has been found to be advantageous that a measuring wheel, or also a displacement measuring roller, is designed to be spring-loaded in an advantageous manner. In the embodiment, the running speed, and thus the exact position of the door leaf is determined and forwarded to a microprocessor control / processing for processing.

Furthermore, for the end positions "open" and "closed" sensors may be present, which are fixed as fixed reference points at both ends of the upper guide, for example. On the door leaf beyond a locking unit is available, which can be operated both manually and automatically.

Preferably, the control and regulating device is designed as a microprocessor control and accommodated in the region of the drive module so as to meet simple maintenance and accessibility requirements. This microprocessor control can be programmed for all conceivable functions according to the requirements and set by parameters. A status display shows the current status. So it is also possible to make visible the incidents with the status display. Furthermore, the microprocessor control / regulation has separate inputs for external signals.

The field of application of such a sliding door can be, for example, a WC cabin finish or shower stall closure or the like both in the immobile and in the mobile area. Especially for use in rail vehicles, this type of sliding door offers great advantages. Thus, the drive is not energized in idle state and thus is not in contact with the door leaf. This facilitates a dual operation in that in this constellation the door leaf can always be moved freely manually. However, it is also possible with the same arrangement to operate such a sliding door automatically, which is a great relief especially for disabled people. In addition, such a sliding door gives a person who uses a usually narrow space of a rail-bound vehicle, the security of being able to re-open the door at any time. Unnecessary panic can be avoided in this way.

In particular, a mixed operation is possible in which the sliding door has been opened manually, for example, but was not further closed by the person. Due to the intelligent microprocessor control it is possible that the door automatically moves to the closed end position after an expired period of time. Thus, the advantages of a manual as well as a driven door leaf are ensured by the comfort of a driven door and the safety of operation in manual operation precisely by the sliding door according to the invention.

A sliding door according to the invention combines the advantages of a manually operated, as well as a powered sliding door, which ensures on the one hand the comfort of a driven door and on the other hand, the safety of operation in manual mode. In addition, resource conservation through low material usage as well as efficient energy consumption and a longer shelf life of the wear parts are added. This is because the wear parts of the drive unit are reduced to a necessary minimum. Such a drive unit is designed as a replaceable module and also consists of individual modules, so that for various applications, modules can be used unchanged. For example, the drive unit can be used for different door widths and even for right or left-opening door leaves without modification.

Further advantages, features and possible applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the embodiment shown in the drawings.

• Fig. 1 eine Prinzipdarstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Schiebetür in der Draufsicht, in einer geschlossenen Stellung und nicht aktiven Position einer Antriebseinheit;
• Fig. 2 wie Figur 3, jedoch in einer geöffneten Stellung;
• Fig. 3 eine Prinzipdarstellung einer Schiebetür, bei welcher der geschlossene Türblatt durch eine Antriebseinheit angetrieben wird;
• Fig. 4 wie Figur 3, jedoch in der geöffneten Stellung
• Fig. 5 eine schematische Schnittansicht eines Türblatts einer nicht erfindungsgemäßen Schiebetür, und
• Fig. 6 eine schematische Schnittansicht eines Türblatts in einer erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawing. In the specification, claims, abstract and drawings, the terms and associated reference numerals used in the list of reference numerals recited below are used. Show it:

• Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of a sliding door according to the invention in plan view, in a closed position and non-active position of a drive unit;
• Fig. 2 as FIG. 3 but in an open position;
• Fig. 3 a schematic diagram of a sliding door, wherein the closed door leaf is driven by a drive unit;
• Fig. 4 as FIG. 3 but in the open position
• Fig. 5 a schematic sectional view of a door panel of a non-inventive sliding door, and
• Fig. 6 a schematic sectional view of a door panel in an embodiment of the invention.

In FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a sliding door designated by the reference numeral 1 is reproduced in plan view. In this embodiment, it is a curved sliding door, but the invention can also be applied to an embodiment of a straight sliding door.

Within a lower guide rail 5, a door leaf 2 is moved on the pre-marked circular path by means of rollers, not shown. In this case, an upper guide rail 4 is present so that the door panel 2 has a clean guide. On the right side of the door leaf 2, a fitting 3 is shown, which makes it possible to bring a closure 9 from a closed position to an open position. However, the shutter 9 is also designed so that it can be brought via a microprocessor control / regulation, not shown, automatically in a locking position and in an open position. This can be done for example by pressing a button, a sensor or the like.

A drive unit, in which in the FIG. 1 individual modules are arranged schematically consists essentially of a drive wheel 6, which cooperates with a counter-roller 8, which runs on a Profilteil- Antriebsfläche- on the door leaf 2 above and is attached to the door panel 2. The drive unit also includes a coupling unit 10 and a measuring device 7. In the illustration of FIG. 1 the drive unit is not active, since the door leaf 2 can be manually operated on the fitting 3. For example, to achieve a good interaction between the drive wheel 6, which is designed as a friction wheel, with the mating gear 8, the mating gear 8 and the drive wheel 6 is designed so that it is adjustable for example via an eccentric.

The docking unit 10 may be pneumatic when it comes to rail-bound vehicles. However, it is also possible to form these electrically. By the coupling unit 10, the drive wheel 6 is pressed against a drive surface, not shown, on the door leaf 2 in the region of the counter wheel 8. Thus, by the rotational movement of the drive wheel 6, a movement of the door panel 2 along the guide rails 4 and 5 are performed.

In order to determine an exact position of the door leaf 2 on the entire track, the measuring device 7 is present. The measuring device 7 may, for example, be a measuring roller which is sprung so as to be able to compensate for possible slippage. However, it is also possible that the measuring device consists of an incremental encoder or a sensor element measuring from another path.

In the FIG. 2 is opposite the FIG. 1 the door leaf has been brought into the open position by manual operation. In this case, the door leaf 2 has been displaced by manual force between the lower guide rail 5 and the upper guide rail 4. In this position, the space located behind the door panel 2 can be entered and after entering, for example, the door panel 2 manually in the closed position according to the FIG. 1 to be brought.

The automatic operation and thus the movement of the door leaf 2 via the drive unit is in the Figures 3 and 4 played.

In the FIG. 3 is the door 2 after an automatic unlocking of the shutter 9 via the drive unit, namely the drive wheel 6, which is pressed against the door 2 and thus in conjunction with the mating gear 8, between the guide rails 4 and 5 moves. The pressing of the Drive wheel 6 against the guide surface, not shown, thereby accomplishes the coupling unit 10th

In the FIG. 4 the door 2 is played in the open position.

For example, automatic operation may be initiated by a request of a disabled person by pressing a button on the wall or the like. At this moment, the drive unit is switched on, so that the drive wheel 6 brings out the door leaf 2 from the closed position. When the person enters the room behind the door leaf 2, the door can close automatically. However, it is also possible for this purpose another button or the like is actuated. The door leaf 2 closes automatically and the locking device in the form of the shutter 9 automatically locks the door leaf 2. However, it is also possible that this another button or the like is operated so that no other person can enter the room. To leave the room, the person presses the button again and the door leaf 2 moves into the open position. Furthermore, it is possible that before opening the door leaf for safety reasons, the unlocking of the door is actuated by another button or the like.

Fig. 5 shows a cross section of a non-inventive sliding door, which is guided by a drive roller 16 and a counter-pressure roller 18. The door leaf 12 is guided by rollers 15 in the lower guide rail 13. In the upper part of the door panel 12, this is guided by brushes 24, which are supported in a U-shaped profile, which serves as the upper guide rail 14. In the door leaf 12 engages on one side a counter-pressure wheel 18 a. Opposite this, the drive wheel 16 is arranged, which can be coupled via a coupling unit 20 to a geared motor 22. Geared motor 22, drive wheel 16 and counter-pressure wheel 18 are mounted on a common mounting frame 26. In this way, all parts of the drive unit 30 are set against each other in a fixed reference.

If the sliding door is in manual mode, the coupling unit 20 disconnects the geared motor 22 and the drive wheel 16, thereby allowing a slight movement of the door which is now guided and adjusted between the freely rotating drive wheel 16 and the counterpressure wheel 18. The door is thus secured against tilting.

Is switched to automatic operation, the coupling unit 20 couples the drive wheel 16 to the geared motor 22. This allows the torque from the geared motor 22 are transmitted to the door panel 12. The door can be moved thereby. To over the driveway of the door, or their current position to be informed, the counter-pressure wheel on a measuring device, which determines the path that moves the door and transmits to a control unit.

The invention proposes a particularly favorable solution of a sliding door, which offers itself above all for use in confined spaces.

Precisely because of the duality of this sliding door, it is possible that the use of the powered sliding door brings relief for disabled people. However, even for non-disabled elderly people offers the opportunity to operate such a door in a conventional manner, namely manually. This discrepancy between people with disabilities and those who are not disabled has further developed the trend towards manual doors, especially in public facilities. This was due to the fact that due to the cramped installation situation, no fully automatic door could be installed, but this is readily possible with the present invention sliding door.

Fig. 6 shows a cross section of another embodiment of a sliding door according to the invention, which is guided by a pivotable drive wheel 16, a counter-pressure roller 18 and measuring wheel. The door leaf 12 is guided by rollers 15 in the lower guide rail 13. In the upper part of the door panel 12, this is guided by brushes 24, which are supported in a U-shaped profile, which serves as the upper guide rail 14. In the door leaf 12 engages on one side a counter-pressure wheel 18 a. Opposite this, the pivotable coupling unit 20 with drive wheel 16 and geared motor 22 is arranged. Geared motor 22, drive wheel 16 counter-pressure wheel 18 and measuring roller are mounted on a common mounting frame 26. In this way, all parts of the drive unit 30 are set against each other in a fixed reference.

When the sliding door is in manual operation, the pivotal drive unit 20 disconnects the drive wheel 16 from the tread 28, thereby allowing easy movement of the door. Between counter-pressure roller 18 and measuring roller 29, and the brush 24, the sliding door is now guided and adjusted. The door is thus secured against tipping.

When switching over to automatic operation, the drive unit 20 pivots the drive wheel 16 to the tread, thereby allowing the torque from the geared motor 22 to be transmitted to the door panel 12, thereby allowing the door panel 12 to be moved therethrough. To be informed about the travel path of the door, or its current position, a measuring roller 29 is mounted, which determines the path that moves the door and transmits to a control unit.

The invention proposes a particularly favorable solution of a sliding door, which can be bent as well as straight, and which offers itself above all for use in confined spaces.

The sliding door according to the invention makes it possible to switch between manual and automatic operation and still take only a small space, especially in vertical extension to complete. The modularity makes it easy to easily replace damaged components or the entire door panel. Above all, the space-saving design allows in particular a disabled-friendly use.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

sliding door

2

door

3

fitting

4

Guide rail above

5

Guide rail below

6

drive wheel

7

measuring device

8th

counter wheel

9

shutter

10

coupling unit

12

door leaf

13

Guide rail below

14

Guide rail above

15

roll

16

drive wheel

18

Gegendruckrad

20

coupling unit

22

gearmotor

24

to brush

26

mounting plate

28

tread

29

Measuring Wheel

30

drive unit

Claims (9)

1. Sliding door (1) which can be selectively operated either automatically or manually, having a movable door leaf (2, 12) which has a running surface and runs in a lower guide (5), where it is guided by rollers, and along an upper guide (4, 14) and which can be operated by a control unit, with a drive unit (30) being furthermore provided which comprises a drive wheel (6, 16), a drive motor (22) and connecting means (10, 20), said drive wheel (6, 16) being operatively coupled to said drive motor (22) and said connecting means (10, 20), which door leaf (2, 12) - in a connected state thereof - can be moved by said drive motor (22) characterized in that said drive unit (30) furthermore includes a counter wheel (8, 18) and a measuring device (7, 29), said counter wheel (8, 18) being mounted in the upper part of the door leaf (2, 12) on the side opposite said drive wheel (6, 16) which latter acts orthogonally to the surface of the door leaf (2, 12), and said measuring device being provided in the form of a measuring wheel (7, 29) for detecting the position of the door leaf (2, 12), which door leaf (2, 12) is permanently guided between the counter wheel (8,18) and the measuring wheel (7, 29), which connecting means (10, 20) supports the drive motor (22) with the drive wheel (6, 16) and which coupling means (10, 20) can be moved in a horizontal direction so as to move the drive wheel (6, 16) into or out of contact with the running surface of the door leaf (2, 12).
2. Sliding door as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the measuring wheel (7) is springloaded.
3. Sliding door as claimed in one of the preceding claims characterized in that the connecting unit (10, 30) is adapted to be movable electromechanically or pneumatically.
4. Sliding door as claimed in one of the preceding claims characterized in that the upper end of the sliding door (1) is guided by brush-type guides (24).
5. Sliding door as claimed in one of the preceding claims characterized in that the counter wheel (8, 18) is designed to be adjustable.
6. Sliding door as claimed in one of the preceding claims characterized in that the running surface (28) which makes contact with the drive wheel is made of metal.
7. Sliding door as claimed in one of the preceding claims characterized in that the drive unit is mounted at a position half way along the door leaf travel path.
8. Sliding door as claimed in one of the preceding claims characterized in that the door leaf (2, 12) is of a curved design.
9. Sliding door as claimed in one of the preceding claims characterized in that the sliding door (1) is used in mobile applications, i.e. in track vehicles, or in stationary applications, i.e. in buildings.

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