EP2876234B1 - Locking device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a locking device for a container according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and a method for operating a locking device for a container according to the preamble of patent claim 15.

Such a device for locking a container, such as a locker, a car or a suitcase or the like, is for example from the US 5,881,584 known. In this publication, a shock-resistant closure mechanism is described in which a locking element movably arranged in a locking module engages when closing a door of the container in a tumbler module and is moved along a first axis automatically or manually. In order to achieve an increased shock resistance, so as to ensure that the door is not opened unintentionally even with jerky movements of the container, the blocking element along a further axis which is perpendicular to the first axis, moves and so a lock between the tumbler module and the Locking module guaranteed.

A disadvantage of the above-known prior art locking device is the complex structure of the blocking module. This must contain a locking element that along the at least two mutually perpendicular axes is movably arranged to achieve a vibration-proof locking between the door and the frame of the container. This inevitably results in a complex and therefore expensive construction of the locking device.

The document WO2005 / 088046 A1 discloses a locking device with a movably mounted tumbler, in accordance with the second tumbler of claim 1.

The object underlying the present invention is therefore to propose a locking device and a method for operating a locking device, in which or in which a vibration-proof locking of the container is ensured in a simple and cost-effective manner. This object is achieved by a locking device having the features of independent claim 1 and by a method for operating a locking device having the features of independent claim 15. Features of advantageous developments are specified in the subclaims.

The present invention includes the realization that bolt work for containers, for example lockers or parcel stations, usually have sprung bolts and / or tumblers. These sprung latches and tumblers are intended to provide a positive lock to prevent damage when a user closes or strikes the door of the container at any time. However, sprung latches and / or tumblers increase the risk of unintentional door opening. Shocks in the vicinity of the container or jerky movements of the container itself, the sprung latch and tumblers can be set in motion, so that the locking formed dissolves and the door of the container pops up. Especially in the vicinity of railways or busy roads, but also in trains, buses or trains or on ships or in other environments prone to vibration this danger exists.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a locking device is proposed, in which a locking element, for example in the form of a locking bar or a locking bar, can be positioned along a single axis by means of a drive unit at at least three mutually different positions, and optionally with neither Locking means, only with the second, movably mounted tumbler or with two tumblers forms a catch.

The locking device according to the invention thus comprises, on the one hand, the tumbler module, which is designed, for example, for attachment to the door, and, on the other hand, the blocking module, which is designed, for example, for attachment to the frame of the container. The tumbler module comprises the first tumbler, which is arranged, for example, rigid, that is immovable, on the door, and the second tumbler, which is movably mounted along a first direction of movement.

The blocking module of the locking device according to the invention can form different locks with the tumbler module. It has the blocking element movably arranged along the axis, for example in the form of a locking bar, and a drive unit for positioning the blocking element at positions on the axis. In the present case, the term "axis" refers to an imaginary linear straight line along which the blocking element can be moved back and forth by means of the drive unit. The axis does not have to be formed spatially physically as part of the locking device.

The blocking module can assume at least three mutually different states. The first state is used to open the door. For this purpose, the drive unit is designed to position the blocking element at the first position on the axis, in which the blocking element forms a catch neither with the first tumbler nor with the second tumbler. Since there is no latching, the door can be opened and the container can be filled, for example, with an object, or an object can be removed from the container.

The second state is for preparing to close the door. The blocking module preferably assumes this state immediately after opening the door. For this purpose, the drive unit positions the blocking element at a second position on the axis. If the door is closed again, the locking element forms a latching with the second locking means only when the door is closed and the blocking element is in the second position, ie only with the movably mounted tumbler, and not with the immovably arranged first tumbler.

To ensure that the door does not accidentally open even in the vicinity of the container or similar phenomena, the blocking module assumes a third state. This condition thus serves the vibration-resistant closing of the door. For this purpose, the drive unit positions the Locking element at a third position on the axle. At this position, the blocking element with two tumblers, so with the first tumbler and with the second tumbler means forms a catch. Preferably, the latching with the second tumbler remains during the transfer of the blocking element from the second position to the third position.

To achieve this shock-resistant locking between the door and the frame, the locking element must be moved only along a single axis. For this reason, the locking device according to the invention has a particularly simple and inexpensive to implement construction.

The locking device according to the invention is suitable for locking the door and frame of any container, such as a locker, a car, a suitcase and the like. The door may thus be a locker door, a part of a suitcase shell, a car door or tailgate, a flap of a shelf, a cabinet door, drawer door, etc.

Hereinafter, further embodiments of the locking device according to the invention will be described. The additional features of these further embodiments can be combined with each other to form further embodiments, unless they are expressly described as alternatives to each other.

In a preferred embodiment, the first tumbler and the second tumbler are each formed as latching arms and each have a recess into which the locking element can engage to close the door. For example, a first latching arm and a second latching arm are arranged on the door of the container, wherein the first latching arm is rigidly arranged with the door, that is immovable, and the second latching arm is also arranged on the door, but is movably mounted along the first direction of movement. For this purpose, for example, a pivot bearing is provided, with which the second locking arm may be attached to the door.

Both latching arms preferably have recesses into which the blocking element, for example in the form of the said locking bolt, can engage to close the door. In the first state of the blocking module, the blocking element is consequently on the first position on the axis, so that the locking element engages in any of the two recesses of the two latching arms, but the door can be opened.

After opening the door, the blocking element is positioned at the second position and moved linearly along the axis by means of the drive unit. The second latching arm and the blocking element are preferably arranged such that only the second, movably mounted latching arm with the blocking element forms a latch when closing the door and in the second position located blocking element by the locking element engages in the recess of the second latching arm. If the door is now closed and a lock is formed between the second latching arm and the blocking element, then the drive unit preferably moves the blocking element along the axis towards the third position, during which movement the blocking element now also passes through the recess of the first latching arm in order to access it To ensure a vibration-proof locking between the door and the frame. To prepare for closing the door, therefore, the blocking element first engages only in the recess of the second tumbler and not in the recess of the first tumbler. During the process of the locking element from the second position to the third position, the locking between the locking element and the second locking arm is preferably maintained.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the movable mounting of the second tumbler is realized by the second tumbler being coupled by means of a first elastic member to the first tumbler fastened rigidly to the door. The first elastic element comprises, for example, a spring means, so that the second tumbler can move in the direction of the first tumbler with a corresponding load. For this purpose, the second tumbler is preferably attached by means of a pivot bearing on the door of the container.

In a further preferred embodiment, the second tumbler has an obliquely angled slider arranged obliquely to the axis along which the locking member is movably mounted, which is adapted to close the door and to maintain the locking member at the second position via a head of the door Sliding locking elements, so that the blocking element with the second locking means forms a catch. For example, slides when closing the door, the slider of the formed, for example, as a latching arm second tumbler over the head of the example designed as a locking latch Locking elements, so that the head piece can slide through the recess of the second tumbler so as to lock door and frame together. Only then does the drive unit move the blocking element along the axis towards the third position, so that the head piece of the blocking element also passes through the recess of the first tumbler, thus ensuring a vibration-proof locking between the door and the frame.

When closing the door and the second state of the blocking module, the slider of the second tumbler thus first contacts the head of the locking element and then moves due to the angled arrangement and formed for example by means of the first elastic member movable mounting of the second tumbler in the direction of the first tumbler, so that the second tumbler slides over the head of the locking element and the locking element then passes into the recess of the second tumbler and thus forms the latching with the second tumbler.

In a preferred embodiment, as stated, the blocking element is formed as a simple latch, which is arranged to be movable along the axis. To guide the bolt along this axis guide means are preferably provided, such as a number of guide frames. The simple design of the locking device according to the invention results in particular due to the fact that the blocking element, so for example the bolt, only along this one axis must be moved to form a latching only with the second tumbler and on the other, in the third state, to form a catch with both tumblers. To resolve these two latches, it is again only necessary that the blocking element in a preferred shape of the bolt along the single axis must be moved.

To drive the locking element along the axis said drive unit is provided. The drive unit may be, for example, an electric motor. However, it is also possible that the blocking element is moved by means of the drive unit solely by mechanical influence on the locking device, in particular in order to move the blocking element from the third position to the first position, ie to open the door. The method of locking element from the first position to the second position and from this position to the third position is preferably carried out automatically, for example by means of a controlled electric motor. To connect the drive unit with the Locking element, for example, along a direction of rotation movably arranged crank disk and a coupling member are provided. The drive unit is preferably coupled to the crank disk and designed to move these crank disks along the direction of rotation. The crank disk is preferably coupled via the coupling member to the blocking element. The crank disc and the coupling member serve to convert a rotational movement of a rotor of the drive unit into a translational movement of the blocking element along the axis.

The blocking module is preferably designed to form a frictional coupling with the tumbler module in the second state and to form both a frictional and a form-locking coupling with the tumbler module in the third state.

In a further preferred embodiment, the locking device further comprises a sensor means operatively coupled to the drive unit and configured to provide the drive unit with information indicative of the condition that the lockout module is to occupy. The sensor means is preferably designed to determine the state to be adopted and to instruct the drive unit to position the blocking element at a position corresponding to the state to be taken on the axis. For example, the sensor means instructs the drive unit to move the blocking element from the third position to the first position when the door is to be opened (state 1). After the door has been opened, the drive unit moves the blocking element from the first position to the second position, optionally automatically or at the express command of the sensor means (state 2). If the door is now closed, the sensor means preferably detects the closing of the door and preferably instructs the drive unit to move the blocking element from the second position to the third position in order to provide the vibration-proof locking between door and frame (state 3).

The sensor means may be of whatever nature. It may include a photoelectric sensor and / or Hall sensor or the like to determine the state to be assumed by the blocking module. The operative coupling between the sensor means and the drive unit can also be designed anyway, provided that it is ensured that the sensor means can communicate information which is indicative of the state to be taken to the drive unit. For example, a wired and / or wireless connection is between the drive unit and the sensor means are provided. The information can thus be transmitted, for example wirelessly or by wire, from the sensor means to the drive unit.

The drive unit preferably has means to receive and read the information provided by the sensor means and to perform corresponding actions.

For example, the sensor means is designed to determine the state to be assumed by the blocking module on the basis of user commands. For example, the locking device according to the invention forms part of an electromechanical lock, which can be controlled by means of a mechanical key, a remote control electric key or a key card. For example, to open the door, a user places a key card in a near field of the locking device, for example, attaches the key card to the door, which is detected by the sensor means. For example, such detection is based on the use of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), NFC (Near Field Communications) or similar technology. Then, the sensor means preferably instructs the drive unit to move the locking member from the third position to the first position, so that the door can be opened. Alternatively, however, it is also possible that the blocking element is moved from the third position to the first position to open the door by means of mechanical actuation of the drive unit. To close the door, a corresponding user command can again be received by the sensor means, which causes the sensor means to instruct the drive unit to move the blocking element from the second position to the third position.

The drive unit is therefore preferably designed based on the information provided by the sensor means to selectively position the blocking element at the first, second or third position on the axis to bring about the corresponding state of the blocking module.

In a further preferred embodiment, the locking device further comprises an opening element, which is movably supported by a second elastic element along a second direction of movement and arranged to exert pressure on a contact surface of the first tumbler in a closed door, so that the door in response to the method of blocking of the third position to the first position is automatically pushed open. For example, the opening means comprises a spring-mounted ram, which is tensioned by the closing of the door. For this purpose, an engagement surface of the first tumbler contacts a contact surface of the ram and shifts it when closing the door along the second direction of movement. Due to the spring, the plunger exerts pressure on the engagement surface of the second tumbler, so that when moving the locking element from the third position to the first position, the door is automatically at least partially pressed. Alternatively, it is also possible that the opening means in a closed door pressure on an attack surface of the second tumbler, or pressure on an attack surface of both tumblers.

Preferably, the opening means is coupled by means of a coupling unit to the sensor means, so that the sensor means can determine the state to be assumed first. If, for example, the plunger is displaced when the door is closed (blocking module in state 2), the sensor means recognizes that the blocking element is to be moved from the second position to the third position in order to provide the vibration-proof locking between door and frame.

Although in the above text passages it is assumed that the tumbler module for attachment to the door and the blocking module for attachment to the frame of the container are configured, it is alternatively also possible that the blocking module is designed for attachment to the door and the Guard module for attachment to the frame. The vibration-resistant Verrieglung can be achieved by means of the locking device according to the invention both when the tumbler module on the door and the blocking module is disposed on the frame of the container, as well as when the blocking module is arranged on the door and the tumbler module on the frame of the container ,

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container having a frame and a door having a locking device according to the first aspect of the invention. Due to the locking device, the door can be locked against vibration with the frame in a simple and cost-effective manner.

A third aspect of the present invention is the method according to independent claim 15. The method according to the invention for operating a locking device shares the advantages of the locking device of the first aspect of the present invention. In particular, the inventive Method preferred embodiments, which correspond to the preferred embodiments of the locking device described above, in particular, as indicated in the dependent claims.

Fig. 1

eine schematische und exemplarische Darstellung einer Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Verriegelungsvorrichtung, wobei sich ein Sperrmodul in einem ersten Zustand befindet;

Fig. 2

eine schematische und exemplarische Darstellung derselben Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Verriegelungsvorrichtung, wobei sich das Sperrmodul in einem zweiten Zustand befindet; und

Fig. 3

eine schematische und exemplarische Darstellung derselben Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Verriegelungsvorrichtung, wobei sich das Sperrmodul in einem dritten Zustand befindet.

The idea underlying the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic and exemplary illustration of an embodiment of a locking device according to the invention, wherein a locking module is in a first state;

Fig. 2

a schematic and exemplary illustration of the same embodiment of the locking device according to the invention, wherein the locking module is in a second state; and

Fig. 3

a schematic and exemplary illustration of the same embodiment of the locking device according to the invention, wherein the locking module is in a third state.

The Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 each show the same embodiment of a locking device 1 according to the invention for a container 2. The container 2 has a frame 21 and a door 22 which are to be locked against vibration each other. The locking device 1 has for this purpose a blocking module 12, which can assume at least three mutually different states. The Fig. 1 shows the locking device 1, in which the blocking module 12 has assumed a first state. The Fig. 2 shows the same locking device 1, wherein the blocking module 12 has assumed a second state and the Fig. 3 shows the same locking device in which the locking module 12 has assumed a third state. The following is simultaneously on all Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 Referenced.

First, the basic structure of the locking device 1 will be explained. The locking device 1 is the shock-resistant locking the door 22 with a frame 21 of the container 2. The container 2 may be a container 2 of whatever kind, for example a locker, a suitcase, a car or the like. The door 22 of the container 2 is coupled with a hinge means 23 to the frame 21. The Fig. 1 shows the locking device 1 with an open door 22 and the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 However, the door 22 does not have to be opened or closed as shown, but the door 22 may also be a flap or a drawer door which is closed or closed in a corresponding manner is opened. It is only essential that the door 22 is locked vibration-proof with the frame 21 of the container, namely on the basis of the locking device 1. In the example shown, the container 2 has a frame 21 with a first frame wall 211 and a second frame wall 212.

The locking device 1 comprises said blocking module 12, which is fastened to the second frame wall 212 in the example shown, as well as a tumbler module 13, which is fastened to the door 22 in the example shown. In principle, however, it would also be possible for the tumbler module 13 to be fastened to the frame 21 (frame wall 211 or frame wall 212) and the blocking module 12 to be mounted on the door 22. In any case, the blocking module 12 is configured to latch with the tumbler module 13 when the door 22 is closed train.

The tumbler module 13 of the locking device 1 has a first tumbler 131 and a second tumbler 133, each formed in the form of a latching arm and having a respective recess 131-1 and 133-1. The first latching arm 131 is rigid, ie essentially immovable, attached to the door 22. Furthermore, the first latching arm 131 has an angled engagement surface 131-2. The function of the attack surface 131-2 will be explained later in more detail. The second latch arm 133 of the tumbler module 13 is also attached to the door 22, but movably supported by a first elastic member 132. In the example shown, the first latching arm 131 is coupled by means of the first elastic element 132 to the second latching arm 133, so that the second latching arm 133 can be moved along a first direction of movement 133-3, that is, toward the first latching arm 131 Detent arm pivotally mounted on the door 22 by means of a pivot bearing 133-4. The pivoting movement is for example in the Fig. 2 indicated where the second locking arm 133 is no longer parallel to the first locking arm 131, but at an angle to this.

The blocking module 12 of the locking device 1 is attached to the second frame wall 212. It comprises a blocking element 121 movably arranged along an imaginary axis 121-1 in the form of a locking bolt. The imaginary axis 121-1 is in the Fig. 1 both small and enlarged and shown in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 only enlarged. The locking bar 121 is movably mounted in a guide means 122, which has a first guide frame 122-1 and a second guide frame 122-2. For moving the locking bolt 121, the blocking module has a drive unit 125 which, for example, has a drive unit (in the FIGS Fig. 1-3 not shown) electric motor. The drive unit 125 is coupled to a crank disk 124 by means of a coupling element 125-1. To move the locking bar 121 along the axis 121-1, the drive unit 125 displaces the crank disc 124 in a rotational movement along a rotational direction 124-1 about an axis of rotation 124-2. By means of a coupling member 123, which is coupled to the locking bar 121 at a first coupling point 123-1 and to the crank disk 124 at a second coupling point 123-2, the rotational movement of the crank disk 124 is translated into a translatory movement of the locking bolt 121 along the axis 121-. 1 implemented. The drive unit 125 can thus position the locking bolt 121 in particular at three mutually different positions x ₁ and x ₃ . These positions are on the in the Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 indicated imaginary axis 121-1 indicated. The blocking module 12 is in the first state when the locking bar 121 is positioned at the first position x ₁ ( Fig.1 ), in the second state when the locking bar 121 is positioned at the second position x ₂ ( Fig. 2 ) and in the third state when the locking bar 121 is positioned at the third position x ₃ ( Fig. 3 ).

Furthermore, the locking device 1 comprises an opening means 11, which has a ram 111 movably mounted on a web 114, which can be displaced along a second direction of movement 111-1. The movable mounting of the plunger 111 is realized in the example shown by means of a flange 112 and a second elastic element 113, for example in the form of a spring.

Furthermore, the locking device 1 has a sensor means 14, which is coupled to a coupling means 15 to the opening means 11 and is operatively coupled to the drive unit 125 on the other hand. The sensor means 14 determines a first state of the blocking module 12 and provides the drive unit 125 information that is indicative of this state to be taken, that is indicative of the position at which locking bar 121 is to be positioned.

The function of the locking device 1 will be described in more detail below. For this purpose, first the Fig. 3 considered. This shows the locking module 12 in the third state, in which the locking bar 121 is positioned at the third position x ₃ . In this position, the locking bar 121 forms both with the first latching arm 131 and with the second latching arm 133 a latching, by the locking bar 121 has been pushed through the two recesses 131-1 and 133-1 of the two latching arms 131 and 133 , In this state, the plunger 111 exerts pressure on the said engagement surface 131-2 of the first latching arm 131 due to the second elastic element 113.

To open the door 22, it is now possible that the sensor means 14 receives a corresponding opening command. This opening command can be transmitted in various ways by a user of the container 2 to the sensor means 14, for example wirelessly by means of a key card or wired by means of a conventional key. It is also possible for the user to open the door 22 by means of the drive unit 125 to mechanically transfer the locking bolt 121 from the third position x ₃ to the first position x ₁ . Alternatively, the sensor means 14 transmits information to the drive unit 125 which is indicative that the locking bar 121 is to be transferred from the third position x ₃ to the first position x ₁ . Upon receiving such information, the drive unit 125 actuates the electric motor (not shown) so that the lock bar 121 is transferred from the third position x ₃ to the first position x ₁ .

Once a head 121-2 of the locking bar 121 has also been moved from the recess 133-1 of the second locking arm 133, the door 22 is pushed open due to the pressure load caused by the opening means 11. This condition is in the Fig. 1 shown. The door 22 can now be fully opened to one in the Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 to store not shown object in the tray 2 or to remove an object from the tray 2. Immediately after opening the door 22, the drive unit 125 moves the locking bar 121 automatically to the second position x ₂ . In this position, the blocking module 12 assumes the second state, which in the Fig. 2 is shown.

If the door 22 is now closed again, a sliding piece 133-2 of the second latching arm 133 slides over the head piece 121-2 of the locking bolt 121 during the closing operation, so that the locking bolt 121 slides into the recess 133-1 of the second latching arm 133 slides. This is in the Fig. 2 shown schematically. Already in this state, the door 22 is locked to the frame 21. Due to the angular arrangement of the slider 133-2, the second locking arm 133 is moved when closing the door 22, so when the slider 133-2 with the head 121-2 of the locking bar 121, in the direction of the first latching arm 131. As soon as the head piece 121-2 of the locking bolt 121 reaches the recess 133-1 of the second locking arm 131, the second locking arm 133 is returned to its initial position due to the first elastic element 132, in which the second locking arm 133 is substantially parallel to the first locking arm 131 lies, as it is in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is shown.

After closing the door 22 and forming a latching between the second latching arm 133 and the latch 131, the latching latch 121 is positioned by the drive unit 125 at the third position x ₃ , in which the latching latch 121 also forms a latching with the first latching arm 131 in which the locking bar 121 is pushed through the recess 131-1 of the first latching arm 131. In this way, a vibration-proof locking between the door 22 and the frame 21 is created in a simple and inexpensive manner.

The above-described locking device 1 can be used for locking a door and a frame of any container. In particular, subjects of locking systems, such as parcel stations, which are installed in a vibration-prone environment come into consideration. Consider, for example, a parcel station near a train station or a busy road. In addition, the locking device 1 described above is suitable for locking case shells and car doors. It should be noted in particular that the blocking module 12 of the locking device 1 can be optionally arranged on the frame or on the door of the container 2 and the tumbler module 13 on the other part of the container 2. The invention is not limited to the tumbler module 13 on the door 22 and the locking module 12 is attached to the frame 21.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

locking device

11

opening means

111

tappet

111-1

Second direction of movement

112

flange

113

Second elastic element

114

web

12

blocking module

121

blocking element

121-1

axis

121-2

headpiece

122

guide means

122-1

First guide frame

122-2

Second guide frame

123

coupling member

123-1

First coupling point

123-2

Second coupling point

124

crank

124-1

direction of rotation

124-2

axis of rotation

125

drive unit

125-1

coupling element

13

Zuhaltungsmodul

131

First locking means

131-1

Recess of the first tumbler

131-2

attack surface

132

First elastic element

133

Second locking means

133-1

Recess of the second tumbler

133-2

slide

133-3

First direction of movement

133-4

pivot bearing

14

sensor means

15

coupling agent

2

container

21

frame

211

First frame wall

212

Second frame wall

22

door

23

hinge means

Claims (15)

1. A locking device (1) for a receptacle (2) which includes a frame (21) and a door (22), comprising

   - a retention module (13) which is designed for an attachment to the door (22) or to the frame (21) and includes a first retention means (131) and a second retention means (133), wherein the second retention means (133) is movably mounted along a first direction of movement (133-3); and

   - a blocking module (12) which is designed for an attachment to the other part (21; 22) of the receptacle (2) and to form a latching with the retention module (12) and includes a blocking element (121) movably arranged along an axis (121-1) as well as a drive unit (125) for positioning the blocking element (121) at positions (x₁, x₂, x₃) on the axis (121-1);

   characterized in that
   the blocking module (12) is formed to adopt at least three different states, wherein

   - in a first state for opening the door (22) the blocking element (121) is positioned at a first position (x₁) on the axis (121-1) by means of the drive unit (125), at which the blocking element (121) forms a latching neither with the first retention means (131) nor with the second retention means (133);

   - in a second state for preparing closing of the door (22) the blocking element (121) is positioned at a second position (x₂) on the axis (121-1) by means of the drive unit (125), at which the blocking element (121) forms a latching only with the second retention means (133); and

   - in a third state for closing the door (22) the blocking element (121) is positioned at a third position (x₃) on the axis (121-1) by means of the drive unit (125), at which the blocking element (121) forms a latching with the first retention means (131) and with the second retention means (133).
2. The locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first retention means (131) and the second retention means (133) each are formed as latching arms and each include a cutout (131-1, 133-1) into which the blocking element (121) can engage for closing the door (22).
3. The locking device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that to prepare closing of the door (22) the blocking element (121) present at the second position (x₂) only engages into the cutout (133-1) of the second retention means (133), but not into the cutout (131-1) of the first retention means (131).
4. The locking device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second retention means (133) is coupled to the first retention means (131) by means of a first elastic element (132).
5. The locking device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first retention means (131) is designed for a rigid attachment to the door (22) or to the frame (21).
6. The locking device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking module (12) is formed to

   - in the second state form a frictional coupling with the retention module (13); and

   - in the third state form a frictional and positive coupling with the retention module (13).
7. The locking device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device (1) furthermore includes a sensor means (14) which is operatively coupled to the drive unit (125) and is formed to provide information to the drive unit (125), which is indicative of the state to be adopted by the blocking module (12).
8. The locking device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the drive unit (125) is formed to selectively position the blocking element (121) at the first, second or third position (x₁; x₂; x₃) on the axis (121-1) with reference to the information provided by the sensor means (14), in order to bring about the corresponding state of the retention module (13).
9. The locking device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device (1) furthermore includes an opening element (11) which by means of a second elastic element (113) is movably mounted along a second direction of movement (111-1) and is arranged to exert pressure on a working surface (131-2) of the first retention means (131) when a door (22) is closed, so that the door (22) is pushed open automatically in response to the blocking element (121) being moved from the third position (x₃) towards the first position (x₁).
10. The locking device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second retention means (133) includes a sliding piece (133-2) obliquely arranged at an angle to the axis (121-1), which is formed and arranged to slide over a head piece (121-2) of the blocking element (121) on closing of the door (22), if the blocking element (121) is positioned at the second position (x₂), so that the blocking element (121) forms a latching with the second retention means (133).
11. The locking device (1) according to claims 10 and 4, characterized in that the sliding piece (133-2) is arranged on the second retention means (133) such that on closing of the door (22) and at the second state of the blocking module (12) the sliding piece (133-2) first contacts the head piece (121-2) of the blocking element (121) and then is moved in direction of the first retention means (133) due to the angled arrangement and the movable support of the second retention means (133) formed by means of the first elastic element (132), so that the second retention means (133) slides over the head piece (121-2) of the blocking element (121), in order to form the latching with the blocking element (121).
12. The locking device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking element (121) is formed as latch which is movably arranged along the axis (121-1), wherein for guiding the latch along the axis (121-1) a guiding means (122) preferably is provided.
13. The locking device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive unit (125) is coupled to the blocking element (121) by means of a coupling member (123) and a crank disk (124) movably arranged along a direction of rotation (124-1).
14. A receptacle (2) with a frame (21) and a door (22), characterized in that for locking the door (22) with the frame (21) the receptacle (2) includes a locking device (1) according to any of the preceding claims.
15. A method for operating a locking device (1) for a receptacle (2) which includes a frame (21) and a door (22), the locking device (1) comprising:

    - a retention module (13) which is designed for an attachment to the door (22) or to the frame (21) and includes a first retention means (131) and a second retention means (133), wherein the second retention means (133) is movably mounted along a first direction of movement (133-3); and

    - a blocking module (12) which is designed for an attachment to the other part (21; 22) of the receptacle (2) and to form a latching with the retention module (13) and includes a blocking element (121) movably arranged along an axis (121-1) as well as a drive unit (125) for positioning the blocking element (121) at positions (x₁, x₂, x₃) on the axis (121-1);

    characterized in that the method includes the following steps:

    - transferring the blocking module (12) into a first state for opening the door (22), wherein the blocking element (121) therefor is positioned at a first position (x₁) on the axis (121-1) by means of the drive unit (125), at which the blocking element (121) forms a latching neither with the first retention means (131) nor with the second retention means (133);

    - transferring the blocking module (12) into a second state for preparing closing of the door (22), wherein the blocking element (121) therefor is positioned at a second position (x₂) on the axis (121-1) by means of the drive unit (125), at which the blocking element (121) forms a latching only with the second retention means (133); and

    - transferring the blocking module (12) into a third state for closing the door (22), wherein the blocking element (121) therefor is positioned at a third position (x₃) on the axis (121-1) by means of the drive unit (125), at which the blocking element (121) forms a latching with the first retention means (131) and with the second retention means (133);

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