EP2946060B1

EP2946060B1 - Raising device for a sheet-like object

Info

Publication number: EP2946060B1
Application number: EP14702212.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dominique Lampe
Original assignee: Inside Blinds Nv
Current assignee: Inside Blinds Nv
Priority date: 2013-01-21
Filing date: 2014-01-20
Publication date: 2019-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 2034-01-20
Also published as: BE1021037B1; WO2014111582A1; EP2946060A1

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a raising device for a sheet-like object, e.g. a blind, and the system that comprises the combination of the device and the sheet-like object. The sheet-like object is not limited to a flexible plane sheet. It can also have another flexible, foldable or compactable structure, e.g. a slat blind (with horizontal slats) or a drape. The invention also relates to such a raising device that is electromechanically driven.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Raisable folding blinds with a series of parallel raising cords are generally known, for example from BE 1015477 of the applicant. The folding blind in the known systems has its top edge fastened to the fixed supporting fitting of the device. A number of rotatable winding stations are often affixed around their common axis over the width of the blind in the supporting fitting: one station per raising cord or raising thread. The blind can be raised or lowered manually, e.g. using a ball chain, or by machine with an electromechanical motor.
A mechanised raising device of this type for folding blind, for example, is known from WO 2006/050736 . In this apparatus, the successive winding drums in the winding stations are arranged such that they can move axially over the width of the blind at the same time as their rotation movement while they wind up or down. The axial sliding distance per revolution of a winding drum is thereby at least equal to the thickness of the raising cord. In this way each cord winds up or down in successive close-fitting, but not overlapping, loops on its own winding drum. As a result, an orderly winding operation is realised without the risk of a crooked raising of the blind. Crooked raising is very inconvenient and must be avoided at all times. However, the diameter of the winding units in WO 2006/050736 is relatively small with regard to the height and depth of their supporting fitting or housing (rail). The distance traversed per revolution of the winding drums while raising or lowering is thus also relatively small. The device is thus not very compact. The construction with separate winding drums, one per raising cord, is for the rest rather complex.
The patent document US 2006/0278345 also relates to a raising device that is not very compact, with the disadvantage of a winding tube with a relatively small diameter with regard to the height and depth of the surrounding supporting fitting. The drive according to Fig. 9 is not done with a tubular motor. As a result the required length of the supporting fitting is markedly longer, which again is disadvantageous for the compactness of the raising device.
The patent document CN 20262791 U relates to a raising device comprising a rod for winding ropes being operated by a motor.
The patent document WO 2008/124171 A1 relates to a window covering positioning system including a tube to facilitate raising and lowering of a window covering, according to the preamble of claim 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is now an object and purpose of embodiments of the present invention to design and apply a compact, universal, greatly simplified, and easy to assemble and mount, mechanised winding system, which moreover guarantees the orderly winding operation mentioned above. A compact construction means i.a. that winding units can be mounted with the largest possible diameter in the existing hollow, profile-shaped supports or housings with standard transverse dimensions (depth and height); in other words, such units that do not quite catch against the inside walls of the support during winding. A universal system here means that all embodiments or types of raising devices belonging to the system have the same essential structural characteristics, irrespective of the nature and dimensions, both the width and height, of the sheet-like objects to be applied.
The drive for the winding or raising operation must thereby be able to be electromechanically implemented and driven with a tubular motor whereby a major portion of the motor is located inside the winding tube. This means that the rotation of the motor in the clockwise or anticlockwise direction will preferably be coupled with an adjustable stop and reverse mechanism for this rotation (encoder), at least for the desired angular rotation position of the winding units close to the furthest raised and lowered position of the sheet-like object. Such mechanisms in themselves are known, e.g. for a roll-down shutter equipped with a tubular motor.
At the same time, embodiments of the present invention also cover the ready addition or omission of a number of raising cords or raising threads in the raising device, depending on the length of the supporting fitting, for example (and thus the width of the sheet-like object to be raised). Embodiments of the present invention also cover the ready adjustment of the mutual distances (D) between the mutual parallel raising cords in the raising device.
According to another objective, the raising device according to embodiments of the present invention, will preferably also allow the drive means to operate free of vibrations to the greatest extent possible, and thus also with as little noise as possible during raising and lowering.
These multiple objectives according to embodiments of the present invention, are particularly cleverly met by providing a raising device for a sheet-like object with the aid of raising threads, and this device comprises a support, among others, for electromechanical drive means for the raising operation. According to an aspect of the invention, the drive means is thereby mechanically coupled to a winding tube for the raising threads extending concentrically around it. To this end, the drive means carries suitable first coupling means for transmitting the rotation generated by it to the winding tube.
According to embodiments of the present invention, the rotatable winding tube is mechanically coupled around its longitudinal axis to an axial spindle close to its second end, which is fastened to said supporting fitting close to this second end. This spindle has an external screw thread. The pitch of this screw thread is at least equal to the thickness of the raising threads. In or close to this second end, rotatable second coupling means are fastened to a central axial opening that is provided internally with a screw thread that is complementary to, and thus has the same pitch as, the external screw thread of the spindle.
Finally, according to a characteristic of embodiments of the present invention, the winding tube is rotatably coupled to a co-rotating hollow, practically cylindrical coupling element close to its first end. The winding tube can thereby move axially with respect to the cylindrical coupling element at the same time. The coupling itself occurs in particular against the wall of the winding tube, preferably against its inside wall, and both for the first coupling means and for the coupling to said cylindrical element.
Because the drive means is a tubular motor, according to embodiments of the present invention, said first coupling means may preferably comprise a toothed disk for transmitting the rotation of the motor to the inside wall of the winding tube. To this end, suitable radial ribs can be affixed against this inside wall for the rotational coupling, as well for the axial movement coupling of the winding tube, to the motor on the one hand and to said cylindrical element on the other hand.
According to a particular embodiment of the invention, it is also desirable that said cylindrical element can be coupled to a rotatable and adjustable stop and reverse mechanism (encoder) for the direction of rotation of the drive means. According to embodiments of the invention, this mechanism may be mechanically coupled to the cylindrical element and also electrically to the motor.
Particular and preferred aspects of the invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features from the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims and with features of other dependent claims as appropriate and not merely as explicitly set out in the claims.
For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achieved over the prior art, certain objects and advantages of the invention have been described herein above. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such objects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

All this will now be explained on the basis of an embodiment of the raising device that is driven by a tubular motor and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In addition, further details and advantages will also be discussed. The invention is of course not limited to this embodiment, but comprises all variants thereof that are structurally and/or functionally obvious for the person skilled in the art, as described in the claims.

Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of a raising device according to embodiments of the present invention, in a position in which the sheet-like object is unfolded and lowered.
Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of the raising device according to embodiments of the present invention, in a position in which the sheet-like object is raised and folded up, in comparison to the position of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows three longitudinal cross-sections A, B and C, of the raising device according to embodiments of the present invention, with wound-up threads (and thus raised sheet) successively at (A:) the first end of the winding tube, (B:) the first coupling means, and (C:) the second end of the winding tube.
Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-section of the raising device according to embodiments of the present invention, perpendicular to its longitudinal axis and at the level of the first coupling means (corresponding to Fig. 3:B).
Fig. 5 is an analogous transverse cross-section of the raising device according to embodiments of the present invention at the level of the first end of the winding tube (corresponding to Fig. 3:A).
Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the position of said cylindrical element close to the first end of the winding tube in a lowered situation of the raising threads.
Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the analogous position of the cylindrical element in a raised situation of the raising threads.
Figs. 8 and 9, respectively, show an embodiment of the present invention for a modularly structured cylindrical element in a closed position and in an unfolded position, respectively.
Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of the coupling through the cylindrical element between the winding tube and said stop and reverse mechanism, according to embodiments of the present invention.

The drawings are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not necessarily correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.
Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope.
In the different drawings, the same reference signs refer to the same or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The raising device 1, shown in Figs. 1 to 5 will be described for a raising operation of a folding blind 2 as an example of a sheet-like object, as stated above. The device 1 according to Fig. 1 first of all comprises, as is generally known, a rigid support fitting or housing 3 (rail) for the winding system. This support 3 is generally fastened against a wall or ceiling. The top edge 22 of the folding blind 2 (Fig. 5) is fastened to the outside of the support 3.
The drive means 4 for the winding system is fastened so that it projects (cantilever) close to its one end in or against the second end 14 of the support 3. The electricity supply cable 25 for the tubular motor and for the stop and reverse mechanism 17 that is mounted in a fixed way in the support 3 will preferably also be connected there. The tubular motor 4 thus extends in the longitudinal direction through the housing 3. It comprises, as is known, an electric motor and a gearbox coupled to it and an electric connection with the stop and reverse mechanism 17 (encoder). In fact, the applicable drive means 4 for the invention with tubular motor and stop and reverse mechanism 17 is generally a known drive system that is freely available on the market, for example from the Somfy company.
The first coupling means 6 is mounted close to the other end of this motor 4 on its drive shaft 28. This is schematically shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and enlarged in the detail view B of Fig. 3. Preferably, this means comprises a suitable toothed disk for coupling and transmitting the rotation of the motor 4 to a winding tube for the raising threads 13 concentrically affixed around it, and around the longitudinal axis 8 of the device. As shown in Fig. 4, a number of suitable ribs 19 that are radially oriented inwards are affixed on the inside wall 16 of the winding tube. The protruding teeth 27 on the periphery of the toothed disk 6 suitably mesh between these ribs 19 for said transmission of the rotation of the motor 4 to the winding tube 5.
The completely unfolded and lowered position of the folding blind 2 in Fig. 1 clearly shows that there are only a small number of loops of the two raising threads 13 around the winding tube 5. On the other hand, Fig. 2 shows the large number of loops of the threads 13 on the winding tube 5 in the folded or raised position of the blind 2. The loops are also next to one another in an orderly pattern and not criss-crossed over each other. This guarantees the perfect winding up and down of the sheet-like object 2 (blind) without the risk of being pulled crookedly. At the same time, the arrow 29 between the two end positions of the device in Fig. 2 clearly shows the axially displaced position of the tube 5 from a position of the first end 14 of the tube close against the nearby end of the support 3 to a position that is further away from it. While winding up and down, the raising threads 13 always move back and forth (up and down) over the same fixed path through fixed openings, or passages 34, selected beforehand in the baseplate of the support 3 (see Fig. 6).
To explain the mechanism of this displacement, reference is again made to Figs. 1 and 2 and also to the detail view C of Fig. 3. The second end 7 of the winding tube is equipped with the second coupling means 11. This comprises the winding tube 5 that supports the end flange 30 with a central, axially oriented opening. This opening clasps a nut 39, the inside wall of which is provided with a screw thread 12 as a component of the second rotatable coupling means 11 for the tube 5. The pitch of this screw thread is at least equal to the thickness of each raising thread 13, for example a pitch of 1 mm for a thread 13 of a thickness of 0.9 mm. This pitch is also complementary to that of the external screw thread of an axial spindle 9 that is fastened to the support 3 close to the second end 7 of the winding tube 5. When the tube 5 turns in one direction of rotation or another, driven by the motor 4 with the aid of the first coupling means, the end flange 30 rotates together with the tube 5. The end flange 30 with the winding tube 5 then simultaneously moves axially, via its screw thread 12, in the corresponding direction back and forth over the external screw thread 10 on the statically mounted spindle 9.
As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, each raising thread 13 is clamped by its winding end 21 in an axial groove 18 in the outside wall 26 of the winding tube 5. The fastening clamp 31 for each winding end 21 can always be fastened at a predetermined place (over the length of the groove) in this groove 18. The clamps 31 can thus move axially according to the desire to adjust the mutual distances D between the parallel raising threads, for example. The raising end 24 of each thread 13 is preferably fastened close to the bottom edge 23 of the sheet-like object 2.
The operation of the hollow, cylindrical coupling element 15 close to the first end 14 of the winding tube is now explained with reference to Figs. 1 to 3(A) and 5 to 10. This element 15 ensures additional radial support of the winding tube 5 close to its first end 14. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, said hollow cylindrical element 15 essentially comprises a thicker head ring 33 close to the first end 14. Spread over the circumference of this ring 33 are a number of parallel arms 20 that run along a descriptive of the cylinder 15. The other ends of the arms 20 are also connected together by a (thinner) suitable support ring 37. The length and width of these arms 20 is chosen so that they can slide and fit in between the ribs 19 on the inside wall of the tube 5 and close outside the periphery of the tubular motor. When the winding tube turns in service, the element 15 rotates with it, without axial displacement, however. In so doing, the element 15 automatically transmits the desired rotation to the mechanism 17.
The element 15 in particular enables a rotation drive for the adjustable stop and reverse mechanism 17 (encoder). The element 15 is thus, for transmitting its rotation to the mechanism 17, mechanically coupled to it, for example with the aid of a ridge or projection 36 on the outer periphery of the mechanism 17, as shown in Fig. 3(A). This ridge 36 then protrudes radially outwards into the slot or cutaway 40 in the head ring 33 of the cylindrical element 15. The diameter of the mechanism 17 is smaller than that of the casing around the motor 4. The thickness of the head ring 33 is chosen so that it fits precisely in the recessed, ring-shaped space against the periphery of the mechanism 17, as illustrated in the left half of Fig. 3(A). In so doing, axial displacement of the coupling element 15 is impossible.
Figs. 6 to 10 show a cage-shaped embodiment of the element 15. For the purpose of easy assembly, the element 15 will preferably be constructed from longitudinal segments or parts to be joined together. Fig. 9 shows the opened position of an embodiment of this cage-shaped element 15 into two longitudinal joinable halves 35. The two halves 35 are connected together hingeably. As a result of this measure, it is also easier to use unskilled workers for easy assembly of the device 1. The element 15 can be made of plastic or metal. This embodiment enables this element to be readily closed into a cylinder around the periphery of the motor 4 and the stop and reverse mechanism 17. Here it is ensured that the closing slot 40 of the head ring 33 of element 15 grips precisely around a projection 36 on the periphery of the stop and reverse mechanism 17. Then the axial arms 20 can be coupled to the inside wall 16 of tube 5 by being slid in between the ribs 19. All this must be done before the thus preassembled winding system is fastened into the longitudinal ends of the support fitting 3.
As is known, the mechanism 17 controls at least the adjustment length of the raising threads 13 for the maximum unfolding (thread 3 completely lowered) and for their maximum raising height (fold-up limit). Preselected interim positions can be set with the mechanism 17. The control of the corresponding position of the mechanism can be carried out with a remote control. This control can proceed, is as is known, by measuring the angular rotation plus the count of the number of wound loops on the tube 5. Co-axially with the shaft of the motor 4, the stop and reverse mechanism 17 is generally placed close to the cover plate 32 of the support 3 in the vicinity of the first end 14 of the winding tube 5.
Finally, in order to meet the need to have the raising device operate free of vibrations and with as little noise as possible, Fig. 3(B) shows a vibration damper 38 between the underside of the winding tube and the baseplate of the support 3. This damper 38 can, for example, comprise a vibration-absorbing elastic compressible substrate such as a felt pad or a relatively soft plastic foam plate. A number of such dampers 38 can be fastened over the length of the support 3 if need be, between successive passages 34 for the raising threads 13 in the base of the support 3.

Claims

Raising device (1) for raising a sheet-like object (2) having raising threads (13), the raising device (1) comprising:
- a support fitting (3) providing support to a tubular motor (4) and to an axial spindle (9);

- a winding tube (5) connectable to said raising threads for winding the raising threads (13), and being arranged concentrically with said tubular motor(4) at a first end of the winding tube;

- the tubular motor (4) serving as an electromechanical drive means (4) for the raising operation and being coupled to said concentric winding tube (5),

- - the axial spindle (9) at a second end of the winding tube;

- whereby the motor (4) carries a first coupling means (6) that takes care of the transmission of the rotation generated by the drive means (4) to the winding tube (5);

- whereby the winding tube (5) is rotatably coupled around its longitudinal axis (8) to the axial spindle (9) that is fastened to the support fitting (3) and that has an external screw thread (10);

- and wherein the raising device further comprises a rotatable second coupling means (11) fastened to a central axial opening that is provided with an internal screw thread (12) that is complementary to said external screw thread (10) of the axial spindle, and wherein the pitch of the screw threads (10, 12) is at least equal to the thickness of each raising thread (13) of the sheet-like object (2);

- and wherein the raising device further comprises a hollow, substantially cylindrical coupling element (15), rotably coupled to a first end (14) of the winding tube (5); and wherein the winding tube (5) is also axially movable with regard to this cylindrical coupling element (15),
characterised in that
- a major portion of the motor is located inside said winding tube (5);

- the winding tube is rotatably coupled close to its second end to the axial spindle; and

- the second coupling means are fastened in said second end to said central axial opening.
Raising device according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling means (6) comprises an external toothed disk for transmitting the rotation of the motor (4) to the inside wall (16) of the winding tube (5).
Raising device according to claim 2, wherein suitable radial ribs (19, 20) are affixed against the inside wall (16) of the winding tube for the rotational coupling and axial sliding coupling of the winding tube to the motor (4) on the one hand and the hollow cylindrical element (15) on the other hand.
Raising device according to claim 3, wherein said ribs (19, 20) suitably mesh in or between the teeth of the toothed disk.
Raising device according to any of the previous claims, wherein the hollow cylindrical element (15) close to the first end (14) of the winding tube is mechanically coupled to a rotatable and adjustable stop and reverse mechanism (17) for the direction of rotation of the motor (4); which mechanism (17) is also electrically coupled to the motor (4).
Raising device according to claim 5, wherein the cylindrical element (15) is modularly structured from joinable longitudinal segments (35).
Raising device according to claim 1, wherein at least one vibration damper (38) is affixed in the base of the support (3) between passages (34) for the raising threads.
Raising device according to claim 1, wherein a number of parallel raising threads (13) are affixed at adjustable distances D from one another over the length of the winding tube (5).
Raising device according to claim 8, wherein the winding end (21) of each raising thread (3) is fastened in an axially movable way in an axial groove (18) in the outside wall (26) of the winding tube (5).
Raising device (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the sheet-like object (2) is a blind such as a folding blind or slat blind, the top edge (22) or bottom edge (23), respectively, of which is fastened to the support (3) or the raising end (24) respectively of each thread (13).