EP3128100B1 - Method of controlling a motorised sun shading system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of motorized mobile screens, in particular sun protection, of the blind type and in particular awning awning, or equivalent, intended to equip windows of a building.

It relates more particularly to a method for controlling a motorized blind installation, the installation comprising a frame supporting a winding tube capable of being rotated by an actuator comprising a tubular motor allowing a blind fabric to be wound or unwound around the tube by a first end, the awning fabric being fixed by a second end to a load bar arranged substantially parallel to the winding tube and mounted movable relative to the frame between end positions respectively wound and unwound the fabric by means of foldable arms, the method comprising, during the unwinding of the fabric, a step of controlling the actuator capable of bringing the fabric into a stretched unwound end position.

When the blind is folded, the whole fabric is rolled up, the arms are folded and the load bar comes into contact with the frame of the blind. During deployment, the motor drives the winding tube in rotation and the guide arms gradually unfold to an arm locking position, corresponding to the unrolled end position of the fabric, in which it is stretched .

In a conventional manner, the tubular actuator driving the winding tube in rotation in order to place the blind in end positions respectively unwound or wound, is associated with an end device for stopping the actuator when the blind is fully unwound or rolled up. Such a device generally includes a device for counting the winding turns of the fabric around the winding tube in order to determine the end-of-travel positions. Thus, the counting device associated with the actuator makes it possible to know at any time the current position of the load bar and, during an adjustment phase, the two end positions wound and unwound are memorized. To do this, the user operates the blind by small steps in both directions of rotation until reaching the ideal end position. desired and stores them. During the following operating cycles, the actuator is commanded to stop automatically at the end positions thus memorized. A particular constraint hangs over the determination of the unrolled end position of the blind, which must be adjusted precisely in order to guarantee an optimal unrolled fabric tension. In fact, it is necessary in this fully deployed position of the awning that the fabric is tight, both for aesthetic and technical reasons (no accumulation of water in the event of rain, more rigid support and therefore wind resistance , etc.). However, it appears that such precision is difficult to obtain given the variations in length of the fabric observed over time. Thus, during the use of the blind, the fabric can stretch slightly, which will have the effect of causing a relaxed canvas effect in the unrolled end position.

Motorized awning installation control devices are already known, making it possible to securely place the awning in a stretched fabric position at the end of the unwinding stroke.

So the document FR 2 899 923 publicizes a method of controlling a blind installation based on a detection of the drop in tension of the fabric when the unfoldable arms for guiding the fabric are in a fully unfolded position, followed by a slight movement of winding of the fabric on the tube in response to the detection of this drop in tension of the fabric, this winding step being automatically stopped before a perceptible fold of the arms. Triggering the winding step as soon as the fabric tension drops thus automatically re-tensioning the fabric, without the need for counting devices to control the stopping of the deployment of the fabric. However, this control mode of the blind to bring the fabric into a taut unwound end-of-travel position is relatively complex to implement, since it requires a slight folding movement of the blind to tighten the fabric.

The document FR 2 816 465 discloses a method for controlling a blind based on the determination of a maximum value of torque exerted on the motor at the end of the unwinding stroke of the blind, this value corresponding to a unwinding threshold value for which the blind occupies a taut unwound end position, then we detect the torque exerted on the engine during deployment and, if the unwinding threshold value is exceeded, the running engine is stopped and it is controlled in winding until the detected torque value again exceeds the value of threshold of progress. This control mode therefore also involves a folding movement of the fabric after the engine has stopped to ensure that the blind occupies a taut unwound position at the end of the unwound stroke.

Finally, the document EP 2,186,989 promotes an electronic motor control for an electric drive of shutters, blinds and draperies, with reducer, carried out with a stroke limitation and obstacle detection of the curtain by counting the revolutions of the motor and measuring their period.

Also, an object of the invention is to provide a method for controlling a motorized awning installation making it possible to place, in a simple and reproducible manner, the fabric in a stretched position at the end of the unwinding race.

• lors du déploiement de la toile, une étape de surveillance de la vitesse de rotation du moteur ou du couple moteur,
• une étape de détection d'une augmentation de la vitesse de rotation du moteur ou du couple moteur, consécutive à un mouvement de dépliement des bras en fin de déploiement précédant l'arrivée des bras dans une position de verrouillage des bras, l'arrêt du déploiement étant déclenché automatiquement en réponse à la détection de l'augmentation de vitesse de rotation du moteur ou du couple moteur ;
• une étape de mémorisation de la position du store lors de l'arrêt du déploiement, la position mémorisée correspondant à la position de fin de course déroulée tendue ;
• une étape de repliement continu du store jusqu'à la position de fin de course enroulée ;
  le procédé comprenant lors de cycle de fonctionnement suivants :
• lors du déploiement de la toile, une étape d'arrêt automatique du déploiement à la position mémorisée lors de la phase de réglage.

To this end, the invention relates to a method for controlling a motorized blind installation, the installation comprising a chassis supporting a winding tube capable of being rotated by an actuator comprising a tubular drive motor allowing a blind fabric to be wound or unwound around the tube by a first end, the blind fabric being fixed by a second end to a load bar arranged substantially parallel to the winding tube and mounted movable relative to the frame between end positions respectively wound and unwound of the fabric by means of foldable arms, the method comprising, during deployment of the fabric, a step of controlling the actuator capable of bringing the fabric into an end position of stretched unrolled race, the method being characterized in that it comprises an adjustment phase comprising:

• during the deployment of the fabric, a step of monitoring the speed of rotation of the engine or of the engine torque,
• a step of detecting an increase in the speed of rotation of the motor or of the motor torque, consecutive to an unfolding movement of the arms at the end of deployment preceding the arrival of the arms in an arm locking position, the stopping of the deployment being triggered automatically in response to the detection of the increase in engine speed or engine torque;
• a step of memorizing the position of the blind during the stopping of the deployment, the memorized position corresponding to the stretched unrolled end position;
• a step of continuous folding of the blind to the rolled end position;
  the method comprising during the following operating cycle:
• during the deployment of the fabric, an automatic deployment stop step at the position memorized during the adjustment phase.

Advantageously, the adjustment phase is repeated periodically.

Preferably, the adjustment phase, excluding the step of continuously folding the awning to the rolled end position, is repeated periodically or at each operating cycle.

Advantageously, during the adjustment phase, the monitoring of the speed of rotation of the motor or of the motor torque consists in continuously measuring the speed of rotation of the motor or the motor torque and in evaluating a speed of variation of the speed of rotation of the motor or motor torque, the automatic stopping of the deployment of the blind in response to the detection of the increase in the speed of rotation of the motor or of the motor torque being triggered when said speed of variation increases in a given time interval.

The invention also relates to a motorized blind installation comprising a frame supporting a winding tube capable of being rotated by an actuator comprising a tubular drive motor allowing a blind fabric to be wound or unwound around the tube by a first end, the awning fabric being fixed by a second end to a load bar arranged substantially parallel to the winding tube and mounted movable relative to the chassis between end positions respectively wound and unwound from the fabric by by means of foldable arms, said installation being characterized in that it comprises a speed or torque sensor intended to measure the speed of rotation of the motor or the motor torque and a control unit suitable for controlling the actuator and for implement the control method according to the invention.

• la Figure 1 est une illustration schématique d'une installation de store motorisée ;
• la Figure 2 est un chronogramme représentant, en fonction du temps, l'évolution de la vitesse de rotation du moteur de la figure 1 lors d'un déploiement total de la toile de store, suivant différentes phase du déploiement ;
• la Figure 3 est un organigramme d'un mode d'exécution du procédé de commande selon l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description which is given below, for information and in no way limitative, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a motorized blind installation;
• the Figure 2 is a chronogram representing, as a function of time, the evolution of the rotation speed of the engine of the figure 1 during total deployment of the awning fabric, following different phases of deployment;
• the Figure 3 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the control method according to the invention.

With reference to the figure 1 , a motorized blind installation 1 according to the invention is an installation of the "awning awning" type, typically used as sun protection for terraces. On a frame 2, intended to be fixed on a structure such as a facade of a building, is fixed a winding tube 3 on which is intended to come to wind a canvas 4 by one of its ends. The other end of the fabric 4 is fixed to a load bar 5, retained on the frame 2 by at least two foldable arms 6, 7 making it possible to guide the load bar 5 and ensuring the tension of the fabric 4, during the operations of unwinding and winding of the canvas. The arms 6, 7 are fixed on the one hand, to the chassis and, on the other hand, to the load bar and have at least one articulated elbow allowing them to bend or unfold to accompany a movement of withdrawal or deployment of the canvas. The arms are provided, generally at the elbow with a spring (not shown) biased during the winding of the fabric.

An actuator comprising a tubular motor 8 is mounted inside the winding tube 3. This actuator is capable of driving the tube 3 in rotation in a first direction and, alternately, in a second opposite direction, so as to allow to wind or unwind the fabric 4. According to the invention, the actuator also comprises a speed sensor capable of measuring the speed of rotation of the motor. As will be seen in more detail below, it is the variations of this quantity which will make it possible to control the installation 1 during a phase of adjustment of the latter aimed at determining the unrolled end-of-travel position of the fabric. However, the engine being driven as a result of the force exerted by the arms, a measurement of the torque perceived by the motor during the deployment phase may be used in an equivalent manner. Also, a sensor for measuring the engine torque during deployment can be used while remaining within the scope of the invention.

Finally, the actuator is controlled by means of a control unit capable of executing the control method which will be described with reference to the figure 3 . This control unit typically consists of a programmable computer associated with an information recording medium containing instructions for the execution of the method.

When the blind is folded, the entire fabric 4 is wound around the winding tube 3, the arms 6, 7 are folded and the load bar 5 comes into contact with the trunk or the blind support (not shown).

Conventionally, during deployment, the tubular motor 8 drives the tube 3 in rotation so as to unwind the fabric 4. The arms 6, 7 then unfold progressively to their maximum length corresponding to an arm locking position, in which the arms are braced, allowing good tensioning of the fabric. In existing installations, this position also corresponds to the unrolled end position, that is to say the fully extended position, also known as the "low end position".

The Figure 2 illustrates the variation of the motor speed measured by the sensor, as a function of time, at different phases of the deployment of the awning. Thus, during the deployment of the blind, from the rolled end position, a phase of progressive unfolding of the arms makes it possible to unwind the blind with the fabric stretched thanks to the action of the springs integrated in each arm. In this phase, referenced V1 on the figure 2 , where the arms are being opened and not locked, the measured motor speed is almost constant. Then, when the arms arrive at the end of unfolding but before reaching their locking position, the fabric remains taut and a significant increase in the speed of rotation of the motor is detected through the sensor until the arrival of the arms in their locked position. This phase of deployment referenced V2 on the figure 2 where the engine speed is accelerating is caused by the kinematics of the arms during deployment. Indeed, at the end of deployment, when the fabric reaches its fully deployed position, for a short period of time, the force exerted by the arms just before reaching their locking position is much greater, which leads to an increase significant of the engine speed. Then, when the arms reach their locking position, there is a third phase referenced V3 at the figure 2 , in which the motor is no longer driven, so that it slows down by slightly unwinding the relaxed fabric, which results in a speed of rotation of the motor measured in deceleration, insofar as the fabric no longer exerts stress on the winding tube and therefore on the actuator. Thus, the fabric remains stretched to the locking position of the arms and it is then relaxed if the motor continues to drive the tube in rotation.

Also, in accordance with the invention, the position in which an increase in the speed of rotation of the motor is detected, consecutive to an unfolding movement of the arms at the end of deployment preceding the arrival of the arms in their locked position, corresponds to the ideal stretched end position. The determination of this taut unwound end position (low end position) is therefore based on the detection of the acceleration of the motor rotation speed during the deployment of the blind. Automatic engine stop and therefore blocking of the winding tube is controlled as soon as the increase in the engine speed is detected, so that the installation is stopped preventing the actuator from continuing the unwinding of the fabric, which therefore advantageously remains taut in its low end-of-travel position.

On the basis of this principle, an embodiment of the process will now be described with reference to the flowchart of the figure 3 . The determination of the taut unwound end position is carried out during an adjustment phase E0 of the installation. This adjustment phase is activated for example by the installer during a first adjustment phase, by means of the transmission of an appropriate command to the actuator, for example from a wired or wireless control point. . When the entry in the adjustment phase is activated, the following steps are implemented. Switching to the adjustment phase triggers a step E01 of deployment of the blind from the rolled end position (upper end position) in which the motor speed is continuously measured by the sensor during deployment.

During a step E02, the arms arrive at the end of opening but are not blocked, that is to say that they have not yet reached their locking position. Shortly before the arms arrive in their locked position, the actuator control unit detects an increase in the engine speed measured by the sensor. To do this, the control unit evaluates the speed of variation of the motor rotation speed during deployment, and detects when the speed of variation increases in a given, relatively short time interval.

In response to the detection of the increase in the speed of rotation of the motor at the end of deployment, the control unit, in a step E03, immediately controls the stopping of the motor, the blind then being considered to be, in accordance with l invention, in a position corresponding to the ideal position of the stretched limit switch. Following this stop, in a step E04, the control unit memorizes the position of the blind when the deployment stops, for example via the position provided by the counting device, the position thus memorized corresponding to the end position stretched running race which will be used during the following operating cycles.

Then, the adjustment phase ends with a step E05 in which the control unit triggers the continuous folding of the blind (without stopping) until the rolled end position. We exit the adjustment phase and the blind is then operational for the following operating cycles, in which steps E1 to E13 are executed.

Thus, when switching to a normal operating cycle of the blind (step E1), the control unit, in a step E11 controls the deployment of the blind, then, in a step E12, when the latter reaches the position memorized previously. in the adjustment phase, the control unit, in a step E13, controls the automatic stopping of the deployment in this memorized position, corresponding to the taut unwound end position.

When using the awning, the fabric may stretch slightly, which can have the effect of creating a relaxed canvas effect in the end position. race run. The control unit is then provided to provide automatic readjustment of the end position run periodically or at each operating cycle by again performing steps E01 to E04 of the adjustment phase, in a manner transparent to the user. In other words, in the cases where the detection of the end-of-travel position unwound takes place periodically or at each operating cycle, that is to say during a command to deploy the blind by the user, the phase of adjustment can be carried out again, but then excluding step E05 of continuous folding of the blind to the rolled end position. Indeed, the blind must be deployed, detect the end of travel position unwound according to the principles described in steps E01 and E02, automatically stop the motor at this position and memorize this new position to replace the previous one. The blind should not then automatically fold back according to step E05 of the adjustment phase, because this is not, in this case, the user's wish.

Claims (5)

1. A method for controlling a motorized blind installation (1), the installation comprising a frame (2) holding a rolling up tube (3) intended to be rotated by an actuator comprising a tubular driving motor (8) allowing a blind fabric (4) to be rolled up or unrolled around the tube at a first end, the blind fabric (4) being secured at a second end to a loading bar (5) laid out substantially parallel to the rolling up tube (3) and movably mounted relatively to the frame (2) between respectively rolled up and unrolled travel end positions of the fabric through foldable arms (6, 7), the method comprising, during the fabric deployment, a step for controlling the actuator in order to bring the fabric in a stretched, unrolled travel end position, the method being characterized in that it comprises an adjustment phase (EO) comprising :

   during the fabric deployment, a step (E01) for monitoring the motor rotation speed or the motor torque,

   a step (E02) for detecting an increase of the motor rotation speed or the motor torque, following to an unfolding movement of the arms at the end of the deployment preceding the arrival of the arms in an arms locking position, the end of the deployment being automatically initiated (E03) in response to the detection of the increase of the motor rotation speed or the motor torque ;

   a step (E04) for memorizing the position of the blind at the deployment end, the memorized position corresponding to the stretched, unrolled travel end position ;

   a step (E05) for continuous folding of the blind up to the rolled up travel end position ;

   the method comprising, during the next operating cycles :
   during the fabric deployment, a step (E13) intended to automatically stop the deployment at the position memorized during the adjustment phase.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjustment phase (EO) is reiterated periodically.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the adjustment phase (EO), excluding the step (E05) for continuous folding of the blind up to the rolled up travel end position, is reiterated periodically or at each operating cycle.
4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, during the adjustment phase, the monitoring of the motor rotation speed or the motor torque consists in continuously measuring the motor rotation speed or the motor torque and in evaluating a variation rate of the motor rotation speed or the motor torque, the automatic stop of the deployment of the blind in response to the detection of the motor rotation speed or motor torque increase being initiated when said variation rate increases within a given time interval.
5. A motorized blind installation (1) comprising a frame (2) holding a rolling up tube (3) intended to be rotated by an actuator comprising a tubular driving motor (8) allowing a blind fabric (4) to be rolled up or unrolled around the tube at a first end, the blind fabric being secured at a second end to a loading bar (5) laid out substantially parallel to the rolling up tube and movably mounted relatively to the frame between respectively rolled up and unrolled travel end positions of the fabric through foldable arms (6, 7),
   said installation being characterized in that it comprises a torque or velocity sensor intended to measure the motor rotation speed or the motor torque and a control unit adapted to control the actuator and to implement the control method according to any of the preceding claims.

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