EP3670818A1 - Drive device for horizontal blinds - Google Patents

Abstract

A drive device (1) for horizontal blinds is described, with lamellar carriers (8) guided on parallel actuators (2, 3). In order to design such a drive device in such a way that a long service life and functionality are achieved with little production and assembly effort, it is proposed that the actuating drives (2, 3) form drive spindles (4, 5), each of which has a spirally rotating actuating gear (6, 7) with a slope decreasing towards a rest position and that the disk carriers (8) each comprise two actuators (9, 10) that can be displaced relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the actuators (2, 3), each in one of the two actuating gears (6, 7) intervention.

Description

The invention relates to a drive device for horizontal blinds, with slat carriers guided on parallel actuators.

Drive devices for horizontal blinds are known from the prior art, which have lamellar carriers which are guided on actuating drives which run in parallel and, for example, comprise pulling belts or cords as pulling means. As a result of the disk carriers guided on the actuators, the horizontally running slats can be moved on the one hand in the vertical direction and tightly brought together in a rest position to form a disk pack and on the other hand pivoted about a horizontally running longitudinal axis between an open and a closed position. The disadvantage here, however, is that the traction means used there are subject to high wear and tear, so that due to traction means which are worn out differently or elongated differently, a uniform pivoting and movement of the plate carriers in the vertical direction is prevented. There is therefore not only the risk of torn or entangled traction means, but also an increased susceptibility to errors due to wedging slats. In addition, with such drive devices, the replacement of individual lamellae can scarcely be carried out sensibly due to the structural conditions.

In addition, in the field of vertical blinds, drive devices are known which comprise lamella carriers which have cross struts and are guided on parallel drive spindles ( WO 1991004390 A1 ). The cross struts of the respective disk carriers are in engagement with the spirally rotating threads of both spindles due to gravity and can be moved by the rotational movement of the spindles along their horizontally running longitudinal direction. The drive spindles have a smaller one at their end sections in order to be able to bring the slats tightly together into a rest position when the blind is completely open Thread pitch compared to their central sections. In order to be able to also pivot the lamellae, one of the two spindles is provided with a freewheel means, whereby an offset starting of the spindles is achieved, which leads to a pivoting of the cross struts of the lamellar carriers engaging in the threads of the spindles. The disadvantage here, however, is that a secure guidance of the disk carriers on the drive spindles and a uniform alignment of the slats is not possible even with synchronizable drive spindles, since the cross struts that are only loosely in contact with the spindles can slip relatively easily in the threads. As a result, for example, immediately successive slats can become wedged due to their mutually oblique orientation, which makes proper functioning of the drive device for vertical blinds considerably more difficult. Apart from that, such drive devices are generally not suitable for horizontal blinds, especially since the cross struts would slide out of the threads of the then vertically arranged drive spindles both in the rest position and in particular when the spindles rotate.

The invention is therefore based on the object of designing a drive device for horizontal blinds of the type described in such a way that a long service life and functionality are achieved with little production and assembly effort.

The invention solves this problem in that the actuators form drive spindles, each of which has a spirally rotating actuating gear with a slope that decreases toward a rest position, and that the disk carriers each comprise two actuators that can be displaced relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the actuators, each in one of the two actuating gears intervention.

As a result of these features, when the drive spindles rotate, the actuators engaging in the actuating gears absorb the thrust forces of the respective actuating gear flanks, as a result of which the actuators are moved translationally along the longitudinal direction of the spindle. The actuators of the disk carrier are not due to gravity on the actuating aisle floors, but intervene in the actuating aisles in the sense of a guiding and positioning aid, as a result of which all disk carriers of the drive device according to the invention are guided uniformly along the spindles, regardless of the direction of rotation. This effectively prevents unwanted skewing and consequently the risk of the slats becoming wedged. Due to the safe and uniform guidance of the disk carriers due to the actuators engaging in the actuating gear, an undesired slipping of the actuators and thus a tilting of the actuators is also prevented when the incline is reduced or, in general, in the event of a sudden change in incline, thus preventing the slats from tilting, thereby securely bringing the actuators together Slats to a slat package and a renewed removal of the slats from the rest position can be done easily. In order to enable safe guidance of the disk carriers regardless of the operating conditions, the two actuators of a disk carrier can be displaced relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the actuators or the drive spindles. For the purposes of the invention, relocability is understood to mean that the two actuators of a disk carrier are moved independently of one another and relative to one another along the longitudinal direction of the drive spindle or can be positioned offset from one another both at the same spindle height or in the longitudinal direction of the spindle. The two actuators are, in particular, two independent units that do not have a rigid, but rather, for example, an articulated or flexible connection with one another. As a result of these features, a mutual influence of the two actuators and thus the risk of wedged lamellae, in particular at different rotational speeds of the drive spindles and thus different translational movements of the actuators, are avoided. The respective slats can be fastened to the slat carrier via a slat holder, the slat holder having, for example, a receiving slot for the slat to be used or forming a connecting pin which engages in a corresponding pin receptacle of the slat. In order to ensure good machinability of the spindles, despite the high dimensional stability of the drive spindles necessary for favorable operating conditions, in particular for the formation of the one running on the outside of the spindle To enable spindle thread, the drive spindles can be designed so that they have a plastic-coated metal core. Favorable manufacturing conditions result when the plastic casing has a plurality of, for example injection-molded or 3D-printed, spindle segments, which can preferably be glued to one another or otherwise cohesively connected to one another.

In order to enable particularly favorable operating conditions, the actuators can have guide lugs which engage radially in the actuating gear. The preferably at least three guide lugs effectively prevent the actuators from tilting and at the same time absorb the thrust forces of the drive spindles. It can be provided, for example, that the actuators enclose the drive spindle on the circumference and have at least three guide pins protruding radially on the inside into the adjustment paths of the drive spindles. In the case of three guide pins, these can be arranged offset on the circumference at an angle of 120 ° to one another.

In order to enable a particularly reliable pivoting of the slats despite the low manufacturing and assembly effort and the small number of components, it is proposed that the slat carrier have a length-adjustable swivel unit articulated on the two actuators and that the drive spindles are adjustable independently of one another. The length of the swivel unit means, in particular, the shortest connection length of an imaginary connection line running through the swivel unit between the two actuators, the connection length being, for example, via a simple telescopic connection, a connecting rod running in a guide sleeve, an adjustable connecting rail or via an elongated hole a connecting body of the swivel unit can be displaced and can be varied on one of the actuating bolts. Because the drive spindles can be adjusted independently of one another, the respective actuators of a disk carrier, depending on the speeds and / or directions of rotation of the two drive spindles, can be displaced relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the spindle or relative to one another in Spindle longitudinal direction are moved. For example, by only briefly operating one of the drive spindles, the actuators can be shifted from an open position of the slats to a closed position of the slats, and vice versa. The displacement of the actuators to one another can also take place during operation of both drive spindles, for example by briefly accelerating one of the drive spindles to a higher rotational speed, so that pivoting is also possible while the slats are moving along the longitudinal direction of the spindle. In order to achieve high positioning speeds, it is advisable to connect the lamella holder to the swivel unit or the lamella support using a connecting pin in such a way that there is a common connecting line between the actuator, swivel unit and connecting pin that runs through the cross-sectional center of a drive spindle. In order to be able to operate the drive spindles independently of one another even with a common drive shaft and a common gear, freewheel means can be provided. For example, the pinion of the one spindle, which meshes with the gear, can be fixedly connected to it, whereas the pinion of the other spindle, which also meshes with the gear, is connected to the latter in such a way that a rotational play of approximately one revolution is made possible. The pitch of the actuating gears can be designed such that a displacement of an actuator during one revolution enables the associated lamella to be pivoted from a closed position to an open position. Likewise, one of the gears of the transmission itself can have a freewheeling means. Thus, despite a common drive, the spindles can start offset, whereby the slats are pivoted. In this context, there are particularly large adjustment angles if the driver of the freewheel means is driven via a planetary gear such that a relatively low relative speed between the driver and the free-running actuator results when the actuating speed of the two actuators is high.

In order to enable the drive device according to the invention to run smoothly and quietly at high setting speeds, provision can be made be that the actuators are guided over one or more guide rails running parallel to the actuators. The actuators can be designed in such a way that they each have a guide slot into which the guide strips of a guide rail running parallel to the two drive spindles engage, as a result of which the actuators are positively guided along the guide rail. However, the guide rails can also be designed as profile strips which are arranged next to the drive spindles and have, for example, a U-profile in cross section, which comprise a guide channel for receiving a respective radially outwardly directed guide lug of the actuators. As a result of these measures, any torsional forces transmitted to the actuators by the drive spindles can be effectively compensated for, so that undesired rotational movements of the actuators around the longitudinal axes of the spindles are avoided, so that subsequently high actuating speeds and at the same time smooth and quiet running of the disk carriers along the drive spindles are achieved.

In the case of large gradients of the actuating gears, which enable a high actuating speed, the problem can arise that the actuators slide out of their target position due to gravity, so that the position of the slats can no longer be predetermined reliably. It is therefore proposed that the disk carriers and / or their actuators have a braking device for the actuators and / or the guide rails. Such a braking device can be designed, for example, as a simple shoe brake whose adjusting force can be adjusted.

In this context, there are structurally particularly favorable conditions if one of the actuators engages around the assigned actuator as a braking device under pretension. As a result, the braking effect is achieved as a result of the frictional forces between the actuator and the drive spindle caused by the preload. The actuator forming the braking device can have a circumferential opening, so that the actuator does not completely surround the drive spindle, but in the sense of an elastic clamp engages under pretension, the inner diameter of the actuator encompassing the circumference of the actuator being able to be selected to be smaller than the outer diameter of the drive spindle in accordance with the frictional force to be achieved. As a result of these measures, the manufacturing and assembly outlay of the device can be reduced, since a separate braking device, for example in the form of a shoe brake, can be dispensed with.

In order to avoid wedging the slats into one another or jamming them both during the setting process and in a closed position and thus to enable the slats to be pivoted cleanly, it is proposed that the slats can be displaced beyond the closed position against the force of a restoring element. This can be achieved, for example, in that the lamella is connected to the lamella carrier in addition to the lamella holder via a further connecting piece, the connecting pin engaging in an elongated hole of the lamella carrier and being fixed as a restoring element, for example, by means of a rubber buffer inserted in the elongated hole. The lamella holder itself is not rigidly connected to the swivel unit or the lamella carrier, but rather can be pivoted at least to the extent that it swings about its swivel axis transverse to the longitudinal direction of the spindle such that the additional connecting piece can move within the elongated hole against the spring force. As a result of these measures, the slats have an additional play in the closed position, so that jamming of overlapping slats is effectively avoided. Another advantage is that the additional fastening point of the slat on the slat carrier ensures that the slat is firmly seated both during the setting process and in the rest position, so that unwanted vibrations caused, for example, by wind and resulting rattling noises of the slats are prevented.

The invention also relates to a horizontal blind with two drive devices according to the invention, which are arranged at a distance from one another for receiving slats running horizontally between the drive devices. The two drive devices are common Drive synchronized with each other. The common drive can comprise, for example, a drive shaft, each of the drive devices being drive-connected to this drive shaft via an angular gear. The respective angular gear assigned to a drive device can comprise an intermediate shaft in order to be able to operate the two drive spindles of a drive device in the same way. It is also conceivable that the common drive comprises a main drive shaft, which is drive-connected to the angular gears of the respective drive devices via an intermediate gear and two separate intermediate shafts. In order to be able to adjust the two drive spindles of a drive device for pivoting the lamellae independently of one another, the pinion engaged with the gearbox can have one of the drive spindles of a drive device or a pinion of the gearbox or, in the case of a planetary gearbox, itself a freewheeling means.

Fig. 1

eine teilweise aufgerissene Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Antriebsvorrichtung einer Horizontaljalousie in einer ersten Ausführungsform mit in einer Offenstellung angeordneten Lamellen,

Fig. 2

einen Schnitt entlang der Linie II - II der Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine der Fig. 1 entsprechende Darstellung mit in einer Schließstellung angeordneten Lamellen und

Fig. 4

eine der Fig. 1 entsprechende Darstellung mit in einer Ruhestellung zu einem Lamellenpaket zusammengeführten Lamellen.

Fig. 5

eine teilweise aufgerissene Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Antriebsvorrichtung einer Horizontaljalousie in einer alternativen Ausführungsform und

Fig. 6

einen Schnitt entlang der Linie VI - VI der Fig. 5 in einem größeren Maßstab.

The subject matter of the invention is shown in the drawing, for example. Show it

Fig. 1

2 shows a partially broken side view of a drive device for a horizontal blind according to the invention in a first embodiment with slats arranged in an open position,

Fig. 2

a section along the line II - II of Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 3

one of the Fig. 1 corresponding representation with slats arranged in a closed position and

Fig. 4

one of the Fig. 1 Corresponding representation with slats brought together in a rest position to form a plate pack.

Fig. 5

a partially broken side view of a drive device according to the invention of a horizontal blind in an alternative embodiment and

Fig. 6

a section along the line VI - VI of Fig. 5 on a larger scale.

A horizontal blind according to the invention has a drive device 1 according to the invention with two parallel actuators 2, 3, the drive spindles 4, 5 form. The drive spindles 4, 5 comprise setting gears 6, 7, each of which has a decreasing gear pitch towards a rest position. The drive devices 1 also have disk carriers 8, each of which comprises two actuators 9, 10 which can be displaced relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the actuators 2, 3 and each engage in one of the two actuating gears.

According to the representation Fig. 1 the actuators 9, 10 are displaced relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the drive spindles 4, 5 in such a way that the slats 11 are arranged in an open position.

The actuators 9, 10 each have radially engaging guide lugs 12, for example in the form of guide pins, as shown in FIG Fig. 2 can be seen. The disk carriers 8 comprise a length-adjustable swivel unit articulated on the two actuators 9, 10. The swivel unit has a connecting body 13 with a guide sleeve 14 and a lamella holder 15. In the in the 1 to 4 In the embodiment shown, the connecting body 13 forms a connecting bracket. The connecting body 13 designed according to that embodiment as a connecting bracket also comprises a first bracket section 16 facing the actuator 9 and displaceably passing through the guide sleeve 14, the guide sleeve 14 being rotatably mounted on the actuator 9 via a connecting pin 17. At a right angle to the first bracket section 16 is a second bracket section 19 rotatably connected to the actuator 10 via a bracket clamp seat 18. At right angles to the second bracket section 19 and inclined by approximately 45 ° to the plane spanned by the first and second bracket sections 16, 19 third bracket section 20. Accordingly, the lamella holder 15 is inclined by approximately 45 ° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the swivel unit, which corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the first bracket section 16. This means that, when the actuators 9, 10 are arranged at the same spindle height, the lamella 11 is inclined by 45 ° with respect to the longitudinal direction of the spindle and due to a displacement of the two actuators 9, 10 relative to one another from that in FIG Fig. 1 shown in the open position in the Fig. 3 shown closed position can be shifted. Here are the slat holders 15 aligned in the longitudinal direction of the drive spindles 4, 5, so that the slats 11 partially overlap one another.

The actuators 2, 3 are drive-connected to an angular gear 23 and each have a pinion 24, 25. The pinions 24, 25 are in engagement with one pinion 26, 27 each of a gear shaft 28 of the angular gear 23 1 to 4 In the embodiment shown, the transmission shaft 28 comprises a hollow shaft section 29 and an inner shaft section 30 lying in the hollow shaft section 29, the pinion 26 being connected to the hollow shaft section 29 and the pinion 27 being connected to the inner shaft section 30. In order to be able to start the two drive spindles 2, 3 offset with about one revolution, the inner shaft section 30 can have a driving pin, so that after about one revolution of the inner shaft section 30, the hollow shaft section 29 also gripped by the driving pin. In order to enable particularly large adjustment angles, it is advisable to synchronize the angular gears 23 of the respective drive devices 1 of a horizontal blind according to the invention via a central planetary gear connected to them. The driver of the freewheeling means is driven via a planetary gear so that, when the actuating speed of the two actuators 2, 3 is high, there is a relatively low relative speed between the driver and the freewheeling actuator 3.

In Fig. 4 For example, a disk pack 31 brought together to a rest position is shown, this being made possible due to the lower pitch of the actuating gears 6, 7 in the respective end sections 21, 22 of the drive spindles 4, 5.

In the Fig. 5 and 6 an alternative embodiment of a drive device 1 according to the invention of a horizontal blind is shown. The plate carrier 8 having the swivel unit comprises a connecting body 13 with an elongated hole 32. To adjust the length of the swivel unit, the connecting pin 17 articulated on the actuator 10 is displaceable within the elongated hole 32. A connecting pin can be provided as the lamella holder 15 be, which engages in a corresponding pin recess 33 of the lamella 11.

Like in the Fig. 5 is also indicated, the lamella carrier 8 can have a reset element inserted in an elongated hole, for example a rubber buffer 34, and also an additional connecting piece for the lamella 11 inserted into the elongated hole. The lamella holder 15 designed as a square connecting pin in the alternative embodiment shown can be pivoted about its connecting axis running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the spindle at least to such an extent that the additional connecting piece to the lamella 11 can move against the spring force within the elongated hole. As a result, both an additional swivel play of the slats 11 and a tight fit due to an additional attachment point of the slats 11 are achieved.

In order to reliably predefine the position of the slats 11 in the case of large gradients of the setting gears 6, 7, which enable a high positioning speed, the plate carriers 8 and / or their actuators 9, 10 can have a braking device. For example, one of the actuators 9 can grasp the associated spindle 4 as a braking device under pretension in the sense of a clamp, as shown in Fig. 6 emerges.

So that a smooth and quiet running of the drive device 1 according to the invention is nevertheless possible at high actuating speeds, the actuators 9, 10 can be guided via one or more guide rails 35 running parallel to the actuators 2, 3. The guide rails 35 can, for example, have an essentially U-shaped cross-sectional profile, so that they form a guide channel into which the corresponding guide lugs 36 of the actuators 9, 10 engage and can thus be positively guided.

In order to enable both good dimensional stability and machinability of the drive spindles 4, 5, these can have a plastic-coated metal core 37.

Claims (8)

Drive device (1) for horizontal blinds, with lamellar carriers (8) guided on parallel actuators (2, 3), characterized in that the actuators (2, 3) form drive spindles (4, 5), each of which has a spirally rotating actuating gear (6 , 7) with a slope decreasing towards a rest position and that the disk carriers (8) each comprise two actuators (9, 10) that can be displaced relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the actuators (2, 3), each in one of the two actuating gears (6, 7 ) intervene. Drive device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the actuators (9, 10) have guide lugs (12) which engage radially in the actuating gear (6, 7). Drive device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the disk carrier (8) has a length-adjustable swivel unit which is articulated on the two actuators (9, 10) and that the drive spindles (4, 5) are adjustable independently of one another. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the actuators (9, 10) are guided over one or more guide rails running parallel to the actuators (2, 3). Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the disk carriers and / or their actuators (9, 10) have a braking device for the actuators (2, 3) and / or the guide rails. Drive device according to claim 5, characterized in that an actuator (9) surrounds the actuator (2) assigned to it as a braking device under pretension. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the lamellae (11) can be displaced beyond the closed position against the force of a restoring element (34). Horizontal blind with two drive devices (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive devices (1) are arranged at a distance from one another for receiving slats (11) and are synchronized with one another via a common drive.

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