FR2835877A1 - DEVICE FOR ELECTRICALLY DRIVING A SHUTTER OR A BLIND - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric drive device for a roller shutter or a blind comprising a drum (10) on which is wound a screen (11) for blocking an opening in the wall (3) of a building, the drum (10) being rotated by an operating member (13), comprises transmission means (230) linked to the operating member (13) and driven by an electric motor (272). The device further comprises: - a support (20) and means for fixing the support applied to the wall (3), - rapid connection means (233) of the operating member (13) to the transmission means (230), - means for measuring parameters of the operating member (13), representative of the position of the screen (11) of concealment, - means for initializing the device to determine and store a position high and a low position of the screening screen (11).

Description

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 Electric drive device for a roller shutter or blind.

 The invention relates to an electric drive device for a roller shutter or a blind comprising a winding drum for a screening screen intended to close an opening such as a window or a window-door in a wall of building.

 There is a known type of roller shutter intended to be installed above an opening in a box provided for this purpose. Such a roller shutter comprises a screening screen which is wound on a drum mounted to rotate in the box. The screen has a low position in which it is unwound and closes the opening, and a high position in which it is rolled up and releases the opening.

 In a version with manual control, the drum is integral in rotation with a winding pulley on which a flat strap can be wound. The strap extends outside the box and can be rolled up in a reel attached to the wall, usually inside the building. The part of the strap between the pulley and the reel is manipulated by an operator to determine the position of the screen. Under the effect of gravity, the screen tends to unwind from the high position to the low position. In this movement, the strap wraps around the pulley. When the operator has led the screen to a chosen position by acting on the strap, the retractor blocks the strap and maintains the position reached, in a manner known per se.

 In another version with manual control, the drum is integral with a wheel and worm gear reducer. The screw is rotated by a bar provided with a crank, and by means of a universal joint. The crank is intended to be handled by

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 the user to put the bar in rotation, and therefore the drum.

 In an electrically controlled version, an electric gear motor drives the drum in rotation.

The gearmotor is generally tubular and housed coaxially inside the drum. Electric up and down buttons are generally provided on the wall to control the operation of the motor. If necessary, the orders are transmitted by a remote control unit. Such equipment is generally installed during the construction of the building or during a major renovation. Indeed, when it is desired to motorize blinds or roller shutters with manual control, the use of such motors is only possible as a complete replacement of the equipment, which generally requires intervention on the masonry, plaster or wall coverings.

 Document EP 751 279 discloses a roller shutter strap reel, motorized by an electric motor, and intended to be partially embedded in a wall. Said roller is intended to replace a roller for a roller shutter or a blind with manual control. The reel has a spool on which the strap is intended to be wound.

The coil is rotated by an electric motor via a reduction gear. The strap entering the reel is guided to the spool by a return pulley. A rotation pulley rotation sensor sends a signal to an electronic control card to determine the position of the screen and stop the engine when the strap is no longer moving.

 Document EP 860 579 also discloses a strap drive which comprises a plate, two counter-rotating rollers driven by an electric motor. The strap is also stretched by a

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 spring reel built into a wall. It is partially wrapped around the two rollers to be driven. This trainer is specific to a type of manual reel built into a wall.

 When it is desired to obtain the motorization of a roller shutter or a manually operated blind, replacement by a motorized shutter or blind requires heavy intervention, as described above. An operation which appears simpler, and generally less expensive, is to install a device for operating the manual control member, which is conventionally a strap, a chain or a rotary bar. A device such as those proposed by documents EP 751 279 or EP 860 579, is only suitable for the replacement of a built-in manual reel. In addition, none of the systems proposed manages the safety of people in the event of blocking of the moving elements, if for example a hand was caught by a strap or a chain in translation or a bar in rotation.

 The invention therefore aims to provide an electric drive device to replace a manual operating member of a roller shutter or a blind, which is as less specific as possible to the previous installation, easy to install, to adjust, and that offers improved security.

 With these objectives in view, the invention relates to an electric drive device for a roller shutter or a blind comprising a drum on which a screen for concealing an opening in the wall can be wound. 'a building, the drum being driven in rotation by an operating member, the device comprising transmission means linked to the operating member and driven by an electric motor, characterized in that the device comprises: - a support and means for fixing the support applied to the wall,

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 means for rapid connection of the operating member to the transmission means, means for measuring parameters of the operating member, representative of the position of the screen, - means for initialization of the device to determine and store an upper position and a lower position of the blanking screen.

 The attachment of the drive device to a surface wall is very universal and does not require intervention on the wall. It is therefore very simple and quick to implement. In addition, quick connection means allow the previous installation to be quickly coupled to the new motorized device.

Thanks to the initialization means, the adaptation of the new device is possible in all configurations. These means combined allow a simple, universal and rapid implementation of the device.

 In a particular embodiment, the operating member is a strap, and the transmission means comprise a member for winding the strap.

 According to a preferred characteristic, the axis of the winding member is substantially perpendicular to a flat face of the support, intended to be applied to the wall. Thus, the space requirement in thickness of the drive device is limited, whatever the length of the strap to be wound. In addition, as the strap at the outlet of the roller shutter or blind is generally oriented parallel to the wall, a quarter turn is imposed on its length between said outlet and the entry inside the device d 'training.

The alignment constraints between the drive device and the roller shutter or the blind are thus reduced, in comparison with the case where the strap remains in the same plane. Indeed, if the strap is flat, it has a rigidity in its plane which greatly decreases

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 if the strap is twisted. Due to the reduction in stresses, the winding of the strap on the winding member is also less subject to deflection.

 Preferably, the winding member comprises a hub driven in rotation about its axis, the hub comprising a longitudinal recess, a hoop surmounting the recess and mounted to pivot around the axis of the hub so that the strap can form a loop around the arch and be tightened against the recess by the arch when the strap is wrapped and stretched around the hub.

 When installing the device, a free end of the strap is inserted between the hub and the hoop, so that the strap exceeds the hoop.

Then, the hub is rotated in a direction such that the strap is first wound over the hoop in a loop, then over the hub. A pull on the strap causes the hoop to pivot so that it comes into abutment against the free end of the strap protruding from below the hoop, tightening the strap against the recess. Thus, the greater the traction on the strap, the more the tightening on the free end of the strap, which guarantees self-locking. The operations of fitting the strap are very limited and the tightening efficiency is high.

 According to another particular characteristic, the drive device comprises an electronic card, the drive mechanism comprising a pulse sensor connected to the electronic card to deliver pulses during the movement of the operating member, the electronic card. comprising counting means for determining the variation in position of the operating member.

 Depending on the direction of movement commanded, uphill or

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 when going down, each pulse increments or decrements the current position which is memorized. The sensor is linked for example in rotation directly to the motor, to a mobile element of the transmission means, or to a coding wheel which rolls on the strap.

 Preferably, the electronic card comprises non-volatile means for memorizing extreme positions for recording the high position and the low position of the concealment means, and from a current position deduced from the variation in position of the man # member. works from the high or low position. Thus, even in the event of a loss of power, the extreme values and the current position remain memorized. It is therefore not necessary to carry out an initialization phase in the event of a loss of supply.

 According to an improvement, the device comprises an ascent control button and a descent control button, the electronic card comprising a daily clock and non-volatile means for memorizing a rise time and a fall time , the ascent or descent time respectively being memorized being effected by a long press on the ascent or descent button respectively. Thus, the raising and lowering of the roller shutter or the blind will be controlled once every day at the same time. The means for programming are therefore very simple since they only use the buttons already present for controlling the device.

In the case of a microprocessor-based electronic card, the clock is generally also already present.

 According to another improvement, the drive device comprises safety means for stopping the engine in the event of excessive forces on the operating member. Thus, the safety of people near the roller shutter or blind is improved,

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 same as the preservation of the material.

 Preferably, the safety means comprise means for measuring the intensity of the current supplying the motor, and means for comparing the intensity measured with a threshold to stop the motor when the threshold is exceeded. The current absorbed by the motor is generally representative of the torque transmitted by the motor, and therefore of the forces applied by the device to the operating member. A limitation of the current is therefore a limitation of the forces applied.

 Advantageously, the drive device comprises initialization means which allow, after having put the screening screen in the low position: the storage of the low position; - the engine control to reach the high position; stopping the motor after detecting a sudden increase in the motor supply current; - the memorization of the high position as being the position reached after the sudden increase in current, shifted by a predetermined marginal stroke towards the low position.

 The initialization phase, triggered by the installer of the device for example, allows automatic learning of the parameters necessary for the operation of the device. When the screen comes to a stop in the high position, the blockage results in a sudden increase in the forces supplied by the drive device, and therefore in the current absorbed. The sudden variation of this current, for example an increase of 50% over a short stroke, is a criterion which allows the device to determine that the end of the screen stroke is reached. The initialization means then determine a high recessed position so that the stop is not reached in

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 normal operation, but the movement of the blackout screen is stopped just before.

 Preferably, the initialization means also allow the storage, at substantially regular position intervals during the ascent phase, of a reference value of the intensity of the current supplying the motor, and the safety means allow, during an ascent phase, to check if the current is greater than the reference value for the current position increased by an operating margin, in which case the motor is stopped. Thus, the threshold for stopping the engine is perfectly adapted to the torque to be supplied for each position during the climb, and the forces applied to an element which obstructs the movement of the control member are very limited, whatever the position. of the blackout screen. The same result is also obtained if the stored value is already increased by the operating margin and the comparison is made directly between the measurement of the current intensity and the stored value.

 According to a variant of the drive device, the transmission means comprise declutching means for uncoupling the motor from the operating member. The drive device thus comprises an emergency means when any failure prevents the operation of the engine. Thus, the screen can close or open despite the failure, if absolutely necessary.

 The invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will appear on reading the description which follows, the description referring to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a front view of a roller shutter equipped with 'a drive device according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a view of the drive device in

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section along line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a partial section along the line
III-III of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a section along the line IV-IV of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a partial front view of the gearbox according to a variant of the winding device; Figure 6 is a sectional view along line VI-VI of Figure 5.

 A rolling shutter 1 is shown in FIG. 1.

It conventionally comprises a drum 10 rotatably mounted, a screen 11 composed of blades hinged together along horizontal edges, a coil 12 secured to the drum and a strap 13, one end of which is fixed to the coil. The screen 11 can be wound on the drum 10 between a low position, as shown in FIG. 1, and a high position.

The strap is wound on the reel so that the winding of the screen is controlled by a pull on the strap 13 and by its unwinding in the direction of the arrow F1. The traction on the strap 13 is controlled by a drive device 2 according to the invention and fixed to a building wall, in a plane parallel to the screen.

 Referring to Figures 2 to 4, the drive device 2 comprises a support 20 having the form of a plate, for example of steel. The support 20 has holes 201 for fixing the support to the wall 3, for example by screws and plugs, not shown. The drive device 2 also includes a cover 21 in the form of a substantially parallelepiped hollow box. Four tabs 202 are fixed on the support 20 to guide the cover 21. Screws not shown make the removable fixing of the cover on the tabs. A slot 210 in the upper wall

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 211 of the cover 21 allows the passage of the strap 13 inside the drive device 2.

 The drive device also comprises a reduction gearbox 22 fixed to the support 20 by means of studs 220. A first pivot 23 is rotatably mounted in the reduction gearbox 22, in the upper part of the drive device 2 , near the slot 210. The axis of the first pivot 23 is substantially perpendicular to the support 20. The first pivot 22 integrally carries a hub 230 and a straight gear 231. The hub 230 has a cylindrical shape and has a flat 232 forming a recess. An arch 233 has two wings 236 connected by a base 235. The wings 236 are drilled so that the first pivot 23 passes through these holes and the arch is pivotally mounted on the first pivot 23, the hub 230 being located between the wings 236, the base 235 being opposite the flat 232. The hub is for example stopped by a pin 238 passing through on the first pivot 23 and the right wheel 231 is stopped by a pin 237.

 The gearbox 22 further comprises an arch 24 which carries two guide pulleys 240 mounted idly in rotation along axes substantially perpendicular to the support 20, on either side of the slot 240 so as to provide a passage neck for the strap 13 opposite the hub.

 The gearbox also includes a second pivot 25 and a third pivot 26 rotatably mounted parallel to the first pivot 23. The second pivot 25 carries an intermediate pinion 250 which meshes with the right toothed wheel 231. The third pivot 26 has a right pinion 260 mounted integral with the pivot 26, for example by means of a pin 261, and which meshes with the intermediate pinion 250. The third pivot 26 also includes a toothed crown

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 conical 263, mounted integral with the pivot 26, for example by means of a pin 263.

 The drive device 2 further comprises a geared motor 27 fixed on the support 20 in a lower part of the device 2. The geared motor 27 comprises a motor 272, for example with direct current. The gearmotor has an output shaft 270 on which is mounted a bevel gear 271. The bevel gear 271 meshes with the bevel gear 262 and is fixed to the output shaft by a pin 273. The gearmotor further comprises a sensor with incorporated pulse which delivers, for example, a signal comprising one pulse per rotor revolution of the motor 272.

 The drive device 2 comprises an electronic card 28 for managing the control of the geared motor 27. The electronic card is supplied by a power supply unit 29 intended to be connected to the mains. The supply wires are not shown. The electronic card 28 is connected to the motor 272 to supply it with current and to receive the signal from the sensor. The cover 21 includes an up button 211, a down button 212 and an initialization button 213. These buttons are opposite switches 280 arranged on the electronic card 28 in order to be able to switch the switches 280. The switches are of the monostable type. An initialization indicator 281 and an error indicator, not shown, allow information to be given to the user.

 The drive device 2 must be installed in alignment with the strap outlet of the roller shutter or blind, and electrically connected to the mains. The strap 13 must pass through the passage neck, then make a loop over the arch 233 and pass between the base 235 and the hub 230, as shown in FIG. 4.

By simultaneously pressing the initialization button 213 and the up button 211, the winding of the

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 strap 13 starts. The initialization indicator 281 lights up to indicate that the system is in initialization mode. The operator controls the winding until the strap 13 is slightly tensioned, the screen being in the low position. The position of the strap can be adjusted by simultaneously pressing the initialization button 213 and one of the up 211 or down 212 buttons.

 The operator can then initiate an initialization phase by pressing the single up button 211. At this time, the current position is considered to be the low position and memorized by the electronic card 28 as such in a non-volatile memory. volatile. A counter on the card 28 receives the pulses from the sensor, the value of the counter being representative of the position of the screen 11. At the same time the electronic card 28 measures the current consumed by the motor 272. Regularly, the value of the current consumption is stored in a table memorizing this value and the position. When the screen 11 reaches the end of its travel, it locks up, and, as a result, the current consumed by the motor 272 varies significantly. This rapid variation in current is detected and the power supply to the motor 272 is cut off. A predetermined marginal stroke is deduced from the position reached and the value thus determined is stored as the high position. At this stage, the initialization cycle continues by lowering the screen 11 to the low position. The initialization indicator 281 goes out and the initialization phase is complete.

 In a variant of the initialization phase, the ascent phase is controlled a first time with a reduced speed, to limit the forces when coming into abutment in the high position. The upper position is determined as previously and stored, then a descent of the screen is commanded followed by a second

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 climb phase at normal speed. During the second phase of rise, the value of the consumed current is stored in a table memorizing this value as well as the position.

 The drive then goes into normal operating mode. An action on the up button 211 allows the screen 11 to be raised to normal opening speed. Screen 11 opens up to the memorized high position. A second press on the up button 211, when the screen 11 is going up, makes it possible to stop the movement of the screen 11 in the intermediate position. A new press on the up button 211 allows to restart the ascent of the screen 11. A press on the down button 212 starts the closing of the screen 11. A second press on the down button 212, when the screen 11 is going down, stops the screen 11 in the intermediate position.

An additional press on the descent button 212 makes it possible to restart the descent of the screen 11 while a press on the ascent button 211 causes the screen 11 to go back up. Even if the gearmotor is not of the irreversible type , the DC motor has a permanent magnet and has a variable resistive torque. Due to the reduction ratio between the winding member and the motor, this resistive torque is sufficient to maintain the screen in an intermediate position between the high position and the low position. In addition, when the engine is stopped, it is possible to operate it as a generator and dissipate the energy thus recovered to dampen the movement of the screen, in particular the downward movement. The dissipation of energy will for example be achieved by a so-called freewheeling diode associated with a resistor.

 During each rise phase, the current consumed is constantly compared with a stop threshold which is

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 determined by a value from the stored table, as a function of the current position, and increased by an operating margin. Exceeding this stop threshold means that the strap is subjected to a slight overload, for example when a person gets a finger caught along the strap. As the stopping threshold was determined with a small margin above the normal unhindered load, the force exerted on the finger will be low.

 In all operating phases, the electronic card 28 monitors the current consumed. If this exceeds a predetermined threshold as a function of the nominal intensity of the geared motor 27, the electronic card 27 controls the stopping of the geared motor 27. In particular, during the initialization phase, such an event prevents the normal end of initialization . An error light indicates this problem.

 According to an improvement, the electronic card monitors during a normal rise phase, whether the intensity of the current remains between a first limit determined by a value from the stored table, as a function of the current position, and increased by a fraction of the operating margin, and the stop threshold. In this case, the electronic card triggers a reset operation to memorize the stop threshold table again, either by a new complete ascent phase, or during the next ascent phase. During the reset operation, the initialization LED signals this phase, for example by flashing. Similarly, when the intensity decreases below a second limit determined by a value from the stored table, as a function of the current position, and reduced by a fraction of the operating margin, the reset operation is also triggered.

The reset operation allows taking into account

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 account for variations in the drive forces of the roller shutter or blind depending, for example, on aging, fouling or climatic variations. For example, the operating margin is 20% of the current intensity, and the fraction of the operating margin for triggering a reset operation is 10% of the current intensity. Thus, the reset operation is triggered if the current is 10% lower than the memorized value or 10% to 20% higher. Above 20%, the engine is stopped.

 Figures 5 and 6 show a variant of the drive device whose mechanism can be disengaged manually. Figures 5 and 6 show only the right wheel, the intermediate pinion, the right pinion and the gearbox, to simplify the representation. In this variant, a gearbox 22 'has an orifice 221 coaxial with the second pivot 25'. A plate 222 is attached to the reduction gearbox 22 'and largely covers the orifice 221. It is held in place on the housing in a removable manner, for example by four bolts 223. The second pivot 25' is rotatably mounted on the plate 222 by means of a bearing 224.

 It may sometimes be necessary to mechanically disengage the drive device, for example when the latter is faulty or during a power failure, and the screen has remained open. In the variant presented in FIGS. 5 and 6, which makes it possible to treat this case, after removing the cover 21, the bolts 223 are removed and the assembly of the plate 221, of the second pivot 25 'and of the intermediate pinion 250' is removed from the gearbox so that the intermediate pinion 250 'no longer meshes with the right wheel 231 or with the right pinion 260. Thanks to these declutching means, the winding drum 230 is

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 then free to rotate and the strap 13 can be unrolled without constraints.

 The invention is not limited to the embodiment which has been described only by way of example. The drive device may be provided to drive a chain in translation or a bar in rotation, and for different types of screen. A remote control or a connection terminal block can be provided for remote control buttons and LEDs.

Other types of strap movement sensor may be provided. Similarly, other types of buttons may replace the buttons 211, 212, 213, and the switches 280, such as membrane keys, sensitive keys or other means for receiving information from a user in electrical form.

Claims (11)

1. Device for electrically driving a roller shutter or a blind comprising a drum (10) on which a screen (11) for concealing an opening in the wall (3) of a building, the drum (10) being rotated by an operating member (13), the device comprising transmission means (230) linked to the operating member (13) and driven by an electric motor (272), characterized in that the device comprises: - a support (20) and means for fixing the support applied to the wall (3), - rapid connection means (233) of the mano # work (13) to the transmission means (230), - means for measuring parameters of the operating member (13), representative of the position of the screen (11) of concealment, means of initialization of the device to determine and store a high position and a low position of the screen (11) of concealment.  2. Drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating member # is a strap (13), and the transmission means comprise a winding member (230) of the strap, the axis of the winding member (230) being substantially perpendicular to a flat face of the support (20), intended to be applied to the wall (3).  3. Drive device according to claim 2, characterized in that the operating member # work is a strap (13), and the transmission means comprise a winding member (230) of the strap comprising a hub ( 230) driven in rotation about its axis, the hub (230) having a longitudinal recess (232), a hoop (233) surmounting the recess (232) and mounted pivoting around the axis of the hub so that the strap <Desc / Clms Page number 18>  can form a loop around the hoop (233) and be tightened against the recess (232) by the hoop (233) when the strap (13) is wound and stretched around the hub (230).  4. Drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an electronic card (28), the drive mechanism comprising a pulse sensor connected to the electronic card (28) for delivering pulses during movement of the operating member (13), the electronic card (28) comprising counting means for determining the variation in position of the operating member (13).  5. Drive device according to claim 4, characterized in that the electronic card (28) comprises non-volatile means for memorizing extreme positions for recording the high position and the low position of the screen, and a current position deduced from the variation in position of the operating member (13) from the high position or from the low position.  6. Drive device according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises an ascent control button (211) and a descent control button (212), the electronic card (28) comprising a daily clock and non-volatile means for memorizing an ascent hour and a descent hour, the memorization of the ascent or descent time, respectively, being effected during a prolonged press on the ascent button (211) , respectively descent (212).  7. Drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises safety means for stopping the motor (272) in the event of excessive forces on the operating member (13).  8. Drive device according to claim 7, characterized in that the safety means <Desc / Clms Page number 19>  comprise means for measuring the intensity of the current supplied to the motor (272), and means for comparing the intensity measured with a threshold to stop the motor when the threshold is exceeded.  9. Drive device according to claim 7, characterized in that the initialization means make it possible, after having put the screening screen in the low position,: - the storage of the low position; - the engine control (272) to reach the high position; stopping the motor (272) after detecting an abrupt increase in the motor supply current; - the memorization of the high position as being the position reached after the sudden increase in current, shifted by a predetermined marginal stroke towards the low position.  10. Drive device according to claim 9, characterized in that the initialization means also allow the storage, at substantially regular position intervals during the ascent phase, of a reference value of the current intensity supplying the motor (272), and the safety means make it possible, during an ascent phase, to check whether the current is greater than the reference value for the current position increased by an operating margin, in which case the motor (272 ) stopped.  11. Drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission means comprise declutching means for uncoupling the motor from the operating member.