FR2946812A3 - METHOD FOR OPERATING A SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRIC MOTOR OF A STORE ACTUATOR - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of operating a control system of an electric motor of a blind type actuator with an apron having horizontal blades, the control system comprising: - a command receiver for receiving commands from movement control for raising or lowering the apron transmitted to the engine, - a switch intended to be activated by an action of the apron when the apron is in a fully raised position, characterized in that it comprises a step of power failure of the motor following the activation of the switch when executing an order of movement of descent movement of the deck.

Description

The invention relates to a method of operating a control system of a motor of a shutter type blind actuator. The invention also relates to a control system of an engine implementing such a method and an actuator comprising such a control system.

A jalousie type blind comprises an apron formed of horizontal slats (or slats) suspended by suspension strings in the form of ladders, while a final slat located at the bottom of the deck is connected to pull cords. The suspension cords are adjustable by means of rockers while the traction cords are rollable using winders, located both in a horizontal box disposed at the top of the bay and rotated by the actuator also located in the horizontal box. The pull cords can be replaced by very thin straps or laces. Training and / or orientation can also be achieved by means of masked chains in vertical guide rails.

The actuator comprises an electric motor, a command receiver, for receiving climb (folding) or descent (deployment) commands from the apron, a control unit controlling the power supply of the engine according to the orders received and of sensors.

In the deployed position, all the blades are supported by the suspension cords.

During an order of rise of the apron, the traction cords are wound on the reels, which causes the rise of the final blade. During the upward movement, the final blade comes into contact with the immediately superior blade, and then bears its weight, while the suspension cords relax there. Then the assembly comes into contact with the next higher blade and so on. If the engine remains energized in the upward direction, there comes a time when all the blades of the deck are stacked on the final blade, and the upper blade of the deck thus stacked approaches the box.

The actuators of the prior art, as described in patent EP 0 951 745, comprise means for interrupting the power supply of the motor (referenced 17 and 19 in this document) when the upper blade comes into contact with the power supply means. interruption and exerts on it sufficient pressure.

Thus, the interruption means serves as a high end of travel. Due to the wiring performed, this means acts only during a climb control, since it is important that the blind can be deployed after being fully folded.

Another low end-of-travel means is used in the actuators of the prior art. This is a mechanical or electronic counting means, or even more rarely a delay means, allowing the automatic shutdown of the engine when the deck is sufficiently deployed.

However, a first problem may arise when the traction cords are shorter than the deployment authorized by an initial setting of the counting means.

In this case, if the apron is initially folded, a descent order results in a normal deployment of the deck until the pull cords are fully unwound. From this moment, the traction cords are wound in opposite directions, and the final blade rises in the opposite direction of the controlled movement. The movement takes place until the traction cords are completely wound up. The movement then stops by stalling the motor, the interruption means not being active in the case of a downhill command which, in this case, this translates into a second phase by a folding action of the blind. If the actuator is equipped with a motor torque detection means, it is possible to stop the movement before the mechanical stresses are too great.

But even in this case where there is no degradation of the deck or cords, it is impossible to restart the engine in the opposite direction, since it requires a climb command and that it is prohibited by the activation of the means of interruption.

A second problem arises if the actuator is mounted upside down in the box. Indeed, the actuator is often in symmetrical form, with two drive outputs of a shaft connected to the reels. A reversal of the mounting direction of the actuator causes a reversal of the actual movement with respect to the control command.

The installer is then confronted with the blocking case described above, which occurs without even having a complete round-trip movement. The blocking occurs for example immediately after the first movement order, if the product was mounted with the traction cords wound on the reels: on a descent order, there is then rotation in the direction of the winding, this which strongly constrains the traction cords, while the means of interruption is not active. A reversal of the mounting direction of the reels, while the actuator is in the right direction, also produces this serious malfunction. It is therefore necessary to provide mechanical keying means, both on the actuator and on the reels.

There is therefore a need for improvement of the actuators for blinds type jealousy so as not to suffer extreme cases of faulty use. The installer must also be able to easily reverse the relationship between movement order and direction of rotation of the motor, without requiring rewiring of the actuator or physical inversion of the actuator or winders. .

The object of the invention is to provide a method of operating a control system and a control system overcoming the above disadvantages and improving the operating methods of control systems and control systems known in the art. prior. In particular, the invention makes it possible to provide a simple control system that makes it possible to avoid a degradation of a blind by a complete folding action of the blind following an action of deployment of the blind, these two actions being linked together following a deployment command due to improper configuration of the actuator and / or blind. The invention also makes it possible to produce a control system making it possible to prevent the blind from locking in the folded position as a result of the phenomenon described above. The invention makes it possible for a software inversion of the relationship between control commands and direction of rotation of the engine. The invention also relates to a method of operating such a control system, an actuator comprising such a control system and by extension a method of operation of such an actuator.

According to the invention, the method governs the operation of a control system of an electric motor of a jalousie type blind actuator provided with an apron comprising horizontal blades, the control system comprising: a receiver of orders for receiving orders for movement of upward or downward movement of the deck transmitted to the engine, a switch intended to be activated by an action of the deck when the deck is in a fully raised position. The method is characterized in that it comprises a step of power failure of the motor following the activation of the switch during the execution of a descent movement command order of the deck.

The method may include a motor power release step in a second direction after the switch has been activated while the motor is energized to rotate in a first direction. The method may include an automatic motor supply step in a second direction after the switch has been activated while the motor is energized to rotate in a first direction. The method may comprise a step of automatically inverting a relationship linking the rising and falling movement control commands of the apron and the directions of rotation of the motor, following the activation of the switch during the executing an order of descent movement of the apron. The method may comprise a controlled inversion step of a relationship linking the up and down movement commands of the apron and the directions of rotation of the motor, following the receipt of a specific command order from inversion. The method may comprise a preliminary step of configuring a relationship linking the up and down movement commands of the deck and the directions of rotation of the engine, following the receipt of a specific order of configuration. The method may comprise a step of transmitting an information signal, following the activation of the switch when executing a descent movement control command of the apron.

According to the invention, the control system of an electric motor of a jalousie-type awning actuator equipped with an apron comprising horizontal blades comprises: a command receiver for receiving rising motion command commands or descent of the deck transmitted to the engine, a switch to be activated by an action of the deck when the deck is in a fully raised position. The system is characterized in that activation of the switch when executing a descent movement control command of the apron, activates a means for disconnecting the motor supply.

The system may include means for authorizing the motor supply in a second direction, the enabling means being activated after the switch has been activated while the motor is energized to turn in a first direction.

The system may include automatic motor feed means in a second direction, the automatic feed means 30 being activated after the switch has been activated while the motor is powered to rotate in a first direction. may comprise a means for automatically inverting a relationship linking the upward and downward movement control commands of the apron and the directions of rotation of the motor, the automatic reversing means being activated following the activation of the switch when executing a descent movement order of the apron.

The system may comprise a means for reversing a relationship linking the rising and falling movement control commands of the apron and the directions of rotation of the motor, the reversing means being activated following the reception of an order specific inversion control.

The system may comprise a means for configuring a relationship linking the rising and falling movement control commands of the apron and the directions of rotation of the motor, the configuration means being activated following the reception of a specific command from configuration.

The system may comprise a means for transmitting an information signal, the means for transmitting an information signal being activated following the activation of the switch when executing a control command. descent movement control of the apron.

An actuator according to the invention comprises a control system defined above.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a blade blind device comprising a control system according to the invention. FIG. 2 represents the principle of the operating method of a control system according to the invention.

FIG. 3 represents a first embodiment of a method of operation of a control system according to the invention. FIG. 4 represents an exemplary initialization step that can be implemented in the first embodiment of the method. FIG. 5 represents a second embodiment of a method of operating a control system according to the invention.

FIG. 1 schematically represents, in a vertical plane, a blind of jealousy type 10, that is to say with blades or lamellae, in particular adjustable, equipped with an actuator using the method according to the invention.

The blind comprises an apron 11 which has been referenced an upper blade 11a, an intermediate blade 11k and a final blade 11 z weighted, serving load bar apron. The blind comprises an actuator 12 disposed in a box 13 open in its lower part. The actuator is connected to a shaft 14 that rotates. On the tree are arranged several reels. A winder 15 is connected to a drawstring 16 which winds on the reel or unwinds from the reel in the direction of rotation of the shaft. The drawstring is attached to the final blade by a first attachment 16z.

A rocker 17 is connected to both the shaft and the box. The rocker supports a suspension cord 18 in the form of a scale in which are engaged the blades of the deck. The ladder supports the weight of all the blades when the deck is deployed. An inclination of the rocker is caused by the rotation of the shaft. This inclination is transmitted to all the blades by moving the suspension cord. The suspension cord is attached to the final blade by a second fastener 18z.

The actuator 12 comprises in particular an electric motor 20 and a control system 40 of the engine. The control system comprises a control unit 21, a command receiver 22, for example of radio-frequency type, and an upper switch 28 (also referenced K). The actuator 12 is powered by electric wires 23.

Alternatively, the command receiver is of the infrared or carrier current type or also comprises a recognition of a control command according to the state of the power supply wires of the actuator. In particular, the command receiver makes it possible to identify a mounted type movement command (UP) and a descent type movement command (DN).

An output 24 of the control unit powers the motor 20 in a first direction or in a second direction, depending on the nature of the motion control, as seen below. A mechanical output 25 from the motor drives the shaft 14. A rotation sensor 26 is connected to an input of the control unit, so as to allow counting of the rotation of the shaft and a stop of the power supply. of the motor when the unwinding of the drawstring reaches a predetermined value. The term EOT is used to denote this lower end-of-travel value.

The control unit includes in particular a memory area 27 for accommodating counting data and for recording motion control. The upper switch 28 is connected to the control unit by a status line 29. The upper switch is activated by an action, for example a pressure, exerted by the apron, in particular the upper blade 11 has, during a complete folding movement of the apron.

One direction of motor rotation is assigned to each motion command. The memory zone 27 contains the recording of a relation linking the motion control (UP, DN) to a first direction of rotation of the motor (Si) and to a second direction of rotation of the motor (S2).

This relation can be written in a first form: S1 if UP and S2 if DN, or alternatively can be written in a second form: S2 if UP and S1 if DN. Both forms are inverse to each other. A learning procedure makes it possible to establish which relation is used by the actuator.

The control system comprises hardware and / or software means governing its operation, that is to say, to implement the operating method object of the invention. The software means may comprise computer programs.

The control unit 21 comprises a means 41 for disconnecting the power supply to the motor and / or means 42 for authorizing the supply of the motor in a second direction and / or means 43 for automatically feeding the motor into the motor. a second direction and / or a means 44 for automatically reversing the relationship between the up and down movement commands of the apron and the directions of rotation of the engine. The control unit further comprises means for determining the direction of rotation of the motor. FIG. 2 represents, in the form of a general flow chart, the control method of the actuator.

In a first general step E1, it is tested if the upper switch is activated while the actuator executes an upward movement control (UP). In this case, the motor is not or no longer powered.

In a second general step E2, it is tested if the upper switch is activated while the actuator executes a downward movement command (DN). In this case, the motor is not or no longer powered. This is made possible by the activation of the breaking means 41 cutting off the power supply of the motor.

Of course, it is necessary to avoid a blocking situation in which no more command is executed. The control method contains a third general step E3 in which a UP type movement command is allowed if the previous case of an activation of the upper switch while the actuator executes a command of downhill movement. This is made possible by the activation of the means 42 allowing the power supply of the motor in a second direction.

As a variant, the third general step E3 simply comprises a motor supply in the opposite direction, for example for a few seconds, so as to release the upper switch. This is made possible by the activation of the means 43 automatically feeding the motor in a second direction.

FIG. 3 represents a first embodiment of the method, in which systematic authorization of a movement opposite to the last movement in progress is practiced.

In a first step E10, the command receiver identifies a CD movement command such as a rise command (UP) or such as a descent command (DN) (deployment of the blind).

If no new command is read, we go directly through this first step.

In a second step E12, the state of the upper switch K is tested, by reading the status line 29. If the switch is activated, then we go to a third step E13 in which we test if the command Current CD is the same as the previously executed command. This command executed previously has been recorded in a memory MEM of the memory area 27, and is designated by (MEM). If so, we go to the fourth step E14 in which the engine power is cut off to cause it to stop. The process then loops on the first step.

If not, we go to the fifth step E15 in which the motion control is recorded in the memory MEM, then to a sixth step E16 in which the motion control is executed by supplying the motor so that its direction of rotation corresponds to the motion control. In a seventh step E17, an end-of-travel detection by the rotation sensor 26 causes the stopping of the motor supply. The process then loops on the first step.

The flowchart of FIG. 3 assumes that learning has made it possible to identify a first direction of rotation of the motor corresponding to an upward movement control (UP) and a second direction of rotation of the motor corresponding to a motion control in descent (DN). Thus is established and memorized a relationship between each movement command (UP, DN) and each direction of rotation (Si, S2) of the motor: either {UP - S1, DN - S2), or on the contrary {UP - S2, DN Yes). This flow chart is also simplified in that it does not represent a stop command (STP) received by the command receiver. Such a command is taken into account as a priority during the sixth step E16, according to means known to those skilled in the art.

Furthermore, the method comprises an initialization step E11 shown in FIG.

In this step, an initial content is assigned to the memory MEM during a first motion command received after installation of the blind. This content is the reverse of the received motion command.

Thus, suppose that after installation the deck is in a fully folded position and a descent movement command DN is received by the actuator. The memory MEM takes the content (MEM) = UP during the step E11. We go from E12 to E13, then from E13 to E15 since the CD motion control is not equal to UP. The DN command is stored in MEM and executed. If it turns out that the lower limit switch EOT is incorrectly set, and in particular corresponds to a greater distance than the total length of the draw cord, then the final blade goes up again. The method then loops in the succession of steps E10-E12-E15-E16-E17 until the upper switch K is activated, which leads to step E13. During the test of this step, there is a movement control CD equal to the content DN of the memory MEM, which causes the transition to the fourth step El 4.

The upper switch K therefore causes the engine power to stop if it is activated while the current command is a descent command DN.

Figure 5 depicts, as a single step E20, a second embodiment of the control method.

During the single step, it is tested if the upper switch K is activated during the execution of a downward movement command DN. If yes, then there is a stop of the power supply of the motor, as described in the general step E2, but this stop is followed: either by an emission of a signal, or by an inversion of the binding relation the motion commands to the directions of rotation of the motor.

The emission of a signal can sensitively signal to the user the existence of a problem. A sensory signal can be acoustic or visual. A visual signal may simply consist in causing the load bar to move downwards, by a preset value for example on 10 centimeters, or for 5 seconds, which has the advantage of releasing the upper switch. We then find a similar operation to that of the third general step E3.

A signal can also be transmitted in radio-frequency form to a control interface close to the user, provided for example with a display indicating the type of fault.

An automatic inversion of the relationship linking the two movement commands (UP, DN) to the two directions of rotation of the motor (S1, S2) is a preferred embodiment, since it makes it possible to find, immediately after the succession of events due to the incorrect setting of the lower end-of-travel device EOT, a situation in which the directions of movement correspond back to the orders received. This is made possible by the activation of the means 44 automatically reversing the relationship between the rising and falling movement control commands of the deck and the direction of rotation of the engine.

Advantageously, it is possible to combine the transmission of a signal and the automatic inversion of the relationship.

The automatic inversion of the relation can be carried out by modifying a pointer in the memory zone 27 or by any other software means.

Alternatively or cumulatively, the step of inverting the relationship between the rising and falling movement control commands of the apron and the directions of rotation of the motor can be controlled by receiving a specific command order from inversion. This specific order is for example received by the command receiver, following an emission caused by the installer using a remote control.

In addition, the relationship between the rising and falling movement control commands of the apron and the directions of rotation of the motor can be defined during the learning, during a preliminary step of initialization of the actuator, the receiving a specific command for configuration command from the installer's remote control.

The entire process is described in the form of flowcharts, for example made by programming a microcontroller, but the person skilled in the art can obtain the same operation by using wired logic circuits or relays.

Claims (15)

1. A method of operating a system (40) for controlling an electric motor (20) of a jalousie type awning actuator (12) having an apron (11) having horizontal blades (11). a, 11 k, 11 z), the control system comprising: a command receiver (22) for receiving up or down movement control commands from the deck transmitted to the engine, a switch (28) to be activated by an action of the apron when the apron is in a fully raised position, characterized in that it comprises a motor power failure step (E2, E14) following the activation of the switch when the executing an order of descent movement of the apron. 2. Operating method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a motor power supply authorization step in a second direction after the switch has been activated while the engine was powered to turn in a first. meaning. 3. Operating method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an automatic step of feeding the motor in a second direction after the switch has been activated while the engine was powered to turn in a first sense. 4. Operating method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a step of automatically reversing a relationship between the rising and falling movement control commands of the deck and the direction of rotation of the engine, continued when the switch is activated when executing a downward movement command command of the apron. 5. Operating method according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a reversal step controlled by a relationship between the rising and falling movement control commands of the apron and the direction of rotation of the engine. , following receipt of a specific inversion command order. 6. Operating method according to claim 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a preliminary step of configuring a relationship between the rising and falling movement control commands of the deck and the direction of rotation of the engine, following the receipt of a specific order of configuration. 7. Operating method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a step of transmitting an information signal, following the activation of the switch during the execution of a control order of descent movement of the apron. 8. System (40) for controlling an electric motor (20) of a jalousie-type awning actuator (12) provided with an apron (11) having horizontal blades (11a, 11k, 11z) , the control system comprising: a command receiver (22) for receiving up or down movement control commands from the deck transmitted to the engine, a switch (28) to be activated by an action of the deck when the apron is in a fully raised position, characterized in that an activation of the switch during the execution of a descent movement order of the apron, activates a means (41) for cutting the power supply of the engine. 9. Control system according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises means (42) for authorization of the motor supply in a second direction, the authorization means being activated after the switch has been activated. activated while the engine was powered to turn in a first direction. 10. Control system according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises means (43) for automatically feeding the motor in a second direction, the automatic feeding means being activated after the switch has been switched on. activated while the engine was powered to turn in a first direction. 11. Control system according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a means (44) of automatic reversal of a relationship between the rising and falling movement control commands of the deck and the directions of rotation of the motor, the automatic reversing means being activated following the activation of the switch when executing an order of descent movement command of the apron. 12. Control system according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a means of inverting a relationship between the orders of movement of upward and downward movement of the deck and the directions of rotation of the motor, the inverting means being activated following receipt of a specific inversion control command. 13. Control system according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that it comprises means for configuring a relationship between the rising and falling movement control commands of the deck and the directions of rotation of the engine, the configuration means being activated following the receipt of a specific order of configuration. 14. Control system according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that it comprises means (22) for transmitting an information signal, the means for transmitting an information signal. being activated following the activation of the switch when executing an order of descent movement command of the apron. 15. Actuator (12) for blind type blind comprising a control system (40) according to one of claims 8 to 14 and an electric motor (20).