WO2006071089A1

WO2006071089A1 - Flap door apparatus for ticket barrier

Info

Publication number: WO2006071089A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/004632
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seok-Hwan Lee
Original assignee: Puloon Technology Inc.
Priority date: 2004-12-30
Filing date: 2005-12-29
Publication date: 2006-07-06
Also published as: CN101095168A; CN100585642C; KR20060078087A; KR100663978B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to the flap door apparatus is conveniently installed to and separated from the ticket barrier and a flap door is opened and closed in the horizontal direction to increase a supporting force against a force applied in the horizontal direction. A lap door apparatus installed in a ticket barrier to open and close a passageway, includes a main frame fixed to and separated from the ticket barrier, a pivotable flap door hinged to a side of the main frame and being opened and closed in the vertical direction, a drving part installed in the main frame to operate the pivotable flap door, and a controller for controlling the driving part. The flap door apparatus can be easily repaired when a malfunction has occurred, and can effectively block the entry and exit of the passenger.

Description

FLAP DOOR APPARATUS FOR TICKET BARRIER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ticket barrier installed in a subway station, and more particularly, to a flap door apparatus installed in the ticket barrier to open and close a passage to control the entry and exit of passengers .

Description of the Related Art

Generally, a passenger for the subway or the railroad buys a ticket at a starting station, is examined at a ticket barrier by a ticket examiner, gets on the train, and at an exit gate the passenger has the ticket examined and puts the ticket into a ticket bin for used tickets.

Recently released is an automatic fare collection system for vending tickets, examining tickets, and collecting tickets automatically to reduce manpower of station employees and for the convenience of the passengers .

The present invention relates to a flap door apparatus installed in a ticket barrier as one of the automatic fare collection systems to prevent the passenger riding a train for free. The flap door apparatus drives a door to close a passageway of the ticket barrier and to prevent the passenger from entering or exiting when the passenger does not insert a ticket into the ticket barrier or if there is an error with the ticket.

However, since a conventional flap door apparatus is designed and manufactured as a part of the ticket barrier, it is very difficult to separate the conventional flap door from the ticket barrier after installation of the conventional flap door apparatus. In other words, it is very inconvenient to repair the conventional flap door apparatus and to replace parts when there is a malfunction.

Meanwhile, since the conventional flap door apparatus is structured such that a flap door is opened and closed in the horizontal direction, in ordinary time, the flap door is bent away from the passenger and rotates by 90 degrees toward the passenger when operating. According to the flap door apparatus, since a horizontal supporting force is weak and the flap door is bent backward when the passenger collides against the flap door, the flap door does not function well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an aspect of the invention is to provide a flap door apparatus for a ticket barrier of a subway station designed as an independent module such that the flap door apparatus is conveniently installed to and separated from the ticket barrier and a flap door is opened and closed in the horizontal direction to increase a supporting force against a force applied in the horizontal direction.

In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides a flap door apparatus installed in a ticket barrier to open and close a passageway, including a main frame fixed to and separated from the ticket barrier, a pivotable flap door hinged to a side of the main frame and being opened and closed in the vertical direction, a driving part installed in the main frame to operate the pivotable flap door, and a controller for controlling the driving part .

Preferably, the pivotable flap door includes a support having a side hinged to the main frame and rotating toward a passageway of the ticket barrier, and a blocking member installed in the support.

The driving part includes a servo motor installed in the main frame, a shaft rotated by the servo motor, a crank installed to a side of the shaft, and a linkage for transmitting a rotation force of the crank to the support. The controller includes a micro-computer for applying forward and backward rotation signals to the servo motor, a first and a second indication devices for detecting time when the pivotable flap door is stopped and for outputting a signal to a micro-computer, and a brake for stopping the servo motor according to the signal from the microcomputer.

The controller further includes a speed reducer for reducing the driving speed of the servo motor from the time when the pivotable flap door is at a predetermined position of to the time when the pivotable flap door stops during the opening and closing of the pivotable flap door.

Preferably, the speed reducer includes a third indication device for detecting a speed reducing point when opening and closing the pivotable flap door and for outputting a signal to the micro-computer so that the micro-computer decreases the rotation speed of the servo motor according to the signal from the third indication device. According to another aspect, when the electric power is interrupted, the micro-computer of the controller releases the locked state of the brake such that the pivotable flap door can be manually opened. At that time, when an elastic member is installed to elastically support the pivotable flap door to the opened position, the pivotable flap door is automatically opened when the electric power is interrupted.

As described above, if the flap door apparatus further includes a manual fixing device for fixing and releasing the pivotable flap door to and from the closing position when the electric power is interrupted, station employees can open the passageway at their will.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the blocking member is made of synthetic resin having excellent buffering capacity such as polyurethane so that it is possible to minimize shock and to prevent damage when the passenger collides against the pivotable flap door.

Moreover, at least one elastic plate fixed to the support is provided inside the blocking member such that the elastic plate rapidly restores the blocking member when external shock is applied.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the blocking member of the pivotable flap door is fixed to and separated from the support so that the blocking member can be easily replaced when the blocking member is damaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an opened- state flap door of a flap door apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a closed- state flap door of a flap door apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating main parts of the flap door apparatus in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the flap door of the flap door apparatus in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the closing of the flap door of the flap door apparatus; Fig. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the opening of the flap door of the flap door apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a speed reduction of the flap door apparatus for a ticket barrier; and Fig. 8 is a view illustrating a manual fixing of the flap door of the flap door apparatus for a ticket barrier.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail such that those skilled in the art can easily understand and perform the preferred embodiments .

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a flap door apparatus for a ticket barrier according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an opened-state flap door of a flap door apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a closed-state flap door of a flap door apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawings, the flap door apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is installed in sides facing each other of a ticket barrier installed in a subway station (not shown) to examine and collect tickets to open and close a passageway. The flap door apparatus according to this preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a main frame 10 fixed to and separated from the ticket barrier, a pivotable flap door 20 having a side hinged to the main frame and being opened and closed in the vertical direction, a driving part 30 installed in the main frame to operate the pivotable flap door, and a controller for controlling the driving part.

The pivotable flap door 20 includes a support 21 having a lower side hinged to the main frame 10 and rotating toward a passageway of the ticket barrier, and a blocking member 22 installed in the support. The structures and operations of the driving part 30 and the controller will be described in detail with reference to the following Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating main parts of the pivotable flap door apparatus in Fig. 1, and the structures of the driving part and the controller will be described. As shown in the drawing, the driving part 30 includes a servo motor 31 installed in the main frame 10, a shaft 32 rotated by the servo motor, a crank 33 installed to a side of the shaft, and a linkage 34 for transmitting a rotation force of the crank to the support 21.

Moreover, the controller includes a micro-computer for applying forward and backward rotation signals to the servo motor 31, a first and a second indication devices 40 and 50 for detecting time when the pivotable flap door 20 is stopped and for outputting a signal to a micro-computer, and a brake 80 for stopping the servo motor according to the signal from the micro-computer. The micro-computer is set to control the servo motor 31 and the brake 80 according to a signal from a gate controller of the microcomputer and is omitted in the drawings because the microcomputer is a technique that those skilled in the art can easily carry out.

The first indication device 40 includes a first cam 41 integrally formed to a side of the shaft 32 and rotating together with the shaft to indicate a stopping position of the pivotable flap door 20 when the pivotable flap door 20 is closed, and a first sensor 42 for detecting the stopping position when the first cam rotates and for outputting a signal to the micro-computer. The second indication device 50 includes a second cam 51 for indicating the stopping position when the pivotable flap door 20 is opened and a second sensor 52 for detecting the stopping position when the second cam rotates and for outputting a signal to the micro-computer.

Moreover, the controller includes a speed reducer for reducing the rotation speed of the servo motor 31 so as to minimize inertia of the servo motor. The speed reducer outputs a signal to the micro-computer when the pivotable flap door 20 passes through a predetermined position during the rotation of the pivotable flap door 20 such that an initial rotation speed of the servo motor 31 is gradually decreased and the servo motor 31 finally stops. In this preferred embodiment, the controller is implemented by a third indication device 60 for detecting a speed reducing point when opening and closing the pivotable flap door 20 and for outputting a signal to the micro-computer so that the micro-computer decreases the rotation speed of the servo motor 31 according to the signal from the third indication device.

The third indication device 60, like the first and the second indication devices 40 and 50, includes a third cam 61 integrally formed with the shaft 32 to indicate the speed reducing point when the pivotable flap door 20 is opened and closed, and a third sensor 62 for detecting the speed reducing point and for outputting a signal to the micro-computer when the third cam rotates . Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the pivotable flap door apparatus in Fig. 1. As shown in the drawing, the blocking member 22 is integrally installed to a side of the support 21 to block the passageway of the ticket barrier and is made of synthetic resin having excellent buffering capacity such as polyurethane to protect the passenger from colliding against the pivotable flap door.

Moreover, at least one elastic plate 23 fixed to the support 21 is provided inside the blocking member 22. The elastic plate 23 reinforces the strength of the blocking member 22 to prevent the blocking member from deformation when external shock is applied and to rapidly restore the blocking member.

Meanwhile, the blocking member 22 is independent from the support 21 and is structured such that it is fixed to and separated from the support by bolts. By doing so, the blocking member is easily repaired or replaced with new one when the blocking member is damaged in use.

Figs. 5 to 7 are views illustrating operation of the flap door apparatus for a ticket barrier according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the closing of the flap door of the flap door apparatus, and illustrates operation of the first indication device in detail.

As shown in the drawings, the flap door is fixed by the brake 80 in an initial opened state. When a closing signal is received from the gate controller, the microcomputer releases the locked state of the brake and drives the servo motor 31 in the forward direction to rotate the shaft 32. When the shaft 32 rotates, the crank 33 and the first cam 41 provided at the sides of the shafts rotate together with the shaft. Simultaneously with the rotation of the crank, the linkage 34 pushes the support 21 to the passageway such that the blocking member 22 protrudes toward the side of the ticket barrier, resulting in closing the passageway.

Meanwhile, the first sensor 42 detects a variation of a cam curve formed in the first cam 41 and the cam curve is formed such that a signal is transmitted to the first sensor 42 at a flap door closing position. As the first sensor 42, a conventional micro-limit switch is used and outputs a signal to the micro-computer when a signal for indicating a stopping time of the flap door is transmitted from the first cam 41. The micro-computer interrupts the electric power to the servo motor 31 and drives the brake

80.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the opening of the flap door of the flap door apparatus, and illustrates operation of the second indication device in detail.

As shown in the drawing, the flap door is fixed by the brake 80 in the closed state. When an opening signal is received from the gate controller, the micro-computer releases the locked state of the brake and drives the servo motor 31 backward to rotate the shaft 32.

When the rotation of the shaft 32, the crank 33 and the second cam 41 provided to the sides of the shaft 32 rotate together with the shaft, and simultaneously with the rotation of the crank, the linkage 34 pulls the support 21 and the blocking member 22 to the inside of the ticket barrier to open the passageway.

Meanwhile, the second sensor 52 detects a variation of a cam curve formed in the second cam 51 and the cam curve is formed such that a signal is transmitted to the second sensor 52 at a flap door closing position. As the second sensor 52, a conventional micro-limit switch is used and outputs a signal to the micro-computer when a signal for indicating a stopping time of the flap door is transmitted from the second cam 51. The micro-computer interrupts the electric power to the servo motor 31 and drives the brake 80.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a speed reduction of the flap door apparatus for a ticket barrier and illustrates operation of the third indication device in detail.

As shown in the drawings, when closing the flap door, the crank 33 and the third cam 61 provided to the sides of the shaft 32 rotate together with the shaft, and simultaneously with the rotation of the crank, the linkage 34 pushes the support 21 and the blocking member 22 to the outside of the ticket barrier to close the passageway.

At that time, the third sensor 62 detects a variation of a cam curve formed in the third cam 61 and the cam curve is formed such that a signal is transmitted to the third sensor 62 at an intermediate position of the rotation. As the third sensor 62, a conventional micro-limit switch is used and outputs a signal to the micro-computer when a signal for indicating a stopping time of the flap door is transmitted from the third cam 61. The micro-computer controls the servo motor 31 such that the speed reduction is performed by decreasing the initial rotation speed by a predetermined amount. Even when the flap door is opened, the above process is identically performed so that the speed reduction is carried out. Meanwhile, since the micro-computer is structured to release the locked state of the brake 80 when the electric power is interrupted due to a power breakdown, the station employees or the passenger can open the flap door 20 manually. At that time, as shown in Figs. 1, when an elastic member 90 is installed to elastically support the flap door 20 in the opened position, the flap door is automatically operated to open the passageway when the electric power is interrupted.

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating a manual fixing of the flap door of the flap door apparatus for a ticket barrier. The manual fixing of the flap door will be described with reference to Fig. 2 as follows.

As shown in the drawings, a manual fixing device 70 is provided to fix and release the flap door to and from the closing position when the electric power is interrupted. The manual fixing device includes a magnet 71 provided to the main frame 10 and an attachment plate 72 provided to the support 21. The magnet and the attachment plate are attached to each other at the closing position of the flap door 20.

By doing so, when using the passageway of the ticket barrier in an emergency state such as a power breakdown, the station employees can open the passageway at their will. Meanwhile, the magnet 71 and the attachment plate 72 are attached to positions where a hinge point of the linkage 34 is aligned with the central point of the crank 34, and a rotation angle of the flap door 20 when being manually fixed is set to 29 degrees from the initial position.

In other words, the flap door 20 is set to stop after rotation by 28 degrees during the opening and closing of the flap door in normal state and is restored to its original position due to the elastic force of the elastic member 90 when the electric power is interrupted. Meanwhile, the magnet 71 and the attachment plate 72 are spaced apart from each other when the flap door 20 is stopped so that the flap door is prevented from being fixed unintentionally. As described above, since the flap door apparatus for a ticket barrier according to the present invention is manufactured as an independent module, the flap door is easily installed to and separated from the ticket barrier. Since the flap door is opened and closed in the vertical direction, the supporting force against the horizontally- applied force can be increased.

As described above, since the flap door apparatus for a ticket barrier according to the present invention is manufactured as an independent module and is easily installed to and separated from the ticket barrier, the flap door apparatus can be easily repaired when a malfunction has occurred.

Moreover, since the flap door is opened and closed in the vertical direction, the supporting force against the horizontally-applied force can be increased and the entry and exit of the passenger can effectively blocked.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

What is claimed is;

1. A flap door apparatus installed in a ticket barrier to open and close a passageway, comprising: a main frame fixed to and separated from the ticket barrier; a pivotable flap door hinged to a side of the main frame and being opened and closed in the vertical direction; a driving part installed in the main frame to operate the pivotable flap door; and a controller for controlling the driving part.

2. The flap door apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pivotable flap door comprises: a support having a side hinged to the main frame and rotating toward a passageway of the ticket barrier; and a blocking member installed in the support .

3. The flap door apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the driving part comprises: a servo motor installed in the main frame; a shaft rotated by the servo motor; a crank installed to a side of the shaft; and a linkage for transmitting a rotation force of the crank to the support.

4. The flap door apparatus as set forth in claim

3, wherein the controller comprises: a micro-computer for applying forward and backward rotation signals to the servo motor; a first and a second indication devices for detecting time when the pivotable flap door is stopped and for outputting a signal to a micro-computer; and a brake for stopping the servo motor according to the signal from the micro-computer.

5. The flap door apparatus as set forth in claim

4, wherein the controller further comprises a speed reducer for reducing the driving speed of the servo motor from the time when the pivotable flap door is at a predetermined position of to the time when the pivotable flap door stops during the opening and closing of the pivotable flap door.

6. The flap door apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first and the second indication devices respectively comprise: a first and a second cams integrally formed to the shaft and rotating together with the shaft to indicate a stopping position of the pivotable flap door when the pivotable flap door is closed; and a first and a second sensors for detecting the stopping positions when the first and the second cams rotate and for outputting a signal to the micro-computer.

7. The flap door apparatus as set forth in claim

4, wherein the micro-computer releases the locked state of the brake when the electric power is interrupted.

8. The flap door apparatus as set forth in claim

5, wherein the speed reducer comprises a third indication device for detecting a speed reducing point when opening and closing the pivotable flap door and for outputting a signal to the micro-computer so that the micro-computer decreases the rotation speed of the servo motor according to the signal from the third indication device.

9. The flap door apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further comprising an elastic member for elastically supporting the pivotable flap door in the opened position.

10. The flap door apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the third indication device comprises: a third cam integrally formed with the shaft to indicate the speed reducing point when the pivotable flap door is opened and closed; and a third sensor for detecting the speed reducing point and for outputting a signal to the micro-computer when the third cam rotates .

11. The flap door apparatus as set forth in claims 7 or 9, further comprising a manual fixing device for fixing and releasing the pivotable flap door to and from the closing position when the electric power is interrupted.

12. The flap door apparatus as set forth in claim

11, wherein the manual fixing device comprises: a magnet provided to the main frame; and an attachment plate provided to the support, wherein the magnet and the attachment plate are attached to each other at the closing position of the pivotable flap door.

13. The flap door apparatus as set forth in claim

12, wherein the magnet and the attachment plate are attached to positions where a hinge point of the linkage is aligned with the central point of the crank.

14. The flap door apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the blocking member is made of synthetic resin having a buffering capacity.

15. The flap door apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein the blocking member includes at least one elastic plate fixed to the support.

16. The flap door apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the blocking member is fixed to and separated from the support.