EP0371170B1

EP0371170B1 - Rolling device for rolling elements such as blinds, curtains, awnings or the like

Info

Publication number: EP0371170B1
Application number: EP19880202731
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fabio Farne
Original assignee: Asa Motoriduttori SNC
Current assignee: Asa Motoriduttori SNC
Priority date: 1988-11-30
Filing date: 1988-11-30
Publication date: 1993-04-21
Anticipated expiration: 2008-11-30
Also published as: DE3880491D1; EP0371170A1

Description

The invention is related to rolling up devices for rolling elements such as blinds, curtains, awnings or the like, comprising: a rolling up roller fitted with fixing means for one of said elements, an electric motor located inside the roller for rotation thereof around its own symmetry axis; a pivot at a first end of said roller to allow said rotation; a box at the second end of the roller for cooperating with said pivot to support the roller; a bushing supported by the second end of the roller to transmit it the rotations provided by the motor; stop devices to stop movements of the motor at two predetermined positions, both when the rolling element rolls up and when it unrolls, said devices being provided, further, with electric control means for the motor at the disposal of an operator, for example with a push-button.
In particular the present invention is related to a control device for stopping the motor at predetermined positions of the rolling element and to safety means to prevent the device from being damaged when it is operated manually or when it is necessary to set the stops.
It is known that this kind of rolling up devices is provided with means for manual operation for when the current fails or when the motor is broken; it is also known that these devices are provided with stops for automatic set of up-or unrolling abutments of the rolling elements; said means being displaceable as a function of the dimensions of the rolling device.
The problems which must be solved by a device according to the present invention are the followings:

to prevent the device from being damaged in case of manual work;
to prevent the device from being damaged during set the stops;
to minimize the encumbrance dimensions to control rolling up rollers having a rather small diameter.

FR -A - 2 599 524 refers to an automatic stopping device for an electric motor which moves a rolling element from a first rolled-up position to a second unrolled position of said rolling element and vice-versa; the device comprises two micro-switches which correspond, respectively, to the first and second position of the rolling element and which cooperate, respectively, with a stopping element to intercept the feed of the motor when the rolling element is in said first or second position. The device presents also advancement means acting the linear advancement of the micro-switches and of the stopping elements, which means are connected to the rolling element and adjustment means which act to change to positions between each micro-switch and its own stopping element aside from the position of the rolling element.
Furthermore, this device presents a reference signaller which records the position of a stopping element or a micro-switch between a first stopping position which corresponds with the unrolling position of the rolling element and a second stopping position which corresponds to the rolling position of the rolling element and means to copy the position recorded by the signaller at a point located between the next stopping element and its own micro-switch.
The main disadvantage of this known device is that it must have two worms which must have two opposite rolling up directions to allow opposite rotation of the two gears; this entails: a great encumbrance dimension of the device with respect to the diameter of the rolling up roller; an expensive assembly of the two worms and a complicated connection system between the bushing and the micro-switches. Further, the transmission of the movement from the roller to the gears entails a first slack between the roller and the gears and a second slack between the gears and the worm; consequently said transmission may be indeterminate because of these slacks which prevent from having a right and constant correspondence between the angular positions both of the roller and of the gears. Finally said device is suitable for assembling metallic shutters, which prevent the elements acting on the micro-switches from being located on sight.
EP 0 221 826 refers to a stopping device to control automatically rollers for curtains, wherein two operating elements for two micro-switches are moved in two opposite directions by two worms to which are connected, the worms being rotated by a crown gear kinematically connected to said worms. Also in this device the worms must have two opposite rolling up directions to allow opposite rotation of the two operating elements. But the main disadvantage of the device is that the adjustment of the operating elements with respect to the micro-switches is not gradual because of two disengageable elements disposed between the crown gear and the worms, which elements act separately to connect or disengage the worms from the crown gear. Thus the right position of the operating elements with respect to the micro-switches is reached by the put and take tecnique.
The present invention, as claimed, is intended to remedy these drawbacks. It solves the problem of creating a rolling up device for rolling elements such as blinds, curtains, awnings or the like. By using a device according to the present invention the following results are achieived: the up-and unrolling stops of the rolling element are set very easily.
The advantages offered by the invention are mainly that the device is prevented from being damaged in case of manual work or during set of the stops. Furthemore the encumbrance dimensions of the device are minimized to control rolling up rollers having a diameter rather small.
One way of carrying out of the invention is described in detail below with reference to drawings which illustrate a preferred but not limiting embodiment.

Fig.1 shows schematically an assembly of a device in accordance with the invention;
Fig.2 shows a constructive detail of the device;
Fig.3 shows a device control kinematic assembly;
Fig.4 shows a detail which points out the relation between a gear and a micro-switch (some structures are inverted for graphic necessities).
Figs. 5-7 show safety systems for the device.

The figures show a rolling up device for rolling elements such as blinds, curtains, awnings or the like and parts thereof.
Fig.1 shows schematically a device according to the invention including a box 1, adapted to be fixed for example to a wall by known means and which houses manual work means, not shown, to operate a rolling up roller 2 fitted with engaging means for an end of a rolling element, not shown; said work means are subject of the French Patent Application No.2 561 303 filed by the Applicant to which reference is made for comprehension thereof.
The internal part of roller 2 houses an electric motor 6 whose stator, not shown, is structurally connected to box 1 for not rotate with respect to a fixed frame of reference to which said box 1 is connected. The rotor of the motor 6 is kinematically connected to a shaft 7, angularly integral with a wheel 8 which is in turn integral with roller 2 by known means, not shown (pins, drive fits or the like). Motor 6 is electrically connected with a control power unit adapted, as known, to control the functioning state of the motor 6 and in particular to define the rotation directions and the stopping state thereof. As better shown in Fig.2, roller 2 is angularly integral, by a spline 12, with a bushing 13 supported by a hub 14 which is part of box 1. Bushing 13 has an internal toothing 15 adapted to mesh with an external toothing 16 of a wheel 17, free to rotate around a pivot 18 supported by a supporting means provided in a wall 19 of the box 1.
At it is apparent from Fig.3, a pivot 18 is integral with a worm 20 supported by a supporting means provided in a wall 21 at a second end of worm 20. Worm 20 is fitted with a first groove 22, substantially at the middle of the whole length thereof, groove 22 is able to house a first stopping ring 23 for two gear wheels 24 and 25 fitted with through holes 26 and 27, respectively; said through holes being threaded and being able to screw in the threading of worm 20.
Worm 20 is fitted also with a second groove 50, placed near the wall 19 and able to house a second stopping ring 51 for wheel 24, a third groove 52, adapted to house a third stopping ring 53 for wheel 25 being made in worm 20 near wall 21.
Wheels 24 and 25 have external toothings for mesh on identical external toothings made in first toothed roller 28 and in a second toothed roller 29, respectively. Wheel 24 has a first invitation bevel 60 to operate a push-button 35, of the micro-switch 10, gently; a second bevel 61 is made in wheel 25 to operate a push-button, not shown, of micro-switch 11; said first and said second bevels 60 and 61 being located on the relevant wheels 24 and 25 facing each other.
The first and the second roller 28 and 29 are supported by a first and a second supporting arms 30 and 31, respectively, which are in turn supported by supporting elements provided in the walls 19 and 21; said roller 28 developing approximately from said wall 19 to said ring 23; said roller 29 developing approximately from said ring 23 to said wall 21.
A supporting means provided in the wall 21 supports a beam structure 32 (better shown in Fig.4) adapted to support said first an second micro-switches 10 and 11. In operation, when motor 6 rotates roller 2 to the direction of arrow A, the rotation movement is transmitted to the bushing 13 fitted with the spine 12 and to the worm 20 which feeds towards the direction A the wheels 24 and 25 whose rotation is avoided by the mesh with toothing of rollers 28 and 29, respectively; said rollers being prevented from rotating by a kinematic motion which will be described below.
When, for example, wheel 24 is in contact with push-button 56 of micro-switch 10, the latter sends to the power unit an electrical signal to stop motor 6 and to reverse its polarity to enable it to rotate to the opposite direction after a subsequent manual operation on the push-button at the disposal of the operator. When motor 6 rotates to the opposite direction, indicated by arrow B in Figs..1 and 3, the movement of wheel 25 to the direction B allows to reach a push-button, not shown, of the micro-switch 11 enabling the latter to send to the power unit an electric signal to stop the motor 6 and to reverse its polarity. Two identical mechanisms, shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are provided to define reference positions of wheels 24 and 25 with respect to the relevant micro-switches 10 and 11.
To simplify, we are refering to Fig.4 in which one of these mechanisms includes a pair of conic wheels 36 and 37 engaging each other. Wheel 36 is integral with a shaft 28 supported by a supporting means provided in a wall 40 of box 1; said shaft 38 having an end in which an hexagonal hole is made for introduction of a operation tool. Wheel 36 is integral with a shaft 33 supported by a supporting means provided in a wall 41 of box 1 and which is fitted with a toothed end 42 able to mesh on the toothed roller 28. By rotating wheel 36, by means of the tool, to the direction E, the same rotation direction is transmitted to wheel 42 which in turn transmitts an opposite motion to roller 28, wheel 24 is dragged rightward and approaches micro-switch 10, in a similar manner wheel 25 is positioned with respect to micro-switch 11.
The device according to the present invention is fitted with two safety systems the first of which is intended to prevent wheels 24 and 25 from being damaged in case of manual operation on bushing 13.
The supporting shafts 30 and 31 inflect resiliently under the effort applied by the tangential force of one of the two wheels 24 or 25 abutting on the stopping ring 29. The inflection enables one of the wheels 24 or 25 to exit from the toothed profile of roller 28 or 29 by moving away the pitch lines and by allowing the external circumpherence to displace tagentially thus slipping one on the other. This concept is visually expressed in Fig.7.
The second safety system avoids damage to the pairs of conic wheels 37 and 38.
At it is apparent from Figs.5 and 6 the position of wheel 37 relative to wheel 38 which allows a correct mesh between the respective pitch lines is defined by an elastic ring 43 which under excessive efforts applied by wheel 38 to wheel 37, which is fortuitously non free to rotate, permits, by inflecting as shown in Fig.6, to move away the pitch line circumpherences of wheels 37 and 38 until the external circumpherences of the same wheels dispose tangentially and slip one on the other.
When, for example, wheel 24 abuts on the stopping ring 51, it is not possible to achieve a sufficient inflection of shaft 30 to permit tangency between the external circumpherences of wheel 24 and roller 28. Nevertheless, wheel 24 transmits to roller 28 the rotation which is transmitted to conic wheels 36 and 37 by toothed end 42 and shaft 33. In this manner, even if the axial movement of wheel 24 stops, the device is not subject to damage because of the rotation movement allowed to the wheel 24. An identical function occurs for wheel 25 when it abuts on ring 53.
In an embodiment of the present invention, not shown, the adjustment of the position of wheels 24 and 25 relative to micro-switches 10 and 11 is obtained by acting directly on the supporting shafts 30 and 31 supported by supporting elements provided in the walls 19 and 21. One of the ends of each shaft 30 and 31 is provided with an operating element such as a slot or the like at at least one of the supports ends of the same shafts 30 and 31 is fitted with a brake element, for example, with a light drive fit, between the support hole and the end of the shaft.

Claims

Rolling up device for rolling elements such as blinds, curtains, awnings or the like including: a rolling up roller (2) fitted with means for engaging an end of a rolling element; a box (1) adapted to be fixed to a wall by known means and which houses known manual operating means to operate said rolling up roller (2), an end (3) of said roller (2) being closed and opposite to the end which is supported by a part of box (1) and being shaped such as to support a pivot (4) inserted in a support (5) fixed, for a example, to a wall to allow rotation of said roller (2) with respect to a fixed frame of reference to which said box (1) is connected; an electric motor (6) housed inside the roller (2) and fitted with a stator connected structurally to said box (1) so as to not rotate with respect to said box, said motor (6) having a rotor rotating with a shaft (7) integral with a wheel (8) in turn integral with said roller (2); a control power unit (9) adapted to control the functioning state of the motor (6) to define the rotation directions and the stopping state of the rotor, said unit (9) being connected with a first and a second micro-switch (10,11) and with a push-button at the disposal of an operator for operating said motor (6); movable elements (24,25) able to act on said micro-switches (10,11); a bushing (13) supported by a hub (14) made in said box (1), said bushing (13) being provided with a spline (12) to enable said roller (2) to be integral with a said bushing (13) and having an internal toothing (15) able to mesh with an external toothing (16) of a wheel (17) integral with a pivot (18) supported by a wall (19) made in said box (1) characterized by the fact that it includes also: a worm (20) rotationally fixed to said wheel (17), said worm (20) being provided with a thread and having a first groove (22) adapted to house a stopping element (23) to stop the axial movements of two moveable elements (24,25) which are fitted with through holes (26,27), respectively, said holes being threaded and being able to screw in the thread of said worm (20); a first and a second toothed roller (28,29) fitted with teeth cooperating with the teeth of said moveable elements (24,25); a first and a second supporting shaft (30,31) able to support said first and said second toothed roller (28,29), respectively; said supporting shafts (30,31) being provided with means able to stop the rotation movements of said shafts (30,31); in order to move said wheels (24,25) in the same direction (E,D) with respect to the micro-switches (10,11) the teeth of said wheels (24,25) engaging with said stopped shafts (30,31), said moveable elements (24,25) being moved by said worm (20); said roller (28) extending approximately from said supporting wall (19) to said stopping element (23); said roller (29) extending approximately from said stopping element (23) to a wall (21) able to support said worm (20) and said supporting shafts (30,31); operating elements to define the positions of said moveable elements (24,25) with respect to said micro-switches (10,11) for a reference position of said roller (2); a first safety system to avoid damage to wheels (24,25) in case of manual operation of roller (2); a second safety system to avoid damage to said operating elements.
Rolling up device as in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the first safety system is made by said supporting shafts (30,31), which are able to infect resiliently under the effort applied by the tangential force of one of said wheels (24,25) abuting on said stopping element (23), to allow exit of said wheel (24,25) from the toothed profile of one of said roller (28,29) moving away the pitch lines and allowing the external circumpherences to dispose tangentially and slip one on the other.
Rolling up device as in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said operating elements consist of a pair of conic wheels (36,37) which mesh on the other; said wheel (36) being integral with a shaft (38) supported by a supporting means provided in a wall (48) of said box (1); said shaft (38) having an end with an hexagonal hole for insertion of an operating tool; said wheel (37) being integral with a shaft (33) supported by a supporting means provided in a wall (41) of said box (1) and which has a toothed end (42) able to mesh on said roller (38).
Rolling up device as in claims 1 and 3, characterized by the fact that said second safety system includes an elastic ring (43) able to define the exact position of said wheel (37) with respect to said wheel (38) which allows correct mesh between the relevant pitch lines; said elastic ring (43) being able to infect under excessive efforts applied by said wheel (38) to said wheel (37) to move away the pitch lines of the two wheels (37,38) until the external circumpherences of the wheels dispose tangentially and slip the one on other.
Rolling up device as in claims 1 and 3, characterized by the fact that said worm (20) has a second and a third groove (50,51) adapted to house a second a a third stopping element (51,53), respectively, said second groove (50) being placed near said wall (19) and said third groove (51) being placed near said wall (21).