EP1335102A1 - Electric driving device of a roller shutter or blind - Google Patents

Abstract

The drive has an electric motor (272) driving a drum (10) on which the shutter screen (11) is wound. An operating cord (13) connects to the transmission (230) between the electric motor and the drum. The operating cord represents the position of the shutter screen. A memory facility is included to remember the high and low positions of the shutter screen.

Description

The invention relates to a drive device electric shutter or blind with a winding drum of a screening screen provided for close an opening such as a window or French window in a building wall.

We know a type of roller shutter intended to be installed above an opening in a planned box for this purpose. Such a roller shutter includes a screen masking which is wound on a rotary mounted drum in the box. The screen has a low position in which is unrolled and closes the opening, and a high position in which it is rolled up and releases the opening.

In a manually operated version, the drum is integral in rotation with a winding pulley on which can be wound up with a flat strap. The strap is extends outside the box and can be wrapped in a reel attached to the wall, usually inside of 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 roll down from the high position to the low position. In this movement, the strap wraps around the pulley. When the operator led the screen to a selected position by acting on the strap, the reel locks the strap and maintains the position reached, in a known manner in itself.

In another manually operated version, the drum is integral with a wheel and screw reducer end. The screw is rotated by a bar provided a crank, and through a gasket gimbal. The crank is intended to be handled by the user to rotate the bar, and therefore the drum.

In an electrically operated version, a electric geared motor drives the drum in rotation. The gearmotor is generally tubular and housed coaxially inside the drum. Buttons electric ascent and descent are generally provided on the wall to control the operation of the engine. If necessary, orders are transmitted by a remote control unit. Such equipment is generally installed during the construction of the building or during a major renovation. When we wishes to motorize blinds or roller shutters manual control, the use of such motors is not possible that by completely replacing the equipment, which generally requires intervention on the masonry, plaster or finish coatings Wall.

EP 751 279 discloses a reel roller shutter strap, motorized by a motor electric, and intended to be partially embedded in a wall. Said reel is intended to come in replacement of a roller for a roller shutter or manually operated blind. The reel has a reel on which the strap is intended to be wound. The coil is rotated by a motor electric through a reducer. The strap entering the reel is guided to the spool by a return pulley. Pulley rotation sensor forwarding signal to an electronic card to determine the position of the screen and stop the engine when the strap no longer moves.

EP 860 579 also discloses a strap trainer which comprises a plate, two counter-rotating rollers driven by a motor electric. The strap is also stretched by a spring reel built into a wall. It rolls up partially around the two rollers to be driven. This trainer is specific to a type manual hose reel built into a wall.

When you want to get the motorization of a roller shutter or manually operated blind, the replacement with a shutter or motorized blind requires a heavy intervention, as described above. A operation which appears simpler, and generally less expensive, is to install an operating device for the manual control member, which is conventionally a strap, chain or rotary bar. Such a device than those proposed by documents EP 751 279 or EP 860 579, is only suitable for replacing a reel manual recessed. Furthermore, none of the proposed systems manages the safety of people in case of blockage of moving elements, if for example a hand was stuck by a strap, a chain in translation or a rotating bar.

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

• un support et des moyens de fixation du support en applique sur la paroi,
• des moyens de liaison rapide de l'organe de manoeuvre aux moyens de transmission,
• des moyens de mesure de paramètres de l'organe de manoeuvre, représentatifs de la position de l'écran d'occultation,
• des moyens d'initialisation du dispositif pour déterminer et mémoriser une position haute et une position basse de l'écran d'occultation.

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 can be wound a screen concealing an opening in the wall d '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,
• 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 screening screen,
• initialization means of the device for determining and storing an upper position and a lower position of the screening screen.

Attaching the drive device to a wall surface is very universal and does not require no intervention on the wall. So she is very simple and quick to implement. In addition, means quick link allow quick coupling the installation prior to the new motorized device. Thanks to the initialization means, the adaptation of the new device is possible in all configurations. These means combined authorize an implementation simple, universal and fast device work.

In a particular embodiment, the organ maneuver is a strap, and the means of transmission have a strap winding member.

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 on the wall. Thus, the bulk in thickness of the training device is limited, whatever the length of strap to be wound. Plus like the strap at the outlet of the roller shutter or blind is generally oriented parallel to the wall, a quarter of turn imposed on its length between said exit and entry inside the drive device. Alignment constraints between the device and the roller shutter or blind are thus reduced, compared to the case where the strap remains in the same plane. In fact, if the strap is flat, it has a rigidity in its plane which greatly decreases if the strap is twisted. Due to the decrease in constraints, the winding of the strap on the organ winding is also less likely to experience deviation.

Preferably, the winding member comprises a hub rotated about its axis, the hub comprising a longitudinal recess, an arch surmounting the recess and mounted pivoting about the axis of the hub so that the strap can form a loop around the hoop and be pressed against the recess by the roll bar when the strap is wrapped and stretched around the hub.

When installing the device, one end free strap is inserted between the hub and the roll bar, so that the strap exceeds the roll bar. Then, the hub is rotated in a direction such that the strap is first wound over the hoop in forming a loop, then over the hub. A traction on the strap causes the hoop to pivot so that it comes into abutment against the end free of the strap protruding from below the hoop, in tightening the strap against the recess. So the higher the traction on the strap is strong, the more the tightening on the free end of the strap is strong, which guarantees self-locking. The operations of setting up the straps are very limited and the tightening efficiency is big.

According to another particular characteristic, the training device has a card electronic, the drive mechanism comprising a pulse sensor connected to the electronic card for deliver pulses upon movement of the organ of maneuver, the electronic card comprising means for counting to determine the position variation of the operating member.

Depending on the direction of movement commanded, uphill or in descent, each pulse increments or decrements the current position which is memorized. The sensor is linked for example in rotation directly to the motor, at a mobile element of the transmission means, or to a wheel coder who rolls on the strap.

Preferably, the electronic card includes non-volatile means of memorizing positions extremes to record the high position and the low position of the concealment means, and of a current position deducted from the position variation of the operating member from the high position or from the low position. So even if lost power, extreme values and position current are memorized. It is therefore not necessary to carry out an initialization phase in the case of a loss of power.

According to an improvement, the device comprises an ascent control button and a descent control, the electronic card comprising a daily clock and non-volatile means of memorization of one hour of rise and one hour of descent, memorizing the rise time descent respectively being performed during a long press on the up button, respectively descent. Thus, the raising and lowering of the flap roller shutter or awning will be ordered once every days at the same time. Resources for programming are therefore very simple because they only use buttons already present for device control. In the case of an electronic microprocessor card, the clock is usually already present too.

According to another improvement, the device training includes safety means for stop the engine in the event of excessive force on the operating member. So the safety of people neighboring the roller shutter or blind is improved, same as the preservation of the material.

Preferably, the security means include means for measuring the intensity of the current supplying the motor, and means for comparing the intensity measured at a threshold to stop the engine when the threshold is exceeded. The current absorbed by the motor is in general representative of the torque transmitted by the engine, and therefore the forces applied by the device on the operating member. A current limitation is therefore a limitation of the applied forces.

• la mémorisation de la position basse ;
• la commande du moteur pour atteindre la position haute ;
• l'arrêt du moteur après la détection d'une augmentation brusque du courant d'alimentation du moteur ;
• la mémorisation de la position haute comme étant la position atteinte après l'augmentation brusque de courant, décalée d'une course marginale prédéterminée vers la position basse.

Advantageously, the drive device comprises initialization means which allow, after having put the screening screen in the low position:

• memorizing the low position;
• the engine control to reach the high position;
• stopping the motor after detecting a sudden increase in the motor supply current;
• memorizing 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 a automatic learning of the parameters necessary for operation of the device. When the screen comes up stop in high position, blocking results in a sudden increase in the efforts made by the drive device, and therefore of the absorbed current. The sudden variation of this current, for example a 50% increase over a short run is a criterion which allows the device to determine that the end of the screen stroke is reached. Ways initialization then determine a high position in removal so that the stop is not reached in normal operation but that the movement of the screen blackout be stopped just before.

Preferably, the initialization means also allow storage, at intervals of substantially regular position during the rise, of a reference value of the intensity of 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 a margin of operation, in which case the engine is stopped. So, the threshold to stop the engine is perfectly suited the torque to be supplied for each position during the rise, and the forces applied to an element making obstacle to the movement of the control member are very limited regardless of screen position occultation. We also get the same result if the stored value is already increased by the margin of operation and comparison is performed directly between the measurement of the current intensity and the stored value.

According to a variant of the drive device, the transmission means include means for declutching to disconnect the motor from the maneuver. The drive device thus comprises a emergency means when any failure prevents the engine operation. So the screen can close or open despite the breakdown, in case of absolute necessity.

• la figure 1 est une vue de face d'un volet roulant équipé d'un dispositif d'entraínement conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue du dispositif d'entraínement en coupe selon la ligne II-II de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une en coupe partielle selon la ligne III-III de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une section selon la ligne IV-IV de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue partielle de face du boítier de réducteur selon une variante du dispositif d'enroulement ;
• la figure 6 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne VI-VI de la figure 5.

The invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will appear on reading the description which follows, the description making reference to the appended drawings among 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 section along the 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 mounted rotating, a screen 11 composed of blades articulated between them along horizontal edges, a coil 12 secured to the drum and a strap 13, one of which end is fixed on the coil. '' Screen 11 can wind on the drum 10 between a low position, as shown in Figure 1, and a high position. The strap is wound on the spool so that the winding of the screen is controlled by a pull on strap 13 and by its unwinding in the direction of arrow F1. Traction on strap 13 is controlled by a drive device 2 according to the invention and fixed on a building wall, in a parallel plane on the screen.

Referring to Figures 2 to 4, the device 2 has a support 20 having the form of a plate, for example of steel. Support 20 has holes 201 for fixing the support on the wall 3, for example by screws and plugs, not represented. The drive device 2 comprises also a cover 21 in the form of a hollow box substantially parallelepiped. Four cleats 202 are fixed on the support 20 to guide the cover 21. Screws not shown carry out the removable fixing of the cover on the cleats. A slot 210 in the upper wall 211 of the cover 21 allows the passage of the strap 13 to inside the drive device 2.

The drive device further comprises a gearbox 22 fixed to the support 20 by through studs 220. A first pivot 23 is rotatably mounted in the gearbox 22, in the upper part of the drive device 2, to near the slot 210. The axis of the first pivot 23 is substantially perpendicular to support 20. The first pivot 22 integrally carries a hub 230 and a straight toothed wheel 231. The hub 230 has a shape cylindrical and has a flat 232 forming a recess. A hoop 233 has two wings 236 connected by a base 235. The wings 236 are pierced in such a way so that the first pivot 23 goes 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 in front of the flat 232. The hub is for example stopped by a through pin 238 on the first pivot 23 and the right wheel 231 is stopped by a pin 237.

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

The gearbox also has a second pivot 25 and a third pivot 26 mounted rotating parallel to the first pivot 23. The second pivot 25 carries an intermediate pinion 250 which meshes with the right gear 231. The third pivot 26 comprises a straight 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 has a ring gear conical 263, mounted integral with pivot 26, for example via a pin 263.

The drive device 2 further comprises a geared motor 27 fixed on the support 20 in a part bottom of the device 2. The gear 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 on the output shaft by a pin 273. The gear motor further includes a built-in pulse sensor which for example delivers a signal comprising a pulse per rotor revolution of motor 272.

The training device 2 includes a card electronic 28 to manage the gear motor control 27. The electronic card is powered by a block supply 29 intended to be connected to the mains. The supply wires are not shown. The map electronics 28 is connected to motor 272 to supply it a current and to receive the signal from the sensor. The cover 21 includes an up button 211, a button descent 212 and an initialization button 213. These buttons are opposite 280 switches arranged on the electronic card 28 to be able to switch the switches 280. The switches are of the type shot. A 281 initialization indicator and an indicator error, not shown, allow giving user information.

Drive device 2 must be installed in alignment with the roller shutter strap outlet or the blind, and electrically connected to the mains. The strap 13 must go through the pass collar, then do a loop over the arch 233 and pass between the base 235 and hub 230, as shown in figure 4. By simultaneously pressing the initialization button 213 and on the up button 211, the winding of the strap 13 starts. The initialization indicator 281 lights up to indicate that the system is in mode initializing. 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 pressing the button simultaneously 213 and one of the up buttons 211 or descent 212.

The operator can then initiate a phase initialization by pressing the single button climb 211. At this time, the current position is considered the low position and memorized by the electronic card 28 as such in a memory nonvolatile. A card counter 28 receives the pulses from the sensor, the value of 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 consumed is stored in an array memorizing this value and the position. When the screen It arrives at the end of the race, it crashes, and, as a result, the current consumed by the motor 272 varies so important. This rapid change in current is detected and the power supply to motor 272 is cut off. A predetermined marginal stroke is deducted from the position reached and the value thus determined is stored in as long as high. At this point, the cycle continuous initialization 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 rise phase is ordered a first time with a reduced speed, to limit efforts when come to a stop in the high position. The high position is determined as before and memorized, then a screen descent is ordered followed by a second climb phase at normal speed. During the second rise phase, the value of the current consumed is stored in an array memorizing this value as well as the position.

The drive device then switches to normal running. An action on the up button 211 allows the screen 11 to be raised at opening speed normal. Screen 11 opens to the high position stored. A second press on the up button 211, when screen 11 is going up, allows to stop the movement of the screen 11 in position intermediate. Another press on the up button 211 is used to restart the ascent of screen 11. A pressing the descent button 212 starts the closing the screen 11. A second press on the button descent 212, when the screen 11 is in the process of go down, stop the screen 11 in the intermediate position. An additional press on the descent button 212 relaunches the descent of screen 11 while a pressing the up button 211 causes the screen 11. Even if the gearmotor is not of the type irreversible, the DC motor has a permanent magnet with strong torque variable. Due to the reduction ratio between the organ winding and motor, this resisting torque is enough to keep the screen in one position intermediate between high position and position low. 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 screen movement, especially the movement of descent. The dissipation of energy will be for example produced by a so-called freewheeling diode associated with a resistance.

During each rise phase, the current consumed is continuously compared to a stop threshold which is determined by a value from the stored table, in function of the current position, and increased by one operating margin. Exceeding this threshold stop means that the strap is subjected to a slight overload, for example when a person gets stuck a finger along the strap. As the stop threshold has been determined with a small margin above the load normal without hindrance, the force exerted on the finger will be low.

In all operating phases, the card electronics 28 monitors the current consumed. If this one exceeds a predetermined threshold based on the rated current of the gear motor 27, the card electronic 27 controls the stopping of the geared motor 27. In particular, during the initialization phase, such event prevents normal completion of initialization. A error light indicates this problem.

According to an improvement, the electronic card monitors during a normal climb phase, if the intensity of the current remains between a first limit determined by a value from the table memorized, depending on the current position, and increased by a fraction of the operating margin, and the stop threshold. In this case, the electronic card initiates a reset operation for memorize the stopping threshold table again, either by a new complete ascent phase, either during the next climb phase. During the operation of reset, the initialization lamp signals this phase, for example by flashing. Likewise, when the intensity decreases below a second limit determined by a value from the table memorized, depending on the current position, and reduced by a fraction of the operating margin, the reset operation is also initiated. The reset operation allows taking into account account of variations in drive efforts of the component roller or blind depending, for example, on aging, fouling or variations climate. For example, the margin of operation is 20% of the current intensity, and the fraction of the operating margin for the initiation of a reset operation is 10% of the current intensity. So the operation of reset is triggered if the current is 10% lower than the stored value or greater than 10% to 20%. 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 only show that the right wheel, the intermediate pinion, the pinion straight and the gearbox, to simplify the representation. In this variant, a box of reducer 22 'has an orifice 221 coaxial with the second 25 'pivot. A plate 222 is attached to the housing of reducer 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 via a bearing 224.

Sometimes it may be necessary to disengage mechanically the drive device, for example when the latter is down or during a breakdown and the screen has remained open. In the variant shown in Figures 5 and 6, which allows deal with this case, after removing the cover 21, the bolts 223 are deposited and the whole of the plate 221, of the second pivot 25 'and intermediate pinion 250' east removed from the gearbox so that the intermediate pinion 250 'no longer meshes with the wheel straight 231 nor with the right pinion 260. Thanks to these declutching means, the winding drum 230 is then free to rotate and the strap 13 can be unfolded without constraints.

The invention is not limited to the mode of achievement which has been described only as example. The training device may be provided to drive a chain in translation or a bar in rotation, and for different types of screen. He will be able to be provided with a remote control or a terminal block to deport the control buttons and indicator lights. Other types of strap movement sensor could be planned. Likewise, other types of buttons can replace buttons 211, 212, 213, and switches 280, such as membrane keys, hot keys or other means to receive from user information in electrical form.

Claims (11)

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 can be wound, 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 what the device includes: a support (20) and means for fixing the support applied to the wall (3), fast 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 screening screen (11), initialization means of the device for determining and storing a high position and a low position of the screen (11) of concealment. Driving 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 member winding (230) being substantially perpendicular to a flat face of the support (20), intended to be applied to the wall (3). Drive device according to claim 2, characterized in that the operating member 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) comprising a longitudinal recess (232), a hoop (233) surmounting the recess (232) and pivotally mounted around the axis of the hub so that the strap can form a loop around of the arch (233) and be tightened against the recess (232) by the arch (233) when the strap (13) is wound and tensioned around the hub (230). 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 the movement of the actuator (13), the electronic card (28) comprising counting means for determining the variation in position of the actuator (13). 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 the low position. Driving 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 by a long press on the ascent button (211), respectively descent (212). Drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes safety means for stopping the motor (272) in the event of excessive forces on the operating member (13). Drive device according to claim 7, characterized in that the safety means comprise means for measuring the intensity of the current supplying the motor (272), and means for comparing the intensity measured with a threshold for stopping the engine when the threshold is exceeded. Driving device according to claim 7, characterized in that the initialization means make it possible, after having put the screening screen in the low position,: memorizing the low position; controlling the motor (272) to reach the high position; stopping the motor (272) after detecting an abrupt increase in the motor supply current; memorizing the high position as being the position reached after the sudden increase in current, shifted by a predetermined marginal stroke towards the low position. Drive device according to claim 9, characterized in that the initialization means also allow the storage, at substantially regular position intervals during the rise phase, of a reference value of the intensity of the current supplying the motor (272), and the safety means allow, 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) is stopped. Drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission means comprise declutching means for uncoupling the motor from the operating member.

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