Sun protection device with fault detection

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sun protection device according to the preamble of claim 1. Sun protection devices comprise at least one cover element and are designed as venetian blinds or awnings. The at least one cover element can be positioned by a motor drive to provide sun protection, weather protection, and / or privacy. In a retracted position, the at least one cover element provides no protection. Venetian blinds have several cover elements in the form of movable slats and a bottom rail. Venetian blinds are also known as external venetian blinds or roller blinds. Awnings have only one cover element in the form of a flexible flat material, in particular a textile material.

[0002] Sun protection devices in the form of louvered blinds or awnings comprise, in addition to at least one cover element, a winding shaft, at least one bearing device which rotatably supports the winding shaft, and a mounting device to be attached to buildings with receiving areas for holding the at least one bearing device.

[0003] A sunshade device with a motorized drive for rotating the winding shaft includes a control unit. Control units are known from the prior art that, in the event of disturbances caused by wind forces acting on the sunshade device and / or contact between moving parts of the sunshade device and obstacles, switch the motorized drive on or off according to the respective disturbances. For example, the at least one cover element is moved into the retracted position in the event of undesirable wind-related loads on a sunshade device. In the event of contact between parts of the sunshade device and obstacles, the motorized drive is switched off.

[0004] For closing and opening building openings such as windows and doors, venetian blinds with slats and a bottom rail are used. The slats and the bottom rail are guided in lateral guides located on both sides of the building openings. The bottom rail is lowered and raised by rotary movements of the winding shaft, driven by a motor, via an operating device. The operating device includes drive elements located either at the lateral guides or pull cords arranged between the lateral guides. When the bottom rail is lowered, the pull cords unwind from the winding shaft, and when the bottom rail is raised, they wind onto the shaft.

[0005] When the bottom rail is raised, slats are stacked on it and moved upwards. The winding shaft is rotatable around a shaft axis, which is horizontally aligned when the sunshade device is installed. The winding shaft comprises, for example, a polygonal rod and winding sections for the pull cords arranged on it.

[0006] The lowest possible position of each slat and the inclination of unstacked slats are determined by actuating straps. These straps are arranged in pairs such that for each pair of straps and each slat, one strap is connected to the respective slat edge on both sides of the central longitudinal axis. The actuating straps are driven by pivot bearings located on the winding shaft.

[0007] For venetian blinds with pull cords, it is advantageous if the winding areas for the pull cords are located at the pivot points. At each pivot point, which has a winding area for a pull cord and a pivoting device for a pair of actuating cords, the pull cord leads through openings in the slats to the bottom rail, and the actuating cords are connected to the lateral edges of the slats and the bottom rail.

[0008] Venetian blinds allow for complete opening, partial covering of an upper area, and complete coverage of building openings by adjusting the bottom rail position. The degree of coverage depends on the set angle of the slats. When the bottom rail is lowered from its upper end position, the angle of the slats not stacked on the bottom rail can be adjusted relative to a horizontal plane. The same drive mechanism is used for both the upward and downward movements of the bottom rail and for adjusting the slat angle.

[0009] In awnings, the flexible flat material is unwound from or wound onto a winding shaft. When the awning is installed, the winding shaft can rotate around a horizontal axis. In the area of ​​the flexible flat material, the winding shaft is usually tubular. For motorized awnings, the rotating bearing of the winding shaft is often located at one end at the motor drive and at the other end via a stub shaft extending from the tubular section at the axis. The unwound portion of the flexible flat material can extend vertically downwards. If necessary, a lower portion of the flexible flat material, or the entire unwound portion, can be angled away from the vertical plane.

[0010] EP 3 940 185 A1 describes a safety device for a Venetian blind or venetian blind. The safety device includes sensors that detect tensile forces in the tilting tapes. Control signals for the motorized drive of the venetian blind are generated from these detected tensile forces. This safety device can only be used with tilting tapes and is therefore not suitable for awnings. The sensors only measure tensile forces generated by unstacked slats. Furthermore, inserting a sensor into a tilting tape requires space between the winding shaft and the first slat, which is not available in confined spaces. Because the tilting tapes are arranged in pairs, sensors must be installed in both tapes of a pair to detect forces caused by malfunctions as effectively as possible. The required number of sensors and the effort required to evaluate the data collected by the sensors are considerable.

[0011] US 2021 / 0172249 A1 describes an awning in which a motorized drive is located inside a hollow winding shaft. The stationary part of the drive includes a control unit and an electrical connection and is permanently attached to a mounting device mounted on a building. A drive wheel with radial recesses, which is rotatable by the drive, engages in a corresponding recess inside the hollow winding shaft with radially inward-facing projections. The flat material of the awning is wound onto or unwound from the outside of the winding shaft.

[0012] A sensor is located in the static part of the motor drive, which detects changes in torque. These torque changes are transmitted from the rotating drive wheel to the static part containing the sensor. The detected torque changes can indicate malfunctions that occur when strong winds act on the flat material of the awning or when obstacles impede its winding or unwinding. Torque measurement in the static part of the drive results in a complex design. Replacing the sensor involves considerable disassembly and reassembly effort. Furthermore, the detected torque changes cannot be reliably correlated with specific malfunctions.

[0013] The objective of the invention is to find a simple and versatile solution for detecting disturbances.

[0014] This problem is solved by a sun protection device with the features of claim 1. The dependent claims describe alternative or advantageous embodiments which solve further problems.

[0015] As part of a first inventive step, it was recognized that the forces emanating from disturbances such as strong winds or obstacles manifest themselves directly between the mounting device and the winding shaft, i.e., independently of the motor drive, in such a way that they can be readily attributed to a specific cause.

[0016] In a second inventive step, it was recognized that, for optimal fault detection, a sensor must detect forces between the mounting device and the winding shaft, independently of the motor drive. This direct detection is ensured when the at least one sensor is arranged between a transmission device, which rests on a rotary bearing surface rotating with the winding shaft but is not rotatable about the shaft axis, and a connection from the at least one sensor to the mounting device.

[0017] The weights of the winding shaft and the at least one cover element generate vertical forces between the winding shaft and the mounting device. If the at least one cover element encounters an obstacle, the vertical force transmitted from the winding shaft to the at least one sensor changes. The change in the value detected by the at least one sensor can thus indicate that the at least one cover element has encountered an obstacle. Strong winds or gusts can cause fluctuations in the values ​​detected by the at least one sensor. The nature of the change in the values ​​detected by the sensor therefore provides a clue to the cause of the disturbance.

[0018] If the impact of at least one cover element on an obstacle is detected based on values ​​determined by at least one sensor, the rotation of the winding shaft can be stopped. If, based on detected fluctuations in the data from at least one sensor, excessive wind disturbance is inferred, the winding shaft can be set in motion so that the at least one cover element is moved into an upper retraction position.

[0019] The solution according to the invention is simple in design and can be used in a variety of ways for detecting disturbances.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment, in the assembled state of the sun protection device, the transmission device, the at least one sensor and the connection are arranged one above the other, wherein the at least one sensor is located between the transmission device and the connection and makes at least one vertical component of the forces acting between the winding shaft and the mounting device detectable.

[0021] In a further advantageous embodiment, the sun protection device is a venetian blind with slats, an end rail, and at least two pivot bearings. The at least one cover element is formed by the slats and the end rail, and the at least two pivot bearings each comprise a winding section with a pull cord and a pivoting mechanism with a pair of pivoting cords.

[0022] The at least two pivot bearings form connections between the winding shaft and the mounting device. According to an advantageous embodiment, the pivot bearing surface that rotates with the winding shaft is formed in each of the at least two pivot bearings, and the pivot bearings comprise the transmission device, which rests against a pivot bearing surface that rotates with the winding shaft but is not rotatable about the shaft axis, the sensor, and the connection from the sensor to the mounting device.

[0023] An advantageous mounting device is designed as a U-profile and the at least two helical bearings with the winding shaft can be inserted from below into the mounted and downwardly open U-profile, so that at least one lower area of ​​each of the at least two helical bearings is held as a connection from the sensor to the mounting device on a downwardly pointing leg of the U-profile.

[0024] Between the area of ​​the helical bearing, which forms the transmission device from the rotary bearing surface to the sensor, and the area of ​​the helical bearing that is held by the mounting device, deformations are possible in the helical bearing, which lead to force loads on the sensor.

[0025] In a further advantageous embodiment, the rotary bearing surface rotating with the winding shaft is formed in each of the at least two pivot bearings, and each of the at least two pivot bearings comprises a first region of the transmission device resting against the rotary bearing surface, which is not rotatable about the shaft axis. A second region of the transmission device extends from the first region of the transmission device to the sensor, which is arranged on the mounting device via the connection from the at least one sensor to the mounting device.

[0026] Preferably, the mounting device is designed as a U-profile and the sensors associated with the pivot bearings are arranged above an upper surface of the downwardly open U-profile in the assembled state of the sun protection device.

[0027] In a further advantageous embodiment, the transmission device, which rests against a rotary bearing surface rotating with the winding shaft but is not rotatable about the shaft axis, extends radially away from the shaft axis towards the mounting device, and the at least one sensor is arranged on the mounting device via the connection from the at least one sensor to the mounting device. In this embodiment, the winding shaft is held on the mounting device by other bearings, preferably by helical bearings without sensors.

[0028] In particular, the transmission device and the at least one sensor are each arranged next to a rotary bearing. To enable the connection between the at least one sensor and the mounting device without additional assembly effort, the at least one sensor is pressed against a transition area between the upper surface and a downward-facing leg of the mounting device when the winding shaft is inserted into the U-shaped, downward-opening device. When the rotary bearings are held by the mounting device, the contact pressure achieved on the at least one sensor results in a connection between the sensor and the mounting device.

[0029] In a further advantageous embodiment, the sun protection device is designed as an awning. The at least one cover element is formed from flexible flat material, in particular textile material.

[0030] In preferred awnings, the winding shaft is tubular in the area of ​​the flexible flat material and is supported at at least one end by a shaft stub projecting from the tubular area at the shaft axis on the mounting device.

[0031] In the case of awnings, it is advantageous if, at least on one protruding shaft stub, a pivot bearing surface rotating with the winding shaft is formed, and the transmission device, which is not rotatable about the shaft axis, is held on the mounting device in such a way that at least a portion of it can be pressed against the at least one sensor. On a side of the at least one sensor facing away from the transmission device, the connection from the at least one sensor to the mounting device is fixedly arranged on the mounting device.

[0032] The at least one sensor is designed such that the measured values ​​obtained by the sensor can be assigned to forces acting on the sensor. The at least one sensor (18) is preferably a force sensor that, starting from a rest position, detects forces generated by pressure and tension in at least one direction. Various sensor types can be used to measure the forces occurring between the winding shaft and the mounting device.

[0033] Preferably, the at least one sensor is a capacitive sensor in which, due to a force-induced elastic deformation, the distance of at least areas of two capacitor surfaces leads to a change in capacitance.

[0034] Preferably, the at least one capacitive sensor has capacitor surfaces with electrically conductive silicone and elastic spacers between the capacitor surfaces, optionally using a temperature sensor to compensate for the values ​​detected by the capacitive sensor for force determination according to the current temperature.

[0035] If applicable, the at least one sensor is an inductive sensor which changes the inductance of a coil when subjected to elastic compression or stretching, for example by a relative change in the position of the coil or by a change in the magnetic permeability in the coil.

[0036] The at least one sensor can also be a resistive sensor, whose electrical resistance changes under elastic compression or stretching.

[0037] Another possible sensor type is an optical sensor, in which elastic compression or stretching leads to a measurable change in the path of light.

[0038] If applicable, at least one sensor is a piezoelectric sensor, in which the elastic deformation of a solid causes a change in electrical polarization and a corresponding electrical voltage, which is a measure of the applied force. Piezoelectric sensors are particularly suitable for measuring force or acceleration with minimal deformation and / or rapid changes. Due to the temperature dependencies of various piezoelectric sensors and the potential for charge loss during slow processes, selecting the appropriate sensor material and signal processing method is crucial.

[0039] The at least one sensor, or its evaluation unit, is connected to the control unit, which switches the motor drive on or off according to the forces detected by the at least one sensor. The control unit can be located locally at the respective sun protection device or centrally for several sun protection devices. In addition to disturbances caused by wind load or obstacles, the control unit can also detect defects in parts of the sun protection device based on the sensor values. For example, if a pull cord or, if applicable, a tilt cord breaks on a venetian blind, this can be indicated by a characteristic change in the values ​​of at least one sensor.

[0040] If at least two sensors are arranged at different points along the shaft axis, disturbances due to obstacles and material defects can be detected more effectively.

[0041] The invention will be described in more detail below using several figures as examples. Figure 1: a perspective view of a louvered blind; Figure 2: a perspective view of an awning; Figure 3: a perspective view of a section of the louvered blind according to Fig. 1 with a sensor in a rotary bearing, Figure 4 Fig. 3 , a view of the longitudinal extent of the winding shaft and of the reversing bearing inside the mounting device, Figure 5 to Fig. 3 , a view of the end face of the winding shaft and of the pivot bearing inside the mounting device, Figure 6 a perspective view of a section of a venetian blind with a sensor arranged above an upper surface of the mounting device, Figure 7 to Fig. 6 , a view of the longitudinal extent of the winding shaft, the pivot bearing inside the mounting device and the sensor above the upper surface of the mounting device, Figure 8 to Fig. 6 , a view of the end face of the winding shaft, the pivot bearing inside the mounting device and the sensor above the upper surface of the mounting device, Figure 9 a perspective view of a section of a venetian blind with a sensor arranged below the upper surface of the mounting device next to a pivot bearing, Figure 10 to Fig. 9 , a view of the longitudinal extent, Figure 11 Fig. 9 , a view of the front, Figure 12 a perspective view of a section of the mounting device of the awning according to Fig. 2 Figure 13 shows a section through the Fig. 12 , Figure 14 Fig. 12 , a view in the direction of the shaft axis of the mounting device, Figure 15 Fig. 3 , a side view of the shaft axis at the mounting device,

[0042] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a sun protection device 1 in the form of a venetian blind 2 with movable slats 4 and a bottom rail 5. In the illustrated venetian blind 2, a winding shaft 6, rotatable about a shaft axis, is rotatably mounted with three pivot bearings 7 in a mounting device 8 to be attached above a building opening. The winding shaft 6 is formed by a polygonal rod. The upper ends of lateral guides 9 for the slats 4 and the bottom rail 5 are connected to the two end faces of the mounting device 8.

[0043] The illustrated venetian blind 2 comprises a motorized drive 10 for rotating the winding shaft 6 and a control unit 11, which can be located locally at the respective venetian blind or centrally for several blinds. If necessary, the control unit 11 is located directly at the motorized drive. The control unit 11 enables the motorized drive to be switched on or off in the event of malfunctions caused by wind forces acting on the venetian blind 2 and / or by contact between the moving end rail 5 or, if applicable, between slats 4 and obstacles, according to the respective malfunctions.

[0044] To move the end rail 5 and the slats 4, tension bands 12 attached to the end rail 5 are unwound from or wound onto the winding areas of the pivot bearings 7 as the winding shaft 6 rotates. The tension bands 12 lead through openings in the slats 4 to the end rail 5. When the end rail 5 is raised, slats 4 are stacked on the end rail 5 and moved upwards from it.

[0045] The lowest possible position of each lamella 4 and the inclination of unstacked lamellae 4 are determined by adjusting straps 13, the adjusting straps 13 being arranged in pairs such that for each pair of adjusting straps and each lamella 4, one adjusting strap 13 is connected to the respective lamella edge on both sides of the central longitudinal axis of the lamella. The adjusting straps 13 are actuated by pivoting devices of the pivot bearings 7.

[0046] Figure 2Figure 1 shows a sun protection device 1 in the form of an awning 3. The awning 3 shown can cover a building opening with flexible flat material 14. The flexible flat material 14 can be unwound from and wound onto a winding shaft 6 that is rotatable about a shaft axis. In the area of ​​the flexible flat material 14, the winding shaft 6 is tubular. The winding shaft 6 is rotatably mounted on a support device 8 to be attached above a building opening. The rotational support of the winding shaft 6 is provided at one end of the winding shaft 6 by a motor drive 10 and at the other end by a stub shaft projecting from the tubular section at the shaft axis. Lateral guides 9 for an end beam 15 attached to the free end of the flexible flat material 14 extend downwards from the two end faces of the support device 8.

[0047] The motor drive 10 is arranged inside the tubular section of the winding shaft 6 and is connected to the mounting device 8 in a rotationally fixed manner on one side and to the interior of the tubular section of the winding shaft 6 at its rotatable end on the other. A control unit (not shown) is provided for controlling the drive, which switches the motor drive on or off according to the respective disturbances caused by wind forces acting on the flexible flat material 14 and / or by contact between moving sections of the flexible flat material 14 or the end beam and obstacles.

[0048] The Figures 3 to 5Figure 1 shows a pivot bearing 7 of a louvered blind 2 according to the invention. The pivot bearing 7 forms a connection between the winding shaft 6 and the mounting device 8. In the illustrated embodiment, a pivot bearing surface 16, which rotates with the winding shaft 6, is formed at the pivot bearing 7. A transmission device 17, which is not rotatable about the shaft axis of the winding shaft 6, rests against the pivot bearing surface 16 and extends radially to a sensor 18. The transmission device 17 is formed by an inner ring segment of the shaft bearing 7. In order for the inner ring segment to transmit forces in the radial direction from the winding shaft or from the pivot bearing surface 16 to the sensor 18 via the ring segment, a clearance 19 is formed radially outside the inner ring segment, at least in a partial area, in which the sensor 18 is arranged.Radially outside the sensor 18, a connection 20 is arranged from the sensor 18 to the mounting device 8. In the illustrated embodiment, the connection 20 is formed by an outer ring segment of the swivel bearing 7.

[0049] The illustrated mounting device 8 is designed as a U-profile, and the rotary bearing 7 with the winding shaft 6 is inserted from below into the downwardly open U-profile. A lower portion of the rotary bearing 7, in the form of the outer ring segment, forms the connection 20 from the sensor 18 to the mounting device 8. The outer ring segment rests on the lower ends of the downward-pointing legs of the U-profile.

[0050] Between the area of ​​the pivot bearing 7, which forms the transmission device 17 from the rotary bearing surface 16 to the sensor 18, and the area of ​​the pivot bearing 7 held by the mounting device 8, deformations are possible in the pivot bearing 7, which lead to force absorption by the sensor 18. The electrical power supply to the sensor 18 and the transmission of signals from the sensor 18 to the control system are carried out via a cable arrangement 18a.

[0051] The Figures 6 to 8Figure 1 shows a pivot bearing 7 of a further louvered blind 2 according to the invention. The pivot bearing surface 16, which rotates with the winding shaft 6, is in contact with a first region 17a of the transmission device 17, which rests against the pivot bearing surface 16 and is not rotatable about the shaft axis 6. This first region 17a is formed by a ring segment of the pivot bearing 7, which extends from the pivot bearing surface 16 to the lower end of a downward-pointing leg of the mounting device 8. A second region 17b of the transmission device 17 extends from the first region 17a of the transmission device 17 to the sensor 18, which is arranged on the mounting device 8 via the connection 20, in the form of an adhesive or bonded connection.

[0052] In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting device 8 is designed as a U-profile, and the sensor 18 is arranged on an upper surface of the downwardly open U-profile. The second area 17b of the transmission device 17, which rests on top of the sensor 18, transmits forces emanating from the pivot bearing surface 16 to the sensor 18 held by the mounting device 8.

[0053] The Figures 9 to 11Figure 17 shows a further arrangement of the sensor 18 in a venetian blind 2 according to the invention. The transmission device 17 rests against the rotary bearing surface 16, which rotates with the winding shaft 6, and is not rotatable about the shaft axis when the venetian blind 2 is mounted. The transmission device 17 extends radially away from the shaft axis towards the mounting device 8. The sensor 18 is connected to the mounting device 8 via the connection 20, optionally via a clamping, adhesive, or bonded connection. The winding shaft 6 is held on the mounting device 8 by pivot bearings 7 without sensors.

[0054] To enable the connection between the at least one sensor 18 and the mounting device 8 without additional assembly effort, the at least one sensor 18 is preferably pressed against a transition area from the upper surface to a downward-facing leg of the mounting device 8 by inserting the winding shaft 6 into the U-shaped, downward-opening mounting device. When the pivot bearings 7 are held by the mounting device 8, the contact pressure achieved on the at least one sensor 18 results in a connection between the sensor 18 and the mounting device.

[0055] The area of ​​the transmission device 17 pressing against the sensor 18 transmits radial forces emanating from the pivot bearing surface 16 to the sensor 18, which is held by the mounting device 8. The sensor 18 can detect forces towards the upper surface and / or the downward-pointing leg. The forces measured towards the upper surface represent changing weight forces, and the forces measured towards the downward-pointing leg represent forces caused by wind pressure when the louvered blind is closed.

[0056] The Figures 12 to 15Figure 1 shows an awning 3 according to the invention. At least at one end of the winding shaft 6, a projecting shaft stub with a pivot bearing surface 16 is rotatably mounted on the mounting device 8. The transmission device 17, which is held on the mounting device 8 and is not rotatable about the shaft axis, rests against the pivot bearing surface 16. At least a portion of the transmission device 17 can be pressed against the sensor 18. On a side of the at least one sensor 18 facing away from the transmission device 17, the connection 20 from the at least one sensor 18 to the mounting device 8 is fixedly arranged on the mounting device 8. The portion of the transmission device 17 pressing against the sensor 18 transmits radial forces emanating from the pivot bearing surface 16 to the sensor 18 held by the mounting device 8.

[0057] The electrical power supply to sensor 18 and the transmission of signals from sensor 18 to the control system are carried out via a cable arrangement 18a. The control system determines possible indications of malfunctions from the forces detected by sensor 18 or from changes in force over time.

Claims

1. A sun protection device (1) in the form of a venetian blind (2) or awning (3), having a holding device (8) to be fastened to a building, having at least one bearing which can be held by the holding device (8), having a winding shaft (6) mounted by the at least one bearing so as to be rotatable about a shaft axis, having at least one cover element (4, 5, 14, 15), having a motor drive (10), having a control system (11) and having at least one sensor (18) which makes it possible to detect faults occurring on the sun protection device (1) due to wind or obstacles, wherein the at least one cover element (4, 5, 14, 15) can be moved between an upper retracted position and lowered positions by rotary movements of the winding shaft (6) attained by the motor drive (10), characterized in that the at least one sensor (18) is arranged between a transmission device (17), which lies in contact with a rotary bearing surface (16) that rotates with the winding shaft (6), but which cannot rotate about the shaft axis, and a connection (20) from the at least one sensor (18) to the holding device (8) and makes it possible to detect forces acting between the winding shaft (6) and the holding device (8).

2. The sun protection device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in the assembled state of the sun protection device (1), at least partial regions of the transmission device (17), of the at least one sensor (18) and of the connection (20) are arranged above one another, wherein the partial region of the sensor (18) lies between the partial regions of the transmission device (17) and the connection (20) and makes it possible to detect at least a vertical component of the forces acting between the winding shaft (6) and the holding device (8).

3. The sun protection device (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sun protection device (1) is a venetian blind (2) having slats (4), an end rail (5) and at least two turning bearings (7), wherein the at least one cover element (4, 5) is formed by the slats (4), and the end rail (5) and the at least two turning bearings (7) each comprise a winding region with a draw tape (12) and a turning apparatus with a pair of turning tapes (13).

4. The sun protection device (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the rotary bearing surface (16) that rotates with the winding shaft (6) is configured for each of the at least two turning bearings (7), and the turning bearings (7) comprise the transmission device (17) lying in contact with the rotary bearing surface (16), but which cannot rotate about the shaft axis, the sensor (18) and the connection (20) from the sensor (18) to the holding device (8), wherein preferably the holding device (8) is configured as a Uprofile, and the at least two turning bearings (7) can be inserted with the winding shaft (6) from below into the mounted, downwardly open Uprofile, so that at least one lower region of the turning bearing (7) is held as a connection (20) from the sensor (18) to the holding device (8) on a downwardly protruding leg of the U-profile.

5. The sun protection device (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the rotary bearing surface (16) that rotates with the winding shaft (6) is configured for each of the at least two turning bearings (7), and each of the at least two turning bearings (7) comprises a first region of the transmission device (17) lying in contact with the rotary bearing surface (16), but which cannot rotate about the shaft axis, wherein a second region of the transmission device (17) extends from the first region of the transmission device (17) to the sensor (18) which is arranged on the holding device (8) via the connection (20) from the at least one sensor (18) to said holding device, wherein preferably the holding device (8) is configured as a Uprofile, and the sensors (18) associated with the turning bearings (7) are arranged above an upper surface of the downwardly open Uprofile when the sun protection device (1) is in the assembled state.

6. The sun protection device (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the transmission device (17) lying in contact with the rotary bearing surface (16) that rotates with the winding shaft (6), but which cannot rotate about the shaft axis, leads radially away from the shaft axis towards the holding device (8), and the at least one sensor (18) is arranged on the holding device (8) via the connection (20) from the at least one sensor (18) to said holding device.

7. The sun protection device (1) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the holding device (8) is configured as a Uprofile, and the at least one sensor (18), in the assembled state of the sun protection device (1), is arranged from below at a corner region between an upper surface and a downwardly protruding leg of the downwardly open Uprofile.

8. The sun protection device (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sun protection device (1) is an awning (3) in which the at least one cover element (14, 15) is formed from flexible sheet material, in particular textile material.

9. The sun protection device (1) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the winding shaft (6) has a tubular configuration in the region of the flexible sheet material and, at one end, at least, of the winding shaft (6), is mounted on the holding device (8) with the rotary bearing surface (16) that rotates with the winding shaft (6), via a stub shaft protruding from the tubular region at the shaft axis.

10. The sun protection device (1) according to Claim 9, characterized in that the transmission device (17) lying in contact with the rotary bearing surface (16) that rotates with the winding shaft (6), but which cannot rotate about the shaft axis, is held on the holding device (8) in such a way that the transmission device (17), or at least a partial region thereof, can be pressed against the at least one sensor (18) by the winding shaft (6), wherein, on a side of the at least one sensor (18) facing away from the transmission device (17), the connection from the at least one sensor (18) to the holding device (8) is arranged firmly on the holding device (8).

11. The sun protection device (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the at least one sensor (18) is configured such that the measured values established with the sensor can be associated with forces which act on the sensor, wherein the at least one sensor (18) is preferably a force sensor which, starting from a rest position, makes it possible to detect forces attained by pressure and tension in at least one direction.

12. The sun protection device (1) according to Claim 11, characterized in that the at least one sensor (18) is a capacitive sensor in which, due to a force-induced elastic deformation, the distance between at least regions of two capacitor surfaces leads to a change in capacitance.

13. The sun protection device (1) according to Claim 12, characterized in that the at least one capacitive sensor (18) has capacitor surfaces with electrically conductive silicone and elastic spacers between the capacitor surfaces, wherein preferably a temperature sensor is used in order to temperature-compensate the values detected by the capacitive sensor for the force determination according to the current temperature.

14. The sun protection device (1) according to Claim 11, characterized in that the at least one sensor (18) is an inductive sensor, or a resistive sensor, or a magnetoelastic sensor, or an optical sensor, or a piezoelectric sensor.