Method for adjusting a motorised roller system and motorised roller system using said method

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for adjusting a system having a motorised windable element, comprising: • - a windable element; • - a winding tube (5) onto which said windable element can be wound; • - an actuator for operating the windable element which is movable in a first direction of rotation for unwinding the windable element and in a second direction of rotation for winding the windable element; and • - an electronic control unit comprising a means for tracking the position of the windable element, said windable element being configured to reach a high position and a low position (P2). The method according to the invention is characterised in that it comprises a step of tracking a replacement position (P3) of the windable element, in which the windable element is completely unwound from the winding tube (5).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for adjusting an installation of a motorized roll-up element, as well as a motorized roll-up element installation suitable for implementing the method according to the invention.

[0002] Motorized roll-up element installations generally comprise a mobile screen comprising a roll-up element, such as an apron formed of articulated slats or a canvas, which can be rolled up via a motorized roll-up element operating actuator, enabling the roll-up element to be wound around a winding tube, in particular a winding tube in which the actuator is housed. It is most often located in the upper part of the installation.

[0003] By activating the motorized operating actuator, the roll-up element is moved between a high position, in which the roll-up element is wound onto the winding tube so as to leave an opening of the building uncovered, or substantially completely wound onto the winding tube, and a low position, in which the roll-up element is unwound so as to completely cover the opening. The unwinding of the screen is linked to the torque provided by the actuator as well as to the weight of a load bar forming part of the screen and fixed to the roll-up element. The weight of the load bar is adapted to naturally drive the roll-up element towards the low position when the screen is unwound.

[0004] The motorized maneuvering actuator comprises an electronic control unit capable of receiving orders from a user via a control interface such as a remote control, a wall interface or a control application.

[0005] When setting up the system at a user's premises, an installer learns the different positions that the roll-up element must reach. These positions are positions reached by the load bar in relation to the opening, they correspond to angular positions taken by the roll-up tube which can rotate several times.

[0006] Typically, the installer learns the top position and the bottom position, defining end-of-travel positions, dependent on the sizing of the opening to be masked and the positioning of the installation relative to the opening to be masked.

[0007] When the roll-up element is an assembly comprising a canvas and a load bar, the canvas is generally wound at least one dead turn or several dead turns around the winding tube, in particular so as not to reveal the bare, unsightly winding tube when the canvas is in its lower position. This is made possible by appropriate sizing of the canvas, in particular by a length of canvas increased compared to the length strictly necessary to cover the opening to be masked.

[0008] So, when the installer adjusts the location of the high position and the low position, this adjustment is adapted to the number of dead turns of the canvas on the winding tube, which varies from one installation to another.

[0009] Mounting the canvas on the roller tube is typically done by providing a hanging area between the canvas and the roller tube.

[0010] To achieve this, the canvas has at its upper end a bar extending globally over the entire width of the canvas, slid into a corresponding slide or groove provided in the winding tube. Alternatively, the canvas can be clipped into the groove. The canvas can alternatively be glued to the tube.

[0011] Other types of mounting the canvas in relation to the tube exist, for example using a technical strip which ensures the connection on one hand to the canvas, on the other hand to the tube, by any suitable means.

[0012] During the life of such an installation, it may be desirable to replace the canvas, either following damage or in order to modify the general aesthetics of the installation. In the case of a technical strip, it can be considered that this is associated with the canvas or the tube, depending on whether only the aesthetic canvas needs to be changed or the canvas and technical strip assembly.

[0013] In order to access the grip area between the canvas and the winding tube, the canvas must be unrolled in its entirety, including unrolling the dead turn(s).

[0014] In the first case, the canvas is replaced by dismantling the installation, particularly the roller tube. The canvas is then completely unrolled to access the attachment area between the canvas and the roller tube, which is replaced, and then the installation is reassembled.

[0015] In a second scenario, you can try to replace the canvas without removing the winding tube.

[0016] So the canvas must be unrolled beyond its lower position in order to unroll the dead turn(s).

[0017] However, since the low position is programmed as the end position, the actuator is not allowed to drive the fabric beyond this low position.

[0018] Therefore, when you want to replace the canvas of an installation, it is currently necessary to deprogram at least the low position in order to allow movements beyond this.

[0019] In either case, this canvas replacement operation is complex for a user to implement, and recourse to an installer is often necessary.

[0020] A method for adjusting a motorized sun protection installation is described in document EP 2 075 401 A1. Document EP 0 951 610 A2 describes another method for adjusting a motorized sun protection installation.

[0021] The present invention aims to overcome the above drawbacks, and to do this relates to a method for adjusting a motorized windable element installation, said installation comprising: a windable element, a winding tube, on which said windable element is capable of being wound, an actuator for operating the windable element, comprising an electric motor, movable in a first direction of rotation in which the windable element is moved at least in one unwinding direction, and in a second direction of rotation in which the windable element is moved at least in one winding direction, an electronic control unit comprising a means for locating the position of the windable element, said windable element being configured to reach a high position and a low position located beyond said high position in the direction of unwinding of the windable element, the windable element being wound at least partially around the winding tube in the low position, said method being remarkable in that it comprises a step in which the means for locating the position of the windable element locates a single position called the windable element replacement position, according to which the windable element is completely unwound relative to the winding tube.

[0022] The method according to the invention allows the positioning of the canvas in the canvas replacement position. Thanks to the present invention, it is possible to locate and therefore automatically position the roll-up element in a position suitable for a roll-up element replacement, while avoiding having to dismantle the installation or having to delete the programming of the low position in order to reach the roll-up element replacement position.

[0023] Very advantageously, the method comprises a step of recording the unique position, so that the windable element can be put into this unique position by sending an order to the electronic unit via a control interface to allow the windable element to be changed.

[0024] By avoiding the need to disassemble the installation or having to delete the programming of the low position to reach the roll-up element replacement position, the presence of an installer to replace the roll-up element is no longer a necessity.

[0025] This makes it easier to replace the rolling element of an installation.

[0026] According to optional characteristics of the adjustment method according to the invention: the electronic control unit comprises a means for determining a parameter representative of the position of the windable element and a means for monitoring a parameter representative of the torque of said electric motor, and the method comprises the following steps aimed at: driving the electric motor in rotation in its first direction of rotation; analyzing the variations of at least one of the parameters when the electric motor is driven in rotation in its first direction of rotation; determining, from said analysis, a minimum value of the analyzed parameter; locating the position of the windable element when said minimum value of the analyzed parameter is reached, said position corresponding to said windable element replacement position; the means for determining a parameter representative of the position of the windable element is part of the means for locating the position of the windable element;the step of determining the minimum value of the parameter is carried out by the electronic control unit when the latter detects, during the step of driving the electric motor in rotation in its first direction of rotation, a reduction in the parameter followed by an increase in the parameter; the parameter analyzed may be the parameter representative of the torque supplied by the motor; as a variant, the parameter analyzed may be the parameter representative of the position, in particular the position taken by a free end of the windable element;the method may comprise a step aimed at controlling the electric motor in rotation until reaching said minimum value of the analyzed parameter and a step aimed at stopping the rotation of the electric motor when said minimum value of the analyzed parameter is reached, the step aimed at controlling the rotation of the electric motor until reaching the minimum value of the analyzed parameter being carried out by driving the electric motor in rotation at least in its second direction of rotation; the method may comprise, after the step aimed at stopping the rotation of the electric motor when the windable element replacement position is reached, a step aimed at proposing to the user to modify the position of the windable element relative to said reached windable element replacement position; in one embodiment, the method comprises an additional step aimed at memorizing the identified windable element replacement position;the windable element replacement position may be located beyond the lower position in the unwinding direction of the windable element; in one embodiment, the windable element comprises a canvas equipped with a load bar and the means for determining the position of the windable element comprises an angular position encoder or a time counter, and the method comprises a step for determining, when the electric motor is rotated in its first direction of rotation, a first position in which the load bar of the windable element rests on an obstacle and a second position in which said load bar is lifted from said obstacle; the method may comprise the following steps for: counting the number of pulses generated by the angular position encoder or the time counter between the first position and the second position;locate the winding element replacement position by dividing the number of pulses counted by two.;

[0027] The present invention also relates to a motorized windable element installation, said installation comprising: a windable element, a winding tube, on which said windable element is capable of being wound, an actuator for operating the windable element, comprising an electric motor, movable in a first direction of rotation in which the windable element is moved at least in one unwinding direction, and in a second direction of rotation in which the windable element is moved at least in one winding direction, an electronic control unit, comprising a means for locating the position of the windable element, said windable element being configured to reach a high position and a low position located beyond said high position in the unwinding direction of the windable element, the windable element being wound at least partially around the winding tube in the low position, remarkable in that it comprises hardware and / or software means for implementing the adjustment method according to the invention.

[0028] According to optional characteristics of the installation according to the invention: the electronic control unit comprises a means for determining a parameter representative of the position of the windable element and a means for monitoring a parameter representative of the torque of said electric motor; the motorized windable element installation comprises an angular position encoder and / or a time counter.

[0029] The installation may be such that the control unit is configured to place the roll-up element in the roll-up element replacement position following receipt of a command from a user via a control interface.

[0030] Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which: There figure 1 is a front view of a motorized roll-up element installation according to the invention. The figure 2A illustrates the installation in the open position. The figure 2B illustrates the installation in the closed position. There figure 3 shows the different positions reached by the installation when implementing the adjustment method of the invention. The figure 4 schematically represents the steps of execution of the adjustment method of the invention.

[0031] Throughout the figures, identical or similar references represent identical or similar organs or sets of organs.

[0032] We refer to the figure 1 illustrating an installation 1 of a motorized roll-up element in the closed position, or low position.

[0033] Installation 1 comprises a closing, concealment or sun protection screen comprising a roll-up element such as a blind fabric 3.

[0034] The fabric 3 is connected, at one of its ends, called the upper end 3a, to a winding tube 5. The fabric 3 is wound onto the winding tube 5 and onto itself and unwinds relative to the winding tube 5, the unwound part then being freely suspended vertically or guided substantially vertically by guides (not shown).

[0035] The connection between the upper end 3a of the fabric 3 and the winding tube 5 is obtained for example by providing a hooking zone comprising a bar extending generally over the entire width of the fabric 3, slid into a corresponding slide or groove provided in the winding tube 5. Alternatively, the fabric 3 can be clipped into the groove. Alternatively, the fabric 3 can be fixed to the winding tube 5 by any other means, in particular by gluing the fabric 3 to the winding tube 5 or indirectly, by means of a technical strip.

[0036] At the other free end of the canvas 3, called the lower end 3b, is mounted a load bar 7, in particular a weighted bar.

[0037] Canvas 3 is intended to hide an opening 8 (visible in dotted lines at figure 2A ) when it is in the low position. In such a low position, the closing, concealing or sun protection screen, in particular the canvas 3, completely covers the corresponding opening 8 to be masked.

[0038] The movements of the canvas 3 are controlled by the rotational movements of the winding tube 5, the drive of which is ensured for example using an electromechanical operating actuator comprising for example a tubular motor reducer assembly (not shown) arranged inside the winding tube 5.

[0039] The geared motor assembly includes a motor and a reducer, in particular an epicyclic reducer. The motor may be of the direct current and brush and collector type, direct current and electronic commutation (Brushless Direct Current motor in English) or asynchronous. The actuator may also include a brake.

[0040] The actuator also comprises an electronic control unit 9 capable of receiving orders from a user via a control interface 11 such as a remote control, a wall interface or a control application installed on a mobile terminal. The control interface 11 can be connected to the electronic control unit 9 by wired or wireless communication means such as radio waves or infrared rays. The motor of the maneuvering actuator is controlled by the electronic control unit 9 in particular as a function of the orders received.

[0041] The canvas 3 can be moved in a first direction of movement called unwinding, towards the bottom of the installation, as illustrated by the arrow D in the figure 1 , and in a second direction of movement, opposite to the first direction of movement, called winding, upwards, as illustrated by arrow E at figure 1 The first direction of movement and the second direction of movement are understood in particular to be the main travel of the moving element between the high and low positions.

[0042] The unwinding of the canvas 3 is obtained by driving the electric motor of the maneuvering actuator in rotation in a first direction of rotation, while the winding of the canvas 3 is obtained by driving the electric motor of the maneuvering actuator in rotation in a second direction of rotation.

[0043] The electronic control unit 9 comprises hardware and / or software means 13 for implementing the adjustment method of the invention. In particular, the electronic control unit 9 comprises a means for locating the position of the windable element.

[0044] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control unit 9 may also comprise a means for determining a parameter representative of the position of the windable element and a means for monitoring a parameter representative of the torque of the electric motor. The torque of the electric motor is the torque supplied by the motor to wind or unwind the windable element, in particular to overcome the resistive torques linked to the reducer, the brake and / or the windable element.

[0045] According to one embodiment of the invention, the means for determining a parameter representative of the position of the windable element is part of the means for locating the position of the windable element.

[0046] Such a means for determining a parameter representative of the position of the windable element may in particular comprise, for example, a position encoder comprising, for example, a set of a magnetic sensor, such as a Hall effect sensor, and a magnetic wheel rotating with the motor. The position encoder makes it possible to identify the passages of the different poles of the magnetic wheel in front of the magnetic sensor and to deduce therefrom a corresponding rotation of the winding tube.

[0047] Alternatively, the means for determining a parameter representative of the position of the windable element may comprise an optical sensor positioned in the installation so as to detect that the fabric 3 is no longer wound at least in part on the winding tube 5. Thus, when the optical sensor points to the bare winding tube, this means that the fabric 3 is completely unwound.

[0048] Alternatively, the means for determining a parameter representative of the position of the windable element may comprise an accelerometer positioned on the load bar 7 at the bottom of the canvas 3, depending on the direction of movement downwards or upwards of the canvas 3.

[0049] When the electric motor is of the direct current type with brushes and collector or direct current with electronic commutation, and when the parameter analyzed is the parameter representative of the torque supplied by the motor, the parameter representative of the torque that is monitored is the current. When the electric motor is an asynchronous motor, the parameter representative of the torque that is monitored is the voltage variation.

[0050] The electronic control unit 9 further comprises a processing unit 15 capable in particular of analyzing the variations in the monitored parameter.

[0051] We refer to the figures 2A And 2B illustrating installation 1 respectively in the open position, or high position, and in the closed position, or low position.

[0052] The load bar 7 is movable between a position P1 corresponding to an open position, or high position, in which the canvas 3 is completely wound onto the winding tube 5, uncovering the opening 8, and a position P2 corresponding to a closed position or low position, in which the canvas 3 is unwound, completely covering the opening 8.

[0053] In the low position P2, the canvas 3 is wound at least partly around the winding tube 5. Also, in the low position P2, the load bar 7 is suspended from the canvas 3 or, when the opening 8 to be masked has a horizontal edge at its lower edge, such as for example a shelf or even the floor in the case of a bay window, the load bar 7 rests against the edge.

[0054] The learning of positions P1 and P2 is, in a known manner, carried out for example during the installation of installation 1 at a user's premises, by an installer.

[0055] The installer learns the high position P1 and the low position P2, dependent on the sizing of the opening 8 to be masked and the positioning of the installation relative to the opening 8 to be masked.

[0056] Traditionally, in the low position, the canvas 3 is preferably still wound with one dead turn or several dead turns around the winding tube 5. Thus, the deployed and visible canvas 3 is not the part of the canvas directly in contact with the winding tube 5, which could be more marked by the surface imperfections of the winding tube 5 or by the junction line between the canvas 3 and the winding tube 5. Also, the fact of providing one or more dead turns in the calculation of the dimension of the canvas before its installation makes it possible not to show the bare, unsightly winding tube 5 when the canvas 3 is in its low position P1.

[0057] As illustrated in the figure 3 , the method of adjusting the installation 1 makes it possible to control the movement of the load bar 7 of the canvas 3 into a single position P3, the so-called canvas replacement position, which must be reached when the user wishes to replace the canvas 3 (and the load bar 7) with another canvas (and another load bar).

[0058] The canvas replacement position P3 is located beyond the position P2 in the direction of unwinding of the canvas 3, i.e. it is located lower than the position P2.

[0059] In fact, the canvas replacement position P3 corresponds to a position in which the canvas 3 is completely unwound, without dead turns, unlike the low position P2 where the aim is to maintain the presence of the dead turn(s) on the winding tube 5.

[0060] The gap between positions P2 and P3 is therefore equal to the length of canvas 3 wound on the winding tube 5 used to make the dead turn(s).

[0061] When the load bar 7 of the canvas 3 reaches the canvas replacement position P3, the hooking zone between the canvas 3 and the winding tube 5 is accessible. This makes it possible to unhook the canvas 3 from the winding tube, for example this makes it possible to release the bar of the canvas 3 from the corresponding slide or groove provided in the winding tube 5.

[0062] The method according to the invention comprises a step in which the means for locating the position of the windable element locates the single position P3 for replacing the canvas 3, according to which the canvas 3 is completely unwound relative to the winding tube 5.

[0063] The adjustment method according to the invention can be implemented for example by an operator in the factory, when setting up the installation 1. To do this, an operator manually detects, for example visually, the position P3 for replacing the canvas 3, according to which the canvas 3 is completely unwound relative to the winding tube 5 by varying the position of the screen up to this position P3. The locating means identifies the successive positions taken by the screen and the position P3 indicated by the installer. The electronic control unit is equipped with a storage means, allowing the storage of the position P3 for replacing the identified canvas 3, so that this position can be recalled later by a user when the canvas must be changed.

[0064] The method according to the invention can be initiated via the control interface 11. When it corresponds to a remote control or a wall interface, the control interface 11 comprises for example two keys which allow a user to respectively control a movement of the canvas 3 in its winding direction or in its unwinding direction. A combination of keys or a specific key also makes it possible to move the motorized screen to its canvas replacement position P3 and to locate it. The location can also take place in the absence of movement for a predefined period during a step of searching for the canvas replacement position. When the control interface 11 is a mobile terminal, a previously installed control application controls the triggering of the adjustment method of the invention.The control interface 11 sends a corresponding order to the maneuvering actuator, which will move the canvas 3 so as to locate the canvas replacement position P3.

[0065] According to the invention, the parameter analyzed may be, according to a first variant, the parameter representative of the position, in particular the position taken by a free end of the canvas 3 or, according to a second variant, the parameter representative of the torque supplied by the motor.

[0066] We now refer to the figure 4 to describe a procedure for executing the adjustment method according to the invention when the parameter analyzed is the parameter representative of the torque supplied by the motor.

[0067] According to a first step E1 of the adjustment method of the invention, the electric motor of the actuator for operating the canvas 3 is driven in rotation in its first direction of rotation, in which the canvas 3 is moved in a conventional operating situation in the unwinding direction D, towards the bottom of the installation (phase A shown in figure 4 ).

[0068] According to a second step E2, the torque variations of the electric motor are analyzed, in particular by monitoring the current variations when the electric motor is of the direct current and brush and collector type or direct current and electronic commutation type, or by monitoring the voltage variations when the electric motor is an asynchronous motor.

[0069] The torque variations observed during this downward movement correspond to the weight variations of the canvas 3 and the load bar 7 suspended from the winding tube 5. When the canvas 3 is unwinding, the weight of the canvas 3 and the load bar 7 drives the electric motor. Consequently, the torque decreases during this unwinding phase.

[0070] The unwinding of the fabric 3 is continued by continuing to rotate the motor in its first direction of rotation. The load bar 7 of the fabric 3 exceeds the low position P2 until the fabric 3 is completely unwound, i.e. the dead turn(s) are completely unwound.

[0071] The unwinding of the canvas 3 relative to the winding tube 5 modifies on the last dead turn the position of the junction between the canvas 3 and the winding tube 5, relative to the axis 17 of the winding tube 5. In the position illustrated in phase B of the figure 4 , the canvas 3 is completely unrolled and aligned with the axis 17 of the winding tube 5.

[0072] This position corresponds to the P3 position for canvas replacement to be reached. When canvas 3 is completely unrolled, the torque that the electric motor must provide is minimal.

[0073] At this stage, the motor continues to rotate in its first direction of rotation, allowing the canvas 3 to unwind until now.

[0074] Given that the canvas 3 is completely unwound, the continued rotation of the actuator motor in its first direction of rotation forces the canvas 3 to rewind onto the winding tube 5, in the opposite direction.

[0075] At this point, when the canvas 3 begins to rewind onto the winding tube 5, the weight of the canvas 3 and the load bar 7 to be driven is transmitted to the winding tube 5. The electric motor is then no longer driven by the canvas 3. On the contrary, it must provide an effort to rewind the canvas 3 onto the winding tube 5. Thus, the torque that the electric motor must provide increases again (phase C of the figure 4 ).

[0076] According to a step E3, the electronic control unit 9 determines, from the torque analysis which has just been carried out, the minimum value of the torque, representative of the position P3 of canvas replacement.

[0077] This value is identifiable when the torque monitoring means of the electronic control unit 9 detects, during the step in which the electric motor is rotated in its first direction of rotation, a reduction in the torque of the motor followed by an increase in the torque. In particular, this value is identifiable when it is observed over a range of positions beyond the low position in the unwinding direction.

[0078] According to a step E10, the position of the windable element when the minimum torque value is reached is identified, said value being representative of a windable element replacement position.

[0079] According to a step E4, the electric motor is rotated until it reaches the minimum torque value identified during step E10.

[0080] Indeed, the identification of the position P3 for replacing the canvas can occur when the canvas is moved, the position being able to be exceeded. To do this, the electric motor is, initially, driven in rotation in its second direction of rotation, according to which the canvas 3 is moved in a conventional operating situation in the winding direction E. The canvas 3 being wound, in part, on the winding tube 5 in the opposite direction after having passed the position P3, the canvas 3 begins an unwinding phase.

[0081] The electronic control unit 9 monitors the torque supplied by the electric motor during the unwinding phase of step E4, corresponding to a rotation of the motor in its second direction of rotation. This monitoring can make it possible to refine the identification of the minimum torque position. Alternatively or in addition, the electronic control unit monitors the position of the windable element.

[0082] According to a step E5, when the canvas 3 reaches the canvas replacement position P3 following the progress phase of step E4, the electronic control unit 9 stops the rotation of the electric motor, in the canvas replacement position P3.

[0083] The stop in position P3 for replacing the canvas can be achieved after one or more iterations of movement between the lower end-of-travel positions reached by a downward movement and the lower end-of-travel position reached by an upward movement.

[0084] Multiple iterations during step E4 allow the minimum torque position to be refined and thus present the most appropriate position to the user who wishes to change their canvas.

[0085] When the P3 canvas replacement position is reached and the electric motor is stopped, the user can then change the canvas easily without dismantling the installation.

[0086] Once the canvas 3 has been changed, validation at the control interface 11 allows returning to conventional operating mode, in which the high P1 and low P2 positions are retained. In this mode, the canvas 3 is wound around the winding tube 5 so as to be positioned and move between the high position P1 and the low position P2.

[0087] The adjustment method which has just been described applies in the case of an installation where the canvas 3 and the load bar 7 are suspended from the winding tube 5 whatever the positions P1, P2, P3 reached.

[0088] Also, the adjustment method which has just been described applies when the monitored parameter is representative of the position of the fabric 3 instead of the torque. To do this, the electronic control unit 9 determines the minimum value taken by the free end of the fabric 3, that is to say the lowest position reached in the direction of unwinding of the fabric 3. This step is carried out consecutively to step E2 at the end of which the method has analyzed the variations in the positions taken by the fabric 3, in particular the positions taken by the free end of the fabric 3. The lowest position reached by the fabric is obtained for example when an optical sensor has detected that the fabric 3 is no longer wound at least in part on the winding tube 5, that is to say when the optical sensor points to the bare winding tube, or thanks to an analysis of the direction of movement of an accelerometer mounted on or in the load bar.

[0089] In the case where the opening 8 to be masked has a horizontal edge at its lower edge, such as for example a shelf or the floor in the case of a bay window, the load bar 7 rests against this edge when the lower position P2 is reached or at least slightly exceeded in the unwinding direction.

[0090] Thus, when the load bar 7 comes into contact with the edge and the electric motor continues to rotate in its first direction of rotation, the load bar 7 is then no longer suspended relative to the winding tube 5: the torque that the electric motor must provide or the position of the free end of the canvas no longer changes significantly until the load bar is again offset from this edge.

[0091] The range of positions corresponding to the minimum torque or the lowest position is then greater than in the case where the canvas 3 and the load bar 7 are suspended from the winding tube 5.

[0092] In order to estimate the location of the canvas replacement position P3, the adjustment method according to the invention comprises a step aimed at identifying the instant from which the load bar 7 rests on the obstacle, and the instant from which the load bar 7 is lifted from the obstacle.

[0093] The electronic control unit 9 thus monitors the position of the windable element in order to estimate the positions in which the load bar 7 will rest on the obstacle, and in which the load bar 7 is again lifted from the obstacle.

[0094] To do this, the installation 1 of the invention is equipped with an angular position encoder and / or a time counter, used to locate these positions. The angular position encoder and / or the time counter may be part of the position locating means or be complementary to it.

[0095] The adjustment method of the invention comprises a step aimed at counting the number of pulses generated by the electric motor between a first position in which the load bar 7 is placed on the obstacle and a second position in which the load bar 7 is lifted from the obstacle.

[0096] The step to determine the P3 position of canvas replacement is then obtained by dividing by two the number of pulses counted.

[0097] Generally speaking, the P3 canvas replacement position corresponds to a position halfway between the first position and the second position.

[0098] According to a provision of the adjustment method according to the invention, the method comprises an additional step proposing to the user, after the rotation of the electric motor has been stopped, to slightly modify the position of the canvas relative to the canvas replacement position P3 reached automatically during the implementation of the method.

[0099] This step allows the user to adapt the positioning of the canvas according to certain usage constraints, which are in particular: taking into account a preference for a position of the attachment zone between the fabric 3 and the winding tube 5, which may be on the front or on the rear of the winding tube 5, taking into account the presence of a box in which the winding tube 5 is mounted and intended to protect the fabric 3 when it is wound on the winding tube 5; taking into account obstacles to the replacement of the fabric which may be located on either side of the axis 17 of the winding tube 5 of the fabric 3, this in particular in order to take into account in particular the presence of a box in which the winding tube 5 is mounted and intended to protect the fabric 3 when it is wound on the winding tube 5.

[0100] According to another arrangement of the adjustment method according to the invention, the possible range of movement can be limited in order to avoid damage to the canvas because the stops in the low position P2 and in the canvas replacement position P3 are temporarily no longer taken into account.

[0101] To do this, the electronic control unit 9 controlling the electric motor of the winding tube 5 is configured to stop the rotation of the electric motor when it has completed a predetermined number of revolutions. This number of revolutions may be less than one. This number of revolutions may be representative of a distance depending on the distance between the low position P2 and the canvas replacement position P3.

[0102] For example, this distance can be equal to twice the distance between the low position P2 and the determined canvas replacement position P3.

[0103] The adjustment method of the invention can be implemented at the time of installation of the installation 1, for example when the installer carries out the learning of the high P1 and low P2 positions.

[0104] Thus, the installer can proceed at that time to identify the position P3 for replacing the canvas using the method of the invention, without necessarily needing to stop in this position.

[0105] The marking step E10 can then include a step of storing in the installation the position P3 for replacing the canvas. The electronic control unit includes a memory adapted for this purpose.

[0106] This P3 canvas replacement position is then simply recalled at will by the user.

[0107] To do this, the user uses the control interface 11 to issue a movement order to the stored canvas replacement position P3. The control interface 11 may include a specific canvas replacement key for this purpose, or a combination of keys on the control interface 11 may be used to place the canvas 3 in the canvas replacement position P3 previously recorded during the implementation of the method of the invention.

[0108] Alternatively, the adjustment method can be implemented directly at the time when the canvas 3 is to be replaced. In this case, steps E4 and E5 are also implemented and it is not obligatory to store the identified canvas replacement position P3.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a system (1), having a motorized windable element, said system (1) comprising : - a windable element, - a winding tube (5), onto which said windable element can be wound, - an actuator for operating the windable element, comprising an electric motor, which is movable in a first direction of rotation in which the windable element is displaced in at least one unwinding direction, and in a second direction of rotation in which the windable element is displaced in at least one winding direction, - an electronic control unit (9) comprising means for tracking the position of the windable element, said windable element being configured to reach a high position (P1) and a low position (P2) located beyond said high position (P1) in the unwinding direction of the windable element, the windable element being wound at least partially around the winding tube in the lower position (P2), the said method being characterized in that it includes a step wherein the means for tracking the position of the windable element tracks a single position known as the windable element replacement position (P3), according to which the windable element is completely unwound relative to the winding tube (5).

2. The method for adjusting according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit (9) comprises means for determining a parameter representative of the position of the windable element and means for monitoring a parameter representative of the torque of said electric motor, said method being characterized in that it includes the following steps aiming to: - drive the electric motor in rotation in its first direction of rotation; - analyze the variations in at least one of the parameters when the electric motor is rotated in its first direction of rotation; - determine, from said analysis, a minimum value for the analyzed parameter; - track the position of the windable element when said minimum value of the analyzed parameter is reached, said position corresponding to said windable element replacement position (P3).

3. The method for adjusting according to claim 2, characterized in that the means for determining a parameter representative of the position of the windable element forms part of the means for tracking the position of the windable element.

4. The method for adjusting according to claim 3, characterized in that the step aiming to determine the minimum value of the parameter is carried out by the electronic control unit (9) when the latter detects, during the step aiming to drive the electric motor in rotation in its first direction of rotation, a reduction in the parameter followed by an increase in the parameter.

5. The method for adjusting according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the parameter analyzed is the parameter representative of the torque supplied by the motor.

6. The method for adjusting according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the parameter analyzed is the parameter representative of the position, in particular the position assumed by a free end of the windable element.

7. The method for adjusting according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a step aiming to control the electric motor in rotation until said minimum value of the analyzed parameter is reached and a step aiming to stop the rotation of the electric motor when said minimum value of the analyzed parameter is reached, the step aiming to control the rotation of the electric motor until the minimum value of the analyzed parameter is reached being carried out by driving the electric motor in rotation at least in its second direction of rotation.

8. The method for adjusting according to claim 7, characterized in that it includes, subsequent to the step aiming to stop the rotation of the electric motor when the windable element replacement position (P3) is reached, a step aiming to propose to the user to modify the position of the windable element relative to said windable element replacement position (P3) reached.

9. The method for adjusting according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a further step for memorizing the tracked windable element replacement position (P3).

10. The method for adjusting according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the windable element replacement position (P3) is located beyond the low position (P2) in the unwinding direction of the windable element.

11. The method for adjusting according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the windable element includes a fabric (3) equipped with a load bar (7) and wherein the means for determining the position of the windable element includes an angular position encoder or a time counter, the method including a step aiming to determine, when the electric motor is driven in rotation in its first direction of rotation, a first position in which the load bar (7) of the windable element rests on an obstacle and a second position in which said load bar (7) is lifted from said obstacle.

12. The method for adjusting according to claim 11, characterized in that it includes the following steps aiming to: - count the number of pulses generated by the angular position encoder or time counter between the first position and the second position; - track the windable element replacement position (P3) by dividing by two the number of pulses counted.

13. A system (1) having a motorized windable element, said system (1) comprising: - a windable element, - a winding tube (5), onto which said windable element can be wound, - an actuator for operating the windable element, comprising an electric motor, movable in a first direction of rotation according to which the windable element is displaced in at least one unwinding direction, and in a second direction of rotation according to which the windable element is displaced in at least one winding direction, - an electronic control unit (9), comprising means for tracking the position of the windable element, said windable element being configured to reach a high position (P1) and a low position (P2) located beyond said high position (P1) in the unwinding direction of the windable element, the windable element being wound at least partially around the winding tube in the lower position (P2), characterized in that it comprises hardware and / or software means (13) for implementing the method for adjusting according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The system (1) having a motorized windable element according to claim 13, characterized in that the electronic control unit (9) comprises means for determining a parameter representative of the position of the windable element and means for monitoring a parameter representative of the torque of said electric motor.

15. The system (1) having a motorized windable element according to one of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that it comprises an angular position encoder and / or a time counter.

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