Drive for lamellar blinds, comprising a travelling winding shaft

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive for lamellar blinds, comprising a travelling winding shaft (30) and a winding shaft bearing housing (10), wherein the travelling winding shaft is displaceably mounted in the winding shaft bearing housing and wherein the winding shaft bearing housing has a passage cross-section for the winding shaft bearing and a protrusion (12) for guiding a lift cord (19), wherein the protrusion has a central slot which has a sliding surface and through which the lift cord (19) can be guided with minimal friction to the outer diameter (AD) of the travelling winding shaft, wherein a cord of the lamellar blind can be arranged on the travelling winding shaft between the lift cord winding (26) and the passage cross-section of the winding shaft bearing housing (10) and wherein the width (B) of the protrusion (12) is narrower than the outer diameter (AD) of the travelling winding shaft, and wherein a cord of the lamellar blind intended to rest on or wrap around the travelling winding shaft can slide past the protrusion without touching it.

Description

[0001] Blind drive with traveling wave

[0002] The invention relates to a blind drive in a head rail for motor or manual operation with turning and winding mechanism for a blind with a rotatable, tubular, horizontally displaceable traveling shaft for winding and unwinding a lifting cord for lowering and winding as well as turning a blind curtain, which consists of slats that are mounted in ladder cords or loop cords.

[0003] It is known to use a traveling shaft in blind drives to wind up the lifting cords of blinds onto them and to raise and lower a blind curtain by winding and unwinding it, as well as to cause a slat rotation in the lowered curtain by wrapping the traveling shaft with a ladder cord loop.

[0004] This well-known traveling wave technology disadvantageously uses a large number of small individual parts made of plastic for supporting and positioning the traveling wave in a blind head rail, for guiding the elevator cords so that they can be wound uniformly onto the traveling wave without overturning, as well as guide elements for fixing the position of the ladder cord loops on the traveling wave and also fixing pins for anchoring the individual parts in cutouts in the head rail.

[0005] To guide the elevator cords and to securely position the ladder cord loops to keep them in place during horizontal displacement of the traveling wave, the current technology requires special clips with cutouts. The goal is to eliminate these plastic parts.

[0006] Another disadvantage is the injection-molded production of these many individual parts. Plastics are temperature-sensitive and, over the years, emit gases due to the high temperatures in the insulating glass into which the blinds are installed. This leads to aging of the plastics and possibly even fogging of the glass panes.

[0007] The aim is to develop a blind drive with a multifunctional bearing block, which - also in combination with punchings in the head or top rail - has various functions such as

[0008] - Storage of the traveling wave

[0009] Guide of the elevator cords to the traveling shaft Guide of the ladder cord

[0010] The component is secured in a blind head rail, so that the time-consuming jigsaw puzzle of individual parts can be replaced by a single component that can only be installed flawlessly or snapped into a head rail. The goal is also to manufacture the component, for example, from aluminum, which ages only minimally over the lifetime of a blind.

[0011] The problem is solved according to the characterizing part of the main claim.

[0012] The innovation is based on the idea of ​​creating a single component for various functions such as the traveling wave bearing, the guiding of a lifting cord to the circumference of the traveling wave, the positioning of the ladder cord loops on the traveling wave, and the secure fit of the component in a head rail, thus ensuring the assembly and functional reliability of the lifting and rotating mechanism of a Venetian blind. The integration of many functions into a single component accelerates the assembly process, improves production reliability, and ensures flawless installation.

[0013] The result is a complexly shaped component for a traveling wave bearing, which can be manufactured using injection molding, but is also particularly well-suited for use with an extruded aluminum profile. The critical function of the elevator cord guide, which ensures that the winding on the traveling wave does not roll over, is achieved by a projection extending from the tubular traveling wave bearing to the elevator cord guide. The projection can be part of the overall profile or consist of insert pins that serve to guide the elevator cord.

[0014] The aluminum extruded profile 10 for the traveling wave bearing has a tubular hollow cross-section for accommodating a traveling wave 30 including a tubular traveling wave plain bearing 29 into which the traveling wave 30 is inserted to prevent aluminum from rubbing against aluminum. The aluminum extruded profile 10 also has two wing elements 17, 18 that are clamped between jaws 20, 21 of the head rails 9 to provide a secure fit for the traveling wave bearing. At the base of the profile, a base plate 12 contains elongated recesses 15, 16 with a central slot that engage a punched hole 22 in the head rail 9 to precisely position the traveling wave bearing housing 10 in the head rail 9. The central slot in the base plate 12 serves to guide the elevator cords 19.The overhang features at least one convex, rounded guide contour to guide a lift cord 19 from the profile center to the traveling shaft circumference AD ​​with low friction. The overhang is designed as a twin only to allow the lift cord to be wound onto the traveling shaft either clockwise or counterclockwise. A twin half would be sufficient.

[0015] The base plate 12 is designed with a width B so narrow that a conductor cord 20, which is inserted into the head rail from below and wraps around the traveling wave, does not touch the aluminum extruded profile 10. This results in a width B smaller than the outer diameter AD of the traveling wave 30 (Fig. 4). In the case of overhanging insert pins, these are arranged so that they are narrower than the outer diameter AD of the traveling wave (Figs. 9, 10).

[0016] The punching 22 (Fig. 6, 7) in the base of the head rail 9 is designed in the area of ​​the ladder cord lead-through only so wide (b) and long that the ladder cord loop 32 is held stationary and cannot move along with the traveling wave 30 on which the ladder cord loop 32 is mounted.

[0017] Details and advantages are explained using figures.

[0018] Fig. 1 Perspective of an aluminum extruded profile with cut as a bearing housing

[0019] Fig. 2 the side view of the bearing housing

[0020] Fig. 3 the front view of the bearing housing

[0021] Fig. 4 a perspective of the bearing housing

[0022] Fig. 5 to 8 further perspectives of the bearing housing in a blind head rail

[0023] Fig. 9 to 11 Perspectives of the aluminum extruded profile with insert pins

[0024] Fig. 12 a top view of a head rail with built-in components.

[0025] Fig. 1 shows an aluminum extruded profile with a pre-cut bearing housing component 10 for the traveling shaft, with exposed, projecting guide elements for the elevator cords in the integrated base plate 12. The base plate 12 is slotted in the center, exposing the convex guide contour for the elevator cords to the circumference of the traveling shaft. Below the base plate are rail-shaped press-fits 15, 16 for seating the profile in a punched-out section of a head rail. The wing elements 17, 18 serve to lock the profile into the head rail.

[0026] Fig. 9 shows the extruded profile with channels 52, 53 for the introduction of steel pins 50, 51, which serve in the slot between the pins of the elevator cord guide.

[0027] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the aluminum extruded profile as a tubular bearing housing 10 for accommodating the traveling shaft 30. A base plate 12 is formed into the base of the bearing housing profile, projecting in front of the bearing housing part. This projecting base plate 12 is manufactured by cutting away the profile in area 20. As can be seen in Figs. 1 and 3, a central slot is provided in this base plate 12, through which a lifting cord 19 can be inserted. The base plate 12, as can be seen in Fig. 3, has a convex guide contour for the lifting cord 19, so that the lifting cord is guided to the traveling shaft circumference AD ​​with low friction, either wrapping around it or simply resting on the traveling shaft 30. Below the base plate 12, rail-shaped press-fits 15, 16 are formed into the profile, which are firmly seated in a punched-out section of a head rail.The bearing housing 11 has two tabs 17, 18 projecting upwards, which, as can be seen in Figs. 6 and 8, clamp between jaws 24, 25 of a head rail 9. For better understanding, the traveling wave bearing housing 10 with the traveling wave 30, the cord winding 26, and the conductor cord loop 32 is shown in perspective in Fig. 4.

[0028] Fig. 5 shows how the bearing housing 10 is inserted into the head rail 9.

[0029] Figs. 6 and 7 show the cross-shaped punching 22 in the base of the head rail 9, into which the rail-shaped press-fits 15, 16 of the extruded aluminum profile 10 are fitted. Ladder cords 20 and the elevator cords 19 are inserted into the head rail 9 through the cross-shaped punching, as can also be seen in Fig. 7.

[0030] Fig. 3 shows a hatched section through the base plate 12 into which the guide for the elevator cord 19 and the press-fit 15, 16 are incorporated. The slot in the base plate 12 acts as a guide rail. It accommodates the elevator cord 19 centrally, which slides frictionlessly over the convex contour of the guide rail to wrap around the traveling wave 30 with the outer diameter AD. The width B of the base plate 12 is preferably narrower than the outer diameter of the traveling wave AD, so that the conductor cord 20 can wrap around the traveling wave 30 or rest on it without touching the base plate 12. The traveling wave 30 itself is mounted in a tubular plain bearing 29.

[0031] The lifting cords 19 are subject to considerable friction when they change direction from the center of the curtain to wind up around the circumference of a traveling wave. This friction represents the weak point of all similar developments, as it leads to wear of the lifting cord. The innovative idea, therefore, is to allow the lifting cords to glide over a convex contour of the guide rail with as little friction as possible, without touching a sharp edge. To prevent the lifting cord 19 from being crushed on a cutting edge, the guide contour has a notch 31. The guide contour with the notch 31 is designed on at least one side.

[0032] The intelligence of the complex profile contour therefore lies in integrating the various functional elements of the traveling wave bearing, the guide of the elevator cords and the ladder cord into the contour of an extruded aluminum housing in such a way that only by a single work process, the separation of a section 20 from the profile 10, the various functional elements are exposed and all functions are incorporated into only a single component 10 and this can only be inserted into a punched-out section of a head rail 9 without errors.

[0033] Fig. 4 shows a perspective of the traveling wave bearing housing 10 with an inserted traveling wave 30, the wound elevator cords 19, 26 and the ladder cord loop 32 or the ladder cord 20. The guide rail 12 projects from the bearing housing 10 and guides the elevator cords 19 to the traveling wave circumference without touching the cutting edge 32.

[0034] Fig. 7 and 8 show perspective sections through a head rail 9 with the installed bearing housing 10 and the traveling shaft 30. The traveling shaft bearing housing 10 is clamped by the cheeks 17, 18 between jaws 24, 25 of the head rail 9 and gives the bearing housing a secure fit in the head rail. The punched section 22 is cross-shaped so that the ladder cords 20 and the elevator cords 19 can be threaded into the head rail. The bearing housing 10 with the press-fit 15, 16 with the central inlet slot for the elevator cord 19 is fixed in the head rail 9. The ladder cords 20 slide past the base plate and are held in position by the slot width b in the head rail 9 as the traveling shaft moves.

[0035] Fig. 9, 10, and 11 show a bearing block with a projection formed by insert pins 50 and 51. The bearing block is preferably manufactured as an extruded aluminum profile with channels 52 and 53. The insert pins 50 and 51 are made of steel and have a smooth surface and very low friction to protect the elevator cord. Fig. 11 shows the routing of the ladder cord loop(s) and the centrally fed elevator cord.

[0036] However, the innovative, multifunctional traveling wave bearing block also requires a new type of manufacturing of the blind curtain using the ladder cord loop technology. The bearing block is inserted simultaneously with the ladder cord loop by inserting the short-circuited end of the ladder cord into the head rail and initially placing it over the guide rail. Figures 2, 4, 5, 8, and 11 show a ladder cord loop 32 that wraps around the traveling wave 30. This loop must be formed before the traveling wave 30 is inserted into the loop 32.

[0037] However, this loop 32 is only necessary for light blinds. The innovation also applies to loops that simply rest on the traveling shaft without wrapping around it. The only thing that matters is that the friction is sufficient to turn the slats when the traveling shaft rotates. On the other hand, free movement must be ensured when the blinds are raised or lowered.

[0038] An advantageous manufacturing method involves connecting a special loop 32 at its end to the ladder cord ends 20. The connections between the loop ends and the ladder cord ends are preferably made by clamps and / or ultrasonic welding. Using locking clamps on the ladder cords—not shown in the illustrations—the slat rotation can then be limited to a desired angle by locking the clamp to the underside of the head rail 9 or by abutting it so that it cannot be retracted into the head rail 9. This blocks the slat rotation and fixes the slats in the desired position.

[0039] The cross-section of the bearing block 10 is dimensioned to fit a head rail 9 measuring approximately 25 x 25 mm. However, the technology is also suitable for larger head rails, such as 50 x 50 mm. The outer diameter of the traveling shaft 30 is approximately 15 mm for the small head rails and 35 mm for the large head rails, allowing for curtains up to 10 m high.

[0040] The traveling wave mechanism also includes the stops 33, 34 as cut-off points in Fig. 8 for raising and lowering the blinds. State-of-the-art blind drives use integrated lower and / or upper cut-off points. This is achieved, for example, by means of an encoder that counts the motor revolutions and / or by motor-integrated switches. The aim of the present invention is to enable the use of simpler motors without encoders or integrated switches. For this purpose, stop points must be defined so that the blind stops at the desired point during raising or lowering.

[0041] According to the invention, the traveling wave rotation is switched off (Fig. 8) via stops 33, 34, which stop the horizontal traveling wave movement in one direction or the other. For this purpose, a stop ring 35 is pushed onto the traveling wave, which, after the downturn or upturn has been completed, hits the stop switches 33, 34 and switches off the power to a motor. The stop switches are set at a defined distance from one another within the blind head rail, depending on the length of the blind. For a traveling wave with a circumference of U = K xd, the blind is raised by approximately 47.1 mm per revolution with a diameter of 15 mm. With a lifting cord thickness of 1.5 mm, the traveling wave advances by approximately 1.5 mm per 47.1 mm, which is achieved via a screw thread advance. It is therefore easy to decide on the distance between two stops orStop points 33, 34, which are opposite each other, to determine the desired raising and lowering of the blind by means of a stop ring 35.

[0042] It is also possible to let the fixed ring 35 run against a freely adjustable stop without a switch, provided that a motor or a control system is installed which switches off the motor in the event of increased resistance.

[0043] Fig. 12 shows the components installed in a head rail. The traveling shaft is advanced by means of a rivet nut 45 in the traveling shaft end. A threaded rod 43 engages the rivet nut and is firmly anchored at end point 44 in the head rail 9. At the opposite end of the traveling shaft 30 on the motor 40, a positive-locking motor shaft extension 41 engages a groove in the traveling shaft, allowing the traveling shaft to slide along the motor shaft extension as the motor rotates. As the traveling shaft rotates, the winding cord is wound onto the traveling shaft (36) next to the traveling shaft bearing block 10.

[0044] Instead of a central motor 40 shown in Fig. 12, an end motor or chain drive can be installed to rotate the motor shaft.

Claims

Patent claims Claim 1 Device for supporting, advancing and guiding a traveling wave in a blind head rail (9) by means of motor or manual operation, wherein - the device is used to turn and wind up a slatted blind and - the traveling wave is mounted rotatably and horizontally displaceably in the device in the manner of a traveling wave bearing housing and wherein - the slats are held in cords such as ladder cords or loop cords and - the traveling wave bearing housing (10) has a tubular or circular channel cross-section for traveling wave bearing and - a projection (12) for guiding a lifting cord, through which a lifting cord (19) is guided from the center of the traveling wave bearing housing to the traveling wave outer diameter AD with low friction by means of a convexly curved sliding surface in the slot between the projection, and wherein - a cord, a ladder cord loop / or a loop cord loop (32) is arranged between the winding cord (26) and the tubular or circular traveling shaft bearing housing (10) on the traveling shaft, and wherein - the width B of the projection is narrower than the outer diameter AD of the traveling wave and that - a cord, a ladder cord loop / or a loop cord loop (32) for supporting or wrapping the traveling wave can slide past without touching the projection. Claim 2 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the traveling shaft bearing housing is made of injection-molded plastic. Claim 3 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the traveling shaft bearing housing (10) is made of an aluminum extruded profile and that the projection is made by separating a part (36) from the bearing housing (10), so that the projection with the convex guide contour for guiding the elevator cords protrudes in the longitudinal direction of the bearing housing part (10). Claim 4 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the projection on the traveling shaft bearing housing consists of at least one round guide pin (50, 51), the pins being introduced into channels (52, 53) in the traveling shaft bearing housing (10) and in that the round pins (50, 51) serve to guide the winding cord (19) from the profile center to the outer diameter AD of the traveling shaft (30). Claim 5 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a plastic sliding bearing (29) for receiving the traveling wave (30) is installed in the tubular cross-section of the traveling wave bearing housing (10). Claim 6 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the traveling wave bearing housing (10) is fitted into a cross-shaped or T-shaped punched section (22) in the head rail (9), the punched section being designed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the head rail in the slot width b so narrow that a ladder cord loop or loop cord loop (32) is held stationary on the traveling wave (30) when the traveling wave moves. Claim 7 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the advance of the traveling shaft (12) takes place by means of a screw thread (43) in a nut thread (45) which is located at one end of the traveling shaft, and that the rotation of the traveling shaft (12) takes place by means of a sliding bearing fit at the opposite end of the traveling shaft, wherein an extension of a motor drive shaft engages in the sliding bearing fit (42), so that the traveling shaft experiences a rotating movement and at the same time an advance when the motor rotates and as a result the winding cord (19) can be wound up spirally. Claim 8 Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the screw thread pitch is selected such that a feed in the thickness of the winding cord occurs during one complete revolution. Claim 9 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a locking ring (35) for determining the switch-off point for the raising and lowering of the blind is pushed onto the traveling wave (30), in which the locking ring runs against a stop (32, 33), the stop serving as a signal generator for the energization and switching off of a motor and the stop points for the raising and lowering of a blind are set by positioning the stops (32, 33) along the head rail.

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