Shutter management device

Abstract

Even shutters that are rarely opened to their full potential should have their maintenance schedules properly managed. [Solution] A shutter management device comprising: means for acquiring the upward movement distance of a shutter curtain from a stopped state until it rises and stops, and the downward movement distance of a shutter curtain from a stopped state until it descends and stops; a storage unit for storing the upward movement distance and the downward movement distance together with date and time and movement direction information; and an accumulating means for accumulating the upward movement distance and the downward movement distance stored in the storage unit to acquire a total movement distance that serves as an estimate for maintenance timing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a shutter management device.

[0002] In a general shutter, in order to check the usage status of the shutter, a counter is attached to the switch box or control panel of the shutter, and the counter is incremented once every time the shutter curtain rises. At the time of inspection, the status of the counter is checked and proposals for component replacement etc. are made to the client (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] However, depending on the purpose of installation and the installation location of the shutter, there are shutters in which the height dimension of the opening is large and the opportunity to open to the fully open state is small. In such shutters, it is difficult to appropriately grasp the usage status of the shutter only by the number display of the counter. Also, in a shutter that opens and closes a large opening using a plurality of opening and closing machines, depending on the shape of the shutter curtain etc., the operating status may differ for each opening and closing machine.

Patent Document 1

Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to appropriately manage the maintenance timing even for a shutter that has few opportunities to open to the fully open state.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The technical means adopted by the present invention are means for acquiring the upward movement distance until a shutter curtain in a stopped state rises and stops, and the downward movement distance until a shutter curtain in a stopped state descends and stops; a storage unit that stores the upward movement distance and the downward movement distance together with date and time and movement direction information; It seems there is a missing ID number in the original text for the "

Patent Document 1

[0006] In one aspect, the upward movement distance, the downward movement distance, and the total movement distance correspond to the position information of the shutter curtain obtained by an encoder, and the upward movement distance, the downward movement distance, and the total movement distance can be represented by the values of the encoder. The upward movement distance, the downward movement distance, and the total movement distance do not necessarily have to be the actual movement distances displayed in meters

[0007] In one aspect, the shutter curtain in the stopped state includes stopping at the upper limit position, stopping at the lower limit position, and stopping at an intermediate position In one aspect, the stop at the intermediate position includes a stop based on a stop signal and an abnormal stop In one aspect, the abnormal stop includes a stop due to obstacle detection In one aspect, the stop at the intermediate position includes a stop due to detection of an intermediate bottom switch (see the embodiments described later)

[0008] In one aspect, the open posture of the shutter curtain includes a first open posture at the upper limit position and a second open posture at the intermediate position The frequency of the second open posture is higher than the frequency of the first open posture In one aspect, it includes N driving devices. When the shutter curtain is at the lower limit position to the intermediate position, it is opened and closed by n (n < N) driving devices. When the shutter curtain is at the intermediate position to the upper limit position, it is opened and closed by N driving devices. For example, N = 3 and n = 2

[0009] In one aspect, the movement distance from the shutter curtain stopped at the lower limit position to stopping at the upper limit position after rising is 10 m or more In the embodiments described later, the distance between the lower limit position and the upper limit position is 30 m

[0010] In one embodiment, the system includes a display unit that indicates the maintenance timing based on the total distance traveled.

[0011] In one embodiment, multiple drive devices and Multiple wires are wound up and unwound by each drive unit, A shutter curtain connected to the aforementioned multiple wires, which moves up and down to open and close the opening by winding and unwinding the aforementioned multiple wires, A means for obtaining the upward and downward movement distances of the shutter curtain for each drive unit, based on the wire winding and unwinding amounts corresponding to each drive unit, Equipped with, The total travel distance is obtained for each drive unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] In this invention, instead of displaying the number of times a counter is used as in the conventional invention, the frequency of shutter use is determined using the actual total travel distance of the shutter curtain (including a numerical value that represents the total travel distance, such as the encoder value). This makes it possible to properly manage maintenance timing (replacement of consumable parts) even for shutters that are rarely opened to their full open state. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a front view of the sheet shutter according to the first embodiment (with the opening fully closed). [Figure 2] This is a front view of the sheet shutter according to the first embodiment (with the opening fully open). [Figure 3] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of Figure 1. [Figure 4] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of Figure 2. [Figure 5] This is a front view of the sheet shutter according to the second embodiment (with the opening fully closed). [Figure 6] This is a front view of the sheet shutter according to the second embodiment (with the opening fully open). [Figure 7]It is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 5. The left figure is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper part and the middle part, and the right figure is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper part and the lower part. [Figure 8] It is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 6. The left figure is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper part and the middle part, and the right figure is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper part and the lower part. [Figure 9] It is a schematic diagram of a sheet shutter according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] It is a block diagram showing the control of the sheet shutter according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] It is a flowchart of the opening operation of the sheet shutter according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] It is a flowchart of the closing operation of the sheet shutter according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] It is a schematic diagram of a sheet shutter according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14] It is a block diagram showing the control of the sheet shutter according to the second embodiment. [Figure 15] It is a flowchart of the opening operation (from the fully closed position to the intermediate position) of the sheet shutter according to the second embodiment. [Figure 16] It is a flowchart of the opening operation (from the intermediate position to the fully open position) of the sheet shutter according to the second embodiment. [Figure 17] It is a flowchart of the closing operation (from the fully open position to the intermediate position) of the sheet shutter according to the second embodiment. [Figure 18] It is a flowchart of the closing operation (from the intermediate position to the fully closed position) of the sheet shutter according to the second embodiment. [Figure 19] It is a diagram showing the interlocking operation part. [Figure 20] It is a diagram showing the single-action operation part and the operation mode changeover switch. [Figure 21] It shows a plurality of status lamps indicating the state of the shutter device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 22] It is a flowchart showing the control based on the abnormality determination in the position comparison part. [Figure 23]This figure illustrates how to obtain positional information of the shutter curtain according to this embodiment. [Figure 24] This is a block diagram of the shutter management device according to this embodiment. [Figure 25] This is a block diagram of the shutter management device according to this embodiment (the shutter device according to the second embodiment). [Figure 26] This is a block diagram of the shutter management device according to this embodiment (the shutter device according to the second embodiment). Detailed description of the invention

[0014] The sheet shutter according to this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this specification, the present invention will be described based on two embodiments: the first embodiment and the second embodiment. The main differences between the first and second embodiments are the shape of the opening and the shape of the shutter curtain. The sheet shutter according to this embodiment opens and closes a large opening and has a height dimension of 30m. In this specification, it should be noted that the suspension wire W may be used as a general term for wires (first wire W1, second wire W2, third wire W3), the sheet 4 as a general term for sheets (first sheet 4A, second sheet 4B, etc.), the pulley 5 as a general term for pulleys (first pulley 5A, second pulley 5B, etc.), the winding device 6 as a general term for winding devices (first winding device 6A, second winding device 6B, etc.), and the guide rail G as a general term for guide rails (upper guide rail G1, lower guide rail G2, etc.).

[0015] [I] Configuration of sheet shutter [A] First Embodiment The configuration of the sheet shutter according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. The sheet shutter according to the first embodiment includes a shutter curtain 1 for opening and closing an opening, guide rails G located on both sides in the width direction of the opening and guiding both ends of the shutter curtain 1 in the width direction in the height direction, and a lifting and lowering drive device for the shutter curtain 1.

[0016] The opening opened and closed by the sheet shutter 1 according to the first embodiment is rectangular. A pair of beams H are located above the opening and extend in the direction of the opening width, and the upper end of the opening is formed by an upper end member 14 that extends in the direction of the opening width so as to span the lower ends of the pair of beams H. The lower end of the opening is defined by the floor surface FL. The ends of the opening in the width direction are defined by the left and right structural members C and the left and right guide rails G fixed to the structural members C. The distance from the floor surface FL to the upper end member 14 is 30 m.

[0017] The shutter curtain 1 according to this embodiment is formed from a plurality of elongated members 2 extending in the opening width direction and a bottom member 3 at the lower end, and a first sheet 4A and a second sheet 4B that form the first and second visible surfaces of the shutter curtain 1. The first sheet 4A is fixed to the first side in the depth direction of each member 2 and the bottom member 3 and forms the first visible surface of the shutter curtain 1, and the second sheet 4B is fixed to the second side in the depth direction of each member 2 and the bottom member 3 and forms the second visible surface of the shutter curtain 1. When the opening is fully closed, the first sheet 4A and the second sheet 4B are spaced apart and facing each other in the depth direction. The upper ends of the first sheet 4A and the second sheet 4B are fixed to the lower surface of a pair of beams H via an upper end member 14 above the opening.

[0018] Guide rails G are fixed to the building structure C at both ends of the opening and extend over approximately the entire height of the opening. In this embodiment, guide rails G consist of a first guide rail 8 located approximately in the center of the depth of the shutter curtain 1 and extending in the visible direction, and a pair of second guide rails 9 located so as to sandwich the first guide rail 8 in a plan view and extending in the visible direction. The widthwise ends of each frame member 2 of the shutter curtain 1 are guided by the first guide rail 8, with the widthwise ends of the first sheet 4A located outside one of the second guide rails 9 and the widthwise ends of the second sheet 4B located outside the other second guide rail 9.

[0019] The sheet shutter according to this embodiment opens and closes an opening by electrically raising and lowering the shutter curtain 1 using a lifting drive device. The lifting drive device includes a wire W whose lower end is connected to a bottom member 3, a winding device 6 provided above the opening and to which the upper end of the wire is connected, and an electric motor M that drives the winding device 6. The lower ends of the first wire W1 and the second wire W2 are connected to both ends in the width direction of the bottom member 3 located at the lowest point of the shutter curtain 1, respectively. The first wire W1 is wound around a first pulley 5A above the opening and connected to a first winding device 6A provided above the opening. The second wire W2 is wound around a second pulley 5B above the opening and connected to a second winding device 6B provided above the opening. The winding device 6, pulley 5, and electric motor M are mounted on a mounting plate P supported by a beam H. The suspension wire W according to this embodiment is a wire set consisting of two suspension wires W that extend perpendicularly opposite to each other in the depth direction.

[0020] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, when the opening is closed, the first wire W1 and the second wire W2 are extended, causing the shutter curtain 1 to extend in an extended state where the frame members 2 and the bottom member 3 are separated in the height direction, and the sheets 4A and 4B face each other and extend vertically in the height direction. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, when the opening is opened, the first wire W1 and the second wire W2 are wound up, causing the shutter curtain 1 to extend in a folded state where the multiple frame members 2 and the bottom member 3 overlap in the height direction, and the first sheet 4A and the second sheet 4B are folded on the first and second sides in the projection direction, respectively.

[0021] [B] Second Embodiment The configuration of the sheet shutter according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 8. The sheet shutter according to the second embodiment, like the sheet shutter according to the first embodiment, includes a shutter curtain 1' for opening and closing the opening, guide rails G for guiding both ends of the shutter curtain 1' in the width direction in the height direction, and a lifting and lowering drive device for the shutter curtain 1'. Similar to the first embodiment, a pair of beams H are located above the opening and extend in the width direction of the opening, and the upper end of the opening is formed by an upper end member 14 that extends in the width direction of the opening so as to span the lower ends of the pair of beams H. The lower end of the opening is defined by the floor surface FL. The distance from the floor surface FL to the upper end member 14 is 30 m. The shape of the opening according to the second embodiment is different from the shape of the opening in the first embodiment, as will be clear from the following description.

[0022] As shown in Figure 5, the shutter curtain 1' according to the second embodiment consists of a wide upper portion 10, a narrow lower portion 11, and an intermediate portion 12 located below the upper portion 10 and at the same height as the upper portion of the lower portion 11. The visible width dimension of the intermediate portion 12 according to this embodiment is greater than the visible width dimension of the lower portion 11 and smaller than the visible width dimension of the upper portion 10. In the illustrated configuration, the narrow lower portion 11 is positioned towards the first side in the width direction relative to the center in the width direction of the wide upper portion 10.

[0023] The sheet 4 according to the second embodiment consists of an upper wide sheet 40 and a lower narrow sheet 41. The upper part 10 of the shutter curtain 1' consists of a plurality of long ribs extending in the opening width direction and a wide sheet 40 provided on the plurality of long ribs, and the height dimension is variable by taking an extended state in which the long ribs are spaced apart in the height direction and a folded state in which the long ribs are overlapped in the height direction. In the upper part 10, the plurality of long ribs consists of a plurality of ribs 2' and a bottom member 13 located at the lowest part of the upper part 10.

[0024] The lower section 11 consists of multiple short structural members extending in the opening width direction and narrow sheets 41 provided on the multiple short structural members, and its height is variable by taking an extended state in which the short structural members are spaced apart in the height direction and a folded state in which the short structural members are overlapped in the height direction. In the lower section 11, the multiple short structural members consist of multiple structural members 2'' and a bottom member 3'' located at the lowest part of the lower section 11 (i.e., the shutter curtain 1'').

[0025] The sheets according to this embodiment (wide sheet 40 and narrow sheet 41) consist of a first sheet 4A' that forms the first visible surface on the first side of the shutter curtain 1' and a second sheet 4B' that forms the second visible surface on the second side of the shutter curtain 1'. When the opening is fully closed, the two sheets 4A' and 4B' are spaced apart and facing each other in the depth direction. The frame members 2', 2'' and the bottom members 3', 13 and the upper end member 14 have a predetermined same depth width. The first sheet 4A' is fixed to the first side in the depth direction of the upper end member 14, frame member 2', bottom member 13, frame member 2'', and bottom member 3', and the second sheet 4B' is fixed to the second side in the depth direction of the upper end member 14, frame member 2', bottom member 13, frame member 2'', and bottom member 3'. In the second embodiment, the wide sheet 40 and the narrow sheet 41 are formed from common sheets 4A' and 4B'.

[0026] The opening opened and closed by the shutter curtain 1' according to the second embodiment consists of a wide upper opening, a narrow lower opening, and an intermediate opening located between the upper and lower openings, which is narrower than the upper opening and wider than the lower opening. The upper end of the opening (upper opening) is defined by the upper end member 14, and the lower end of the opening (lower opening) is defined by the floor surface FL.

[0027] In the second embodiment, both ends in the width direction of the upper portion 10 of the shutter curtain 1' are guided by left and right upper guide rails G1 provided at both ends in the width direction of the upper opening, and both ends in the width direction of the lower portion 11 are guided by left and right lower guide rails G2 provided at both ends in the width direction of the lower opening, and left and right intermediate guide rails G3 provided in the first intermediate portion 12A and the second intermediate portion 12B. In the second embodiment, the upper guide rails G1, lower guide rails G2, and intermediate guide rails G3 each consist of a first guide rail 8 located approximately in the center of the depth of the shutter curtain 1' and extending in the visible direction, and a pair of second guide rails 9 located so as to sandwich the first guide rail 8 in a plan view and extending in the visible direction.

[0028] The widthwise ends of the upper opening are defined by the upper guide rail G1, and the widthwise ends of the lower opening are defined by the lower guide rail G2. The widthwise ends of the intermediate opening are defined by the intermediate side wall C1. At the lower end of the upper opening, the portion located outside the widthwise ends of the intermediate opening is the upper floor surface FL1. At the lower end of the intermediate opening, the portion located outside the widthwise ends of the lower opening is the intermediate floor surface FL2. The intermediate floor surface FL2, to which the lower end of the intermediate portion 12 abuts, is provided with a guide member 16 that guides the intermediate portion 12 when the lower end of the intermediate portion 12 abuts.

[0029] When the opening is closed, the wide upper portion 10 of the shutter curtain 1' is located in the wide upper opening, the upper portion of the intermediate portion 12 and the narrow lower portion 11 is located in the intermediate opening, and the remaining portion of the lower portion 11 is located in the narrow lower opening. In this embodiment, the intermediate portion 12 consists of a first intermediate portion 12A and a second intermediate portion 12B, and the space between the first intermediate portion 12A and the second intermediate portion 12B corresponds to the visible width dimension of the lower portion 11. An intermediate guide rail G3 is provided on the portion facing the space between the first intermediate portion 12A and the second intermediate portion 12B, positioned directly above the lower guide rail G2.

[0030] At both ends in the width direction of the bottom member 3' located at the lowest part of the shutter curtain 1', the lower ends of a first wire set consisting of two first wires W1 and a second wire set consisting of two second wires W2 are connected, respectively. The first wires W1 extend vertically along the first side in the width direction of the lower part 11, and are further inserted through the upper part 10 in the height direction, wound around the first pulley 5A above the opening, and connected to the first winding device 6A provided above the opening. The second wires W2 extend vertically along the second side in the width direction of the lower part 11, and are further inserted through the upper part 10 in the height direction, wound around the second pulley 5B above the opening, and connected to the second winding device 6B provided above the opening.

[0031] A third wire set consisting of two third wires W3 is connected to the second side in the width direction of the bottom member 13 of the upper part 10 (opposite to the first side where the lower part 11 is located). The third wires W3 are wound around a third pulley 5C above the opening and connected to a third winding device 6C provided above the opening.

[0032] The sheet shutter according to the second embodiment opens and closes the opening by electrically raising and lowering the shutter curtain 1' using a lifting drive device. The lifting drive device includes a first wire set (two first wires W1) and a second wire set (two second wires W2) whose lower ends are connected to both ends of the bottom member 3' of the lower portion 11, a third wire set (two third wires W3) whose lower end is provided at one end in the width direction of the bottom member 13 of the upper portion 10, a first pulley (two first pulleys 5A) around which the two first wires W1 are wound above the opening, and the two second wires W2 are wound around The system includes a second pulley (two second pulleys 5B) around which two third wires W3 are wound (two third pulleys 5C), a first winding device 6A capable of winding and unwinding two first wires W1, a second winding device 6B capable of winding and unwinding two second wires W2, a third winding device 6C capable of winding and unwinding two third wires W3, and an electric motor M that drives each of the winding devices 6A, 6B, and 6C.

[0033] As shown in Figures 5 and 7, when the opening is closed, the first winding device 6A, the second winding device 6B, and the third winding device 6C extend the first wire W1, the second wire W2, and the third wire W3, so that the shutter curtain 1' is in an extended state in which the bottom member 3', frame members 2'', bottom member 13, and frame members 2' are separated in the height direction, and the sheets 4A' and 4B' are extended vertically in the height direction. When the opening is fully closed, the extended upper part 10 closes the upper opening, the extended lower part 11 closes the lower opening, and the first intermediate part 12A, the second intermediate part 12B, and the upper part of the extended lower part 11 close the intermediate opening. The widthwise ends of the upper section 10 are guided by the upper guide rail G1 provided on the structural frame C, and the widthwise ends of the lower section 11 are guided by the lower guide rail G2 provided on the structural frame C and by the intermediate guide rail G3 provided on the first intermediate section 12A and the second intermediate section 12B.

[0034] As shown in Figures 6 and 8, when the opening is opened, the first winding device 6A, the second winding device 6B, and the third winding device 6C wind up the first wire W1, the second wire W2, and the third wire W3, causing the shutter curtain 1' to rise with the bottom member 3', multiple frame members 2'', the bottom member 13, and multiple frame members 2' overlapping in the height direction, and the first sheet 4A' and the second sheet 4B' to fold outwards on the first and second sides in the projection direction, respectively, resulting in a fully open opening.

[0035] [II] Sheet shutter operation control [A] Sheet shutter according to the first embodiment The sheet shutter according to the first embodiment opens and closes the opening by a shutter curtain 1 having the same width dimension across the entire height of the opening. As shown in Figure 9, the sheet shutter according to the first embodiment is equipped with a first drive device 6A' and a second drive device 6B'. The first drive device 6A' raises and lowers the first wire W1, and the second drive device 6B' raises and lowers the second wire W2, thereby electrically raising and lowering the shutter curtain 1 to open and close the opening. The first drive device 6A' is equipped with a first winding device 6A driven by a first motor M1, and the second drive device 6B' is equipped with a second winding device 6B driven by a second motor M2. Figure 10 shows the control of the sheet shutter according to the first embodiment.

[0036] When opening the opening, the first motor M1 and the second motor M2 are driven, respectively, to simultaneously wind the first wire W1 and the second wire W2 onto the winding drums of the first winding device 6A and the second winding device 6B. As a result, the shutter curtain 1 rises with multiple structural members 2 and bottom members 3 overlapping in the height direction, and the sheets 4A and 4B fold outwards on the first and second sides in the projection direction, respectively, resulting in a fully open opening (see Figures 2 and 4).

[0037] When closing the opening, the first motor M1 and the second motor M2 are driven, respectively, to simultaneously unwind the first wire W1 and the second wire W2 from the winding drums of the first winding device 6A and the second winding device 6B. As a result, the shutter curtain 1 descends with the frame 2 and bottom member 3 separated in the height direction, the sheets 4A and 4B extend vertically in the height direction, and the lower end of the bottom member 3 touches the ground, resulting in a fully closed opening (see Figures 1 and 3).

[0038] The first drive unit 6A' is equipped with a first encoder ENC1. The first encoder ENC1 counts the number of rotations of a predetermined rotating part of the first drive unit 6A' as the number of pulses. The amount of the first wire W1 pulled out is determined by the number of pulses, and the position of the shutter curtain 1 (height position in the opening) at the location where the first wire W1 is attached is detected. The first encoder ENC1 can detect the upper and lower limits of the position of the shutter curtain 1 (height position in the opening) at the location where the first wire W1 is attached. In this embodiment, the number of pulses corresponding to the lower limit position of the shutter curtain 1 (fully closed position of the shutter curtain 1) is set to 0, and the position of the shutter curtain 1 corresponding to the first drive unit 6A' is detected by the number of pulses.

[0039] The second drive unit 6B' is equipped with a second encoder ENC2. The second encoder ENC2 counts the number of rotations of a predetermined rotating part of the second drive unit 6B' as the number of pulses. The amount of the second wire W2 pulled out is determined by the number of pulses, and the position of the shutter curtain 1 (height position in the opening) at the location where the second wire W2 is attached is detected. The second encoder ENC2 can detect the upper and lower limits of the position of the shutter curtain 1 (height position in the opening) at the location where the second wire W2 is attached. In this embodiment, the number of pulses corresponding to the lower limit position of the shutter curtain 1 (fully closed position of the shutter curtain 1) is set to 0, and the position of the shutter curtain 1 corresponding to the second drive unit 6B' is detected by the number of pulses.

[0040] In this embodiment, the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B' are equipped with inverters 1 and 2, respectively (see Figure 10), and the speeds obtained by the first motor M1 and the second motor M2 are controlled according to predetermined settings corresponding to the position of the shutter curtain 1 detected by the first encoder ENC1 and the second encoder ENC2, respectively, making it possible to change the lifting and lowering speed of the shutter curtain 1 according to the height position of the shutter curtain 1.

[0041] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the sheet shutter according to the first embodiment is provided with an upper limit switch LSU1 and a lower limit switch LSD1 corresponding to the shutter curtain 1 corresponding to the first wire W1 which is raised and lowered by the first drive device 6A', and an upper limit switch LSU2 and a lower limit switch LSD2 corresponding to the shutter curtain 1 corresponding to the second wire W2 which is raised and lowered by the second drive device 6B'. The upper limit switch LSU1, lower limit switch LSD1, upper limit switch LSU2, and lower limit switch LSD2 are mechanical detection means for mechanically detecting the position of the shutter curtain 1.

[0042] The sheet shutter according to the first embodiment is provided with a first emergency switch EMS1 that operates at a position above the upper limit switch LSU1 in correspondence with the shutter curtain 1 corresponding to the first wire W1 which is raised and lowered by the first drive unit 6A', and a second emergency switch EMS2 that operates at a position above the upper limit switch LSU2 in correspondence with the shutter curtain 1 corresponding to the second wire W2 which is raised and lowered by the second drive unit 6B'.

[0043] In the sheet shutter according to the first embodiment, a photoelectric sensor OS is provided at a predetermined height position below the left and right guide rails G, and is configured to detect an obstacle (including a person) located in the opening when a light beam extending in the opening width direction is blocked. When the photoelectric sensor OS detects an obstacle, the downward movement of the shutter curtain 1 is stopped.

[0044] Two first wires W1 are wound around their respective first pulleys 5A above the opening, extending toward the center of the opening and connected to a first winding device 6A, making them retractable by the first winding device 6A. A first wire slack detection means WD1 is provided on the first pulley 5A. When the first wire slack detection means WD1 detects slack in the first wires W1, the raising and lowering operation of the shutter curtain 1 is stopped.

[0045] The two second wires W2 are wound around the second pulleys 5B of the second pulley above the opening, extend toward the center of the opening, and are connected to the second winding device 6B, making them retractable. The second pulleys 5B are equipped with a second wire slack detection means WD2. When the second wire slack detection means WD2 detects slack in the second wires W2, the raising and lowering operation of the shutter curtain 1 is stopped.

[0046] The sheet shutter according to this embodiment is equipped with a bottom lock mechanism that prevents the shutter curtain 1 from lifting up when the opening is fully closed. The locking device 15 of the bottom lock mechanism is equipped with a detection switch MS (not shown) that detects when the locking device 15 is in the locked state. When the locking device 15 is in the locked state, the detection switch MS is in the OFF state, and when the detection switch MS is in the OFF state, the electric opening and closing of the shutter curtain 1 is disabled.

[0047] The first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B' are operated by linked operation from the control unit to operate the shutter curtain 1. The sheet shutter according to this embodiment has two operating modes: linked mode and single-acting mode, and normal opening and closing is performed in linked mode. The control unit according to this embodiment includes a linked operation unit (see Figure 19) and a single-acting operation unit (see Figure 20, Figure 20 is a single-acting operation unit for the second embodiment), and the linked mode and single-acting mode can be switched by a mode change switch (see Figure 20). The control unit is provided in an operation box installed on the floor for ease of operation, but in this embodiment, a maintenance operation unit is provided above the opening. Details of the control unit will be described later.

[0048] As shown in Figure 10, the opening and closing operation of the sheet shutter is controlled by the control unit CU. The control unit CU is a computer and includes a processor, memory, input unit, and output unit. The memory stores a program that performs predetermined control in response to predetermined inputs. The normal operating mode is the interlocking mode, in which the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) and the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) are driven simultaneously in response to the input of open, close, and stop signals from the interlocking operation unit, causing the shutter curtain 1 to open and close. Details of the operation control by the control unit CU will be described later.

[0049] [B] Sheet shutter according to the second embodiment The shutter curtain 1' according to the second embodiment consists of a wide upper portion 10 and a narrow lower portion 11. In a more specific embodiment of the second embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, the shutter curtain 1' consists of a wide upper portion 10, a narrow lower portion 11, and an intermediate portion 12 located below the upper portion 10 and at the same height as the upper portion of the lower portion 11. However, it should be noted that the embodiment shown in Figure 13 is a generalized representation of the shutter curtain 1' according to the second embodiment, and the intermediate portion 12 is omitted. Furthermore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the following description of the second embodiment can also be applied to a shutter curtain 1' that includes an intermediate portion 12.

[0050] As shown in Figure 13, the sheet shutter according to the second embodiment includes a first drive unit 6A', a second drive unit 6B', and a third drive unit 6C'. The first drive unit 6A' raises and lowers the first wire W1, and the second drive unit 6B' raises and lowers the second wire W2, thereby electrically raising and lowering the lower portion 11 of the shutter curtain 1'. The first drive unit 6A' raises and lowers the first wire W1, the second drive unit 6B' raises and lowers the second wire W2, and the third drive unit 6C' raises and lowers the third wire W3, thereby raising and lowering the upper portion 10 and the middle portion 12 of the shutter curtain 1' to open and close the opening. The first drive unit 6A' includes a first winding device 6A driven by a first motor M1, the second drive unit 6B' includes a second winding device 6B driven by a second motor M2, and the third drive unit 6C' includes a third winding device 6C driven by a third motor M3. Figure 14 also shows the control of the sheet shutter according to the second embodiment.

[0051] When opening the opening from the fully closed state, pressing the release switch SU from the interlocking operation unit simultaneously drives the first motor M1 and the second motor M2, respectively, and simultaneously winds the first wire W1 and the second wire W2 onto the winding drums of the first winding device 6A and the second winding device 6B, respectively. As a result, the lower portion 11 of the shutter curtain 1' rises to an intermediate position with multiple frame members 2'' and the bottom member 3' overlapping in the height direction, and the sheets 4A' and 4B' (lower portion 11) are folded outwards on the first and second sides in the projection direction, respectively. In this embodiment, the rising of the shutter curtain 1' stops when it has risen to the intermediate position. At the intermediate position, by pressing the release switch SU from the interlocking operation unit, the first motor M1, the second motor M2, and the third motor M3 are driven simultaneously, and the first wire W1, the second wire W2, and the third wire W3 are wound simultaneously onto the winding drums of the first winding device 6A, the second winding device 6B, and the third winding device 6C, respectively. As a result, the upper part 10 (and intermediate part 12) of the shutter curtain 1' rises with multiple structural members 2' and the bottom member 13 overlapping in the height direction, and the sheets 4A' and 4B' (upper part 10) are folded outwards on the first and second sides in the projection direction, respectively, resulting in a fully open opening (see Figure 6).

[0052] When closing the opening from the fully open state, pressing the closing switch SD from the interlocking operation unit simultaneously drives the first motor M1, second motor M2, and third motor M3, respectively, and simultaneously unwinds the first wire W1, second wire W2, and third wire W3 from the winding drums of the first winding device 6A, second winding device 6B, and third winding device 6C, respectively. As a result, the upper portion 10 (and intermediate portion 12) of the shutter curtain 1' descends to an intermediate position with the frame material 2' and bottom member 13 separated in the height direction, and the sheets 4A' and 4B' (upper portion 10) extend vertically in the height direction. In this embodiment, the descent of the shutter curtain 1' stops when it has descended to the intermediate position. At the intermediate position, pressing the closing switch SD from the interlocking operation unit simultaneously drives the first motor M1 and the second motor M2, respectively, and unwinds the first wire W1 and the second wire W2 from the winding drums of the first winding device 6A and the second winding device 6B. As a result, the lower part 11 of the shutter curtain 1', the frame 2'' and the bottom member 3', descend while separating in the height direction, and the sheets 4A and 4B (lower part 11) extend vertically in the height direction, and the lower end of the bottom member 3 touches the ground, resulting in a fully closed opening (see Figure 5).

[0053] The first drive unit 6A' is equipped with a first encoder ENC1. The first encoder ENC1 counts the number of rotations of a predetermined rotating part of the first drive unit 6A' as the number of pulses. The amount of the first wire W1 pulled out is determined by the number of pulses, and the position of the shutter curtain 1' (height position in the opening) at the location where the first wire W1 is attached is detected. The first encoder ENC1 can detect the upper and lower limits of the position of the shutter curtain 1' (height position in the opening) at the location where the first wire W1 is attached. In this embodiment, the number of pulses corresponding to the lower limit position of the shutter curtain 1' (fully closed position of the shutter curtain 1) is set to 0, and the position of the shutter curtain 1' corresponding to the first drive unit 6A' is detected by the number of pulses.

[0054] The second drive unit 6B' is equipped with a second encoder ENC2. The second encoder ENC2 counts the number of rotations of a predetermined rotating part of the second drive unit 6B' as the number of pulses. The amount of the second wire W2 pulled out is determined by the number of pulses, and the position of the shutter curtain 1' (height position in the opening) at the location where the second wire W2 is attached is detected. The second encoder ENC2 can detect the upper and lower limits of the position of the shutter curtain 1' (height position in the opening) at the location where the second wire W2 is attached. In this embodiment, the number of pulses corresponding to the lower limit position of the shutter curtain 1 (the fully closed position of the shutter curtain 1') is set to 0, and the position of the shutter curtain 1' corresponding to the second drive unit 6B' is detected by the number of pulses.

[0055] The third drive unit 6C' is equipped with a third encoder ENC3. The third encoder ENC3 counts the number of rotations of a predetermined rotating part of the third drive unit 6C' as pulses. The amount of the third wire W3 is pulled out is determined by the number of pulses, and the position of the upper part 10 of the shutter curtain 1' where the third wire W3 is attached (height position in the opening) is detected. The third encoder ENC3 can detect the upper limit and lower limit (intermediate position) of the position of the upper part 10 of the shutter curtain 1' where the third wire W3 is attached (height position in the opening). In this embodiment, the number of pulses of the third encoder ENC3 corresponding to the intermediate position is set to match the number of pulses of the first encoder ENC1 and the second encoder ENC2 corresponding to the intermediate position, and the position of the shutter curtain 1' (upper part 10) corresponding to the third drive unit 6C' is detected by the number of pulses.

[0056] In this embodiment, the first drive unit 6A', the second drive unit 6B', and the third drive unit 6C' are each equipped with inverters 1, 2, and 3, respectively (see Figure 14). Corresponding to the position of the shutter curtain 1' detected by the first encoder ENC1, the second encoder ENC2, and the third encoder ENC3, respectively, the speeds obtained by the first motor M1, the second motor M2, and the third motor M3 are controlled according to predetermined settings, making it possible to change the lifting and lowering speed of the shutter curtain 1' depending on the height position of the shutter curtain 1'.

[0057] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the sheet shutter according to the second embodiment is provided with an upper limit switch LSU1 and a lower limit switch LSD1 corresponding to the shutter curtain 1 corresponding to the first wire W1 which is raised and lowered by the first drive device 6A', an upper limit switch LSU2 and a lower limit switch LSD2 corresponding to the shutter curtain 1 corresponding to the second wire W2 which is raised and lowered by the second drive device 6B', and an upper limit switch LSU3 corresponding to the shutter curtain 1' corresponding to the third wire W3 which is raised and lowered by the third drive device 6C'. The upper limit switch LSU1, lower limit switch LSD1, upper limit switch LSU2, lower limit switch LSD2, and upper limit switch LSU3 are mechanical detection means for mechanically detecting the position of the shutter curtain 1.

[0058] The sheet shutter according to the second embodiment is equipped with an intermediate bottom switch that detects when the lower end of the upper portion 10 (intermediate portion 12) has touched the intermediate floor surface when the shutter curtain 1' has descended to the intermediate portion. The intermediate bottom switch consists of a first intermediate bottom switch BS1, a second intermediate bottom switch BS2, and a third intermediate bottom switch BS3, which are located in the opening width direction and are positioned on the shutter curtain corresponding to the first wire W1, second wire W2, and third wire W3 that are raised and lowered by the first drive device 6A', second drive device 6B', and third drive device 6C' (see Figure 13).

[0059] The sheet shutter according to the second embodiment is provided with a first emergency switch EMS1 that operates at a position above the upper limit switch LSU1 in correspondence with the shutter curtain 1 corresponding to the first wire W1 which is raised and lowered by the first drive unit 6A', a second emergency switch EMS2 that operates at a position above the upper limit switch LSU2 in correspondence with the shutter curtain 1 corresponding to the second wire W2 which is raised and lowered by the second drive unit 6B', and a third emergency switch EMS3 that operates at a position above the upper limit switch LSU3 in correspondence with the shutter curtain 1' corresponding to the third wire W3 which is raised and lowered by the third drive unit 6C'.

[0060] In the sheet shutter according to the second embodiment, a photoelectric sensor OS is provided at a predetermined height position below the left and right guide rails G2, and is configured to detect an obstacle (including a person) located in the opening when a light beam extending in the opening width direction is blocked. When the photoelectric sensor OS detects an obstacle, the lowering operation of the shutter curtain 1' is stopped.

[0061] Two first wires W1 are wound around their respective first pulleys 5A above the opening, extend horizontally above the opening, and are connected to a first winding device 6A, making them retractable by the first winding device 6A. A first wire slack detection means WD1 is provided on the first pulley 5A. When the first wire slack detection means WD1 detects slack in the first wires W1, the raising and lowering operation of the shutter curtain 1 is stopped.

[0062] The two second wires W2 are wound around the second pulleys 5B of the second pulley above the opening, extend horizontally above the opening, and are connected to the second winding device 6B, making them retractable. The second pulleys 5B are equipped with a second wire slack detection means WD2. When the second wire slack detection means WD2 detects slack in the second wires W2, the raising and lowering operation of the shutter curtain 1 is stopped.

[0063] The two third wires W3 are wound around each of the third pulleys 5C of the third pulley above the opening, extend horizontally above the opening, and are connected to the third winding device 6C, making them retractable by the third winding device 6C. The third pulley 5C is equipped with a third wire slack detection means WD3. When the third wire slack detection means WD3 detects slack in the third wires W3, the raising and lowering operation of the shutter curtain 1' is stopped.

[0064] The sheet shutter according to this embodiment is equipped with a bottom lock mechanism to prevent the shutter curtain 1' from lifting up when the opening is fully closed. The locking device 15 of the bottom lock mechanism is equipped with a detection switch MS that detects when the locking device 15 is in the locked state. When the locking device 15 is in the locked state, the detection switch MS is in the OFF state, and when the detection switch MS is in the OFF state, the electric opening and closing of the shutter curtain 1' is disabled.

[0065] The first drive unit 6A', the second drive unit 6B', and the third drive unit 6C' are operated by an operation unit to operate the shutter curtain 1. In this embodiment, the shutter device has two operating modes: an interlocking mode and a single-acting mode, with normal opening and closing performed in interlocking mode. The operation unit according to this embodiment includes an interlocking operation unit (see Figure 19) and a single-acting operation unit (see Figure 20), and the interlocking mode and single-acting mode can be switched using a mode change switch (see Figure 20). The operation unit is provided in an operation box installed on the floor for easy operation, but in this embodiment, a maintenance operation unit is provided above the opening. Details of the operation unit will be described later.

[0066] As shown in Figure 14, the opening and closing operation of the sheet shutter is controlled by the control unit CU. The control unit CU is a computer and includes a processor, memory, input unit, and output unit. The memory stores a program that executes predetermined controls in response to predetermined inputs. The normal operating mode is the interlocking mode, in which the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1), the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2), or the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1), the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2), and the third drive unit 6C' (third motor M3) are driven simultaneously in response to the input of open, close, and stop signals from the interlocking operation unit, causing the shutter curtain 1' to open and close. Details of the operation control by the control unit CU will be described later.

[0067] [C] Operation section The control unit will now be described in detail. As shown in Figures 9 and 13, an operation box constituting the control unit CP is provided on the floor near the opening. The control box is equipped with an operation panel, and the operation panel is equipped with an interlocking operation unit (Figure 19), a mode selector switch and a single-acting operation unit (Figure 20), and a control panel (Figure 21) equipped with multiple status lamps that display the operating status. The operation panel is also equipped with an indicator light (not shown) that indicates that the power is ON, and an indicator light (not shown) that indicates whether the operating mode is "interlocking mode" or "single-acting mode". In this embodiment, a maintenance control unit CP' is provided above the opening. The control unit and the maintenance control unit have substantially the same functions (switches), except that the selection of the maintenance mode is only possible on the control unit.

[0068] As shown in Figure 19, the interlocking operation unit according to this embodiment includes a common open switch SU, a close switch SD, and a stop switch SS. Normally, the interlocking mode is selected. In the interlocking mode, when the shutter curtain 1 of the first embodiment is raised and lowered, and when the lower portion 11 of the shutter curtain 1' of the second embodiment is raised and lowered, the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B' are operated simultaneously by operation from the interlocking operation unit. When the upper portion 10 (and intermediate portion 12) of the shutter curtain 1' of the second embodiment is raised and lowered, the first drive unit 6A', the second drive unit 6B', and the third drive unit 6C' are operated simultaneously by operation from the interlocking operation unit.

[0069] In the first embodiment, when the open switch SU is pressed, the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B' operate simultaneously at the same speed, winding up the first wire W1 and the second wire W2 at the same speed, thereby raising the shutter curtain 1 and opening the opening. When the close switch SD is pressed, the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B' operate simultaneously at the same speed, unwinding down the first wire W1 and the second wire W2 at the same speed, thereby lowering the shutter curtain 1 and closing the opening. When the stop switch SS is pressed, the operating first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B' stop simultaneously, stopping the raising and lowering of the first wire W1 and the second wire W2, and stopping the raising and lowering of the shutter curtain 1.

[0070] In the fully closed state of the shutter curtain 1' according to the second embodiment, when the release switch SU of the interlocking operation unit is pressed, the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B' operate simultaneously at the same speed, raising the first wire W1 and the second wire W2 simultaneously at the same speed, thereby raising the shutter curtain 1' to an intermediate position and opening the lower part of the opening. In this embodiment, the rising shutter curtain 1' stops at the intermediate position. When the release switch SU of the interlocking operation unit is pressed again, the first drive unit 6A', the second drive unit 6B', and the third drive unit 6C' operate simultaneously at the same speed, raising the first wire W1, the second wire W2, and the third wire W3 simultaneously at the same speed, thereby raising the shutter curtain 1' and opening the opening.

[0071] In the fully open state of the shutter curtain 1' according to the second embodiment, when the closing switch SD of the interlocking operation unit is pressed, the first drive unit 6A', the second drive unit 6B', and the third drive unit 6C' operate simultaneously at the same speed, causing the first wire W1, the second wire W2, and the third wire W3 to descend simultaneously at the same speed, thereby lowering the shutter curtain 1 to an intermediate position. In this embodiment, the descending shutter curtain 1' stops at the intermediate position. When the closing switch SD of the interlocking operation unit is pressed again, the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B' operate simultaneously at the same speed, causing the first wire W1 and the second wire W2 to descend simultaneously at the same speed, thereby lowering the shutter curtain 1' and closing the opening.

[0072] When the stop switch SS is pressed, the operating first drive unit 6A' and second drive unit 6B' stop simultaneously, stopping the raising and lowering of the first wire W1 and second wire W2, and stopping the raising and lowering of the shutter curtain 1. Alternatively, the operating first drive unit 6A', second drive unit 6B', and third drive unit 6C' stop simultaneously, stopping the raising and lowering of the first wire W1, second wire W2, and third wire W3, and stopping the raising and lowering of the shutter curtain 1.

[0073] As shown in Figure 19, the interlocking control unit is equipped with an emergency stop switch ESS. In the interlocking control unit, the open switch SU, stop switch SS, and close switch SD on the control panel are covered by a cover (not shown), and can be operated by opening the cover. The emergency stop switch ESS is located on the side of the cover and is always operable regardless of whether the cover is open or closed. When the emergency stop switch ESS is pressed, the power supply to the shutter device is disabled or cut off, and all operations of the shutter device stop. The indicator light that shows the power is ON turns off.

[0074] Figure 20 shows the single-acting control unit. The control panel of the single-acting control unit has an operating mode selector switch adjacent to each switch on the single-acting control unit. The operating mode selector switch allows selection of three modes: interlocking mode, single-acting mode, and maintenance mode. Normally, interlocking mode is selected. In the maintenance control unit CP', the operating mode selector switch only allows selection of interlocking mode and single-acting mode. In other words, operation in the maintenance control unit CP' is only possible when the operating mode is selected as maintenance mode on the control unit CP.

[0075] Figure 20 shows the single-acting control unit according to the second embodiment, and is provided with an up (press-off) button, a down (press-off) button, and a single-acting speed selection button corresponding to the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1), an up (press-off) button, a down (press-off) button, and a single-acting speed selection button corresponding to the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2), and an up (press-off) button, a down (press-off) button, and a single-acting speed selection button corresponding to the third drive unit 6C' (third motor M3). When single-acting mode is selected, the first drive unit 6A', the second drive unit 6B', and the third drive unit 6C' can be driven independently and individually by operating their respective switches. In single-acting mode, the first drive unit 6A', the second drive unit 6B', and the third drive unit 6C' can be driven individually regardless of whether there is input from the photoelectric sensor OS, the emergency switches EMS1, EMS2, EMS3, and the wire slack detection means WD1, WD2, WD3. The single-acting operation unit is typically used to adjust the height position of the shutter curtain 1' in the width direction. However, if you want to raise or lower the shutter curtain 1' in single-acting mode, you can do so by selecting high speed and simultaneously pressing and holding multiple open switches or multiple close switches.

[0076] In the first embodiment, the single-acting control unit, as shown in Figure 20, lacks the up (press-off) button, down (press-off) button, and independent operating speed selection button corresponding to the third drive unit 6C' (third motor M3). When the single-acting mode is selected, the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B' can be driven independently and individually by operating their respective switches.

[0077] Figure 21 shows multiple status lamps indicating the status of the shutter device according to the second embodiment. The three inverter abnormality lamps light up when there is an abnormality in each inverter 1, 2, and 3 (e.g., overcurrent or abnormal heat generation) (history code 3 in Table 1). The three overwinding prevention lamps light up when each emergency switch EMS1, EMS2, and EMS3 is activated (history code 4 in Table 1). The three encoder lamps correspond to each encoder ENC1, ENC2, and ENC3, and when the difference in pulse count exceeds a threshold by the position comparison unit PCU, the lamp corresponding to the encoder outputting the pulse count corresponding to the lowest position lights up (history code 5 in Table 1). The three wire abnormality lamps correspond to each wire slack detection means WD1, WD2, and WD3, and light up when the wire slack device is activated (history code 6 in Table 1). The three upper limit LS lamps correspond to each upper limit limit switch LSU1, LSU2, and LSU3, and light up when the upper limit limit switch is detected. The two lower limit LS lamps correspond to the respective lower limit switches LSD1 and LSD2 and illuminate when the lower limit switches are activated. The three intermediate BS lamps correspond to the respective intermediate bottom switches BS1, BS2, and BS3 and illuminate when the respective intermediate bottom switches are activated. The three rising lamps illuminate to indicate that each wire is being wound up by each drive unit. The three descending lamps illuminate to indicate that each wire is being unwound by each drive unit. The photoelectric sensor lamp illuminates when the photoelectric sensor is activated (history code 2 in Table 1). The maintenance lamp illuminates when maintenance mode is selected. The interlock lamp illuminates when the crane working in the opening is in the designated position. The two bottom lock lamps correspond to the respective bottom lock devices at both ends in the width direction of the lower end of the opening and illuminate when locked. The lamps shown in Figure 21 are illustrative examples, and lamps indicating other states may be provided. Furthermore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the conditions for illuminating and extinguishing the lamps may be reversed depending on the lamp.Figure 21 shows multiple status lamps indicating the status of the shutter device according to the second embodiment. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that by removing all the intermediate BS lamps and the third lamp in Figure 21, multiple status lamps indicating the status of the shutter device according to the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0078] [D] Control Unit [D-1] Control Unit According to the First Embodiment As shown in Figure 10, the opening and closing operation of the sheet shutter is controlled by the control unit CU. The control unit CU is composed of a computer and includes a processor, memory, input unit, and output unit. The memory stores a program that executes predetermined controls in response to predetermined inputs. Under normal circumstances, the operation mode selector switch is set to interlocking mode, and in response to the input of open, close, and stop signals from the interlocking operation unit, the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) and the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) are driven simultaneously to open and close the shutter curtain 1. When the shutter curtain 1 is raised or lowered, the position of the shutter curtain corresponding to the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) is acquired by the first encoder ENC1, and the position of the shutter curtain corresponding to the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) is acquired by the second encoder ENC2.

[0079] According to a predetermined program, the rotation speed of the first motor M1 is controlled by inverter 1 according to the position of the shutter curtain 1 detected by the first encoder ENC1, and according to a predetermined program, the rotation speed of the second motor M2 is controlled by inverter 2 according to a predetermined program, according to the position of the shutter curtain 1 detected by the second encoder ENC2. If an abnormality is detected in either inverter, the operation of all drive devices will stop.

[0080] The control unit CU is equipped with a position comparison unit PCU, which receives the first pulse count of the first encoder ENC1 and the second pulse count of the second encoder ENC2 as input. The position comparison unit PCU calculates the difference between the first and second pulse counts, compares this difference with a threshold value stored in the position comparison unit PCU, determines that the operation is normal if the difference is smaller than the threshold value, and determines that the operation is abnormal if the difference is larger than the threshold value. If an abnormality is determined, a predetermined control is performed. In this embodiment, if an abnormality is determined, the driving of the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) and the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) is stopped, and the raising and lowering operation of the shutter curtain 1 is stopped. The operation mode is switched to single-acting mode by a mode switching switch, and the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) and the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) are operated independently by input from the single-acting operation unit to eliminate the difference in pulse counts.

[0081] If the position comparison unit PCU determines that the operation is normal, the shutter curtain 1 continues to move upward or downward. During the upward operation, the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) stops driving upon detection by the first upper limit switch LSU1, and the second drive unit 6B' (first motor M1) stops driving upon detection by the second upper limit switch LSU2.

[0082] When the shutter curtain 1 is raised, its position is monitored by the first encoder ENC1 and the second encoder ENC2. When the part of the shutter curtain 1 corresponding to the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) rises beyond the detection position of the first upper limit switch LSU1, the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) is stopped according to a preset number of pulses from the first encoder ENC1. When the part of the shutter curtain 1 corresponding to the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) rises beyond the detection position of the second upper limit switch LSU2, the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) is stopped according to a preset number of pulses from the second encoder ENC2.

[0083] When the part of the shutter curtain 1 corresponding to the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) rises above the upper limit position set by the number of pulses of the first encoder ENC1, the first emergency switch EMS1 is activated, stopping the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) and, if in operation, the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2). When the part of the shutter curtain 1 corresponding to the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) rises above the upper limit position set by the number of pulses of the second encoder ENC2, the second emergency switch EMS2 is activated, stopping the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) and, if in operation, the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1).

[0084] During the downward movement, detection by the first lower limit switch LSD1 disables the first wire slack detection means WD1 corresponding to the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1), and detection by the second lower limit switch LSD2 disables the second wire slack detection means WD2 corresponding to the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2). When the shutter curtain 1 is lowering, its position is monitored by the first encoder ENC1 and the second encoder ENC2. The lower limit position based on the first encoder ENC1 and the lower limit position based on the second encoder ENC2 are located below the lower limit position of the first lower limit switch LSD1 and the lower limit position of the second lower limit switch LSD2, respectively. Detection of the lower limit position by the first encoder ENC1 stops the drive of the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1), and detection of the lower limit position by the second encoder ENC2 stops the drive of the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2). At the lower limit stopping position of the shutter curtain 1, the first wire slack detection means WD1 and the second wire slack detection means WD2 are disabled, so in the fully closed position, it is permissible for the first wire W1 and the second wire W2 to be somewhat slack. This prevents the first wire W1 and the second wire W2 from being taut in the fully closed position, and even if a strong wind blows and the shutter curtain 1 shakes in the fully closed position, the first wire W1 and the second wire W2 will not be subjected to great tension, thereby improving the durability of the first wire W1 and the second wire W2.

[0085] When the photoelectric sensor OS detects an obstacle while the shutter curtain 1 is descending, the raising and lowering operation of the shutter curtain 1' is stopped. In one embodiment, if the obstacle is removed after detection by the photoelectric sensor OS, operation from the interlocking operation unit is possible. When the first wire slack detection means WD1 detects slack in the first wire W1, or when the second wire slack detection means WD2 detects slack in the second wire W2, the raising and lowering operation of the shutter curtain 1 is stopped. In one embodiment, after detection by the first wire slack detection means WD1 and the second wire slack detection means WD2, operation from the interlocking operation unit is disabled, and the position adjustment or raising and lowering of the shutter curtain 1 is performed by operation from the single-acting operation unit. When the locking device is in the locked state, the detection switch MS is in the OFF state, and when the detection switch MS is in the OFF state, the electric opening and closing of the shutter curtain 1 is disabled. In addition, in single-acting mode, a reset means is provided to reset the pulse count of each encoder when the shutter curtain 1 is in the fully closed position. In this embodiment, the single-acting operation unit is reset by pressing and holding the stop button, but the reset button is not limited to the stop button. In this embodiment, the pulse count is reset to 0 when the shutter curtain 1 is in the fully closed position (detection state of the first lower limit switch LSD1, detection state of the second lower limit switch LSD2), but the encoder pulse count is not necessarily limited to the fully closed position, as long as it is reset at a predetermined open / closed position set in advance.

[0086] [D-2] Control Unit According to the Second Embodiment As shown in Figure 14, the opening and closing operation of the sheet shutter is controlled by the control unit CU. The control unit CU is composed of a computer and includes a processor, memory, input unit, and output unit. The memory stores a program that performs predetermined control in response to predetermined inputs. Under normal circumstances, the operation mode selector switch is set to interlock mode, and in response to the input of open, close, and stop signals from the interlock operation unit, the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1), the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2), and the third drive unit 6C' (third motor M3) are driven simultaneously, or the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) and the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) are driven simultaneously, causing the shutter curtain 1' to open and close. When the shutter curtain 1' is raised or lowered, the position of the shutter curtain corresponding to the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) is obtained by the first encoder ENC1, the position of the shutter curtain corresponding to the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) is obtained by the second encoder ENC2, and the position of the shutter curtain corresponding to the third drive unit 6C' (third motor M3) is obtained by the third encoder ENC3.

[0087] According to a predetermined program, the rotation speed of the first motor M1 is controlled by inverter 1 according to the position of the shutter curtain 1 detected by the first encoder ENC1; according to a predetermined program, the rotation speed of the second motor M2 is controlled by inverter 2 according to the position of the shutter curtain 1 detected by the second encoder ENC2; and according to a predetermined program, the rotation speed of the third motor M3 is controlled by inverter 3 according to a predetermined program. If an abnormality is detected in any of the inverters, the operation of all drive devices will stop.

[0088] The control unit CU is equipped with a position comparison unit PCU, which receives the pulse counts of the first encoder ENC1, the second encoder ENC2, and the third encoder ENC3 as input. When the lower part 11 of the shutter curtain 1' is raised or lowered, the position comparison unit PCU calculates the difference between the first pulse count and the second pulse count, compares this difference with a threshold stored in the position comparison unit PCU, determines that it is normal if the difference is smaller than the threshold, and determines that it is abnormal if the difference is larger than the threshold. When the upper part 10 of the shutter curtain 1' is raised or lowered, the position comparison unit PCU calculates the difference between the first pulse count and the second pulse count, the difference between the first pulse count and the third pulse count, and the difference between the second pulse count and the third pulse count, compares each pulse count difference with a threshold stored in the position comparison unit PCU, determines that it is normal if all pulse count differences are smaller than the threshold, and determines that it is abnormal if any pulse count difference is larger than the threshold.

[0089] If an abnormality is detected, a predetermined control is performed. In this embodiment, if an abnormality is detected, the driving of all drive devices is stopped, and the raising and lowering operation of the shutter curtain 1' is stopped. Specifically, if the first drive device 6A' (first motor M1) and the second drive device 6B' (second motor M2) are being driven, the driving of the first drive device 6A' (first motor M1) and the second drive device 6B' (second motor M2) is stopped. If the first drive device 6A' (first motor M1), the second drive device 6B' (second motor M2) and the third drive device 6C' (third motor M3) are being driven, the driving of the first drive device 6A' (first motor M1), the second drive device 6B' (second motor M2) and the third drive device 6C' (third motor M3) is stopped. A mode selector switch allows the operating mode to be switched to single-acting mode, and by input from the single-acting control unit, the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1), the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2), or the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1), the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2), and the third drive unit 6C' (third motor M3) are operated independently, thereby eliminating differences in the number of pulses.

[0090] If the position comparison unit PCU determines that the operation is normal, the shutter curtain 1' continues to move upward or downward. When the shutter curtain 1' (upper part 10) moves upward, the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) stops driving upon detection by the first upper limit switch LSU1, the second drive unit 6B' (first motor M1) stops driving upon detection by the second upper limit switch LSU2, and the third drive unit 6C' (third motor M3) stops driving upon detection by the third upper limit switch LSU3.

[0091] When the shutter curtain 1' is raised, its position is monitored by the first encoder ENC1, the second encoder ENC2, or the first encoder ENC1, the second encoder ENC2, and the third encoder ENC3. When the part of the shutter curtain 1' corresponding to the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) rises beyond the detection position of the first upper limit switch LSU1, the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) is stopped according to a preset number of pulses from the first encoder ENC1. When the part of the shutter curtain 1' corresponding to the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) rises beyond the detection position of the second upper limit switch LSU2, the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) is stopped according to a preset number of pulses from the second encoder ENC2. When the part of the shutter curtain 1' corresponding to the third drive unit 6C' (third motor M3) rises above the detection position of the third upper limit switch LSU3, the third drive unit 6C' (third motor M3) is stopped according to the number of pulses of the third encoder ENC3 which has been set in advance.

[0092] When the part of the shutter curtain 1' corresponding to the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) rises above the upper limit position set by the number of pulses of the first encoder ENC1, the first emergency switch EMS1 is activated, stopping the drive unit in operation, including the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1). When the part of the shutter curtain 1' corresponding to the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) rises above the upper limit position set by the number of pulses of the second encoder ENC2, the second emergency switch ENS2 is activated, stopping the second drive unit 6B' in operation, including the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2). When the part of the shutter curtain 1' corresponding to the third drive unit 6C' (third motor M3) rises above the upper limit position set by the number of pulses of the third encoder ENC3, the third emergency switch EMS3 is activated, stopping the drive unit in operation, including the third drive unit 6C' (third motor M3).

[0093] When the shutter curtain 1' (lower part 11) rises from the fully closed position, if the part of the shutter curtain 1' corresponding to the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) rises to the intermediate position, the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) is stopped according to a preset number of pulses from the first encoder ENC1. If the part of the shutter curtain 1' corresponding to the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) rises to the intermediate position, the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) is stopped according to a preset number of pulses from the second encoder ENC2. By pressing the release switch SU on the interlocking operation unit, the shutter curtain 1' that has stopped at the intermediate position is raised by the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1), the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2), and the third drive unit 6C' (third motor M3).

[0094] During the downward operation, when the shutter curtain 1' (upper part 10) has descended to the intermediate position, the first intermediate bottom switch BS1 corresponding to the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) detects the movement and stops the drive of the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1), the second intermediate bottom switch BS2 corresponding to the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) detects the movement and stops the drive of the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2), and the third intermediate bottom switch BS3 corresponding to the third drive unit 6C' (third motor M3) detects the movement and stops the drive of the third drive unit 6C' (third motor M3). By pressing the closing switch SD on the interlocking operation unit, the shutter curtain 1', which has stopped at the intermediate position, will descend again by the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) and the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2).

[0095] Upon detection by the first lower limit switch LSD1, the first wire slack detection means corresponding to the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) is deactivated, and upon detection by the second lower limit switch LSD2, the second wire slack detection means corresponding to the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) is deactivated. When the shutter curtain 1 is lowering, its position is monitored by the first encoder ENC1 and the second encoder ENC2, and the lower limit position based on the first encoder ENC1 and the lower limit position based on the second encoder ENC2 are located below the lower limit position of the first lower limit switch LSD1 and the lower limit position of the second lower limit switch LSD2, respectively. Upon detection of the lower limit position by the first encoder ENC1, the drive of the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) is stopped, and upon detection of the lower limit position by the second encoder ENC2, the drive of the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) is stopped.

[0096] When the photoelectric sensor OS detects an obstacle, the raising and lowering operation of the shutter curtain 1' is stopped. When the first wire slack detection means WD1 detects slack in the first wire W1, or when the second wire slack detection means WD2 detects slack in the second wire W2, or when the third wire slack detection means WD3 detects slack in the third wire W3, the raising and lowering operation of the shutter curtain 1' is stopped. When the locking device is in the locked state, the detection switch MS is in the OFF state, and when the detection switch MS is in the OFF state, the electric opening and closing of the shutter curtain 1' is disabled. In addition, in single-act mode, a reset means is provided to reset the pulse count of each encoder when the shutter curtain 1' is in the fully closed position. In this embodiment, the reset is performed by pressing and holding the stop button in the single-act operation unit, but the reset button is not limited to the stop button. In this embodiment, the pulse count is reset to 0 when the shutter curtain 1' is in the fully closed position. If the encoder pulse count is reset at a predetermined open / closed position, it is not necessarily limited to the fully closed position.

[0097] [III] Shutter opening and closing operation [A] Opening and closing operation of the shutter according to the first embodiment [A-1] Opening operation Referring to Figure 11, the process from the fully closed position to the fully open position of the shutter curtain 1 will be explained. Assuming the bottom lock is released, pressing the release switch SU on the interlocking operation unit activates the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B', causing the shutter curtain 1 to rise. When either the first wire slack detection means WD1 or the second wire slack detection means WD2 detects wire slack, the control unit CU, which receives the wire slack detection signal, determines that an abnormal condition exists, stops the driving of the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B', and stops the rising of the shutter curtain 1.

[0098] When the shutter curtain rises, the pulse counts of the first encoder ENC1 and the second encoder ENC2 are constantly input to the control unit CU, the difference in pulse counts is calculated and compared with a threshold. If the difference in pulse counts is greater than the threshold, the control unit CU determines that an abnormal condition has occurred, the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B' are stopped, and the rising of the shutter curtain 1 stops. Details of the processing steps after the rising of the shutter curtain 1 stops will be described later.

[0099] When the difference in the number of pulses is smaller than the threshold, the control unit CU determines that it is in a normal state, and the shutter curtain 1 continues to rise. When the first upper limit switch LSU1 detects a problem, the drive of the first drive unit 6A' stops, and when the second upper limit switch LSU2 detects a problem, the drive of the second drive unit 6B' stops, the rising of the shutter curtain 1 stops, and the opening becomes fully open. In this embodiment, if the upper limit switch does not function, the rising of the shutter curtain 1 stops when the number of pulses of the encoder reaches the set number of pulses, and furthermore, if the encoder does not function, the rising of the shutter curtain is stopped by the emergency switch.

[0100] When the shutter curtain 1 rises beyond the detection position of the first upper limit switch LSU1, the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) is stopped according to a preset number of pulses from the first encoder ENC1. When the shutter curtain 1 rises beyond the detection position of the second upper limit switch LSU2, the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) is stopped according to a preset number of pulses from the second encoder ENC2, thereby stopping the rising of the shutter curtain 1.

[0101] When the shutter curtain 1 rises above the upper limit position set by the number of pulses of the first encoder ENC1, the first emergency switch EMS1 is activated, stopping the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) and, if in operation, the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2). When the shutter curtain 1 rises above the upper limit position set by the number of pulses of the second encoder ENC2, the second emergency switch EMS2 is activated, stopping the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) and, if in operation, the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1).

[0102] [A-2] Closing operation Referring to Figure 12, the process from the fully open position to the fully closed position of the shutter curtain 1 will be explained. Assuming the bottom lock is released, pressing the closing switch SD on the interlocking operation unit activates the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B', causing the shutter curtain 1 to descend. When either the first wire slack detection means WD1 or the second wire slack detection means WD2 detects wire slack, the control unit CU, which receives the wire slack detection signal, determines that an abnormal condition exists, stops the driving of the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B', and stops the descent of the shutter curtain 1.

[0103] When the shutter curtain is lowering, the pulse counts of the first encoder ENC1 and the second encoder ENC2 are constantly input to the control unit CU, the difference in pulse counts is calculated and compared with a threshold. If the difference in pulse counts is greater than the threshold, the control unit CU determines that an abnormal state has occurred, the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B' are stopped, and the lowering of the shutter curtain 1 stops. Details of the processing steps after the lowering of the shutter curtain 1 stops will be described later.

[0104] When the difference in the number of pulses is smaller than the threshold, the control unit CU determines that it is in a normal state, and the shutter curtain 1 continues to descend. If the photoelectric sensor OS turns ON while the shutter curtain is descending, the control unit CU determines that it is in an abnormal state, the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B' are stopped, and the descent of the shutter curtain 1 stops. When the obstacle is removed and the photoelectric sensor OS turns OFF, pressing the closing switch SD again will cause the shutter curtain 1 to descend again. When the first lower limit switch LSD1 detects something, the drive of the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) stops, and the first wire slack detection means WD1 is disabled. When the second lower limit switch LSD2 detects something, the drive of the second drive unit 6B' (first motor M1) stops, the second wire slack detection means WD2 is disabled, the descent of the shutter curtain 1 stops, and the opening becomes fully closed. In this embodiment, if the lower limit switch does not function, the lowering of the shutter curtain 1 is stopped when the number of pulses of the encoder reaches the set number of pulses. Furthermore, if the encoder does not function, the lowering of the shutter curtain may be stopped by the wire slack detection means (enabled).

[0105] The lower limit positions determined by the first encoder ENC1 and the second encoder ENC2 are located below the lower limit positions of the first lower limit switch LSD1 and the second lower limit switch LSD2, respectively. When the lower limit position is detected by the first encoder ENC1, the drive of the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) stops, and when the lower limit position is detected by the second encoder ENC2, the drive of the second drive unit 6B' (first motor M1) stops, and the descent of the shutter curtain 1 stops.

[0106] Furthermore, without disabling the first wire slack detection means WD1 and the second wire slack detection means WD2, if the shutter curtain 1 descends below the lower limit position based on the first encoder ENC1 or the lower limit position based on the second encoder ENC2, the first wire slack detection means WD1 or the second wire slack detection means WD2 may be activated to stop the drive device that is currently in operation. In this embodiment, the first wire slack detection means WD1 or the second wire slack detection means WD2 functions, so to speak, as an emergency switch at the lower end.

[0107] [B] Opening and closing operation of the shutter according to the second embodiment [B-1] Release operation (from fully closed position to intermediate position) Referring to Figures 15 and 16, the process from the fully closed position to the fully open position of the shutter curtain 1' will be explained. Assuming the bottom lock is released, pressing the release switch SU on the interlocking operation unit activates the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B', causing the shutter curtain 1' to rise. When either the first wire slack detection means WD1 or the second wire slack detection means WD2 detects wire slack, the control unit CU, which receives the wire slack detection signal, determines that an abnormal condition exists, stops the driving of the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B', and stops the rising of the shutter curtain 1'.

[0108] When the shutter curtain ' rises, the pulse counts of the first encoder ENC1 and the second encoder ENC2 are constantly input to the control unit CU, the difference in pulse counts is calculated and compared with a threshold. If the difference in pulse counts is greater than the threshold, the control unit CU determines that an abnormal condition has occurred, the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B' are stopped, and the rising of the shutter curtain 1' stops. Details of the processing steps after the rising of the shutter curtain 1' stops will be described later.

[0109] When the difference in the number of pulses is smaller than a threshold, the control unit CU determines that it is in a normal state, and the shutter curtain 1' continues to rise. When the shutter curtain 1' rises to an intermediate position determined by the number of pulses of the first encoder ENC1 and the number of pulses of the second encoder ENC2, the first drive unit 6A' stops when a predetermined number of pulses of the first encoder ENC1 is input to the control unit CU, and the second drive unit 6B' stops when a predetermined number of pulses of the second encoder ENC2 is input to the control unit CU.

[0110] [B-2] Release operation (from intermediate position to fully open position) Provided the bottom lock is released, pressing the release switch SU on the interlocking operation unit activates the first drive unit 6A', the second drive unit 6B', and the third drive unit 6C', causing the shutter curtain 1' to rise. If any of the first wire slack detection means WD1, the second wire slack detection means WD2, or the third wire slack detection means WD3 detects wire slack, the control unit CU, which receives the wire slack detection signal, determines that an abnormal condition exists, stops the operation of the first drive unit 6A', the second drive unit 6B', and the third drive unit 6C', and stops the rising of the shutter curtain 1'.

[0111] When the shutter curtain 1' is raised, the pulse counts of the first encoder ENC1, the second encoder ENC2, and the third encoder ENC3 are constantly input to the control unit CU. The difference in pulse counts is calculated and compared with a threshold. Here, the difference between the pulse counts of the first encoder ENC1 and the second encoder ENC2, the difference between the pulse counts of the first encoder ENC1 and the third encoder ENC3, and the difference between the pulse counts of the second encoder ENC2 and the third encoder ENC3 are calculated. If any of the pulse count differences are greater than the threshold, the control unit CU determines that an abnormal condition has occurred, and the driving of the first drive unit 6A', the second drive unit 6B', and the third drive unit 6C' is stopped, and the raising of the shutter curtain 1' stops. Details of the processing steps after the raising of the shutter curtain 1' stops will be described later.

[0112] When the difference in the number of pulses is smaller than the threshold, the control unit CU determines that it is in a normal state, and the shutter curtain 1' continues to rise. When the first upper limit switch LSU1 detects a problem, the drive of the first drive unit 6A' stops; when the second upper limit switch LSU2 detects a problem, the drive of the second drive unit 6B' stops; and when the third upper limit switch LSU3 detects a problem, the drive of the third drive unit 6C' stops, stopping the rise of the shutter curtain 1' and leaving the opening fully open. In this embodiment, if the upper limit switches do not function, the rise of the shutter curtain 1 is stopped when the number of pulses from the encoder reaches the set number of pulses. Furthermore, if the encoder does not function, the rise of the shutter curtain is stopped by the emergency switch.

[0113] When the shutter curtain 1' rises beyond the detection position of the first upper limit switch LSU1, the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) is stopped according to a preset number of pulses from the first encoder ENC1. When the shutter curtain 1' rises beyond the detection position of the second upper limit switch LSU2, the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) is stopped according to a preset number of pulses from the second encoder ENC2. When the shutter curtain 1' rises beyond the detection position of the third upper limit switch LSU3, the third drive unit 6C' (third motor M3) is stopped according to a preset number of pulses from the third encoder ENC3, thereby stopping the rise of the shutter curtain 1'.

[0114] When the shutter curtain 1' rises above the upper limit position set by the number of pulses of the first encoder ENC1, the first emergency switch EMS1 is activated, stopping the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1), and, if in operation, the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) and the third drive unit 6C' (third motor M3). When the shutter curtain 1' rises above the upper limit position set by the number of pulses of the second encoder ENC2, the second emergency switch EMS2 is activated, stopping the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2), and, if in operation, the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) and the third drive unit 6C' (third motor M3). When the shutter curtain 1' rises above the upper limit position set by the number of pulses of the third encoder ENC3, the third emergency switch EMS3 is activated, stopping the third drive unit 6C' (third motor M3), and, if in operation, the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) and the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2).

[0115] [B-3] Closing operation (from fully open to intermediate position) Referring to Figures 17 and 18, the process from the fully open position to the fully closed position of the shutter curtain 1 will be explained. Provided that the bottom lock is released, pressing the closing switch SD on the interlocking operation unit activates the first drive unit 6A', the second drive unit 6B', and the third drive unit 6C', causing the shutter curtain 1' to descend. If any of the first wire slack detection means WD1, the second wire slack detection means WD2, or the third wire slack detection means WD3 detects wire slack, the control unit CU, which receives the wire slack detection signal, determines that an abnormal condition exists, and the driving of the first drive unit 6A', the second drive unit 6B', and the third drive unit 6C' is stopped, and the descent of the shutter curtain 1' stops.

[0116] When the shutter curtain 1' is descending, the pulse counts of the first encoder ENC1, the second encoder ENC2, and the third encoder ENC3 are constantly input to the control unit CU. The difference in pulse counts is calculated and compared with a threshold. Here, the difference between the pulse counts of the first encoder ENC1 and the second encoder ENC2, the difference between the pulse counts of the first encoder ENC1 and the third encoder ENC3, and the difference between the pulse counts of the second encoder ENC2 and the third encoder ENC3 are calculated. If any of the pulse count differences are greater than the threshold, the control unit CU determines that an abnormal condition has occurred, and the driving of the first drive unit 6A', the second drive unit 6B', and the third drive unit 6C' is stopped, and the descent of the shutter curtain 1' stops. Details of the processing steps after the descent of the shutter curtain 1 stops will be described later.

[0117] When the difference in the number of pulses is less than the threshold, the control unit CU determines that it is in a normal state, and the shutter curtain 1' continues to descend. If the photoelectric sensor OS turns ON while the shutter curtain 1' is descending, the control unit CU determines that it is in an abnormal state, and the drives of the first drive unit 6A', the second drive unit 6B', and the third drive unit 6C' are stopped, and the descent of the shutter curtain 1' stops. Once the obstacle is removed and the photoelectric sensor OS turns OFF, pressing the close switch SD again will cause the shutter curtain 1' to descend again.

[0118] When the shutter curtain 1' descends to the intermediate position, the intermediate bottom switch is activated. Detection by the first intermediate bottom switch BS1 stops the drive of the first drive unit 6A', detection by the second intermediate bottom switch BS2 stops the drive of the second drive unit 6B', and detection by the third intermediate bottom switch BS3 stops the drive of the third drive unit 6C'.

[0119] [B-4] Closing operation (from intermediate position to fully closed position) Provided the bottom lock is released, pressing the closing switch SD on the interlocking operation unit activates the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B', causing the shutter curtain 1' to descend again. If either the first wire slack detection means WD1 or the second wire slack detection means WD2 detects wire slack, the control unit CU, which receives the wire slack detection signal, determines that an abnormal condition exists, stops the driving of the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B', and stops the descent of the shutter curtain 1'.

[0120] When the shutter curtain 1' is descending, the pulse counts of the first encoder ENC1 and the second encoder ENC2 are constantly input to the control unit CU, the difference in pulse counts is calculated and compared with a threshold. If the difference in pulse counts is greater than the threshold, the control unit CU determines that an abnormal condition exists, the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B' are stopped, and the descent of the shutter curtain 1' stops. Details of the processing steps after the descent of the shutter curtain 1' stops will be described later.

[0121] When the difference in the number of pulses is smaller than the threshold, the control unit CU determines that it is in a normal state, and the shutter curtain 1' continues to descend. If the photoelectric sensor OS turns ON while the shutter curtain is descending, the control unit CU determines that it is in an abnormal state, the first drive unit 6A' and the second drive unit 6B' are stopped, and the descent of the shutter curtain 1' stops. When the obstacle is removed and the photoelectric sensor OS turns OFF, pressing the closing switch SD again will cause the shutter curtain 1' to descend again. When the first lower limit switch LSD1 detects something, the drive of the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) stops, and the first wire slack detection means WD1 is disabled. When the second lower limit switch LSD2 detects something, the drive of the second drive unit 6B' (first motor M1) stops, the second wire slack detection means WD2 is disabled, the descent of the shutter curtain 1 stops, and the opening becomes fully closed. In this embodiment, if the lower limit switch does not function, the lowering of the shutter curtain 1 is stopped when the number of pulses of the encoder reaches the set number of pulses. Furthermore, if the encoder does not function, the lowering of the shutter curtain may be stopped by the wire slack detection means (enabled).

[0122] The lower limit positions determined by the first encoder ENC1 and the second encoder ENC2 are located below the lower limit positions of the first lower limit switch LSD1 and the second lower limit switch LSD2, respectively. When the lower limit position is detected by the first encoder ENC1, the drive of the first drive unit 6A' (first motor M1) stops, and when the lower limit position is detected by the second encoder ENC2, the drive of the second drive unit 6B' (second motor M2) stops, and the descent of the shutter curtain 1 stops.

[0123] Furthermore, without disabling the first wire slack detection means WD1 and the second wire slack detection means WD2, if the shutter curtain 1' descends below the lower limit position based on the first encoder ENC1 or the lower limit position based on the second encoder ENC2, the first wire slack detection means WD1 or the second wire slack detection means WD2 may be activated to stop the drive device that is currently in operation. In this embodiment, the first wire slack detection means WD1 or the second wire slack detection means WD2 functions, so to speak, as an emergency switch at the lower end.

[0124] [C] Control based on abnormality detection in the position comparison unit Referring to Figure 22, the control based on abnormality detection by the position comparison unit PCU will be explained. When the shutter curtain 1 is raised or lowered in the interlocking mode, the position comparison unit PCU compares the number of pulses from the encoders corresponding to each drive device, and the difference in the number of pulses is compared with a predetermined threshold stored in memory. If the difference in the number of pulses is smaller than the threshold, it is determined to be a normal state, and the shutter curtain 1 continues to raise or lower.

[0125] When the difference in the number of pulses calculated by the position comparison unit PCU is greater than the threshold, all drive devices currently in operation stop. In this embodiment, the lamp of the encoder outputting the value corresponding to the lowest position (see Figure 21) lights up. The motion mode selector switch is switched from linked mode to single-acting mode. When single-acting mode is selected, the wire slack detection means is disabled. The shutter curtain position is adjusted by fully pressing the up button corresponding to the lit encoder until the light turns off (the difference in the number of pulses of each encoder falls within the threshold).

[0126] The operating mode switch is used to switch from single-acting mode to interlocking mode. Pressing the open or close button on the interlocking operation unit causes the shutter curtain to rise or fall. For the subsequent operation flow, please refer to Figures 11, 12, and 15-18.

[0127] In this embodiment, the lamp of the encoder outputting the value corresponding to the lowest position is illuminated, but the lamp of the encoder outputting the value corresponding to the highest position may be illuminated and the adjustment may be made using the down button. In this embodiment, when the difference in the number of pulses exceeds a threshold, the operation of the shutter curtain is stopped and the tilt of the shutter curtain is manually adjusted with the single-acting operation unit, but the information when the difference in the number of pulses exceeds a threshold is input to the control unit CU, and the control unit CU automatically adjusts the tilt of the shutter curtain by increasing or decreasing the rotation speed of the selected drive unit, which is controlled by the inverter corresponding to the selected drive unit, compared to the rotation speed of the other drive units, so that the number of pulses corresponding to the multiple drive units being driven simultaneously matches (controlling so that the difference in the number of pulses falls within the threshold).

[0128] [III] Shutter management device [A] Detection of the movement distance of the shutter curtain The shutter device according to this embodiment comprises a plurality of drive devices (opening / closing mechanisms), a plurality of wires that are wound up and unwound by each drive device, a shutter curtain connected to the plurality of wires that moves up and down to open and close an opening by the winding and unwinding of the plurality of wires, and control means for controlling the opening and closing operation of the shutter curtain. Each drive device is equipped with an opening / closing position detection means for detecting the opening and closing position of the shutter curtain. In one embodiment, the lower end of the wire is connected to the bottom or middle bottom of the shutter curtain. Each opening / closing position detection means detects the position of each wire based on the amount of rotation of each drive device, and the position of the wire corresponds to the opening and closing position of the shutter curtain. In one embodiment, the opening / closing position detection means is an encoder, and by detecting the position of the shutter curtain (e.g., the lower end) using the encoder value, the amount of movement of the shutter curtain can be calculated from the difference in encoder values ​​when the shutter curtain is rising or falling.

[0129] Figure 23 shows the detection of the shutter curtain position in the shutter device according to the second embodiment. The encoder value at the lower limit of the shutter curtain is 0, and the encoder value at the upper limit of the shutter curtain is 300000. Note that the encoder values ​​here are provisional and do not necessarily match the actual values. In Figure 23, the lower ends of the wires corresponding to opening / closing mechanism 1 and opening / closing mechanism 2 are connected to the bottom of the lower end of the shutter curtain, and the lower end of the wire corresponding to opening / closing mechanism 3 is connected to the intermediate bottom. The encoder values ​​corresponding to opening / closing mechanism 1 and opening / closing mechanism 2 take values ​​between 0 and 300000 when the shutter curtain is raised and lowered, and the encoder value corresponding to opening / closing mechanism 3 takes values ​​between 200000 and 300000 when the shutter curtain is raised and lowered.

[0130] [B] Overview of the shutter management device Figure 24 is a block diagram of the shutter management device according to this embodiment. When the control unit of the management device receives an open / close signal from the operation unit, it opens and closes the shutter curtain via the open / close mechanism, and the position information of the shutter curtain is acquired by the encoder (ENC) and stored in memory (storage unit). The moving shutter curtain stops upon receipt of a stop signal from the operation unit, or upon receipt of an upper limit detection signal from the upper limit switch (LSU), or a lower limit detection signal from the lower limit switch (LSD). More specifically, when an up signal is input to the control unit of the management device, the shutter curtain rises via the open / close mechanism, and when a stop signal is input, the rising shutter curtain stops at an intermediate position. The encoder value at this time is stored in memory. From this state, when an up signal is input again, the shutter curtain rises from the intermediate position via the open / close mechanism, and when the upper limit switch (LSU) is input, the rising shutter curtain stops at the upper limit position. The encoder value at this time is stored in memory. Alternatively, when the shutter curtain is stopped in an intermediate position, a descent signal is input, causing the shutter curtain to descend from the intermediate position via the opener. When the lower limit switch (LSD) is activated, the descending shutter curtain stops at the lower limit position. The encoder value at this time is stored in memory.

[0131] The upward movement is stored in memory as operation history information along with the date and time, the encoder value at the time of opening, and the time of stopping. The downward movement is also stored in memory as operation history information along with the date and time, the encoder value at the time of closing, and the time of stopping. In addition, the number of times the upper limit switch (LSU) is operated may be counted and stored in memory. In this way, the usage status of the shutter (for example, the height at which it is opened, the number of times it has been opened to the fully open position) can be grasped.

[0132] In the memory (storage unit), the movement distance of the shutter curtain is stored along with the date, time, and direction of movement information. In one embodiment, the memory (storage unit) consists of local memories provided near each drive unit and a main memory (for example, composed of a PC) that receives and stores the stored information from each local memory. An integration means, composed of a processor, integrates the upward movement distance and downward movement distance stored in the memory (storage unit) to obtain a total movement distance that serves as a guideline for maintenance timing. The integration means may be a processor that performs calculations using the stored information stored in memory according to calculation software (for example, Excel) stored in memory. The shutter management device according to this embodiment may include a display unit that displays the maintenance timing based on the calculated total movement distance. Examples of display units include the screen of an operation unit CP, a PC in the service department, and the screen of a service technician's smartphone.

[0133] In one embodiment, the shutter device to which the shutter management device is applied comprises a plurality of drive devices (opening / closing mechanisms), a plurality of wires that are wound up and unwound by each drive device, a shutter curtain connected to the plurality of wires that moves up and down to open and close an opening by the winding and unwinding of the plurality of wires, and control means for controlling the opening and closing operation of the shutter curtain, wherein in one embodiment, the control means includes an interlocking mode in which the plurality of drive devices operate simultaneously and a single-acting mode in which each drive device operates individually. Normally, the plurality of drive devices (opening / closing mechanisms) are in the interlocking mode in which they operate simultaneously, and when an up signal or a down signal is input, the plurality of opening / closing mechanisms are driven simultaneously, and when a stop signal is input, the driving of the plurality of opening / closing mechanisms is stopped simultaneously. Each drive unit is provided with an upper limit switch (LSU) for detecting the upper limit position of the shutter curtain and a lower limit switch (LSD) for detecting the lower limit position. The control means stops each drive unit based on the detection of each upper limit switch (LSU) and each lower limit switch (LSD). Each drive unit is equipped with an opening / closing position detection means for detecting the opening and closing position of the shutter curtain, and the movement distance of the shutter curtain is stored for each drive unit along with date, time, and movement direction information. An integrating means integrates the upward movement distance and downward movement distance stored in the storage unit for each drive unit to obtain a total movement distance for each drive unit, which serves as a guideline for maintenance timing. In one embodiment, the amount of movement of the shutter curtain corresponding to each drive unit in interlocking mode is obtained and integrated, but the amount of movement of the shutter curtain corresponding to each drive unit in single-acting mode may be added to the upward movement distance, downward movement distance, and total movement distance.

[0134] [C] Shutter management device (Shutter device according to the second embodiment) Specific examples of the shutter management device according to this embodiment will be described. Figure 25 is a block diagram of the shutter management device according to this embodiment (see the shutter device according to the second embodiment, Figures 5 to 8, 13 to 18, and 23). Opening / closing devices 1, 2, and 3 in Figures 25 and 23 correspond to each other. In the control unit, normally, multiple drive devices (opening / closing devices) are in an interlocking mode where they operate simultaneously. When the lower narrow sheet is raised or lowered, opening / closing devices 1 and 2 operate and stop simultaneously according to the upward signal, downward signal, and stop signal. When the upper wide sheet is raised or lowered, opening / closing devices 1, 2, and 3 operate and stop simultaneously according to the upward signal, downward signal, and stop signal. An encoder (ENC1), an upper limit switch (LSU1), and a lower limit switch (LSD1) are provided for switch 1; an encoder (ENC2), an upper limit switch (LSU2), and a lower limit switch (LSD2) are provided for switch 2; and an encoder (ENC3), an upper limit switch (LSU3), and intermediate bottom switches (BS1~BS3) are provided for switch 3. The upward movement distance, downward movement distance, and total movement distance are obtained for each switch based on the encoder values ​​of the encoders (ENC1, ENC2, ENC3) corresponding to switch 1, switch 2, and switch 3, respectively.

[0135] When the narrow lower sheet is raised or lowered, the wires of opening / closing mechanisms 1 and 2 move, so the upward movement distance 1, downward movement distance 1, upward movement distance 2, and downward movement distance 2 are obtained and added to the total movement distance 1 and total movement distance 2. However, since opening / closing mechanism 3 is not driven, the upward movement distance 3 and downward movement distance 3 are not obtained. Therefore, for example, if the opening and closing frequency of the narrow lower sheet is high, opening / closing mechanisms 1 and 2 will operate more often than opening / closing mechanism 3, which may result in differences in the appropriate maintenance timing for the opening / closing mechanisms and wires. By obtaining the upward movement distance, downward movement distance, and total movement distance for each opening / closing mechanism, it is possible to estimate the appropriate maintenance timing for the opening / closing mechanisms and wires.

[0136] [D] Shutter management device (acquisition of operation history) Figure 26 is a block diagram of the shutter management device according to this embodiment (the shutter device according to the second embodiment), and mainly explains the acquisition of operation history. Various information is input to the control unit and stored in the memory unit along with time information. Specifically, the shutter curtain rises in response to the rise signal, and the rising shutter curtain is stopped by the stop signal, upper limit switch (LSU1), upper limit switch (LSU2), and upper limit switch (LSU3). By storing the encoder values ​​of encoder (ENC1), encoder (ENC2), and encoder (ENC3) before rising, and the encoder values ​​of encoder (ENC1), encoder (ENC2), and encoder (ENC3) when stopped, the movement distance and movement direction of the shutter curtain are acquired and stored in relation to the opener 1, opener 2, and opener 3.

[0137] The shutter curtain descends in response to a descent signal, and the descending shutter curtain is stopped by a stop signal, lower limit switch (LSD1), lower limit switch (LSD2), and intermediate bottom switches (BS1~BS3). By storing the encoder values ​​of encoders (ENC1), (ENC2), and (ENC3) before descent and the encoder values ​​of encoders (ENC1), (ENC2), and (ENC3) when stopped, the movement distance and direction of the shutter curtain are obtained in relation to openers 1, 2, and 3, and stored in the memory unit as operation history information.

[0138] The moving shutter curtain can also be stopped by abnormality detection. Each drive unit is provided with an emergency switch (EMS1, EMS2, EMS3) that operates at a position above the upper limit position, and in one mode, all operating drive units are stopped in response to detection by at least one of the emergency switches. Each drive unit is provided with wire slack detection means (WD1, WD2, WD3) that detects slack or looseness in each wire, and all operating drive units are stopped when at least one of the wire slack detection means detects slack. An abnormality is determined when the position difference obtained by the position comparison unit PCU, which compares the positions of the shutter curtain corresponding to each drive unit, is greater than a predetermined threshold, and in one mode, all operating drive units are stopped in response to the abnormality determination. These are examples of abnormality detection, but the occurrence of an abnormality detection is stored in the storage unit as operation history information along with the date and time of occurrence.

[0139] Table 1 shows examples of the content acquired and stored as the operation history. [Table 1] History code 0: Rising represents the operation history of the shutter curtain from the time it starts rising until it stops. History Code 1: Downward movement is the operation history of the shutter curtain from the time it starts to descend until it stops. History code 2: Photoelectric sensor detection occurs when a photoelectric sensor detects something. History code 3: Inverter malfunction refers to cases such as inverter overcurrent or abnormal heat generation. History code 4: Emergency abnormality occurs when an emergency switch is detected. History code 5: Encoder difference anomaly occurs when the difference in the number of pulses of the encoders being compared exceeds a threshold. History code 6: Wire slack abnormality occurs when the wire slack detection means detects a problem. History code 7: Limit switch malfunction occurs when the limit switch fails to detect movement during shutter curtain raising or lowering, but the encoder pulse count detects the set value. History code 8: Encoder malfunction occurs when the shutter curtain is moving up or down, but the encoder signal cannot be recognized. History code 9: Bottom lock abnormality occurs when the bottom lock device is operated while the shutter curtain is in operation.

[0140] Table 2 shows an example of the recorded shutter operation history. Please refer to it in conjunction with Figure 23. [Table 2] From top to bottom, "At 10:45 on the 23rd, the narrow lower section of the shutter curtain descended to a height of 16 meters." "At 11:00 AM on the 23rd, the narrow lower section of the shutter curtain rose to a height of 18 meters." "At 3:30 PM on the 20th, the shutter curtain stopped due to wire slack detected at a height of 0.8m in the narrow lower section." This shows that the encoder value and the distance traveled are assumed to be the same. The stored operation history may also include year and month information.

[0141] In this way, the movement distance and direction of the shutter curtain (i.e., upward movement distance and downward movement distance) are acquired in accordance with opening / closing mechanisms 1, 2, and 3, and stored in the memory as operation history information. The upward and downward movement distances stored in the memory can then be accumulated to obtain the total movement distance, which serves as a guideline for maintenance timing. In addition, other shutter usage information (e.g., the height when opened, the number of times it has been opened to the fully open position) can be obtained. Using this information, the timing of maintenance (whether maintenance work is necessary, estimation of consumable parts, etc.) can be estimated. Furthermore, the occurrence and details of any abnormality detection (e.g., the height at which it occurred) are stored in the memory as operation history information along with the date and time of occurrence. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0142] 1. Shutter curtain (first embodiment) 1' Shutter curtain (second embodiment) 6A' First drive unit 6B' Second drive unit 6C' Third drive unit CU Control Unit CP operation section SU release switch SD Closure Switch SS Stop Switch PCU position comparison section EMS1 First Emergency Switch EMS2 Second Emergency Switch EMS3 Third Emergency Switch ENC1 First encoder (means for detecting open / closed position, means for acquiring upward movement distance, means for acquiring downward movement distance) ENC2 Second encoder (means for detecting opening / closing position, means for acquiring upward movement distance, means for acquiring downward movement distance) ENC3 Third encoder (means for detecting opening / closing position, means for acquiring upward movement distance, means for acquiring downward movement distance) WD1 First wire slack detection means WD2 Second wire slack detection means WD3 Third wire slack detection means LSU1 First Upper Limit Switch LSU2 Second Upper Limit Switch LSU3 Third Upper Limit Switch LSD1 1st Lower Limit Switch LSD2 Second Lower Limit Switch BS1 1st Intermediate Bottom Switch BS2 2nd Intermediate Bottom Switch BS3 Third Intermediate Bottom Switch W1 First wire W2 Second wire W3 Third Wire

Claims

1. Means for obtaining the upward movement distance of a stationary shutter curtain until it rises and stops, and the downward movement distance of a stationary shutter curtain until it lowers and stops, A storage unit that stores the aforementioned upward movement distance and the aforementioned downward movement distance together with date and time and movement direction information, An accumulating means for accumulating the upward movement distance and downward movement distance stored in the memory unit to obtain a total movement distance that serves as an estimate for the maintenance timing, A shutter management device equipped with the following features.

2. The shutter curtain in the stopped state includes stopping at the upper limit position, stopping at the lower limit position, and stopping at an intermediate position. A shutter management device according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned stopping at the intermediate position includes stopping based on a stop signal and stopping abnormally. The shutter management device according to claim 2.

4. The shutter curtain has two open positions: a first open position at the upper limit and a second open position at the intermediate position. The frequency of the second open position is higher than the frequency of the first open position. The shutter management device according to claim 2.

5. The distance a shutter curtain travels from its lower limit position to its upper limit position is 10 meters or more. A shutter management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. It is equipped with a display unit that shows the maintenance timing based on the total distance traveled. A shutter management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. Multiple drive units, Multiple wires are wound up and unwound by each drive unit, A shutter curtain connected to the aforementioned multiple wires, which moves up and down to open and close the opening by winding and unwinding the aforementioned multiple wires, A means for obtaining the upward and downward movement distances of the shutter curtain for each drive unit, based on the wire winding and unwinding amounts corresponding to each drive unit, Equipped with, The total travel distance is obtained for each drive unit. A shutter management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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