Switching device

Abstract

Providing a technology to prevent forgetting to install light-shielding plates during the installation of switchgear. [Solution] The installation work of the opening / closing device 1 includes the step of attaching the light-shielding plate 13 to the lowest panel 11b of the opening / closing body 10. In limit setting mode, after setting the upper and lower limit positions of the opening / closing body 10 (S12, S13), the trial run of the opening / closing body 10 is automatically started. During the trial run, the opening / closing body 10 first automatically rises from the lower limit position for, for example, 5 seconds, until the light-shielding plate 13 rises to a height that does not exceed the uppermost optical axis (S14), and then automatically descends from that position for, for example, 2 seconds (S15). If no obstacle detection signal is input within this time (S16: No), a buzzer sound is emitted (S17). This makes the worker aware that the light-shielding plate 13 has not been attached and prompts them to attach it, thus preventing the installation work from being completed without attaching the light-shielding plate 13.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an opening / closing device that opens or closes an opening of a structure including a building by the operation of an opening / closing body.

Background Art

[0002] In an opening / closing device, conventionally, in order to prevent an object or a person from being sandwiched when an opening / closing body descends, a photoelectric sensor is provided near the opening, and the operation of the opening / closing body is stopped or reversed according to the detection output by the photoelectric sensor. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electric shutter in which a multi-axis optical sensor composed of a plurality of light projecting / receiving portions is attached to the indoor side surface of guide rails provided on the left and right sides of an opening. In such an opening / closing device, when any one of a plurality of light beams formed by emitting light from each light projecting portion toward the corresponding light receiving portion is blocked, the multi-axis optical sensor outputs a detection output of an obstacle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the opening / closing device as described above, in order to appropriately maintain the detection sensitivity of an obstacle according to the situation of the installation environment, there is a multi-axis optical sensor that periodically and automatically performs sensitivity learning to appropriately adjust its sensitivity (setting of a threshold value used for determination of detection). Sensitivity learning cannot be performed while any one of the light beams is blocked.

[0005] Here, referring to FIG. 6, the amount of incident light on the light receiver in the comparative example will be examined. As shown in Figure 6(A), when the open / close body 10' is not present near the multi-axis sensor paired with the light emitter 21' and light receiver 23' (when the open / close body 10' is located above the uppermost light-emitting / receiving section; for example, when fully open), the light ray B traveling in a straight line from the light emitter 21' enters the light receiver 23'.

[0006] In contrast, as shown in Figure 6(B), when the opening / closing body 10', guided down by the rails 41' with rollers 12' at both ends, is near the multi-axis sensor (when the opening / closing body 10' is positioned below the height of the uppermost light-emitting / receiving section; for example, when fully closed), in addition to the light ray B that travels straight from the light emitter 21', the light ray B reflected by the opening / closing body 10' also enters the light receiver 23'. As a result, the amount of light entering the light receiver 23' is greater than when the opening / closing body 10' is not near the multi-axis sensor. If sensitivity learning of the multi-axis sensor is performed with such an inappropriate amount of light entering, the sensitivity may be adjusted to be overly sensitive (the threshold may be set high). Subsequently, when the opening / closing body 10' rises and the reflected light disappears, reducing the amount of light entering the light receiver 23', there is a risk that a sensing output will be generated even though the light ray B is not blocked. In that case, the opening / closing body 10' will be unable to descend.

[0007] To avoid such a situation, if a light-shielding plate is installed at the lower end of the opening / closing mechanism, the light rays from the lowest stage will always be blocked by the plate when the mechanism is fully closed, thus preventing sensitivity learning from occurring. However, it cannot be said with certainty that there is no possibility of forgetting to install the light-shielding plate during the installation of the opening / closing device, so in order to make it more reliable, countermeasures that anticipate such a possibility are required.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a technology that prevents the forgetting to install a light-shielding plate during the installation work of an opening and closing device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following opening and closing device. Note that the following statements in parentheses are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0010] In other words, the opening and closing device of the present invention comprises: an opening and closing means for opening or closing an opening; an obstacle sensing means provided at positions offset in the thickness direction from the opening and closing means in the closed position on both sides of the opening, and consisting of a light emitter provided on one side and a light receiver provided on the other side, which senses an obstacle based on a change in the amount of light entering the light receiver; a light shielding means, one end of which is fixed to the opening and closing means, and which is located on the optical path from the light emitter to the light receiver when the opening and closing means is in the closed position; and a control means that, in control of setting the movable range of the opening and closing means, provides notification if an obstacle is not detected by the obstacle sensing means during the trial run of the opening and closing means.

[0011] If a light-shielding means is attached to the opening / closing means, the light-shielding means will block one of the light paths when the opening / closing means is in the closed position, so obstacles will be reliably detected during the trial run of the opening / closing means. On the other hand, if a light-shielding means is not attached, no light paths will be blocked, and obstacles will not be detected. With this embodiment of the opening / closing device, if obstacles are not detected during the trial run, a notification is issued, so the worker can be made aware that the light-shielding means has not yet been attached and prompted to attach it, thus preventing the light-shielding means from being forgotten.

[0012] Preferably, in the opening and closing device according to the above-described embodiment, the obstacle sensing means is provided such that the optical axes of the multiple light-emitting units of the light emitter and the same number of light-receiving units of the light receiver coincide, forming multiple optical paths from the light emitter to the light receiver, and the light-shielding means blocks one of the optical paths when the opening and closing means is in the closed position (for example, by being located near the lowest light-receiving unit and blocking the lowest optical path).

[0013] More preferably, in the opening and closing device according to the above-described embodiment, the control means provides notification during trial operation if, after raising the opening and closing means from the closed position to a height where the light-shielding means does not exceed the uppermost optical axis, it lowers the means for a period of time less than or equal to the time it took to raise it, and no obstacle is detected by the obstacle detection means during that time.

[0014] According to the opening and closing device of this aspect, since notification is performed when an obstacle is not detected within a period during which one of the optical paths should surely be blocked if the light shielding means is attached during the test operation, control related to the notification can be efficiently executed.

[0015] More preferably, in the opening and closing device of any of the above-described aspects, the control means performs notification in a mode appealing to the auditory sense.

[0016] According to the opening and closing device of this aspect, since notification is performed in a mode appealing to the auditory sense (for example, output of a buzzer sound or a voice message, etc.), it is easy to attract the attention of the operator, and it is possible to surely prompt the operator to notice the notification and attach the light shielding means, and it becomes possible to more surely prevent the omission of attaching the light shielding means.

Advantages of the Invention

[0017] According to the present invention, since notification is made when the light shielding plate is not attached during the installation work of the opening and closing device, the operator can be made aware of this and prompted to attach the light shielding plate, thereby preventing the omission of attaching the light shielding plate.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view showing the opening and closing device 1 of one embodiment. [[ID=2S]] [Figure 2] It is a front view of the opening and closing body 10 seen from the indoor side. [Figure 3] It is a figure showing the light receiver 23 and its peripheral part in an enlarged manner. [Figure 4] It is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an electrical control system in the opening and closing device 1. [Figure 5] It is a flowchart showing an example of a limit setting procedure. [Figure 6] It is a figure explaining problems regarding the sensitivity learning of the multi-axis sensor in the comparative example.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are a preferred example of the opening / closing device, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to this example. Also, for ensuring the visibility of the drawings, when there are a plurality of identical components, only some of them may be labeled while the others are not labeled.

[0020] 〔Configuration of the opening / closing device〕 FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an opening / closing device 1 according to an embodiment. The opening / closing device 1 is roughly divided into an opening / closing body 10 that opens and closes an opening formed in the outer wall of a building, multi-optical axis sensors 20 for obstacle detection provided on both sides in the width direction (left and right) of the opening, a drive unit 30 that drives the opening / closing body 10 and controls its operation, a guide unit 40 that guides the opening / closing body 10 driven by the drive unit 30 in a predetermined direction, and an operation unit 50 that receives a user's operation related to the operation of the opening / closing body 10. The opening / closing device 1 is a so-called overhead shutter that slides the opening / closing body 10 to the ceiling part for storage when opened, and is installed in an opening of a structure including a building, for example, an outer wall opening of a building such as a building, a factory, a house, or the inside of a building.

[0021] The opening / closing body 10 is formed by connecting a plurality of horizontally long rectangular panels 11 so as to be rotatable relative to each other, and a plurality of rollers 12 (not shown in FIG. 1) project from each of the left and right ends. The opening / closing body 10 is displaced between a lower limit position in a substantially vertical closed posture and an upper limit position in a substantially horizontal storage posture by guiding these rollers 12 by a guide unit 40 described later, thereby opening and closing the opening. In the following description, the operation of displacing in the direction of the upper limit position, that is, the operation of opening the opening, is referred to as an "opening operation", and the operation of displacing in the direction of the lower limit position, that is, the operation of closing the opening, is referred to as a "closing operation".

[0022] The multi-axis sensor 20 is positioned on both the left and right sides of the opening, slightly offset from the closed opening / closing body 10 towards the indoor side (in the thickness direction of the opening / closing body 10). It consists of a light emitter 21 located on one side of the opening and a light receiver 23 located on the other side, forming a pair. The configuration of the multi-axis sensor 20 will be described further later using another drawing.

[0023] The drive unit 30 includes, for example, an opening / closing controller 31 that houses a motor and a control panel, a power transmission rail 32 that transmits power supplied from the motor, a movable arm 33 with one end movably mounted on the power transmission rail 32 and the other end rotatably attached to the uppermost panel 11a of the opening / closing body 10, and a winding drum 34 that winds up a wire connected to the opening / closing body 10 by power transmitted via the movable arm 33.

[0024] In the power transmission rail 32, the drive-side pulley is positioned closer to the opening / closing controller 31, and the driven-side pulley is positioned closer to the opening. A roller belt is stretched between these pulleys, and this mechanism transmits power from the motor, enabling the reciprocating motion of the movable arm 33 on the power transmission rail 32.

[0025] The winding drum 34 is fixed to both ends of a shaft located inside the case 35 of the lintel section and rotates together with the shaft. Balance springs are provided around the shaft to bias it in the direction of winding the wire. One end of the wire is connected to the winding drum 34, and the other end is connected to the lowest panel 11b of the opening / closing body 10. In other words, the opening / closing body 10 is suspended by the wire.

[0026] The guide unit 40 has a guide rail that is integrally connected to vertical rail sections 41 that stand upright on both the left and right sides of the opening, a curved rail section 42 that curves diagonally upward from the upper end of the vertical rail section 41, and a horizontal rail section 43 that extends approximately parallel to the ceiling from the upper end of the curved rail section 42. Note that the vertical rail section 41 is located inside the guide case 44 and is therefore not shown in Figure 1.

[0027] When the movable arm 33 receives power and moves toward the opening / closing controller 31, the uppermost panel 11a is pulled, and the wire is wound onto the winding drum 34, causing the roller 12 to be guided toward the upper limit position by the guide rail, and the opening / closing body 10 opens. At this time, the biasing force of the balance spring assists the opening operation of the opening / closing body 10. On the other hand, when the movable arm 33 moves toward the opening, the uppermost panel 11a is pushed out, and the wire is unwound from the winding drum 34, causing the roller 12 to be guided toward the lower limit position by the guide rail, and the opening / closing body 10 closes. At this time, the action of the balance spring mitigates the impact and biasing force toward the closing direction due to the closing operation of the opening / closing body 10 and its weight.

[0028] The operating unit 50 consists of, for example, an operating section 51 installed on a wall and a cord 52 for manual switching. The operating section 51 has three buttons corresponding to the open, stop, and close operations when the lid is in the open position. When a user presses any of the buttons, the opening / closing controller 31 controls the opening / closing body 10 according to the user's operation. The cord 52 is provided as a countermeasure in case of a power outage, and by pulling the cord 52, the power transmission mechanism to the movable arm 33 is released, allowing the opening / closing body 10 to be opened and closed manually. Alternatively, or in conjunction with the operating section 51, a wireless remote controller with similar buttons can also be used to receive user operations.

[0029] Figure 2 is a front view of the opening / closing body 10 as seen from the indoor side. To facilitate understanding of the invention, details are simplified in Figure 2, and the upper part is omitted from the illustration. Also, to ensure the visibility of the drawing, the number of light-emitting units 22 and light-receiving units 24 is shown fewer than the actual number.

[0030] As described above, the multi-optical axis sensors 20 are provided at positions slightly offset towards the indoor side from the closed opening / closing bodies 10 on both the left and right sides of the opening. On one side of the opening (the right side in the illustrated example), there is a light emitter 21 with multiple light-emitting units 22 arranged at approximately constant intervals, and on the other side (the left side in the illustrated example), there is a light receiver 23 with the same number of light-receiving units 24 as the light-emitting units 22 arranged at approximately constant intervals. The light emitter 21 and the light receiver 23 are installed so that their respective light-emitting units 22 and light-receiving units 24 face each other and their optical axes coincide.

[0031] The light receiver 23 has a built-in sensor control circuit 25. By emitting a predetermined light (for example, infrared light) from each light emitter 22, multiple light rays B (multiple optical paths from the light emitter 21 to the light receiver 23) are formed between the light emitter 21 and the light receiver 23 at approximately constant intervals in the height direction. If the light rays B are not obstructed, the expected amount of light enters each light receiver 24. However, if a light ray B is obstructed by some object, the amount of light entering the light receiver corresponding to the position of that light ray B decreases. The sensor control circuit 25 detects the change in the amount of light entering, determines the presence or absence of an obstacle based on this, and outputs an obstacle detection signal if it determines that an obstacle is present (obstacle detected). In the following description, the output of the obstacle detection signal may be abbreviated as "detection output," and the input of the obstacle detection signal may be abbreviated as "detection input."

[0032] Furthermore, a light-shielding plate 13 is installed near the light receiver 23 on the lowest panel 11b. The light-shielding plate 13 is provided to control whether or not sensitivity learning of the multi-optical axis sensor 20 is possible, and is large enough to reliably shield at least one entire light-receiving unit 24. The light-shielding plate 13 is attached during the installation of the opening / closing device 1, but in this embodiment, measures have been taken to prevent forgetting to attach the light-shielding plate 13. The measures to prevent forgetting to attach it will be described in detail later with reference to another drawing.

[0033] [Configuration of the multi-optical-axis sensor] Figure 3 is a magnified view of the light receiver 23 and its surrounding area. Figure 3(A) shows the light receiver 23 and its surrounding area when the opening / closing body 10 is not nearby (for example, in the fully open state) (view along the line IV-IV in Figure 2). Figure 3(B) shows the light receiver 23 and its surrounding area when the opening / closing body 10 is close by, and Figure 3(C) shows the light receiver 23 and its surrounding area in the fully closed state (cross-sectional view along the line IV-IV in Figure 2). For the sake of clarity, details of the opening / closing body 10 (such as the protrusions and recesses of each panel 11 and the members connecting adjacent panels) are omitted from the illustration in Figure 3.

[0034] As shown in Figure 3(A), the light receiver 23 is located inside one of the guide cases 44. In this configuration, the vertical rail section 41 can be seen at a position slightly away from the light receiver 23 towards the outside. The light receiver 23 has multiple (e.g., 32) light-receiving sections 24 arranged in a vertical alignment. Correspondingly, the guide case 44 has multiple (e.g., 8) elongated holes 45 arranged in a vertical alignment, with a certain number (e.g., 4) of light-receiving sections 24 exposed from each elongated hole 45. Although not shown in the figure, the light emitter 21 is also located inside the other guide case 44, similar to the light receiver 23, with multiple elongated holes 45 formed therein. The width of the elongated holes 45 is designed to be such that it does not obstruct the spread of light emitted from the light emitter 22.

[0035] The optical axis of the lowest light-receiving section 24b in the light receiver 23 is at a predetermined height H from the surface G that the opening / closing body 10 contacts when fully closed. b (For example, it is located at 150 mm), and the optical axis of the uppermost light-receiving section 24t is at a predetermined height H from the surface G. t It is located at (for example, 1500 mm). The same applies to the positions of the optical axes of the lowermost and uppermost light-emitting sections 22 of the floodlight 21. With this arrangement, the height H b More than H t In the following space, light rays (optical paths) corresponding to the number of light-emitting units 22 will be formed.

[0036] In this state, the multi-axis sensor 20 (more precisely, the sensor control circuit 25) does not produce a detection output unless an object appears that blocks any of the light rays. The multi-axis sensor 20 automatically performs sensitivity learning periodically while all light rays are not blocked. If any of the light rays are blocked, sensitivity learning is disabled.

[0037] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3(B), when the opening / closing body 10 closes, the light-shielding plate 13, one end of which is fixed to the bottom panel 11b, shields the multiple light-receiving units 24 in order from the top light-receiving unit 24t. In the illustrated example, the light-shielding plate 13 is large enough to shield two light-receiving units 24 at the same time, and shields two optical axes at a time from the top. When the light rays are shielded in this order from the top, the multi-optical axis sensor 20 performs blanking control and does not output a sensing signal, considering it not to be shielding due to an obstacle. It only outputs a sensing signal when a light ray located below the light ray directly below the light ray shielded by the light-shielding plate 13 (the light rays shielded in order from top) is shielded.

[0038] Then, as shown in Figure 3(C), the opening / closing body 10 reaches its lower limit position and closes completely when the light-shielding plate 13 shields the lowest light-receiving unit 24b. The multi-optical axis sensor 20 releases the blanking control after a predetermined time has elapsed (for example, 5 seconds) after the lowest light ray is shielded. However, since the light-shielding plate 13 still shields the lowest and the two light-receiving units 24 directly above it and is still blocking the light ray, the multi-optical axis sensor 20 starts to produce a sensing output. This sensing output continues until the opening / closing body 10 starts to open after passing through the fully closed state, and the light-shielding plate 13 exceeds the uppermost light ray and no longer blocks it. Therefore, sensitivity learning of the multi-optical axis sensor 20 is disabled and not performed in the fully closed state. Also, the opening / closing body 10 cannot close until the light-shielding plate 13 has opened to a height above the uppermost light ray.

[0039] [Control system configuration] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electrical control system in the switchgear 1. The switching control unit 31 houses, for example, a control panel 36 and a motor 37, as well as a setting operation unit 39 used for various settings related to the switching device 1.

[0040] The control panel 36 is composed of a microcomputer and is electrically connected to the aforementioned operating unit 51 and sensor control circuit 25 by wire or wireless means. The control panel 36 is equipped with, for example, a drive control circuit 36a that controls the drive of the motor 37, an input / output control circuit 36b that controls the signal input from outside the switch control unit 31 (operating unit 51, sensor control circuit 25), a setting control circuit 36c that controls various settings, and a buzzer 36d that provides notification related to settings.

[0041] The motor 37 is equipped with a limit switch 38 for detecting its rotational position. The limit switch 38 outputs a signal to the drive control circuit 36a indicating the position and state of the opening / closing body 10 according to the rotational position of the motor 37, and notifies the circuit when the opening / closing body 10 reaches the upper limit position or the lower limit position.

[0042] The operation unit 51 outputs an operation signal corresponding to the received operation (pressing any of the open button, stop button, or close button). The operation signal is sent to the drive control circuit 36a via the input / output control circuit 36b. The drive control circuit 36a controls the operation of the opening / closing body 10 by controlling the rotation of the motor 37 based on the operation signal and the signal from the limit switch 38, and stops the opening / closing body 10 when it reaches the upper limit position or the lower limit position.

[0043] The sensor control circuit 25 outputs an obstacle detection signal when it detects an obstacle. The obstacle detection signal is sent to the drive control circuit 36a via the input / output control circuit 36b. In response, the drive control circuit 36a prohibits the closing operation of the opening / closing body 10, and if the opening / closing body 10 is in the closing operation, it stops or reverses and raises the opening / closing body 10. Thus, since the closing operation of the opening / closing body 10 is prohibited in response to the obstacle detection signal, the obstacle detection signal can also be considered a closing operation prohibition signal.

[0044] The setting operation unit 39 consists of multiple operators that receive operations for making various settings related to the switchgear 1, and is used by specialized workers during the installation and maintenance of the switchgear 1. The setting operation unit 39 outputs a setting operation signal to the setting control circuit 36c according to the received operation. In response, the setting control circuit 36c executes the control corresponding to the setting operation signal in cooperation with other circuits, etc.

[0045] The setting control circuit 36c performs control related to limit setting, for example, setting the movable range of the opening / closing body 10 in the installation environment, specifically the upper and lower limit positions. If no obstacle detection signal is input within a predetermined period during a trial run performed after the setting is registered, the setting control circuit 36c assumes that the light shielding plate 13 is not installed and causes the buzzer 36d to output an alert sound.

[0046] [How to set limits] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure for setting limits. During the limit setting process, an operator operates the control elements of the setting operation unit 39 individually or in combination with others in a predetermined manner (for example, by pressing once or holding down), and the setting control circuit 36c executes the corresponding process. In Figure 5, steps involving operator intervention are enclosed in a double frame, while steps automatically executed by the setting control circuit 36c are enclosed in a single frame. The following is an explanation following an example procedure.

[0047] Step S11: An operation is performed to initiate limit setting. This switches the internal state of the switchgear 1 to limit setting mode. Step S12: In limit setting mode, first, an operation is performed to set the upper limit position of the opening / closing body 10. As a result, the opening / closing body 10 rises (=opens) and the upper limit position is set, and the rotation position of the motor 37 corresponding to this is stored in the limit switch 38. Step S13: Next, an operation is performed to set the lower limit position of the opening / closing body 10. As a result, the opening / closing body 10 descends (=closes) to set the lower limit position, and the corresponding rotational position of the motor 37 is stored in the limit switch 38.

[0048] Once the lower limit position is set, the test run of the opening / closing mechanism 10 is automatically initiated. At the start of the test run, the opening / closing mechanism 10 is in the lower limit position.

[0049] Step S14: During the trial run, the opening / closing body 10 first automatically rises from its lower limit position for 5 seconds. This causes the opening / closing body 10 to rise to a height where the light-shielding plate 13 does not exceed the uppermost optical axis. Step S15: Next, the opening / closing body 10 automatically descends for 2 seconds from its position at the end of step S14. As described above, in normal mode, the opening / closing body 10 cannot descend until the light-shielding plate 13 has risen to a height above the uppermost light ray, but in limit setting mode, such control is not performed, so the opening / closing body 10 can descend even after rising in step 14.

[0050] Steps S16 and S17: In step S15, it is checked whether an obstacle detection signal was input while the opening / closing body 10 was descending. If an obstacle detection signal is input (step S16: Yes), step S18 is executed. On the other hand, if no obstacle detection signal is input (step S16: No), notification by buzzer sound is started (step S17).

[0051] Step S18: The opening / closing mechanism 10 automatically rises to its upper limit position. Step S19: Next, the opening / closing body 10 automatically descends to its lower limit position. With this, the trial run of the opening / closing body 10 is completed. Step S20: As the trial run ends, the limit setting mode ends, and if a buzzer sound notification is issued, this also ends at the same time. Then, the internal state of the switchgear 1 switches back to normal mode.

[0052] In this way, in this embodiment, in limit setting mode, after the upper and lower limit positions are set, the opening / closing body 10 is automatically test-driven, and if no sensing input is received within a predetermined period during the test-driven operation (in the above example, during the execution of step S15), a buzzer sound is emitted to notify the worker. This makes the worker aware that the light shielding plate 13 is not installed and prompts them to install the light shielding plate 13, thereby preventing the installation work from being completed without installing the light shielding plate 13.

[0053] The above example procedure can be modified as appropriate depending on the situation. For example, the automatic raising time in step S14 and the automatic lowering time in step S15 are merely examples and are not limited thereto. The automatic raising time should be long enough to allow the opening / closing body 10 to rise from its lower limit position to a height where the light-shielding plate 13 does not exceed the uppermost optical axis, and the automatic lowering time should be less than or equal to the automatic raising time.

[0054] Furthermore, in the above example procedure, the opening / closing body 10 is controlled to descend without restriction in limit setting mode, but the same control as in normal mode may also be performed in limit setting mode. In that case, if the light shielding plate 13 has not yet been installed, the opening / closing body 10 can descend in step S15, and since none of the light receiving units 24 are shielded during that time, no sensing input is generated, and therefore notification can be provided. On the other hand, if the light shielding plate 13 has already been installed, the opening / closing body 10 cannot descend in step S15 and remains in the same position, but at that position the light receiving unit 24 is shielded by the light shielding plate 13 and a sensing input is generated, so notification is not provided.

[0055] Alternatively, the period for checking for the presence or absence of a sensing input may be extended not only to the time of descent (during the execution of step S15), but also to the time from ascent to descent (during the execution of steps S14 and S15), or step S15 may be omitted and the check for whether or not a sensing input occurred during the time of ascent (during the execution of step S14) may be performed.

[0056] Furthermore, instead of starting a test run of the opening / closing body 10 when the lower limit position setting is completed, an operation to register the setting may be added immediately after step S13, and this operation may be used to store the rotational positions of the motor 37 corresponding to the upper and lower limit positions in the limit switch 38 and to start a test run of the opening / closing body 10.

[0057] [Advantages of the present invention] As described above, the following effects can be obtained with the opening / closing device 1 of the embodiment. (1) The opening / closing body 10 is equipped with a light-shielding plate 13, and in the fully closed state, the light-shielding plate 13 shields the lowest light-receiving part 24b and blocks light, thereby disabling the sensitivity learning of the multi-optical axis sensor 20. This prevents the sensitivity learning from being performed when the amount of incoming light, including reflected light from the opening / closing body 10, is inappropriate, and the sensitivity from being adjusted to be overly sensitive, thereby preventing false detections from occurring.

[0058] (2) In limit setting mode, after the worker sets the upper and lower limit positions, the test run of the opening / closing body 10 is automatically started. If no sensing output is made (no sensing input to the control panel 36) within the period during the test run when either of the light receiving units 24 should be shielded by the light shielding plate 13, a buzzer sound is emitted to notify the worker. This alerts the worker that the light shielding plate 13 has not yet been installed and prompts them to install it, thus preventing the installation work from being completed without installing it.

[0059] (3) For example, if notification is given in a way that appeals to the visual sense using lamps or displays, there is a risk that the worker will miss the notification if they are not paying attention to it. In contrast, in this embodiment, notification is given in a way that appeals to the auditory sense using a buzzer sound, making it easier to attract the worker's attention and ensuring that they notice the notification and are prompted to install the light-shielding plate 13.

[0060] (4) Since the light-shielding plate 13 is installed on the lowest panel 11b of the opening / closing body 10, if the opening is closed by about half or more, at least the uppermost light-receiving section 24t can be shielded. Therefore, even when the opening / closing body 10 remains stopped in such a position, that is, when the opening / closing body 10 is not fully closed but is still close to the multi-optical axis sensor 20, the sensitivity learning of the multi-optical axis sensor 20 can be disabled, making it possible to disable sensitivity learning to the maximum extent necessary.

[0061] The present invention can be implemented in various ways without being limited to the embodiments described above.

[0062] In the embodiment described above, three circuits mounted on the control panel 36 perform control according to their respective roles. However, the circuits may be further subdivided, or all processing may be controlled by a single circuit. In addition, a buzzer sound is used to notify the user if the light shielding plate 13 is not installed. However, instead, an audio message prompting the installation of the light shielding plate 13 may be used, or notification may also be provided by lighting the lamp in a special manner.

[0063] In the embodiment described above, the light-shielding plate 13 controls whether or not the sensitivity of the multi-axis sensor 20 can be learned by shielding the lowest light-receiving section 24b. However, the target of sensitivity learning control is not limited to the multi-axis sensor 20. For example, the light-shielding plate 13 can also control whether or not the sensitivity of a single-axis or double-axis photoelectric sensor can be learned by shielding the light-receiving section of the sensor. The above configuration may also be applied to the limit setting of a switchable device equipped with such a photoelectric sensor.

[0064] In the embodiment described above, the light-shielding plate 13 is provided at a position where the closed opening / closing body 10 shields the lowest light-receiving section 24b. However, the light-shielding plate 13 may be provided at a position that covers any other light-receiving section 24 instead. Also, instead of providing the light-shielding plate 13 at a position closer to the light-emitting section 22, it is possible to provide it at a position closer to the light-emitting section 22. In other words, the light-shielding plate 13 can be provided at any point along the optical path from the light emitter 21 to the light receiver 23. However, in order to more reliably block light from entering the light receiver 23 (light-receiving section 24), it is desirable to provide it at a position closer to the light-receiving section 24, and in order to disable sensitivity learning to the maximum extent necessary, it is desirable to provide it at a position that shields the lowest light-receiving section 24b.

[0065] In the embodiment described above, the multi-optical-axis sensor 20 is provided on both the left and right sides of the opening, on the indoor side of the opening / closing body 10 in the closed position. However, in order to further enhance safety when the opening / closing body 10 is closing, the multi-optical-axis sensor 20 may be provided on both the indoor and outdoor sides.

[0066] In the embodiments described above, an overhead type opening and closing device was used as an example. However, the application of the configuration for controlling the possibility of sensitivity learning of the multi-axis sensor is not limited to overhead type opening and closing devices, but can also be applied to other types of opening and closing devices. For example, the above configuration may be applied to so-called winding type opening and closing devices in which an opening and closing body made up of multiple connected slats is wound up and stored around a shaft, to opening and closing devices in which the opening and closing body is stored without being wound up around a shaft (for example, a panel shutter), or to opening and closing devices intended to close only a part of an opening rather than the entire opening (for example, a water-stopping panel that is suspended and moves up and down to close the lower side of an opening).

[0067] In the embodiment described above, an opening / closing device 1 in which an opening / closing body 10 opens and closes in the vertical direction over an opening equipped with multi-optical axis sensors 20 on both the left and right sides was explained as an example. However, it is also possible to apply the above-described configuration for controlling the ability to learn the sensitivity of the multi-optical axis sensors (photoelectric sensors) to an opening / closing device configured with the vertical and horizontal directions reversed, that is, an opening / closing device in which an opening / closing body opens and closes in the horizontal direction over an opening equipped with multi-optical axis sensors on both the vertical and horizontal sides.

[0068] Furthermore, the configurations and numerical values ​​mentioned in the explanation of the opening / closing device 1 are merely preferred examples, and it goes without saying that they can be modified as appropriate when implementing the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0069] 1. Switching device 10 Opening / closing mechanism (opening / closing means) 13 Light shielding plate (light shielding means) 20. Multi-axis optical sensor (obstacle detection means) 21 Floodlight 22. Light-emitting section 23 Receiver 24 Light receiving part 30 Drive Unit 36 Control panel (control means) 40 Guide Units 50 Operating Units

Claims

1. An opening / closing mechanism for opening or closing an opening, An obstacle detection means is provided at a position offset in the thickness direction from the opening and closing means in the closed position on both sides of the opening, and consists of a light emitter on one side and a light receiver on the other side, which detects an obstacle based on a change in the amount of light entering the light receiver, A light-shielding means, one end of which is fixed to the opening / closing means, and which is located in the optical path from the light emitter to the light receiver when the opening / closing means is in the closed position, In the control relating to the setting of the movable range of the opening and closing means, a control means that provides notification if the obstacle is not detected by the obstacle detection means during the trial run of the opening and closing means. A switching device equipped with the following features.

2. In the opening and closing device according to claim 1, The obstacle detection means is The optical axes of the multiple light-emitting units of the light emitter and the same number of light-receiving units of the light receiver are arranged to coincide, and multiple optical paths are formed from the light emitter to the light receiver. The light-shielding means is An opening / closing device characterized in that the opening / closing means blocks one of the optical paths when in a closed position.

3. In the opening and closing device according to claim 2, The control means is An opening / closing device characterized in that, during the aforementioned trial run, if the opening / closing means is raised from a closed position to a height where the light-shielding means does not exceed the uppermost optical axis, and then lowered for a period of time less than or equal to the time of the raising, an alert is issued if the obstacle is not detected by the obstacle detection means.

4. In the opening and closing device according to claim 2 or 3, The light-shielding means is An opening / closing device characterized in that the opening / closing means is located near the lowest light-receiving part when in the closed position, and blocks the lowest light path.

5. In the opening and closing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The control means is An opening / closing device characterized by providing the notification in a manner that appeals to the sense of hearing.

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