Electronic Padlock

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic padlock (1) that reduces the likelihood of accidentally opening the electronic padlock. The electronic padlock according to the present invention comprises a body (2) and a shackle (3). The body has a latch member (4), a cam piece (5), and an electronic actuator (6). The electronic actuator (6) comprises a pivot shaft (7) configured to rotate the cam piece (5) to release the latch member (4) from a locked state. A blocking mechanism (8) is present between the electronic actuator (6) and the cam piece (5). The blocking mechanism operatively connects the pivot shaft (7) of the electronic actuator (6) to the cam piece (5) so as to allow it to be rotated by the electronic actuator (6) and to prevent any other rotation of the cam piece (5) relative to the body (2).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic padlock, in particular an electronic padlock in which an electronic actuator is configured to rotate a cam piece to release a latch part from a locked state, whereby the electronic padlock can be opened. [Background technology]

[0002] Prior art electronic padlocks often use electronic actuators to open the lock. Electronic padlocks can receive the opening code in different ways depending on how they are implemented. The opening code can be entered into the electronic padlock from a mobile phone, for example, via a Bluetooth connection or via some other wireless network. RFID or NFC technology can also be used. The electronic padlock can also have a keyboard or touch screen for entering the opening code, or the lock has, for example, a fingerprint identifier. When the correct opening code is entered into the electronic padlock, an electronic actuator in the lock releases the lock, thereby allowing the padlock to be opened. When the lock is released, the padlock shackle can be moved from a closed position to an open position, i.e. the padlock can be opened.

[0003] The electronic actuator may be, for example, an electric motor configured to rotate a cam piece of a padlock. The cam piece is the part that holds the latch part against the corresponding hole in the shackle when the padlock is locked. When the electronic padlock receives the correct opening code, the electronic actuator rotates the cam piece (usually 90 degrees) so that the recess in the cam piece is next to the latch part. Thus, the latch part can move away from the corresponding hole in the shackle, i.e. the locked state is released and the electronic padlock can be opened. When the electronic padlock is locked, the shackle is in the closed position and the electronic actuator rotates the cam piece to the locked position, thereby holding the latch part against the corresponding hole in the shackle. The latch part is usually a ball.

[0004] In such electronic padlocks, the rotation of the cam piece can only be limited by the internal friction of the electronic actuator or its gears, so that by tapping the electronic padlock, the cam piece can be rotated accidentally, so that the electronic padlock is no longer locked and can be opened.

[0005] WO2018 / 184070 presents one implementation of an electronic padlock in which a coil spring influences the rotation of a cam piece. In this solution, the coil spring strives to hold the cam piece in a locked position. In the WO published solution, there is a blocking piece and a rotating knob associated with an electronic actuator. When the blocking piece is released from the blocking position with the help of the electronic actuator, the rotating knob can be manually rotated to rotate the cam piece and open the electronic padlock. Thus, in this solution, the cam piece is manually rotated against the coil spring to open the lock.

[0006] WO2017 / 097186 is an electronic padlock having a blocking mechanism with a solenoid WO2019 / 119631 describes a blocking mechanism having a plate with a cavity. CN205 531 813 also discloses an electronic padlock having a clutch mechanism. The present invention discloses an electronic padlock having a Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an electronic padlock which reduces the possibility of an erroneous opening of the electronic padlock or even eliminates the possibility of an erroneous opening. This is achieved in the manner presented in the independent claims. The dependent claims present different embodiments of the invention.

[0008] The electronic padlock according to the invention comprises a body and a shackle. The body has a latch part, a cam piece and an electronic actuator. The electronic actuator comprises a pivot shaft configured to rotate the cam piece to release the latch part from the locked state and also to rotate the cam piece to hold the latch part in the locked state. In the locked state, the latch part prevents the shackle from being moved to open the electronic padlock. Between the electronic actuator and the cam piece, in the direction of the pivot shaft of the electronic actuator, there is a blocking mechanism. The blocking mechanism operatively connects the pivot shaft of the electronic actuator to the cam piece to allow it to be rotated by the electronic actuator and to prevent any other rotation of the cam piece relative to the body.

[0009] The blocking mechanism includes a locking plate, a latch piece, and a driver. The locking plate is connected to a pivot shaft of the electric actuator. The locking plate has a periphery with a release recess. The locking plate is also configured to rotate relative to the driver. The driver has a torsion protrusion connected to the cam piece. The driver also has a hole in which the latch piece is disposed and the body has a recess for the latch piece.

[0010] The blocking mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the cam piece when the latch piece is partially in the recess and partially in the driver bore, and the periphery of the locking plate prevents the latch piece from moving toward the pivot shaft. The blocking mechanism is also configured to allow rotation of the cam piece to allow the latch piece to move toward the pivot shaft when the electronic actuator rotates the pivot shaft to rotate the release recess of the locking plate into the driver bore. Further rotation of the pivot shaft by the electronic actuator rotates the driver and its connected cam piece in addition to the locking plate.

[0011] The blocking mechanism additionally includes a spring supported on the driver, the spring having a spring head, and the locking plate includes a hole for the spring head, and when the latch piece is partially in the recess and partially in the hole in the driver, the spring head is in the hole and a peripheral edge of the locking plate prevents the latch piece from moving toward the pivot shaft.

[0012] In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 shows an embodiment of an electronic padlock according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 shows an embodiment of an electronic actuator, a blocking mechanism, and a cam piece of an electronic padlock according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] 2 from a different angle. [Figure 4] 2 shows a partial cross-section of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the electronic padlock in a locked state. [Diagram 5] 2 shows a partial cross-section of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the electronic padlock unlocked; [Figure 6] 1 shows an embodiment of a blocking mechanism. [Figure 7] 1 shows an embodiment of parts of an electronic padlock according to the present invention. [Figure 8] 7 is shown from a different angle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an electronic padlock 1 according to the invention. The electronic padlock according to the invention comprises a body 2 and a shackle 3. The body has a latch part 4, a cam piece 5 and an electronic actuator 6. The electronic actuator comprises a pivot shaft 7 (FIG. 7) configured to rotate the cam piece 5 to release the latch part 4 from the locked state and also to rotate the cam piece 5 to hold the latch part 4 in the locked state. In the locked state, the latch part 4 prevents the shackle 3 from being moved to open the electronic padlock. FIG. 1 shows the locked state. When the cam piece is rotated (usually by or about 90 degrees), the recess 25 of the cam piece faces the latch part. The latch part can thus move away from the recess 26 of the shackle 3 and the shackle can be pulled out of the body 2. When the shackle is moved away from the body 2, the loop between the shackle and the body opens, i.e. the electronic padlock is therefore opened. FIG. 4 shows a partial cross section along line L of the electronic padlock 1 in the locked state, and FIG. 5 shows the same in the unlocked state.

[0015] FIG. 1 also shows other parts of the electronic padlock, such as a sealing ring 27 in the shackle opening 28 (FIG. 7), a mounting part 29, and a communication part 30. The mounting part holds the electronic actuator 6, the blocking mechanism 8, and the cam piece 5 in the body 2 well, as intended for these parts. The communication part 30 comprises, for example, an RFID part, a Bluetooth part, or another part for receiving the opening code for the electronic padlock, and possibly also for transmitting information about the status and operation of the electronic padlock. The communication part is connected to the electronic actuator 6 via a connection part 31. If the opening code is correct, the electronic actuator can function to open the lock. A power source, such as a battery, and control electronics can also be arranged in connection to the communication part. However, a power source (e.g. a battery) can also be arranged in connection to the electronic actuator 6, as can the control electronics.

[0016] Therefore, Fig. 1 does not show all the components of the electronic padlock, and as can be seen, the electronic padlock can be realized in many different ways. The communication components can be arranged in different ways with respect to the body 2, for example, and can have a keyboard or a touch screen, or a fingerprint identification unit. The electronic padlock can also have different identification units for detecting the state and operation of the lock. Fig. 1 strives to show the necessary components of the present invention.

[0017] Between the electronic actuator 6 and the cam piece 5, in the direction of the pivot shaft 7 of the electronic actuator, there is a blocking mechanism 8. The blocking mechanism 8 operatively connects the pivot shaft 7 of the electronic actuator to the cam piece 5 so as to rotate it by the electronic actuator 6 and to prevent any other rotation of the cam piece 5 relative to the body 2. Figures 2 and 3 show the arrangement of the electronic actuator 6, the cam piece 5 and the blocking mechanism 8 on the same axis A, i.e. in the direction of the pivot shaft 7 of the electronic actuator.

[0018] FIG. 6 shows one embodiment of the blocking mechanism. The blocking mechanism 8 comprises a locking plate 9, a latch piece 10, and a driver 11. The locking plate 9 is connected to the pivot shaft 7 of the electronic actuator. The locking plate has a periphery 13 with a release recess 12. The locking plate 9 is also configured to rotate relative to the driver 11. The driver has a torsion protrusion 14 that is connected to the cam piece 5. The driver 11 also has a hole 15 in which the latch piece 10 is located, and the body 2 has a recess 16 for the latch piece 10. The recess 16 can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0019] Figures 4 and 5 show the operation of the blocking mechanism and, at the same time, the locking and unlocking of the electronic padlock. In Figure 4, the electronic padlock is locked. In Figure 5, the lock is released and the electronic padlock can be opened. The blocking mechanism 8 is configured to prevent the rotation of the cam piece 5 when the latch piece 10 is partly in the recess 16 and partly in the driver hole 15 (Figure 1), and the peripheral edge 13 of the locking plate 9 prevents the latch piece 10 from moving towards the pivot shaft 7. The driver 11 cannot rotate, and therefore the cam piece 5 cannot rotate either due to the torsion projection 14.

[0020] The blocking mechanism 8 is also configured to allow the cam piece 5 to rotate and the latch piece 10 to move towards the pivot shaft 7 when the electronic actuator 6 rotates the release recess 12 of the lock plate 9 to the driver hole 15 by rotating the pivot shaft 7. Further rotation of the pivot shaft 7 by the electronic actuator 6 rotates the driver 11 and the cam piece 5 connected thereto in addition to the lock plate 9. FIG. 5 shows such a situation where the driver 11 is also rotated. Since the driver is via a torsion protrusion connected to the cam piece 5, the cam piece is also rotated, so that the recess 25 of the cam piece faces the latch part 10. Thus, the latch part can move away from the recess 26 of the shackle 3 and the shackle can be withdrawn from the body 2.

[0021] The blocking mechanism 8 additionally comprises a spring 17 supported on the driver 11, the spring having a spring head 18 (figures 7 and 8). The spring is made of a metal suitable for the purpose. The locking plate 9 comprises a hole 19 (figure 6) for the spring head 18. When the latch piece 10 is partly in the recess 16 and partly in the hole 15 of the driver, the spring head 18 is in the hole and the rim 13 of the locking plate prevents the latch piece 10 from moving towards the pivot shaft 7. The electronic padlock is thus locked. If someone tries to open the electronic padlock accidentally, for example by tapping, the spring 17 tries to prevent a rotation of the locking plate 9 that could be caused by the tapping or other vibrations and other modalities. The spring therefore tries to hold the locking plate in the position of figure 4, i.e. to keep the electronic padlock locked, and to prevent rotation of the locking plate in both directions. Therefore, the direction of the tapping or vibration does not matter.

[0022] Additionally, the construction of the blocking mechanism is also such that it is very unlikely that vibrations and impacts would otherwise be able to rotate the locking plate 9 sufficiently to open the electronic padlock. The locking plate must first be rotated so that the release recess 12 is near the driver's hole 15, and then the driver rotates further so that the recess 25 of the cam piece 5 is towards the latch piece 10. The spring also serves to hold the support plate in its radially defined position. This is advantageous, especially if the shaft 7 of the electronic padlock is somehow damaged.

[0023] From figures 4 to 6 it can be seen that on the periphery 13 of the locking plate there may be a protrusion 20 which points away from the pivot shaft 7. The protrusion is used to transmit torque from the locking plate 9 to the driver 11 (and also as a latch piece, especially when rotating the locking plate in the locking direction). The protrusion can also be used with a sensor / switch 32 to detect the state of the lock (e.g. when it is locked). The protrusion also forms a support for the locking plate 9 relative to the body 2.

[0024] It can also be seen from Figure 6 that the driver 11 has a support surface 21 for the spring 17. The opposing support surface 21A of the spring rests against the support surface. It can be seen that as the driver is rotated, the spring 17 remains in place relative to the driver 11. It can also be seen that when the locking plate is rotated away from the locked position (the position of Figure 4), the head 18 of the spring is not in the hole 19 in the locking plate.

[0025] From figures 6 and 8 it can be seen that the driver 11 can have mounting protrusions 22, 23 for the locking plate 9. Protrusion 23 is larger than protrusion 22 in the embodiment shown. The locking plate 9 is placed between protrusions 22 and 23. Protrusion 23 also supports a spring. The mounting protrusions 22, 23 therefore facilitate the mounting of the parts relative to one another.

[0026] It can be seen that the electronic padlock according to the invention can be implemented in many different ways. For example, the shaft 7 of the electronic actuator, which is shown in the embodiment shown as a cross, can have another shape. The illustrated shaft 7 is implemented in such a way that it extends from the electronic actuator 6 and can be placed in a shaft-shaped hole 24. The hole is present in the center of the locking plate 9 for the pivot shaft. It is of course also possible that the shaft 7 of the electronic actuator forms a recess of another shape, into which a correspondingly shaped protrusion of the locking plate is placed.

[0027] The electronic actuator 6 can be an electric motor or a solenoid. Using an electric motor is usually more direct, but rotating the lock plate can also be done with a solenoid. The electronic actuator 6 therefore has some kind of power transmission to transfer the movement of the solenoid (such as the movement of the peg of the solenoid) to a movement that rotates the shaft 7.

[0028] The latch piece 10 is a ball or a roller. The length and width of the rollers are the same or approximately the same. Thus, the blocking mechanism 8 does not occupy unnecessary space in the direction of the shaft 7 of the electronic actuator, and the blocking mechanism can fit into a relatively small space. Additionally, from Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 one can see a sensor / switch 32 with which the rotation of the locking plate 9 can be detected. This information can be used to detect the state of the electronic padlock. Additionally, it can be used to lock the electronic padlock. The electronic padlock is locked such that the shackle is moved towards the body 2 to form a closed loop with the body. This can be detected, for example, with the help of a possibly second sensor (not shown in the figures). A code can also be entered into the electronic padlock to lock the lock via the communication part 30. Information about the desire to lock the electronic padlock is sent, for example as a control command, to the electronic actuator 6, which rotates the shaft 7 and thus brings the locking plate and the driver 11 into the locked state. The locked state can be seen in Figs. 1 and 4.

[0029] The solution according to the invention effectively prevents accidental rotation of the cam piece 5 if the internal structure of the electronic actuator 6 is unable to hold the lock. The solution effectively prevents accidental rotation of the cam piece 5 away from the locked position, for example by tapping or heating the electronic padlock. Heating can damage parts of the electronic actuator, and the cam piece can then rotate more freely.

[0030] The electronic padlock according to the invention can be realized in many different ways, as can be discerned from the above specification, and therefore the invention is not limited to the examples presented herein, but can be implemented in different ways within the scope of the independent claims.

Claims

1. An electronic padlock, comprising a body (2) and a shackle (3), the body having a latch part (4), a cam piece (5), and an electronic actuator (6), the electronic actuator having a pivot shaft (7) configured to rotate the cam piece (5) to release the latch part (4) from a locked state and to rotate the cam piece (5) to hold the latch part (4) in the locked state, the latch part (4) being in a locked state when the shackle (3) is and preventing the electronic padlock from being moved to open the electronic padlock, and between the electronic actuator (6) and the cam piece (5) there is a blocking mechanism (8) in the direction of the pivot shaft (7) of the electronic actuator, the blocking mechanism (8) functionally connecting the pivot shaft (7) of the electronic actuator to the cam piece (5), to rotate the cam piece (5) by the electronic actuator (6) and to prevent any other rotation of the cam piece (5) relative to the body (2); the blocking mechanism (8) comprises a locking plate (9), a latch piece (10) and a driver (11), the locking plate (9) is connected to the pivot shaft (7) of the electronic actuator, the locking plate having a peripheral portion (13) with a release recess (12), the locking plate (9) being configured to rotate relative to the driver (11); The driver has a torsion projection (14) connected to the cam piece (5), the driver (11) has a hole (15) in which the latch piece (10) is disposed, and the body (2) has a recess (16) for the latch piece (10); The blocking mechanism (8) is configured to prevent rotation of the cam piece (5) when the latch piece (10) is partially in the recess (16) and partially in the hole (15) of the driver, and the peripheral portion (13) of the locking plate (9) prevents the latch piece (10) from moving toward the pivot shaft (7), and the blocking mechanism (8) is configured to allow rotation of the cam piece (5) and allow the latch piece (10) to move toward the pivot shaft (7) when the electronic actuator (6) rotates the pivot shaft (7) to rotate the release recess (12) of the locking plate (9) to the hole (15) of the driver, whereby the peripheral portion (13) of the locking plate provides a protrusion (2) away from the pivot shaft (7) for transmitting torque from the locking plate (9) to the driver (11). 0), whereby, when the pivot shaft (7) is further rotated by the electronic actuator (6), in addition to the lock plate (9), the driver (11) and the cam piece (5) connected thereto also rotate; said blocking mechanism (8) further comprising a spring (17) supported on said driver (11), said spring having a spring head (18), said locking plate (9) comprising a hole (19) for said spring head (18), said spring head (18) being in said hole when said latch piece (10) is partially in said recess (16) and partially in said driver hole (15), said spring head (18) being in said hole and said peripheral edge (13) of said locking plate preventing said latch piece (10) from moving towards said pivot shaft (7).

2. 2. The electronic padlock according to claim 1, characterized in that the latch piece (10) is a ball or a roller, the length and width of the roller being the same or approximately the same.

3. 3. An electronic padlock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the peripheral edge (13) of the locking plate has a protrusion (20) that extends away from the pivot shaft (7).

4. 4. Electronic padlock according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the driver (11) has a support surface (21) for the spring (17).

5. 5. Electronic padlock according to claim 4, characterized in that the driver has mounting projections (22, 23) for the locking plate (9).

6. Electronic padlock according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in the central part of the locking plate (9) there is a hole (24) for the pivot shaft.

7. Electronic padlock according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the electronic actuator (6) is an electric motor or a solenoid.

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