Movement system for roto-translatable members

Abstract

1. Movement system for roto-translatable members is described, comprising a guide, a row of N roto-translatable elements, N >= 2, which extend along a vertical axis, are coupled to the guide so that the vertical axis can slide along the guide, each roto- translatable element can rotate with respect to the guide about the vertical axis, and the roto-translatable members can move from a first position in which they are substantially packed one against the other to a second position in which they are coplanar and adjacent to form a barrier. There are also (N-1) connecting members, each connected between two points of two adjacent roto-translatable members in such a way as to rigidly constrain the distance between the two roto-translatable members so that, following the displacement of a roto-translatable member, through the (N-1) connecting members, a torque is generated at said points directed at rotating the roto-translatable members towards the second position as the distance between the vertical axes of the roto- translatable members increases, or a torque is generated at said points directed at rotating the roto-translatable members towards the first position as the distance between the vertical axes of the roto-translatable members decreases.

Description

[0001] Movement System for Roto-translatable Members

[0002] The invention refers to a movement system for roto-translatable members, which may be for example panels, doors, fixtures, grids, gates or other.

[0003] Interior partitions, taken here as an example, have long been known. US9303445 discloses a bellows-like folding model, other models are composed of book-like folding leaves. In general, when the panels are not moved by complicated mechanisms, manual intervention is required which is often inconvenient or must be repeated several times to complete the opening and closing of the partition. The simplicity of the partition's construction entails inconvenience of use, and the convenience of use entails construction complexity instead.

[0004] Another disadvantage is that the leaves, while they are being packed, do not maintain mutual alignment; thus there is a risk of jamming and the aesthetic appearance suffers.

[0005] What would then be needed is a partition that is easy to use but structurally simple.

[0006] The main object of the invention is to improve this state of the art.

[0007] A particular object is to create a motion system for roto-translatable members that is easy to use but structurally simple.

[0008] The invention is defined in the attached claims, wherein the dependent claims define advantageous variants, and refers to a movement system for roto-translatable members, comprising:

[0009] - a guide,

[0010] - a row of N roto-translatable members, N >= 2, which extend along a vertical (e.g. central) axis, are coupled (e.g. hung) to the guide so that the vertical axis can slide along the guide, each roto-translatable member can rotate relative to the guide about the vertical axis, and the roto-translatable members can move from a first position wherein they are substantially (preferably parallel to each other and) packed one against the other to a second position wherein they are coplanar and adjacent to form a barrier,

[0011] - (N-1 ) connecting members, each connected between two (e.g. fixed) points of two adjacent roto-translatable members so as to rigidly constrain the distance between the two roto-translatable members so that, following the displacement of a roto-translatable member, through the (N-1) connecting members a torque is generated at said points aimed at rotating the roto-translatable members towards the second position as the distance between the vertical axes of the roto-translatable members increases, or a torque is generated at said points aimed at rotating the roto-translatable members towards the first position as the distance between the vertical axes of the roto-translatable members decreases.

[0012] With this structure it is easy to move the entire set of N roto-translatable members, to overlap or extend them, by acting only, even manually, on a single roto-translatable member.

[0013] Another advantage is that the N roto-translatable members can be packed in a coordinated and synchronized way thanks to the telescopic structure formed by the roto- translatable members and the connecting members. In particular, each roto-translatable member is a member with a substantially parallelepiped shape, and as such comprises - in use - an upper side and a lower side.

[0014] The N roto-translatable members can be divided into (N-1 ) pairs of adjacent roto- translatable members, each pair comprising by definition a first and second roto- translatable member.

[0015] In a preferred variant, the vertical axis of one or each roto-translatable member is a median axis of the roto-translatable member or an axis passing through the barycenter of the roto-translatable member.

[0016] In a preferred variant, the guide is a guide above the roto-translatable members and the roto-translatable members are suspended from the guide. Thus the weight of each roto-translatable member tends to keep it vertical and to correct accidental swerves.

[0017] In another preferred variant, the guide is a guide below the roto-translatable members and the roto-translatable members are mounted slidably on - and supported by - the lower guide. In this way the guide takes up less space, can rest e.g. on the floor or a support surface, and less anchors are needed to fix it in position.

[0018] In another preferred variant, the roto-translatable members are slidably suspended from an upper guide and simultaneously slidably mounted on a lower guide.

[0019] In the following, guide will be referred to while meaning the upper guide, the lower guide, or both.

[0020] In a preferred variant, the partition comprises an anchoring member to constrain a fixed point of one of the two panels located at the beginning of the row, called the tail panel, to a point on the guide, called the tail point. The tail panel thus constrained can slide only a little, and the panels can form the partition in a more precise position. Furthermore, when the opposite head panel is moved away, the anchoring member facilitates the unfolding of the panels by generating a torque on the tail panel.

[0021] The tail point may be a point on the guide having an unalterable position or a changeable and lockable position along the guide (so that the tail point can be moved along the guide and then permanently locked there).

[0022] The connecting members and / or the anchoring member are rigid members, for construction simplicity and to constantly define said distance; in some variants they may also be of elastically variable length.

[0023] In a preferred variant of constructional simplicity, the connecting members and / or the anchoring member are linear segments.

[0024] In a preferred variant, the connecting members are linear segments that have all the same length, and said points are placed on each panel at the same distance from the vertical axis, to cause all the panels to rotate by the same angle as they slide on the guide.

[0025] In a preferred variant, one or each connecting member is constrained to said points on the first and second panel of each pair only by two respective hinges with a vertical hinging axis (which is parallel to the vertical axes of the panels).

[0026] In a preferred variant, the anchoring member is constrained to the guide and the tail panel only by two respective hinges with a vertical hinging axis (which is parallel to the vertical axes of the panels).

[0027] In an even more preferred variant, the anchoring member is a linear segment having two ends, each hinged to the tail panel and to a point on the guide via a hinge with a vertical hinging axis (which is parallel to the vertical axes of the roto-translatable members).

[0028] In an even more preferred variant, the connecting members are linear segments having two ends, each hinged by means of a hinge with a vertical hinging axis (axis which is parallel to the vertical axes of the roto-translatable members) respectively to a point of the first roto-translatable member and to a point of the second roto-translatable member.

[0029] In particular, each pair of roto-translatable members is constrained by a single connecting member placed between a fixed point of the first roto-translatable member and a fixed point of the second roto-translatable member, wherein each fixed point is equally eccentric with respect to the vertical axis of the roto-translatable member.

[0030] One or each connecting member may be coupled to the respective pair of panels in various ways, e.g.: mounted to cross the guide when the panels are in the first position and to arrange itself parallel to the guide when the panels are in the second position, or mounted to always remain parallel to the guide when the panels are in the first position, in the second position and in every position between these two.

[0031] In a preferred variant, the first roto-translatable member and the second roto- translatable member of each pair have a horizontal side, wherein such two horizontal sides lie substantially in a same horizontal plane, and the connecting members are connected (e.g. only) to such horizontal sides. In a preferred variant, the roto-translatable tail member has its own horizontal side, and the anchoring member is connected to such horizontal side. E.g. such horizontal side is the upper side of the roto-translatable member, the one which would be the closest to the upper guide (if any), or the lower side, the one which would be closest to the lower guide (if any).

[0032] In a preferred variant, the anchoring member is half as long as a connecting member.

[0033] In a preferred variant, the partition comprises other

[0034] (M-1 ) connecting members, M = N, mounted to constrain each pair of adjacent roto- translatable members like the (N-1) connecting members, wherein the (N-1) connecting members are connected to the upper edges of the roto- translatable members, and the (M-1 ) connecting members are connected to the opposite lower edges of the roto-translatable members, or vice versa.

[0035] In an even more preferred variant, each of the (N-1 ) connecting members is connected to each of the (M-1 ) connecting members placed between the same pair of roto-translatable members by a vertical rigid member.

[0036] In a preferred variant, with improved stability for the movement of the roto- translatable members, one or each connecting member has a vertical rotation axis passing through an intermediate point of the connecting member; preferably such point is intermediate to said ends of the linear segment.

[0037] The vertical rotation axis is constrained to slide horizontally along a trajectory corresponding to the sliding trajectory of the roto-translatable members.

[0038] In a preferred variant, the anchoring member is constrained to the tail roto- translatable member by means of a hinge with a vertical hinging axis (which is parallel to the vertical axes of the roto-translatable members).

[0039] Preferably the guide is straight, but in some variations the guide may be curved.

[0040] In a preferred variant, the guide is a tubular guide. In particular, the tubular guide internally houses N skids connected respectively to the N roto-translatable members to let the N roto-translatable members slide and rotate with respect to the tubular guide. One or each skid comprises, for example, one or more rolling members, such as wheels, or a magnetic levitation skid (e.g. the one described in WO201 7216656, W02020044199 or WO2021111376).

[0041] In particular, the tubular guide internally houses (N-1 ) skids connected respectively to the (N-1 ) connecting members to let the (N-1 ) connecting members slide and rotate with respect to the tubular guide.

[0042] In a preferred variant, the tubular guide is provided with a surface groove, one or each roto-translatable member and / or one or each connecting member comprising a protruding member, e.g. a pin or a shaft, slidably and rotatably housed in the groove.

[0043] In a more preferred variant, to improve the sliding of the roto-translatable member, on the protruding member there is mounted at least one rolling member with a horizontal rotation axis adapted to roll on a track which is internal to the guide and has a horizontal surface, and / or at least one rolling member with a vertical rotation axis adapted to roll on a track which is internal to the guide and has a vertical surface.

[0044] In a variant, the roto-translatable members are panels or doors or dividing partitions or darkening septa.

[0045] In a variant, the roto-translatable members are all equal, and / or said horizontal side of each roto-translatable member has the same longitudinal length (i.e. said horizontal sides of the roto-translatable members have the same longitudinal length).

[0046] In a variant, said vertical axis is central, that is, in all the roto-translatable members such axis substantially coincides with the vertical centerline of the roto-translatable member itself.

[0047] In a more preferred variant the connecting members all have the same length.

[0048] In a more preferred variant, said points of two adjacent roto-translatable members are positioned at the same radial distance from the vertical axis of the roto-translatable members.

[0049] In a more preferred variant, the anchoring member is half the length of a connecting member.

[0050] Preferably a roto-translatable member has lateral sides that comprise a vertical step complementary to the lateral side of an adjacent roto-translatable member and / or to the cross-section of the vertical rigid member.

[0051] In this text relative adjectives such as upper and lower refer to the components of the system as in use.

[0052] The advantages of the invention will be made clearer from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the system, with reference to the attached drawing in which:

[0053] • Fig. 1 shows a three-dimensional top view of the system,

[0054] • Fig. 2 shows a three-dimensional bottom view of the system,

[0055] • Figs. 3-5 show successive operating configurations for panels of the system,

[0056] • Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the VI-VI plane of fig. 5.

[0057] In the drawings, equal numbers indicate equal parts, and in order not to crowd the drawings in some figures some members have not been numbered.

[0058] The MC system comprises an upper guide 10 with longitudinal X-axis.

[0059] A row of two or more roto-translatable members, e.g. panels 40, is suspended from the guide 10. The panels 40, which are e.g. doors or dividing partitions or darkening septa, comprise an upper side 42, a lower side 44, and two lateral sides 46.

[0060] In the figures the number and shape of the panels 40 and related functional accessories is only exemplary. For simplicity of explanation in the row we indicate a head panel 96 and a tail panel 94.

[0061] The panels 40 extend along a central vertical axis Y1 and at the top are extended by an axial pin 43 inserted in a lower groove 12 of the guide 10. By means of the pin 43 the panels 40 can slide in the groove 12 along X and also rotate about the Y1 axis.

[0062] In the illustrated variant, the Y1 axis of one or each panel 40 is a median axis or an axis passing through the barycenter of the panel, but not necessarily.

[0063] In a pair of adjacent panels 40 there are two free upper sides 42, one side for each panel 40 of the pair. Between and on the two upper sides 42 of each pair a rigid segment 60 is mounted.

[0064] Each segment 60 is a straight rigid member and has two opposite ends 62, 64. Each end 62, 64 is hinged to the respective upper side 42 about a vertical Y2 axis, parallel to the Y1 axis.

[0065] To improve the movement stability of the panels 40, even their lower sides 44 are preferably constrained like the sides 42. The segments on the lower sides 44 are referred to as segments 66 and have the same structure, connection and function as the segments 60.

[0066] The guide 10 may be replaced or assisted by a guide that supports the panels from below, in correspondence with the segments 66.

[0067] For symmetry of operation the segments 60, 66 preferably all have the same length and said fixed points are positioned at the same radial distance from the Y1 axis in all the panels 40.

[0068] To improve stability and stiffen the MC system, preferably each homologous pair of segments 60, 66 (connected to two same adjacent panels 40) is connected by a vertical bar 98.

[0069] The upper side 42 of the tail panel 94 is constrained to the guide 10 by a linear segment 92 having two opposite ends 90, 88. The end 88 is pivotally pivoted on the upper side 42 about an Y3 axis parallel to the Y1 axis, where the Y3 axis is as far from the Y1 axis as the Y2 axis is from the Y1 axis. The end 90 is pivoted, pivotally about an Y4 axis parallel to the Y1 axis, at a fixed point of the groove 12 or at a point of the groove 12 which can advantageously be moved along the guide 10 and then locked in that position.

[0070] The segment 92 is preferably half as long as the segment 60.

[0071] To improve the stability of movement, preferably also the lower side 44 of the tail panel 94 is constrained to the guide 10 by a segment 87, equal to the segment 92.

[0072] To improve stability and stiffen the MC system, a vertical bar 98 is preferably connected between the pair of segments 92, 87, e.g. at the Y4 axis.

[0073] To facilitate the kinematics described below (see Figs. 3 - 5), preferably each segment 60 is also slidably pivoted in the groove 12 like the panels 40 (see also Fig. 6). From the center of a segment 60 extends a pin 84 mounted slidably and rotatably, about an Y5 axis parallel to the Y1 axis, in the groove 12.

[0074] From the above it is understood that, through the segments 60, 66, the panels 40 are all constrained to each other and the movement of one panel 40 affects that of the other. It follows that when the head panel 96 moves towards the tail panel 94, the panels 40 approach each other and can arrange themselves (fig. 3) in a configuration in which they are packed, or almost packed, one against the other. Note that the entire row of panels 40 can be moved by operating only the tail panel 94 (if this is done manually there is the advantage that the user practically can remain stationary in place).

[0075] As the head panel 96 approaches the tail panel 94 along X, the segments 60, 66 act with two effects:

[0076] - the relative distance between the Y1 (and Y5) axes gradually decreases and the panels 40 group together on a portion of the guide 10; and

[0077] - at the same time, the panels 40 rotate about the Y1 axis (clockwise in fig. 3 and 4) and the segments 60, 66 rotate about the Y5 axis in the opposite direction (anticlockwise in fig. 3 and 4) to increase the angle they form with respect to the guide 10. Namely, the panels 40 and the segments 60, 66 rotate towards the position of perpendicularity with respect to the guide 10. The rotation occurs by a torque generated by the chain of segments 60, 66.

[0078] As the head panel 96 instead moves away from the tail panel 94, the head panel 96 slides within the groove 12. The segment 60 coupled to the head panel 96 pulls the adjacent panel 40 (the second in the row), and the adjacent panel 40 pulls the preceding panel 40 (the third in the row) via its segment 60, and so on.

[0079] As the head panel 96 moves away from the tail panel 94 along X, the segments 60, 66 act with two effects:

[0080] - the panels 40 distribute themselves along the guide 10 so that the relative distance between the Y1 (and Y5) axes gradually increases and,

[0081] - at the same time, the panels 40 rotate about the Y1 axis (counterclockwise in fig. 3 and 4) to align themselves with the guide 10 (fig. 4) thanks to a torque generated by the chain of segments 60, 66, which rotate about the Y5 axis in the opposite direction to the panels 40 to also align themselves with the guide 10 (clockwise in fig. 3 and 4).

[0082] When the head panel 96 has reached its end-of-travel position, where it is maximally distant from the tail panel 94, the panels 40 are all coplanar and form a partition surface (fig. 5). At the same time the segments 60, 66 have all become parallel to each other and to the guide 10.

[0083] Note that, thanks to the construction geometry, during the conversion from fig. 3 to fig. 5 and vice versa, the panels 40 always remain parallel to each other and the segments 60, 66 also always remain parallel to each other. That is to say, the panels 40 and the segments 60, 66 rotate synchronously and in the same direction of rotation while they translate along the guide 10; the direction of rotation is reversed when the direction of translation is reversed. Furthermore, the ends 62, 64 always remain aligned on a respective straight line parallel to the X axis.

[0084] It is evident that the MC system allows all the panels 40 to be moved easily, by moving only one of the panels 40, and synchronizing the translational and rotary motion of all the panels 40. That is, the head panel 96 can be moved with respect to the tail panel 94 to drag all the others. Or only the tail panel 94 can be translated to move all the other panels 40 in the row. If a person manually moves the tail panel 94, that person does not even need to take a step.

[0085] Advantageously, by moving the anchoring point of the segments 92 along the guide 10 in correspondence with the end 88 (the above-defined tail point), it is possible to change the end-of-travel position of the head panel 96 or move all the panels 40 together when they are packed. Preferably the sides 46 of a panel 40 comprise a vertical step 82 complementary to the side 46 of the adjacent panel 40 and / or to the cross-section of the vertical bar 98. Thus when the panels 40 are coplanar and there is no vertical bar 98, the sides 46 of adjacent panels 40 can fit together by overlapping their respective steps 82, thereby improving the joint between the sides 46. If the vertical bar 98 is present, the sides 46 can receive the vertical bar 98 inside the step 82, forming in any case a continuous surface.

[0086] Fig. 6 shows a preferred structure for the guide 10.

[0087] The guide 10 has a tubular structure, exhibiting an internal cavity 70 of which the groove 12 represents an access opening.

[0088] Around the pin 84 (when present) there is mounted coaxially and rotatably idle a sleeve 71 from which protrude in opposite directions two horizontal shafts 74 on which rollers 72 are mounted. The rollers 72, with a horizontal rotation axis, can slide on a respective longitudinal track 76 obtained in the internal surface of the cavity 70. On the pin 84 a roller 78 is mounted with a vertical rotation axis (parallel to the Y1 axis and coinciding with the Y5 axis). The roller 78 is mounted with a small play inside a longitudinal groove 80 obtained in the internal surface of the cavity 70. When the segment 60 moves along the axis X, the roller 78 touches and slides on one of the opposite side walls of the groove 80, avoiding undesirable friction.

[0089] The same construction of fig. 6 may also be implemented even or only for the pin 43 of one or each panel 40, or for a lower guide (which is under the panels 40).

[0090] Advantageously, the aforementioned articulation structure between the panels 40 allows them to all be equal (as in the figures), that is, the upper sides 42 of each panel 40 all have the same length and in each panel 40 the Y1 axis substantially coincides with the vertical centerline of the panel 40.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Movement system for roto-translatable members, comprising:- a guide,- a row of N roto-translatable elements, N >= 2, which extend along a vertical axis, are coupled to the guide so that the vertical axis can slide along the guide, each roto-translatable element can rotate with respect to the guide about the vertical axis, and the roto-translatable members can move from a first position in which they are substantially packed one against the other to a second position in which they are coplanar and adjacent to form a barrier,- (N-1 ) connecting members, each connected between two points of two adjacent roto-translatable members in such a way as to rigidly constrain the distance between the two roto-translatable members so that, following the displacement of a roto-translatable member, through the (N-1 ) connecting members, a torque is generated at said points directed at rotating the roto-translatable members towards the second position as the distance between the vertical axes of the roto-translatable members increases, or a torque is generated at said points directed at rotating the roto-translatable members towards the first position as the distance between the vertical axes of the roto- translatable members decreases.

2. System according to claim 1 , comprising an anchoring member for constraining to a point of the guide, here defined as the tail point, a fixed point of one of the two roto- translatable members located at one end of the row, defined here tail roto-translatable element.

3. System according to claim 2, wherein the tail point is a point on the guide having an unalterable position or a changeable and lockable position along the guide.

4. System according to any preceding claim, wherein the connecting members and / or the anchoring member are rigid segments.

5. System according to any preceding claim, wherein the connecting members are linear segments which all have the same length, and said points are placed on each roto- translatable member at the same distance from the vertical axis of a roto-translatable member to rotate all the roto-translatable members by the same angle while they slide onthe guide.

6. System according to any preceding claim, wherein one or each connecting member is constrained to said points placed on roto-translatable members of each pair only by means of two respective hinges with a vertical hinging axis.

7. System according to any preceding claim, wherein each connecting member has a vertical rotation axis which is constrained to slide horizontally along a trajectory corresponding to the sliding trajectory of the roto- translatable members.

8. System according to claim 7, wherein the vertical rotation axis of each connecting member is slidably and rotatably coupled to the guide so that each connecting member can slide along the guide and simultaneously can rotate about its own vertical rotation axis, so that, as the roto-translatable members translate along the guide and their relative distance increases, all the connecting members translate along the guide increasing their relative distance and at the same time rotate in synchronism with each other and in the same direction of rotation about their own vertical rotation axis, and as the roto-translatable members translate along the guide and their relative distance decreases, all the connecting members move along the guide reducing their relative distance and at the same time rotate in synchronism with each other and in the same direction of rotation, but opposite to the previous one, about their own vertical rotation axis, wherein the direction of rotation of the roto-translatable members is always opposite to that of the connecting members.

9. System according to any preceding claim, comprising other (M-1 ) connecting members, M = N, mounted to constrain together each pair of adjacent roto-translatable like the (N-1 ) connecting members, wherein the (N-1 ) connecting members are connected to upper sides of the roto- translatable members, and the (M-1 ) connecting members are connected to opposite lower sides of the roto- translatable members, or vice versa, each of the (N-1) connecting members being connected to each of the (M-1 ) connecting members placed between the same pair of roto-translatable members by a rigid vertical member.

10. System according to any preceding claim, wherein one or each connecting member is coupled to a respective pair of roto-translatable membersso as to cross the guide when the roto-translatable members are in the first position and to be arranged substantially parallel to the guide when the roto-translatable members are in the second position, or so as to always remain parallel to the guide when the roto-translatable members are in the first position, in the second position and in every intermediate position between these two.

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