Guide chain for guiding and holding the edge of a flat material web

Abstract

The invention relates to a guide chain (1) which is designed to hold and guide the edge (2) of a flat material web (3). For this purpose, the guide chain (1) comprises chain links (4b) which are connected to one another in an articulated manner and each have a guiding and holding device (5). At least one chain link (4b) has an elastic element (6b) on the rear side. The guiding and holding device (5) is formed on the front side of the at least one chain link (4b) and is designed to hold and guide a widened portion of the edge (2) of the flat material web (3).

Description

[0001] Guide chain for guiding and holding the edge of a flat material web

[0002] The invention relates to a guide chain which is designed to hold and guide the edge of a flat material web, a guide system which comprises such a guide chain and a holding rail and an awning with such a guide system.

[0003] In numerous applications, a flat material web is stretched between two holding devices. The flat material web is then held between the holding devices and forms a surface. This surface can serve, for example, as a projection surface, a presentation surface, a background system in photography, or as a spatial or optical dividing surface.

[0004] Another application in which a flat material web is held and tensioned between two holding devices concerns awnings with lateral guidance of the flat material web. Such an awning comprises a winding shaft on which a flexible flat material web is wound and can be unwound, and a guide system with two holding rails. The flexible flat material web can be unwound from the winding shaft into the guide system in such a way that the lateral edges of the flexible flat material web are held by the holding rails and the flexible flat material web is tensioned between the holding rails.

[0005] In the case of awnings in general, the flexible flat material web is also referred to as the awning fabric. The flexible flat material web or the awning fabric can be constructed in such a way that it can be used, for example, as sun protection, shading fabric, glare protection, privacy protection, rain protection or even insect protection. In the case of awnings with lateral guidance of the flat material web, as the flat material web is unwound, its side edges are inserted into the holding rails. The edges are then guided in the holding rails as the flat material web is further unwound and held in the holding rail.

[0006] In order to tension the flat material web more evenly and / or more tightly, such awnings include an additional guide and holding device with elastic elements for each holding rail. The additional guide and holding device is then inserted into the holding rail with the elastic element in such a way that it is pressed springily into the holding rail. The lateral edges of the flat material web are then inserted into the additional guide and holding devices as the flat material web is unwound. The edges are guided and held in the additional guide and holding devices as the flat material web continues to unwind.

[0007] Document WO 2021 / 165851 A1 discloses such an additional guiding and holding device in the form of a chain-shaped sliding guide.

[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide a guidance system which can be used flexibly and is less susceptible to failure.

[0009] It is a further object of the invention to provide such a guide system which enables uniform tensioning of a flat material web.

[0010] The object is achieved by a guide chain according to the features of claim 1 and by a guide system according to the features of claim 13. The respective dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments of the guide chain and of the guide system. The invention relates to a guide chain which is designed to hold and guide the edge of a flat material web. For this purpose, the guide chain comprises chain links which are connected to one another in an articulated manner and each have a guide and holding device. At least one chain link has an elastic element. The guide and holding device is formed on the front side of the at least one chain link and is designed to hold and guide a widened portion of the edge of the flat material web. The at least one chain link is connected to the elastic element on its back side and comprises a holding element.The holding element is connected to the elastic element in such a way that the elastic element is arranged between the holding element and the at least one chain link. The holding element is designed so that it can be pushed into a holding rail so that it is held therein transversely to the longitudinal direction of the holding rail. As a result, the at least one chain link is resiliently connected to the holding element via the elastic element, and as a result, the at least one chain link holds the flat material web resiliently on the holding rail in a state in which the holding element is pushed into the holding rail and the widened edge of the flat material web is guided and held by the guide and holding device.

[0011] The flat material web can be a flexible flat material web. The flat material web can be a cloth or a net. The flat material web can be a plastic web.

[0012] The elastic element is an element that is elastically deformable. Elastically deformable means that the deforming force is counteracted by a restoring force and the deformation is essentially reversible. The elastic element therefore exerts a springy effect on elements or links that are connected to the elastic element. The elastic element can be an element that is elastically deformable due to its elastic material properties. The elastic element can be an element that is elastically deformable due to its shape. The elastic element can be an element that is elastically deformable due to its elastic material properties and its shape.

[0013] Each link of the guide chain can have an elastic element. Only every second or every third link can have an elastic element. Every link in a connected group of chain links can have an elastic element.

[0014] If several chain links each have an elastic element, the elastic elements can exhibit different elastic deformation properties. If two elastic elements have different deformation properties, the restoring forces that counteract the deforming forces are different.

[0015] The front side of the at least one chain link faces away from and opposite the back side of the at least one chain link.

[0016] The widening of the edge of the flat material web can, for example, be a piping. The widening of the edge can comprise a widening element, such as a strip or half of a zipper tape, which is connected to the edge of the flat material web. A T-shaped widening is particularly advantageous; this is laid flat when wound onto a winding shaft and then has a thickness that does not exceed the thickness of the flat material web. The holding rail can, for example, have a groove with an undercut. The holding element is then designed to be insertable into this groove, so that it is held in the holding rail transversely to the longitudinal direction.

[0017] The retaining element can, for example, have a groove with an undercut. The retaining rail then has a projection, the groove being designed such that the projection can be inserted into this groove, so that the retaining element is held therein transversely to the longitudinal direction of the retaining rail.

[0018] It has been recognized that the guiding and holding device is subjected to stress and external influences when guiding and holding the flat material web. For example, abrasion builds up in the area of ​​the guiding and holding device when guiding and holding the flat material web, or dirt from outside accumulates in the area of ​​the guiding and holding device, or material wears out due to weather influences in the area of ​​the guiding and holding device.

[0019] The arrangement of the elastic element on the back of at least one chain link means that the elastic element is arranged facing away from a flat material web that is guided and held in the guide and holding device, and can thus be arranged in a holding rail, protected from the outside. This enables the provision of a guide system that is less susceptible to failure.

[0020] It was recognized that in order to guide a flat material web with as little resistance as possible, the tensile forces and restoring forces acting on the edges of the flat material web, which cause the flat material web to be tensioned, should act in a common plane in which the edge of the flat material web also runs. The arrangement of the elastic spring element on the back of at least one chain link means that the edge of the flat material web can be guided and held by the guiding and holding device in a common plane in which the tensile force and restoring force generated by the elastic element also acts. This makes it possible to provide a guiding system that is less susceptible to failure.

[0021] It was recognized that guide systems for guiding and holding flat material webs are used in numerous applications and that the requirements for the compactness of a guide system vary depending on the application.

[0022] The arrangement of the elastic element on the back of at least one chain link ensures that the elastic element and the guide and holding device are arranged one behind the other and not next to each other. This enables a compact design of the front and back sides and thus a compact design of a guide system.

[0023] It was recognized that for a uniform tensioning of a flat material web, the tensile forces or restoring forces acting on the edges of the flat material web, which cause the tensioning of the flat material web, should be different depending on the location at which the tensile forces or restoring forces act on the edge of the flat material web.

[0024] A guide chain with chain links, each of which has an elastic element, with the elastic elements having different elastic deformation properties, enables the provision of a guide system with which a flat material web can be evenly tensioned. It has been recognized that the length of guide systems should be tailored to the specific application and not to a standard.

[0025] A guide chain with articulated chain links can be wound onto a roll and cut to a specific length, enabling the provision of a guide system which produces less waste during assembly.

[0026] It was recognized that inserting a guide and holding device into a mounted holding rail is complex.

[0027] A guide chain with articulated chain links with guide and holding devices can be inserted into a mounted holding rail in a small space and enables a guide and holding device to be easily inserted into a mounted holding rail.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the guide chain, the guiding and holding device extends along the longitudinal direction of the respective chain link and is arranged centrally transversely to the longitudinal direction of the respective chain link.

[0029] As a result, the edge of a flat material web, which is guided and held by the guide and holding device, is guided and held centrally with respect to the width of the respective chain link. When a force acts on the flat material web transversely to the front side of a respective chain link, the respective chain link is stabilized against pivoting about a pivot axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the respective chain link. According to one embodiment of the guide chain, the elastic element is connected centrally to the at least one chain link in the longitudinal direction of the at least one chain link.

[0030] As a result, the at least one chain link is stabilized against pivoting about a pivot axis running transversely to the longitudinal axis of the at least one chain link when a tensile force is exerted by the elastic element on the at least one chain link transversely to the rear side of the at least one chain link.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the guide chain, the elastic element is connected centrally to the at least one chain link transversely to the longitudinal direction of the at least one chain link.

[0032] As a result, the at least one chain link is stabilized against pivoting about a pivot axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the at least one chain link when a tensile force is exerted by the elastic element on the at least one chain link transversely to the rear side of the at least one chain link.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the guide chain, the elastic element is connected to the at least one chain link on a line that runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the at least one chain link.

[0034] As a result, the at least one chain link is stabilized against pivoting about a pivot axis running transversely to the longitudinal axis of the at least one chain link when a tensile force is exerted by the elastic element on the at least one chain link. According to one embodiment of the guide chain, the elastic element comprises a flat material section or is a spiral spring or comprises an elastic rod-shaped element or is an elastic band or is an elastic cord.

[0035] The flat material section can be connected with its surface parallel to the longitudinal direction and transverse to the back of the at least one chain link

[0036] The elastic band can be connected to the at least one chain link with its surface parallel to the longitudinal direction and transverse to the back of the latter.

[0037] The elastic band can be folded in folds whose folds extend in the longitudinal direction of at least one chain link. The folds can be rounded and the folds can be wave-shaped.

[0038] The elastic element can be a film-joint-like band which connects the holding element to the at least one chain link in a film-joint-like manner.

[0039] According to one embodiment of the guide chain, the guiding and holding device comprises a groove, in particular a T-shaped groove, which is formed in the front side of the respective chain link.

[0040] The groove can be an undercut groove. A T-shaped groove or an undercut groove allows the edge extension of the flat material web to be inserted, guided, and held.

[0041] According to one embodiment of the guide chain, the holding element is a widening of an edge region of the elastic element, which widens in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the at least one chain link from the elastic element and can be grasped.

[0042] According to one embodiment of the guide chain, the holding element is elongated and plate-shaped or cylindrical, wherein the elongated holding element is arranged with its longitudinal axis transverse to the longitudinal direction of the at least one chain link or parallel to the longitudinal direction of the at least one chain link.

[0043] According to one embodiment of the guide chain, two adjacent chain links of the guide chain are pivotally connected to one another about a common joint axis, wherein the two adjacent chain links lie in a common plane and can be aligned in a neutral position in alignment with one another. In the neutral position and in a state in which one of the two adjacent chain links is held, the other of the two adjacent chain links can be pivoted away from the plane in a first direction and also in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0044] All adjacent chain links can be connected in this way. This allows for flexible and space-saving winding of the guide chain and bending of the guide chain in two opposite directions.

[0045] Such a guide chain can be inserted into a mounted holding rail in a small space and enables easy insertion of the guide and holding devices into a mounted holding rail.

[0046] According to one embodiment of the guide chain, the chain links are detachably connected to one another via hinges, in particular wherein the hinges have pins and pin receptacles arranged on the chain links, and the pins can be inserted into the pin receptacles and removed from the pin receptacles.

[0047] This enables flexible positioning of different chain links, e.g., chain links with elastic elements, each with a different elastic deformation behavior, in the guide chain. This allows specific chain links with specific properties to be positioned at specific positions in a guide system, so that, depending on the position in the guide system, the flat material web is tensioned by respective chain links with different spring properties. This enables uniform tensioning of a flat material web.

[0048] According to one embodiment of the guide chain, the chain links are two-component injection-molded parts made of plastic, the at least one chain link is formed from a first plastic, the elastic element is formed from a second plastic and the elastic material properties of the first plastic and the elastic material properties of the second plastic are different.

[0049] The chain links can also be manufactured using an additive process, for example using a 3D printing process.

[0050] The invention also relates to a guide system for guiding and holding an edge of a flat material web with a holding rail and a guide chain according to the invention, wherein the holding element can be inserted into the holding rail in such a way that it is held therein transversely to the longitudinal direction of the holding rail.

[0051] The invention also relates to an awning with a guide system according to the invention and with an awning fabric as a flat material web with a widening of the edge of the awning fabric, wherein the widening of the edge of the awning fabric and the awning fabric are guided and held by the guide and holding devices, so that the at least one chain link holds the awning fabric resiliently on the holding rail.

[0052] The invention also relates to the use of a guide chain according to the invention for guiding and holding an edge of a flat material web.

[0053] The guide chain according to the invention, the guide system according to the invention and the awning according to the invention are described in more detail below purely by way of example with reference to specific embodiments shown in the figures. They show:

[0054] Figure 1 two chain links of a guide chain;

[0055] Figure 2 shows the two chain links of Figure 1 with their

[0056] Guiding and holding devices;

[0057] Figure 3 is a front view of the left chain link of Figures 1 and 2 with elastic element and holding element;

[0058] Figure 4 shows an embodiment of a chain link of a

[0059] Guide chain with elastic element and Haitee lement;

[0060] Figure 5 shows a retaining rail, a chain link with elastic element and retaining element and a flat material web with a widening of the edge of the flat material web; and

[0061] Figure 6 is a front view of the support rail, the

[0062] Chain link and the flat material web of Figure 5. Figure 1 shows a guide chain 1 which is designed to hold and guide the edge 2 shown in Figures 5 and 6 of a flat material web 3 also shown in Figures 5 and 6. For this purpose, the guide chain 1 comprises chain links 4a which are connected to one another in an articulated manner and each have a guide and holding device 5. Both chain links 4a have an elastic element 6a. The guide and holding device 5 is formed on the front side of the respective chain link 4a and is designed to hold and guide a widening of the edge 2 of the flat material web 3. The two chain links 4a are each connected on their back side to the respective elastic element 6a and each comprise a holding element 7a.The holding elements 7a are connected to the respective elastic element 6a in such a way that the respective elastic element 6a is arranged between the respective holding element 7a and the respective chain link 4a. The holding elements 7a are designed so as to be insertable into a holding rail 8 shown in Figures 5 and 6, so that they are held in the holding rail 8 transversely to the longitudinal direction. As a result, the two chain links 4a are resiliently connected to the respective holding element 7a via the respective elastic elements 6a, and as a result, the two chain links hold the flat material web resiliently on the holding rail 8 in a state in which the holding element 7a is inserted into the holding rail 8 and the widened portion of the edge 2 of the flat material web 8 is guided and held by the guide and holding device 5.

[0063] The two chain links 4a are connected to one another by a hinge 10. The hinge 10 comprises pins 11 and pin receptacles 12. The pins 11 can be inserted into the pin receptacles 12 and removed from the pin receptacles 12. The holding elements 7a are elongated, plate-shaped and aligned with their longitudinal axis transverse to the longitudinal direction of the respective chain link 4a.

[0064] The elastic elements 6a are connected centrally to the respective chain link 4a in the longitudinal direction of the respective chain link 4a and transversely to the longitudinal direction of the respective chain link 4a.

[0065] Figure 2 shows a view of the front of the two chain links 4a shown in Figure 1 and the guide and holding devices 5 formed on the front of the respective chain link 4a. The guide and holding devices 5 shown are T-shaped grooves. The guide and holding devices 5 extend along the longitudinal direction of the respective chain link 4a and are arranged centrally, transversely to the longitudinal direction of the respective chain link.

[0066] Figure 3 shows a front view of the front chain link 4a shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0067] Figure 4 shows an embodiment of a chain link 4a with an elastic element 6b, which comprises elastic rod-shaped elements 9. The chain link further comprises an elongated, cylindrical holding element 7b, which is aligned with its longitudinal axis transverse to the longitudinal direction of the chain link 4b.

[0068] Figure 5 shows part of an awning with a guide system. The guide system comprises the holding rail 8 and a guide chain 1. The widened edge 2 of the awning fabric 3 is inserted into the guide and holding devices 5 of the guide chain 1 and is guided and held by the latter. The holding elements 7b of the guide chain 1 are inserted into the holding rail 8 and are held by the latter in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the holding rail 8. The holding rail has a T-shaped groove for inserting the holding elements 7b.

[0069] Figure 6 shows a front view of the part of an awning shown in Figure 5.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Guide chain (1) which is designed to hold and guide the edge (2) of a flat material web (3), with Chain links (4a, 4b) which are connected to one another in an articulated manner and each have a guiding and holding device (5), wherein at least one chain link (4a, 4b) has an elastic element (6a, 6b), and the guiding and holding device (5) is formed on the front side of the at least one chain link (4a, 4b) and is designed to hold and guide a widening of the edge (2) of the flat material web (3), characterized in that the at least one chain link (4a, 4b) is provided on its rear side with the elastic element (6) and comprises a holding element (7a, 7b) which is connected to the elastic element (6a, 6b) in such a way that the elastic element (6a, 6b) is arranged between the holding element (7a, 7b) and the at least one chain link (4a, 4b), and is designed to be insertable into a holding rail (8) in such a way that it is held therein transversely to the longitudinal direction of the holding rail (8), such that the at least one chain link (4a, 4b) is resiliently connected to the holding element (7a, 7b) via the elastic element (6a, 6b), and in a state in which the holding element (7a, 7b) is pushed into the holding rail (8) and the widened edge (2) of the flat material web (3) is guided and held by the guide and holding device (5), the flat material web (3) is resiliently held on the holding rail (8).

2. Guide chain (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide and holding device (5) extends along the longitudinal direction of the respective chain link (4a, 4b) and is arranged centrally transversely to the longitudinal direction of the respective chain link (4a, 4b).

3. Guide chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the elastic element (6a, 6b) is connected centrally to the at least one chain link (4a, 4b) in the longitudinal direction of the at least one chain link (4a, 4b).

4. Guide chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the elastic element (6a, 6b) is connected centrally to the at least one chain link (4a, 4b) transversely to the longitudinal direction of the at least one chain link (4a, 4b).

5. Guide chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the elastic element (6a, 6b) is connected to the at least one chain link (4a, 4b) on a line which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the at least one chain link (4a, 4b).

6. Guide chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the elastic element (6a, 6b) comprises a flat material section or is a spiral spring or comprises an elastic rod-shaped element (9) or is an elastic band or is an elastic cord.

7. Guide chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the guide and holding device (5) comprises a groove, in particular a T-shaped groove (5), which is formed in the front side of the respective chain link (4a, 4b).

8. Guide chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the holding element (7a, 7b) is a widening of an edge region of the elastic element (6a, 6b), which protrudes from the elastic element (6a, 6b) in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the at least one chain link (4a, 4b) and can be grasped around.

9. Guide chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the holding element (7a, 7b) is elongated and plate-shaped or cylindrical, wherein the elongated holding element (7a, 7b) is arranged with its longitudinal axis transverse to the longitudinal direction of the at least one chain link (4a, 4b) or parallel to the longitudinal direction of the at least one chain link (4a, 4b).

10. Guide chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that two adjacent chain links (4a, 4b) of the guide chain (1) are pivotally connected to one another about a common joint axis, wherein the two adjacent chain links (4a, 4b) are arranged in a common plane and are aligned with one another in a neutral position, and in the neutral position and in a state in which one of the two adjacent chain links (4a, 4b) is held, the other of the two adjacent chain links (4a, 4b) is pivotable away from the plane in a first direction and also pivotable away from the plane in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

11. Guide chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the chain links (4a, 4b) are detachably connected to one another via hinges (10), in particular wherein the hinges (10) have pins (11) and pin receptacles (12) arranged on the chain links (4a, 4b), and the pins (11) can be inserted into the pin receptacles (12) and can be removed from the pin receptacles (12).

12. Guide chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the chain links (4a, 4b) are two-component injection-molded parts made of plastic, the at least one chain link (4a, 4b) is formed from a first plastic, the elastic element (6a, 6b) is formed from a second plastic and the elastic material properties of the first plastic and the elastic material properties of the second plastic are different.

13. Guide system for guiding and holding an edge (2) of a flat material web (3) with a holding rail (8) and a guide chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the holding element (7a, 7b) can be inserted into the holding rail (8) in such a way that it is held therein transversely to the longitudinal direction of the holding rail (8).

14. Awning with a guide system according to claim 13, with an awning fabric (3) as a flat material web (3) with a widening of the edge (2) of the awning fabric (3), characterized in that the widening of the edge (2) of the awning fabric (3) and the awning fabric (3) are guided and held in the guide and holding devices (5) so that the at least one chain link (4a, 4b) Awning fabric (3) is held springily on the support rail (8).

15. Use of a guide chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12 for guiding and holding an edge (2) of a flat material web (3).

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