Roller shutter, in particular high-speed industrial door

Abstract

The invention relates to a roller shutter (20), in particular a high-speed industrial door, comprising a curtain (21) which can be wound and unwound and which has a leading edge (24) at the lower end thereof, a circulating drive element (26) provided at least on one side of the curtain (21), and a coupling member (29) which connects the drive element (26) to the leading edge (24). In order to keep a soft curtain (21) constantly taut while nevertheless largely avoiding the risk of overstretching the curtain, the roller shutter (20) according to the invention is characterized in that the coupling member (29) elastically connects the drive element (26) to the leading edge (24) at least in the winding and unwinding direction.

Description

Description ROLLING DOOR, ESPECIALLY HIGH-SPEED INDUSTRIAL DOOR

[0001] The present invention relates to a roller door, in particular a high-speed industrial door, with a roll-up and roll-down curtain which has a leading edge at its lower end, a circumferential drive element arranged at least on one side of the curtain, and with a coupling element which connects the drive element to the leading edge.

[0002] Such a roller door is known from DE 10 2009 044492 A1. Specifically, this prior art is a so-called spiral door in which the curtain consists of individual articulated slats that are wound up spirally when the roller door is opened, so that the individual layers within the spiral do not touch each other.

[0003] A toothed belt, located around the side of the door and driven by a drive shaft via a drive wheel, serves to open and close the curtain. Specifically, there is one toothed belt on each side of the door. Each toothed belt is firmly connected to a lower leading edge of the curtain via a coupling link. To open the door, the toothed belts push the curtain upwards over the coupling links, winding it spirally into a corresponding guide. To close the door, the toothed belts pull the curtain downwards over the coupling links, unwinding it. The curtain is thus forcibly closed by the toothed belts and not solely by its own weight (a so-called forced closing mechanism).

[0004] The present invention relates primarily, but not exclusively, to roller doors with a soft curtain made, for example, of a flexible and fabric-reinforced plastic film. In such doors, the torque of the motor is transmitted via the drive shaft to a winding shaft. When the door is raised (opened), the curtain is wound onto the winding shaft. When the door is lowered (closed), the curtain is unwound from the winding shaft.

[0005] Smooth unwinding of the curtain and thus closing of the roller door is ensured by forced closing via drive mechanisms, as in the aforementioned state of the art, or by sufficient weighting of the curtain. This weighting is achieved by a sufficiently heavy end cap at the lower edge of the curtain, i.e., at its leading edge.

[0006] Weighting is the simplest solution. The required weight is calculated based on the size of the curtain. The disadvantage lies in the considerable weight required for smooth closing of larger gates. The weight cannot be increased indefinitely, as it is limited by the torque of the motor that winds up the curtain. Furthermore, weighting does not guarantee that the curtain will lower completely. Dirt, ice, or other obstructions in the curtain track can prevent the gate from closing. If the If the curtain is lowered (the gate is closed) and exposed to wind loads, the curtain can also begin to lift and let air through - creating a draft.

[0007] These disadvantages are avoided by the forced closing mechanism of the curtain mentioned earlier. The drive unit not only pulls the curtain down to close it reliably, but also holds it in this position thanks to the motor's braking torque. This also reliably prevents the curtain from being lifted unintentionally by the wind. Even a soft curtain, such as one made of foil, is kept taut.

[0008] With a soft curtain, the curtain is not only actuated by the drive mechanism at its lower leading edge, but is also actively wound onto a winding shaft when the door opens and unwound again when closing. As the curtain winds up, the winding diameter increases, thereby increasing the speed of the remaining, unwound curtain and thus also the speed of the lower leading edge, while the speed of the drive mechanism remains constant. The speed of the drive mechanism can only be adjusted to a specific winding diameter at the beginning, end, or midway through the winding process.

[0009] For example, the speed of the curtain decreases gradually as the gates close (lowering the curtain), while the speed of the drive mechanism remains constant and depends on the diameter of the drive wheels. If the average diameter of the drive wheel is larger than the outer diameter of the wound curtain, the drive mechanism will always move faster than the curtain. Conversely, if the average diameter of the wheel is smaller than the outer diameter of the wound curtain, the drive mechanism will always move slower than the curtain. In any case, a discrepancy between the speed of the drive mechanism and the leading edge of the curtain is unavoidable over long distances and increases with the gate height and the resulting curtain length. This means that the curtain is either not held taut enough or there is a risk of it being overstretched.

[0010] Based on this, the invention addresses the problem of further developing a roller door of the type mentioned above in such a way that even a soft curtain is always kept taut and yet the risk of overstretching the curtain is largely avoided.

[0011] To solve this problem, the roller door according to the invention is characterized in that the coupling element elastically connects the drive element to the leading edge, at least in the winding and unwinding directions.

[0012] The elastic connection allows for compensation of the different speeds of the leading edge and the drive mechanism. The spring module and travel of the coupling link can be adjusted to the specific requirements, ensuring that the curtain is always kept sufficiently taut without unsightly wrinkling, while simultaneously preventing overstretching. The curtain tension is determined by the difference in travel between the drive mechanism and the curtain. This difference is achieved by the corresponding number of turns of the curtain on the winding shaft or the corresponding diameter of the drive wheel. This is ensured. With the aid of 3D-printed drive wheels, the height adjustment of the roller door can be carried out very precisely and cost-effectively. The diameter of the drive wheel depends on the clear height of the roller door. Furthermore, manufacturing tolerances and assembly errors during the installation of the roller door can be compensated for. This allows the roller door to be manufactured even with larger tolerances, which in turn saves costs. The roller door according to the invention thus offers a number of advantages over the prior art in a surprisingly simple way.

[0013] With a relatively thick curtain, for example made of insulating material, a greater distance is required for velocity compensation than with thin curtains made of, for example, truck tarpaulins. This difference in distance must be taken into account when designing the elastic element, which can preferably be a spring, for velocity compensation. However, even with very thick curtains, the distance can be reduced by using a drive wheel with a correspondingly larger diameter to drive the rotating drive mechanism. Thus, according to a further development of the invention, the diameter of the drive wheel is adapted to the thickness of the curtain.

[0014] The overall system also offers the following additional advantages:

[0015] Because of the rotating drive mechanism, no counterweight is required, and therefore less motor power is needed to drive the system. The motor is more cost-effective and consumes less energy.

[0016] In the event of a loss of drive or braking torque from the motor, uncontrolled closing of the roller shutter due to friction between the drive unit and the drive and deflection wheels is slower, less intense, or may even not occur at all. This increases safety.

[0017] Under wind load, raising the curtain is impossible, as it is held in the closed position by the braking torque of the motor.

[0018] The gate leaf is kept under tension throughout the entire closing process, thus supporting safe closing.

[0019] The forced closing mechanism allows for completely arbitrary positioning of the gates (lying position, arbitrary rotation of the gates in all directions).

[0020] In the event of a power failure, the blind can be manually raised via the drive unit by switching off the motor's brake.

[0021] According to a particularly simple design modification, the coupling element comprises a curtain section and a drive section, which are connected to each other by means of an elastic element, in particular a spring or a rubber-elastic element or a gas pressure cylinder, most preferably a helical spring. The curtain section or the drive section can have a C-shaped portion into which the other component of the coupling element engages. Springs, in particular compression springs, are arranged between the legs of the C-shaped portion and the other component. A deflection of the curtain section and the drive section This allows for movement in both directions. Compression springs have the advantage over extension springs that they still provide a certain residual spring force even if the spring breaks.

[0022] To ensure the gate opens and closes smoothly and doesn't jam, it's recommended to install a drive mechanism on both sides. Belts, toothed belts, ropes, straps, and chains are particularly suitable as drive mechanisms.

[0023] Another aspect of the present invention, conceivable even independently of the aspect described above, is a so-called crash system. This system comes into play if a person, vehicle, or other object collides with the partially or fully closed gate. For this purpose, the curtain section and / or the drive section has a sliding piece and a receiving piece, which are detachably connected to each other. During normal operation, both parts are connected, enabling the transmission of power from the drive unit to the curtain. Upon impact with the curtain, the receiving piece and the curtain section detach from each other. This prevents damage to the curtain and also reduces the risk of injury to people. Restoring the operating state is done manually.

[0024] The receiving element is preferably made of an elastic material, particularly preferably rubber. The sliding element or the receiving element may have a pocket into which a tab of the other component, receiving element or sliding element, engages in a form-fitting or force-fit manner. Upon impact, both components separate easily and can subsequently be easily re-engaged manually.

[0025] Depending on the design, the flag can have a dovetail-like shape at its free end. This requires less force to connect the sliding piece and the receiving piece than to disengage it upon impact.

[0026] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 shows a roller door with the features of the invention in an external view, Fig. 2 shows detail II, namely an upper corner of the roller door according to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows detail III, namely a lower corner of the roller door according to Fig. 1 , Fig. 4 shows the detail according to Fig. 3 in a perspective interior view, Fig. 5 shows the detail according to Fig. 3 in a perspective exterior view, Fig. 6 shows a coupling element according to a first embodiment for the roller door according to Fig. 1 in a perspective view in the assembled state. Fig. 7 shows the coupling element according to Fig. 6 in a perspective view in a disassembled state, Fig. 8 shows a coupling element according to a second embodiment for the roller door according to Fig. 1 in a perspective view in the assembled state. Fig. 9 shows the coupling element according to Fig. 8 in a perspective view in a disassembled state, Fig. 10 shows a curtain component for the roller door according to Fig. 1 in an external view in the operating state, Fig. 11 shows the curtain part according to Fig. 10 in the detached state, Fig. 12 shows a coupling element according to a further embodiment for the roller door according to Fig. 1 in a perspective view in the assembled state, and Fig. 13 shows the coupling element according to Fig. 12 in a disassembled state, and Fig. 14 shows a shear pin for the coupling link according to Fig. 12.

[0027] Fig. 1 showed a roller shutter 20 with a curtain 21, which is guided in curtain guides 22 on its left and right sides. The curtain 21 is made of a flexible film, usually woven-reinforced plastic. To open the roller shutter 20, the curtain 21 is wound onto an upper winding shaft 23, and to close the roller shutter 20, it is unwound from the winding shaft 23. The curtain typically has a finishing element 24 at its lower leading edge, although this is not essential, it is preferred to achieve a clean leading edge.

[0028] Figures 2 to 5 show left corners of the roller door 20. Since drive elements for opening and closing the roller door 20 are provided on both upper sides of the door, the right corners are designed as mirror images.

[0029] To open and close the roller shutter 20, and thus to wind and unwind the curtain 21, the winding shaft 23 is driven by an electric motor, optionally via a separate drive shaft. A drive wheel 25 is provided at least at one end of the winding shaft 23, as can be seen in Fig. 2. The winding shaft 23 is optionally connected to the drive wheel 25 via the drive shaft in a rotationally fixed manner. The drive wheel 25 therefore always rotates with the winding shaft 23 when the curtain 21 is wound or unwound. In this case, the drive wheel 25 is designed as a gear and interacts with a drive element, in this case a toothed belt 26.

[0030] Figures 4 and 5 show the lower left corner of the roller shutter 20. The toothed belt 26, visible in Figure 2, is deflected at its lower end by a pulley 27. The pulley 27 is attached to the floor by a foot 28. A coupling link 29 is attached to one section of the toothed belt 26. The coupling link 29 connects the toothed belt 26 to the leading edge, specifically the end element 24. This not only assists in winding the curtain onto the winding shaft 23, but also, in particular, forces the curtain 21, or rather the leading edge, downwards when the roller shutter 20 closes (forced closing).

[0031] The coupling element 29 has a drive part 30 assigned to and attached to the toothed belt 26 and a drive part 30 assigned to and connected with the curtain 21. Leading connected curtain section 31 (see Figs. 6 to 11). The curtain section 31 in turn has a sliding piece 32 and a receiving piece 33.

[0032] The drive part 30, the sliding piece 32, and the receiving piece 33 of the coupling piece 29 according to a first embodiment are shown in more detail in Figures 6 and 7, and according to a second embodiment in Figures 8 and 9. Both embodiments have in common that the drive part 30 has a clamping piece 34 by means of which it can be clamped to the toothed belt 26. For a positive-locking connection with the teeth of the toothed belt 26, the clamping piece 34 can have complementary recesses 35. The drive part 30 also has a receiving piece 36, which is C-shaped. The receiving piece 36 has a vertical web 37 (running parallel to the toothed belt 26) and, at the upper and lower ends of the web 37, a retaining leg 38, each approximately horizontally oriented (running approximately perpendicular to the toothed belt 26), which is formed by bending the web 37. The sliding piece 32 partially engages in the mouth of the receptacle 36 thus formed.

[0033] According to the first embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7, a helical spring, specifically a compression spring 39, is arranged above the sliding piece 32. The compression spring 39 is supported on one side by the sliding piece 32 and on the other side by the upper retaining leg 38. This variant is suitable for a design of the roller shutter 20 in which the lowering speed of the leading edge of the curtain 21, and thus of the connecting element 24, is never less than the speed of the toothed belt 26. Figures 6 and 7 show the closed position of the roller shutter 20, i.e., the closing element 24 in its lowest position. It is important to ensure that there is sufficient clearance between the lower edge of the sliding piece 32 and the lower retaining leg 38.

[0034] When the roller door 20 is opened, i.e., the curtain 21 is wound onto the winding shaft 23 and the end element 24 is raised, the compression spring 39 is compressed and relaxes again when the roller door 20 is closed.

[0035] In a variant of this embodiment (not shown), the compression spring is arranged below the sliding piece 32 and is supported on one side by the lower edge of the sliding piece 32 and on the other side by the lower retaining leg 38. This embodiment is suitable for roller doors 20 where the lowering speed of the leading edge of the curtain 21, and thus of the connecting element 24, is never greater than the speed of the toothed belt 26. The compression spring 29 is then tensioned when the curtain 21, and thus of the closing element 24, is lowered.

[0036] As an alternative to the compression springs 39, tension springs can also be used on the other side of the sliding piece 32, which, however, requires a correspondingly tensile-resistant connection between the springs on the one hand and the sliding piece 32 or the retaining leg 38 on the other.

[0037] According to the second embodiment shown in Figures 8 and 9, a compression spring 39 is arranged above and below the sliding piece 32. Each compression spring 39 is supported at one (inner) end on the sliding piece 32 and at its other (outer) end on the corresponding retaining leg 38. This embodiment is suitable for Suitable for roller doors where the end element 24 overrides the toothed belt 26 when opening and closing the roller door 20.

[0038] The compression springs 39 are designed as pure compression springs. They are therefore only supported by the sliding piece 32 and / or the retaining leg 38, without being tensilely connected. When the roller door 20 opens and closes, one compression spring 39 is first relieved, and then, during the "overtaking" phase, the other compression spring 29 is compressed, i.e., tensioned. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide combined tension / compression springs, which are then tensilely connected to the sliding piece 32 and the retaining leg 38.

[0039] As a sliding guide for the sliding piece 32, but also to stabilize the compression springs 39 and to prevent them from buckling, in each of the embodiments described above a bolt 40 is guided from the lower retaining leg 38 through the compression spring 39, the sliding piece 32, the upper compression spring 39 and through the upper retaining leg 38 and secured at the free ends by means of nuts 41.

[0040] Due to the design described above, the sliding element 32 is movable relative to the drive element 30. The compression springs 39 are designed with respect to spring travel and spring constant such that the curtain 21 is always sufficiently tensioned. Different speeds between the toothed belt 26 and the leading edge of the curtain 21, and the resulting relative displacements, can thus be compensated for.

[0041] The sliding piece 32 further comprises a pocket 42 into which the receiving piece 33 with a flag 43 engages in the operating state shown in Figure 10. A dovetail end 44, which in the operating state engages a cam 45 at the base of the pocket 42, secures the flag 43 and thus the receiving piece 33 to the sliding piece 32. If an impact occurs against the lower section of the curtain 21, the flag 43 can disengage from the pocket 42, and thus the receiving piece 33 can disengage from the sliding piece 32, as shown in Figure 8. The curtain 21 can now swing freely, so that damage to it and other objects, or injury to persons, can be largely avoided.

[0042] Once this has happened, the receiving piece 33 is manually inserted back into the sliding piece 32 and secured by means of the dovetail end 44. The roller door 20 is now ready for operation again.

[0043] Figures 12 and 13 show another alternative embodiment of a coupling element 29. Specifically, this coupling element 29 differs in the design of the curtain part 46, which is therefore explained in more detail below. Identical parts are designated with the same reference numerals.

[0044] In the embodiment according to Figures 12 and 13, the clamping piece 34 is unchanged compared to the clamping piece 34 according to the embodiments from Figures 6 and 7, i.e., with a compression spring 39 above the sliding piece 32. However, the sliding piece 32 can also be designed analogously to the variants described above, i.e., with a compression spring 39 below the sliding piece 32 or, as in the embodiment according to Figures 8 and 9, with one compression spring 39 above and one below the sliding piece 32, or with tension springs or a combination thereof.

[0045] The curtain section 46 also has a receiving piece 47. A connecting plate 48 is inserted into the receiving piece and screwed in place with four screws 49 in this case, thereby also establishing the connection to the leading edge. However, any other suitable type of connection between the curtain section 46 and the leading edge is also conceivable.

[0046] The connecting plate 48 has two flags 50 which, in the assembled state (Fig. 13), engage in complementary pockets 51 on the sliding piece 32. However, only one flag 50, three flags 50, or any other sensible and suitable number of flags 50 can also be provided.

[0047] The sliding piece 32 is provided with a through-hole 52 in the area of ​​each pocket 51. The flags 50 have complementary through-holes 53 which, in the assembled state, align with the holes 52 in the sliding piece 32. In the assembled state, a shear pin 54 is inserted into each of these holes 52 and 53. Thus, each shear pin 54 passes through one hole 52 and one hole 53. In this way, the shear pins 54 hold the sliding piece 32 and the curtain part 46 together, as shown in Fig. 13 in the assembled state.

[0048] The shear pin is shown in more detail in Fig. 14 and has a bolt 55 and a head 56 at one end. At the other end, a slot 57 and locking elements 58 are provided on the outer circumference. When the shear pin 54 is inserted into the bores 52, 53, the end with the slot 57 of the bolt 55 bends elastically. As soon as the locking elements 58 have passed through the bores 52, 53, they snap behind the bores 52, 53 and hold the shear pin 54 in its position.

[0049] In the event of a collision, e.g., if a forklift truck drives into the curtain 21, a tensile force is exerted on the receiving piece 47, as described above. This causes the shear pins 54 to shear off and the receiving piece 47 to be released from the sliding piece 32.

[0050] For (re-)assembly, new shear pins 54 are then inserted into the bores 52, 53. Reference symbol list: 20 Rolling gate 21 curtain 22 Curtain guidance 23 winding shaft 24 Final element 25 drive wheel 26 timing belts 27 Pulley 28 feet 29 coupling link 30 Drive unit 31 Curtain section 32 sliding piece 33 Recording piece 34 clamping piece 35 Exclusion 36 recording 37 Bridge 38 retaining legs 39 Compression spring 40 bolts 41 Mother 42 bags 43 Flag 44 Dovetail end 45 Scenery 46 Curtain section 47 recording piece 48 Connecting plate 49 screw 50 Flag 51 bags 52 bore 53 bore 54 shear pin 55 bolts 56 heads 57 slots 58 Locking element

Claims

Claims 1. Roller door (20), in particular a high-speed industrial door, comprising: a roll-up and roll-down curtain (21) which has a leading edge (24) at its lower end, a circumferential drive element (26) arranged at least on one side of the curtain (21), and a coupling element (29) which connects the drive element (26) to the leading edge (24), characterized in that the coupling element (29) elastically connects the drive element (26) to the leading edge (24) at least in the roll-up and roll-down direction.

2. Roller door (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling member (29) has a curtain part (31) and a drive part (30) which are connected to each other by means of an elastic element.

3. Roller shutter (20) according to claim 2, characterized in that the curtain part (31 ) and the drive part (30) are connected to each other by means of a spring, a rubber-elastic element or a gas pressure cylinder, in particular a coil spring.

4. Roller shutter (20) according to claim 3, characterized in that the curtain part (31) has a C-shaped section in which the drive part (30) engages at least partially, and that a spring, in particular a compression spring (39), is arranged between the legs of the C-shaped section and the drive part.

5. Roller shutter (20) according to claim 3, characterized in that the drive part (30) has a C-shaped section (36) in which the curtain part (31) engages at least partially, and that a spring, in particular a compression spring (39), is arranged between the legs (38) of the C-shaped section (36) and the curtain part (31).

6. Roller shutter (20) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a diameter of a drive wheel (25) for the rotating drive element (26) is adapted to the thickness of the curtain (21).

7. Roller door (20) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a drive element (26) is arranged on both sides of the curtain (20).

8. Roller door (20) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the drive element (26) is a belt, toothed belt, rope, strap or chain and is preferably designed as a circulating drive element.

9. Roller door (20) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the curtain part (31 , 46) and / or the drive part (30) comprise a sliding piece (32) and a receiving piece (33, 47) which are detachably connected to each other.

10. Rolling door (20) according to claim 9, characterized in that the receiving piece (33, 47) is made of a rigid or elastic material, preferably rubber.

11. Rolling door (20) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the sliding piece (32) or the receiving piece (33, 47) has at least one pocket (42, 51) into which a flag (43, 50) of the other component, receiving piece (33, 47) or sliding piece (32), engages in a form-fitting or force-fitting manner.

12. Rolling door (20) according to claim 11, characterized in that the flag (43) has a dovetail-like shape at its free end.

13. Rolling gate (20) according to claim 11, characterized in that the flag (50) and the sliding piece (32) are provided with mutually complementary bores (52, 53) into which a shear pin (54) is inserted.

14. Rolling gate (20) according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that two or more pockets (42, 51) are provided, into which a flag (43, 50) engages.

Images