Mono-controlled Motorized Blind Winding Shaft Stop Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorized blinds with adjustable slats face reliability issues in stopping the movement of the final slat when it encounters an obstacle, due to the flexibility of the control rod and high forces required for stopping, leading to potential unsightly and risky situations, especially when only one stop mechanism is present for multiple ribbon windings.
Innovation Solution
A stop mechanism is implemented that mechanically locks the winding shaft by engaging with a hooking tooth, rather than relying on electrical power cutoff, allowing instantaneous stopping of the motor when a sudden deceleration is detected, and is positioned outside the shaft for easier detection of ribbon loosening regardless of the slat's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stop mechanism with control rod and electric contactor is used to interrupt motor movement when the final slat encounters an obstacle, then the motor can be stopped, but the mechanism has reliability issues due to control rod flexibility requiring complete ribbon relaxation and high forces for stopping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical stop mechanism (control rod and electric contactor) with an electronic detection system using a sensor to detect ribbon loosening. This substitution eliminates the need for high mechanical forces to actuate a contactor, as the sensor can detect the obstacle condition through minimal mechanical changes in the ribbon tension, thereby improving reliability while reducing the force requirements.
2Device complexity
If only one stop mechanism is equipped for a single ribbon winding, then the structure is simpler, but it takes several seconds for the other ribbon winding to detect the voltage anomaly, causing the final slat to stop at a steep slope which is unsightly and risky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single stop mechanism universal by positioning it to monitor a common element (the ribbon loosening) that indicates obstacles regardless of which side the obstacle is located. The sensor detects ribbon tension changes that occur in either ribbon winding when an obstacle is encountered, allowing the single mechanism to serve both ribbon windings simultaneously and detect obstacles instantly without delay.
3Reliability
If each ribbon winding is equipped with a stop mechanism, then the stopping reliability is improved, but the number of electrical conductors, microcontacts and electric box increases considerably, increasing product price
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the stopping function for both ribbon windings into a single stop mechanism with one sensor. Instead of having separate stop mechanisms for each ribbon winding (which would require multiple conductors and microcontacts), the single sensor detects ribbon loosening in either winding, and a single motor controller interrupts the motor power based on this unified detection, thereby maintaining high reliability while minimizing electrical component complexity.
4Reliability
If the stop mechanism acts on the electric current supply to the motor via a switch, then the motor can be stopped, but there is a certain response time in stopping the winding shaft in rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary detection of the obstacle condition through the sensor that continuously monitors ribbon tension. When the sensor detects ribbon loosening indicating an obstacle, it immediately triggers the motor controller to interrupt power to the motor. This preliminary detection and immediate response eliminates delays associated with mechanical stop mechanisms, achieving instantaneous stopping of the winding shaft.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides a more reliable and economical stopping mechanism that instantly immobilizes the winding shaft and motor, ensuring efficient rotation stopping and reducing the complexity and cost associated with multiple electrical conductors and switches.
Implementation Method 1
the rollable part relaxes, not only at the end of the race of the lower edge of the ballast, but when the lower edge of the ballast encounters an obstacle, in any of the positions between a position close to the shaft winding and a position away from the winding shaft
Implementation Method 2
the latter is equipped, for example, with a device for measuring the speed of rotation of its rotor, and when this speed undergoes a sudden variation, in this case a deceleration, the electrical power supply is then cut instantaneously
Data Source
AI summary
The blind has a winding shaft including a tubular body and a sleeve (18), and a platform integrated with the shaft. The platform comprises lower ballasting edge and a windable part (24) that connects the edge and the shaft. The shaft is rotated to unroll the windable part and to drive the edge in a direction opposite to the shaft. A stopping mechanism (46) comes into contact with the shaft to stop rotation of the shaft when the edge is blocked and the windable part is released.