Rotating Door System Synchronizes Entry Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Business owners face challenges in creating an aesthetically appealing and inviting storefront while also controlling entry times to manage customer flow and maintain security, as existing door systems lack efficient mechanisms for automatic and visually appealing rotation.
Innovation Solution
A rotating door system with multiple rotatable doors that can rotate symmetrically about centrally located axes, controlled by a controller that synchronizes their movement based on signals from sensors or user inputs, allowing for variable speed patterns and directional control to open and close the doorway effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If traditional door systems are used, then entry control is simple, but aesthetic appeal and customer flow management are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The door system is divided into multiple independent rotatable doors (typically four), each capable of independent rotation. This segmentation allows the system to achieve complex aesthetic movements and effective crowd control while maintaining manageable individual components that can be controlled separately or in coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The door system transitions from static traditional doors to dynamically rotatable doors that can move between closed and open positions. The ability to rotate doors creates dynamic visual appeal for the storefront and enables flexible control of customer flow, transforming the door system from a simple barrier to an active management tool.
2Reliability
If doors are kept closed for security, then entry control is maintained, but customer view of interior and appeal are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable doors can be opened periodically during business hours to allow customer entry, creating a rhythmic pattern of opening and closing. This periodic action maintains security when closed while providing visibility and appeal when opened, balancing the conflicting requirements of entry control and storefront visibility.
3Shape
If multiple doors are used for aesthetic appeal, then visibility and appeal increase, but synchronization control becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple rotatable doors are combined into a single integrated system that rotates in unison. This merging approach maintains the aesthetic appeal of multiple doors creating symmetry and visual interest while simplifying control through centralized actuation mechanisms that coordinate all doors simultaneously, reducing the complexity of individual door control.
4Productivity
If automatic rotation is implemented, then crowd control improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual door operation with automated motorized rotation mechanisms. This substitution enables effective crowd control and customer flow management through automatic opening and closing actions, while modern efficient motors minimize energy consumption compared to the labor requirements of manual operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Rotating door systems and methods for rotating a plurality of rotatable doors between a closed position and an open position are provided. Each of the rotatable doors may have a height measured in a vertical direction between opposing horizontal edges, a width measured in a horizontal direction between opposing vertical edges, and an axis of rotation centrally located between the opposing vertical edges. The rotatable doors may be rotatably coupled to an upper support at the axis of rotation via an upper pivot shaft and rotatably coupled to a lower support at the axis of rotation via a lower pivot shaft. The rotatable doors may be at least partially transparent. The rotation of one or more of the rotatable doors may be controlled by a controller.