Screen Motorization with Independent Winding Units

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motorization systems for large cellular, pleated, or roll-up screens face challenges in adjusting the width to match the opening size and maintaining horizontality, especially when the screens are of large dimensions.

Innovation Solution

A motorized installation with two independent winding units at each end of the screen, each equipped with a winding drum and a gear motor, controlled by an electronic synchronization circuit to ensure horizontality and adjustability, allowing for dynamic control of the load bar's position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single motor drives several coils in parallel to maneuver large screens, then the screen can be maneuvered, but adjusting the width to match the opening size becomes tedious and controlling horizontality becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability of screen widthVSAvoidease of adjusting width and controlling horizontality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The motorization system is divided into two independent winding units, each with its own winding drum and gear motor. This segmentation allows independent control of each side of the screen, enabling easy adjustment of screen width to match different opening sizes and precise control of horizontality during deployment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If the screen width is large, then the screen can cover larger openings, but controlling the horizontality of the load bar during deployment becomes particularly critical and difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage area of screenVSAvoidprecision of horizontality control
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic control circuit receives signals from sensors (such as accelerometers) that detect the horizontality of the load bar during deployment. This feedback allows the control circuit to adjust the rotation of each winding drum independently, ensuring precise horizontality control even for large screens covering significant areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If cords are wound on parallel coils to maneuver the screen, then the screen can be deployed, but adjusting the length of the cords becomes tedious

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of screen deploymentVSAvoidtime required for cord adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The manual adjustment of cord lengths is replaced by motorized winding drums with gear motors and electronic control. The control circuit automatically manages the winding and unwinding of cords on both drums, eliminating the need for manual cord length adjustment and significantly reducing the time required for screen deployment and reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3055477B1Motorised installation for manoeuvring a screen and associated screen device
Publication Date: 2018.11.28 SOMFY ACTIVITES SA
  • EP3055477B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3055477B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3055477B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a screen device (10) comprising a screen (16) movable between a retracted position and a deployed position, bearing on a load bar (12), and motorised by an installation comprising at least two winding units (24), each comprising a winding coil (26) associated with a driving gear motor (28), the winding coils (26) being guided to rotate relative to the box (18) mechanically independently from one another. A control circuit (32) synchronises the two winding units (24) by driving each gear motor (28) so as to ensure the horizontal position of the load bar. To that end, the control circuit (32) is connected to one or more sensors (34), for example accelerometers, delivering a signal representative of the levelness of the load bar.