EP0853180A1 - Sensing edge, in particular for an automatic gate - Google Patents

Abstract

The arm has a vertical rounded bar section (32) which is attached to a base by springs (35). When an obstruction is detected, a switch inside the unit is released. A central section of the vertical bar section is transparent and allows the transmission of IR light from a transmitter (31) in the bar unit. The light can be reflected from a reflective surface or is detected by a photoelectric receiver in order to detect obstructions in the path of the arm.

Description

The present invention relates to a safety edge comprising a feelable surface, switch means and means to modify the closing or opening state of switch means when the surface is depressed palpable.

The present invention also relates to the field of automatic door or gate systems.

In recent years, we have seen the widespread installation automatic or semi-automatic doors and gates to entrances to public or private collective garages.

Due to accidents that may occur during closure automatic door or automatic gate, especially when children are nearby, these facilities are subject to strict regulations requiring in particular installation of a pinch-type security system safety edge and photoelectric detection system obstacles.

Figure 1 shows a classic portal system 1 automatic 2. Gate 2 is mounted sliding or rolling on a guide rail 4 and is driven in closing or opening by a motor 5, the axis of which is provided with a pinion (not visible in the figure) cooperating with a rack 6 secured to the portal. A feeler bar 3 is fixed on the edge of the pig. On both sides of the portal, are arranged in pillars supports two infrared transmitters 8, 9 and, opposite the transmitters 8, 9, two photoelectric receivers 10, 11. One flashing warning light 12 is energized during portal movements.

Figure 2 shows schematically in a sectional view the conventional safety edge 3. The safety edge 3 includes a cable 15 stretched longitudinally with one end hooked to a lever 16, the assembly being protected by an envelope 17 in rubber forming a palpable surface. When the bar feeler 17 is crushed in the direction indicated by a arrow in the figure, the cable 15 pulls on the lever 16 which rocker by actuating a momentary switch 18 (or "microswitch") of NF type ("normally closed"). In case of cable 15 breaks, lever 16 swings in reverse under the action of a spring 19 and actuates another switch to momentary control 20, also of type NF.

Figure 3 shows the electrical diagram of the Figure 1. The motor 5 is equipped with an electronic device 7 in a protective box. The device 7 includes various connection terminals among which are two terminals 7-1, 7-2 for supplying transmitters and receivers 8 to 11, generally delivering a 24 V AC voltage, as well as two terminals 7-3, 7-4 activation of the warning light 12 and two terminals 7-5, 7-6 for monitoring the safety edge 3 and the receivers photoelectric 10, 11. Receivers 10, 11 each include an electrical or electronic switch 10-1, 11-1 normally closed when the receivers receive an infrared beam and otherwise open. The switches 10-1, 11-1 and the switches 18, 20 of the safety edge 3 are connected in series at terminals 7-5, 7-6. The control device 7 comprises a safety circuit designed to reverse the direction of movement of the gate if the electrical connection between the terminals of monitoring 7-5, 7-6 is interrupted during the closing of the gate 2. The direction of movement of the gate is reversed thus occurs when at least one of the switches opens, that is to say in the event of the safety edge 3 being crushed, cable 15, or when an obstacle is on the path of an infrared beam (switch 10-1, 11-1 open).

The motor 5 and its control device 7, the transmitters and receivers 8 to 11 and the horn 12, as well as others items that have not been described, such as start detectors and gate limit switch, are commercially available in kit form, for example the kit marketed by the SERAI company (Via Fermi 22, 35020 Legnaro - Padova - Italy) under the reference KIT / 75-S.

This automatic gate system of the prior art has the disadvantage of being complex and costly to implement artwork. In particular, the installation of transmitters 8, 9 and receivers 10, 11 require the construction of four supports, for example the pillars shown in Figure 1, which have further the disadvantage of being bulky.

The present invention aims, in particular, to overcome these disadvantages.

To this end, the present invention provides a bar feeler of the type described above, comprising at least one means emitting or receiving a light, the surface feeler being transparent at least in a passage area of the light.

According to one embodiment, the feeler bar comprises a infrared transmitter or photoelectric receiver.

Optical obstacle detection can then be done according to a plan passing through the edge of the portal and thus guarantees a good security. In addition, a single infrared transmitter or a single photoelectric receiver can be arranged in the bar feeler, instead of two transmitters or two receivers conventionally arranged on either side of doors or gates automatic.

According to one embodiment, the feeler bar comprises normally closed type switch means and a transmitter infrared electrically powered by means switches. This embodiment reduces the number of electrical connections of the safety edge, a depression of the palpable surface resulting in a cut of transmitter power supply and beam cut off infrared emitted by the transmitter.

According to one embodiment, the feeler bar comprises a reflective plate. In this case, we will have next to the safety edge a photoelectric cell of the transceiver type.

According to one embodiment, the feeler bar comprises a light bulb. We can then integrate in the bar feeler the warning light usually located at near automatic doors or gates.

Of course, it is necessary that the transmission means or receiving a light arranged inside the bar feeler is not damaged when the palpable surface. For this reason, a cable safety edge does not lend itself to an implementation of the invention because of the large cable travel, except to increase considerably the thickness of the safety edge in order to provide a housing for receive the transmission or reception means.

Another object of the present invention is therefore to provide a safety edge without cable of reasonable thickness which offers a mounting location for one or more means emission or reception of light.

Thus, according to one embodiment of the invention, the switch means include a contact carrier plate mounted floating and secured when the feeler surface is pushed in, the depression of the contact carrier plate causing the opening or closing at least one electrical contact.

The means of emitting or receiving a light can by example be mounted on the floating plate.

The feeler surface can be formed by a cover made of rigid or semi-rigid plastic material supported on the plate contact holder.

Alternatively, the feel surface may also include an envelope in a flexible material and a rigid bar in support on poles secured to the contact plate.

According to another embodiment, the means switches include elastic contact carrier blades interdependent when the palpable surface is pushed in, pushing in contact carrier blades for opening or closing electrical contacts.

In this case, the feeler surface can also take the form of a rigid or semi-rigid plastic cover made of support on the elastic contact carrier blades.

• la figure 1 représente un système de portail automatique de l'art antérieur et a été précédemment décrite,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe d'une barre palpeuse classique et a été précédemment décrite,
• la figure 3 représente le schéma électrique du système de la figure 1 et a été précédemment décrite,
• les figures 4 et 5 représentent respectivement par une vue éclatée et une vue en coupe un premier exemple de réalisation d'une barre palpeuse selon l'invention,
• les figures 6 et 7 représentent respectivement par une vue éclatée et une vue en coupe un deuxième exemple de réalisation d'une barre palpeuse selon l'invention,
• les figures 8 et 9 représentent respectivement par une vue éclatée et une vue en coupe un troisième exemple de réalisation d'une barre palpeuse selon l'invention,
• la figure 10 représente schématiquement un système de portail automatique comportant une barre palpeuse selon l'invention,
• la figure 11 représente un exemple de connexion électrique d'une barre palpeuse selon l'invention à un circuit de commande d'un portail automatique,
• la figure 12 illustre une variante de réalisation d'une barre palpeuse selon l'invention, et
• la figure 13 illustre une autre variante de réalisation d'une barre palpeuse selon l'invention.

These characteristics and advantages as well as others of the present invention will be explained in more detail in the attached description of three embodiments of a feeler bar according to the invention, given without limitation, in relation to the figures. including:

• FIG. 1 represents an automatic gate system of the prior art and has been previously described,
• FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a conventional safety edge and has been previously described,
• FIG. 3 represents the electrical diagram of the system of FIG. 1 and has been previously described,
• FIGS. 4 and 5 represent respectively by an exploded view and a sectional view a first embodiment of a feeler bar according to the invention,
• FIGS. 6 and 7 represent respectively by an exploded view and a sectional view a second embodiment of a safety edge according to the invention,
• FIGS. 8 and 9 represent respectively by an exploded view and a sectional view a third embodiment of a safety edge according to the invention,
• FIG. 10 schematically represents an automatic portal system comprising a feeler bar according to the invention,
• FIG. 11 shows an example of an electrical connection of a safety edge according to the invention to a control circuit of an automatic gate,
• FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a safety edge according to the invention, and
• FIG. 13 illustrates another alternative embodiment of a feeler bar according to the invention.

Figures 4 and 5 show a first example of realization of a feeler bar 30 according to the invention. Bar 30 is first distinguished from the prior art by the fact that it includes an infrared transmitter 31 oriented according to the probing direction and that its feelable surface is transparent, at least in an area of passage of the infrared beam. The here the palpable surface is formed by a half-moon cover 32 made for example of a rigid or semi-rigid plastic such as polymethyl methacrylate (Plexiglas). The hood 32 is integral with a plate 33 mounted floating in a housing 34 by means of four springs 35 and a fixing system with bolts 36. The upper and lower ends of the housing 34 have no edges and are closed by flanges plastics 37, 38 in a half-moon, the lower flange 38 being provided with water drainage holes. The plate 33 which extends longitudinally in the housing 34 carries at its ends two contacts 39, 40 connected by a wire or an electrical track 41. Two other contacts 42, 43 are carried by shaped tabs of brackets 44, 45 fixed to the flanges 37, 38 and are connected to electric wires 46, 47 extending outside the bar feeler 30. Furthermore, two flexible electric wires 48, 49 passing through the plate 33 make it possible to supply the transmitter 31.

When the safety edge is assembled (fig. 5), the springs 35 hold the plate 33 in abutment against the brackets 44, 45 and the contacts 39, 40 are pressed against the contacts 42, 43. The pairs of contacts 39/42 and 40/43 form thus two switches 11, 12 of the normally closed type. The two switches being connected in series by the track conductive 41, they are equivalent to a switch I. When pressure is exerted on the cover 32, the plate 33 sinks into the housing 34 and at least one of the two switches I1, 12 open, so that the electrical connection between the wires 46 and 47 is broken (switch I open).

The advantages of the invention will appear in connection with FIG. 10 which very schematically represents a system of automatic gate 50 using the safety edge 30. A photoelectric receiver 51 is arranged opposite the bar feeler 30 which is conventionally fixed to the edge of the portal 50. As shown, the receiver 51 is for example mounted in a housing provided in a pillar 52 of the end of travel portal. The receiver 51 and the transmitter 31 present in the bar 30 sensor form an optical obstacle detection system according to a plan passing through the edge of the portal which can replace advantageously the two pairs of transmitters and receivers of the prior art, which was placed on either side of the portal and as close as possible to the portal.

Furthermore, Figure 11 shows a connection mode advantageous from the safety edge 30 to the device 7 for controlling the motor 5 already described in relation to FIG. 3. According to this mode connection, the transmitter 31 receives the supply voltage delivered by terminals 7-1, 7-2 via the safety edge switch I (consisting of switches I1 and 12 in series). A sinking of the surface feeler then results in a cut in the supply of the transmitter 31 and a cut of the infrared beam. So the infrared beam monitoring using the receiver photoelectric 51 can detect an obstacle as well present on the path of the infrared beam that a depression of the safety edge. This connection mode, optional, offers the advantage of simplifying the connection of the safety edge since it is no longer necessary to connect to the terminals of monitoring 7-5, 7-6 the two wires 46, 47 of switch I.

Of course, the feeler bar 30 which has just been described is susceptible of numerous variant embodiments.

If we refer again to Figure 4, we see by example that the transmitter 31 can be arranged at the bottom of the housing 34 as shown in dotted lines. In this case, to make a substantially more opening in the plate 33 large than the transmitter 31 in order to let the beam pass through bright but also prevent the plate 33 from crushing the transmitter 31 when it sinks into the housing 34.

Another variant consists in making the plate 33 or the rear face of the plate 33 with a conductive material, for example example of stainless steel. In this case, runway 41 and the contacts 39, 40 can be deleted, the electrical connection between the contacts 42 and 43 of the flanges 37 and 38 being ensured by the body of the plate 33.

Furthermore, although it is preferred for reasons of safety that switches I1 and 12 are normally closed when no pressure is exerted on the safety edge, it the fact remains that contacts 39, 44, 42, 43 can be arranged in reverse so that the switches I1 and 12 are open at rest and closed when pressure is exerted on the cover 32.

Figures 6 and 7 show an embodiment 60 of the safety edge according to the invention in which the surface feeler is formed by a flexible and transparent envelope 61 provided with a rigid bar 62 coming to rest on hoops 63 fixed at regular intervals on the floating plate 33. In this In this case, the flanges 37, 38 of FIG. 4 are deleted and replaced by side walls 34-1, 34-2 of the housing 34. The envelope 61 is fixed by gluing or any other means on the four walls of the housing 34. The bar 62 must be of a fairly reduced thickness, for example from 2 to 5 millimeters depending on the type of infrared transmitter used, so as not to create a zone of shadow in the beam of light.

Figures 8 and 9 further illustrate a variant of realization 70 of a safety edge according to the invention, in which the floating plate 33 is replaced by blades elastic contact carriers, here two blades 71, 72, arranged in overhang and fulfilling the same function as plate 33 and the springs 35. The blades 71, 72 are arranged at the bottom of the box 34 and connected by an electric wire 73. The box 74 of the safety edge 70 is closed by a transparent cover 75 mounted sliding thanks to guide walls 74-1, 74-2 arranged parallel to the end walls 74-3, 74-4 of the housing. The cover 75 comprises two spacers 76, 77 whose ends in fork shape rest on the free ends of the blades elastic 71, 72. The mounting of the cover 75 is ensured by means of screws 78 fixed in the walls of the housing 74 and passing through oblong holes 75-1 made in the cover 75.

Of course, the characteristics of the various variants which have just been described in relation to FIGS. 5 to 9 can be combined to make other variants of the present invention. For example, the sliding cover 75 of the figure 8 can be applied to the embodiment of figure 4, the spacers 76, 77 then being supported on the plate floating 33.

In the foregoing, various variants of a safety edge including an infrared light emitter. However, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to this application. Those skilled in the art will, for example arrange in a safety edge according to the invention several light emitters, or several photoelectric receivers, and in general any type of means likely to receive or emit a light.

Thus, Figure 12 shows the floating plate 33 of the FIG. 4 on which a reflective plate 80 has been mounted. This plate 80 is associated with a photoelectric cell 81 of the transceiver type arranged opposite the safety edge and reflects the beam of light emitted by cell 81.

Figure 13 illustrates another variant of this invention in which the floating plate 33 carries a bulb electric 84. This variant may or may not be combined with other variants previously described. In other words, for automatic door or gate installations do not requiring no optical security system, a bar feeler according to the invention can simply comprise such a bulb 84. Bulb 84 can also be connected to terminals 7-3, 7-4 of device 7 in Figure 3 and be so used as a warning light during closings or door or automatic gate openings.

Claims (10)

Safety edge (30, 60, 70) comprising a surface feeler (32, 61, 62, 75), switch means (33, 39, 40, 42, 43, 71, 72) and means (33, 35, 71, 72) for modifying the closing or opening state of the switch means during depression of the palpable surface, characterized in that that it comprises at least one transmission means (31, 80, 84) or a means for receiving (80) a light, and in that the surface feeler (32, 61, 62, 75) is transparent at least in one area passage of said light. A safety edge according to claim 1, comprising a infrared emitter (31) or a photoelectric receiver. A safety edge according to claim 2, comprising switch means (33, 39, 40, 42, 43, 71, 72) of the type normally closed and a powered infrared transmitter (31) electrically via the switching means. A safety edge according to claim 1, comprising a reflective plate (80). Safety edge according to one of Claims 1 to 4, comprising an electric bulb (84). Safety edge according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said means (33, 39, 40, 42, 43) switches include a contact carrier plate (33) (39, 40) floating and integral rise when driving in the surface feeler (32, 61, 62), the insertion of the contact plate causing the opening or closing of at least one contact electric (39, 42, 40, 43). Safety edge (30) according to claim 6, in which the feeler surface is formed by a cover (32, 75) in rigid or semi-rigid plastic material supported on the plate contact holder. Safety edge (60) according to claim 6, in which the feeler surface comprises an envelope (31) in one flexible material and a rigid bar (62) supported on poles (63) integral with the contact carrier plate (33). Safety edge (70) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said switch means include resilient blades (71, 72) contact carrier integral with the embedding of the feeler surface (75), the depression of the contact carrier blades causing the opening or closing of electrical contacts. A safety edge according to claim 9, wherein the feeler surface is formed by a cover (75) made of material rigid or semi-rigid plastic supported on the elastic blades (71, 72) contact carrier.

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