BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to passage barrier systems with automatically swiveling or rotating barrier members.

Prior art

[0004] Passage barrier systems of the said kind are known in the most varied embodiments and serve to optionally permit or block the passage of persons or the passage of a vehicles. In a simple construction, they may be designed as a revolving door with two door members arranged opposite each other and mutually aligned, each of which is firmly attached to a common shaft extending vertically between the door members and which can be driven by a motor. Alternatively, the barrier member may be in the shape of a motor driven turnstile or motor driven swivel arms.

[0005] The passage barrier systems of the prior art may be electronically controlled by an electromechanical system including said motor forming part of an actuator means for rotating or swiveling the barrier member about a vertical axis to manage the flow pf passage of pedestrians in entry and in exit. More particularly, the electromechanical system is adapted to detect the position of the barrier member by a sensor means taking the stationary support of the barrier member as reference. Based on the output signal of the sensor means, a controller means is fed by this output signal for controlling the rotation/swiveling of the barrier member by controlling its drive provided by the actuator means. The position detection via the sensor means is used for instance to define a position for blocking the flow passage of pedestrians as well as a positon to let the pedestrians pass. It is known to use optical encoders, magnetic encoders, mechanical encoders, as well as electromechanical encoders as sensor means.

[0006] The above mentioned conventional sensor means show some significant drawbacks, since they suffer fragility, little resistance to dirt, unforeseen reactions to electrical interference or to electromagnetic wear due to contact between contact points, resulting in malfunctions and a shortened service-life. For instance, a magnetic encoder as sensor means is not suited to reliably determine the position of the barrier member in case of external magnetic interference fields temporarily affecting the reference magnet of this encoder causing temporary or definitive out of service of the system. Such magnetic interference field can originate from electromagnetic fields of mobile devices carried by the pedestrians.

[0007] A further drawback of conventional passage barrier systems originates from an imprecise rotation or swiveling kinetics of the barrier member caused by a not uniform reaction kinetics of the electromotor in response to the controller action.

EP 2 211 014 discloses a passage barrier system of the kind defined by the preamble of claim 1.

[0008] Therefore, there exists a need of a passage barrier system which is neither prone to electrical and magnetic interferences nor prone to wear or suffering fragility and little resistance to dirt. Further, there exists a need of a passage barrier system providing for a precise rotation or swiveling kinetics of its barrier member.

[0009] To meet the above mentioned needs it is an object of the invention to provide a passage barrier system which is neither prone to electrical and magnetic interferences nor prone to wear or suffering fragility and little resistance to dirt. A further object underlying the present invention is to provide a passage barrier system allowing for a precise rotation or swiveling kinetics of its barrier member.

[0010] At least the first object is attained by a passage barrier system for controlling the passage of pedestrians, comprising a barrier member rotatable by an actuator means about a vertical rotation axis of a barrier member support between a position blocking in use the passage of pedestrians and a position enabling in use said passage, a sensor means for detecting the rotation angle of the barrier member and a controller means fed by an output signal of the sensor means for controlling the actuator means. In order to provide a passage barrier system which is neither prone to electrical and magnetic interferences nor prone to wear or suffering fragility and little resistance to dirt, the sensor means comprises a capacitive rotation encoder having a rotor and stator.

[0011] Advantageously the barrier member support comprises a fixed portion supporting the stator of the capacitive rotation encoder and a rotatable portion connected to the rotator of the capacitive rotation encoder and defining the vertical rotation axis of the barrier member.

[0012] Further, it is advantageous to connect the rotator of the capacitive rotation encoder to a portion of a vertically oriented axle of the rotatable support portion.

[0013] Advantageously the rotator is mounted to a vertically oriented pin, which is mounted in coaxial orientation to the axle of a rotatable support portion of the barrier member support.

[0014] Providing a precise definition of the blocking and passing positions of the barrier, thereby attaining the further object underlying the invention, the controller means comprises a memory storing a list of rotation angles including

- a first angle defining the rotation position of the barrier member allowing for blocking the passing of pedestrians,

- a second angle defining the rotation position of the barrier member allowing for the passing of the pedestrians in one direction and

- a third angle defining the rotation position of the barrier member allowing for the passing of the pedestrians in the other direction, wherein

the controller is adapted to continuously read the rotation angle of the barrier member detected by the capacitive rotation encoder to thereby actuate the actuator means if the measured angle of the barrier member does not coincide with said first angle until upon further rotation of the barrier member those two rotation angles coincide with one another or by the second or third angle of the memory to thereby actuating the actuator means if the measured angle of the barrier member does not coincide with said second or third angle until upon further rotation of the barrier member those two rotation angles coincide with one another to thereby defined the blocking or the passing position of the barrier member.

[0015] In order to provide a passage barrier system allowing for a precise rotation or swiveling kinetics of its barrier member its angular speed is detected from the temporal evolvement of the output signal of the sensor means and a correction signal is generated in case the detected angular speed should differ from a predetermined angular target speed, wherein the correction signal is fed to a driver for the actuator means to adjust the speed of this means.

[0016] Preferably the actuator means comprise an electromotor. The electromotor can be an alternating current motor, whereby a gear may be provided between the motor and the respective drive shaft, as for instance a reduction gear, in order to reduce a high motor speed and to multiply a low driving torque of the motor. Preferably, however, direct current motors are used, since these have in particular a good transient behavior and are very well controllable. In addition, direct current motors can be adjusted without any problem to the various power supply mains of different countries.

[0017] In order to allow for an undisturbed process of the control procedure the complete logical control of the controller means preferably is done in digital domain.

[0018] Advantageously the resolution of the capacitive rotation encoder is chosen to be about 5 to 15 points, preferably about 8 to 12 points and more preferably about 10 points per degree of the rotational position of the barrier member.

[0019] Preferably the barrier member support is made of hollow portions

communicating with one another and receiving the capacitive rotation encoder as well as the controller means and the actuator means inside together with a power supply and connecting cables for these means. Said hollow portions are suited to save a lot of space since they allow for accommodating components of the passage barrier system.

[0020] Still more preferably the barrier member support comprises a stationary base portion, a stationary top portion and an intermediate portion) rotatable relative to the stationary base and top portions about a vertical axis common all of these three support portions, wherein the barrier member is fixed to the intermediate portion , and wherein the rotator of the capacitive rotation encoder is connected to the top of the intermediate portion whereas the stator is fixed to the stationary top portion. Further, the actuator means and/or the power is located on the base support portion and the barrier member support portions have a cylindrical shape with identical cylinder diameters.

[0021] Advantageously an anti-panic opening device is provided for in case of emergency allowing the forced opening of the barrier member if the centrally automatic opening is operated or if a shock resistance value of above about 6 kg/m is detected, wherein the anti-panic opening device is operated by the controller means acting on an electromagnetic brakes system, preferably the controller means when in shock resistance functioning provided with a time-out closing system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the following, the present invention is described on the basis of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the enclosed drawing. In this drawing, [0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a passage barrier system in accordance with the present invention with an upper portion of the hollow barrier member support taken off and door at the lowest portion of the hollow barrier member opened, and [0024] FIG. 2 is an explosive perspective view of the capacitive rotation encoder of a sensor means and its mechanical connection to the vertically oriented axle of a rotatable support portion of the barrier member support .

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] In the drawing, identical reference numerals refer to similar components.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a passage barrier system 1 in accordance with the present invention 5 adapted for controlling the flow of passing by pedestrians. The passage barrier system 1 comprises a horizontally oriented U-shaped barrier member 2 connected to a rotatable support portion (3) of a vertically erected barrier member support 4 by means of the two U-shape's free ends. The rotatable support portion 3 defines the middle part of the three-part barrier member support 4 including a stationary base support portion 5 adjacent the lower end of the rotatable support portion 3, and a stationary top support portion 6 adjacent the upper end of the rotatable support portion 3. The lower end of the stationary base portion 3 is fixed to a socket 7 to be floor embedded.

[0027] The three parts of the barrier member support 4 are hollow cylindrical parts of same diameter communicating with one another thereby defining an overall cylindrical shape of the support 4 as well as space for taking up components of the passage barrier system 1. Those components comprise a not shown actuator means comprising a not shown electromotor positioned within the upper part of the stationary base portion 4 for rotatable driving the barrier member 2, a controller means 8 for controlling the actuator means and a power supply 9 in the lower part of the stationary base portion 4. The controller means 8 and the power supply 9 are accessible via a cover 10 detachably screwed to the cylindrical wall of the stationary base portion 4 and forming part thereof. Next to the cover 10 there is a key-operated power on/off switch 11 connected to the power supply 9.

[0028] Connecting cables (not shown) for the components of the passage barrier system are also located within the hollow of the barrier member support 4, including connecting cables running up to the top support portion 6 covered by a cover plate 12 at the upper end and taking up a sensor means 13 for detecting the rotation angle and/or rotation position of the barrier member 2. The sensor means 13 is attached to a circular support plate 15 forming part of the top support portion 6 and comprises a sensor head 14 for taking up the output signal of a capacitive rotation encoder 16 and transmitting the output signal to the controller means 8.

[0029] As best seen in Fig. 2, which shows an explosive perspective view of the capacitive rotation encoder 16 and its mechanical connection to the vertically oriented axle of the rotatable support portion of the barrier member support, the capacitive rotation encoder 16 comprises a stator 17 mounted to a triangular support plate 18 via three screws 19 which support plate 18 is mounted to the support plate 15 of the stationary top support portion via three threaded bolts 20 a-c and three nuts 21 a-c. The capacitive rotation encoder 16 further comprises rotator 22 located with a central opening of the stator 17 in aligned with the vertical rotation axis of the barrier member 2 and connected to the axle 23 thereof via a pin 24 thereby enabling the capacitive rotation encoder 16 to detect the rotation position/rotation angle of the axle 23 and hence the barrier member 22.

[0030] The output signal of the capacitive rotation encoder is input to the controller means 8 via the respective connecting cable and the controller means 8 is adapted to drive the electromotor of the actuator means of the barrier member 22 in such a kind as to define the rotation position of the barrier member 22 allowing for blocking the passing of pedestrians as well as the rotation position for letting pedestrians pass the barrier member 22.

[0031] For this purpose the controller means 8 comprises a not shown memory storing a list of rotation (position) angles including

- a first angle defining the rotation position of the barrier member 2 allowing for blocking the passing of pedestrians,

- a second angle defining the rotation position of the barrier member 2 allowing for the passing of the pedestrians in one direction and

- a third angle defining the rotation position of the barrier member 2 allowing for the passing of the pedestrians in the other direction, wherein

the controller means 8 is adapted to continuously read the rotation angle of the barrier member 2 detected by the capacitive rotation encoder 13 to thereby actuate the actuator means if the measured angle of the barrier member 2 does not coincide with said first angle until upon further rotation of the barrier member 2 those two rotation angles coincide with one another or by the second or third angle of the memory to thereby actuating the actuator means if the measured angle of the barrier member 2 does not coincide with said second or third angle until upon further rotation of the barrier member 2 those two rotation angles coincide with one another to thereby defined the blocking or the passing position of the barrier member 2.

[0032] Further, the invention provides for a precise actuation of the barrier element, respectively a uniform movement thereof irrespective of irregular advancements provided by the motor of the actuator means via the controller means as follows:

[0033] In order to allow for a uniform movement of the barrier member 2, its angular speed is detected from the temporal evolvement of the output signal of the capacitive rotation encoder 13 based on the list of rotation n angles stored on the and a correction signal is generated by the controller means 8 in case the detected angular speed should differ from a predetermined angular target speed calculated by processor of the controller means , wherein the correction signal is fed to a driver for the actuator means to adjust the speed of this means and hence the speed of the barrier member 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1 passage barrier system

2 barrier member

3 rotatable support portion

4 barrier member support

5 base support portion

6 top support portion

7 socket

8 controller means

9 power supply

10 cover

11 power on/off switch

12 top cover

13 sensor means

14 buzzer

15 circular support plate

16 capacitive rotation encoder

17 stator

18 triangular support plate

19 screws

20 a-c threaded bolts

21 a-c nuts

22 rotator

23 axle

24 pin