A ROLLER AND A SLIDING SYSTEM FOR A DOOR LEAF OF AN ELEVATOR

Technical field

The present invention relates to a roller and a sliding system for a door leaf of an elevator.

Background art

Elevator door leaves usually move guided by special guides that determine their sliding direction.

To minimize friction during movement, the sliding action is facilitated by the presence of wheels (or rollers) fixed on the door that roll on said guide. The roller is joined to the door by means of a pin which, through a suitable fastening system, results integral with the door. Through an appropriate rolling system, ball bearing or bushing, the external part of the wheel is allowed to roll on the guide.

In order to use the same roller on different doors, some solutions that represent the state of the art are used.

Some rollers envisage different connecting tools to be used so that the assembly of the roller on the support takes place in an optimal way in consideration of the particular type of door.

Other rollers involve the use of spacers that compensate for the geometric variations of the door structure.

The need for a roller which fits different door models is felt so as to unify the productive process and to increase standardization.

Disclosure of the invention

In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to propose a roller and a sliding system for a door leaf of an elevator which overcomes the drawbacks in the prior art as described above.

In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a roller door leaf of an elevator, which can fit different door models.

Another object of the present invention is to make available a roller for a door leaf of an elevator, which is an alternative to known solutions.

The stated technical task and specified objects are substantially achieved by a roller for a door leaf of an elevator, comprising:

- a disk-shaped body rotatable around a central rotation axis;

- a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion which are located on opposite sides of the disk-shaped body and destined to be alternatively connected to a door leaf of an elevator.

The first and second connecting portions are different in size from each other.

According to one embodiment, the first and second connecting portions have a cylinder-like shape and they have different diameters.

According to one embodiment, the first and/or second connecting portion has a lateral surface that is formed by a partially cylindrical surface and at least one flat face.

According to one embodiment, the disk-shaped body comprises a support body on which the first and second connecting portions are obtained at two opposite sides.

According to one embodiment, the support body has an elongated development along a direction substantially parallel to the central rotation axis between a first end and a second end located on the opposite sides of the disk-shaped body. The first and second ends represent the first and second connecting portions.

According to one embodiment, the disk-shaped body comprises a seat as a through-hole in which the support body is fitted.

According to one embodiment, the first and second connecting portions are obtained by directly shaping the disk-shaped body.

According to one embodiment, the roller comprises a through-hole in the disk-shaped body and a pin removably mounted in said through-hole. The first connecting portion is located on the disk-shaped body, the second connecting portion is located on the pin.

According to one embodiment, an end portion of the pin protrudes from the through-hole on an opposite side with respect to the first connecting portion and it is shaped so as to realise the second connecting portion.

Brief description of drawings

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the non-limiting description of a preferred, but nonexclusive embodiment of a roller and a sliding system for a door leaf of an elevator, as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

- figures 1 a, 1 b illustrate two perspective views, respectively taken from two opposite sides, of a first embodiment of a roller for door leaf of an elevator, according to the present invention;

- figure 2a is the frontal view of the roller taken from the side of figure 1 a;

- figure 2b is the frontal view of the roller taken from the side of figure 1 b;

- figure 3 is a cross section of the roller of figures 1 a, 1 b;

- figures 4a, 4b illustrate two perspective views, respectively taken from two opposite sides, of a second embodiment of the roller, in a first configuration (without the pin);

- figure 5 is a cross section of the roller of figures 4a, 4b;

- figure 6 illustrates a sliding system, according to the present invention, wherein the roller of figures 4a, 4b is fixed to a truck;

- figure 7 illustrates the mounting of a pin in the roller of figures 4a, 4b;

- figure 8a, 8b illustrate two perspective views, respectively taken from two opposite sides, of the second embodiment of the roller, in a second configuration (with the pin);

- figure 9 is a cross section of the roller of figures 8a, 8b;

- figure 10 illustrates a sliding system, according to the present invention, wherein the roller of figures 8a, 8b is fixed to a different truck.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to the figures, number 1 indicates a roller for a door leaf of an elevator.

The roller 1 comprises a disk-shaped body 2 rotatable around a central rotation axis A-A.

The roller 1 advantageously comprises a first connecting portion 3a and a second connecting portion 3b which are located on opposite sides of the disk-shaped body 2. The opposite sides are intended with respect to the central rotational axis A-A.

In particular, the first connecting portion 3a is on a first side 2a of the diskshaped body 2 and the second connecting portion 3b is on a second side 2b of the disk-shaped body 2.

The first and second sides 2a, 2b of the disk-shaped body 2 are lateral sides, considering a movement direction of the roller 1 in a working condition.

Preferably, the two connecting portions 3a, 3b externally project from their corresponding side 2a, 2b of the disk-shaped body 2.

The two connecting portions 3a, 3b are different in size. In other words, a cross-section of one connecting portion 3a and a cross-section of the other connecting portion 3b have different areas.

Preferably, the two connecting portions 3a, 3b are also different in shape. Preferably, the first and second connecting portions 3a, 3b have a cylinder-like shape. In this case, they have different diameters.

The two connecting portions 3a, 3b are alternatively used for connecting the roller 1 to a carriage (or truck). The carriage connects a door leaf of an elevator with the roller 1 so that the door leaf is able to slide.

According to the present invention, only one connecting portion 3a, 3b at a time is used for connecting the roller 1 with the carriage. The connecting portion 3a, 3b to be used is chosen based on the model of carriage (or truck) to which the roller 1 is going to be connected. In fact, the shapes of the first and second connecting portions 3a, 3b is chosen to match different type of carriages.

According to a first embodiment, illustrated in figures 1 a, 1 b, the diskshaped body 2 comprises a support body 4 on which the first and second connecting portions 3a, 3b are obtained. According to one embodiment, the support body 4 is fitted in a corresponding seat 5 in the disk-shaped body 2. Preferably, the seat 5 is a through-hole.

The support body 4 has an elongated development along a direction substantially parallel to the central rotation axis A-A between a first end 4a and a second end 4b located on the opposite sides 2a, 2b of the diskshaped body 2. In particular, the first end 4a is on a first side 2a of the disk-shaped body 2 and the second end 4b is on a second side 2b of the disk-shaped body 2.

In particular, the first and second ends 4a, 4b of the support body 4 are the first and second connecting portions 3a, 3b.

When the seat 5 is a through-hole, the seat 5 has an elongated development along a direction substantially parallel to the central rotation axis A-A. Preferably, the direction of the seat 5 coincide with the central rotation axis A-A.

Preferably, the first and second connecting portions 3a, 3b have a lateral surface formed by a partially cylindrical surface 6 and at least one flat face 7. The flat face 7 works as an anti-rotation system during the fixing of the roller 1 to the roller supports of the door. It avoids the use of a second tool to fix the roller, making it easier and faster.

Preferably, the flat face 7 develops on a plane parallel to the central rotation axis A-A.

According to one embodiment, the support body 4 is made in one piece with the disk-shaped body 2.

According to one embodiment, illustrated in figures, the first connecting portion 3a has a lateral surface formed by a partially cylindrical surface 6a and a flat face 7a. Considering a cross section of the first connecting portion 3a, that is to say a section orthogonal to the central rotation axis A- A, there is observed a closed curve formed by an arc of a circle whose extremes are connected by a substantially straight line (also called “circular segment”). This is shown in figure 2a. Preferably, the second connecting portion 3b has a lateral surface that is formed by two flat faces 7b connected by two surfaces 6b that are part of a cylindrical shape.

In this case, considering a cross section of the second connecting portion 3b, there is observed a closed curve composed, in sequence, of a first arc of a circle, a first straight line (or first circular segment), a second arc of a circle and a second straight line (or second circular segment). This is shown in figure 2b.

Preferably, the two flat faces 7b of the second connecting portion 3b develop on planes that are parallel to the central rotation axis A-A.

According to one embodiment, the two flat faces 7b of the second connecting portion 3b have substantially the same area.

According to one embodiment, all the flat faces 7a, 7b have substantially the same area.

According to one embodiment, the two flat faces 7b of the second connecting portion 3b are at opposite sides with respect to the central rotation axis A-A.

Preferably, the flat face 7a of the first connecting portion 3a and one of the flat faces 7b of the second connecting portion 3b are symmetrical with respect to the disk-shaped body 2.

According to one embodiment, the support body 4 comprises a section enlargement 8 which rests against the disk-shaped body 2.

In particular, the section enlargement 8 is located on the first side 2a of the disk-shaped body 2. The first connecting portion 3a originates from the section enlargement 8 and develops away from it.

The section enlargement 8 protrudes out the through-hole 5 on the first side 2a so that the decoupling of the support body 4 from the through hole 5 is prevented.

According to one embodiment, the first and second connecting portions 3a, 3b are obtained by directly shaping the disk-shaped body 2.

According to a second embodiment, illustrated in figures 4a-10, the roller 1 comprises a through-hole 9 obtained in the disk-shaped body 2 and a pin 10 removably mounted in the through-hole 9. An end portion 10a of the pin 10 realises one of the connecting portions 3a, 3b.

Therefore, the connecting portions 3a, 3b realized by the pin 10 can be changed by simply removing the pin 10 and inserting another pin 10 having a different end shape.

Preferably, both the through-hole 9 and the pin 10 are threaded.

Preferably, the through-hole 9 has an elongated development along a direction substantially parallel to the central rotation axis A-A between a first end 9a and a second end 9b located on the opposite sides 2a, 2b of the disk-shaped body 2. In particular, the first end 9a is on a first side 2a of the disk-shaped body 2 and the second end 9b is on a second side 2b of the disk-shaped body 2.

According to the embodiment illustrated, the first connecting portion 3a is located on the disk-shaped body 2, whereas the second connecting portion 3b is located on the pin 10.

The first connecting portion 3a is on the first side 2a of the disk-shaped body 2. The pin 10 is fitted into the through-hole 9 so that the end portion 10a protrudes from it on the second side 2b of the disk-shaped body 2.

Preferably, the pin 10 comprises a mounting head 10b which is opposite to the end portion 10a. The mounting head 10b is at the first side 2a of the disk-shaped body 2 and at least partially covers the first connecting portion 3a.

In this second embodiment, it’s even clearer that only one of the two connecting portions 3a, 3b is available for connection at a time. If the pin 10 is not mounted, the second connecting portions 3b does not exist and the first connecting portion 3a is available. If the pin 10 is mounted, the pin 10 itself obstructs the first connecting portion 3a and the second connecting portion 3b, located on the tip of the pin 10, is available.

This embodiment allows high customizability, but at the same time it keeps the structure simple and light. Indeed, the pin 10 is mounted only when a different connecting portion 3b is needed.

In alternative, the second connecting portions 3b is achieved in combination by the end portion 10a of the pin 10 and the disk-shaped body 2.

Preferably, the disk-shaped body 2, the through hole 9 and the pin 10 share the same rotation axis, that is preferably the central rotation axis A- A.

According to one embodiment, both the two connecting portions 3a, 3b are located on the pin 10, in particular at two opposite sides.

The roller 1 referred to herein is known also as “hanger roller”. As it is a known type of roller, it will not be described in detail but it is considered to comprise all the features pertaining to the hanger roller.

In particular, the disk-shaped body 2 comprises an outer portion defining a recess 11 (or groove) that follows its circumferential development around the central rotational axis A-A.

A sliding system 100 for a door leaf of an elevator, according to the present invention, is described below.

The sliding system 100 comprises at least one truck 101 destined to be associated to a door leaf to make it move along a sliding direction and the roller 1 described above. The roller 1 is mounted on the truck 101 via the first or the second connecting portion 3a, 3b, as illustrated in figures 6 and 10, respectively.

The characteristics of the roller and the sliding system for a door leaf of an elevator, according to the present invention, emerge clearly from the above description, as do the advantages.

In particular, thanks to the different connecting portions provided, the roller can be used with different door models.

In the first embodiment, the two ends of the disk-shaped body/support body are shaped so as to couple with different mechanisms. It is sufficient to rotate the roller side to side and connect the appropriate end.

In the second embodiment, the insertable pin defining a second connecting portion allows to couple the roller with more than two different mechanisms, as the shape of the pin can be changed.

Moreover, the flat faces allow an easier and faster coupling with the door.