Patent Application
20100263287
The present invention relates to a method for automatically opening a door to open a slide door of a doorway by applying a bodyweight of a human stepping on, and to a device for automatically opening and closing a door using the same.
There have been many applications with respect to a mechanism for opening and closing a slide door of a doorway by using a load displacement caused by a load of stepping-on of a human body as a source of power without using additional source of power such as electric motor.
For example, Japanese Laid Open Utility Number HOG-37482 discloses a method (incline method) that uses an amount of displacement caused by a stepping on to appropriately incline a guide rail positioned on an upper or a lower portion of a slide door by a link mechanism toward a desired moving direction, and thereby slidably moving the slide door along the incline.
However, the incline method noted above has a drawback in that a responsive and quick movement is difficult since it depends solely on the natural movement along the incline caused by the own weight of the slide door, and frequent entering and exiting is burdensome.
Moreover, it has a drawback in that when dust etc. is accumulated at the guide rail due to long use, this method is easily affected adversely. In addition, it has a drawback that when the application force transmission mechanism configured as noted above is impaired, opening and closing manually becomes impossible or very difficult. Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid Open Utility Publication Number H06-37482
The present invention provides a method for automatically opening a door and a device for automatically opening and closing a door that overcomes the inadequacy of quick responsiveness to the stepping-on, and the lack of operational reliability caused by the variance of setting condition and stepping-on weight in the conventional method. Moreover, it provides a method for automatically opening a door and a device for automatically opening and closing a door that is not affected very much even when a transmission mechanism is impaired, and construction cost is low as well as a maintenance operation is easy, and has high technical feasibility.
In order to achieve the above objectives, the present invention is configured as follows:
A method for automatically opening and closing a door according to claim 1 is characterized in that by applying weight perpendicularly to a rail that is inclined to one side of an opening or a closing direction of the door, thereby moving the door toward the opening direction.
In the configuration according to claim 1, when the weight is applied perpendicularly to the rail that is inclined downward to either side of the door, a component force toward the opening direction operates as an open door biasing force to bias the door to the opening direction and the door will move to the opening direction.
A device for automatically opening and closing a door according to claim 2 of the present invention is characterized in having: a tread plate that is arranged to be freely moveable up and down; a suspend door rail that is inclined downwardly toward a closing direction of the door; a door support body that supports the door to the suspend door rail in a freely moveable manner; an open door rail fixed to the door that is inclined downwardly toward an opening direction of the door; and an open door mechanism that applies a pressing force from below to the open door rail by a pressing body that is moveably contacted to the open door rail when the tread plate is depressed.
In the configuration according to claim 2, a component force to the closing direction that is generated by the weight of the door supported by the suspend door rail constantly operates as a close door biasing force that biases the door toward the closing direction. When the pressing force is applied from below to the open door rail by the pressing body due to the added weight to the tread plate, the open door biasing force that is a horizontal component force toward the opening direction will exceed the close door biasing force, and the closed door will move toward the opening direction.
A device for automatically opening and closing a door according to claim 3 of the present invention is further characterized as having an open door supplementary mechanism that constantly applies a pressing biasing force to the open rail by the pressing body from the below to the extent that the movement of the door support body to the closing direction of the door is allowed against the suspend door rail.
In the configuration according to claim 3, a component force of perpendicular direction and a component force toward the opening direction of the door are generated by the pressing biasing force from below that is constantly applied by the pressing body to the open door rail. The door is constantly operated with a relatively reduced door close biasing force due to the component force in the perpendicular direction by the pressing biasing force. The open door biasing force that is a component force toward the opening direction of the door by the pressing biasing force is to the extent that is bellow allowing the movement of the door toward the closing direction of the door, and is smaller than the close door biasing force of the door. Even when a part of the body weight of a light weight person such as a child works on the tread plate, the closed door will quickly move toward the opening direction since the open door biasing force that exceeds the close door biasing force that is relatively decreased will work on the door.
A device for automatically opening and closing a door according to claim 4 of the present invention is characterized in having: a tread plate that is arranged to be freely moveable up and down; a door supported to be moveable to opening and closing directions; an open door rail fixed to the door that is inclined downwardly toward the opening direction of the door; an open door mechanism that applies a pressing force from below to the open door rail by a pressing body that is moveably contacted to the open door rail when the tread plate is depressed; and a close door biasing mechanism that applies a biasing force to the door toward the closing direction.
In the configuration according to claim 4, the weight of the door that is supported to the horizontal suspend door rail does not operate the door close biasing force that is a component force toward the closing direction of the door. When the pressing force is applied from below to the open door rail through the pressing body by application of the weight on the tread plate, the open door biasing force that is a horizontal component force toward the opening direction of the door will exceed the close door biasing force, and the closed door will move toward the door opening direction. The biasing force on the door toward the closing direction is applied by the close door biasing mechanism.
A device for automatically opening and closing a door according to claim 5 of the present invention is characterized in that the close door biasing mechanism has a pressing biasing force application mechanism that constantly applies a biasing force to the pressing body, wherein the biasing force presses the pressing body to the open door rail from above.
A device for automatically opening and closing a door according to claim 6 of the present invention is characterized in further having: a close door rail that is inclined downwardly toward the closing direction of the door and is configured to be separate from the door; and a supplementary pressing mechanism that applies constant a pressing biasing force from above to the close door rail by a supplementary pressing body that is contacted to be freely to the close door rail and is provided to a lever that is supported to be freely swingable to the door.
A device for automatically opening and closing a door according to claim 7 of the present invention is further characterized in that the close door biasing mechanism has an upper side pressing body that holds the open door rail therein from above with the pressing body and is contacted to the open door rail to be freely moveable, and applies a biasing force to the door toward the closing direction by applying the biasing force that presses the upper part pressing body to the open door rail from the above.
A device for automatically opening and closing a door according to claim 8 of the present invention is further characterized in having an open door supplementary mechanism that constantly applies a pressing biasing force to the open door rail by the pressing body, wherein the pressing biasing force is to the extent that allows movement of the door that is being biased by the close door biasing mechanism toward the closing direction.
The configuration according to claim 8, a component force of a perpendicularly upward direction and a component force toward the opening direction of the door are generated by the pressing force from below that is constantly applied to the open door rail through the pressing body. The component force toward the perpendicularly upward direction by the pressing force decreases the weight of the door. Thus, the door is constantly applied with a close door biasing force that is relatively decreased. The open door biasing force that is a component force toward the opening direction of the door by the pressing force is to the extent that is below allowing the movement of the door toward the door closing direction, and is smaller than the close door biasing force of the door. Even a body weight of a light weighted person like a child worked on the tread plate will make the open door biasing force to exceed the close door biasing force, and the closed slide door will quickly move toward the opening direction.
In the device for automatically opening and closing a door of the present invention, the following specific configuration can be implemented. A slide door is provided that is suspended and supported to be freely slidable in the opening and closing directions. On each of the front and back floor of the slide door at the location of closed door, a tread plate is provided that is configured to be sunk by a predetermined amount by human body weight.
A transmission mechanism is provided that amplifies the sinking amount of the tread plate into a predetermined stroke amount and raises a transmission elongated part. Due to the weight of the transmission elongated part and the weight that is additionally installed as necessary, the tread plate is balanced to be floated when the human body weight is not applied to the tread plate.
The up and down movement of the transmission elongated part is converted to an open and close movement of the slide door. For example, a drive rotation body provided at the end of the transmission elongated part that moves up and down is pressed to the open door rail that is installed to the slide door in the inclined manner. The pressing force at the contact point becomes a component force toward an inclined direction with reference to a center direction of the drive rotation body. Thereby, a rotation force is generated to the drive rotation body, and thus, the open and close operation of the slide door fixed to the open door rail is performed.
When the slide door is to be closed, a force that operates downward to the slide door, along with the weight of the slide door, can hamper the sliding movement. In order to prevent this, a supplementary rotation body that is separate from the drive rotation body may be provided at an end of a lever that exerts a pressing force for the slide door to be capable of opening and closing by a tension spring and where a fulcrum point is provided at the slide door side.
While this rotation body is between the stroke of opening and closing of the slide door, the elongated part that runs to be freely slidable is fixed with an inclined manner where the closing direction of the slide door is lowered (opening direction is raised). Thus, the slide door is constantly applied with a force toward the closing direction, as well as a force to press up the slide door, thereby effectively reducing the weight of the slide door. Thus, the present invention is characterized in that the horizontal open door operation of the slide door is performed by using the component force as a power source that is obtained by pressing the rotation body to the inclined open door rail. The manner of inclination of the open door rail does not need to be constant. For example, the incline at the lower dead point (when closing the door) may be blunt or acute, thereby increasing or decreasing the speed at the beginning of the door opening.
Since the present invention is configured as described above, the slide door can be swiftly moved to the opening direction in response to the stepping on to the tread plate. Moreover, since the movement biasing force has been applied toward the closing direction of the slide door, an external force is not necessary to close the door. By using a plurality of slide doors, a large open space can be easily established.
Moreover, since the number of components involved can be reduced because of the simple structure, high reliability with no trouble is possible. By establishing the angle of inclination appropriately, the biasing force can be easily adjusted. The slide door is able to perform open and close movement along the suspend door rail, and the open door biasing force and closing door biasing force of the door and speed can be easily adjusted.
Moreover, even when light weight such as about 10 kg is applied, the door can be automatically opened or closed, and the door can be manually moved to the closing direction when locking up the door. Thus, the device for automatically opening and closing the door that has the effects described above is opened or closed by the human body weight when a human steps on. Thus, it can be easily installed in a location where electric power source for an electric motor cannot be easily secured, for example, a simple outside facility, such as a greenhouse.
Since the device for automatically opening and closing the door of the present invention has high energy efficiency, a light-weighted user is able to operate it.
Moreover, the door itself is used as a part of a drive mechanism, and a drive mechanism or power transmission mechanism are not provided in the door case and door stop areas. Thus, non-moveable fixtures may be installed near the door case or door stop area, thereby enhancing a freedom of construction space. Specifically, it is possible to make transparent almost all surfaces of the door case.
Moreover, friction loss is minimized and energy efficiency is increased. A drive mechanism or power transmission mechanism is not installed at the door case and door stop areas. Thus, the flexibility of layout of setting location is increased, including poles and fixtures.
It is possible to minimize the difference between the biasing force toward the closing direction and the biasing force toward the opening direction of the door when the body weight is not applied to the tread plate due to the open door supplementary mechanism. Thus, when the body weight is applied, the slide door can be swiftly opened. Accordingly, the door can be opened without causing a person using the door to feel a time lag.
Moreover, the weight of the door is reduced by the pressing force for applying the biasing force toward the opening direction, and thus, the kinetic friction against the rail that support the door is reduced. Thus, the loss of biasing power is reduced that operates for opening and closing of the door.
Next, embodiments that implement the above described configuration will be described in detail with reference to drawings.
The embodiment 1 shown in
On area of the floor surface 10 at locations of front and back of the slide door 12 when the slide door 12 is closed is arranged tread plates 21 at about the same surface of the floor surface 10. The tread plates 21 are configured so as to sink in a predetermined amount (about 10-20 mm) by a stepping-on of a human.
A transmission mechanism is arranged that transmits the sink-in amount of the tread plate 21 as a stroke amount (move amount) from the lower part of the tread plate 21 to an open retraction side 13 (door case side). That is, a roller 30 is provided at an end of the door close side adjacent to the lower surface of the tread plate 21, and a roller 30a is provided to the other end of the door open side adjacent to the lower surface of a lower crank lever 35. Between the roller 30 and 30a, a lever 31 is arranged below the floor surface 10 where the lever 31 is provided with a fulcrum point S1. The lower crank lever 35 has one end at the door open side supported to the floor surface 10 by a fulcrum point S2, and the other end at the door close side liked (link L1) to a transmission elongated part 32.
The transmission elongated part 32 extends along a retraction hole of the open retraction side 13, and is connected (link L2) at the upper end to an upper crank lever 36. The upper crank lever 36 has an end at the door open side supported to a wall, etc. by a fulcrum point S3, and the other end at the door close side connected (link L2) to the transmission elongated part 32. The distance between the link L2 of the upper crank lever 36 and the fulcrum point S3 is made equal to the distance between the link L2 of the lower crank lever 35 and the fulcrum point S2, thereby making the transmission elongated part 32 to roughly move up and down.
At the link L2 of the upper end of the transmission elongated part 32, a drive rotation body 42 as a pressing body is also established. Moreover, one end of an open door rail 41 is fixed to the upper part of the slide door 12 such that the drive rotation body 42 is positioned to be inserted into a groove of the open door rail 41. The other end of the open door rail 41 is fixed with an incline angle, which elevates up along the closing direction of the slide door 12, that is appropriate to opening and closing of the slide door 12. The drive rotation body 42 is freely slidable in the groove of the open door rail 41.
An adjustment weight W is provided at the upper crank lever 36. Due to the adjustment weight and the weight of the transmission elongated part 32, the drive rotation body 42 is constantly applied with a biasing force (arrow a5) that presses the lower surface of the groove of the open door rail 41 from the above. As a result, the slide door 12 is applied with a biasing force (arrow a6) to the closing direction. The slide door 12 is opened and closed by the mechanism configured as described above.
In the embodiment 1, in the open door condition of
Further, as shown in
In the embodiment 1, the up and down speed of the tread plate 21 corresponds to the opening and closing speed of the slide door 12 since the groove of the open door rail 41 fixed to the slide door 12 holds the drive rotation body 42 therein.
Thus, by providing an open/close speed control mechanism for the slide door 12, abrupt up and down movements of the tread plate 21 can be prevented without regard to the weight applied to the tread plate 21.
The mechanism shown in
When the weight is applied to the tread plate 21 and the tread plate 21 moves downward (arrow a1), the transmission elongated part 32 is moved upward (arrow a2), and the drive rotation body 42 presses up the open door rail 41a, which moves the slide door 12 to the completely opening position (arrow a3). When the weight on the tread plate 21 is no longer applied, due to the weight of the transmission elongated part 32 and the adjustment weight W, the transmission elongated part 32 is moved downward (arrow a5) and the drive rotation body 42a presses down the open door rail 41a, which moves the slide door 12 to the closing direction (arrow a6). At the same time, the tread plate 21 is moved up (arrow a4). Thus, smooth and stable opening and closing operation of the tread plate 21 is made possible without regard to the amount of the human weight.
With respect to the combination of the drive rotation bodies 42, 42a and the open door rail 41a, appropriate one may be selected for use such as a bearing and a flat bar of various material, a pinion and a rack, or a sprocket and chain, etc.
The embodiment 2 is configured in such a way to additionally include a supplementary mechanism to the embodiment 1 described above as shown in
In addition to the operational mechanism of the embodiment 1, a part of the open door bias mechanism of the embodiment 1 is arranged as a supplementary mechanism as described in the following.
A fulcrum point S3 is provided to the suspension hook of the slide door 12, and a lever 43 having a supplementary rotation body 42b as a supplementary pressing body at one end thereof is provided. A tension spring 44 is provided between the fulcrum S3 of the lever 43 and the supplementary rotation body 42b so that the lever 43 presses the upper surface of the supplementary rail 41b.
The supplementary rail 41b as a closing door rail is configured separately from the slide door 12. The supplementary rail 41b is inclined downward from the opening direction to closing direction within an operational distance range (open/close stroke of the slide door 12) of the supplementary rotation body 42b, and is fixed to a wall or a guide rail 14, etc.
A pressing force (arrow a7) is constantly applied to the supplementary rail 41b by the supplementary rotation body 42b through the lever 43 produced by the tension spring 44. Thus, the slide door 12 is constantly applied with a biasing force (arrow a6) toward the closing direction. The tension strength of the tension spring 44 for pulling up the slide door 12 is adjusted to reduce the weight of the slide door 12.
In the embodiment 2, in the closed door condition shown in
At the same time, the supplementary rotation body 42b moves up along the slant of the upper surface of the supplementary rail 41b and slides to the opened direction (arrow a3) as shown in
In closing the slide door 12 as shown in
The device for automatically opening and closing a door of the embodiment 3 comprises, at the upper part, a suspend door rail 140 that inclines downwardly toward the closing direction of the slide door 120, a runner roller 150 as a door support body of the hung door, a slide door 120 that is fixed to a suspend door rail 140 through the runner roller 150, an open door rail 410 that is fixed to the slide door 120 with an inclination opposite to that of the suspend door rail 140, a tread plate 21, an open door mechanism that moves up and down the drive rotation body 420 by coordinating with the tread plate 21, and weight W fixed to the tread plate 210.
The open door mechanism applies a pressing force to the open door rail by means of the drive rotation body 420 as a pressing body that is moveably contacted to the open door rail 410 when the tread plate 21 is pressed down. The weight w creates and an open door supplementary mechanism for producing a constant pressing up force that constantly works for the drive rotation body 420. If an opposite incline is used for the incline of the open door rail 410 fixed to the slide door 120 and the suspend door rail 140, the movement direction of the drive rotation body 420 will be downward and the operation direction of force also become opposite.
Due to the constant pressing up biasing force applied by the open door supplementary mechanism, a pressing force that allows movements of the runner roller 150 toward the closing direction of the slide door 120 against the suspend door rail 140 is constantly applied from below to the open door rail 410 by the drive rotation body 420.
Next, the operation of the device for automatically opening and closing the door will be described. As shown in
Thereby, a constant force that constantly biases the slide door 120 upward is applied to the slide door 120 as a pressing up biasing force (arrow all) through the open door rail 410. Accordingly, a constant open door biasing force that constantly biases the slide door 120 toward the opening direction is applied to the slide door 120 as a open door biasing force (arrow a13) through the open door rail 410.
The weight of the slide door 120 that is relatively reduced by the constant pressing up biasing force works on the runner roller 150. Thus, a constant close door biasing force that biases the slide door 120 toward the closing direction works on the slide door 120 as a closing door biasing force (arrow a12).
In the condition where weight is not applied to the tread plate 210, the close door biasing force is only slightly larger than the open door biasing force. Thus, body weight of a light weighted person like a child worked on the tread plate 210 will make the open door biasing force to exceed the close door biasing force, and thus, the closed slide door 120 swiftly moves toward the opening direction.
As shown in
When the weight of the slide door 120 is relatively decreased due to the pressing up biasing force that works on the open door rail 410, the closing door biasing force that works on the slide door 120 through the runner roller 150 is also decreased. Moreover, along with the increase of the pressing up biasing force that works on the open door rail 410, the opening door biasing force that works on the slide door 120 through the open door rail 410 is increased. When the open door biasing force that works on the slide door 120 exceeds the closing door biasing force, the slide door 120 will start to move toward the opening direction (arrow A1).
Further, as shown in
As shown in
The drive rotation body 420 pressed by the open door rail 41 is moved downwardly along the closing of the slide door 120. Thus, the converting means 310 applies an upward biasing force to the tread plate 210 and the tread plate 210 is returned to the initial position.
The other embodiment of the device for automatically opening and closing the door of the present invention will be described with reference to
The drive mechanism of the device for automatically opening and closing the door of the present invention is configured in the same way as the drive mechanism of the embodiment 3 described with reference to
In this example, as shown in
The operation of the device for automatically opening and closing the door will be described. As shown in
When no weight is applied to the tread plate 210, the close door biasing force is only slightly larger than the open door biasing force. Even a part of the body weight of a light weighted person applied to the tread plate 210 will make the closed door 120 to swiftly begin to open and keeps that condition.
As shown in
As shown in
In the embodiment 3 and 4, when the tread plate that is applied with a body weight is depressed, the drive rotation body 420 applies the pressing force to the open door rail 410, thereby moving the slide door 120 toward the opening direction. When the body weight is no longer applied to the tread plate 210, the slide door 120 is moved along with the runner roller 15 to the closing direction of the slide door 120 of the suspend door rail 140. Thus, open and close operation of the door 120 is conducted.
At this time, by applying the pressing force to the open door rail 410 by the open door supplementary mechanism, when the part of the body weight is applied to the tread plate 210, the slide door 120 can be moved to the opening direction. Namely, the difference between the close door biasing force and the open door biasing force on the slide door 120 is minimized when the body weight is not applied to the tread plate 210. When the body weight is applied, the slide door 120 can be swiftly opened. Thus, the door can be opened without causing a person using the door to feel a time lag.
Moreover, the constant pressing up biasing force that constantly operated on the slide door 120 from the drive rotation body 420 decreases the effective weight of the slide door 120. Thus, acceleration can be restrained in closing the door 120 toward the closing direction.
Moreover, as the effective weight of the slide door 120 is decreased by the constant pressing up biasing force, kinetic friction that is generated by the movement of the slide door 120 to the closing direction can be decreased.
Due to the operation of the constant open door biasing force, the constant close door biasing force that constantly operates to the closing direction of the slide door 120 is restrained. Thus, acceleration and movement speed of the slide door 120 toward the closing direction can be reduced.
Moreover, by reducing the weight of the slide door 120 by the pressing up biasing force, kinetic friction generated against the suspend door rail 140 that suspends the slide door 120 is reduced. Thus, the loss of biasing force involved in the opening and closing of the slide door 120 can be reduced.
In the embodiments 3 and 4, the case is described where the open door supplementary mechanism works the constant pressing up biasing force on the drive rotation body 420 by means of the weight W, Wa, and Wb. In the embodiment 5, as shown in
In the embodiment 5, as shown in
To the lever (converting means) 310, the upward biasing force (arrow a10) that is worked by the biasing means B is operated to bias a point located further in the opening direction side than the fulcrum point S1. The biasing force works on the open door rail 410 as a pressing up biasing force (arrow a11) through the open door rail 410 from the drive rotation body 420. The biasing force then works on the slide door 120 as the open door biasing force (arrow a13). Similar to embodiments 3 and 4, the close door biasing force (arrow alt) constantly operates on the slide door 120.
Accordingly, in the condition where the weight is not applied to the tread plate 210, the same condition is maintained where a small close door biasing force works on the slide door 120. When the body weight is applied to the tread plate 210 (arrow a30), the drive rotation body 420 applies the pressing up biasing force (arrow a11) to the open door rail 410, which operates as the open door biasing force (arrow a13) on the slide door 120. Thus, the slide door 120 is opened. When the body weight is no longer applied to the tread plate 210, the slide door 120 is closed by the close door biasing force (arrow a12).
In embodiments 3 and 4, the open door supplementary mechanism is so configured that weight W, Wa, and Wb apply the constant open door biasing force to the slide door 120. However, it may be configured without using the open door supplementary mechanism.
In the case of
In the conventional product shown in
In contrast, in the device for automatically opening and closing the door of the present invention, only a space for installation of the suspend door rail 140 since there is no drive mechanism 700 in the door case 800. After the installation, fixtures may be established in the front and back of the door case 800 as long as the operation of the slide door 120 is not hampered.
The slide door device of the present invention allows the door to open even when a human user or an object passing through the door is slow or stationary. Thus, it is particularly applicable to the passage for transportation of heavy object as in a warehouse and the facility where the user tends to be slow such as care facility.
Moreover, it is applicable to a fireproof door inside a warehouse where it is less frequently used while manual operation for opening and closing is difficult, and also to a humid area such as a large bath where there is the danger of electric leakage since power source like electricity is not required.
Moreover, since the present invention does not generate electromagnetic waves, it is applicable to facility such as hospital that uses machines that are sensitive to electromagnetic waves. Conversely, it is also applicable to the facility that generates electromagnetic waves that can induce false operation.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-252878 | Sep 2007 | JP | national |
| 2008-109069 | Apr 2008 | JP | national |
| 2008-189019` | Jul 2008 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2008/067142 | 9/24/2008 | WO | 00 | 6/28/2010 |
