Entrance arrangement for an entrance opening of a building, entrance module and building provided with such arrangement or module

Abstract

 The invention relates to an entrance arrangement for an entrance opening of a building, comprising an automatic door with at least one door panel (4) which is movable between a closed position and an open position and which, in the closed position thereof, prevent passage through the entrance opening and in the open position allows passage through the entrance and a second passage regulating means (10) movable between a closed position and an open position which, in the closed position thereof, prevent passage through the entrance opening and in the open position allows passage through the entrance; whereas a screen (9) is arranged being movable between a first position, in which the screen (9) leaves the entrance opening essentially clear, and a second position, in which the screen is present at the interior side of said at least one door panel.
The present invention also relates to an entrance module comprising said entrance arrangement and a building provided with said entrance arrangement or entrance module.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an entrance arrangement for an entrance opening of a building, comprising an automatic door with at least one door panel which is movable between a closed position and an open position and which, in the closed position thereof, prevent passage through the entrance opening and in the open position allows passage through the entrance, a second passage regulating means movable between a closed position and an open position which, in the closed position thereof, prevent passage through the entrance opening and in the open position allows passage through the entrance. The present invention also relates to an entrance module comprising said entrance arrangement and a building provided with said entrance arrangement or entrance module.

[0002] In daily life, an entrance arrangement using an automatic door is frequently seen in public buildings such as shops. Often a motion sensor is used to detect movement of a person within a predefined range in front of the entrance in the closed position of said at least one door panel, the motion sensor can send a signal to a control unit. On the basis thereof, the control unit can control a door operator to move said at least one door panel, which may form part of a sliding, swinging or revolving door, from the closed position to the open position. A presence sensor is often used to detect the presence of a person in the entrance opening. If such presence is detected in the open position of said at least one door panel, the presence sensor will send a signal to the control unit, which, on the basis of said signal, will prevent said at least one door panel from unsafe behaviour. When said at least one door panel is open and the control unit has not received a signal indicating the presence of a person for some time, the control unit will control the door operator to move said at least one door panel from the open position to the closed position. A drawback of such entrance arrangements is the fact that such an entrance arrangements is not suitable for keeping unwanted intruders out after closing time and is susceptible to burglary, therefore. It is for these reasons that such entrance openings are frequently fitted with additional devices, or passage regulating means, intended to obviate the aforesaid drawbacks. The present inventor has also recognised the problem of using a separate automatic door and separate additional means. This makes it necessary to install the aforesaid devices separately. This problem becomes manifest in various ways. The owner or the tenant of a building must go through a purchasing process for each separate device. The separate devices must be installed independently of each other. This leads to a great deal of inconvenience for the persons passing through the entrance opening. The installers must install the separate devices one after another, frequently in a confined (installation) space near the entrance opening, which often results in a cluttered array of parts, wiring and circuitry. In some cases, previously installed devices even become inaccessible upon subsequent installation of other devices, so that maintenance thereof in fact becomes costly to perform. Another consequence of the use of separate devices is the fact that the various devices, once they have been installed, need to be operated separately each time by the shop staff.

[0003] The automatic door provides convenience in passing the entrance when the shop is open and the second passage regulating means is in an open position.

[0004] It is known to have e.g. a second automatic door as a second passage regulating means. A second door helps to keep unwanted intruders out after closing time as an extra door increases the effort needed to breaking entry. But such automatic doors are usually, at least partially, transparent and it is therefore considered wise to turn out the light inside the building to shield what is inside and to lessen the attraction of burglars. However, it is often desired to have some lights on also after closing time, e.g. to perform activities or just for aesthetic reasons at the entrance.

[0005] In other known entrance arrangements focusing harder on keeping intruders out after closing time, the second passage regulating means is a shutter. Shutters are typically provided at the exterior side of a door panel and are frequently an attractive target for graffiti vandalism, especially in shopping streets. Shutters are also considered unattractive to look at and shopping streets are therefore usually not appealing after closing time.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an entrance arrangement, an entrance module and a building having an entrance arrangement or module that solves the above problems, at least in part. This object is achieved by the present invention as it is defined in the attached claims.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a screen is arranged being movable between a first position, in which the screen leaves the entrance opening essentially clear, and a second position, in which the screen is present at the interior side of said at least one door panel. After closing time, when the screen is in its second position, the inside of the building is shielded from observation (from outside the door) and, if so desired, lights can be left on inside the building e.g. for further activities and in the entrance space for keeping the building entrance and the surrounding more attractive. Further the screen will be protected from graffiti vandalism etc. by the locked automatic door. The screen can be movable in any way known to a person skilled in the art, such as e.g. pivoting, linear movement, rolled-up, folded, etc.

[0008] In another embodiment the screen is provided with a message and/or an aesthetical illustration. The screen then provides a possibility of drawing the attention of persons from outside the building and enhances the experience of the entrance after closing time.

[0009] In another embodiment said screen comprise a display area, on which a message and/or illustration can be displayed or projected and said screen display area can, in a still further embodiment, be releasably attached to facilitate replacement. The display area can be adapted to display the message and/or illustration in a variety of ways, such as a written, painted, printed, projected, direct displayed (as in using an electronic display, e.g. using LCD, OLED or other displaying technology). The message and/or illustration can e.g. be both still and moving images.

[0010] In another embodiment, said second passage regulating means can be an automatic door with at least one door panel. Here the benefit of the screen shielding what is inside the entrance is obvious and the second automatic door to some extent reduces the outside air disrupting the climate within the building.

[0011] In a further embodiment, said second passage regulating means is a shutter, which is movable between an operative, closed position and a non-operative, open position. In the closed position thereof, the shutter further secures the building against unwanted intruders after closing time. If the shutter is provided at the interior side of the building, it is no longer possible to put graffiti thereon.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, said second passage regulating means is arranged at the interior side of said at least one door panel, whereby said automatic door and said second passage means, in there respective closed position, are defining between them an entrance space, in which entrance space said screen is arranged, at least in its said second position.

[0013] In a further embodiment, a controllable door operator is arranged for moving said at least one door panel between the positions defined for said at least one door panel, a control unit is arranged for controlling the door operator, a presence and/or motion sensor means is arranged capable of sensing the presence and movement, respectively, of a person within a predefined range in front of the entrance opening and delivering a signal to the control unit on the basis thereof and a controllable operator is arranged for the second passage regulating means for moving the said means between the closed position and the open position.

[0014] A known challenge in such entrance arrangements, which is used in particular in entrance openings where there is comparatively much traffic, is however the fact that the door panel is open a great deal of time, so that outside air can disrupt the climate within the building practically without impediment.

[0015] In a still further embodiment of the invention, air curtain means are arranged for providing a so-called air curtain, which, in the operative condition thereof, prevents air from flowing through the entrance opening in the open position of said at least one door panel and thereby prevents (at least as much as possible) any disruption of the climate -inside the building by outside air.

[0016] The control unit is in an embodiment arranged for controlling the automatic door, the second passage means and/or the air curtain means. As a result, only one control unit is needed for controlling all the functional means of the arrangement.

[0017] In an embodiment of the invention, the arrangement comprises controllable lighting means. Said lighting means are capable of illuminating the entrance opening and possibly part of the surrounding area.

[0018] In an embodiment of the invention, lighting means are provided for lighting at least an area outside the door. Exterior lighting has a deterrent effect on vandals and burglars, who prefer to carry out their undesirable activities in the dark. The lighting means may also be provided for lighting the entrance opening or for lighting the screen in the closed position thereof. The setting of the lighting means can be varied at least between a higher and a lower lighting level.

[0019] In an embodiment of the invention, the control unit is arranged for controlling the lighting level of the lighting means. As a result, the lighting means can produce light of a varying intensity. Thus the intensity of the light can be set to a higher level when the presence and/or motion sensors detect the presence of a person. In the situation in which people have access to the building, this can be done in order to give people entering and leaving the building a good view, and in the situation in which the building is closed, it is done to draw the public's attention or in order to create an even greater deterrent effect for vandals and burglars.

[0020] In a further embodiment of the invention, the control unit comprises a central operating unit, by means of which a user can operate the control unit. This enables a person to control all the means controlled by the controlled unit by means of one operating unit.

[0021] In still another embodiment, the control unit comprises a memory for programming and/or recording a number of predefined combinations of positions of means that can be controlled by the control unit. This may reduce operating the control of the entrance arrangement to selecting a pre-programmed combination of conditions and the setting of one of the operators/drive units can be made to depend on a state of another operator/drive unit or on a signal from a sensor.

[0022] The control unit can in a further embodiment comprise a selection menu for selecting a combination of states of means that can be controlled by the control unit. Using the selection menu, it is easy to select and set pre-programmed standard settings.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the invention, the entrance arrangement comprises climate sensor means for measuring the temperature and/or the humidity of the ambient air and delivering a signal representative of the measured climate to the control unit. This provides a condition for controlling the air curtain and/or the door panel, for example, in dependence on the measured climate either inside or outside the building. The control unit can furthermore be arranged for controlling at least one of the controllable operators/drive units in dependence on the signal from the climate sensor means. Because of these two aspects, the climate inside the building can be controlled at least partially automatically by the automatic door and the associated provisions.

[0024] In another embodiment the control unit is arranged for controlling at least one of the means that can be controlled by the control unit in dependence on the signal from said presence and/or motion sensor and/or said climate sensor means. In this way a more or less self-controlling arrangement is provided, which controls the functional means of the entrance arrangement in dependence on basic settings and environmental factors.

[0025] The control unit is preferably arranged for controlling at least one of the means of the arrangement in dependence on the position of one of the other means of said arrangement. This provides several possibilities, a few of which will be explained in more detail hereinafter in the detailed description of an embodiment.

[0026] In an embodiment of the invention, the door operator and the air curtain unit can be set so that in use the air curtain unit is turned on at a predefined position of said at least one door panel, e.g. before the door operator is activated to open the door or any other desired position. In another embodiment of the invention, the door operator and the air curtain unit can be set so that in use the air curtain unit is turned off at a predefined position of said at least one door panel, e.g. in the closed position of said at least one door panel or any other desired position. These two aspects prevent outside air flowing freely into the building through the entrance opening and facilitate the saving of energy.

[0027] In still another embodiment, heating means are provided for heating the air to be blown by the air curtain means, and the control unit is arranged for controlling the heating means. The heated air curtain air contributes towards controlling the interior climate, especially when the outside temperature is low.

[0028] In an embodiment, the shutter used is a roller shutter and in a further embodiment a guide is provided for guiding the roller shutter, which guide is recessed in structural elements of a construction surrounding the entrance opening of the automatic door. In this way the weak spots of the roller shutter are rendered practically inaccessible for persons intending to force the roller shutter open on account of the presence of the recessed guide.

[0029] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the screen is movable in between the automatic door and the shutter, from a first position, in which the screen leaves the entrance opening essentially clear, and a second position, in which the screen, in the closed position of the shutter, is present between said at least one door panel and said shutter. As a result, the appearance of the building in the lowered position of the roller shutter is not marred by the presence of a roller shutter, which is found to be unattractive.

[0030] In an embodiment, a screen operator is provided for moving the screen between said first position and said second position. In a further embodiment, said screen operator is controllable and the control unit can be arranged for controlling the screen operator. This makes it possible to move the screen between the first position and the second position, possibly in an adjustable and/or controllable manner.

[0031] In alternative embodiments, a mechanical link can be provided between the free end of a spring loaded roll-up screen and e.g. the front end of a roller shutter. Then the screen can be made to follow the shutter and no specific driver and control are needed for the screen.

[0032] In an embodiment of the invention, said at least one door panel is a slide panel which is movable between a closed position and an open position. Sliding doors take up comparatively little space in an entrance opening, so that comparatively much shop space remains.

[0033] The at least one door panel is in an embodiment a sliding panel, which is movable between a closed position and an open position. Sliding doors take up comparatively little space in an entrance opening, so that comparatively much effective shop space remains.

[0034] Said at least one door panel is in a further embodiment movable between a closed position, a first open position and a second open position different from said first open position. In this way the degree to which the automatic door is opened can be made to depend on the weather conditions or on the number of persons passing through the entrance opening.

[0035] In more violent breaking entry, vehicles have been used to drive through the entrance arrangement to get assess to a building. To prevent this it is known to place road blockers, such as anti-ram post, pillars, poles, bollards, rising kerbs etc, outside the entrance door to stop vehicles. At some sights, however it is difficult to get permission to place such vehicles blocking means in front of the entrance. Therefore, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, such vehicle blocking means are arranged in said entrance space to stop a vehicle to pass through at least the second passage regulating means.

[0036] Said blocking means can be fixed or movable, e.g. the protruding, hindering part is possible be moved away by authorized personnel (e.g. foldable, sliding, telescopic, etc. depending on choice and space available).

[0037] The vehicle blocking means may comprise at least one means arranged protruding from the floor in the entrance space in its active position.

[0038] The vehicle blocking means can be a movable means provided with a controllable operator and the control unit is preferably arranged for controlling said vehicle blocking means.

[0039] In a further embodiment, said vehicle blocking means comprising at least one anti-ram post. A post provides a simple, secure and space economic way of protecting the premises.

[0040] In still a further embodiment of the present invention, the post is a telescopic post provided with a controllable operator and the control unit can be arranged for controlling said post. Herby the post can be controlled together with e.g. a roller shutter and when the roller shutter is closed the telescopic post will erect. When the roller shutter opens, the telescopic post will slide down into the floor.

[0041] The present invention also relates to the problem of fitting together parts from different suppliers, which is solved by an entrance module comprising the entrance arrangement having the features described above. This makes it possible to obtain the various means together with the automatic door by placing one order and to install the same in one operation, with the installer being able to install the entrance module in an orderly manner and gear the operation of the elements to each other.

[0042] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the entrance module is a built-in module. A module as described above may be assembled on-site upon installation, but for the user of the building it will be advantageous if it suffices to install a pre-assembled module on-site. The module may be a standard module or a module that has been made to measure.

[0043] The present invention further relates to a building having an entrance opening provided with an entrance arrangement or an entrance module as described above. The advantages thereof correspond to the advantages that have been discussed above in relation to the entrance arrangement and the entrance module and in relation to the building provided with an entrance opening featuring the above aspects.

[0044] The present invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter on the basis of a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, which embodiment is meant solely by way of example. In the following description thereof, reference is made to the appended figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows an entrance module to be placed in an entrance opening according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows an entrance module provided with the entrance module of figure 1 in the open position thereof;

Figure 3 is a view of the entrance opening and the entrance module of figure 2 in a more or less closed position; and

Figure 4 is a schematic view of a control unit according to the present invention.

[0045] Figure 1 shows an entrance module 1 according to the present invention, in which numeral 4a indicates a guide for an automatic sliding door, which automatic sliding door is not shown in figure 1 for the sake of clarity. The module further comprises presence and motion sensors 2, 5, lamps 3 for a door opening, an air curtain device 6 with an air outlet 22, lamps 7 for general lighting, a screen 9 with a cylinder 21 in which the screen 9 can be rolled up, and halogen lamps 8 for lighting the screen 9. Furthermore, a roller shutter 10 and a casing 14 for the roller shutter 10 is shown, in a housing 23

[0046] Referring to figure 2, a part of an inside wall 15 of a building is shown, in which wall an entrance opening 16 is present. An entrance module 1 is disposed in the upper part of the entrance opening 16, the sliding doors 4 of which entrance module are in an open position. Present at the bottom side of the entrance module 1 is a cover plate 17, in which recesses 18, 19 are provided for passing light from the lamps (3, 7, 8 in figure 1) in the entrance module 1 and the air from the air curtain device (6 in figure 1) above the cover plate 17 there through. Present between the guide 4a for the sliding door and the recess 19 for the air curtain outlet 22 is an inner presence and motion sensor 5. A roller shutter (not shown) is accommodated in the casing 14 for the roller shutter in its entirety. A climate sensor 13 is provided on the wall 15 above the entrance module 1, which climate sensor measures the climatic conditions inside the building and sends a signal to the control unit. A central operating unit 12 for the entrance module 1 is mounted to the sliding door 4 on the right-hand side of the drawing, by means of which operating unit 12 a user can operate the control unit.

[0047] Figure 3 shows the entrance opening of figure 2 in more or less closed condition, seen from outside the building. The entrance module 1 is positioned substantially in the plane of an outer wall 24 of the building. At the front side, the entrance module 1 is provided with a plate 11, which may be provided with advertising, which may or may not be lighted. The sliding doors 4 are closed in this figure and the roller shutter 10 is in its fully lowered position. For the sake of clarity of the description, the screen 9 is in a halfway lowered position, in which position the lowered roller shutter 10 is still partly visible, in practice, however, the screen 9 will be lowered substantially entirely. The cover plate 17 with the recesses 18 is visible through the sliding doors 4. In front of the middle sliding doors 4, lamps 3 for the door opening are visible. Halogen lamps 8 for lighting the screen 9 are provided between the sliding doors 4 and the screen 9. Figure 3 furthermore shows the outer presence and motion sensor 2 and the central operating unit 12.

[0048] Figure 4 is a schematic survey of the manner in which switching of the lamps 3 for the door opening, the sliding doors 4, the air curtain device 6, the lamps 7 for general lighting, the halogen lamps 8 for the screen 9, the screen 9 and the roller shutter 10 of the module takes place by the control unit 20 on the basis of input from the presence and motion sensors 2, 5, the climate sensor 13 and the central operating unit 12.

[0049] Referring to figure 1, an entrance module 1 is shown, which entrance module can be placed in an entrance opening (not shown in figure 1). For the sake of clarity of the description, the sliding doors (4, see figures 2 and 3) and a cover plate (17, see figures 2 and 3) at the bottom side of the module 1 have been left out in figure 1. Also the wiring for, for example, the control unit and the power supply have been left out for the sake of clarity. The module comprises a housing 23 with a casing 14, in which a roller shutter 10 can be accommodated in its entirety in the rolled-up position thereof. Furthermore, a cylinder 21 is provided, in which the screen 9 can be rolled up, manually or by some operator (e.g. a spring, an electric motor etc.). An air curtain device 6 is provided in such a manner that the air outlet 22 thereof is aligned with a recess in the cover plate (17, figure 2) in the mounted condition on the housing 23 thereof. Several lamps 3, 7, 8 are furthermore provided, which lamps also coincide with or are aligned with recesses in the cover plate (17, figure 2). Figure 1 show that all the elements can be accommodated in the module in such a manner that they do not interfere with each other's operation. The module 1 as such can be built into an entrance opening of a building.

[0050] Figure 2 shows the module 1 in the mounted condition thereof, seen from the inside of a building. The module 1 is surrounded by inner walls 15 of the building and is capable of closing the entrance opening 16 in the wall 15. In figure 2 the entrance module is in a position in which it does not close the entrance opening, however. The sliding doors 4 are moved apart, so that a person can enter or leave the building through the entrance opening 16. In a so-called shop-open setting, the presence and motion sensors 2 and 5 cause the sliding doors 4 to slide to the open position when they detect the presence and/or movement of a person in the vicinity of the entrance opening. The sliding doors 4 will slide to the closed position again after some time, unless the presence and motion sensors 2, 5 detect that a person is still, or again, present near the entrance opening at that point in time. The air curtain device 6 is provided at the interior side of the sliding doors 4 and blows down air, which may or may not be heated, in this (open) position of the sliding doors 4 so as to prevent outside air 4 flowing freely into the building through the entrance openings 16. The lamps for the door opening (see figure 1) are on continuously in the shop-open setting. The intensity of the light from said lamps may be increased, however, in case the presence and/or motion detectors 2, 5 detect presence and/or movement in the vicinity of the entrance opening. The general lighting 7 is also on in the shop-open setting. The roller shutter (see figure 1) is present in the casing 14 for the roller shutter in the rolled-up condition thereof. The operating unit 12 is furthermore capable of varying the open position of the sliding doors 4 between an entirely open position on "warm" days and a halfway open position on "cool" days.

[0051] Referring to figure 3, the same entrance module 1 as in figure 2 is shown, in this case seen from the outside, however, and in a more or less closed condition. The plate 11 forms part of the housing (see figure 1) that hides the interior of the module 1 from view. Advertising may be present on the plate 11, for example, and the plate 11 may be semitransparent, so that lighting from inside the housing 23 causes the plate 11 and any advertising thereon to light up. The sliding doors 4 are closed in this figure, and the roller shutter 10 is in its fully lowered position. The screen 9 is only partially lowered, so that the roller shutter 10 is still partly visible; in a so-called night position, however, in which the shop is left in locked-up condition, the screen 9 is in its substantially fully lowered position. The screen is lighted by the halogen lamps 8 for the screen 9. The screen 9 may be provided with advertising, for example.

[0052] The advertising message might be placed directly on the screen main surface or on a detachable area thereon. It can also be projected there on by a projector, from the front- or from the backside. The screen can also be provided with an active area on which the message or illustration can be displayed, using some display technology such as e.g. LCD, OLED, etc.

[0053] The operating unit 12 is mounted in such a manner that it is accessible on the outside, so that a staff member can operate the control unit (not shown) of the functional means of the module 1 from outside the building.

[0054] So far the module has been described as a more or less complete unit, but it is also possible to provide separate functional means for use in an entrance opening of a building separately and subsequently interconnect said means. This makes it possible to realise a central control and operation. Hereinafter an example of the possibility for controlling and/or operating the functional means will be described in more detail, which functional means may be provided as part of a complete module, as separate means in an arrangement or as a combination of means in a module and separate means.

[0055] Figure 4 is a schematic survey of the control unit 12 and central operating unit 12, of the lamps 3 for the door opening, the sliding doors 4, the air curtain 6, the lamps 7 for general lighting, the halogen lamps 8 for the screen 9, the screen 9 and the roller shutter 10 (for installation) in an entrance opening of a building in combination with the presence and motion sensors 2, 5 and the climate sensor 13. The above means may be connected in the manner described below, for example. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that although more or less all the means are interconnected herein, means may be left out or other means may be added, according to the requirements of the user of the building. Said leaving out and/or adding of means does (do) not affect the principle of the central control and operation. The means may also be connected in different combinations, of course, according to the user's requirements.

[0056] The control unit 20 comprises a programme in which several positions are pre-programmed, which positions can be selected at will by an operator. In a so-called "night position", the external presence and motion sensor 5 is activated, the internal presence and motion sensor 2 is deactivated, the screen 9 and the roller shutter 10 are lowered, the LED lighting for the screen is on the and, the halogen lamps 8 for the screen 9 are off, the air curtain device 6 is off, the automatic door is locked, the like 3 for the door opening is off and the illuminated advertising behind the plate 11 is on. When the external presence and motion sensor 5 detects movement near the entrance opening, the halogen lamps 8 for the screen, or the projection of the message or the active display will go on, thereby creating a larger light output. This is done on the one hand to draw the attention of those present to the screen and on the other hand to deter burglars.

[0057] When a staff member activates the central operating unit 12, for example by means of a key, at eight o'clock in the morning, for example, said staff member will put the central operating unit 12 in an intermediate position. In this intermediate position, both the internal and the external presence and motion sensors 2, 5 are active, the screen 9 and the roller shutter 10 go up, the LED lighting and the halogen lamps 8 of the screen 9 are turned off, the air curtain device 6 stays off, the automatic door can only be operated by a staff member, i.e. not in response to one signal from a presence and/or motion sensor 2, 5, the LED lighting in the door goes on in response to movement of the door and the illuminated advertising stays on.

[0058] When the shop is opened to the shoppers, for example at nine o'clock in the morning, the first shop-open position will be turned on, in which position the presence and motion sensors 2, 5 are active, the screen 9 and the roller shutter 10 are up, the LED lighting and the halogen lamps 8 of the screen 9 are off, the air curtain device 6 operates at half power upon being activated by means of a signal from the presence and motion sensors 2, 5, the automatic door is moved in response to detections made by the presence and motion sensors 2, 5, the LED lighting in the door goes on in response to the detection of presence and/or movement near the door and the illuminated advertising is on.

[0059] In a second shop-open position, the automatic door is open all the time, the external presence and motion sensor 2 is deactivated, the internal presence and motion sensor 5 is active, the screen 9 and the roller shutter 10 are up, the LED lighting and the halogen lamps 8 of the screen 9 are off, the air curtain device 6 continuously operates at half power, the LED lighting in the door the LED lighting 3 in the door opening is off and the illuminated advertising is on.

[0060] In a third shop-open position, for example for windy and/or rainy weather conditions, the internal and the external presence and motion sensors are active, the screen 9 and the roller shutter 10 are up, the LED lighting and the halogen lamps 8 of the screen 9 are off, the air curtain device 6 operates at full power upon being activated by means of a signal from one of the presence and motion-sensors 2, 5, the automatic door is moved in response to detections made by the presence and motion sensors 2, 5, the LED lighting 3 in the door goes on in response to the detection of presence and/or movement near the door and the illuminated advertising is on.

[0061] When the shop is being closed to the shoppers, the external presence and motion sensor 2 is turned off to prevent new customers from entering the shop, the internal presence and motion sensor 5 is active so as to enable customers and staff members to leave, the screen 9 and the roller shutter 10 are up, the LED lighting and the halogen lamps 8 of the screen 9 are off, the air curtain device 6 operates at half power upon being activated by the internal presence and motion sensor 5, the automatic door is moved in response to the detection of presence and/or movement by the internal presence and motion sensor 5, the LED lighting in the door goes on in response to a detection made by the presence and motion sensor 2 and the illuminated advertising is on.

[0062] When the shop is closed and left unattended, it is locked by a staff member, and the operating unit is deactivated, for example by means of the aforesaid key. Upon doing so, the night position as previously described is set again.

[0063] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many variants and modifications to the specific examples as described above are possible. The description and the figures merely serve as illustrative examples and by no means have a limitative effect as regards the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

[0064] In the above example, the screen have been described as a flexible screen that can be lowerd and than rolled-up in a verticall direction into a casing. It is to be understood that the schreen also can be arranged working in an transversal direktion of the entrance.

[0065] Further, the screen might be of a rigid construction, partly or totally, and/or the screen can comprice a carrying frame for carrying an projector screen or an electronically controlled display.

Claims

1. An entrance arrangement (1) for an entrance opening of a building, comprising
an automatic door (4) with at least one door panel which is movable between a closed position and an open position and which, in the closed position thereof, prevent passage through the entrance opening and in the open position allows passage through the entrance;
a second passage regulating means (10) movable between a closed position and an open position which, in the closed position thereof, prevent passage through the entrance opening and in the open position allows passage through the entrance;
characterised in that
a screen (9) is arranged being movable between a first position, in which the screen leaves the entrance opening essentially clear, and a second position, in which the screen is present at the interior side of said at least one door panel (4).

2. An entrance arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the screen (9) is provided with a message and/or an aesthetical illustration.

3. An entrance arrangement according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that said screen comprises a display area (9'), on which a message and/or illustration can be displayed or projected.

4. An entrance arrangement according to claim 3, characterised in that said screen display area (9') is releasably attached to facilitate replacement.

5. An entrance arrangement according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said second passage regulating means is an automatic door with at least one door panel.

6. An entrance arrangement according to any one or more of the preceding claims 1 - 4, characterised in that said second passage regulating means is a shutter (10).

7. An entrance arrangement according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that;
said second passage regulating means (10) is arranged at the interior side of said at least one door panel (4); and
said automatic door (4) and said second passage regulating means (10), in there respective closed position, defining between them an entrance space;
and that further comprising
a controllable door operator for moving said at least one door panel (4) between the positions defined for said at least one door panel;
a control unit (20) for controlling the door operator;
presence and/or motion sensor means (2, 5) capable of sensing the presence and movement, respectively, of a person within a predefined range in front of the entrance opening and delivering a signal to the control unit on the basis thereof;
a controllable operator for the second passage regulating means (10) for moving the said means between the closed position and the open position.

8. An entrance arrangement according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that air curtain means (6) are arranged for providing a so-called air curtain, which, in the operative condition thereof, prevents air from flowing through the entrance opening in the open position of said at least one door panel (4).

9. An entrance arrangement according to claim 8, characterised in that the control unit (20) is arranged for controlling the automatic door (4), the second passage means (10) and/or the air curtain (6).

10. An entrance arrangement according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the arrangement further comprises controllable lighting means.

11. An entrance arrangement according to any one or more of preceding claims 7-10, characterised in that the control unit (20) comprises a central operating unit (12), by means of which a user can operate the control unit (12).

12. An entrance arrangement according to any one or more of the preceding claims 7-11, characterised in that the control unit (20) comprises a memory for programming and/or recording and/or storing a number of predefined combinations of positions of means that can be controlled by the control unit (20).

13. An entrance arrangement according to any one or more of the preceding claims 7-12, characterised in that the control unit (20) comprise a menu for choosing a combination of positions of the means that can be controlled by the control unit.

14. An entrance arrangement according to any one or more of the preceding claims 7-13, characterised in that the entrance arrangement comprises climate sensor means (13) for measuring the temperature and/or the humidity of the ambient air and delivering a signal to the control unit (20) on the basis thereof.

15. An entrance arrangement according to any one or more of the preceding claims 7-14, characterised in that the control unit (20) is arranged for controlling at least one of the means that can be controlled by the control unit in dependence on the signal from said presence and/or motion sensor (2, 5) and/or said climate sensor means (13).

16. An entrance arrangement according to any one or more of the preceding claims 7-15, characterised in that the control unit (20) is arranged for controlling at least one of the means of the arrangement in dependence on the position of one of the other means of said arrangement.

17. An entrance arrangement according to any one or more of the preceding claims 8-16, characterised in that the door operator and the air curtain unit can be set so that in use the air curtain unit is turned on at a predefined position of said at least one door panel; and/or that the door operator and the air curtain unit can be set so that in use the air curtain unit is turned off in at a predefined position of said at least one door panel.

18. An entrance arrangement according to any one or more of the preceding claims 6-17, characterised in that said shutter is a roller shutter (10); and
a guide is provided for guiding the roller shutter, preferably said guide is recessed in structural means of a construction surrounding the entrance opening of the automatic door.

19. An entrance arrangement according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that a controllable screen operator is provided for moving the screen between said first position and said second position.

20. An entrance arrangement according to claim 19, characterised in that the control unit (20) is arranged for controlling the screen operator.

21. An entrance arrangement according to any one or more of the preceding claims 6-20, characterised in that vehicle blocking means are arranged in said entrance space to hinder a vehicle to pass through at least the second passage regulating means.

22. An entrance arrangement according to claim 21, characterised in that the vehicle blocking means comprises at least one means arranged protruding from the floor in the entrance space in its active position.

23. An entrance arrangement according to claim 22, characterised in that said vehicle blocking means is a post.

24. An entrance arrangement according to claim 21 - 23, characterised in that the vehicle blocking means comprice a movable and/or telescopic protruding means provided with a controllable operator and the control unit (20) is preferably arranged for controlling said protruding means.

25. An entrance module for mounting in an entrance opening of a building, said module comprising an entrance arrangement according to any one or more of the claims 1 - 24.

26. A building having an entrance opening provided with an entrance arrangement according to any one or more of the claims 1-24 or an entrance module according to claim 25.

Drawing