The present invention relates to a panel for lift doors and a method of assembling a panel for lift doors.
In particular, the present invention relates to a panel for automatic lift doors, comprising at least one portion in glass or similar material.
The panels comprising a portion in glass are generally composed of profiles soldered so as to contain and block the glass portion in place. E.g. document
The known assembly methods of such panels envisage, after positioning of the glass portion, a step of soldering the profiles to each other and to the frame.
The soldered profiles present problems related to the tolerance deriving from the placing of two elements to be soldered alongside each other as well as to the thermal deformation which produces tensions between the metal sheets forming the profiles.
To attempt to overcome such drawback the use of suitable templates in the soldering step, able to simplify assembly, has been introduced. Such templates, in the case of automatic doors for lifts, must necessarily be of the parametric type, depending on the width and height of the elements to be soldered.
Such methods are time consuming, complex and expensive however and the panels obtained therewith have similar drawbacks.
One purpose of the present invention is therefore to make available a panel for lift doors, a lift cabin comprising such panel and an assembly method of a panel for lift doors free of such drawback.
These and further objectives are achieved by a panel, a lift cabin and an assembly method as described respectively in claims 1, 6 and 7 hereto attached.
In particular, according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a panel for lift doors comprising:
a frame; at least one portion in glass; at least one pair of longitudinal profiles, and at least one pair of transversal profiles, said longitudinal and transversal profiles being suitable for enclosing the glass portion, wherein each of said longitudinal profiles presents at least one mechanical coupling element to a corresponding mechanical coupling element of the transversal profile.
The presence of mechanical coupling elements in the profiles permits a precise positioning of the profiles to be achieved during the assembly step of the panel, thereby avoiding the use of specific templates, as well as the subsequent step of soldering.
This results in advantages as regards the reduction of costs, the reduction of assembly times of the panels and thereby an optimisation of the relative production process.
Such a panel in addition, makes it possible to avoid both the subsequent steps of painting, often needed to cover up the scorching caused by soldering, and subsequent steps of covering the panel in that the panel thus assembled proves complete.
According to a preferred embodiment, the invention envisages that the mechanical coupling element of the longitudinal profile comprises a tongue and that said corresponding mechanical coupling element of the transversal profile comprises a slot suitable for receiving the tongue.
Such preferred solution proves particularly simple to make, as well as achieving rapid assembly times of the panel with evident cost optimisation.
Even more preferably each longitudinal profile comprises two tongues, each positioned at one longitudinal end, and each transversal profile comprises two respective slots, each positioned substantially at one of its longitudinal ends.
According to preferred embodiments, at least one of the longitudinal or transversal profiles is provided with a groove, longitudinal in relation to its axis, suitable for receiving a rim of the glass portion.
In such case the assembly of the panel is simplified in that the groove acts as a guide and support of the glass portion which is thereby better positioned.
Preferably, the longitudinal and transversal profiles are made in aluminium or alloy thereof. This way they are particularly economical.
According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a lift cabin comprising at least one panel as described above and detailed below.
Such a cabin achieves the same advantages as those achieved by the panel.
According to a further aspect, the invention relates to an assembly method of a panel for lift doors provided with a frame and at least one glass portion, comprising the following steps:
Such a method makes it possible to avoid the soldering processes and thereby the aforementioned related drawbacks.
Moreover, such an assembly method permits a reduction of the times and costs of the process in that it makes it possible to prevent the panel from having to pass through a further production area, that of soldering.
Moreover, the assembly method claimed, makes it possible to avoid the painting and covering steps of the panel, as well as the use of welding templates.
Preferably, the aforementioned steps are actuated sequentially.
According to alternative actuation embodiments of the method, step iv is actuated before step iii.
Preferably, such method comprises, before step ii or iii, a step of applying silicone to the portions of the frame destined to come into contact with the glass portion.
According to preferred actuation embodiments of the method according to the invention, said attachment means comprise rivets. Such solution is particularly economical.
Preferably, the mechanical coupling element of the longitudinal profile comprises a tongue and the corresponding mechanical coupling element of the transversal profile comprises a slot suitable for receiving the tongue. Such preferred solution is also particularly economical.
For a clearer comprehension of the invention and its advantages, a description of some of the embodiments of the panel for lift doors, of the lift cabin comprising such panel and of the assembly method of panel for lift doors according to the present invention will be provided below by way of a nonlimiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:
With reference to such figures, reference numeral 1 globally denotes a panel for lift doors. Such panel comprises, in the known manner, a frame 2, at least one portion in glass 3, or similar material, at least one pair of longitudinal profiles 4; and at least one pair of transversal profiles 5.
In this context the terms "longitudinal" and "transversal" refer to the assembled panel, except where specifically indicated otherwise.
The longitudinal 4 and transversal profiles 5 are suitable for enclosing the glass portion 3, that is, to keep it in its seat. They are preferably made from aluminium or its alloys or similar material.
According to the present invention, each of said longitudinal profiles 4 presents at least one mechanical coupling element to a corresponding mechanical coupling element of the transversal profile 5.
In particular, said mechanical coupling element of the longitudinal profile 4 comprises a tongue 6, or a protuberance having a smaller cross-section than that of the profile.
In the same way, each of said transversal profiles 5 presents at least one corresponding mechanical coupling element to the mechanical coupling element of the longitudinal profile 4.
In particular, said corresponding mechanical coupling element of the transversal profile 5 comprises a slot 7, or aperture, suitable for receiving a tongue 6.
According to preferred embodiments of the invention, shown in the figures, each longitudinal profile 4 comprises two tongues 6, each positioned at one of its longitudinal ends.
Moreover, according to such embodiments, each transversal profile 5 comprises two respective slots 7, each positioned substantially at one of its longitudinal ends. In particular, the distance between the two slots 7 is substantially equal to the length of the transversal rim of the glass portion 3.
Preferably, at least one of the longitudinal 4 or transversal profiles 5 is provided with a groove, longitudinal in relation to its axis, suitable for receiving a rim of the glass portion 3. These are slotted grooves, which the glass portion rests in, further simplifying the positioning of the glass. Such embodiment is not shown in the figures.
In the case shown in the figures, where grooved slots are not envisaged, the glass portion 3 is simply blocked like a sandwich between the profiles, with a reduction of the production costs of the profiles.
The present invention also relates to a lift cabin, not shown in the figures, comprising at least one panel 1 as described above.
Such cabin comprises, in the known manner, one or more panels according to the present invention and will therefore not be described further.
A method of assembling a panel 1 of lift doors according to the invention will now be described.
In particular, an assembly method of a panel 1 for lift doors provided with a frame 2 and at least one glass portion 3 will be described.
According to a first step i, such method envisages arranging at least one pair of longitudinal profiles 4 and at least one pair of transversal profiles 5, each of said longitudinal profiles 4 presenting at least one mechanical coupling element to a corresponding mechanical coupling element of the transversal profile 5.
According to a further step ii, the method envisages positioning the first transversal profile 5 of said pair of transversal profiles 5 in an assembly position in relation to the frame 2.
After, which a step iii is envisaged of resting the glass portion 3 on the transversal profile 5 of said pair of transversal profiles 5.
Before or after such step a step iv is envisaged of fixing the first transversal profile 5 to the frame 2 by attachment means.
Such attachment means preferably comprise rivets 8, or similar means.
After which, the longitudinal profiles 4 are positioned in an assembly position, at a longitudinal rim of the glass portion 3, according to step v.
The method according to the invention comprises then a step vi of mechanical coupling of the two longitudinal profiles 4 to the first transversal profile 5 by means of the respective coupling means.
Step vii envisages fixing the longitudinal profiles 4 to the frame 2 by attachment means. Such attachment means preferably comprise rivets 8', or similar means.
The method further comprises a step viii of positioning the second transversal profile 5 of said pair of transversal profiles 5, in an assembly position, at a free transversal rim of the glass portion 3.
After which, the two longitudinal profiles 4 are mechanically coupled to the second transversal profile 5 by means of the respective coupling means, according to step ix of the method according to the invention.
Step x envisages fixing the second transversal profile 5 to the frame 2 by means of the attachment means. Such attachment means preferably comprise rivets 8, or similar means.
The aforementioned steps are preferably performed in the order described but it is also possible to envisage a different order of assembly, while remaining within the sphere of protection of the present invention.
It is possible to envisage preferably before step ii or iii, a step of applying silicone, or similar material, to the portions of the frame 2 destined to come into contact with the glass portion 3.
As already explained above, it is advantageous to envisage that the mechanical coupling element of the longitudinal profile 4 comprises a tongue 6 and that the corresponding mechanical coupling element of the transversal profile 5 comprises a slot 7 suitable for receiving the tongue 6.
It is also advantageous to envisage the presence of longitudinal grooves, in relation to their axes, in one or more longitudinal 4 or transversal profiles 5.
A person skilled in the art may make further modifications and variations to the panel for lift doors and to the assembly method of a panel for lift doors according to the present invention so as to satisfy contingent and specific requirements, while remaining within the scope of protection of the present invention.
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.