SCREEN DEVICE WITH A REINFORCED WINDING MECHANISM

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a screen device (1), comprising:
- a drivable winding shaft (2);
- a sun-screening cloth which can be rolled up onto and unrolled from this winding shaft;
- a screen casing with an internal space in which said winding shaft is introducible, comprising a front and rear wall, top and bottom wall and two side walls (3), wherein the screen casing is furthermore provided with an opening via which the sun-screening cloth can be unrolled and rolled up;
- an attachment body at a head end of the winding shaft (2) for attaching the winding shaft (2) in the internal space;
- a supporting body (4) which is connected to a side wall and to which or on which the attachment body is attachable,
wherein the direction of orientation of the supporting body (4) is opposite to the expected sagging of the winding shaft (2).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates on the one hand to a screen device comprising:

• a drivable winding shaft;
• a sun-screening cloth which can be rolled up onto and unrolled from this winding shaft;
• a screen casing with an internal space in which said winding shaft is introducible, comprising a front and rear wall, top and bottom wall and two side walls, wherein the screen casing is furthermore provided with an opening via which the sun-screening cloth can be unrolled and rolled up;
• an attachment body at a head end of the winding shaft for attaching the winding shaft in the internal space;
• a supporting body which is connected to a side wall and to which or on which the attachment body is attachable.

[0002] On the other hand, the present invention relates to a winding mechanism with a winding shaft which is suitable, in particular, for use with various devices which can be rolled up and unrolled, such as screens, roller shutters, etc.

[0003] Screen devices are generally known; they are usually fitted to door or window openings, in which case they are positioned in such a way with respect to these door or window openings that the cloth (or screen) can at least partly screen this door or window opening against for example sunlight and/or insects and/or heat and/or cold. In order to move the cloth up and down, this cloth is connected to a rotatable winding shaft (cloth roller) or tube onto which the cloth is wound. During the upward and downward movement, the cloth is guided, by its ends, in so-called lateral guides, which are provided on the sides of a window or door opening. In this case, the screen devices may be fitted in front of said window or door opening in a surface-mounted or wall-mounted manner, wherein the winding shaft of this screen device is fitted in an internal space of a housing (screen casing) of this screen device in front of the door or window opening.

[0004] In order to hide the screen casing and to incorporate the winding shaft into the surroundings of the door or window opening in a way which is as aesthetic as possible, it is also possible to install the screen casing in a wall cavity (internal space) which extends at least partly beyond this door or window opening.

[0005] The screen casing in which the winding shaft is provided, comprises a front and rear wall, top and bottom wall and two side walls. With the existing screen devices, the winding shaft is often inserted in the internal space via a closable opening on the bottom side (or front side) of the screen casing, essentially along a direction along the winding and unwinding movement of the screen. However, under certain conditions, the fitted winding shaft may start sagging, sometimes by as much as 10 to 15 mm maximum sag, resulting in visible crumpling of the sun-screening cloth. In addition, if the sagging is excessive, it may be necessary to replace the shaft in order to ensure the screen device remains in good working order.

[0006] The degree of sagging depends on various factors, including the thickness and strength of the shaft used, the length of the shaft and the load to which it is subjected. For example, if the sun-screening cloth is too heavy for the capacity of the shaft or if there is a strong wind load on the extended cloth.

[0007] In order to prevent the winding shaft from sagging, various solutions are available. The possible solutions are:

a) using a stronger shaft by either making the shaft from a stronger material, which usually results in greater costs, or increasing the diameter of the shaft, i.e. the wall thickness of the shaft, resulting in the need for a larger screen casing, which is likewise undesirable;

b) reinforcing the shaft: in order to increase the stiffness and resistance to sagging, the shaft may be reinforced. This may be achieved by providing additional support to the shaft, such as reinforcing ribs or an internal steel core, as described in European patent publication EP 3 874 111 A1.
EP 3 874 111 A1 describes a roller winding system, comprising a roller winding shaft which is designed as a tube which is attached, at one end, to a drive mechanism which is attached to a support and, at the other end, is fitted to a bearing on a pivot attached to a frame, while the roller winding system comprises a pre-bent reinforcing shaft which is introduced in the winding shaft and is firmly anchored to the support situated on the side opposite the drive mechanism. The pre-bent reinforcing shaft is furthermore provided with rolling support bearings which are fitted across the length of the reinforcing shaft at a distance apart. However, the described roller winding system has the drawback that, in addition to the standard shaft, a pre-bent shaft is required, which necessitates an additional machine and processing step in order to pre-bend the respective shaft based on the length and weight of the respective roller winding system. In addition, it is a labour-intense system, because of the pre-bending of a shaft to form a reinforcing shaft and the subsequent introduction thereof into the winding shaft;

c) support on the sides. Adding lateral support to the shaft may help to reduce sagging. This may be achieved by using sturdy lateral guides or additional attachment points along the shaft in order to increase the stability;

d) reducing the weight of the cloth by e.g. using lighter materials or making perforations in the cloth;

e) reducing the load on the shaft, for example by retracting the cloth in case of strong winds.

[0008] Italian publication IT UD20 100 076 A1 describes a support apparatus for supporting one or more curtains with respect to a wall, consisting of anchoring means which are adapted to be anchored to the wall and attachment means to which each of these curtains are attachable, wherein pivoting means are provided between said anchoring means and said attachment means in order to allow rotation of said attachment means with respect to said anchoring means.

[0009] However, all the solutions described have their specific limitations and/or drawbacks. The object of the present invention therefore is to provide a practical and economically feasible solution to prevent, or at least greatly reduce, sagging of the winding shaft of a screen device.

[0010] The object of the invention is achieved by providing a screen device comprising:

• a drivable winding shaft;
• a sun-screening cloth which can be rolled up onto and unrolled from this winding shaft;
• a screen casing with an internal space in which said winding shaft is introducible, comprising a front and rear wall, top and bottom wall and two side walls, wherein the screen casing is furthermore provided with an opening via which the sun-screening cloth can be unrolled and rolled up;
• an attachment body at a head end of the winding shaft for attaching the winding shaft in the internal space;
• a supporting body which is connected to a side wall and to which or on which the attachment body is attachable, wherein the direction of orientation of the supporting body is opposite to the expected sagging of the winding shaft, wherein the screen device comprises adjustment means to change the direction of orientation of the supporting body, and wherein the adjustment means comprise a displaceable control element, preferably a regulating screw and a tiltable insert element which is connected to the supporting body and has a bevelled face into which the control element can be worked, wherein the insert element is arranged in such a way that a displacement of the control element results in tilting of the insert element. The control element is configured to be displaced in the direction of the insert element in such a way that it exerts a force on the insert element, as a result of which this insert element will tilt. The control element is preferably a regulating screw, but may also be an insertion block or wedge-shaped element.

[0011] By fitting the supporting body at an angle, the supporting body will exert a force on the winding shaft in the installed position of the winding shaft, as a result of which it will be subject to a degree of bending, with the bending direction of the winding shaft being opposite to the expected sagging of the winding shaft. The exerted force is preferably opposite to the expected deformation of the winding shaft due to the expected load. In principle, the expected load is the weight which acts on the winding shaft, in particular its own weight, the weight of the cloth which can be rolled up onto and unrolled from the winding shaft, and optionally the weight of additional elements connected to the respective cloth, such as in particular a bottom slat, also referred to as ballast slat. Under ideal circumstances, the respective force will completely, or at least partly, compensate for the load acting on the winding shaft. As a result thereof, the winding shaft will preferably no longer sag, or more particularly only sag to a very limited degree. Preferably, the maximum degree of sagging of the winding shaft is 5 mm, more particularly at most 3 mm.

[0012] In practice, the angle at which the supporting body is arranged, will be set during production and/or installation of the screen device. The set angle will be determined on the basis of the length of the winding shaft and the load acting thereon. The set angle is preferably 0° to 5°, more particularly 0.1° to 3°. The respective set angle is the angle formed between the longitudinal axis of the winding shaft and the centre line of the supporting body.

[0013] The winding shaft is preferably of tubular design. The winding shaft is preferably made of aluminium, steel or a composite material.

[0014] The screen device according to the invention comprises adjustment means to change the direction of orientation of the supporting body. The adjustment means are preferably provided between the supporting body and a side wall of the screen casing. This offers the advantage that, should it be found, as time goes by, that (some) sagging of the winding shaft has taken place, it is possible to adjust the direction of orientation of the supporting body by means of the adjustment means in order thus to neutralize the sagging of the winding shaft which has taken place.

[0015] With the screen device according to the invention, the adjustment means comprise a displaceable control element, preferably in the form of a regulating screw and a tiltable insert element which is connected to the supporting body and has a bevelled face into which the control element, preferably the regulating screw, can be worked, wherein the insert element is arranged in such way that a displacement of the control element, preferably the regulating screw, results in tilting of the insert element. By tilting the insert element, the direction of orientation of the supporting body will change. Preferably, the side wall of the screen casing comprises a receiving space for said insert element. In particular, the respective receiving space is a recess provided in the inwardly turned surface of the side wall.

[0016] In order to ensure that the compensation mechanism described works well and/or that sufficient force is exerted on the winding shaft, a similar solution will be provided at the location of the two side walls. To this end, with the screen device according to the invention, in a specific embodiment, the one head end of the winding shaft comprises a first attachment body for attaching the winding shaft in the internal space, a first supporting body which is connected to a first side wall and to which or on which the first attachment body is attachable, the other head end of the winding shaft comprises a second attachment body for attaching the winding shaft in the internal space, a second supporting body which is connected to a second side wall and to which or on which the second attachment body is attachable, wherein the direction of orientation of the first and second supporting body is opposite to the expected sagging of the winding shaft.

[0017] Preferably, the first supporting body comprises a supporting pin which extends along the longitudinal direction of the screen casing in the internal space of the screen casing, and the first attachment body comprises a ball bearing, preferably two ball bearings, whose inner ring is attachable so as to be rotatable on said supporting pin.

[0018] The second attachment body is preferably configured as a motor suitable for driving the winding shaft. The motor is in turn attachable to or on a second supporting body which is connected to a second side wall. To this end, the motor comprises an attachment head suitable for attaching the winding shaft to the side wall, preferably configured as a motor-supporting plate, via the motor. Said motor, together with the respective attachment head, forms the second attachment body.

[0019] Preferably, the winding shaft has an external diameter which is smaller than or equal to 100 mm and has a length of at least 4 metres. Due to the presence of the compensation mechanism, it is possible to bridge much greater lengths without being limited by the negative effects of sagging, i.e. it is possible to produce winding shafts of up to 9 metres in length by means of a winding shaft which has an external diameter of 100 mm. By means of a winding shaft with an external diameter of 63 mm, winding shafts with a length of up to 7 metres can be produced. By means of a winding shaft with an external diameter of 78 mm, a winding shaft with a length of up to 8 metres can be produced.

[0020] Another subject of the present invention relates to a winding mechanism comprising a winding shaft, wherein the winding mechanism comprises a supporting body to which or on which the winding shaft is attachable and whose direction of orientation is opposite to the expected sagging of the winding shaft. The roller winding system is particularly suitable for use in various kinds of roller winding devices, such as e.g. roller blinds, screens, roller shutters, rolling gates, etc.

[0021] The roller winding system preferably also comprises the various components which were described with the screen device as described above or as described in the attached claims.

[0022] The present invention will now be explained in more detail by means of the following detailed description of a preferred screen device according to the present invention. The sole aim of this description is to give illustrative examples and to indicate further advantages and features of these screen devices, and can therefore in no way be interpreted as a limitation of the area of application of the invention or of the patent rights defined in the claims.

[0023] Reference numerals are used in this detailed description to refer to the attached drawings, in which:

• Fig. 1: illustrates the non-sagging winding shaft and a sagging winding shaft;
• Fig. 2: shows a winding shaft which is supported on both sides by a supporting body which is arranged at an (orientation) angle of 0°;
• Fig. 3: shows the winding shaft which is supported on both sides by a supporting body which is arranged at a certain (orientation) angle, wherein said angle is continuously variable between 0.1° and 3°;
• Fig. 4: is a cut-away view of a screen device according to the invention;
• Fig. 5: is a cut-away view of the one side of a screen device according to the invention;
• Figs. 6 and 7: illustrate the operation of the adjustment means by means of which the direction of orientation of the supporting body can be changed.

[0024] The screen device (1) according to the present invention and as, inter alia, illustrated in Fig. 4 comprises a screen casing (not shown) with a front and rear wall, top and bottom wall and two side walls (3). The side walls (3) are preferably made in one piece (are of a single-part design). The screen casing is made of a light material, such as e.g. an aluminium alloy. In case of larger dimensions, it may also be made of steel, of course.

[0025] The screen device (1) furthermore comprises a winding shaft (2), also referred to as a screen roller or cloth roller, and a cloth (screen) which can be rolled up onto and unrolled from this winding shaft (2). The screen casing is also provided with an opening (slot) via which the (sun-screening) cloth can be unrolled and rolled up. The winding shaft (2) is provided in the internal space of the screen casing. In practice, the screen casing is of a U-shaped design and has, in practice, dimensions (wxh) (mm) of between 80x80 and 150x150.

[0026] In order to move the cloth down (or up) in a windproof manner, the screen device (1) has at least two lateral guides (12) in which the ends of a bottom slat or ballast slat are guidable. The lateral guides (12) also have one or more screen guides (cloth guides) for guiding the lateral sides of the cloth when rolling it up and unrolling it.

[0027] In practice, the screen device (1), in particular its screen casing, will be installed in a window or door opening, often on said lateral guides (12). Installing the screen device in said window or door opening may be carried out in a surface-mounted, in-built or wall-mounted manner.

[0028] The screen device (1) according to the invention is a motorised screen device (1) which comprises a drive means in the form of a motor (5) for driving the winding shaft (2) for the winding and unwinding movement of the cloth (3). This motor (5) is, for example, a tube motor which is arranged in the winding shaft (2). The motor is powered electrically. The screen device (1) is therefore also provided with a power unit which is electrically coupled to the motor and configured to supply electricity to the motor.

[0029] The winding shaft (2) is designed as a tube which, as is shown in Fig. 4, is provided with the motor, preferably a tube motor, on its one (first) head end. The motor is configured to be introduced into the internal space of the winding shaft (2) and to be fitted at the location of the first (head) end of the winding shaft (2). This one end of the winding shaft (2) is attached in the screen casing by means of its motor. To this end, the respective end of the motor comprises an attachment head (6) as an attachment body which is attachable to or on a supporting body (4) connected to the one side wall (3). The motor is installed against the supporting body in such a way that the winding shaft (2) is able to rotate, whereas the supporting body (4) remains stationary when the motor is running. Another spacing tube (13) and associated ball bearings (14) are provided between the attachment head (6) and the supporting body.

[0030] In order to attach the other (second) head end of the winding shaft (2) in the screen casing, this end is provided with an attachment body suitable for attaching the second head end of the winding shaft (2) to a supporting body (4) which is connected to the opposite (other) side wall (3) of the screen casing. This attachment body preferably has the form of a ball bearing (14) whose inner ring is attachable to the respective supporting body (4) so as to be rotatable. As is the case on the opposite side, another spacing tube (13) and associated ball bearings (14) are provided between the ball bearing (14) and the supporting body.

[0031] The winding shaft (2) is preferably made of aluminium, steel, preferably profiled steel, composite materials, such as glass fibre, carbon or another suitable material for tubular elements. Aluminium is a material which is strong, durable and nevertheless light. Often, a reduction in weight is desired and allows for easier and safer installation of the winding shaft (2) in the screen casing (4). The winding shaft (2) has an external diameter of between 50 mm and 150 mm. The winding shaft (2) has a length of at least 1 metre, preferably a length of at most 9 metres, in particular a length of at most 7 metres.

[0032] Because longer winding shafts, in particular from approximately 4 metres, as is illustrated in Fig. 1, on account of the load acting thereon, will start to sag as time goes by, the present invention provides a solution to this problem. According to the invention, the direction of orientation of the above-described supporting bodies (4) has been chosen to be such that it is opposite to the expected sagging of the winding shaft (2). Since, in use, the sagging, as is illustrated in Fig. 1, is directed downwards, the supporting bodies (4) will be directed upwards, often at an angle which is between 0° and 5°.

[0033] By arranging the supporting bodies (4) at an angle, a force will be exerted on the winding shaft (2), as a result of which the latter will become bent to a certain degree, with the bending direction of the winding shaft being opposite to the expected sagging of the winding shaft. The exerted force is preferably opposite to the expected deformation of the winding shaft due to the expected load. In principle, the expected load is the weight which acts on the winding shaft, in particular its own weight, the weight of the cloth which can be rolled up onto and unrolled from the winding shaft, and optionally the weight of additional elements connected to the respective cloth, such as in particular a bottom slat, also referred to as ballast slat. Under ideal circumstances, the respective force will completely, or at least partly, compensate for the load acting on the winding shaft. As a result thereof, the winding shaft (2), as illustrated in Figs.2 and 3, will no longer or, more particularly, only to a very limited extend sag. The described supporting bodies (4) are preferably configured as a supporting pin which extends in the internal space of the screen casing. Because the respective supporting bodies (4) have to absorb relatively large forces, they are preferably made of steel.

[0034] In order to change the direction of orientation of the supporting body (4), adjustment means are provided. These adjustment means are provided between the supporting body (4) and the side wall (3) of the screen casing. This offers the advantage that, should it be found, as time goes by, that (some) sagging of the winding shaft (2) has taken place, it is possible to adjust the direction of orientation of the supporting body (4) by means of the adjustment means in order thus to neutralize the sagging of the winding shaft (2) which has taken place.

[0035] The adjustment means comprise a displaceable control element, preferably as illustrated a regulating screw (8) and a tiltable insert element (9) which is connected to the supporting body and has a bevelled face (10) into which the regulating screw (8) can be worked. The insert element (9) is arranged in such a way that, as is illustrated in Figs.6 and 7, a displacement of the regulating screw (8) results in the tilting of the insert element (9). By tilting the insert element (9), the direction of orientation of the supporting body (4) will change. As is illustrated in Fig. 5, the side wall of the screen casing comprises a recess which forms a receiving space for said tiltable insert element (9).

Claims

1. Screen device (1), comprising:

- a drivable winding shaft (2);

- a sun-screening cloth which can be rolled up onto and unrolled from this winding shaft;

- a screen casing with an internal space in which said winding shaft is introducible, comprising a front and rear wall, top and bottom wall and two side walls (3), wherein the screen casing is furthermore provided with an opening via which the sun-screening cloth can be unrolled and rolled up;

- an attachment body at a head end of the winding shaft (2) for attaching the winding shaft (2) in the internal space;

- a supporting body (4) which is connected to a side wall and to which or on which the attachment body is attachable,

characterized in that the direction of orientation of the supporting body (4) is opposite to the expected sagging of the winding shaft (2), wherein the screen device (1) comprises adjustment means to change the direction of orientation of the supporting body (4), and in that the adjustment means comprise a displaceable control element, preferably a regulating screw (8) and a tiltable insert element (9) which is connected to the supporting body (4) and has a bevelled face (10) into which the control element can be worked, wherein the insert element (9) is arranged in such a way that a displacement of the control element results in tilting of the insert element (9).

2. Screen device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the side wall (3) of the screen casing comprises a receiving space (11) for said insert element (9).

3. Screen device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one head end of the winding shaft (2) comprises a first attachment body for attaching the winding shaft (2) in the internal space, a first supporting body which is connected to a first side wall to which or on which the first attachment body is attachable, the other head end of the winding shaft (2) comprises a second attachment body for attaching the winding shaft (2) in the internal space, a second supporting body which is connected to a second side wall and to which or on which the second attachment body is attachable, wherein the direction of orientation of the first and second supporting body is opposite to the expected sagging of the winding shaft (2).

4. Screen device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the winding shaft (2) has an external diameter which is smaller than or equal to 100 mm and has a length of at least 4 metres.

5. Winding mechanism, comprising a winding shaft (2), characterized in that the winding mechanism comprises a supporting body (49 to which or on which the winding shaft (2) is attachable and whose direction of orientation is opposite to the expected sagging of the winding shaft (2).

Drawing