MACHINE DOOR AND MACHINE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a machine door (2), comprising a door frame (10) having an opening (20), at least three door segments (30), and an actuating means (40), wherein the actuating means (40) can adjust the at least three door segments (30) from a position in the door frame (10) that clears the opening (20) to a position out of the door frame (10) that closes the opening (20). In addition, the present invention relates to a machine (1) having such a machine door (2).

Claims

1. A machine door (2), comprising a door frame (10) having an opening (20), at least three door segments (30), and an actuating means (40), wherein the actuating means (40) can adjust the at least three door segments (30) from a position in the door frame (10) that clears the opening (20) to a position out of the door frame (10) that closes the opening (20).

2. The machine door (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating means (40) can adjust the at least three door segments (30) synchronously in a dipping movement.

3. The machine door (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least three door segments (30) can emerge synchronously in the dipping movement from a recess (15) in the door frame (10) into the opening (20) and can retreat from the opening.

4. The machine door (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening (20) in the door frame (10) is circular.

5. The machine door (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least three door segments (30) are arranged circumferentially symmetrically around the opening (20).

6. The machine door (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that each door segment (30) is dagger-shaped.

7. The machine door (2) according to one of the preceding claims, claim 1, characterized in that the actuating means (40) comprises a synchronizing means (45) which can be rotated about the opening.

8. The machine door (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that the synchronizing means (45) is form-fittingly held by at least one rotary bearing (48).

9. The machine door (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that each door segment (30) is pivotally connected to the actuating means (40).

10. The machine door (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that each door segment (30) is connected to the door frame (10) in the manner of a coupler.

11. The machine door (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that each door segment (30) is connected to the door frame (10) via a linkage mechanism element (44).

12. The machine door (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating means (40) has a drive (60), in particular a linear drive.

13. The machine door (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that a sensor system is provided, in particular a sensor system for detecting the position in which the opening (20) is cleared and/or the position in which the opening (20) is closed by the at least three door segments (30).

14. A machine (1) having a process space and a machine door according to claim 1, which can close off the process space.

Description

[0028] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic and simplified plan view of a machine door according to the invention with a door frame and an opening in the open state;

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a schematic and simplified plan view of the machine door according to FIG. 1, the opening in the door frame being closed jointly by a plurality of door segments;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a partially sectional and simplified view of the machine door according to FIGS. 1 and 2, with actuating means being visible, by means of which the door segments can be moved between a position that clears the opening and a position that closes the opening;

[0032] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the actuating means according to detail A in FIG. 3;

[0033] FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the section line B-B in FIG. 4;

[0034] FIG. 6 is a sectional view along the section line C-C in FIG. 4; and

[0035] FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail view of a rotary bearing according to detail E in FIG. 6.

[0036] Identical or functionally identical parts or components are identified below with the same reference symbols. For the sake of clarity, not all parts that are the same or functionally the same are provided with a reference number in the individual figures.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a machine door 2, which can be arranged in a wall in the region of an access to a process chamber of a machine 1 (not shown).

[0038] The machine door 2 has a door frame 10 which extends around an opening 20. The machine door 2 can be connected directly to the wall of the machine 1 and fully close the access point to the process chamber of the machine 1.

[0039] The door frame 10 has a front side 11 and a rear side 12 (hidden), the front side 11 being located on the side of the machine door 2 facing away from the process chamber and the rear side 12 on the side of the machine door facing the process chamber.

[0040] The opening 20 connects the front side 11 to the rear side 12 and can be circular about an axis X, as in the illustrated and described exemplary embodiment, the opening 20 having a diameter D. The diameter D is preferably 300 mm < D < 1000 mm.

[0041] In addition, the machine door 2 has a plurality of door segments 30, which can be advanced by an actuating means 40 from a position in the door frame 10 that clears the opening 20 according to FIG. 1 to a position out of the door frame 10 that closes the opening 20 according to FIG. 2. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the machine door 2 has twelve door segments 30 which are of identical design and are arranged circumferentially symmetrically about the X axis.

[0042] The door segments 30 are fully retracted by the actuating means 40 in the position that clears the opening 20 into a recess 15 in the door frame 10, which recess is shown in FIG. 3. To close the opening 20, the door segments 30 are advanced out of the recess 15 toward the axis X in a helical movement until the opening 20 is fully closed. In this position, a free end 38 of each door segment 30 protrudes beyond the axis X and the free ends 36 of the door segments 30 overlap — as can be seen from FIG. 2 - in the center of the opening 20.

[0043] Each door segment 30 can have the shape of a curved dagger and have a circular rounded portion at the free end 38. The door segments 30 can also be made from any desired material, for example from a metallic material or from a plastic, with multi-component materials or composite materials, in particular carbon fiber composite materials, preferably being used.

[0044] With reference to FIGS. 3 to 7 it can be seen that the actuating means 40 comprises a synchronizing means 45 and at least one drive 60. The drive 60 is coupled to the door segments 30 by means of the synchronizing means 45.

[0045] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the synchronizing means 45 is designed as a synchronizing ring 46 which is kept mounted in a supported manner around the opening 20 coaxially with the axis X in the recess 15 in the door frame 10 both axially and radially by a rotary bearing 48. In the exemplary embodiment described, the synchronizing means 45 is supported by a plurality of rotary bearings 48 which are distributed around the circumference and can comprise a roller bearing or a roller ball bearing. In order to mount the synchronizing means 45 with as little play as possible, the rotary bearings 48 can be positioned in the recess 15 or on the door frame 10 by means of an eccentric 49.

[0046] The rotary bearing 48 can be configured to encompass the synchronizing ring 46 both on the side facing the front side 11 and on the side facing the rear side 12. The synchronizing ring 46 has a shape corresponding to the rotary bearing 48 on the side facing the rotary bearing 48.

[0047] The forcibly guided movement of the door segments 30 by means of the actuating means 40 can take place in the manner of a linkage mechanism. For this purpose, the actuating means 40 comprises, in addition to the synchronizing means 45 and the drive 60, a coupler or a coupling element 42 and a linkage mechanism element 44 for each of the door segments 30. The linkage mechanism element 44 is rotatably connected to the door frame 10 by means of a rotary joint 32 as a “rocker” in relation to the axis X in a radial direction and connects the coupling element 42 to the door frame 10. The coupling element 42 is connected at one end (radially inside) to the synchronizing means 45 and at the other end (radially outside) to the door frame 10 via a linkage mechanism element 44. The door segment 30 is fastened to the coupling element 42. At this point it should be noted that the door segment 30 can be formed integrally with the coupling element 42 or can be connected to a coupling element 42. The coupling element 42 can preferably be connected to the door segment 30 by means of an integral connection and/or a screw connection.

[0048] Each coupling element 42 is coupled to the synchronizing means 45 and the linkage mechanism element 44 via a rotary joint 32. Furthermore, each linkage mechanism element 44 is connected to the door frame 10 via a further rotary joint 32.

[0049] The door segments 30 are designed and arranged in such a way that they overlap with adjacent door segments 30 both in the position that clears the opening 20 and in the position that closes the opening 20; see FIGS. 2 and 3. In a circumferential direction around the axis X, the door segments 30 can be in frictional contact with the adjacent door segment 30 both on the side facing the front side 11 and on the side facing the rear side 12.

[0050] In the position that closes the opening 20, the free ends 38 of the door segments 30 project beyond the center of the opening 20 into an opposite half of the opening. The overlap can preferably be up to 20% of the radius of the opening 20. Accordingly, a chord length of each door segment 30 is greater than the radius of the opening 20.

[0051] As can be seen from FIG. 3, the machine door 2 can have three drives 60 which are distributed circumferentially symmetrically around the opening 20. Each drive 60 can comprise a linear drive, in particular a pneumatic actuating cylinder.

[0052] The drive 60 can be arranged in the recess 15 in the door frame 10 and can be connected to the synchronizing means 45 by means of an L-shaped lever 62. The L-shaped lever 62 extends between two adjacent linkage mechanism elements 44 and coupling elements 42 and can encompass them at least partly. The drive 60 is arranged on the side of the coupling elements 42 and linkage mechanism elements 44 facing away from the opening 20, as a result of which a particularly compact design can be realized.

[0053] As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the rotary joints 32 can comprise a shoulder screw which is rotatably coupled to the relevant component by means of a sleeve as a sliding means 33.

[0054] An advance movement of the drives 60 leads to a synchronous movement of the door segments 30. Each door segment 30 can be advanced in a helical movement about the axis X, with the door segments 30 being advanced toward one another in the direction of the axis X in a plane of the door frame 10 to close the opening 20 and retreat fully into the recess 15 to clear the opening 20. During the advance movement by the actuating means 40, each door segment 30 undergoes a rotary movement about instantaneous centers of rotation in the helical movement.

[0055] The machine door 2 can have a sensor system (not shown) which makes closure detection possible. The sensor system can detect the position of the door segments 30 and/or the position of the actuating means 40. Furthermore, the sensor system can have a proximity sensor or a presence detector for monitoring the danger area of the machine door 2.

[0056] Through an interface 50 of the machine door 2, electrical signals and electrical energy can be exchanged between the machine 1 and the machine door 2, but also media such as compressed air or hydraulic oil. In particular, the interface enables communication between a machine controller of the machine 1 and the machine door 2.

TABLE-US-00001 List of Reference Numerals 1 machine 2 machine door 10 door frame 11 front side 12 rear side 15 recess 20 opening 30 door segment 32 rotary joint 33 sliding means 34 sleeve 38 free end of 30 40 actuating means 42 coupling element 44 linkage mechanism element 45 synchronizing means 46 synchronizing ring 48 rotary bearing 49 eccentric 50 interface 60 drive 62 lever D diameter X axis