Access control device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an access control device having at least one movably mounted barrier element, which can be moved to a blocking position, in which it blocks access, and an access position, in which access is enabled. In order to enable a variable use in different locations without time-consuming assembly, for example in order to variably delimit different spaces in a casino or an event location, the movable barrier element is mounted on a barrier support which includes free-standing ground contact means for the anchor-free, position-variable putting up of a barrier element on the ground. A lateral delimitation laterally enclosing or extending the at least one barrier element has a modular design and can be assembled from a number of side pieces which can be variably joined end to end under different angles and which together form the lateral delimitation.

Claims

1. An access control device comprising modules including at least one side limit and a plurality of side panels interleaved into each other, and at least one barrier element (5), which is movably mounted on a barrier support and can be moved into a blocking position, in which the barrier element blocks access, and into an access position, in which the access is unblocked, the barrier support having a detachable base plate (22) in contact with a floor or ground, the detachable base plate (22) being anchorage-free and positionally adjustable, the at least one side limit, the plurality of side panels interleaved into each other, and the at least one barrier element (5) mounted on the barrier support having the detachable base plate (22) variably delimiting different spatial areas having varying structural spatial elements, said modules bounded by posts that define a portal (2).

2. The access control device according to claim 1, wherein a turnstile post or pivot post (21) bearing said barrier element (5) is supported on the barrier support having the detachable base plate (22).

3. The access control device according to claim 2, wherein the detachable base plate (22) further comprises a ground contact means (23) having an at least approximately flat supporting surface, which is formed by a lower face plate surface of the detachable base plate (22).

4. The access control device according to claim 3, wherein said base plate (22) connects the turnstile or pivot post (21) bearing the barrier element (5) by means of a side limit which surrounds the access as a portal post (2a).

5. The access control device according to claim 4, wherein the barrier element (5) bearing the turnstile or pivot post (21) can be supported on the floor with a lower end on the base plate (22) and is linked at an upper end to a portal cross-element (2b), which is connected with the portal posts (2a).

6. The access control device according to claim 1, wherein lower end on the base plate (22) further comprises a rubber or soft plastic base coat.

7. The access control device according to claim 1, wherein lower end on the base plate (22) further comprises a removable ballast weight stabilizer, the removable ballast weight stabilizer intercepting and mitigating tilting moments generated by horizontal actuation forces against the barrier element (5).

8. The access control device according to claim 1, wherein the access control device forms a mobile, tool-free removable assembly unit.

9. The access control device according to claim 1, wherein a side barrier (24) surrounding the barrier element (5) on sides of the barrier element (5) and continuing the barrier element (5) has a modular design and can be composed of the plurality of side parts (25), which are variable joinable in different angular positions, which possess stilts that can be moved on the floor or ground, and which together form the side barrier (24).

10. The access control device according to claim 9, wherein the side parts (25) can in each case be connected to one another in an articulated manner by coupling means (27) and can be positioned to each other in various angular positions by pivoting about said coupling means.

11. The access control device according to claim 10, wherein two adjacent side parts (25) are connected to each other by an upright hinge axis (26).

12. The access control device according to claim 9, wherein the side barrier (24) can be connected to a portal (2) enclosing the access.

13. The access control device according to claim 12, wherein the connecting means incorporate coupling means (27) through which the side barrier (24) can be connected in an articulated manner to the portal (2) to form a side limit and can be brought opposite said side limit into different angular positions.

14. The access control device according to claim 13, wherein the light-emitting panel (6) is enclosed at an edge thereof at least in some sections by a frame part or support part (9) in the illumination device (7), wherein the illumination device (7) has an LED lighting strip (12) which is arranged on the narrow side of the light-emitting panel (6), which LED lighting strip (12) is arranged between the narrow side of the light-emitting panel (6) and the frame part (9) that encloses the light-emitting panel (6) on the edge side thereof, or said frame part (9) is formed as a frame web enclosing the edge of the light-emitting panel (6) from a plurality of sides, which frame web has a multi-limbed cross-section and covers not only said narrow side of the light-emitting panel (6), but also a narrow edge strip of the light-emitting panel (6).

15. The access control device according to claim 13, wherein the illumination device (7) comprises different colored light sources (8), which are distributed along the edge of the light-emitting panel (6).

16. The access control device according to claim 13, wherein the light-emitting panel (6) is constructed at least in some sections in a reflective or light-scattering manner, and wherein the illumination device (7) comprises at least one light source (8) arranged at an edge of the light-emitting panel (6), which light source (8) irradiates the front side of the light-emitting panel (6) from a front side in a slanting and oblique manner at an acute angle.

17. The access control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one barrier element (5) forms an arm of a turnstile (3), a flap that can be swung back and forth, or a rocker that can move up and down.

18. The access control device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of barrier elements (5) are arranged one above each other and together form an access barrier.

19. The access control device according to claim 1, wherein at least one turnstile (3) and at least one emergency exit barrier (11) is provided, wherein the turnstile (3) and the emergency exit barrier (11) in each case contain at least one barrier element (5).

20. The access control device according to claim 1, wherein an illumination device (7) for illuminating the movable barrier element (5) is provided.

21. The access control device according to claim 20, wherein the illumination device (7) is integrated into the barrier element (5) or disposed on the barrier element (5) in such a way that the illumination device (7) can be moved together with the barrier element (5).

22. The access control device according to claim 20, wherein the barrier element (5) is illuminated and shines through from the inside and contains an approximately plate-shaped light-emitting panel (6), which is formed at least in some sections of a light-conducting material, such that in a narrow side of the light-emitting panel (6) light from the illumination device (7), which comprises at least one light source (8) disposed on the side of the light-emitting panel (6), can be coupled in, which light propagates in the light-emitting panel (6) and is radiated through the front side thereof, such that at least one front side of the light-emitting panel (6) of the illumination device (7) can be illuminated in a planar manner.

23. The access control device according to claim 1, wherein at least one display element is provided, which is integrated into the barrier element (5) or forms the barrier element (5).

24. The access control device according to claim 23, wherein the display element is designed as a flat screen, or has a display module of electronic paper having an image storage function for variable information presentation.

25. The access control device according to claim 1, wherein control means (14) for controlling the illumination device (7) of the at least one barrier element (5) are provided depending on a movement of the barrier element (5), in particular such that the moving barrier element (5) is illuminated differently than the standing barrier element (5), and detection means (13) are provided for detecting an access seeker and and/or an authorization of the access seekers, wherein control means (15) are provided for controlling said illumination device (7) of the at least one barrier element (5) in dependence of a signal of the detection means (13).

26. The access control device according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor installation (29) for monitoring a spatial region above, below, and on the sides of the at least one barrier element (5) is provided, wherein the sensor installation (29) can be controlled as a function of the operating state of the at least one barrier element (5) in such a way that an alarm signal upon detection of an object in the monitored spatial area is suppressed when the barrier element (5) is unblocked and is in the access position.

27. An access control device comprising at least one barrier element (5), which is movably mounted on a barrier support and can be moved into a blocking position, in which the barrier element blocks access, and into an access position, in which the access is unblocked, the barrier support having a detachable base plate (22) with a detachable ground contact means (23) on an underside thereof and a removable ballast weight stabilizer, the removable ballast weight stabilizer intercepting and mitigating tilting moments generated by horizontal actuation forces against the barrier element (5), the detachable base plate (22) with detachable ground contact means (23) being anchorage-free and positionally adjustable and setting up the barrier element (5) on a floor or ground variably delimiting different spatial areas having varying structural spatial elements and forming a mobile access control device from a tool-free removable assembly unit, said at least one barrier element (5) bounded by posts that define a portal (2).

28. The access control device according to claim 27 wherein the underside of the detachable base plate (22) further comprises a rubber or soft plastic base coat.

29. The access control device according to claim 27 wherein the underside of the detachable base plate (22) further comprises an adhesive coating or non-skid surface.

30. The access control device according to claim 27 wherein the detachable ground contact means (23) further comprises a plurality of projections or bulges.

31. The access control device according to claim 30 wherein the detachable ground contacting means (23) further comprises a non-slip or dampening coating.

32. The access control device according to claim 27 wherein the detachable ground contacting means (23) further comprises a supporting arm.

33. The access control device according to claim 32 wherein the detachable ground contacting means (23) further comprises a non-slip or dampening coating.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in detail below using a preferred embodiment and associated drawings. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1: a schematic, perspective view of an access control device according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, which comprises, in addition to a turnstile having a plurality of locking arms, an exit gate having barrier elements that can be swung back and forth,

(3) FIG. 2: a front view of the access control device from FIG. 1 that shows the access turnstile and the exit gate in a blocked position,

(4) FIG. 3: a side view of the access control device of the preceding figures,

(5) FIG. 4: a plan view of the access control device from the preceding figures,

(6) FIG. 5: a partial illustration of one of the barrier elements of the turnstile, showing the mounting of the light-emitting panel at the turnstile and showing the LED lighting strip arranged on a narrow side of the transparent and light-guiding formed light-emitting panel,

(7) FIG. 6: a schematic circuit diagram for controlling the LED strips on the barrier elements,

(8) FIG. 7: a schematic, perspective view of an access control device similar to FIG. 1, in which the turnstile is mounted on a related portal base plate and on the portal, a modularly constructed, several side-stranded side barrier is connected, and

(9) FIG. 8: a top perspective view of the supporting bottom plate of the turnstile of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) As FIGS. 1 to 4 shows, the access control device 1 can be configured as a person access control that separates an access-controlled room behind the access control device 1 from, for example, an area in front of the access control device 1. The access control device (1) can comprise a portal (2), which comprises two portal posts arranged on either side of an access path, onto which further blocking measures, such as walls, a fence or the like, can be connected. As shown in FIG. 1, said portal (2) can comprise a crossbar, which connects the portal posts with each other at the top, such that the portal (2) is formed overall in the manner of a door frame.

(11) The access through said portal (2) is regulated by a movable barrier that can be designed in the form of a turnstile (3), and that can extend into the passage section enclosed and monitored by the portal (2). In particular, said turnstile (3) can comprise an upright axis (16), along which a central turnstile post (17) extends, which is mounted rotatably at the lower and/or upper end thereof and can be rotationally driven by a drive in a generally known manner, which drive is not shown in more detail here.

(12) Crosswise projection barrier elements (5) are fixed on said turnstile post (17), which can be distributed circumferentially around the turnstile post (12) in a plurality of groups, according to FIG. 3 in three groups, to subdivide the area around the turnstile post (12) into a plurality of sectors.

(13) Advantageously, a plurality of barriers elements (5) are each arranged above one another, which can lie in an upright plane, as FIG. 1 shows, but optionally can also have a slight offset to each other, for example, to grant more leg and knee clearance. Advantageously, the barrier elements (5), approximately arranged at one level, extend close enough to the ground to prevent sliding or crawling under the barrier, and on the other hand, extend high enough to prevent climbing over. On the whole, a head-high barrier can be designed, which, as FIG. 1 shows, can consist of a plurality of superposed barrier elements (5). Alternatively, it would also be possible to design a barrier element (5) so high that a corresponding head-high barrier is formed.

(14) The turnstile (3) and the barrier elements (5) sweep over an approximately cylinder-shaped space, which may be surrounded by an approximate drum-shaped arrangement of boundary walls (18). As FIG. 1 shows, said boundary walls (18) can be formed from glass or plastic panels, which are fastened to the boundary posts.

(15) Said turnstile (3) forms, in this respect, an access gate and thereby controls the access. For example, the turnstile (3) can, in principle, be blocked and by means of detection sensors (13) can be released when a person seeking access and/or the authorization of a person seeking access is detected. For example, said detection sensors (13) can comprise an identification reader (19) by means of which an RFID chip, an identity card, or similar access codes, for example, can be read. Optionally, fingerprint readers, iris readers, or simply entrance card readers, for example, are conceivable.

(16) If the turnstile (3) has a rotary drive, the drive can be set in motion by the detection sensors (13) when a person authorized to access is detected, to continue the rotation of the barrier elements (5) at the turnstile (3) and to thereby give access.

(17) As FIG. 1 shows, in addition to the turnstile (3) a further access or exit gate can be provided, which can likewise be blocked by three superposed barrier elements (5) and regularly blocked and released by detecting sensors (13) in a similar manner as already described.

(18) The barrier elements (5) of the exit gate (4) can be configured as pivoting flaps or as a flap gate respectively, whereby the horizontally arranged barrier elements (5) may be pivotally mounted at one end around upright pivot axes. The exit gate (4) can in particular serve as an emergency exit.

(19) Similar as described for the turnstile (3), the barrier elements (5) of the exit gate (4) can also form an entire head-high barrier to prevent both climbing over and going under the barrier.

(20) As shown in FIG. 5, the barrier elements (5) each comprise a transparent and illuminable light-emitting panel (6), which may be entirely plate-shaped and may consist of a transparent, light-conducting material such as glass or plastic. Said light-emitting panels (6) are held at one of the edge sections thereof, for example, by two mounting flanges (20), between which an edge portion of the respective light-emitting panel (6) may be sandwiched and clamped.

(21) The illumination device (7) for illuminating the light panels (6) of the barrier elements (5) can further comprise LED light-emitting panels (12) which can be arranged on a narrow side of the light-emitting panels (6), and can be glued, for example, to the light-emitting element see FIG. 5. Said LED lighting strips (12) can be also extend along at least one of the long narrow sides of the light-emitting panel (6), if necessary, also running around several small sides of the light-emitting panel (6) or each piecewise on the upper and lower narrow side of the light-emitting panel (6).

(22) In particular, the aforementioned LED strips (12) can be arranged between the respective narrow side of the light-emitting panel (6) and the frame which surrounds the respective light-emitting panel (6) edge. This edging can, for example, be formed from an edge web (10) which has a U-shaped cross-section and the edges of the respective light-emitting panel (6) can surround on three sides, such that the LED lighting strip (12) is seated in the bottom of the U-shaped recess of the edge web (10). Through this edge web (10), see FIG. 5, the respective LED lighting strip (12) is protected from external influences.

(23) The light emitted by the LED light strips (12) is initiated and irradiated through the aforementioned narrow sides into the light-emitting panel, such that the light can be distributed in the light-emitting panels (6) and then completely illuminates said light-emitting panels. By breaking, the light can emerge through the largest front and rear sides of the respective light-emitting panel (6), such that the light-emitting panel (6) is illuminated from the inside over the largest area.

(24) In addition, or possibly as an alternative to such an internal illumination of the light-emitting panel (6), these can optionally also be irradiated from the outside, in particular, by an edge section of the light-emitting panel (6), such that the light emitted from the illumination device (7) falls, dragging at an acute angle, to the front and/or back side. For this, the illumination device (7) can comprise, for example, more LEDs or other light sources in the area of said mounting flanges (20), see FIG. 5.

(25) The illumination device (7) can advantageously comprise different colored light sources and/or variable light sources in the color temperature, so that the barrier elements (5) can be illuminated in different colors and different lighting effects can be achieved. For example, differently colored LEDs in the form of the previously described LED light strips (12) can be provided. Here, different colored light sources can be provided on the barrier elements (5) and/or light sources having different color temperatures arranged on different barrier elements (5).

(26) Depending on the location and purpose of the access control device (1), the illumination device (7) can be driven in various ways. For example, different lighting effects can be basically achieved when used in a casino or an amusement venue, in the form of changes in light color and/or intensity in the form of changes in the color of the illumination, light pulses by switching on and off or pulsed changes of the light color and/or intensity.

(27) In an advantageous manner, the illumination device (7) can also be driven by controllers (14 and 15) that take into account the movement of the turnstile (3) and the barrier elements (5) respectively and/or signals of the detection means (13), see. FIG. 6. For example, the barrier element (5) of the turnstile (3) can be lit in another way, whether the turnstile is revolving or whether the turnstile (3) is stationary. For example, pulsed or flashing lighting of the barrier elements (5) can be provided when the turnstile (3) rotates, while a static or constant illumination can be generated when the turnstile (3) is still.

(28) Alternatively or additionally, the illumination device (7) can be variably controlled in dependence of the detection of a person seeking access or of the authorization of said person. For example, if a valid ticket or a valid entrance card is detected by the ID reader (19), a green lighting of the barrier elements (5) can be provided, while upon detection of an invalid ticket, a red illumination of the barrier elements (5) can be provided.

(29) FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the access control device (1), which basically corresponds to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 6) in many details, in particular regarding the formation of the barrier elements (5) that can be illuminated or is similar to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 6), such that reference is basically made to the above description. Basically, all embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 6 also apply to FIGS. 7 and 8. The embodiment according to FIGS. 7 and 8 have the following further characteristics:

(30) As FIGS. 7 and 8 show, the turnstile (3) can be advantageously braced, in particular the turnstile post (21) thereof, on a base plate (22), which may advantageously be connected to the portal (2) enclosing the access, in particular the portal post (2a) of said portal. Said base plate (22) can be rigidly connected to the portal post (2a) at the lower end of said portal post (2a), for example, be screwed or attached in some other way and can extend to the lower end of the turnstile post (21), which, for example, can be supported via a roller or plain bearing or another pivot bearing on the bottom plate (22) in a rotatable manner. As a result, no ground anchoring for the turnstile (3) is necessary. In addition, the whole access control device (1) can be set up in a simple manner at different locations, for example, pushed along or relocated on the floor, without the portal (2) having to be adjusted relative to the turnstile (3).

(31) The base plate (22) forms advantageously a free-standing, anchorage-free, means of contact with the ground (23) whose position can be variably adjusted for the barrier support of the movable barrier element (5), which barrier carrier can be in the form of the turnstile (3) shown. Furthermore, as FIG. 7 shows, a side barrier (24) having a modular design can connect to the portal (2) on the side, which side barrier can be composed of a plurality of side panels (25) variably in different configurations.

(32) Said side panels (25) can form, for example, wall elements, for example in the form of at least partially transparent panels made of an at least partially transparent material such as glass or plastic, for example, Plexiglas, whereby, instead of such sheet panel elements, other side panels, for example, in the form of a grid, of a slatted fence, or of similar embodiments can be provided. If the side parts (25) include partially transparent and/or light-guiding panels as mentioned above, the side panels (25) can be basically lit and be provided with an illumination device, as previously described for the barrier elements (5), such that different lighting effects can be brought to the area of the side panels (25). In this respect, the barrier element (5) is subject to the previous description.

(33) The side panels (25) are connected to one another and are releasable, namely advantageously such that the side panels (25) can be set-up to one another in different angular positions in an articulated manner. In particular, between adjacent side panels (25), means of hinging articulation can be provided, that can realize an upright hinge axis such that adjacent side panels (25) can be hinged relative to each other along the side thereof, facing neighboring side edges.

(34) As shown in FIG. 7, connector posts (26) can be provided in between the side panels (25), on which connector posts the side panels (25) may be respectively redirected about a vertical hinge axis (26) in a pivotable manner. Said connecting posts (28) can thereby have their own coupling means (27) for each connectable side panel (25), such that the adjacent side elements (25) can pivot about two separate hinge axes. However, it is understood that a common hinge axis (26) may be provided between two adjacent side panels (25).

(35) The side limit (24) is advantageously also hinge-connected to the portal (2), and thus likewise advantageously around an upright hinge axis (26). Here, the portal posts (2a) and/or the side panels (25) can be equipped with the corresponding coupling means (27), see FIG. 7.

(36) To avoid climbing over the turnstile (3) and/or over the neighboring exit gate and/or passing or crawling below the lowest barrier elements (5), a sensor monitoring the space above and below the turnstile (3) or the top and bottom barrier element (5) can be provided. A corresponding sensor installation (9) may be configured for example in the form of a light barrier and/or can comprise radar sensors that monitor said defined area. Advantageously, the sensor installation (29) can be integrated into the portal (2) or be attached thereto. For example, light barrier sensor elements can be mounted on the portal posts (2a), placed opposite each other, such that the light barrier sensor elements communicate with each other above and/or below the upper and lower barrier elements and detect unauthorized passage. See FIG. 7.

(37) Furthermore, as FIG. 7 shows, an acoustic device can be provided, for example attached to the portal (2), such that information and signals can also be transmitted acoustically. For example, an acoustic notification on actions related to the access control such as release, refusing access, activating light barrier, etc. can occur. For example, the message Please pass can communicate to a user that the turnstile (3) is unlocked. Alternatively or additionally, the acoustic device can be connected to the aforementioned sensor installation (29) for signaling unauthorized climbing over the turnstile by means of an alarm. The acoustic device (30) can include a speaker (31), for example, on portal 2, see FIG. 7.