PASSAGE CONTROL DEVICE FOR PERSONS

Abstract

A passage control device for persons is provided, including at least one housing, at least one blocking element held so as to be movable relative to the housing, a drive, arranged substantially in the housing, for blocking and releasing and/or moving the at least one blocking element, and a control unit for the drive, which acts in combination with a control element for identifying an authorization, and which controls the drive in accordance with the authorization, in order either to block or release, and/or to move, the blocking element. The housing is constructed having a frame element formed substantially of a plastic or a plastic composite material, having a support structure, arranged inside the frame element, for the blocking element and the drive, and having a rear and a front cover plate, which are formed substantially of a plastic or a plastic composite material and fastened to the frame element.

Claims

1. A passage control device for persons, comprising: at least one housing (1), at least one blocking element (8) held so as to be movable relative to the housing (1), a drive (16), arranged in the housing (1), for at least one of blocking, releasing, or moving the at least one blocking element (8), a control unit (17) for the drive, that is configured to act in combination with a control element (10) that identifies an authorization and controls the drive (16) in accordance with the authorization, in order either to at least one of block, release, or to move the blocking element (8), the housing (1) comprises a frame element (2) comprised substantially of a plastic or a plastic composite material, a support structure (18) that is arranged inside the frame element (2) for the blocking element (8) and the drive (16), and a rear cover plate (6) and a front cover plate (11), which are comprised substantially of a plastic or a plastic composite material and fastened to the frame element (2).

2. The passage control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support structure (18) extends as far as a base (5) of the housing (1).

3. The passage control device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support structure (18) is includes at least one metal profile or a tubular structure.

4. The passage control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the rear cover plate (6) or the front cover plates (11) is fastened by snap-in plug-type connections (14).

5. The passage control device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the housing (1) does not have any externally accessible connection or locking elements, in that the rear cover plate (11) is fastened to the frame element (2) by circumferentially distributed screw connections, the front cover plate (6) is fastened to at least one of the frame element (2) or to the rear cover plate (11) by circumferentially distributed snap-in plug-type connections (14), and a recess (12) for at least one of the support structure (18) or the drive (16) is provided on the front cover plate (6), said recess is covered with an additional cover (7), at least one screw connection (15) is provided between the front cover plate (6) and at least one of the frame element (2) or the rear cover plate (11), in a region of the front cover plate (6), which is covered by the additional cover (7), and the additional cover (7) is fastened to at least one of the front cover plate (6) or to the frame element (2) by snap-in plug-type connections (14), and said plug-type connections (14) being releasable only by application of a force that is predefined in respect of application location and direction, or by a specific release tool.

6. The passage control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame element (2) forms side faces (3) and a top face (4) of the housing (1).

7. The passage control device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control element (10) is arranged at least at one corner of the housing (1) that connects a side face (3) to the top face (4).

8. The passage control device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the frame element (2) is reinforced with at least one metal profile (19) in a region in which the support structure (18) extends as far as the base (5) of the housing (1).

9. The passage control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame element (2) is reinforced with at least one metal profile (20) at a top face (4) of the housing (1).

10. The passage control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blocking element (8) is a turnstile having three blocking arms (9) attached with a mutual rotary angle spacing of approximately 120.

11. The passage control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blocking element (8) comprises at least one door element (23) that is swivelable about a vertical axis, or at least one plate element (22) that is swivelable about a horizontal axis, out of the housing (1) and back into the housing.

12. The passage control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing (1) is modular and configurable with different types of the blocking elements (8).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] An exemplary embodiment for a passage control device designed according to the invention is described in greater detail in the following on the basis of the appended drawings. There are shown:

[0030] FIG. 1 a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a passage control device according to the invention, realized as a turnstile;

[0031] FIG. 2 an exploded representation of the housing of the passage control device from FIG. 1;

[0032] FIG. 3 the passage control device from FIG. 1 without blocking element;

[0033] FIG. 4 the passage control device from FIG. 1 with opened housing;

[0034] FIG. 5 a further exemplary embodiment of a passage control device designed according to the invention, in a partial representation;

[0035] FIG. 6 a third exemplary embodiment of a passage control device designed according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] A first exemplary embodiment of a passage control device designed according to the invention is shown in a perspective representation in FIG. 1. Visible in this case are a housing 1, having a frame element 2, which forms two side faces 3 and a top face 4, as well as a base 5 of the housing, a front cover plate 6, which is made from plastic (PU), an additional cover 7, likewise of plastic (PU), and a blocking element 8. The blocking element 8 in the present case is realized as a turnstile having three blocking arms 9, which can rotate about a rotational axis that goes through a point of intersection of the three axes of the blocking arms 9 and that is inclined at approximately 45 to the horizontal. The blocking arms 9 are each spaced apart from each other by 120 in the rotation direction, and span a triangular pyramid, also in each case enclosing between them an angle of approximately 45. This has the result that, in a blocking position, which is represented in FIG. 1, a blocking arm 9 projects horizontally from the housing 1 and blocks the passage, while the other two blocking arms 9 point vertically downward in a projection in the passage direction, such that they do not obstruct the passage.

[0037] Arranged in a connection region between the front side face 3 and the top face 4 is a control element 10, which in the present case is designed as a contactless near-field card reader. Upon approaching the blocking element 8, a person having a card that gives authorization can hold this card to the control element 10 or place the card on it, whereupon a control unit (not visible here) controls a drive (likewise not visible here) under the additional cover 7, such that the drive releases the blocking element 8. The authorized person can then push away the upper, horizontally extending blocking arm 9 in the passage direction, as a result of which all three blocking arms 9 rotate about the common rotational axis and, behind the person who has passed through, the next blocking arm 9 comes upward into the horizontal position. There, the blocking element 8 is again blocked by the drive, in order to prevent an unauthorized passage.

[0038] As already mentioned, the front cover plate 6, like the rear cover plate (which is not visible here), is comprised of polyurethane, and can be produced correspondingly inexpensively. The frame element 2 is also made from a plastic, preferably likewise PU, the top surface 4 being color-coated. The control element 10 may simply be integrated into the frame element 2 or placed on the latter inside the housing 1, such that it is correspondingly protected. Since the frame element 2 is made from plastic, it does not impede wireless communication between the control element 10 and a card brought into the proximity thereof from outside.

[0039] As can be seen from this representation, the housing 1 has an elongate shape, and thereby forms a wall element of a corridor for persons wishing to pass through the blocking element 8. This corridor has a corresponding singling effect, such that only the respectively authorized person is let through. The dimensions of the outer faces of the housing 1 are of corresponding magnitude, such that the saving in costs and weight is significant, resulting from the fact that all outer faces of the housing 1 are made from plastic, instead of from stainless steel, as was formerly usual.

[0040] FIG. 2, in an exploded representation, shows the housing 1 of the passage control device from FIG. 1. Clearly visible is the central frame element 2 according to the invention, made of plastic, which also forms the side faces 3 and the top face 4. Attached thereto are a rear cover plate 11 and the front cover plate 6. The latter is provided with a recess 12, through which the blocking element 8 (omitted here) is connected to a support structure (likewise omitted here) arranged inside the housing 1. A dividing plate 13 in this case covers the drive (not represented) outwardly.

[0041] As made clear by FIG. 2, the rear cover plate 11 is fastened to the frame element 2 by circumferentially distributed screw connections. The front cover plate 6, on the other hand, is fastened to the rear cover plate 11 by snap-in plug-type connections 14. The additional cover 7, which is provided to cover the recess 12 in the front cover plate 6, is also fastened by snap-in plug-type connections 14, specifically on the front cover plate 6. These plug-type connections are designed such that the cover 7 can only be separated from the front cover plate 6, without application of excessive force, if a special levering-out tool is applied at the correct location.

[0042] This structure of the housing 1 achieves the effect that, in the fully assembled state, the housing 1 does not have any externally accessible fastening elements whatsoever (see FIG. 1).

[0043] As can be seen from FIG. 3, the front cover plate 6 is by no means merely plugged-in. Rather, beneath the cover 7, which has been omitted here, there are four screw connections 15, which secure the front cover plate 6 to the frame element 2. These screw connections 15, however, are only accessible when the cover 7 has been removed (as represented).

[0044] As also shown by FIG. 3, a drive 16 for the blocking arms 9, or the entire blocking element 8, is located behind the dividing plate 13. There is also a control unit 17, integrated into the housing 1.

[0045] FIG. 4 shows a view like that of FIG. 3, but in this case the front cover plate 6 has been omitted. This makes clear that the drive 16, and with it the entire blocking element 8, is fastened to a support structure 18, which continues as far as the base 5 of the housing 1, and which passes the forces that act upon the individual blocking arms 9 substantially into the floor mounting of the passage control device. For the purpose of stabilizing, metal profiles 19 are in each case attached to the lower spars of the frame element 2. The support structure 18 itself is also realized as a metal profile.

[0046] The support structure 18 is also fastened to the upper spar of the frame element 2, such that a further metal profile 20 is provided there to stiffen the frame element 2. The control unit 17 is seated on a plate that, for its part, is fastened to the support structure 18.

[0047] As is furthermore evident from FIG. 4, in the case of the present exemplary embodiment the drive 16 also comprises a motor 21, i.e. the drive is not a mere actuator that releases the blocking element 8 after authorization has been effected and that blocks it again after a person has gone through, but instead the turnstile is moved actively as soon as a person, who has been successfully authorized, pushes against the uppermost blocking arm 9 that extends horizontally into the passage.

[0048] Finally, it is also made clear by FIG. 4 that, due to the idea according to the invention, of constructing the housing 1 with a frame structure, i.e. with a frame element 2 made from plastic, and of creating the robustness necessary for the blocking element by a support structure 18 that is integrated into the housing 1 and separate from the frame element 2 per se, and that, although preferably composed of a metal profile or a profile structure or tubular structure, nevertheless does not have to be made of stainless steel, the outer shell of the housing 1 can be made entirely from plastic, which enables significant cost savings to be made in comparison with the material stainless steel used hitherto.

[0049] FIG. 5, in a representation corresponding to that of FIG. 4, shows parts of a further exemplary embodiment of a passage control device designed according to the invention. Here again, the same frame element 2 made from plastic is the central part of the housing 1, which is then completed with front and rear cover plates (which are not represented here). However, the blocking element 8, which again is held by a separate support structure 18 integrated in the housing 1, is realized differently. Here, it is a blocking element 8 that comprises a plate element 22, which can be swiveled in a telescoping manner out of the housing and back into the latter. The swivel axis in this case is arranged horizontally and along a passage direction, such that the plate element 22, in the swiveled-out state, blocks the passage, while the passage is released when the plate element 22 is swiveled back into the housing 1.

[0050] FIG. 6, finally, shows a view of a third exemplary embodiment for a passage control device designed according to the invention. This is again constructed with the same frame element 2 made from plastic, and a door element 23, which can be swiveled about a vertical axis into and out of the passage, in order to block or release the passage, is provided as a blocking element 8.

[0051] It is made clear by FIGS. 5 and 6 that the frame design according to the invention renders possible a modular structure of an entire family of passage control devices, which each realize different blocking elements, or different blocking and release techniques. The possibility of such a modular structure is likewise an advantage of the present invention.

[0052] Thus, overall, the present invention enables person passage control devices having differing blocking elements, known per se, the functioning and structure of which are known per se, to be manufactured considerably less expensively than hitherto, and at the same time to improve the design and the security.