ELECTRONIC PADLOCK

Abstract

An electronic lock has a lock body and a hoop that can be selectively locked to the lock body or released from the lock body. The lock body comprises an electromechanical locking device having a cam rotatable about an axis of rotation and the hoop comprises a first introduction section that can be introduced into the lock body and having a lower holding section and an upper locking notch. The cam is configured, in a locking rotational position, to engage into the upper locking notch of the first introduction section and to lock the hoop to the lock body; in an unlocking rotational position, to release the upper locking notch and to hold the first introduction section at the lower holding section; and in a removal rotational position, to release the lower holding section of the first introduction section and to thereby release the hoop for a complete detachment from the lock body.

Claims

1. An electronic padlock, comprising: a lock body and at least one hoop that can be selectively locked to the lock body or released from the lock body, wherein the lock body includes a first introduction opening for introducing a first introduction section of the at least one hoop and a second introduction opening for introducing a second introduction section of the at least one hoop into the lock body; an electromechanical locking device comprising a cam rotatable about an axis of rotation and an electric motor for driving the cam; and a control circuit, wherein the first introduction section of the at least one hoop and the second introduction section of the at least one hoop are connected to one another by a connection section and can be introduced along an introduction direction into the first introduction opening and the second introduction opening, wherein the first introduction section has a lower holding section with respect to the introduction direction and an upper locking notch, wherein the cam is configured, in a locking rotational position, to engage into the upper locking notch of the first introduction section and to lock the hoop to the lock body; in an unlocking rotational position, to release the upper locking notch and to hold the first introduction section at the lower holding section; and in a removal rotational position, to release the lower holding section of the first introduction section and to thereby release the hoop for a complete detachment from the lock body, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the electric motor to selectively drive the cam into the locking rotational position, the unlocking rotational position or the removal rotational position.

2. The electronic padlock according to claim 1, wherein the cam has: a first locking section that projects radially outwardly with respect to the axis of rotation and that is configured to engage into the upper locking notch in the locking rotational position of the cam; a blocking section that is radially inwardly offset relative to the first locking section and that is configured to come into contact with the lower holding section of the first introduction section in the unlocking rotational position of the cam; and a release section that is radially inwardly offset relative to the blocking section and that is oriented towards the first introduction opening in the removal rotational position.

3. The electronic padlock according to claim 1, wherein the cam, starting from the locking rotational position, can be moved into the unlocking rotational position by a rotation along a first rotational direction and can be moved into the removal rotational position by a rotation along a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.

4. The electronic padlock according to claim 1, wherein the lock body hasin a transverse direction oriented perpendicular to the introduction direction and perpendicular to a connection line between the first introduction opening and the second introduction openinga maximum extent that is smaller than a maximum extent of the cam in a plane oriented perpendicular to the introduction direction.

5. The electronic padlock according to claim 1, wherein the lock body further has a preloading element that is configured to preload the hoop, which is introduced into the lock body, against the introduction direction, and wherein the lock body comprises a detent for the hoop that is configured to hold the hoop, which is introduced into the lock body, against the preload in the lock body in a locking position in which the cam can be rotated into the locking rotational position.

6. The electronic padlock according to claim 5, wherein the cam is configured to contact the detent on a rotation from the locking rotational position into the unlocking rotational position and to move the detent into a release position in which the detent releases the hoop for a detachment from the lock body.

7. The electronic padlock according to claim 1, wherein the lock body comprises a sensor that is configured to detect when the hoop is located in the lock body in a locking position in which the hoop can be locked to the lock body, and to detect when the first introduction section is held at the holding section by the cam positioned in the unlocking rotational position, and wherein the sensor is configured to transmit respective detection signals to the control circuit.

8. The electronic padlock according to claim 7, wherein the lock body has a contact element that is configured to contact the sensor when the hoop is in the locking position and to release the sensor when the hoop is held at the holding section by the cam.

9. The electronic padlock according to claim 8, wherein the contact element is preloaded towards the sensor and can be pivoted against the preload by introducing the hoop that is released from the lock body into the lock body.

10. The electronic padlock according to claim 8, wherein the contact element is configured to hold the hoop, which is in the locking position, in the lock body.

11. The electronic padlock according to claim 8, wherein the contact element is pivotable, and wherein the cam is configured to pivot the contact element with an entrainer section on a rotation from the locking rotational position into the unlocking rotational position and to thereby release the contact of the contact element to the sensor.

12. The electronic padlock according to claim 11, wherein the contact element is preloaded towards the sensor, wherein the contact element can be urged under the entrainer section by moving the hoop along the introduction direction into the locking position, and wherein the contact element urged under the entrainer section is configured, as a result of the preload, to pivot towards the sensor and to contact the sensor.

13. The electronic padlock according to claim 8, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the electric motor to drive the cam from the unlocking rotational position into the locking rotational position in case the contact element first releases the sensor and then contacts the sensor.

14. The electronic padlock according to claim 8, wherein the sensor has an upper sensor section and a lower sensor section and is configured to transmit a first detection signal to the control circuit when the upper sensor section is contacted and to transmit a second detection signal to the control circuit when the lower sensor section is contacted.

15. The electronic padlock according to claim 14, wherein the contact element is preloaded towards the upper sensor section.

16. The electronic padlock according to claim 14, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the electric motor to drive the cam from the unlocking rotational position into the locking rotational position in case the contact element first releases the sensor and then contacts the sensor at the lower sensor section.

17. The electronic padlock according to claim 14, wherein the contact element is configured to contact the sensor at the upper sensor section as a result of a movement of the cam from the unlocking rotational position into the removal rotational position.

18. The electronic padlock according to claim 17, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the electric motor to drive the cam from the removal rotational position into the locking rotational position in case the sensor, after a transmission of the first detection signal, is released by the contact element and is then contacted again.

19. The electronic padlock according to claim 14, wherein the contact element is configured to contact the sensor at the upper sensor section when the hoop is locked to the lock body, wherein the locked hoop can be moved along the introduction direction, wherein the contact element is configured to contact the sensor at the lower sensor section as a result of a movement of the locked hoop along the introduction direction, and wherein the control circuit is configured to control the electric motor to drive the cam from the locking rotational position into the unlocking rotational position in case the sensor first transmits the first detection signal and then transmits the second detection signal.

20. A padlock, comprising a lock body, a rotatable cam and an electric motor in the lock body, and a hoop having a first limb and a second limb, wherein the lock body comprises a first introduction opening for receiving the first limb and a second introduction opening for receiving the second limb of the hoop; wherein the first limb of the hoop has a lower abutment and an upper abutment, the lower abutment being located closer to a free end of the first limb than the upper abutment; wherein the cam in a locking rotational position engages the upper abutment of the first limb to lock the hoop to the lock body when the first limb is introduced into the first introduction opening; and wherein the electric motor selectively drives the rotatable cam into an unlocking rotational position in which the cam releases the upper abutment but blocks the lower abutment of the first limb to movably hold the first limb at the lock body; or a removal rotational position in which the cam releases the lower abutment of the first limb for a complete detachment of the first limb from the lock body.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0157] The invention will be explained in the following purely by way of example with reference to an embodiment and to the drawings.

[0158] There are shown:

[0159] FIG. 1 is a schematic external view of an electronic padlock with a lock body and a hoop;

[0160] FIGS. 2A to 2D are respective representations of the padlock with the housing removed and the cam rotated into a locking rotational position, said cam locking the hoop to the lock body by engaging into locking notches formed at a first and a second introduction section;

[0161] FIGS. 3A and 3B are respective side and top views of the padlock with the hoop not shown and the cam rotated into the locking rotational position;

[0162] FIGS. 4A to 4D are respective representations of the padlock with the housing removed and the cam rotated into an unlocking rotational position in which the hoop is held at a lower holding section of the first introduction section;

[0163] FIGS. 5A and 5B are a side view and a top view with the hoop removed and the cam rotated into the unlocking rotational position;

[0164] FIGS. 6A to 6D are respective representations of the padlock with the housing removed and the cam rotated into the unlocking rotational position, wherein the hoop is, however, moved into a locking position in which the cam is movable into the locking rotational position;

[0165] FIG. 7 is a corresponding side view with the hoop removed;

[0166] FIGS. 8A to 8E are respective representations of the padlock with the housing removed and with the cam rotated into a removal rotational position, wherein the hoop is completely released from the lock body;

[0167] FIGS. 9A and 9B are respective representations of the padlock with the housing removed and the cam rotated into the removal rotational position, wherein the hoop is, however, brought into the locking position; and

[0168] FIGS. 10A to 10E are respective representations of the padlock with the housing partly shown, wherein the cam is in the locking position, in the unlocking position with the hoop partly released, in the removal rotational position with the hoop removed, in the removal rotational position with the hoop introduced, and in the unlocking position with the hoop introduced.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS

[0169] FIG. 1 shows an electronic padlock 11 comprising a lock body 13 and a hoop 15 that is introduced into the lock body 13, that is in a closed position G and that may be selectively locked to the lock body 13 in the closed position G or released for a detachment from the lock body 13 and a transfer into an open position O (cf. also FIG. 10E). In the closed position G shown in FIG. 1, a first introduction section 21 of the hoop 15 is introduced into a first introduction opening 17 of the lock body 13 and a second introduction section 23 of the hoop 15 is introduced into a second introduction opening 19 of the lock body 13, wherein the first introduction section 21 and the second introduction section 23 of the hoop 15 are connected to one another by a connection section 33 so that the lock body 13 and the hoop 15 form a closed loop in the closed position G of the hoop 15, for instance, to be able to secure a hasp. In this respect, the introduction openings 17 and 19 are formed as openings at a housing 93 of the padlock 11 into which the introduction sections 21 and 23 may be introduced along an introduction direction E.

[0170] To be able to selectively open the padlock 11 and release the hoop 15 for a detachment from the lock body 13, the padlock 11 comprises an electromechanical locking device 25 explained in more detail below. Furthermore, the padlock 11 has a radio module 81 to receive an authentication signal 83, a release command 85 and/or a locking command 87 from a mobile opening device 97, in particular a smartphone, of a user of the padlock 11 for actuating the electromechanical locking device 25. This is also explained in more detail below.

[0171] As can be seen from FIGS. 2A to 10E, the electromechanical locking device 25 comprises a cam 27 rotatable about an axis of rotation D, wherein the cam 27 is connected to an electric motor 29 via a gear 30. The electric motor 29 is configured to selectively rotate the cam 27 into a locking rotational position V, an unlocking rotational position U or a removal rotational position R, wherein the electromechanical locking device 25 furthermore comprises a control circuit 31 that is configured to control the electric motor 29 to selectively drive the cam 27 into the locking rotational position V, the unlocking rotational position U or the release rotational position R. The gear 30 may in particular be adapted to transmit a rotation of a motor shaft slowed down to the cam 27 to enable a precise control of the cam 27. Furthermore, the control circuit 31 may be connected to the radio module 81 to be able to consider the authentication signal 83, the release command 85 and/or the locking command 87 in the control of the electric motor 29 and thus of the cam 27. An electrical energy source 91, in particular a battery or a rechargeable battery, is furthermore provided for the energy supply of the electromechanical locking device 25.

[0172] FIGS. 2A to 2D show the hoop 15 in the closed position G, wherein the cam 27 is rotated into the locking rotational position V. In the locking rotational position V, the cam 27 engages with a first locking section 39 into an upper locking notch 35 formed at the first introduction section 21 of the hoop 15. Furthermore, the cam 27 engages with a second locking section 41 into a further locking notch 55 formed at the second introduction section 23 so that the hoop 15, which is in the closed position G, is locked to the lock body 13 directly by the engagement of the cam 27 into the locking notches 35 and 55.

[0173] The hoop 15 is here configured by way of example as a substantially U-shaped rigid U-hoop 15, with the first introduction section 21 forming a long limb of the U-hoop 15 and the second introduction section 23 forming a short limb of the U-hoop 15. Alternatively thereto, however, in other embodiments, the hoop 15 may, for example, also be configured as a rope hoop or chain hoop, wherein the introduction sections 21 and 23 in such embodiments may be formed by bolts that may be introduced into the lock body 13 and that may be connected to one another by a chain forming the connection section 33 or by a rope forming the connection section 33. Furthermore, a U-hoop having limbs of equal length may be provided.

[0174] Since the cam 27 engages into the locking notches 35 and 55 in the locking rotational position V, the hoop 15 may be locked to the lock body 13 directly by the cam 27 without providing any intermediate elements, for example a latch that may be driven by the cam 27 or released for a radially inward movement, that engage into the locking notches 35 and 55. This may in particular enable a reliable locking of the hoop 15 to the lock body 13 in that the cam 27 may in particular be held in the housing 93 in an axially fixed manner so that any tensile forces exerted on the hoop 15 during a break-open attempt may be transmitted from the cam 27 directly to the stable housing 93 of the padlock 11. Furthermore, it can, for example, be seen from FIG. 2C that the locking notches 35 and 55 are rectangular in cross-section and have boundary surfaces 51 that are oriented perpendicular to the introduction direction E and that, in the locking rotational position V, contact an abutment surface 53 of the cam 27 that is likewise oriented perpendicular to the introduction direction E. Due to this design of the locking notches 35 and 55, the cam 27 may hold the hoop 15 in the lock body 13 in a form-fitting manner and any tensile forces applied to the hoop 15 against the introduction direction E may not result in a torque which is exerted on the cam 27 and by which the rotational position of the cam 27 could possibly be changed. Furthermore, due to the direct locking of the hoop 15 by the cam 27, the number of components of the electromechanical locking device 25 may be reduced compared to conventional solutions and the assembly of the padlock 11 may be facilitated.

[0175] In addition to the locking by the cam 27, it can in particular be seen from FIG. 2D that the first introduction section 21 is held in the lock body 13 at a lower holding section 37, which forms a radial widening 38 at a lower end section 40 of the first introduction section 21, by a detent 59 against a preload developed by a preloading element 57, for example a spring. For this purpose, the detent 59 has a blocking surface 103 that is oriented perpendicular to the introduction direction E and that is contacted by the holding section 37. In this regard, when the hoop 15 is introduced into the lock body 13, the detent 59 is in a blocking position S in which the detent 59 prevents a release of the hoop 15 from the lock body 13 due to the preload developed by the preloading element 57.

[0176] In addition to holding the hoop 13 in the lock body 13, the detent 59 further functions as a contact element 69 that is configured to contact a sensor 61 with a contact section 99 when the hoop 15 is locked to the lock body 13 (cf. FIG. 2D). This is in particular illustrated by means of FIG. 3A in which the hoop 15 is masked to illustrate the actuation of the sensor 61 by the contact section. As FIG. 3A shows, the sensor 61 has an upper sensor section 77 and a lower sensor section 79, wherein the contact element 69 contacts the upper sensor section 77 with a contact section 99, which extends arm-like towards the sensor 61, when the cam 27 is in the locking rotational position V and the hoop 15 is in the closed position G. The sensor 61 is configured to transmit a first detection signal 63 to the control circuit 31 when the contact element 69 contacts the upper sensor section 77 so that information may be provided to the control circuit 31 regarding which position the contact element 69 is in.

[0177] However, to allow a release of the hoop 15 from the lock body 13 and thus an opening of the padlock 11, the detent 59 may be pivoted about a pivot axis A, which is oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation D of the cam 27, from the blocking position S into a release position F in which the hoop 15 is released by the detent 59 for a detachment from the lock body 13 (cf. FIGS. 4A to 5B). The detent 59 is in this respect preloaded by a preloading element 75, for example again a spring, towards the blocking position S and the contact element 69 formed by the detent 59 is preloaded towards the sensor 61, in particular towards the upper sensor section 77. Furthermore, the axis of rotation D of the cam 27 and the electric motor 29 are arranged off-center with respect to the lock body 13 so that sufficient space for arranging the sensor 61 is available at the side of the lock body 13 facing away from the electric motor 29.

[0178] FIG. 3B in particular illustrates the configuration of the cam 27 in a top view, wherein it can be seen that, in the locking rotational position V shown, the first locking section 39 and the second locking section 41 are oriented towards the introduction openings 17 and 19 to be able to engage into the introduction notches 35 and 55 of the introduction sections 21 and 23 introduced into the lock body 13. Since the axis of rotation D is arranged off-center in the lock body 13, the locking sections 39 and 41 are offset from one another by less than 180 degrees with respect to the axis of rotation D. The cam 27 furthermore has a blocking section 43 that is radially inwardly offset relative to the locking section 39, wherein the blocking section 43 may be oriented towards the first introduction opening 17 by rotating the cam 27 along a first direction of rotation D1 in order to thereby allow an unlocking of the hoop 15 (cf. FIG. 5B). Due to the rotation along the first direction of rotation D1, an unlocking section 45 of the cam 27 may furthermore be oriented towards the second introduction opening 19, whereby a complete release of the second introduction section 23 or the short limb of the U-hoop 15 from the lock body 13 may be made possible. This will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 4A to 5B.

[0179] As can already be seen from FIG. 3A, the cam 27 has an entrainer section 73 facing towards the detent 59 or the contact element 69. In case the cam 27 is controlled for a rotation along the first direction of rotation D1 into the unlocking rotational position U, the entrainer section 73 contacts the detent 59 or the contact element 69 so that the detent 59 or the contact element 69 may be pivoted into the release position F against the preload developed by the preloading element 75 and the hoop 15 may thereby be released by the detent 59 for a detachment from the lock body 13 (cf. in particular FIG. 5A).

[0180] In particular, due to this pivoting of the detent 59, the blocking surface 103 of the detent 59 may be brought out of engagement with the lower holding section 37 so that the lower holding section 37 may be moved past the detent 59 against the introduction direction E. Due to the preload of the hoop 13 against the introduction direction E, the hoop 13 released by the detent 59 may furthermore be directly urged out of the lock body 13 when the cam 27 is rotated into the unlocking rotational position U without a user having to transmit a force directed against the introduction direction E to the hoop 13.

[0181] While the detent 59 thus fully releases the hoop in the unlocking rotational position U, the cam 27 is configured to hold the first introduction section 21 at the lower holding section 37 in the unlocking rotational position U and to thereby hold the hoop 15 at the lock body 13 (cf. FIGS. 4A to 4C). The blocking section 43 of the cam 27, which faces towards the first introduction opening 17 in the unlocking rotational position U, in particular has a smaller radial extent than the first locking section 39 for this purpose so that the upper locking notch 35 of the first introduction section 21 is unblocked by the cam 27, but the blocking section 43 engages into the first introduction opening 17 in the unlocking rotational position U (cf. FIG. 5B). The holding section 37, which has a larger radial extent compared to the boundaries of the locking notch 35, therefore abuts the blocking section 43 due to the preload developed by the preloading element 57 so that the first introduction section 21 may not be completely released from the lock body 13 and the hoop 15 is held at the lock body 13 when the cam 27 is rotated into the unlocking rotational position U.

[0182] On the other hand, the unlocking section 45 of the cam 27 oriented towards the second introduction opening 19 does not engage into the second introduction opening 19 so that the second introduction section 23 or the short limb of the hoop 15 may be completely released from the lock body 13 in the unlocking rotational position U of the cam 27. This may, for example, allow the hoop 15 to be guided through an eyelet of a hasp to be able to securely block the hasp by subsequently locking the hoop 15 to the lock body 13 without the hoop 15 having to be fully released from the lock body 13 for this purpose. To further facilitate the handling of the padlock 11, the hoop 15 may in particular be pivotable about the long limb or the first introduction section 21, which is held at the lock body 13, in the unlocking rotational position U (cf. also FIG. 10E).

[0183] As can furthermore in particular be seen from FIG. 5A, the contact element 69 or its contact section 99 does not contact the sensor 61 when the detent 59 or the contact element 69 is in the release position F and the cam 27 is in the unlocking rotational position U. As a result, the sensor 61 may transmit a release signal 67 to the control circuit 31 so that the sensor 61 may detect that the hoop 15 is held at the lower holding section 37 and is not locked to the lock body 13 in order to transmit a corresponding detection signal, the release signal 67, to the control circuit 31.

[0184] As FIGS. 10A to 10E further show, the pivot axis A of the contact element 69 or of the detent 59 is axially guided in a groove 71 with respect to the axis of rotation D at the housing 93 of the padlock 11, wherein a movement of the detent 59 against the introduction direction E is in particular limited by a housing abutment 95 formed at the housing 93. This guidance of the pivot axis A in a groove 71 makes it possible to move the hoop 15, which is in the closed position G and locked, together with the detent 59, which holds the hoop 15, against the preload of the preloading elements 57 and 75 up to and into a locking position B in which the hoop 15 is introduced further into the lock body 13 compared to the closed position G (cf. FIGS. 6A to 7). This movability of the locked hoop 15 allows an unlocking command to be generated and transmitted to the control circuit 31 by pressing the locked hoop 15; consequently, the control circuit 31 may control the electric motor 29 to drive the cam 27 from the locking rotational position V into the unlocking rotational position U.

[0185] By pressing the hoop 15, the hoop 15 may be moved together with the contact element 69 along the introduction direction E, wherein the contact element 69 may consequently contact the lower sensor section 79 of the sensor 61 (cf. in particular FIG. 7). In this regard, an unlocking command may be detected by the control circuit 31 by the sensor 61 first transmitting the first sensor signal 63 and then transmitting a second sensor signal 65 to the control circuit 31 when the contact element 69 contacts the lower sensor section 79 as a result of a pressing of the hoop 15. To furthermore ensure that the padlock 11 may only be opened by the authorized user, the control circuit 31 may further be configured to rotate the cam 27 into the unlocking rotational position U only when, in addition to the unlocking command transmitted by pressing the hoop 15, the authentication signal 83 is received at the radio module 81 from the mobile opening device 97 shown in FIG. 1. In particular, it may be sufficient for the transmission of the authentication signal 83 that a radio connection, for example a Bluetooth connection, exists between the mobile opening device 97 and the radio module 81 so that the authorized user, for instance, only has to move with his mobile opening device 97, in particular a smartphone, in the vicinity of the padlock 11 and has to press the hoop 15 into the lock body 13 to be able to open the padlock 11.

[0186] In addition to transmitting an unlocking command, the axial movability of the detent 59 or the contact element 69 also enables the hoop 15, which has been released from the lock body 13, to be held in the locking position B after an introduction into the lock body 13, in which locking position B the cam 27 may be rotated trouble-free from the unlocking rotational position U into the locking rotational position V. FIGS. 6A to 7 illustrate a position of the hoop 15 and the detent 59 after the hoop 15 and in particular its second introduction section 23 have been reintroduced into the lock body 13, wherein the cam 27 is in the unlocking rotational position U. As can in particular be seen from FIGS. 6D and 7, the detent 59 or the contact element 69 may be urged under the cam 27 as a result of the introduction of the hoop 15 in that the introduced hoop 15 moves the detent 59 or the contact element 69 against the preload of the preloading elements 57 and 75 along the introduction direction E. As soon as the detent 59 or the contact element 69 moves under the entrainer section 73 of the cam 27, the detent 59 or the contact element 69 is released for a movement into the blocking position S so that the detent 59 or the contact element 69 pivots into the blocking position S due to the preload developed by the preloading element 75 and engages over the holding section 37 with the blocking surface 103 to hold the hoop 15 in the locking position B, in which the locking notches 35 and 55 are arranged at the same level as the locking sections 39 and 41 of the cam 27, so that the cam 27 may rotate trouble-free from the unlocking position U into the locking rotational position V.

[0187] Since the detent 59 or the contact element 69 is arranged below the cam 27 when the hoop 15 is moved into the locking position B, the hoop 15 so-to-say has to be moved beyond the closed position G along the introduction direction E to reach the locking position B. Furthermore, the locking notches 35 and 55 have a greater extent than the cam 27 in an axial direction with respect to the axis of rotation D of the cam 27 so that the cam 27 may engage into the locking notches 35 and 55 with the locking sections 39 and 41 both when the hoop 15 is in the closed position G and when the hoop 15 is in the locking position V.

[0188] Furthermore, in particular FIG. 7 shows that the contact element 69 urged under the cam 27 contacts the sensor 61 at the lower sensor section 79 so that the sensor 61 emits the second detection signal 65 and transmits it to the control circuit 31. Therefore, the control circuit 31 may in particular be configured to drive the cam 27 directly from the unlocking rotational position U into the locking rotational position V when the control circuit 31 first receives the release signal 67 and then the second detection signal 65. Such a sequence of the release signal 67 and the second detection signal 65 clearly indicates that the contact element 69 was first released from the sensor 61 by moving the cam 27 into the unlocking rotational position U and the hoop 15 has moved into the open position O, wherein the subsequent second detection signal 65 indicates that the hoop 15 has been moved into the locking position B and a locking is consequently to take place. Furthermore, it is ensured by the transmitted second detection signal 65 that the hoop 15 is in the locking position B and that the cam 27 may thus be rotated trouble-free into the locking rotational position V. The control circuit 31 may generally be configured to rotate the cam 27 directly from the unlocking rotational position U into the locking rotational position V when the sensor 61 first transmits the release signal 67 and then the second detection signal 65. Alternatively thereto, provision may, however, also be made that the control circuit 31 is configured to rotate the cam 27 into the locking rotational position V only when the locking command 87 is additionally received at the radio module 81 so that a locking of the padlock 11 may also take place solely by the authorized user.

[0189] While the configuration of the cam 27 thus first makes it possible to reliably lock the hoop 15 to the lock body 13 in the closed position G or to release it for a movement into the open position O, the cam 27 furthermore has a release section 47 that is radially inwardly offset relative to the blocking section 43, wherein the release section 47 may be oriented towards the first introduction opening 17 by rotating the cam 27, starting from the unlocking rotational position U, along a second direction of rotation D2 opposite the first direction of rotation D1 and the cam 27 may be transferred into a release rotational position R. As in particular FIG. 8E shows, in this release rotational position R of the cam 27, the first introduction opening 17 is completely unblocked by the cam 27 so that the lower holding section 37 of the first introduction section 21 is also released by the cam 27 and the hoop 15 may be completely released from the lock body 13 (cf. FIGS. 8A to 8C and FIG. 10C). Moreover, in the release rotational position R of the cam 27, a second release section 49 is oriented towards the second introduction opening 19 so that the second introduction opening 19 is also unblocked by the cam 27 and the removed hoop 15 may be selectively introduced into the lock body 13 again.

[0190] As can in particular be seen from FIG. 8D, the detent 59 or the contact element 69 is released by the entrainer section 73 for a movement into the blocking position S by the rotation of the cam 27 along the second direction of rotation D2 so that the contact element 69 comes into contact with the sensor 61 and in particular the upper sensor section 67. The sensor 61 may consequently transmit the first detection signal 63 to the control circuit 31. Provision may further be made that the control circuit 31 is configured to rotate the cam 27 into the removal rotational position R solely in response to the release command 85 received from the mobile opening device 97 so that only the authorized user may release the hoop 15 from the lock body 13.

[0191] Such a complete detachment of the hoop from the lock body 13 may, for example, allow a respective hoop 15 from a selection of different hoops 15 to be able to be selectively connected to the lock body 13 and the padlock 11 to be flexibly used. For example, due to this possibility, the U-hoop 15 shown by means of the Figures could be replaced with a rope hoop and/or a chain hoop or a larger or a smaller U-hoop and/or a U-hoop with a larger and/or smaller diameter could selectively be connected to the lock body 13. Furthermore, hoops 15 of different materials may generally be connected to the lock body 13 to be able to achieve a safety standard appropriate to a respective use of the padlock 11. Furthermore, in some applications, it may be useful to be able to completely release the hoop 15 from the lock body 13 in order to be able to bring the hoop 15 and the lock body 13 together from different sides and to secure an object.

[0192] To enable a reintroduction of the removed hoop 15 or a further hoop 15 into the lock body 13 when the cam 27 is in the removal rotational position R but the detent 59 is in the blocking position S, the detent 59 has a slanted contact surface 101 so that the detent 59 may be pivoted against the preload of the preloading element 75 into the release position F by introducing the hoop 15 that contacts the slanted contact surface 101. However, as soon as the hoop 15 reaches the closed position G, the detent 59 pivots into the blocking position S again due to the preload so that the blocking surface 103 engages over the holding section 37 and the hoop 15 is held in the closed position G by the detent 59 (cf. in particular FIG. 9B). Furthermore, as a result of the introduction of the hoop 15, the contact element 69 contacts the sensor 61, in particular the upper sensor section 77, and the control circuit 31 may be configured to rotate the cam 27 from the removal rotational position R into the locking rotational position V as a result of a briefly interrupted contact of the upper sensor section 77 or as a result of a briefly interrupted first detection signal 63 since the introduction of the removed hoop 15 may be detected by this signal sequence. However, the control circuit 31 may also be configured to drive the cam 27 into the locking rotational position V solely in response to a locking command 87 received from the opening device 97. Furthermore, it may be necessary to press the hoop 15 introduced into the lock body 13 up to and into the locking position B again in order to transmit a locking command through the contact of the lower sensor section 79.

[0193] Thus, while a control may generally be provided based solely on signals of the sensor 61, in the embodiment shown, the electromechanical locking device 25 further has a measurement device 89 that is configured to detect the rotational position of the cam 27. In this regard, information about the rotational position of the cam 27 may be directly transmitted to the control circuit 31 and considered in the control. For example, provision may therefore also be made that, starting from the position shown in FIG. 9B, a user must move the hoop 15 along the introduction direction E so that the sensor 61 is contacted by the contact section 99 of the contact element 69 at the lower sensor section 79, wherein the control circuit 31 may be configured to drive the electric motor 29 to drive the cam 27 from the removal rotational position R into the locking rotational position V when the measurement device 89 detects the removal rotational position R and the sensor 61 transmits the second detection signal 65.

[0194] The configuration of the padlock 11 with the cam 27, which may be selectively rotated into the locking rotational position V, the unlocking rotational position U and the removal rotational position F, thus enables a secure locking and a flexible use of the padlock 11. Since the cam may furthermore be rotated along opposite direction of rotations D1 and D2 from the locking rotational position V into the unlocking rotational position U or the removal rotational position F, the lock body 13 may be formed as narrow and with a small extent along a transverse direction Q oriented perpendicular to a connection line between the introduction openings 17 and 19 and perpendicular to the introduction direction E, wherein the extent of the lock body 13 in the transverse direction Q may in particular be smaller than a maximum extent of the cam 27 in a plane oriented perpendicular to the introduction direction E.