WO2008031739A1

WO2008031739A1 - Photocell with adjustable orientation particularly for optical barriers

Info

Publication number: WO2008031739A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/059210
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oliviero Arosio
Original assignee: GI BI DI Srl; GI BI DI Continental SpA
Current assignee: GI BI DI Srl; GI BI DI Continental SpA
Priority date: 2006-09-15
Filing date: 2007-09-04
Publication date: 2008-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2009-03-15
Also published as: EP2087381A1; ITMO20060285A1

Abstract

A photocell (1) with adjustable orientation particularly for optical barriers, comprising at least one box-like enclosure (2) which contains at least one optical assembly which is associated with at least one electronic management unit, and further comprising at least one support (5) with adjustable orientation for at least the optical assembly interposed between the enclosure (2) and the optical assembly, the support (5) being associated detachably with the enclosure (2).

Description

PHOTOCELL WITH ADJUSTABLE ORIENTATION PARTICULARLY FOR OPTICAL BARRIERS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a photocell with adjustable orientation particularly for optical barriers, of the type provided at gates, windows, entrances or others. Background Art

A photocell is constituted generally by an enclosure in which an optical assembly and an electronic unit for managing said optical assembly are contained.

The optical assembly is constituted by a bulb which is kept in vacuum or contains an inert gas and inside which a pair of electrodes is placed; the electronic management unit is generally an electronic board and comprises the power supply circuit of the optical assembly to which it is connected. Each photocell is therefore constituted substantially by two electrodes: the first, known as anode, is connected to the positive pole of a direct current source, which can be for example a battery, and the second electrode, known as cathode, is connected to the negative pole of the same source. In particular, the cathode is constituted by or coated with combinations of photosensitive substances, such as cesium-antimony, cesium-antimony-bismuth, cesium-silver-oxygen, copper-iodine, and cesium-iodine.

When the cathode, arranged so as to receive light radiation from outside, is illuminated, it emits electrons which are attracted by the positively charged anode.

In this manner, an electric current is established within the circuit in which the photocell is inserted, and the intensity of said current is proportional to the intensity of the lighting. If the lighting of the cathode is interrupted, for example by interposing an object or a person between the light source and the cathode, said cathode interrupts the emission of electrons and the flow of current stops.

In general, a photocell has the property of converting an electromagnetic radiation into an electrical signal and vice versa.

An optical barrier is therefore constituted by at least one pair of photocells, one acting as an emitter of an electron beam and the other acting as a receiver of said beam.

Photocells are used for example in alarm devices or in automated gates or in general whenever one wishes to create any optical barrier for example at a passage, entrance or others.

Photocells with adjustable orientation are known which allow rotation of the optical assembly at least about one axis, so as to simplify the alignment of the emitter and the receiver. These known photocells with adjustable orientation generally have a spherical joint, which is interposed between the enclosure and the optical assembly, is usually integrated with the electronic management unit, and is adapted to allow the optical assembly to be oriented with respect to the enclosure. In particular, the female element of the spherical joint is provided monolithically within the bottom of said enclosure and is constituted by a spherical seat, which is formed by two parts which can be mutually connected by way of locking screws and is adapted to accommodate a ball which is rigidly associated with the optical assembly and with the electronic management unit.

Once the optical assembly has been arranged angularly in the chosen position, the operator, by means of two locking screws, locks the spherical joint, thus preventing mutual rotation between the optical assembly and the enclosure. These known types of photocell with adjustable orientation are not free from drawbacks, including the fact that they have two fastening screws which are required to lock the spherical joint and therefore to adjust the photocell, with a consequent increase in the intervention times required to perform these operations and difficulty in keeping the optical assembly in the chosen position until tightening has been completed.

Another drawback is that the spherical joint is integrated with the enclosure of the photocell and therefore the adjustment of the angle of the optical assembly, which must be performed after the enclosure has been fixed to its supporting structure, can be sometimes difficult to perform on the part of the operator.

Another drawback of photocells with adjustable orientation of the known type is that the spherical joint, by being provided on the bottom of the enclosure of said photocell, does not allow the passage from below of any electric power supply wires of the photocell, which accordingly must pass from above.

Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the background art, by providing a photocell with adjustable orientation, particularly for optical barriers, which allows to provide easy and quick adjustment of the angle of the optical assembly on the part of the operator.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to allow the entry of the power supply of the electronic management unit from multiple directions, so as to reduce the space occupation of the power supply assembly and keep it as protected as possible in order to accordingly limit the possibility of tampering with it.

Another object of the invention is to be able to install, with the smallest possible number of photocells, optical barriers having different shapes and spatial arrangements, which ensure high safety and flexibility. Another object of the present, invention is to provide a photocell with adjustable orientation having a structure which is simple, relatively easy to provide in practice, safe in use, effective in operation, and has a relatively low cost.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by the present photocell with adjustable orientation particularly for optical barriers, which comprises at. least one box-like enclosure which contains at least one optical assembly which is associated with at least one electronic management unit, characterized in that it comprises at least one support with adjustable orientation for at least said optical assembly interposed between the enclosure and the optical assembly, the support being associated detachably with the enclosure. Brief description of the Drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a photocell with adjustable orientation particularly for optical barriers, illustrated by way of non- limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of the photocell according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the support with adjustable orientation of the photocell according to the invention in the assembled configuration;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the photocell of Figure 1 in the assembled configuration. Ways of carrying out the Invention

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a photocell with adjustable orientation, which can be fixed to a supporting base or directly to a wall, both not shown, by means of at least one box-like enclosure 2 made for example of plastic material. The enclosure 2 comprises a plate 3 for fixing to the supporting base or to the wall and a cover 4 which is made of a material which is transparent to electronic beams, said plate and said cover being detachably associated with each other.

The cover 4 is shaped like a sort of tray arranged so as to cover the plate 3.

The photocell 1 comprises at least one optical assembly which is associated with at least one electronic management unit; both are accommodated within the enclosure 2 and are not shown in detail since they are of a known type. The electronic management unit is constituted substantially by an electronic board which controls and drives the operation of the optical assembly as an emitter or as a receiver.

The photocell 1 further comprises at least one support 5 with adjustable orientation for at least the optical assembly, which is interposed between the enclosure 2 and said optical assembly and is associated with the enclosure 2, particularly with the plate 3, detachably.

In the embodiment shown, the optical assembly and the electronic management unit are mutually integrated and associated with the support 5.

The reference numeral 6 indicates the optical assembly and the electronic management unit, which are mutually integrated.

Advantageously, the photocell 1 comprises a spherical joint 7, which is interposed between the enclosure 2 and the support 5 to adjust the orientation of said support with respect to the enclosure 2.

The spherical joint 7 comprises a male element 8, which is substantially hemispherical and is for example hollow internally and provided with a through hole 9 in an axial direction and is associated detachably with the enclosure 2 by means of temporary engagement means.

The temporary engagement means are constituted by a bracket 10, which is rigidly associated with the male element 8 and an elastic clamp 1 1 for retaining the bracket 10, generally known as clip, which is associated with the plate 3.

In the embodiment shown, the male element 8 and the bracket 10 are mutually integrated.

The spherical joint 7 further comprises a female element 12 which is substantially shaped like a hemispherical dome and is rigidly associated with the support 5 and rests so as to slide over, with respect to the figures, the male element 8.

The photocell 1 comprises fastening means which are adapted to lock the angular position of the support 5 with respect to the enclosure 2. The fastening means comprise in particular a threaded element, for example a screw 13, which passes through the hole 9 and whose free end is adapted to be engaged in the female element 12 by engagement in a nut 14 which is inserted in an appropriately provided seat, not shown in the figure, which is formed in said female element. The fastening means further comprise a ring 15 for locking the male element 8 with respect to the female element 12; said ring is fitted on the shaft of the screw 13 and is adapted to be placed in contact below the male element 8.

However, in an alternative embodiment the spherical joint 7 may have the male element associated with the support 5 and the female element associated with the plate 3.

The support 5 further comprises a receptacle 16 for a power supply assembly, for example of the battery type 17; as an alternative, the power supply assembly can be constituted by a mains cord, not shown in the figure.

Finally, the support 5 comprises a slit 18 for the insertion of a plate 19 which is associated with the mutually integrated optical assembly and electronic management unit. 6.

Further, interlocking means are provided to retain the plate 19 within the slit 18 and consist of two slots 20 formed in the plate 19 and adapted to mate with two corresponding pins 21 provided on the support 5 proximate to the slit 18.

Two covering elements 22 are provided above and below the cover 4 with respect to the figures and are associated therewith and can be mated slidingly with the cover 4 by means of guides 23.

Advantageously, at least one of the two covering elements 22 can have means for coupling to the enclosure 2 of a second photocell 1 and in particular to a second cover 4, so as to constitute a succession of photocells 1 having different shapes and directions. In particular, in this configuration the supporting base is such as to support the composition of a photocell 1 with the corresponding selector or a plurality of photocells in series or a plurality of photocells and corresponding selectors, so as to ensure high modularity and structural variety. In another embodiment, not shown, the photocell 1 can have two optical assemblies, which are arranged so that the directions of the electron beams that are emitted/received from/by each optical assembly are mutually inclined, for example at 90°, at least one of the two optical assemblies acting as a receiver. Adjustment of the orientation of the optical assemblies allows to install optical barriers of different shapes.

The photocell 1 is installed as follows.

Once the plate 3 has been anchored to the supporting base or directly to the wall, the mutually integrated electronic management unit and optical assembly 6 are locked to the support 5 by inserting the plate 19 in the slit 18 and by coupling the pins 21 with the slots 20.

The support 5 is oriented in the chosen direction by means of the spherical joint 7 and is kept in position by tightening the screw 13.

The bracket 10 is then fixed to the plate 3 by means of the clip 1 1. In particular, when the spherical joint 7 is assembled, the orientation of the support 5 and therefore of the optical assembly is adjusted by keeping loose the connection between the screw 13 and the nut 14.

Once the chosen angle has been reached, the operator, by tightening the screw 13, locks the rotation of the spherical joint 7 and therefore locks the orientation of the optical assembly with respect to the enclosure 2.

In practice it has been found that the described invention achieves the intended aim and objects and in particular the fact is stressed that the photocell with adjustable orientation particularly for optical barriers allows to provide easy and quick adjustment of the orientation of the optical assembly on the part of the operator by way of the use of a single screw.

Further, the photocell with adjustable orientation according to the invention allows the entry of the power supply of the electronic management unit from multiple directions, so as to reduce the space occupation of the power supply system, keep it as protected as possible and thus limit its tampering possibilities.

Moreover, the photocell with adjustable orientation according to the invention, by way of the use of two optical assemblies, allows to prepare, with the smallest possible number of photocells, optical barriers having different shapes and spatial arrangements which ensure high security and flexibility.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements without thereby abandoning the scope of the protection of the appended claims.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MO2006A000285 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A photocell with adjustable orientation particularly for optical barriers, comprising at least one box-like enclosure which contains at least one optical assembly which is associated with at least one electronic management unit, characterized in that it comprises at least one support with adjustable orientation for at least said optical assembly interposed between said enclosure and said optical assembly, the support being associated detachably with said enclosure.

2. The photocell according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a spherical joint which is interposed between said support and said enclosure.

3. The photocell according to claim 2, characterized in that said spherical joint comprises a substantially hemispherical male element which is associated detachably with said enclosure, and a female element which is shaped substantially like a hemispherical dome and is associated with said support, said male element and said female element being mutually coupled.

4. The photocell according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises fastening means which are adapted to lock the angular position of said support with respect to said enclosure.

5. The photocell according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fastening means comprise a threaded element which passes through a hole which is formed in said male element and whose free end is adapted to be engaged in said female element and a locking ring which is fitted on the shaft of said threaded element and is adapted to be placed in contact with said male element on the opposite side with respect to said female element.

6. The photocell according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support comprises a receptacle for a power supply assembly.

7. The photocell according to claim 6, characterized in that said power supply assembly is of the batteiy-powered type.

8. The photocell according to claim 6, characterized in that said power supply assembly is a mains cord.

9. The photocell according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for temporary engagement of said male element with said enclosure.

10. The photocell according to claim 9, characterized in that said engagement means comprise a bracket which is rigidly associated with said male element and at least one elastic clip for retaining said bracket which is associated with said enclosure.

11. The photocell according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said optical assembly and said electronic management unit are mutually integrated and associated with said support.

12. The photocell according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support comprises a slit for the insertion of a plate which is associated with said mutually integrated optical assembly and electronic management unit, and interlocking means for retaining said plate within said slit.

13. The photocell according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two of said optical assemblies associated with said electronic management unit.

14. The photocell according to claim 13, characterized in that said two optical assemblies have mutually inclined reception/emission directions.

15. The photocell according to claim 14, characterized in that said reception/emission directions are mutually inclined at 90°.

16. The photocell according to one or more of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that at least one of said two optical assemblies is a receiver and is adapted to receive an electron beam.

17. The photocell according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said enclosure comprises a fixing plate and a cover which is transparent to electron beams, said plate and said cover being mutually associated detachably.

18. The photocell according to claim 17, characterized in that it comprises two covering elements which are associated with said cover on opposite sides.

19. The photocell according to claim 18, characterized in that at least one of said covering elements comprises means for coupling to the enclosure of at least one second photocell.