ROTATION DEVICE FOR A TURNSTILE

A rotation device includes a base seat, an axle unit and a lock unit. The axle unit extends into the base seat. The lock unit includes a lock plate that is sleeved on the axle unit, and a lock member that is disposed on the base seat. The lock plate is formed with a first lock groove. The lock member has a lock portion that is operable to move into the first lock groove. The lock plate is locked by the lock portion of the lock member when the lock portion moves into the first lock groove, so that the axle unit and the lock plate are not rotatable relative to the base seat.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Taiwanese Invention Patent Application No. 111133915, filed on Sep. 7, 2022.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a rotation device, and more particularly to a rotation device for a turnstile.

BACKGROUND

Turnstiles are widely used in mass transit stations and office lobbies. However, a conventional turnstile may not be equipped with various operation modes to meet the actual needs.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a rotation device that can alleviate the drawback of the prior art.

According to the disclosure, the rotation device includes a base seat, an axle unit and a lock unit. The axle unit extends into the base seat. The lock unit includes a lock plate that is sleeved on the axle unit, and a lock member that is disposed on the base seat. The lock plate is formed with a first lock groove. The lock member has a lock portion that is operable to move into the first lock groove. The lock plate is locked by the lock portion of the lock member when the lock portion moves into the first lock groove, so that the axle unit and the lock plate are not rotatable relative to the base seat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS.1to4, a first embodiment of the rotation device100according to the disclosure is to be used in a turnstile, and is connected to a barrier (not shown). The turnstile is manually operated. That is to say, an operator needs to manually push the barrier in order to pass the turnstile. The first embodiment of the rotation device100includes a base seat1, an axle unit2, a restoring unit3, a buffer unit4, an overload protection unit5and a lock unit6.

Referring further toFIGS.5to8, the axle unit2includes an upper axle21that extends into the base seat1, and a lower axle22that extends into the base seat1and that is located below the upper axle21. The upper axle21has a connecting portion211that is connected to the barrier, and an extending portion212that is located below the connecting portion211and that extends into the base seat1, the restoring unit3and the buffer unit4. The base seat1includes a top plate11, an upper bearing12that is disposed on a central portion of the top plate11, a first casing13that is connected to the top plate11and that is located below the top casing11, a second casing14that is connected to the first casing13and that is located below the first casing13, a third casing15that is connected to the second casing14and that is located below the second casing14, a bottom plate16that is connected to the third casing15and that is located below the third casing15, and a lower bearing17that is disposed on the bottom plate16. The first casing13accommodates the restoring unit3, and has a first inner surface131. The first inner surface131defines an elliptic first opening132(seeFIG.6) that extends in a top-bottom direction. The first opening132has two opposite major axial ends132aand two opposite minor axial ends132b. A distance between the major axial ends132ais longer than that between the minor axial ends132b. The second casing14accommodates the buffer unit4, and has a second inner surface141. The second inner surface141has a first half141a, and a second half141bconnected to the first half141a(seeFIG.8). The second half141bis arc-shaped, has two opposite end portions141cthat are connected to the first half141a, and has an intermediate portion141dthat is located between the end portions141c. A distance between the intermediate portion141dand the upper axle21is shorter than that between the upper axle21and either one of the end portions141c. The third casing15accommodates the overload protection unit5, and defines a circular opening (seeFIG.10) that extends in the top-bottom direction. In this embodiment, the upper bearing12and the lower bearing17are ball bearings, but are not limited to such.

Referring toFIGS.3to6, the restoring unit3is for restoring the upper axle21to its original position after the upper axle21is rotated, and includes a restoring rotating bracket31that is co-rotatably connected to and penetrated by the upper axle21, two restoring moving brackets32that are movably mounted to the restoring rotating bracket31, two restoring abutment wheels33that are respectively mounted to the restoring moving brackets32and that abut against the first inner surface131of the first casing13, and two restoring resilient members34that are disposed between the restoring moving brackets32. The restoring rotating bracket31is formed with a restoring moving groove311that permits the restoring moving brackets32to be movably mounted thereto. Each of the restoring moving brackets32is substantially U-shaped, and has a mounting portion321that permits the respective one of the restoring abutment wheels33to be mounted thereto, two spaced-apart arm portions322that extend from the mounting portion321, and two engaging blocks323each of which is formed at a distal end of a respective one of the arm portions322. Each of the arm portions322is formed with an engaging groove322a. The engaging blocks323of each of the restoring moving brackets32respectively and movably engage the engaging grooves322aof the arm portions322of another one of the restoring moving brackets32. Each of the restoring resilient members34has two opposite ends respectively abutting against the mounting portions321of the restoring moving brackets32.

Referring toFIGS.3,4,7and8, the buffer unit4is for damping the rotation of the upper axle21when the upper axle21rotates back to its original position. The buffer unit4includes a buffer rotating bracket41that is co-rotatably connected to and penetrated by the upper axle21, a buffer moving bracket42that is movably mounted to the buffer rotating bracket41, a buffer abutment wheel43that is mounted to the buffer moving bracket42and that abuts against the second half141bof the second inner surface141of the second casing14, and two cushion members44that are mounted to the buffer rotating bracket41and that abut against the buffer moving bracket42. The buffer rotating bracket41is formed with a buffer moving groove411that permits the buffer moving brackets42to be movably mounted thereto.

Referring toFIGS.3,4,9and10, the overload protection unit5includes an outer barrel51that is disposed in the base seat1and that is penetrated by the lower axle22, an overload rotating bracket52that is received in the outer barrel51and that is penetrated by the upper axle21, and an overload bearing55that is mounted to a bottom of the outer barrel51. The overload rotating bracket52includes a base plate521, two semicircular half brackets522that are mounted to the base plate521, an overload moving groove523that is cooperatively defined by the base plate521and the half brackets522, two overload abutment wheel assemblies53that are disposed in the overload moving groove523, and an overload resilient member54that is disposed in the overload moving groove523and that is located between the overload abutment wheel assemblies53. An inner surface of the outer barrel51is formed with two engaging grooves511. The overload abutment wheel assemblies53are able to respectively engage the engaging grooves511of the outer barrel51. The half brackets522cooperatively define an overload opening524that permits the upper axle21to extend therethrough such that the overload rotating bracket52and the upper axle21are co-rotatable. The lower axle22has a coupling portion221that extends into the bottom of the outer barrel51, an abutment portion222that is connected to a bottom of the coupling portion221and that abuts against the lower bearing17, and an extending portion223that extends into the lock unit6.

Referring toFIGS.2,4,12and14, the lock unit6includes a lock plate61that is sleeved on the extending portion223of the lower axle22, a mounting casing62that is mounted to the base seat1, a lock member63that is mounted to the mounting casing62, a switch plate64that is located above the lock plate61and that is slidably sleeved on the lower axle22, and a switch resilient member65that is located between the switch plate64and the bottom plate16of the base seat1. The lock plate61is formed with a first lock groove611, a second lock groove612that is angularly spaced apart from the first lock groove611, and two protruding blocks613that protrude upwardly. The second lock groove612is in the form of a quarter circular arc. In this embodiment, the lock member63is an electromagnetic lock, and has a lock portion. The lock portion has a lock tongue631that is movable in the top-bottom direction. The switch plate64is formed with two engaging grooves641for the protruding blocks613to engage therewith. The lock plate61is operable to rotate relative to the lower axle22so as to align a selected one of the first lock groove611and the second lock groove612with the lock tongue631of the lock member63in the top-bottom direction. Each of the protruding blocks613of the lock plate61is operable to engage a selected one of the engaging grooves641of the switch plate64for preventing relative rotation between the lock plate61and the switch plate64. In this embodiment, the lock member63is configured as a fail-safe electromagnetic lock. That is to say, when the lock member63is energized, the lock tongue631moves upwardly into the selected one of the first lock groove611and the second lock groove612. Referring toFIG.13, when the lock member63is energized, the lock tongue631moves upwardly into the first lock groove611such that the lock plate61, the switch plate64and the lower axle22are prevented from rotation by the lock tongue631. To switch the rotation device100, the lock plate61may be rotated by 180 degrees after the switch plate64is manually moved upwardly to separate the engaging grooves641from the protruding blocks613of the lock plate61and to compress the switch resilient member65, so as to align the second lock groove612with the lock tongue631of the lock member63in the top-bottom direction, and the switch plate64is then released such that the switch resilient member65pushes the switch plate64to respectively engage the engaging grooves641with the protruding blocks613so as to prevent the relative rotation between the lock plate61and the switch plate64. When the lock member63is energized after the abovementioned switch operation, the lock tongue631moves upwardly into the second lock groove612. Because the second lock groove612is in the form of a quarter circular arc, the lock plate61, the switch plate64and the lower axle22are not prevented from rotation by the lock tongue631, and are rotatable in at least one rotational direction. Since the lock member63is configured as a fail-safe electromagnetic lock, when a supply of electric power ceases, the axle unit1is rotatable relative to the base seat1, so that the barrier may be pushed to permit passage through the turnstile. It is noted that the lock plate61is rotatable relative to the lower axle22but is not slidable along the lower axle22. The switch plate64is slidable along the lower axle22but is not rotatable relative to the lower axle22. The restoring unit3cooperates with the buffer unit4and the overload rotating bracket52of the overload protection unit5to form an upper rotating module20. The outer barrel51of the overload protection unit5cooperates with the overload bearing55, the lock plate61, the switch plate64and the switch resilient member65to form a lower rotating module30. The upper rotating module20is able to be driven by the upper axle21to rotate relative to the lower rotating module30.

The rotation device100according to the disclosure is operable to switch among a closing state, a locking state and an opening state. Referring toFIGS.6,8,10and12, when the rotation device100is in the closing state, the barrier (not shown) is not pushed, and blocks a gateway of the turnstile, and the upper axle21, the restoring unit3, the buffer unit4and the overload protection unit5are not rotated. At this time, the lock member63of the lock unit6is not energized, so that the lock tongue631of the lock member63is not moved into the first lock groove611and that rotation of the lock plate61, the switch plate64and the lower axle22is not prevented. A user is able to directly push the barrier to pass the gateway in both directions (entrance and exit). When the rotation device100is in the locking state, the barrier is not pushed, and blocks the gateway, and the upper axle21, the restoring unit3, the buffer unit4and the overload protection unit5are not rotated. At this time, the lock member63of the lock unit6is energized, so that the lock tongue631of the lock member63moves into the first lock groove611and that rotation of the lock plate61, the switch plate64and the lower axle22is prevented. The user is unable to pass the gateway. If the lock plate61is operated to align the second lock groove612with the lock tongue631in the top-bottom direction, when the rotation device is in the locking state (i.e., the lock tongue631moves into the second lock groove612), the rotation of the lock plate61, the switch plate64and the lower axle22in a rotational direction is still permitted since the second lock groove612is in the form of a quarter circular arc, and the user is able to pass the gateway in one direction (entrance or exit). The user may use an access card that may be identified by the turnstile to switch the rotation device100from the locking state to the closing state. When the barrier is pushed and rotated to permit entrance or exit via the gateway, the rotation device100is switched to the opening state. Referring toFIGS.15to18, when the rotation device100is in the opening state, the upper axle21, the restoring unit3, the buffer unit4, the overload protection unit5, the lock plate61, the switch plate64and the lower axle22are rotated by approximately 90 degrees. The restoring abutment wheels33of the restoring unit3move from the major axial ends132ato the minor axial ends132b, so the restoring moving brackets32are pushed by the first inner surface131of the first casing13to approach each other and to compress the restoring resilient members34. After the barrier is released, a restoring force generated by the restoring resilient members34pushes the restoring moving brackets32away from each other, so as to rotate the upper axle21, the restoring unit3, the buffer unit4, the overload protection unit5, the lock plate61, the switch plate64and the lower axle22back to their original positions (i.e., to switch the rotation device100to the closing state). The cushion members44are compressed when the buffer abutment wheel43of the buffer unit4abuts against the intermediate portion141dof the second inner surface141. During the switching of the rotation device100from the closing state to the opening state, the buffer abutment wheel43of the buffer unit4moves from the intermediate portion141dof the second inner surface141to one of the end portions141c, and the cushion members44are switched from a compressed state to an uncompressed state. During the switching of the rotation device100from the opening state to the closing state, the cushion members44are compressed to damp the rotation of the upper axle21, the restoring unit3, the buffer unit4, the overload protection unit5, the lock plate61, the switch plate64and the lower axle22back to their original positions. As such, after the user passes the gateway, the barrier may automatically rotate back to its original position, and a rotational speed of the barrier is relatively slow so as to prevent a next user from being injured by the barrier. It should be noted that, when the rotation device100is in the locking state, if a force pushing the barrier exceeds a predetermined value, the overload abutment wheel assemblies53are able to respectively disengage from engaging grooves511of the outer barrel51against the biasing action of the overload resilient member54and move along the inner surface of the outer barrel51so that the upper rotating module20is driven by the upper axle21to rotate relative to the lower rotating module30. By such operation, a force between the lock plate61and the lock tongue631of the lock member63resulting from the rotation of the barrier is limited within a predetermined range so as to prevent damage to the lock plate61and the lock tongue631.

It is noted that, the number of the restoring moving brackets32, the restoring abutment wheels33or the restoring resilient members34is not limited to two. In other modifications, the number of the restoring moving brackets32, the restoring abutment wheels33or the restoring resilient members34may be one. In a modification that includes only one restoring moving bracket32, the restoring resilient member34has an end abutting against the mounting portion321of the restoring moving bracket32, and an opposite end abutting against the restoring rotating bracket31, and the first inner surface131of the first casing13may have only one major axial end132aand one minor axial end132b. The abovementioned configuration may also drive the upper axle21, the restoring unit3, the buffer unit4, the overload protection unit5, the lock plate61, the switch plate64and the lower axle22to rotate back to their original positions after the barrier is released.

Referring toFIGS.19to22, a second embodiment of the rotation device100′ according to the disclosure is similar to the first embodiment. The second embodiment of the rotation device100′ includes a base seat1, an axle unit2, a restoring unit3, a buffer unit4and a lock unit6. The overload protection unit of the first embodiment is omitted.

In the second embodiment, the base seat1includes a first casing13and a second casing14. The third casing15of the first embodiment is omitted. The axle unit2includes an upper axle21. The lower axle of the first embodiment is omitted. The upper axle21extends into the base seat1, the restoring unit3, the buffer unit4, and the lock plate61and the switch plate64of the lock unit6. The first casing13has a first inner surface131, and a protruding column133that is formed on the first inner surface131and that extends in the top-bottom direction. The second casing14has a second inner surface141. The second inner surface141has a first half141a, and a second half141bconnected to the first half141a. The second half141bhas two opposite end portions141cthat are connected to the first half141a, an intermediate portion141dthat is located between the end portions141c, two circular arc sections141b1that respectively extend from the end portions141ctoward the intermediate portion141d, and a flat section141b2that is connected between the circular arc sections141b1. The flat section141b2is formed with a recess141b3that is located at the intermediate portion141d. A distance between the intermediate portion141dand the upper axle21is shorter than that between the upper axle21and either one of the end portions141c.

Referring toFIGS.21to24andFIG.30, the restoring unit3of the second embodiment includes two clamping plates35, a tube member36that has two opposite ends respectively connected to the clamping plates35, a rotating column37that has two opposite ends respectively connected to the clamping plates35and that is spaced apart from the tube member36, and a torsion spring38that is rotatably sleeved on the tube member36and that has two opposite leg portions. The upper axle21co-rotatably extends through the clamping plates35and extends through the tube member36. One of the leg portions of the torsion spring38abuts against one side of the protruding column133and one side of the rotating column37. The other one of the leg portions of the torsion spring38abuts against an opposite side of the protruding column133and an opposite side of the rotating column37. When the rotation device100′ is switched from the closing state to the opening state (i.e., the barrier is pushed), the restoring unit3is rotated by the upper axle21, and the rotating column37urges one of the leg portions of the torsion spring38to rotate so as to deform the torsion spring38. After the barrier is released, the torsion spring38restores to rotate the restoring unit3and the upper axle21back to their original positions.

Referring toFIGS.20,25and31, the buffer unit4is similar to that of the first embodiment. The cushion members44are compressed when the buffer abutment wheel43engages the recess141b3. During the switching of the rotation device100′ from the closing state to the opening state, the buffer abutment wheel43of the buffer unit4disengages from the recess141b3and moves from the intermediate portion141dof the second inner surface141to one of the end portions141calong the flat section141b2and one of the circular arc sections141b1, and the cushion members44are switched from a compressed state to an uncompressed state (since the distance between the intermediate portion141dand the upper axle21is shorter than that between the upper axle21and either one of the end portions141c). During the switching of the rotation device100from the opening state to the closing state, the cushion members44are pushed by the second inner surface141to be compressed so as to damp the rotation of the upper axle21, the restoring unit3, the buffer unit4, the lock plate61, the switch plate64and the lower axle22back to their original positions. During the movement of the buffer abutment wheel43from the one of the end portions141cto the intermediate portion141d, the buffer abutment wheel43first travels on the one of the circular arc sections141b1and then on the flat section141b2. The speed of the buffer abutment wheel43when travelling on the flat section141b2is higher than the speed of the buffer abutment wheel43when travelling on the circular arc section141b1. As such, the damping effect in the second embodiment is better.

Referring toFIGS.26to29, the lock unit6is similar to that of the first embodiment. The shape of the mounting casing62of this embodiment is slightly different from that of the first embodiment. The lock member63is a fail-safe electromagnetic lock, and has a lock portion. The lock portion has a lock tongue631that is movable in the top-bottom direction. The lock operation of the second embodiment is identical to that of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, all of the modules are disposed along a straight line, so the second embodiment is suitable for a turnstile with an elongated inner space.

Referring toFIGS.32and33, a third embodiment of the rotation device100″ according to the disclosure is similar to the second embodiment. In the third embodiment, the shape of the mounting casing62is slightly different from that of the second embodiment, and the lock plate61, the switch plate64and the switch resilient member65are the same as those of the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the lock member63is a fail-safe electromagnetic lock, and has a lock portion. The lock portion has a lock tongue631that is movable in the top-bottom direction, and a slide block632that is co-movably connected to the lock tongue631. The slide block632has a main body portion632athat is connected to the lock tongue631, and a projecting portion632bthat projects from the main body portion632aand that is located below the lock plate61when the lock member63is not energized. The slide block632is movably mounted to the mounting casing62so as to be supported by the mounting casing62. Referring toFIGS.34to37, when the lock member63is energized, the lock tongue631moves the slide block632upwardly to engage the projecting portion632bof the slide block632with the first lock groove611of the lock plate61, so as to switch the rotation device100″ to the locking state. By virtue of the slide block632that is supported by the mounting casing62, the magnitude of a resultant force acting on the lock tongue631during the operation may be reduced. To switch the rotation device100″, the lock plate61may be rotated by 180 degrees after the switch plate64is manually moved upwardly to separate the engaging grooves641from the protruding blocks613of the lock plate61so as to align the second lock groove612with the projecting portion632bof the slide block632in the top-bottom direction, and the switch plate64is then released such that the switch resilient member65pushes the switch plate64to respectively engage the engaging grooves641with the protruding blocks613so as to prevent the relative rotation between the lock plate61and the switch plate64. When the lock member63is energized after the abovementioned switching operation, the projecting portion632bof the slide block632moves upwardly into the second lock groove612. Because the second lock groove612is in the form of a quarter circular arc, the lock plate61, the switch plate64and the lower axle22are not prevented from rotation by the projecting portion632bof the slide block632, and are rotatable in at least one rotational direction.

Referring toFIGS.38and39, a fourth embodiment of the rotation device100′″ according to the disclosure is similar to the third embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the shape of the mounting casing62is different from that of the third embodiment, and the lock plate61, the switch plate64and the switch resilient member65are the same as those of the third embodiment. In this embodiment, the lock member63is a fail-safe electromagnetic lock, and has a lock portion. The lock portion has a lock tongue631that is movable in the top-bottom direction, and a pivot rod633that is connected to the lock tongue631and that has an end pivotally connected to the mounting casing62. The pivot rod633has a pivoted portion633athat is pivotally connected to the mounting casing62, a coupling portion633bthat is connected to the pivoted portion633aand that permits the lock tongue631to extend therethrough, and a latch portion633cthat is connected to the coupling portion633band that is located below the lock plate61when the lock member63is not energized. The coupling portion633bis pivotally connected to the lock tongue631by a pin634so that the coupling portion633bof the pivot rod633is rotatable relative to the lock tongue631. The pivot rod633is movably mounted to the mounting casing62so as to be supported by the mounting casing62. Referring further toFIGS.40to43, when the lock member63is energized, the lock tongue631moves upwardly to rotate the pivot rod633toward the lock plate61so that the latch portion633cengages the first lock groove611of the lock plate61to switch the rotation device100′″ to the locking state. By virtue of the configuration of the pivot rod633and the lock tongue631, the lock tongue631may move by a relatively short distance to switch the rotation device100′″ to the locking state. An electromagnetic lock with a relatively short stroke and a relative large attraction force is suitable for this embodiment. Moreover, by virtue of the pivot rod633supported by the mounting casing62, the magnitude of a resultant force acting on the lock tongue631during the operation may be reduced. The operation of the switch plate64of the fourth embodiment of the rotation device100′″ is the same as that of the abovementioned embodiments.

It should be noted that each of the second, third and fourth embodiments may additionally be equipped with the overload protection unit of the first embodiment as long as the lower axle22of the axle unit2of the first embodiment is provided therein. According to this disclosure, each of the restoring unit3, the buffer unit4and the overload protection unit5is modularized, and may be selectively added on the rotation device according to actual needs.

In summary, the rotation device100,100′,100″,100′″ has relatively low power consumption by virtue of the cooperation among the electromagnetic lock63, the lock plate61, the switch plate64and the axle unit2. By virtue of the restoring unit3, after the user passes the gateway, the barrier may automatically rotate back to its original position. By virtue of the buffer unit4, when the barrier rotates back to its original position, the rotational speed of the barrier is relatively slow so as to prevent the next user from being injured by the barrier. By virtue of the overload protection unit5, when a force pushing the barrier exceeds a predetermined value, the overload abutment wheel assemblies53are able to respectively disengage from engaging grooves511of the outer barrel51against the biasing action of the overload resilient member54and move along the inner surface of the outer barrel51so that the upper rotating module20is driven by the upper axle21to rotate relative to the lower rotating module30to prevent the interior components of the rotation device from being damaged. By virtue of the lock unit6, users may need to be identified for passing the gateway of the turnstile in both directions (i.e., the lock member63engages the first lock groove611of the lock plate61), or need to be identified for passing the gateway of the turnstile in only one direction (i.e., the lock member63engages the second lock groove612of the lock plate61). In addition, each of the restoring unit3, the buffer unit4and the overload protection unit5is modularized, and may be selectively added on the rotation device according to actual needs.