Device for automatically moving a curtain along a curtain rail

Abstract

A device for automatically moving a curtain along a curtain rail, which device comprises driving means movable along the curtain rail, the curtain being adapted to be coupled to the driving means by way of coupling means, wherein the driving means comprise a toothed belt ( 2 ). Preferably, the rail ( 1 ) is provided with two toothed belt guide channels ( 1 a , 1 b ) extending in longitudinal direction of the rail, for the purpose of guiding the toothed belt ( 2 ) along the rail ( 1 ), the device being provided, adjacent at least a first end of the rail ( 1 ), with reversing means ( 3 ) for reversing a part of the toothed belt ( 2 ) extending out of the one guide channel ( 1 a ; 1 b ) and guiding it to the other guide channel ( 1 b ; 1 a ).

1 . A device for automatically moving a curtain along a curtain rail, comprising: rotatable driving means movable along the curtain rail, the curtain being adapted to be coupled to said driving means by coupling means, the driving means comprise a toothed belt, wherein the rail is provided with two toothed belt guide channels extending in a longitudinal direction of the rail, for guiding the toothed belt along the rail; the driving means provided with a toothing, the driving means being disposed such that the toothing of the driving means engages toothing of the toothed belt for driving the toothed belt through rotation of the driving means; reversing means adjacent at least a first end of the rail for reversing a part of the toothed belt extending out of one guide channel and guiding the toothed belt to the other guide channel, wherein the reversing means comprise a reversing bearing along which the toothed belt has been guided for a bearing-supported reversal of the toothed belt, wherein the reversing bearing comprises a bearing house in which at least the toothed part of the driving means is rotatably disposed, the bearing house being arranged to pass the toothed belt from the toothed belt guide channels to the toothing of the driving means for the purpose of said drive, wherein the bearing house is shaped such that the driving means and inner walls of the bearing house facing the driving means enclose a part of the toothed belt to be reversed, substantially free from play. 
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the toothed belt after assembly is substantially untensioned. 
   
   
       3 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the bearing house is provided with two passages for passing the toothed belt from the toothed belt guide channel to the toothed part of the driving means. 
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the bearing house and the toothed driving means are manufactured substantially of plastic. 
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 4 , wherein that the bearing house and the toothed driving means are manufactured by an injection molding process. 
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein that the bearing house comprises a first bearing house part and a second bearing house part connected with the first bearing house part. 
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a control for operating a motor. 
   
   
       8 . A device for automatically moving a curtain along a curtain rail, comprising: driving means movable along the curtain rail, the curtain being adapted to be coupled to said driving means by coupling means, the driving means comprise a toothed belt, wherein the rail is provided with two toothed belt guide channels extending in a longitudinal direction of the rail, for guiding the toothed belt along the rail; with reversing means adjacent at least a first end of the rail, for reversing a part of the toothed belt extending out of one guide channel and guiding it to the other guide channel, wherein the ends of the toothed belt are connected to each other through a closure, such that the toothed belt is endless, wherein the closure is provided with the coupling means for coupling the curtain. 
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein the closure is detachable, wherein the toothed belt can be shortened. 
   
   
       10 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein the closure is provided with injection molded clamping parts engaging the toothing of the belt, fastened to each other by fastening means. 
   
   
       11 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein the coupling means are arranged for detachably coupling the curtain to the toothed belt at a plurality of positions. 
   
   
       12 . A device for automatically moving a curtain along a curtain rail comprising:
 driving means movable along the curtain rail, wherein the driving means includes   a toothed belt, the toothed belt having two ends connected to each other through a closure such that the toothed belt is endless, wherein the closure is detachable, the closure being provided with first and second clamping parts, wherein the first and the second clamping parts are each separately mountable to one of the ends of the toothed belt and are subsequently interconnectable so as to form the closure, wherein the closure is provided with a first coupling hook configured for coupling to a curtain.   
   
   
       13 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the two ends of the toothed belt are connectable to each other by a fastening plate. 
   
   
       14 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the first and second clamping parts are injection molded. 
   
   
       15 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first clamping part is provided with an eye through which the toothed belt is insertable,   the first clamping part further comprises a separate clamping lip having a wedge shaped part that is provided on one side with a toothing which engage with the toothed belt, wherein the eye of the first clamping part is constructed to be slid back over the clamping lip to fixedly clamp the first clamping part onto the toothed belt as a result of the wedge shape of the clamping lip,   the second clamping part being provided with an eye through which the toothed belt is insertable,   the second clamping part further comprising a separate clamping lip which has a wedge shaped part and is provided on one side with a toothing which engage with the toothed belt, wherein the eye of the second clamping part is constructed to be slid back over the clamping lip to fixedly clamp the second clamping part onto the toothed belt as a result of the wedge shape of the clamping lip.   
   
   
       16 . A device according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a third clamping part having an eye enclosing the toothed belt, such that the third clamping part can be slid along the toothed belt,   a fourth clamping part having a toothed wedge-shaped clamping lip which is wedge-shaped, wherein the third clamping part in a slid back position is clampingly fixed onto the clamping lip of the fourth clamping part as a result of the wedge shape of that clamping lip, so that the third and fourth clamping parts are connected at a desired position onto the toothed belt, and a second coupling hook connectable to the third and the fourth clamping part adapted for coupling a second curtain to the third and the fourth clamping part.   
   
   
       17 . A device for automatically moving a curtain along a curtain rail, comprising a bearing housing for mounting to an end of an automatic curtain rail, wherein the curtain rail has a first belt guide channel and a second belt guide channel to guide a toothed belt along the curtain rail, wherein the first and second belt guide channel extend parallelly in a longitudinal direction, wherein the bearing housing comprises a reversing bearing for reversing the toothed belt and a first passage and second passage for passing the toothed belt from the first belt guide channel via the reversing bearing to the second belt guide channel of the curtain rail, wherein the bearing housing has an inner wall surface encompassing an arranged toothed belt at a distance smaller than the height of teeth of the belt, such that the toothed belt remains in toothed engagement with the reversing bearing.