What’s a sliding door actuator?

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Sliding door actuators are motorized devices with pulleys and belts that open and close sliding doors. They have guard mechanisms and sensors to prevent collisions and are commonly used in homes, shops, and commercial complexes. The most common type is the belt and pulley actuator, which consists of an electric motor, reduction gear, and timing belt. Sensors control the fully open and closed positions, and additional sensors detect people entering and leaving the door area.

A sliding door actuator is a mechanical device designed to remotely open and close sliding access barriers, such as gates and doors. These devices are typically motorized and have a pair of pulleys around which a continuous flexible belt runs. The brackets are attached to the belt and the door so that when the motor turns the belt moves, pulling the door with it. The sliding door actuator will generally include at least two sets of guard mechanisms that prevent the door from opening or closing beyond its limits or colliding with any obstacles in its track path. Many high-traffic systems also include automated operation through proximity sensors that open and close the door when someone approaches or leaves the door area.

Sliding pedestrian access doors in homes, shops and commercial complexes, as well as lift doors, are very often automated relying on a sliding door actuator for their operation. These doors include most types of sliding barriers such as single and double leaf external models and single or double pocket. The actuators that operate these doors are most often of the belt and pulley type, although sometimes rack or worm gear actuators are used on very heavy safety barriers.

The belt and pulley sliding door actuator is the most common type of sliding door operator and consists of an enclosed square channel located at the top of the door sill that contains the actuator mechanism. This mechanism typically consists of an electric motor placed at one end of the channel, which drives a toothed pulley through a reduction gear. The gearbox allows the motor speed to be reduced by increasing the output torque of the actuator. A second non-driven guide pulley is located at the other end of the channel. A flexible rubber timing belt passes around both pulleys with a set of flat brackets attached to it between the pulleys.

These brackets mount to the top edge of the door, and as the motor turns and moves the belt, it drives the door on a set of drive rollers located at the top and bottom of the door frame. In other words, when the motor rotates in one direction, the door opens, and when it is reversed, the door closes again. The fully open and closed positions will be controlled by a series of sensors which will cut the motor when the door reaches those points. An additional safety sensor is also usually included, which prevents the door from closing on any obstacle in its path. Many sliding door actuation systems, particularly in high traffic areas, include additional sensors that detect people entering and leaving the door area, automatically opening and closing the door.




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