Robert E Balli, 672375 Shade Park Dr, Akron, OH 44333

6388412, May 14, 2002

May 9, 2000

09/567215

Brett A. Reed - Alliance OH
Robert E. Balli - Akron OH

Overhead Door Corporation - Dallas TX

H02P 700

318466, 318266, 318286

An operator control system for controlling the operation of an electric motor driven door or gate operator unit having a speed reducing gear drive mechanism and a brake unit for positive braking of the motor output shaft. A programmable microcontroller is operably connected to a motor drive circuit with interlock relays to energize the operator unit drive motor for rotation in opposite directions. The motor drive circuit is interconnected with a motor watchdog circuit to effect motor shutdown if the microcontroller malfunctions. The motor drive circuit is operably connected to a brake release circuit to prevent motor operation unless the electrically operated brake is energized to release braking of an operator output shaft. The microcontroller receives input signals from manually or radio-controlled door open, close and stop switches and from door position limit switches. The microcontroller is connected to a non-volatile memory for storing door mid-stop time delay values, braking rates, a door position limit overrun signal, a door cycle count, door reversals upon receiving an obstruction detector signal and error codes associated with door operator and control system malfunctions.

6422965, Jul 23, 2002

Apr 20, 2000

09/553614

Robert E. Balli - Akron OH
Charles E. Delaney - The Colony TX

Overhead Door Corporation - Dallas TX

E06B 974

475149, 475156, 475282, 160310

A door operator unit includes a drive motor connected to a speed reduction differential planetary gear drive mechanism having a drive unit output shaft for connection to a further door drive mechanism. An electromagnetic brake is interposed between the motor output shaft and the planetary gear drive mechanism and is releasable when energized to allow rotation of the motor output shaft and the drive unit output shaft. A first ring gear of the planetary gear drive mechanism is normally held stationary by a release block and is operable in response to disengagement of the release block to permit rotation of the drive unit output shaft when the brake in engaged to allow manual opening and closing of the door. A torque limiting clutch may be interposed the operator unit output shaft and a second ring gear of the differential planetary gear drive mechanism.

6530863, Mar 11, 2003

Apr 12, 2002

10/121535

Robert E. Balli - Akron OH
Charles E. Delaney - The Colony TX

Overhead Door Corporation - Dallas TX

E06B 974

479149, 475156, 475282, 160310

A door operator unit includes a drive motor connected to a speed reduction differential planetary gear drive mechanism having a drive unit output shaft. An electromagnetic brake is interposed the motor output shaft and the planetary gear drive mechanism and is releasable when energized to allow rotation of the motor output shaft and the drive unit output shaft. A first ring gear is normally held stationary by mechanism including a release block and is operable in response to disengagement of the release block to permit rotation of the drive unit output shaft when the brake is engaged to allow manual opening and closing of the door by way of an auxiliary drive shaft drivingly connected to the ring gear. A torque limiting clutch may be interposed the operator unit output shaft and a second ring gear of the differential planetary gear drive mechanism.

6737823, May 18, 2004

Dec 13, 2001

10/017051

Brett A. Reed - Alliance OH
Robert E. Balli - Akron OH

Overhead Door Corporation - Dallas TX

G05B 500

318466, 318280, 318282, 318286, 318461, 318366, 318468, 49 26, 49 28, 49360, 49279, 49280

A control system for controlling the operation of an electric motor driven door or gate operator unit having a speed reducing gear drive mechanism and a brake unit for positive braking of the motor output shaft. A programmable microcontroller is operably connected to a motor drive circuit with interlock relays to energize the drive motor for rotation in opposite directions. The motor drive circuit is interconnected with a motor watchdog circuit to effect motor shutdown if the microcontroller malfunctions and a brake release circuit to prevent motor operation unless the brake is energized. The microcontroller is operable to store door mid-stop time delay values, braking rates, a door position limit overrun signal, a door cycle count, door reversals upon receiving an obstruction detector signal and error codes associated with door operator and control system malfunctions. The brake may be controlled on a variable duty cycle to provide smooth braking action in both directions of movement of the door.

5960849, Oct 5, 1999

Aug 13, 1997

8/910402

Charles Edward Delaney - The Colony TX
Robert Edward Balli - Akron OH

GMI Holdings, Inc. - Alliance OH

B66D 158
E05F 1500

160188

An apparatus that detects the occurrence of slack in a cable and that compensates for detected slack is disclosed. The apparatus includes body parts that are movable relative to each other between fully extended and fully retracted positions. A bias device biases the body parts toward the fully retracted position. However, normal tension conditions in the monitored cable overcome the bias and extend the body parts to their fully extended relation. If the cable becomes slack, the body parts retract to take up the slack. If the cable slack is to such an extent that the body parts move to a predetermined relative position, the apparatus generates a signal warning of extreme slack conditions. The present invention also is a cable slack control apparatus for a door operator, with such control apparatus including a cable slack detection and compensation device and a door motor drive control device. The present invention further contemplates a method of detecting and compensating for cable slack by reliance on the slack detection and compensation device disclosed herein.