How Do Automatic Doors Work?

Automatic sliding doors made their debut in classic black-and-white science fiction shows to show that the civilizations pictured had more advanced technology than the current era. Like robotic vacuums and portable communications devices, this piece of technology jumped from the screen to everyday life. These systems use sensors, motors and rolling frames to make entering businesses safer and easier for everyone.

Sensors

Automatic doors are your entrance to many commercial buildings and putting a system on your own business can be easier than you think. They use optical or motion detection sensors to monitor the area in front of the door and activate the motor to open or close the doors as someone approaches. Knowing what kind of sensors to install can be intimidating, but talking to automatic door repair New York companies can help you find the right system and maintenance plan.

Motors                                           

The sensors are connected to an electric drive train which operates a clutch mechanism. When the signal is sent to the drive train, the clutch moves a cog or auxiliary drive to pull or push the doors with a belt or cable. These components are usually built into the frame and wall around the door to keep them cleaner and to be safer for customers.

Frames

The door will be connected to the frame and mechanism by rollers in a track. Depending on the type of door and where it is placed, the door can be mounted on a overhead track, with or without a bottom one, or it can be mounted on the side and pushed along with rollers in both top and bottom track. You can even find ones which skim the floor instead of having bottom rollers.

Automatic doors are commonplace these days and slide open and closed more smoothly than they did in the black-and-white science fiction shows they first appeared in. You can put these doors on the front of your business to be more accessible and choose from a variety of sensors, motors and frames to fit your needs.