Automatic doors are used all over the world. From supermarkets to schools, hospitals to offices. You might be surprised to learn that automatic doors actually have their origins in ancient Greece. Greek mathematician Heron of Alexandria invented an automatic door system that used a series of ropes and pulleys.
The idea is that the temple doors should open automatically when the fire is lit and close automatically when the fire goes out. By lighting a fire on the ground at an altar in front of the temple, heat builds up and creates pressure in a welded vessel beneath the temple. The liquid inside the container would pass through a hose into another container suspended from the ceiling and connected to the underground doorpost of the temple door.
As the weight of the water increases, the door magically opens to the viewer by dragging the pulley rope and slowly pulling the rope attached to the doorpost. When the flame goes out and the heat disappears, the liquid will be sucked back into the first container, the second container will become lighter, and the well-balanced weight will pull in the other direction, closing the door behind it.
The history of automatic doors
After Greece's initial foray into automatic door systems, it was not until the 20th century that automatic doors developed into a popular product. In 1931, two American engineers, Horace H. Raymond and Sheldon S. Roby, designed the first optical device for opening automatic doors. The invention was installed at Wilcox's Pier Restaurant to help waiters carry plates and glasses.
The door between the kitchen and dining room opens immediately when photoelectric eyes detect someone approaching.
"With this invention," wrote the Hartford Courant, "waitresses no longer have to kick down doors or do anything with their hands except carry trays."
In a letter to Stanley Works, the restaurant president wrote:
"They are one of the most satisfying pieces of equipment we have ever installed...and have definitely sped up service from our waitresses."
In 1954, during the postwar period of optimism, another pair of Americans, Dee Horton and Lew Hewitt, invented the first automatic door operated by a mat actuator. Mat actuators use electronic systems hidden within the door mats. When someone stands on the mat, the door opens automatically. Throughout the 1960s, automatic sliding doors grew in popularity and were installed in many public buildings, such as banks, hotels, and shopping malls.
Motion activated automatic doors
In the 1970s, motion sensors were invented and used to drive the opening of automatic doors. This has sparked a rise in popularity of automatic doors to help provide access for people with disabilities, and the large-scale use of contactless technology to open buildings.
In the 1980s, automatic revolving doors were introduced, and motion detectors became increasingly common in automatic sliding doors. In the 1990s, automatic folding doors were invented and active infrared sensors became the standard activation method.
In today's high-tech society, automatic doors have become a common sight in commercial buildings around the world. At Automatic Door Company, we have decades of experience installing and repairing automatic doors. We have all the necessary skills and knowledge to ensure your automatic doors continue to deliver the highest level of performance for years to come.
