Door operator sensor and logic for vertically stacking panel door systems

A method, comprising:

• activating a motor to initiate a closing operation for a plurality of disconnected panels of a vertically stacking panel door system, wherein the closing operation moves the plurality of disconnected panels one panel at a time from a horizontal track guide to a vertical track guide;
• detecting a gap between adjacent panels of the plurality of disconnected panels as the plurality of disconnected panels moves during the closing operation via a sensor located above the vertical track guide;
• and
• deactivating the motor in response to detecting the gap to stop the closing operation.

A vertically stacking panel door system, comprising:

• a horizontal door guide;
• a panel interface zone;
• a vertical door guide;
• a plurality of panels to move from a horizontally stacked position in the horizontal door guide to a vertically stacked position in the vertical door guide;
• a counterbalance system comprising a motor to move the plurality of panels;
• a photoelectric sensor to detect a gap between two adjacent panels of the plurality of panels as the plurality of panels is moved from the horizontally stacked position to the vertically stacked position;
• and
• a mechanical sensor to detect that an amount of torque on the motor has exceeded a torque threshold, wherein the motor is deactivated in response to the gap being detected by the photoelectric sensor or in response to a mechanical gear activated by the amount of torque exceeding the torque threshold.