Patent Application
20110041284
This invention relates to a retraction mechanism for helping a moving operation of a movable body relative to a fixed body.
a), 17(b) show a retraction mechanism disclosed in Patent Document 1;
Then, when the drawer body is moved to a withdrawal direction, after the inclined portion 60 is moved along the straight portion 51a of the guide track, the inclined portion 60 is inclined forward at the arched portion 51b, and the drive pin 55 moves from the slot 61 to the slanted side wall 62. Thereby, the drawer body is latched to the withdrawal position against an urging force of the spring 65, and also pushed backward, so that after the drive pin 55 is returned to the slot 61 from the slanted wall portion 62, the drawer body is retracted by the urging forces accumulated in the spring 65.
In the above-mentioned conventional structure, for example, the drawer body is automatically slid nearly all the way from the withdrawal position to a retracted direction. However, for that portion, a strong pulling operational force is required from the retracted position to the withdrawal direction, so that the usability deteriorates. Also, as a lock mechanism latching the drawer body against the urging force of the spring 65, the drive pin 55 comes out of the slot 61 due to a front incline of the inclined portion 60 and engages the slanted side wall 62, so that an engaging force is weak, and there is a possibility that the latching is released due to a vibration and the like. Also, in the conventional structure, due to the change of the load capacity or storage load of the drawer body, deviations occur in a relative position of the inclined portion 60 and the drive pin 55, so that there was a possibility that a normal operation could not be carried out.
a), 18(b) show the structure disclosed in Patent Document 2, the reference numeral 21 represents a sliding door closer (retraction main body) attached to a frame upper side of a fixed body side opening portion, the reference numeral 3 represents an engagement pin (engaged means) provided on a sliding door side which is the movable body. This sliding door closer 21 comprises a case 22, a hook body (engaging means) 36, an urging spring 35, and the like. The case 22 has a short container shape, and forms an engagement groove portion 25 extending in a longitudinal direction from one end side, and a sliding groove portion 31 (comprising a straight groove portion 32 and a turning groove portion 33 which is folded back at one end side of the straight groove portion 32). The hook body 36 forms a holding depressed portion 46 which engages and disengages the engagement pin 3, and engagement projected portions 44, 45 which fit in the sliding groove portion 31. The urging spring 35 urges the hook body 36 to the other end side of the sliding groove portion 31 in the state wherein one end is latched to the hook body 36 and the other end is latched to a case 22 side, and accumulates the urging forces in the process that the sliding door is slid in an open direction from a closed position. The engagement pin 3 is attached to be capable of swaying along a sliding hole 8 of a plate 5 through an automatic return mechanism 4 relative to an upper end face of the sliding door, and to be capable of returning due to an urging force which is not shown in the figures.
In the above retraction mechanism, by a closing operation of the sliding door, as shown in
The above retraction mechanism can be applied not only to the sliding door but also to the drawer body in a similar fashion. For example, when the sliding door or the drawer body is closed, the retraction mechanism is automatically switched up to the closed position due to an urging force of an urging means from the middle of the closing operation, so that an occurrence of an incomplete closed state of the sliding door can be reliably prevented. However; in this retraction mechanism, the urging spring is provided so that the hook body is rotated from the turning groove portion to the straight groove portion among the sliding groove portion. However, due to a position deviation, vibration, or the like, the engagement between the hook body and the engagement pin is disengaged just before the engagement projected portion on the hook body side moves to the turning groove portion, so that an improper operation could easily occur such that the hook body moves in a retracting direction by accumulated urging forces.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. H05-023763
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-290769
The Object of the present invention is to provide a retraction mechanism which retracts the movable body from the middle by the urging force so as to be preferred for preventing rebound when the movable body is swiftly pushed in or for preventing the occurrence of an incomplete pushed-in state of the movable body. Especially, even if a relative position between engagement-related members changes, the retraction mechanism maintains an excellent operation by absorbing the change, and thereby, prevents the occurrence of the improper operation and improves reliability.
Also, as the retraction mechanism retracting the movable body from the middle by the urging force, the object of the present invention is to provide a retraction mechanism with high space efficiency by solving the improper operation especially as mentioned above.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned purposes, in a first aspect of the present invention, a retraction mechanism is provided by comprising a striker provided in either a fixed body or a movable body which is movably supported by the fixed body; a catcher provided in the other body and engaging the above-mentioned striker at a predetermined moved position of the above-mentioned movable body to be capable of engaging and disengaging; and an urging means enabling to accumulate urging forces in a moving process of the above-mentioned movable body. In the retraction mechanism which retracts the above-mentioned movable body by the urging forces accumulated in the above-mentioned urging means in a state wherein the above-mentioned striker and the above-mentioned catcher are engaged, the retraction mechanism includes a guide means controlling a relative position between the above-mentioned striker and the above-mentioned catcher, and when the above-mentioned striker and the above-mentioned catcher change the above-mentioned relative position, the change thereof is absorbed by the above-mentioned guide means, so that the engagement becomes possible.
In the first aspect of the present invention, the fixed body includes a storage main body for a drawer body, a frame main body for a sliding door, and the like. The movable body is the drawer body, the sliding door, and the like provided that the movable body has a relationship of reciprocating relative to the fixed body. The striker and the catcher are provided corresponding to the fixed body and the movable body, and engaged in the predetermined moved position (for example, if the movable body is the drawer body, it is in the middle wherein the drawer body is pushed in) of the movable body relative to the fixed body provided that the striker and the catcher have a relationship of enabling to retract the movable body by the urging forces accumulated in the urging means. As a concrete example, in a structure of Patent Document 1, a drive pin corresponds to the catcher, and an inclined portion corresponds to the striker.
In the first aspect of the present invention, for example, if the movable body is the drawer body, even if the relative position between the striker and the catcher is displaced or changed due to a change of an article load stored in the drawer body, and the like, the striker and the catcher are modified in a regular position due to a change absorption function of the guide means, so that the engagement becomes possible. Thereby, as a retraction mechanism, an operation defect caused by a relative position deviation can be reliably prevented so that quality and reliability can be improved.
In the first aspect of the present invention, the present invention is preferred to be embodied as follows.
(1) The present invention is structured such that the above-mentioned striker is disposed in a case with the above-mentioned urging means, and also that the above-mentioned catcher is supported by a holding member.
In this case, since the striker is unitized by being disposed in the case with the urging means, and the catcher is unitized by being supported by the holding member, both excel in handling characteristics, attaching characteristics to the fixed body or the movable body, and the like.
(2) The present invention is structured such that the above-mentioned catcher is supported relative to the above-mentioned holding member to be capable of moving only for a predetermined dimension.
In this case, since the catcher is supported relative to the holding member to be capable of moving only for the predetermined dimension, the catcher can change the position within the allowed moving range, and adjust in the most appropriate position relative to the striker.
(3) The present invention is structured such that the above-mentioned striker is attached to the above-mentioned fixed body through the above-mentioned case to be capable of moving only for the predetermined dimension.
In this case, since the striker is attached to the fixed body through the case to be capable of moving only for the predetermined dimension, the striker can change the position within the allowed moving range, and adjust in the most appropriate position relative to the catcher.
(4) The present invention is structured such that the above-mentioned guide means includes a guide groove provided in the above-mentioned case side and forming a groove doorway portion wider than the other groove portions, and a projection provided in the above-mentioned catcher side and sliding the above-mentioned guide groove.
In this case, since the catcher is slid in the state of fitting the projection into the guide groove of the case additionally provided on a fixed body side, a stable engagement with the striker can be maintained. Also, since the projection is received at the wide groove doorway portion among the guide grooves and moved to the narrow groove portion, even if a position of a groove width direction (i.e., a top-to-bottom position) between the catcher and the striker has changed, the position can be efficiently modified.
Also, in a second aspect of the present invention, the retraction mechanism is provided by comprising a retraction main body including an engaging means attached to either the fixed body or the movable body which is movably disposed in the fixed body; and an engaged means attached to the other body and engaged with/disengaged from the above-mentioned engaging means at a predetermined moved position of the above-mentioned movable body. In the retraction mechanism wherein the above-mentioned movable body enables to move by an urging force in an engagement state between the above-mentioned engaging means and engaged means, the retraction mechanism comprises the following (a) to (c).
(a) The above-mentioned retraction main body includes a case, an arm movably stored in the above-mentioned case and including the above-mentioned engaging means, and an urging means urging the above-mentioned arm in a retracting direction;
(b) The above-mentioned case includes a first movement portion for moving a relative position of the arm in a state wherein one end side of the above-mentioned arm is fitted, a guide groove flexed to the lower side from the first movement portion and comprising a standby holding portion for enabling to hold the urging force of the above-mentioned urging means, and a second movement portion allowing the turning and moving of the arm in the state wherein the other end side of the above-mentioned arm is fitted; and
(c) Due to the engagement between the above-mentioned engaging means and engaged means, one end side of the above-mentioned arm is released from the latching of the above-mentioned standby holding portion, and the arm is moved along the above-mentioned first movement portion by the urging force of the above-mentioned urging means. Also, when the arm is moved in an opposite direction, the urging forces are accumulated in the above-mentioned urging means by maintaining the engagement between the above-mentioned engaging means and engaged means, and one end side reaches the above-mentioned standby holding portion from the above-mentioned first movement portion.
In the second aspect of the present invention, the fixed body includes the storage main body for the drawer body, the frame main body for the sliding door, and the like. The movable body is the drawer body, the sliding door, and the like provided that the movable body has a relationship of reciprocating relative to the fixed body. The engaging means and the engaged means are attached corresponding to the fixed body and the movable body, and engage in the predetermined moved position (for example, if the movable body is the drawer body, it is in the middle wherein the drawer body is pushed in) of the movable body relative to the fixed body provided that the engaging means and the engaged means have the relationship of enabling to retract the movable body by the urging forces accumulated in the urging means.
In the second aspect of the present invention, the case includes the guide groove comprising the first movement portion for allowing the arm to move in the state wherein one end side of the arm is fitted, and the standby holding portion, and also the second movement portion allowing the arm to turn in the state wherein the other end side of the arm is fitted, or allowing the arm to move. Then, in this operation, as shown in the embodiment, in the engagement state between the engaging means and the engaged means, one end side of the arm enters into the flexed standby holding portion from the first movement portion, so that the arm is latched. A switch to this latched state can be reliably possible only by making an urging direction of the urging means relative to the arm downward in order for the arm to turn as a supporting point of the other end side of the arm which is fitted in the second movement portion, and to move one end side to the standby holding portion side. Therefore, in this retraction mechanism, compared to Patent Document 2, an urging-force accumulation state can be stably maintained, so that the occurrence of an improper operation can be prevented.
In the second aspect of the present invention, the present invention is preferred to be embodied as follows.
(1) The above-mentioned engaging means and engaged means comprise an axial portion and a bearing portion which are engaged and disengaged with each other, or a bearing portion and an axial portion which are engaged and disengaged with each other.
In this case, since the engaging means and the engaged means comprise the axial portion or the bearing portion which is engaged and disengaged with each other, the implementation becomes easier.
(2) The above-mentioned urging means is set such that the urging direction is located below a line connecting one end of the above-mentioned arm and the other end.
In this case, since the urging direction of the urging means is located below the line connecting both ends of the arm, one end side of the arm is reliably moved by the standby holding portion.
(3) The above-mentioned second movement portion is a slider slidably provided relative to the above-mentioned case.
In this case, since the second movement portion is the slider slidably provided relative to the case, the other end side of the arm is allowed to move in a stable state, and also by using the slider as shown in the embodiment, a rotary damper or a piston-type damper can be easily provided additionally.
(4) The above-mentioned second movement portion is a groove or a long hole provided in the above-mentioned case and extending in a moving direction of the above-mentioned arm.
In this case, since the second movement portion is the groove or the long hole provided in the case, the simplification is possible.
(5) The above-mentioned second movement portion is a link member rotatably attached as a supporting point of an attachment portion to the above-mentioned case.
In this case, the second movement portion is the link member rotatable as the supporting point of the attachment portion relative to the case, and an expansion as described in, for example, the following (7), can be possible.
(6) The second movement portion is provided in the above-mentioned case and includes a damping means damping a movement speed of the above-mentioned arm.
In this case, since the movement speed of the arm is damped by the damping means, when the movable body is retracted by the urging force, the movable body is allowed to gently move. Thereby, rebound of the movable body can be prevented, and an upscale feeling can be provided.
(7) The above-mentioned damping means is the piston-type damper including a cylinder and a rod. The damper is abutted against or connected to the above-mentioned rod, and also dampens through a connecting member connected between both ends of the above-mentioned link member.
In this case, the damping means can damp by controlling a stroke of the rod constituting the piston-type damper.
a) to 3(c) show the above-mentioned striker assembly body (retraction main body) in an urging-force accumulation state, wherein
a) to 4(c) show the above-mentioned striker assembly body (retraction main body) in an urging-force release state, wherein
a) to 5(e) show the above-mentioned catcher assembly body (engaged means), wherein
a), 6(b) show a placement example of the striker assembly body (retraction main body) and the catcher assembly body (engaged means), wherein
a), 7(b) show a guide operation of the above-mentioned retraction mechanism, wherein
a), 8(b) show the retraction of the above-mentioned retraction mechanism, wherein
a), 9(b) show an urging-force accumulation of the above-mentioned retraction mechanism, wherein
a), 10(b) are, drawings showing a modified example of the first embodiment corresponding to
a) to 11(c) are drawings showing a first modified example of the second embodiment corresponding to
a) to 12(c) are drawings showing the first modified example of the second embodiment corresponding to
a), 13(b) are drawings showing a second modified example of the second embodiment corresponding to
a) to 15(d) show details of the engaged means used for the above-mentioned second modified example, wherein
a), 16(b) are drawings showing a third modified example of the second embodiment corresponding to
a), 17(b) are reference views for explaining the retraction mechanism of Patent Document 1.
a), 18(b) are reference views for explaining the retraction mechanism of Patent Document 2.
A first embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.
(Mechanism characteristics) For example, in the case that the usage is for moving a drawer body 8 into and out of a storage main body 9, the retraction mechanism of the embodiment comprises a striker 33 constituting a striker assembly body A provided in either the storage main body 9 or the drawer body 8 movably supported by the storage main body 9; a catcher 5 constituting a catcher assembly body B provided in the other body and engaging the striker 33 at a predetermined moved position of the drawer body 8 to be capable of engaging and disengaging; and a coil spring S which is an urging means enabling to accumulate urging forces in a moving process of the drawer body 8. The retraction mechanism retracts the drawer body 8 by the urging forces accumulated in the coil spring S in the state wherein the striker 33 and the catcher 5 are engaged. The subject of the invention is to include a guide means 7 controlling a relative position of especially the striker 33 and the catcher 5, and to enable to engage the striker 33 and the catcher 5 when the above-mentioned relative position is changed due to a large or small movable load in the drawer body 8 and the like by absorbing the change by the guide means 7.
(Striker assembly body) As shown in
The case 1 is long and thin in a front and back direction, the inner space is approximately divided by a front face 10, a rear face 11, upper and lower faces 12, 13, and one end face 14, and the other end face is open. A supporting groove 10a engaging and controlling the cylinder 35 of the piston-type damper, a damper attachment hole 10c, and a guide hole 15 fitted in a corresponding portion of the arm 3, are provided in the front face 10. The damper 37 is attached to the attachment hole 10c in a state of engaging and fixing the case 38. The guide hole 15 includes a horizontal hole 15a horizontally extending just from the front of one end face 14 and a latching hole 15b bent downward from the end portion of the horizontal hole. Guide holes 10b, 11b guiding the slider 2 are oppositely provided on the front face 10 and the rear face 11. In addition to the guide hole 11b, a depressed storage portion 11a; an approximately short-formed opening portion 11c wherein a portion opposing the guide hole 15 is lacked; and a spring retainer portion 18 projecting from a lower inner face of the opening portion 11c, are provided in the rear face 11. The damper 34 is attached to the storage portion 11a in a state of engaging and fixing the cylinder 35.
A guide groove 16 with a C-shaped cross-section, which extends toward one end face 14 side from approximately the middle, is provided on the upper face 12. This guide groove 16 is divided by a longitudinal wall 17a provided on the upper face 12; a horizontal wall 17b projecting from the longitudinal wall 17a and opposing the upper face 12; and a standing wall 17c located in one end face 14 side and connecting each end portion of the horizontal wall 17b and the upper face 12. Also, a groove doorway portion 16a is formed wider, i.e., with a large top-to-bottom space, than a groove portion 16b which is located on the back side of the groove doorway portion 16a. Additionally, in the groove doorway portion 16a, the opposed portions of the upper face 12 and the horizontal wall 17b have tapered faces wherein the top-to-bottom space becomes narrower as the opposed portions of the upper face 12 and the horizontal wall 17b come closer to the groove portion 16b. The reference numeral 19 represents attachment portions with holes projecting from the upper face 12, the lower face 13, and the horizontal wall 17b.
The whole slider 2 has a slender plate shape which is approximately divided by both side faces 20, upper and lower faces 21, 22, and opposed end faces 23. The slider 2 includes plural projected portions 24 respectively projecting from both side faces 20 and fitting in the guide holes 10b, 11b on the case side; a through-hole 25 extending from one end face 23 toward the other middle side and penetrating the above-mentioned piston rod 36; a latching small opening 26 opened on both side faces 20 and intersecting the end of the through-hole 25; a rack 27 located on the upper face 21 and continuously provided from one end face 23 up to just before the other end face; and an approximately U-shaped supporting portion 28 provided between the rack 27 and the end face 23.
In the arm 3, one end portion 30 is pivotally supported at the supporting portion 28 on a slider side to be capable of freely turning, and at the other end portion 32, an axial portion 31b (see
The above slider 2, the arm 3, and the coil spring S are mounted on the case 1 by the following procedure. At first, the slider 2 is entered into the case from the opening of the other end face which opposes one end face 14 relative to the case 1. Also, the projected portions 24 on both sides are fitted in the guide holes 10b, 11b so as to horizontally slide along the guide holes. In this case, the piston rod 36 on a damper side placed inside the storage portion 11a is inserted into the through-hole 25 on the slider side, and a cap-shaped stopper 36a is placed in the end projecting from the small opening 26, so that the piston rod 36 is connected to the slider 2. Also, in the damper 37 placed in the attachment hole 10c, the gear 39 is engaged with the rack 27 on the slider side. Consequently, the slider 2 is slid while being damped by the piston-type damper 34 and the rotary damper 37.
Also, as shown in
(Catcher assembly body) As shown in
The catcher 5 includes a plate portion 50 corresponding to the depressed portion 40; an upper holding portion 51 and a lower engaging portion 52 which are projected from a surface side of the plate portion 50 and disposed by projecting from the opening 41 to a front face side; and a claw member 45 mounted on the upper holding portion 51 to be movable up and down. The plate portion 50 forms a projection 53, which fits in the above-mentioned guide groove 16, on the upper side of one side face. When the plate portion 50 is disposed to be movable in an up-and-down direction inside the depressed portion 40, the projection 53 is also moved up and down in a state of projecting from the relief portion 42 to the outside. The upper holding portion 51 and the lower engaging portion 52 are retained through claws 55 provided on both outside faces of the upper holding portion 51 in a state of being projected from the opening 41 to the front face side of the plate portion 50 so as to be movable up and down. The lower engaging portion 52 is formed in a taper which is lowered as going down, and when the lower engaging portion 52 hits the striker 33 of the above-mentioned latched state, due to a forward movement of the catcher assembly body B, the lower engaging portion 52 allows the striker 33 to escape from the latching hole 15b to the horizontal hole 15a by the above-mentioned taper function.
On the other hand, the upper holding portion 51 is a hollow portion whose projecting end side is the lower portion and one portion 54 of an end face is open. Then, in the hollow portion, guide ribs 56 guiding the claw member 45 are oppositely provided on both inside faces. Specifically, as shown in
(Usage example)
(Operations) Operations of the above retraction mechanism will be explained in detail with reference to
(1) At first, the operations of the striker assembly body A are demonstrated. This assembly body A is switched between an urging-force accumulation state wherein the coil spring S accumulates the urging forces as shown in
(2)
(3)
(4)
(Modified example of the first embodiment)
Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be explained. Regarding the second embodiment, the striker assembly body A of the first embodiment is considered to be a retraction main body A, the catcher assembly body B of the first embodiment is considered to be an engaged means B, and the second embodiment will be explained by using
(Mechanism characteristics) For example, in the case that the usage is for moving the drawer body 8 into and out of the storage main body 9, the, retraction mechanism of the embodiment comprises the retraction main body A including an axial portion 33 as an engaging means which is attached to either the storage main body 9 or the drawer body 8 movably supported by the storage main body 9, and the coil spring S which is the urging means capable of accumulating the urging forces in a moving process of the drawer body 8; and the engaged means B including a bearing member 5 which is attached to the other body and engaged with/disengaged from the axial portion 33 at the predetermined moved position of the drawer body 8. In the state wherein the axial portion 33 and the bearing member 5 are engaged, due to the urging forces accumulated in the coil spring S, the retraction mechanism retracts the drawer body 8.
(Retraction main body) As shown in
The case 1 is long and thin in the front and back direction, the inner space is approximately divided by the front face 10, the rear face 11, the upper and lower faces 12, 13, and one end face 14, and the other end face is open. The supporting groove 10a engaging and controlling the cylinder 35 of the piston-type damper, the damper attachment hole 10c, and the guide hole 15 fitted in the axial portion 33 provided in the arm 3, are provided in the front face 10. The damper 37 is attached to the attachment hole 10c in the state of engaging and fixing the case 38. The guide hole 15 comprises a first movement portion 15a horizontally extending just from the front of one end face 14, and a standby holding portion 15b bent downwardly from the end portion of the first movement portion. Guide grooves 10b, 11b guiding the slider 2 are oppositely provided on the front face 10 and the rear face 11. In addition to the guide groove 11b, the depressed storage portion 11a; the approximately short-formed opening portion 11c wherein the portion opposing the guide groove 15 is lacked; and the spring retainer portion 18 projecting from a lower inner face of the opening portion 11c, are provided in the rear face 11. The damper 34 is attached to the storage portion 11a in the state of engaging and fixing the cylinder 35.
The guide groove 16 with a C-shaped cross-section, which extends toward one end face 14 side from approximately the middle, is provided on the upper face 12. This guide groove 16 is divided by the longitudinal wall 17a provided on the upper face 12; the horizontal wall 17b projecting from the longitudinal wall 17a and opposing the upper face 12; and the standing wall 17c located in one end face 14 side and connecting each end portion of the horizontal wall 17b and the upper face 12. Also, the groove doorway portion 16a is formed wider, i.e., with a large top-to-bottom space, than the groove portion 16b which is located on the back side of the groove doorway portion 16a. Additionally, in the groove doorway portion 16a, the opposed portion of the upper face 12 and the horizontal wall 17b has the tapered face wherein the top-to-bottom space becomes narrower as the opposed portion of the upper face 12 and the horizontal wall 17b comes closer to the groove portion 16b. The reference numeral 19 represents the attachment portions.
The whole slider 2 has the slender plate shape which is approximately divided by both side faces 20, the upper and lower faces 21, 22, and the opposed end faces 23. The slider 2 includes the plural projected portions 24 respectively projecting from both side faces 20 and fitting in the guide grooves 10b, 11b on the case side; the through-hole 25 extending from one end face 23 toward the other middle side and penetrating the above-mentioned piston rod 36; the latching small opening 26 opened on both side faces 20 and intersecting the end of the through-hole 25; the rack 27 located on the upper face 21 and continuously provided from one end face 23 up to just before the other end face; and the approximately U-shaped supporting portion 28 provided between the rack 27 and the end face 23.
The arm 3 is formed in a loose arched shape as a whole, the other end portion 30 is pivotally supported at the supporting portion 28 on the slider side to be capable of freely turning, and one end portion 32 includes the axial portion 31b (see
The above-mentioned slider 2, the arm 3, and the coil spring S are mounted on the case 1 by the following procedure. At first, the slider 2 is entered into the case from the opening of the other end face, which opposes one end face 14 relative to the case 1. Also, the projected portions 24 on both sides are fitted in the guide grooves 10b, 11b so as to horizontally slide along the guide grooves. In this case, the piston rod 36 on the damper side placed inside the storage portion 11a is inserted into the through-hole 25 on the slider side, and the cap-shaped stopper 36a is placed in the end projecting from the small opening 26, so that the piston rod 36 is connected to the slider 2. Also, in the damper 37 placed in the attachment hole 10c, the gear 39 is engaged with the lack on the slider side. Consequently, the slider 2 is slid while being damped by the piston-type damper 34 and the rotary damper 37.
Also, as shown in
(Engaged means) As shown in
The bearing member 5 includes the plate portion 50 corresponding to the depressed portion 40; an upper bearing portion 51 and a lower bearing portion 52 which are projected from the surface side of the plate portion 50 and disposed by projecting from the opening 41 to the front face side; and the claw member 45 mounted on the upper bearing portion 51 to be movable up and down. The plate portion 50 forms the projection 53, which fits in the above-mentioned guide groove 16 on the upper side of one side face. When the plate portion 50 is disposed to be movable in a top-to-bottom direction inside the depressed portion 40, the projection 53 is also moved up and down in the state of projecting from the relief portion 42 to the outside. The upper bearing portion 51 and the lower bearing portion 52 are retained through the claws 55 provided on both outside faces of the upper bearing portion 51 in the state of being projected from the opening 41 to the front face side of the plate portion 50 so as to be movable up and down. The lower bearing portion 52 is formed in the taper which is lowered as going down, and when the lower bearing portion 52 hits into the axial portion 33 of the above-mentioned latched state, due to the forward movement of the engaged means B, the lower bearing portion 52 allows the axial portion 33 to escape from the standby holding portion 15b to the first movement portion 15a by the above-mentioned taper function.
On the other hand, the upper bearing portion 51 is the hollow portion whose projecting end side is the lower portion and one portion 54 of the end face is open. Then, in the hollow portion, the guide ribs 56 guiding the claw member 45 are oppositely provided on both inside faces. Specifically, as shown in
(Usage example)
(Operations) Operations of the above retraction mechanism will be explained in detail with reference to
(1) At first, the operational characteristics of the retraction main body A are to be capable of being switched between the urging-force accumulation state wherein the coil spring S accumulates the urging forces as shown in
(2)
(3)
(4)
(First modified example of the second embodiment) The first modified example of the second embodiment of
In this withdrawal mechanism, among structure members of the above-mentioned retraction main body A, the slider 2 and the rotary damper 6 are omitted. Specifically, this retraction main body A comprises the case 1; the arm 3 including the axial portion 33; the coil spring S as the urging means; and the piston-type damper 34 damping the movement of the arm 3.
The case 1 is long and thin in the front and back direction, the inner space is approximately divided by the front face 10, the rear face 11, the upper and lower faces 12, 13, and one end face 14, and the other end face is open. Grooves as second movement portions or long holes 10e, 11e are oppositely provided on the front face 10 and the rear face 11. Each long hole 10e, 11e is formed in a linear fashion with the length approximately the same as that of the first movement portion 15a of the guide groove 15, and extends in a moving direction of the arm 3. The other end portion 30 of the arm 3 is formed in an approximately C-shape, and includes the above-mentioned connecting axis 31a provided between both piece portions of the C-shape, and also axial portions 31c projected from outside faces of both piece portions of the C-shape. Then, the other end portion 30 of the arm is fitted in the long holes 10e, 11e wherein the axial portions 31c on both sides correspond, and in the fitted state, the other end portion 30 of the arm allows the arm 3 to turn and move.
Also, in the case 1, the cylinder 35 of the piston-type damper 34 can be placed between the long holes 10e, 11e, and the other end face of the case. Then, the damper 34 is placed in the state wherein the cylinder 35 projects the back end to the outside of the case relative to the case 1. Also, the piston rod 36 is inserted into a through-hole which is not shown in the figures and provided in the above-mentioned connecting axis 31a, and a cap-shaped stopper 36b is placed in the end projecting from the through-hole, so that the damper 34 is connected to the other end portion 30 of the arm. Even in the above retraction mechanism, the retraction mechanism operates as in the same fashion with the above-mentioned embodiment, and also, simplified due to the portion wherein the slider 2 is omitted.
(Second modified example of the second embodiment) The second modified example of the second embodiment of
This withdrawal mechanism has a structure that a bearing portion 133 is used in place of the axial portion 33 on the above-mentioned arm one end side, and that an engaged portion B includes an axial portion 140 engaged with/disengaged from the bearing portion 133. Specifically, the bearing portion 133 is provided in the state of being connected to the axial portion 31b on the above-mentioned arm one end portion side or a flange portion 32, and has an approximately C-shape which can engage and disengage the axial portion 140. The shape of the bearing portion 133 is formed in a taper wherein the inner face of a C-shaped upper piece portion 134a becomes higher as going to the end. Also, the bearing portion 133 includes an upward retainer projection 134b provided in the end of a C-shaped lower piece portion.
On the other hand, the engaged portion B includes the axial portion 140, a holding member 142, a base 143, and the like. The axial portion 140 is supported relative to the holding member 142 against an urging force of an urging spring 141 so as to be capable of displacing a projection dimension, and also supported relative to the base 143 so as to be capable of moving the holding member 142 only for a predetermined dimension. Here, the axial portion 140 is made of steel, and projected from a supporting portion 150. The supporting portion 150 includes latching claws 150a provided on both side faces, and a hole portion 150b wherein the side opposite to the side projecting the axial portion 140 is formed in a depressed shape. The holding member 142 has an approximately T-shape, and forms a holding hole disposing the supporting portion 150 to be freely slidable. Also, the holding member 142 includes guide holes 142a respectively provided on both side faces, and projected portions 142b. The guide holes 142a on both sides extend in a front and back direction, and when the supporting portion 150 is inserted into the holding hole of the holding member 142 in the state wherein the urging spring 141 is disposed in the hole portion 150b, the guide holes 142a fit in the latching claws 150a, so that the supporting portion 150 is retained to be capable of freely sliding. The projected portions 142b are provided on upper and lower parts sandwiching the guide holes 142a at the front side.
The base 143 integrally includes a plate portion 144 and an overhanging portion 146 provided on one side of the plate portion 144. A holding space 147 is formed between the plate portion 144 and the overhanging portion 146 and divides them, and the back side of the holding space 147 is closed by a side wall 148. In the plate portion 144 and the overhanging portion 146, control grooves 144a, 146b extending up and down are oppositely provided, and also pairs of depressed portions 145 and depressed portions 146a extending from right to left are oppositely provided. The depressed portions 145 and the depressed portions 146a lead into the control grooves 144a, 146b, and enable to guide up to the control grooves 144a, 146b in the state of fitting each projected portion 142b. A long hole 149 is provided in the side wall 148. As for the above base 143, in the state wherein the axial portion 140 is mounted on the holding member 142, when each projected portion 142b is fitted in the depressed portions 145 and the depressed portions 146a, and moved to the inside of the holding space 147, the axial portion 140 is projected from the long hole 149 to the outside, and each projected portion 142b is fitted in the control grooves 144a, 146b from the depressed portions 145 and the depressed portions 146a. Thereby, the holding member 142 supports the axial portion 140 to be capable of varying the projecting dimension thereof against the urging force. Also, the holding member 142 is supported relative to the base 143 in the state wherein each projected portion 142b is slidably fitted in the control grooves 144a, 146b, so that the axial portion 140 enables to move up and down relative to the long hole 149 only for a distance responding to a hole dimension. The reference numerals and alphabets 144b, 144c represent attachment holes additionally provided in the base 143.
In the above retraction mechanism,
(Third modified example of the second embodiment) The third modified example of the second embodiment of
In this withdrawal mechanism, as for the above-mentioned retraction main body A, the following is changed. The second movement portion is structured by a link member 80 rotatably attached to the inside of the case 1, and the piston-type damper 34, which is the damping means, is structured to damp the arm 3 through a connecting member 90 and the link member 80.
Specifically, in the case 1, the inner space is approximately divided by the front face 10, the rear face 11, the upper and lower faces 12, 13, and both end faces. In the front face 10 and the rear face 11, guide portions 10f, 11f are oppositely provided. The guide portions 10f, 11f are provided on the side, which departs from the guide groove 15 (the first movement portion 15a and the standby holding portion 15b), are straight grooves which are the same as the first movement portion 15a and extend in the moving direction of the arm 3. Inside the case 1, the cylinder 35 of the piston-type damper 34 is placed on the lower side and approximately in the middle portion of the right and left. Also, the link member 80 and the connecting member 90 are provided corresponding to the piston rod 36 of the damper 34. Among these, the whole link member 80 has a slender plate shape, and includes a thin wall portion provided in the middle portion, a pin hole provided in the thin wall portion, and an axial hole provided in the lower end portion. In the state wherein the lower end portion is rotatably attached through an axis M penetrated into the above-mentioned axis, the upper end portion is fitted and connected relative to the above-mentioned arm other end portion 30 through the connecting axis 31a and the like. On the other hand, the connecting member 90 is formed in an approximately T-shape as viewed from a side surface, and comprises a horizontal piece portion 91 and a vertical piece portion 92. The horizontal piece portion 91 includes projections 91a provided on both side faces; an approximately C-shaped fitting portion provided in the end; and longitudinal holes 91b provided in the fitting portion. Then, for example, the projections 91a on both sides are slidably fitted in the above-mentioned guide portions 10f, 11f, and also the above connecting member 90 is mounted on the inside of the case 1 so as to fit the middle thin wall portion of the link member 80 in the inside of the C-shape of the above-mentioned end fitting portion. After that, a pin P is disposed in one longitudinal hole 91b, the pin hole on a thin wall portion side of the link member 80, and the other longitudinal hole 91b, so that the link member 80 and the connecting member 90 are operated and connected.
In the above retraction mechanism,
Incidentally, in the retraction mechanism of the present invention, details can be further modified or developed by reference to the first and second, embodiments and each modified example provided that they substantially comprise the structure specified in independent claims. As an example thereof, the urging means is not limited to the coil spring S, and may be an elastic member such as a leaf spring, rubber, and the like.
Incidentally, the specifications, claims, drawings, and abstracts of Japanese Patent Applications No. 2008-008001 filed on Jan. 17, 2008 and No. 2008-044427 filed on Feb. 26, 2008 are cited in their entirety herein and are incorporated as a disclosure of the specification of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008008001 | Jan 2008 | JP | national |
| 2008044427 | Feb 2008 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2009/050577 | 1/16/2009 | WO | 00 | 7/15/2010 |
