JP7557398B2 - Operating device - Google Patents

Description

This embodiment relates to a blind operating device.

A blind lifting device is known that includes a planetary gear mechanism including a sun gear to which the rotation of the input shaft is transmitted, a planetary carrier that transmits the rotation to the output shaft, and an internal gear; a first clutch mechanism that disables the rotation of the internal gear when the input shaft rotates in the blind-raising direction and allows the rotation of the internal gear when the input shaft rotates in the blind-lowering direction; and a second clutch mechanism that separates the rotation of the planetary carrier from the input shaft when the input shaft rotates in the blind-raising direction and rotates the planetary carrier together with the input shaft when the input shaft rotates in the blind-lowering direction (see Patent Document 1).

With this lifting device, when rotation in the blind-raising direction is transmitted to the input shaft by operating the operating part, rotation slowed down by the planetary gear mechanism is output to the output shaft, and when rotation in the blind-lowering direction is transmitted to the input shaft, the function of the planetary gear mechanism is disabled and rotation at the same speed as the input shaft is output to the output shaft. By transmitting rotational force from the input shaft to the output shaft in this way, it is possible to reduce the operating load when the blind is raised and to increase the descent speed when the blind is lowered.

JP 2008-88626 A

However, with the above-mentioned lifting device, while the rotation speed of the drive shaft during the lifting operation and the lowering operation can be made different from each other in terms of the input shaft rotating at the same rotation speed, that is, the forward rotation speed and reverse rotation speed of the drive shaft can be made different from each other, there is a problem in that the rotation speed of the drive shaft in the same rotation direction cannot be changed.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a technology that can change the rotation speed of a drive shaft in the same rotation direction as the rotation speed of the input rotation.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one aspect of the present invention is an operating device for operating the open/closed state of a shielding material in a shielding device, comprising an output shaft that transmits a rotational force for opening and closing the shielding material to the shielding device, an input shaft that is arranged to rotate the output shaft and to which a rotational force for operating the open/closed state of the shielding material is input, a sun gear arranged to be rotatable together with the input shaft, at least one planetary gear that meshes with the sun gear, an internal gear that meshes with the at least one planetary gear, and a planetary gear mechanism having a carrier plate that supports the at least one planetary gear and is connected to the output shaft so as to be rotatable together with the output shaft, and a switching operation unit that is arranged to be operable by an operator of the shielding device, and a switching mechanism that switches the operating device between a first drive state that restricts the rotation of the internal gear and a second drive state that rotates the internal gear together with the input shaft in response to an operation of the switching operation unit.

According to the present invention, it is possible to change the rotational speed of the drive shaft in the same rotational direction as the rotational speed of the input rotation.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of a blind according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the operating device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the bottom surface of the operating device according to the embodiment. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an operating device according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the operating device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a planetary gear mechanism. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the operating device in a first driving state. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the operating device in a first driving state. 10 is a cross-sectional view of line BB in FIG. 9. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D of FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a cross section taken along line DD in FIG. 9. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 9. 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the planetary gear mechanism in a first driving state. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the operating device in a second driving state. 13 is a front view showing the operating device in a second driving state. FIG. This is a cross-sectional view of line E-E in Figure 16. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line FF in Figure 16. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a cross section taken along line FF in FIG. 16. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating the operation of the planetary gear mechanism in a second driving state.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiment, the present invention is applied to a horizontal blind equipped with slats as a shielding material. In the following embodiment, the surface facing the room when the blind is installed is referred to as the front, the surface facing the outside is referred to as the back, the direction consisting of the front and back is referred to as the front-to-back direction, and the longitudinal direction of the blind is referred to as the left-to-right direction. In this specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functions are designated by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant description.

(Overall composition)
The overall configuration of the blind according to this embodiment will be described below. Fig. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of the blind according to this embodiment. Note that Fig. 1 shows only the inside of a head box.

As shown in FIG. 1, the blind 1 according to this embodiment includes a head box 2, a plurality of slats 4, a lifting cord 5, a ladder cord 6, a bottom rail 7, an operating device 8, a drive shaft 22, and a drum device 24.

The head box 2 is formed in a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape with an internal storage space defined, and is a support member that suspends and supports a number of slats 4 as shielding material, and is fixed to a window frame or the like via a number of brackets 21. A drum device 24 having a drive shaft 22, a winding drum 241, and a rotating drum 242 is provided within the head box 2. An operating device 8 is also provided at one end of the head box 2.

The slats 4 are supported between the head box 2 and the bottom rail 7 by ladder cords 6 that hang down from the head box 2, arranged in multiple vertical positions. One end of the ladder cords 6 is connected to the rotating drum 242 of the drum device 24 and hangs down from the head box 2, while the other end is connected to the bottom rail 7, and is arranged in front of and behind the slats 4 so as to sandwich them, supporting each slat 4 individually.

The bottom rail 7 is suspended and supported at the lowest end of the blind 1 by a lifting cord 5 hanging down from the head box 2. One end of the lifting cord 5 is connected to the winding drum 241 of the drum device 24 so that it can be wound and unwound, and the other end is connected to the bottom rail 7, thereby suspending and supporting the bottom rail 7.

The drive shaft 22 is rotatably supported within the head box 2 so that its axial direction faces the longitudinal direction of the head box 2, i.e., the left-right direction. The winding drum 241 in the drum device 24 is rotated by the drive shaft 22, and raises and lowers the bottom rail 7, thereby raising and lowering the slats 4. In addition, the rotating drum 242 in the drum device 24 is rotated by the drive shaft 22 within a predetermined angle range, which causes the front and rear ladder cords 6 to move relatively in the vertical direction and rotate the slats 4.

(Configuration of the operation device)
The configuration of the operating device according to this embodiment will be described below. Figures 2 to 5 are a front view, a perspective view showing a part of the bottom surface, an overall perspective view, and a vertical cross-sectional view, respectively, showing the configuration of the operating device according to this embodiment.

As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the operating device 8 includes a housing member 80, an input shaft 810, a pulley 811, a switching mechanism 82, a planetary gear mechanism 84, and an output shaft 850. The switching mechanism 82 includes a switching member 821, a spring 822, a switching operation unit 823, a regulating member 831, a spring 832, and a transmission member 833. The housing member 80 is formed so as to be able to be fixed inside the head box 2. A part of the input shaft 810, a part of the switching member 821, the spring 822, the switching operation unit 823, the regulating member 831, the spring 832, the transmission member 833, and the planetary gear mechanism 84 are housed in a housing space defined by the housing member 80.

The input shaft 810 is rotatably supported within the housing member 80 so that its axial direction faces the left-right direction. The input shaft 810 is composed of a first shaft 820 arranged on the outer left-right side (left side in FIG. 5) and a second shaft 830 arranged on the inner left-right side (right side in FIG. 5) and connected to the first shaft 820 so as to be rotatable together with the input shaft 810. The pulley 811 is provided on the outer left-right end of the input shaft 810 so as to be rotatable together with the input shaft 810, and is formed so that a string-like operating member 812 (see FIG. 1) that hangs down from the operating device 8 and can be pulled by the operator is wound around it. When the operating member 812 is pulled by the operator, a rotational force is input to the input shaft 810 via the pulley 811.

The switching member 821 is a member inserted into the input shaft 810 so as to be relatively rotatable, and has three locking portions 821A formed to protrude radially outward. The switching member 821 is provided so that the rotation around the input shaft 810 is restricted by the housing member 80 when the three locking portions 821A are locked (see FIG. 13), and is movable in the axial direction of the input shaft 810, i.e., in the left-right direction. The switching operation portion 823 is a member inserted into the input shaft 810 so as to be relatively rotatable, and has a gripping portion 823A that protrudes radially outward and is formed so that the operator can grip it with his/her fingers. As shown in FIG. 3, a hole 80A that communicates the outside with the housing space is formed on the bottom surface of the housing member 80, and the switching operation portion 823 is arranged so that a part of the gripping portion 823A is exposed to the outside of the housing space.

The switching member 821 and the switching operation part 823 are both inserted into the first shaft 820 of the input shaft 810, and the switching operation part 823 is disposed on the outer side in the left-right direction (left side in FIG. 5) of the switching member 821. The inner end part in the left-right direction of the first shaft 820, i.e., the connecting part with the second shaft 830, is formed in a flange shape that protrudes radially outward over the entire circumferential area. In addition, the first shaft 820 has three engagement parts 820A that further protrude radially outward from the flange-shaped part. The spring 822 is an elastic member configured as a compression coil spring in this embodiment, and is inserted through the first shaft 820 so as to be positioned between the switching member 821 and a part of the inner surface (not shown) of the housing member 80 that separates the flange-shaped portion and engagement portion 820A of the first shaft 820 from the switching member 821 in the left-right direction, and constantly biases the switching member 821 outward in the left-right direction (to the left in FIG. 5) using a part of the inner surface of the housing member 80 as a seat.

The restricting member 831 is inserted through the input shaft 810 so as to be relatively rotatable, and is formed so as to be rotatable while sliding against the inner surface of the housing member 80, and has three engaged portions 831A. The three engaged portions 831A are provided corresponding to the three engaging portions 821A of the switching member 821, respectively, and are formed so as to protrude outward in the left-right direction. The transmitting member 833 is a member that is inserted through the input shaft 810 so as to be relatively rotatable, and is formed smaller in the radial direction of the input shaft 810 than the restricting member 831, and is formed so as to protrude outward in the left-right direction, and has three engaged portions 833A that are provided corresponding to the three engaging portions 820A of the first shaft 820. The restricting member 831 has holes that correspond to the three engaged portions 833A, and the engaged portions 833A are inserted through these holes, respectively. As a result, the three engaged portions 833A can appear and disappear in the left-right direction from the restricting member 831. The three engaged portions 833A are arranged to always be inserted through holes in the regulating member 831 and engage with the regulating member 831 in the rotational direction, so that the transmission member 833 rotates integrally with the regulating member 831.

The regulating member 831 and the transmission member 833 are both inserted into the second shaft 830 of the input shaft 810. The regulating member 831 is disposed on the inner side in the left-right direction with respect to the switching member 821, and the transmission member 833 is disposed on the inner side in the left-right direction with respect to the regulating member 831. The planetary gear mechanism 84 is provided at the inner end of the second shaft 830 in the left-right direction. The spring 832 is an elastic member configured as a compression coil spring in this embodiment, and is inserted into the second shaft 830 so as to be located between the transmission member 833 and the planetary gear mechanism 84 in the left-right direction, and constantly biases the transmission member 833 outward in the left-right direction with the planetary gear mechanism 84 as a base. The regulating member 831 is provided by the flange-shaped portion of the first shaft 820 and the planetary gear mechanism 84 so as not to be movable in the left-right direction, i.e., in the axial direction of the input shaft 810, while the transmission member 833 is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction. As a result, the transmission member 833 is biased by the spring 832 so that the three engaged portions 833A protrude from and retract into the restricting member 831.

The output shaft 850 is disposed on the left-right inner side of the planetary gear mechanism 84 and is provided to the planetary gear mechanism 84 so that the rotational force of the input shaft 810 is transmitted via the planetary gear mechanism 84. The output shaft 850 is also connected to the drive shaft 22 so as to be rotatable together with the drive shaft 22.

(Configuration of the planetary gear mechanism)
The configuration of the planetary gear mechanism will be described below. Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the planetary gear mechanism. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 5.

6 and 7, the planetary gear mechanism 84 includes a sun gear 840, an internal gear 841, a planetary carrier 842, four planetary gears 843, and a carrier plate 844. The sun gear 840 is formed so as to rotate integrally with the second shaft 830 at the inner end of the second shaft 830 in the left-right direction.

The planetary carrier 842 is a substantially disk-shaped member arranged so that the outward direction of the plane faces the left-right direction, and is connected to the second shaft 830 on the outer side in the left-right direction so as to be rotatable relative to the second shaft 830, and is connected to the output shaft 850 on the inner side of the left-right direction so as to be rotatable together with the second shaft 830. The planetary carrier 842 also has four planetary shafts 842A provided on the outer side of the left-right direction and formed so that the axial direction faces the left-right direction. The four planetary gears 843 are rotatably (rotatably) supported by the four planetary shafts 842A so as to mesh with the sun gear 840 and the internal gear 841. When the four planetary gears 843 rotate (revolve) around the input shaft 810, the planetary carrier 842, which supports the planetary gears 843 by the planetary shafts 842A, rotates, and the output shaft 850, which is connected to the planetary carrier 842 so as to be rotatable together with the planetary carrier 842, also rotates.

The internal gear 841 is generally formed in a generally cylindrical shape, and has teeth formed on the inner peripheral wall that mesh with the four planetary gears 843, and is inserted through the second shaft 830 so as to be capable of relative rotation. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the internal gear 841 is connected to the regulating member 831 on the outer left-right side so as to rotate together with it. The carrier plate 844 is generally formed in a generally generally annular shape, and is a member having holes formed therein into which the ends of the four planetary shafts 842A of the planetary carrier 842 can be fitted. When the four planetary gears 843 are supported by the four planetary shafts 842A, the ends of the four planetary shafts 842A are fitted into the holes in the carrier plate 844, thereby restricting the axial movement of the four planetary gears 843.

As described in detail later, the operating device 8 configured in this manner can be switched between a first drive state in which the rotation of the input shaft 810 is decelerated via the planetary gear mechanism 84 and transmitted to the output shaft 850, and a second drive state in which the rotation of the input shaft 810 is transmitted to the output shaft 850 at the same speed via the planetary gear mechanism 84, causing the input shaft 810 and the output shaft 850 to rotate integrally, depending on the operator's operation of the switching operation unit 823.

(First driving state)
The operation of the operating device in the first drive state will be described. Figures 8 and 9 are a perspective view and a front view, respectively, showing the operating device in the first drive state. Figures 10 to 13 are a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B, a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D, a perspective view showing a cross-section taken along line D-D, and a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C, respectively, in Figure 9. Figure 14 is a diagram showing the operation of the planetary gear mechanism in the first drive state.

8 and 9, three inclined surfaces are formed at the inner end of the switching operation part 823 in the left-right direction, and inclined surfaces corresponding to the inclined surfaces of the switching operation part 823 are formed at the outer end of each of the three locking parts 821A of the switching member 821 in the left-right direction. When the operator moves the grip part 823A backward as shown in FIG. 10, the switching operation part 823 rotates in one direction around the input shaft 810, and the operating device 8 is switched from the second drive state to the first drive state. This rotation causes the three inclined surfaces of the switching operation part 823 to slide against the inclined surfaces of the three locking parts 821A of the switching member 821 so as to convert the rotational motion into linear motion, and the switching member 821 moves inward in the left-right direction against the biasing force of the spring 822.

When the switching member 821 is moved inward in the left-right direction, as shown in FIG. 11, each of the three locked portions 831A of the regulating member 831 and each of the three locking portions 821A of the switching member 821 are able to engage in the rotational direction around the input shaft 810. As shown in FIG. 13, the switching member 821 is housed in the housing member 80 in a state in which its rotation around the input shaft 810 is restricted. Therefore, when the operating device 8 is in the first drive state, the three locked portions 831A are locked in the rotational direction by the three locking portions 821A, thereby restricting the rotation of the internal gear 841 that is connected to the regulating member 831 so as to be rotatable together with it.

In addition, when the switching member 821 is moved inward in the left-right direction, as shown in FIG. 12, the three engaged portions 833A of the transmission member 833 exposed outward in the left-right direction from the regulating member 831 in the second drive state are pushed inward in the left-right direction by the three locking portions 821A against the biasing force of the spring 832. As a result, the three engaged portions 833A are not engaged with the three engaging portions 820A of the first shaft 820, and the rotational force of the input shaft 810 is not transmitted to the internal gear 841 via the regulating member 831.

As shown in FIG. 14, in a state in which the rotation of the internal gear 841 is restricted, the sun gear 840 is rotated by the input shaft 810, and the rotational force of the input shaft 810 is transmitted to the planetary carrier 842 and the output shaft 850 connected to the planetary carrier 842 via the rotation of the four planetary gears 843. More specifically, the four planetary gears 843 each rotate (spin) around the corresponding planetary shaft 842A in the opposite rotational direction to the sun gear 840, and rotate (revolve) around the input shaft 810 in the same rotational direction as the sun gear 840. As a result, the rotational speed of the input shaft 810 is reduced via the planetary gear mechanism 84 and transmitted to the output shaft 850.

In this way, with the operating device 8 in the first drive state, the rotational force input to the input shaft 810 by the pulley 811 is transmitted to the drive shaft 22 via the planetary gear mechanism 84, which reduces the rotational speed of the input shaft 810 and transmits it to the output shaft 850, allowing the operator to open and close the blinds 1 with less pulling force compared to the second drive state.

(Second driving state)
The operation of the operating device in the second drive state will be described. Figures 15 and 16 are a perspective view and a front view, respectively, showing the operating device in the second drive state. Figures 17 to 19 are perspective views showing cross sections taken along lines E-E, F-F, and F-F, respectively, in Figure 16. Figure 20 is a diagram showing the operation of the planetary gear mechanism in the second drive state.

As shown in Figures 15 to 17, when the operator moves the grip portion 823A forward, the switching operation portion 823 rotates around the input shaft 810 in the opposite direction to the switching from the second drive state to the first drive state, and the operation device 8 is switched from the first drive state to the second drive state. This rotation causes the switching member 821 to be moved outward in the left-right direction by the biasing force of the spring 822 without being pushed by the switching operation portion 823.

When the switching member 821 is moved outward in the left-right direction, the three engaged portions 831A of the regulating member 831 are disengaged from the three engaged portions 821A of the switching member 821, as shown in FIG. 18. When the switching member 821 is moved outward in the left-right direction, the three engaged portions 833A of the transmission member 833 are exposed outward in the left-right direction from the regulating member 831 by the biasing force of the spring 832, as shown in FIG. 19, and are engaged by the three engaging portions 820A of the first shaft 820. As a result, the internal gear 841 connected to the regulating member 831 rotates integrally with the input shaft 810.

As shown in FIG. 20, the sun gear 840 and the internal gear 841 rotate integrally with the input shaft 810, so that the four planetary gears 843 each rotate (revolve) around the input shaft 810 without rotating (spinning) around the corresponding planetary shaft 842A. This causes the planetary carrier 842 and the output shaft 850 connected to the planetary carrier 842 to rotate integrally with the input shaft 810. In other words, the rotational speed of the input shaft 810 is transmitted to the output shaft 850 without being reduced via the planetary gear mechanism 84.

In this way, with the operating device 8 in the second drive state, the rotational force input to the input shaft 810 by the pulley 811 is transmitted directly to the drive shaft 22, allowing the operator to open and close the blinds 1 with a shorter pulling distance compared to the first drive state.

The operating device 8 according to the present embodiment described above allows the operator to select the operating feel associated with opening and closing the blinds 1, regardless of the rotation direction of the pulley 811.

In this embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to the blind 1, which is a horizontal blind with multiple slats 4 arranged in the vertical direction and the operating device 8, but the present invention can be applied to all shading devices that can operate the open/closed state of the shading material by rotating an axis member. In addition, the number of each of the multiple members provided in the operating device 8 is arbitrarily determined, and it is sufficient that at least one or more members are provided.

The present invention can be embodied in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main characteristics thereof. Therefore, the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be interpreted as limiting. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and is not limited in any way by the text of the specification. Furthermore, all modifications, improvements, substitutions and alterations within the scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention.

Reference Signs List 1 Shielding device 8 Operating device 82 Switching mechanism 84 Planetary gear mechanism 821 Switching member 823 Switching operation unit 833 Transmission member 840 Sun gear 841 Internal gear 842 Carrier plate 843 Planetary gear 850 Output shaft

Claims (3)

An operating device for operating an open/closed state of a shielding material in a shielding device,
an output shaft that transmits a rotational force for opening and closing the shielding material to the shielding device;
an input shaft provided to rotate the output shaft and receiving a rotational force for controlling an open/close state of the shielding material;
a planetary gear mechanism including a sun gear provided on the input shaft so as to be rotatable together with the sun gear, at least one planetary gear meshing with the sun gear, an internal gear meshing with the at least one planetary gear, and a carrier plate supporting the at least one planetary gear and connected to the output shaft so as to be rotatable together with the output shaft;
an operating device having a switching operation unit operable by an operator of the shading device, and a switching mechanism that switches the operating device between a first drive state that restricts rotation of the internal gear and a second drive state that rotates the internal gear integrally with the input shaft in response to operation of the switching operation unit. The operating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching mechanism has a switching member that is movable in the axial direction of the input shaft, and that is moved toward the internal gear in the axial direction in the first drive state to restrict the rotation of the internal gear, and that is moved toward the opposite side from the internal gear in the axial direction in the second drive state to release the restriction on the rotation of the internal gear. The operating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the switching mechanism has a transmission member that is movable in the axial direction of the input shaft and rotatable together with the internal gear, and that in the second driving state, is moved to the opposite side of the internal gear in the axial direction to engage with the input shaft in the rotational direction to transmit the rotation of the input shaft to the internal gear, and in the first driving state, is moved to the internal gear side in the axial direction to release the engagement with the input shaft.