Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a door hanging apparatus that supports a door provided
in a structure and driven to be opened and closed by an open-close drive mechanism,
in a state in which the door is suspended to the structure so as to be slidably moved,
and that is connected to the open-close drive mechanism, and a door apparatus provided
with the door hanging apparatus.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, door hanging apparatuses that support a door provided in a structure
and driven to be opened and closed by an open-close drive mechanism, in a state in
which the door is suspended to the structure so as to be slidably moved, and that
is connected to the open-close drive mechanism are known (for example, see Patent
Document 1). As a door hanging apparatus used in a railroad vehicle serving as a structure,
Patent Document 1 discloses a door hanging apparatus including a rail member including
an upper rail and a lower rail, and a door roller device including door rollers that
run on the rail member. Also, in Patent Document 1, a door that is suspended to the
door hanging apparatus is driven to be opened and closed by an open-close drive mechanism
connected to the door hanging apparatus, and the door is supported in a state of being
suspended to the structure, which is a side wall of the railroad vehicle, so as to
be slidably moved.
[0003] Further, the door roller device of the above-described door hanging apparatus is
provided with a supporting member disposed along the lengthwise direction of the rail
member, and this supporting member is provided with a first door roller capable of
running on the lower rail and a second door roller capable of running on the upper
rail. The second door roller is provided at one end of the supporting member, and
a suspender capable of suspending the door is provided on the other end of the supporting
member. Accordingly, the self weight of the door acts on the suspender, the second
door roller comes into contact with the upper rail with the first door roller, which
runs on the lower rail, serving as a fulcrum, and thereby, the door is supported.
Accordingly, it is possible to provide a door hanging apparatus that can prevent the
derailing of doors from a rail member, enable smooth and safe opening and closing
of doors, and achieve a reduction in manufacturing and installation costs.
Citation List
Patent Document
[0005] WO 2005/028794 A1 discloses a guiding system for a sliding door, especially a motor vehicle, comprising
a sliding rail with an upper cover and a lower edge arranged opposite the upper cover,
and a roller element which is guided in the sliding rail and comprises a roller element
housing. Three rollers are rotatably fixed to the roller element housing, two rollers
extending along the upper cover of the sliding rail and the third roller (extending
along the lower edge. The aim of the invention is to create one such guiding system
in such a way that there is no play, it operates quietly, and has a taut system characteristic.
To this end, a spring element is fixed to the roller element housing, said spring
element pressing on of the first two rollers and the third roller against the sliding
rail.
Disclosure of the Invention
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
[0006] With the door hanging apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, a mechanism is provided
that prevents the derailing of the door rollers from the rail by causing the self
weight of the door to exert the load for pressing the second door roller against the
upper rail with the first door roller running on the lower rail as a fulcrum, and
therefore, it is also possible to prevent the tilting of the door. However, with the
door hanging apparatus of Patent Document 1, the second door roller runs on the upper
rail while being constantly pressed against the upper rail at a certain degree of
contact pressure due to the load acting with the first door roller as a fulcrum, exerted
by the self weight of the door. Accordingly, when the door rollers are running on
the rail, a specific running resistance is generated in the derailing prevention mechanism,
which results in a reduction in the driving efficiency of the open-close drive mechanism
when driving the doors to be opened and closed. Further, the generation of running
resistance may promote wear of the door rollers.
[0007] In view of the above-described circumstances, it is an object of the present invention
to provide a door hanging apparatus that can reliably prevent the derailing of door
rollers and the tilting of a door when the door is opened and closed, while having
little running resistance caused by a derailing prevention mechanism, and also to
provide a door apparatus provided with the door hanging apparatus.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0008] A door hanging apparatus of a first aspect of the present invention for achieving
the above-described objects relates to a door hanging apparatus according to claim
1 of the present application.
[0009] According to this aspect of the invention, the first door roller supported to the
first door roller supporting member that suspends the door runs on the lower rail,
and the second door roller supported to the swing members that are swingably connected
to the first door roller supporting member are disposed so as to be capable of coming
into contact with the upper rail. Accordingly, the first door roller and the second
door roller that are disposed between the upper and lower rails and run thereon constitute
a derailing prevention mechanism, and therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent
the derailing of the door rollers and the tilting of the door when the door is opened
and closed.
[0010] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the elastic connection mechanism
that connects the drive connection portion for connecting the door to the open-close
drive mechanism and the swing members includes an elastic portion, and the elastic
connection mechanism is provided so as to be capable of changing the relative position
between the second door roller and the drive connection portion by elastic deformation.
Accordingly, at the time of acceleration when the door is driven to be opened and
closed, the elastic connection mechanism and the swing members are relatively displaced
with respect to the door by the elastic deformation of the elastic portion, and the
contact pressure exerted on the upper rail from the second door roller is temporarily
increased. However, the elastic deformation of the elastic portion is immediately
restored when the velocity is constant, and consequently, the distance relationship
between the upper rail and the second door roller is brought back to the original
state. Further, even if a load is exerted from the door as the result of a foreign
object having collided with or having been caught at the end of the door in the opening
and closing direction, the elastic connection mechanism and the swing members are
relatively displaced with respect to the door by elastic deformation of the elastic
portion, and the position of the second door roller with respect to the upper rail
is positioned in a suitable position according to the above-described load.
[0011] Therefore, according to the present invention, the second door roller is disposed
in light contact with the upper rail or disposed so as to provide a gap within a predetermined
range, and thereby, it is possible to set a state in which little running resistance
is generated in a derailing prevention mechanism when the door rollers are running
on the rail. Also, at the time of the acceleration/deceleration of the door or the
collision with a foreign object, the door rollers can be positioned in suitable positions
according to the load, and the derailing of the door rollers and the tilting of the
door can be reliably prevented. Note that the gap within a predetermined range as
used herein refers to a gap within a range that can secure a riding width, which is
a vertical spacing (width) between the lower end portion of the upper rail and the
upper end portion of the second door roller in a state in which the lower end portion
of the upper rail and the upper end portion of the second door roller are disposed
overlapping each other in the horizontal direction. Further, the positional adjustment
of the second door roller, namely, the degree to which the second door roller is in
contact with the upper rail or the amount of the gap provided within a predetermined
range, has little impact on the above-described derailing prevention performance.
Accordingly, the positional adjustment requires little time and effort at the time
of installing the door hanging apparatus of the present invention, and the installation
operation can be performed easily.
[0012] Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a door hanging
apparatus that can reliably prevent the derailing of door rollers and the tilting
of doors when the doors are opened and closed, while having little running resistance
caused by a derailing prevention mechanism.
[0013] According to a door hanging apparatus of a second aspect of the present invention,
in the door hanging apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the second
door roller is provided on both a door leading end side, which is the side on which
the end of the door in a closing direction is located, and a door trailing end side,
which is the side on which the end of the door in an opening direction is located,
with respect to the elastic connection mechanism.
[0014] According to this aspect of the invention, the second door roller is provided on
both the door leading end side and the door trailing end side with respect to the
elastic connection mechanism. Accordingly, both during the opening driving and the
closing driving of the door, the position of the second door roller with respect to
the upper rail can be positioned in a suitable position via operation of the elastic
connection mechanism at the time of acceleration/deceleration or when a foreign object
has collided with the end of the door. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve a door
hanging apparatus that can reliably prevent the derailing of the door rollers and
the tilting of the door, while having little running resistance caused by a derailing
prevention mechanism, both during the opening driving and the closing driving of the
door.
[0015] According to a door hanging apparatus of a third aspect of the present invention,
in the door hanging apparatus of the first or second aspect of the present invention,
a door leading end-side swing member that is connected to the first door roller supporting
member on the door leading end side and a door trailing end-side swing member that
is connected to the first door roller supporting member on the door trailing end side
are provided as the swing members, the elastic connection mechanism includes a swingable
connection member that is connected to the drive connection portion via the elastic
portion such that a relative position thereof with respect to the drive connection
portion can be changed and to which the door leading end-side swing member and the
door trailing end-side swing member are rotatably connected at opposite ends, respectively,
and the first door roller supporting member, the door leading end-side swing member,
the swingable connection member, and the door trailing end-side swing member, which
are provided as four links, forms a quadrangular link mechanism.
[0016] According to this aspect of the invention, the door leading end-side and door trailing
end-side swing members are respectively connected to opposite sides of the first door
roller supporting member that supports the first door roller, and the swingable connection
member of the elastic connection mechanism is further connected thereto so as to connect
the two swing members, thus constituting a quadrangular link mechanism having fours
links. Accordingly, it is possible to construct, with a quadrangular link mechanism,
a structure with a simple configuration that can position the position of the second
door roller with respect to the upper rail in a suitable position via operation of
the elastic connection mechanism in response to acceleration/deceleration of the door
and the collision with a foreign object.
[0017] According to a door hanging apparatus of a fourth aspect of the present invention,
in the door hanging apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, the second
door roller is rotatably supported to the door leading end-side swing member, and
a connection position between the swingable connection member and the door leading
end-side swing member is disposed on a side of the second door roller with respect
to a connection position between the door leading end-side swing member and the first
door roller supporting member.
[0018] According to this aspect of the invention, for the door leading end-side swing member
that supports the second door roller, the connection position with the swingable connection
member is disposed on the side of the second door roller with respect to the connection
position with the first door roller supporting member. Accordingly, when the connection
position with the swingable connection member is disposed in a position closer to
the connection position with the first door roller supporting member, the response
performance of the second door roller via the door leading end-side swing member via
operation of the elastic connection mechanism can be set to be faster, which makes
it possible to more quickly position the second door roller in a suitable position.
Meanwhile, when the connection position with the swingable connection member is disposed
in a position farther away from the connection position with the first door roller
supporting member, a greater force can be easily secured as the force exerted on the
upper rail from the second door roller via the door leading end-side swing member
via operation of the elastic connection mechanism. Consequently, by simply changing
the connection position with the swingable connection member with respect to the connection
position with the first door roller supporting member for the door leading end-side
swing member, it is possible to easily adjust the setting of the response performance
of the second door roller via operation of the elastic connection mechanism and the
setting of the force exerted on the upper rail from the second door roller.
[0019] According to a door hanging apparatus of a fifth aspect of the present invention,
in the door hanging apparatus of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the swingable
connection member and the door leading end-side swing member are connected coaxially
with an axle via which the second door roller is rotatably supported to the door leading
end-side swing member.
[0020] According to this aspect of the invention, the swingable connection member and the
door leading end-side swing member are rotatably connected coaxially with the axle
of the second door roller, and therefore, the same shaft can be used as the axle of
the second door roller and the rotational shaft of the swingable connection member
and the door leading end-side swing member. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce
the number of members, which makes is possible to further increase the compactness
of the structure.
[0021] According to a door hanging apparatus of a sixth aspect of the present invention,
in the door hanging apparatus of any one of the third to fifth aspects of the present
invention, the second door roller is rotatably supported to the door trailing end-side
swing member, and a connection position between the swingable connection member and
the door trailing end-side swing member is disposed on a side of the second door roller
with respect to a connection position between the door trailing end-side swing member
and the first door roller supporting member.
[0022] According to this aspect of the invention, for the door trailing end-side swing member
that supports the second door roller, the connection position with the swingable connection
member is disposed on the side of the second door roller with respect to the connection
position with the first door roller supporting member. Accordingly, when the connection
position with the swingable connection member is disposed in a position closer to
the connection position with the first door roller supporting member, the response
performance of the second door roller via the door trailing end-side swing member
via operation of the elastic connection mechanism can be set to be faster, which makes
it possible to more quickly position the second door roller in a suitable position.
Meanwhile, when the connection position with the swingable connection member is disposed
in a position farther away from the connection position with the first door roller
supporting member, a greater force can be easily secured as the force exerted on the
upper rail from the second door roller via the door trailing end-side swing member
via operation of the elastic connection mechanism. Consequently, by simply changing
the connection position with the swingable connection member with respect to the connection
position with the first door roller supporting member for the door trailing end-side
swing member, it is possible to easily adjust the setting of the response performance
of the second door roller via operation of the elastic connection mechanism and the
setting of the force exerted on the upper rail from the second door roller.
[0023] According to a door hanging apparatus of a seventh aspect of the present invention,
in the door hanging apparatus of the sixth aspect of the present invention, the swingable
connection member and the door trailing end-side swing member are connected coaxially
with an axle via which the second door roller is rotatably supported to the door trailing
end-side swing member.
[0024] According to this aspect of the invention, the swingable connection member and the
door trailing end-side swing member are rotatably connected coaxially with the axle
of the second door roller, and therefore, the same shaft can be used as the axle of
the second door roller and the rotational shaft of the swingable connection member
and the door trailing end-side swing member. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce
the number of members, which makes is possible to further increase the compactness
of the structure.
[0025] According to a door hanging apparatus of an eighth aspect of the present invention,
in the door hanging apparatus of any one of the third to seventh aspects of the present
invention, the swingable connection member is disposed passing through the drive connection
portion, the elastic portion is provided as a pair of spring members disposed so as
to bias the drive connection portion in opposite directions from opposite sides in
a passing-through direction in which the swingable connection member passes through
the drive connection portion, and the respective ends of the pair of spring members
that are opposite to the ends thereof that bias the drive connection portion are supported
to the swingable connection member.
[0026] According to this aspect of the invention, the respective ends of the pair of spring
members are supported to the swingable connection member and the drive connection
portion is biased by the pair of spring members in opposite directions, and thereby
the elastic connection mechanism can be easily constructed with a simple structure.
Note that as for the pair of spring members that apply biasing forces in opposite
directions, the pair of spring members may be provided as tension springs that apply
biasing forces in directions in which they pull against each other via the drive connection
portion, or may be provided as compression springs that apply biasing forces in directions
in which they press against each other via the drive connection portion.
[0027] According to another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to configure
a door apparatus provided with any of the above-described door hanging apparatuses.
That is, according to a door apparatus of a ninth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a door apparatus including: the door hanging apparatus of any of
the first to eighth aspects of the present invention; a door that is provided in a
structure and is supported by the door hanging apparatus in a state of being suspended
to the structure so as to be slidably moved; and an open-close drive mechanism that
is connected to the door hanging apparatus and drives the door to be opened and closed.
[0028] According to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide a door apparatus
that can reliably prevent the derailing of door rollers and the tilting of doors when
the doors are opened and closed, while having little running resistance caused by
a derailing prevention mechanism.
Effects of the Invention
[0029] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a door hanging apparatus
that can reliably prevent the derailing of door rollers and the tilting of doors when
the doors are opened and closed, while having little running resistance caused by
a derailing prevention mechanism, and a door apparatus provided with the door hanging
apparatus.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0030]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a door apparatus according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state in which doors are opened in the door apparatus
shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a rail of the door apparatus shown in FIG. 2,
as viewed from the position of the arrows C-C.
FIG. 4 is a front view showing a door roller mechanism of a door hanging apparatus
of the door apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of first and second door rollers and a rail of the
door roller mechanism, as viewed from the position of the arrows D-D in FIG. 4.
FIGS. 6 are diagrams illustrating a positional relationship between the second door
roller and the rail shown in FIG. 5, and a modification thereof.
FIG. 7 is a front view schematically showing the door roller mechanism shown in FIG.
4, together with part of the rail and the door.
FIGS. 8 are schematic diagrams illustrating modifications for the connection position
between a swingable connection member and a swing member.
FIG. 9 is a front view showing a door apparatus according to a modification.
FIG. 10 is a front view showing a door apparatus according to a modification.
FIG. 11 is a front view showing a door apparatus according to a modification.
Description of Embodiments
[0031] Hereinafter, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described
with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is applicable as
a door hanging apparatus that supports a door provided in a structure and driven to
be opened and closed by an open-close drive mechanism, in a state in which the door
is suspended to the structure so as to be slidably moved, and that is connected to
the open-close drive mechanism, and as a door apparatus including the door hanging
apparatus. Although this embodiment will be described, taking, as an example, a door
hanging apparatus and a door apparatus that are used in a railroad vehicle, the present
invention is not limited to this example and is widely applicable as a door hanging
apparatus and a door apparatus that can be provided in a variety of structures.
[0032] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a door apparatus 2 according to one embodiment of
the present invention. The door apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 1 can be used, for example,
for a side wall of a railroad vehicle as a structure. Note that FIG. 1 shows a front
view of the door apparatus 2, as viewed from the inside of the railroad vehicle. In
addition, illustration of the side wall of the railroad vehicle is omitted in FIG.
1, and the door apparatus 2 is schematically illustrated. The door apparatus 2 includes
door hanging apparatuses 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, doors
11 (partly shown in FIG. 1), an open-close drive mechanism 12, and so forth.
[0033] The doors 11 are formed as sliding doors provided at a side wall of a railroad vehicle
(hereinafter, referred to as a "structure"), are installed along the vertical direction,
and constitute side doors provided in the railroad vehicle for loading and unloading
of passengers. In the door apparatus 2, two doors, namely, door 11a and a door 11b,
are provided as the doors 11. Also, the doors 11 (11a, 11b) are supported by the door
hanging apparatuses 1, which will be described below, in a state in which it is suspended
to the structure so as to be slidably moved. Note that rails 13 of the door hanging
apparatuses 1 are fixed to the structure in a state in which they are disposed extending
linearly in the horizontal direction. Also, the door 11a and the door 11b are supported
by door roller mechanisms 14, which will be described below, of the respective door
hanging apparatuses 1 at their upper ends, and are configured to be closed by approaching
each other along the rail 13 and coming into contact and to be opened by moving away
from each other.
[0034] The open-close drive mechanism 12 is installed in the structure, and is provided
as a mechanism that is connected to the door hanging apparatuses 1 and that drives
the doors 11 (11a, 11b) to be opened and closed. The open-close drive mechanism 12
shown in FIG. 1 includes, for example, a drive motor (not shown), a drive pulley 15,
a driven pulley 16, and a belt 17. The belt 17 is configured as an endless belt that
is wound around the drive pulley 15 and the driven pulley 16 in a freely rotatable
manner. Rotation of the drive pulley 15 connected to the drive motor causes the belt
17 wound around the drive pulley 15 to be rotated, thus causing the driven pulley
16 to rotate together with the belt 17.
[0035] The drive motor is controlled to be rotated by a predetermined amount in forward
and reverse directions, in accordance with a command from a controller, which is not
shown. Accordingly, the doors 11 (11a, 11b) that are supported in a state in which
they are suspended via the door hanging apparatuses 1 connected to the belt 17 of
the open-close drive mechanism 12 are driven in the opening direction and the closing
direction. Note that FIG. 1 shows the state of a fully closed position in which the
two doors 11 (11a, 11b) are closed, and FIG. 2 shows the state of a fully opened position
in which the two doors 11 are opened. By operating the open-close drive mechanism
12 such that the belt 17 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG.
1, door roller mechanisms (14a, 14b), which will be described below, of the door hanging
apparatuses 1 are moved in directions away from each other, and the state of the two
doors 11 (11a, 11b) is shifted to the state of the fully opened position shown in
FIG. 2. On the other hand, by operating the open-close drive mechanism 12 such that
the belt 17 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow B shown in FIG. 2,
the door roller mechanisms (14a, 14b) are moved in directions approaching each other,
and the state of the two doors 11 (11a, 11b) is shifted to the state of the fully
closed position shown in FIG. 1.
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a door hanging apparatus 1 includes a rail 13 and door
roller mechanisms 14 (14a, 14b). FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the rail 13,
as viewed from the position of the arrows C-C in FIG. 2. The rail 13 shown in FIGS.
1 to 3 is fixed to the structure and includes an upper rail 13a and a lower rail 13b
that are respectively provided with vertically opposed running surfaces (18a, 18b).
The upper rail 13a and the lower rail 13b extend linearly in the horizontal direction,
and are formed integrally via a bridging portion 13c of the rail 13. The cross section
of the running surface 18a of the upper rail 13a is formed so as to bulge downward
in an arc shape, and the cross section of the running surface 18b of the lower rail
13b is formed so as to bulge upward in an arc shape and opposing the running surface
18a. Note that the configuration of the rail 13 shown in FIGS. 1 to FIG. 3 is an example,
and various modifications can be made to the cross-sectional shape of the rail 13.
For example, the cross section may be formed so as to be recessed in an arc shape.
Further, the upper rail 13a and the lower rail 13b do not need to be integrally formed.
That is, the upper rail 13a and the lower rail 13b may be formed and disposed separately,
or may be formed as separate parts and coupled to each other via another member.
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the door roller mechanisms 14 (14a, 14b) are provided
in one-to-one correspondence with the doors (11a, 11b), and are each connected to
the belt 17 of the open-close drive mechanism 12. Also, the door roller mechanism
14a supports the door 11a in a state in which the door 11a is suspended to the structure
so as to be slidably moved, and the door roller mechanism 14b supports the door 11b
in a state in which the door 11b is suspended to the structure so as to be slidably
moved.
[0038] FIG. 4 is a front view showing the door roller mechanism 14a shown in FIG. 1, showing,
in enlargement, a part of FIG. 1 in a cutaway state. As clearly shown in FIG. 4, the
door roller mechanism 14a includes a plurality of first door rollers (19, 20), a first
door roller supporting member 21, a plurality of swing members (22, 23), a plurality
of second door rollers (24, 25), a drive connection portion 26, an elastic connection
mechanism 27, a hanger 28, and so forth. Note that, of the two door roller mechanisms
14 shown in FIG. 1, the door roller mechanism 14a, which is disposed on the driven
pulley 16 side and connected to the door 11a, is shown in FIG. 4. The door roller
mechanism 14b, which is disposed on the drive pulley 15 side and connected to the
door 11b, is configured in the same manner, except that its devices are arranged line-symmetric
about the intermediate position between the two doors 11 with respect to the devices
of the door roller mechanism 14a and that the drive connection portion 26 has a different
length. Therefore, only the door roller mechanism 14a will be described in the following.
[0039] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the rail 13, as viewed from the position of the
arrows D-D in FIG. 4, and shows the first door rollers 19 and the second door rollers
24 together. Note that illustration of the elements other than the rail 13, the first
door rollers 19 and the second door rollers 24 is omitted in FIG. 5. As shown in FIGS.
4 and 5, the first door rollers (19, 20) are provided as door rollers that run in
contact with the running surface 18b of the lower rail 13b. Also, the first door rollers
(19, 20) are disposed in positions that are substantially line-symmetric about an
imaginary center line (hereinafter, referred to as the "center line of the door roller
mechanism 14a") extending vertically through the central position of the door roller
mechanism 14a in a direction parallel to the lengthwise direction of the rail 13.
[0040] Door trailing end-side first door rollers 19 and door leading end-side first door
rollers 20 are provided as the first door rollers (19, 20). The door trailing end-side
first door rollers 19 (19a, 19b) are disposed on a door trailing end side, which is
the side on which the end of the door in an opening direction (the direction indicated
by the arrow E in FIG. 4) is located, with respect to the center line of the door
roller mechanism 14a. A plurality of (in this embodiment, two) door trailing end-side
first door rollers 19 are provided, and a door trailing end-side first door roller
19b and a door trailing end-side first door roller 19a are arranged in order from
the center line of the door roller mechanism 14a toward the door trailing end side.
On the other hand, the door leading end-side first door rollers 20 (20a, 20b) are
disposed on a door leading end side, which is the side on which the end of the door
in the closing direction (the direction indicated by the arrow F in FIG. 4) is located,
with respect to the center line of the door roller mechanism 14a. A plurality of (in
this embodiment, two) door leading end-side first door rollers 20 are provided, and
a door leading end-side first door roller 20a and a door leading end-side first door
roller 20b are arranged in order from the center line of the door roller mechanism
14a toward the door leading end side. Note that the provision of a plurality of door
trailing end-side first door rollers 19 and a plurality of door leading end-side first
door rollers 20 in this way enables the load acting from the first door rollers (19,
20) to the lower rail 13b to be more efficiently dispersed, and therefore, it is possible
to reduce the contact pressure generated between the first door rollers (19, 20) and
the lower rail 13b, thus achieving a reduction in running resistance in the first
door rollers (19, 20) and wear prevention.
[0041] Further, the cross section of the first door rollers (19a, 19b, 20a, 20b) that is
perpendicular to the door roller circumferential direction of the rolling surface
that rolls on the running surface 18b of the lower rail 13b when the first door rollers
run on the lower rail 13b is formed so as to be recessed in an arc shape in conformity
with the running surface 18b (see FIG. 5). Although this embodiment has been described,
taking, as an example, a door roller mechanism 14a provided with a plurality of door
trailing end-side first door rollers 19 and a plurality of door leading end-side first
door roller 20, this need not be the case. It is also possible to adopt a configuration
in which a door trailing end-side first door roller 19 and a door leading end-side
first door roller 20 are provided.
[0042] As clearly shown in FIG. 4, the first door roller supporting member 21 is provided
as a member that suspends the door 11a via the hanger 28 and rotatably supports the
first door rollers (19, 20). Note that this embodiment describes, as an example, a
first door roller supporting member 21 including a member that supports the door trailing
end-side first door rollers (19a, 19b), a member that supports the door leading end-side
first door rollers (20a, 20b), and a member that fixes these two members at both ends
and couples them integrally, and thereby all the members are coupled together to form
a single shaft. The first door roller supporting member 21 is disposed parallel to
the lengthwise direction of the rail 13. On the door trailing end side of the first
door roller supporting member 21, the door trailing end-side first door roller 19a
is rotatably supported via an axle 31a, and the door trailing end-side first door
roller 19b is rotatably supported via an axle 31b. On the door leading end side of
the first door roller supporting member 21, the door leading end-side first door roller
20b is rotatably supported via an axle 32b, and the door leading end-side first door
roller 20a is rotatably supported via an axle 32a.
[0043] The hanger 28 is provided as a mechanism for suspending the door 11a to the first
door roller supporting member 21. Also, the hanger 28 includes a door coupling member
28a that is coupled and fixed to the upper end of the door 11a, and attachment members
(28b, 28c) that are fixed above the door coupling member 28a and are attached to the
first door roller supporting member 21. The attachment members (28b, 28c) are attached
to the first door roller supporting member 21 in opposite positions across the center
line of the door roller mechanism 14a. Further, the attachment members (28b, 28c)
are pivotably attached to the first door roller supporting member 21 via a hinge portion,
in a state in which their relative movements with respect to each other in a direction
parallel to the lengthwise direction of the rail 13 are restricted. Accordingly, when
the door roller mechanism 14a is moved horizontally along the rail 13 by the operation
of the open-close drive mechanism 12, the hanger 28 causes the door 11a to move horizontally
together with the first door roller supporting member 21 in a state in which the door
11a is swingably supported to the first door roller supporting member 21.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of (in this embodiment, two) swing members (22, 23)
are provided, and each of the swing members is formed as a shaft-like member and swingably
connected to the first door roller supporting member 21. A door trailing end-side
swing member 22 connected to the first door roller supporting member 21 on the door
trailing end side and a door leading end-side swing member 23 connected to the first
door roller supporting member 21 on the door leading end side are provided as the
swing members (22, 23). The door trailing end-side swing member 22 is rotatably connected,
at one end thereof, to the door trailing end-side end of the first door roller supporting
member 21, coaxially with the axle 31a. The door leading end-side swing member 23
is rotatably connected, at one end thereof, to the door leading end-side end of the
first door roller supporting member 21, coaxially with the axle 32b.
[0045] Although this embodiment has been described, taking, as an example, a door roller
mechanism 14a in which the swing members (22, 23) are rotatably connected to the first
door roller supporting member 21, coaxially with the axles (31a, 32b) of the first
door rollers (19a, 20b), this need not be the case; various modifications may be made
to the connection position between the swing members (22, 23) and the first door roller
supporting member 21. For example, the door trailing end-side swing member 22 may
be rotatably connected to the first door roller supporting member 21 via a rotational
shaft disposed parallel to the axles (31a, 31b) between a plurality of door trailing
end-side first door rollers (19a, 19b). Likewise, the door leading end-side swing
member 23 may be rotatably connected to the first door roller supporting member 21
via a rotational shaft disposed parallel to the axles (32a, 32b) between a plurality
of door leading end-side first door rollers (20a, 20b).
[0046] As shown in FIG. 4, the second door rollers (24, 25) are provided as door rollers
that are rotatably supported to the swing members (22, 23) and disposed so as to be
capable of coming into contact with the upper rail 13a. Also, the second door rollers
(24, 25) are disposed in positions that are substantially line-symmetric about the
center line of the door roller mechanism 14a, and are provided on both the door trailing
end side and the door leading end side with respect to an elastic connection mechanism
27, which will be described below.
[0047] A door trailing end-side second door roller 24 disposed on the door trailing end
side with respect to the center line of the door roller mechanism 14a and a door leading
end-side second door roller 25 disposed on the door leading end side with respect
to the center line of the door roller mechanism 14a are provided as the second door
rollers (24, 25). The door trailing end-side second door roller 24 is rotatably supported
via the axle 33a to the door trailing end-side swing member 22 at the other end of
the door trailing end-side swing member 22, which is opposite to an end thereof connected
to the first door roller supporting member 21. The door leading end-side second door
roller 25 is rotatably supported via the axle 33b to the door leading end-side swing
member 23 at the other end of the door leading end-side swing member 23, which is
opposite to an end thereof connected to the first door roller supporting member 21.
In this embodiment, the door trailing end-side second door roller 24 is disposed further
toward the door trailing end side than the door trailing end-side first door roller
19a, which is the first door roller that is disposed closest to the door trailing
end side in the door roller mechanism 14a. Also, the door leading end-side second
door roller 25 is disposed further toward the door leading end side than the door
leading end-side first door roller 20b, which is the first door roller disposed closest
to the door leading end side in the door roller mechanism 14a.
[0048] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the second door rollers
(24, 25) are disposed via a slight gap from, or disposed in slight contact with the
running surface 18a of the upper rail 13a on the upper end side thereof, in a state
in which the first door rollers (19, 20) are not running on the lower rail 13b (i.e.,
in a state in which the first door roller mechanism 14a is stationary with respect
to the structure). Further, the cross section of the second door rollers (24, 25)
that is perpendicular to the door roller circumferential direction of the rolling
surface that rolls on the running surface 18a of the upper rail 13a when the door
roller mechanism 14a is moved horizontally along the rail 13 is formed so as to be
recessed in an arc shape in conformity with the running surface 18a.
[0049] Although this embodiment describes, as an example, a case where the second door rollers
(24, 25) are disposed via a slight gap from, or disposed in slight contact with the
upper rail 13a, the second door rollers (24, 25) may be disposed via a predetermined
gap from the upper rail 13a. FIGS. 6 are enlarged views showing the cross section
of a side face of a second door roller 24 and the rail 13. Note that FIG. 6(a) is
a diagram showing a state in which the second door roller 24 is disposed via a slight
gap from the upper rail 13a or disposed in a position where it is in light contact
with the upper rail 13a (the state according to this embodiment), and FIG. 6(b) is
a diagram showing a state in which the second door roller 24 is disposed via a gap
within an predetermined range from the rail 13a.
[0050] In the state shown in FIG. 6(a), the running surface 18a of the upper rail 13a and
the rolling surface 24a of the second door roller 24 are slightly spaced away or in
light contact. The riding width, which is the vertical spacing (width) between the
lower end portion of the upper rail 13a and the upper end portion of the second door
roller 24 in a state in which the lower end portion of the upper rail 13a and the
upper end portion of the second door roller 24 are disposed overlapping each other
in the horizontal direction, is the width dimension indicated by the double-ended
arrow G1 in the drawing. That is, it is the width dimension between the lower end
portion of the running surface 18a and a portion of the second door roller 24 that
is located at the upper end of both edges 24b of the rolling surface 24a.
[0051] On the other hand, in the state shown in FIG. 6(b), the running surface 18a of the
upper rail 13a and the rolling surface 24a of the second door roller 24 oppose each
other via a gap having a dimension indicated by the double-ended arrow H in the drawing.
In this state, the second door roller 24 is disposed such that the height position
of a portion located at the upper end of the both edges 24b of the second door roller
24 is located above the height position (the position in the vertical direction) of
the lower end portion of the running surface 18a opposing the central portion of the
rolling surface 24a via a gap having a predetermined size. Accordingly, a riding width
having the width dimension indicated by the double-ended arrow G2 in the drawing is
secured as the riding width between the upper rail 13a and the second door roller
24. As illustrated in FIG. 6(b), the second door roller (24, 25) may be disposed via
a gap within a predetermined range, which is the range in which a riding width can
be secured, from the upper rail 13a.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, the drive connection portion 26 is provided as a member for holding
and connecting the door 11a to the open-close drive mechanism 12. The drive connection
portion 26 is fixed to the belt 17 at its end on the upper end side, and is connected
to an elastic connection mechanism 27, which will be described below, on the lower
end side. Thereby, the drive connection portion 26 holds and connects the door 11a
to the belt 17 via the elastic connection mechanism 27, the swing members (22, 23),
the first door roller supporting member 21, and the hanger 28.
[0053] Additionally, a through hole extending parallel to the lengthwise direction of the
rail 13 is formed in the end of the drive connection portion 26 on the lower end side,
and the central part of the first door roller supporting member 21 is disposed passing
through the through hole in a state in which it is loosely fitted so as to be swingable
and pivotable. Accordingly, when the first door roller supporting member 21 is relatively
displaced with respect to the drive connection portion 26, the direction of relative
displacement of the first door roller supporting member 21 can be restricted so as
to be guided in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the drive connection
portion 26. Thereby, the movement of the door 11a, which is connected to the first
door roller supporting member 21 via the hanger 28, can be further restricted to a
sliding movement in a plane parallel to the plane in which the upper and lower rails
(13a, 13b) are disposed.
[0054] As shown FIG. 4, the elastic connection mechanism 27 is provided as a mechanism for
elastically connecting the swing members (22, 23) to the drive connection portion
26, and includes a pair of spring members (30a, 30b) and a swingable connection member
29. The pair of spring members (30a, 30b) constitute an elastic portion of this embodiment
that is capable of changing the relative position between the second door rollers
(24, 25) and the drive connection portion 26 by elastic deformation. Also, the pair
of spring members (30a, 30b) are provided as coil springs, and are disposed on opposite
sides in a direction along the lengthwise direction of the rail 13 with respect to
the drive connection portion 26. Note that the spring member 30a is disposed on the
door trailing end side with respect to the drive connection portion 26, and the spring
member 30b is disposed on the door leading end side with respect to the drive connection
portion 26.
[0055] The swingable connection member 29 is provided as a shaft-like member that is connected
to the drive connection portion 26 via the pair of spring members (30a, 30b) such
that its relative position with respect to the drive connection portion 26 can be
changed. An end of the door trailing end-side swing member 22 and an end of the door
leading end-side swing member 23 are rotatably connected respectively at opposite
ends of the swingable connection member 29.
[0056] Further, the swingable connection member 29 is disposed passing through the through
hole that is formed in the drive connection portion 26 so as to extend parallel to
the lengthwise direction of the rail 13, and the swingable connection member 29 passes
through the inside of the spring members (30a, 30b), which are provided as coil springs,
on opposite sides of the drive connection portion 26. Note that the swingable connection
member 29 is disposed slidably passing through the through hole of the drive connection
portion 26 in a state in which it is freely fitted so as to allow a predetermined
tilting. Also, the pair of spring members (30a, 30b) are disposed so as to bias the
drive connection portion 26 in opposite directions from opposite sides in a passing-through
direction, in which the swingable connection member 29 passes through the drive connection
portion 26. The ends of the spring members (30a, 30b) that are opposite to the ends
that bias the drive connection portion 26 are respectively supported to collar portions
(29a, 29b) that are formed in the swingable connection member 29 and disposed on opposite
sides of the drive connection portion 26.
[0057] Note that the spring members (30a, 30b) may be provided as tension springs that apply
biasing forces in directions in which they pull against each other via the drive connection
portion 26, or may be provided as compression springs that apply biasing forces in
directions in which they press against each other via the drive connection portion
26. When the spring members (30a, 30b) are provided as tension springs, opposite ends
of each of the spring members (30a, 30b) need to be fixed to the drive connection
portion 26 and the collar portions (29a, 29b). On the other hand, when the spring
members (30a, 30b) are provided as compression springs, opposite ends of each of the
spring members (30a, 30b) may be either fixedly supported to or supported in contact
with the drive connection portion 26 and the collar portions (29a, 29b).
[0058] Further, the connection position between the swingable connection member 29 and the
door trailing end-side swing member 22 are disposed on the side of the second door
roller 24 supported to the door trailing end side swing member 22 with respect to
the connection position between the door trailing end side swing member 22 and the
first door roller supporting member 21. Also, the swingable connection member 29 and
the door trailing end-side swing member 22 are rotatably connected coaxially with
the axle 33a via which the second door roller 24 is rotatably supported to the door
trailing end-side swing member 22.
[0059] Further, the connection position between the swingable connection member 29 and the
door leading end-side swing member 23 is disposed on the side of the second door roller
25 supported to the door leading end-side swing member 23 with respect to the connection
position between the door leading end-side swing member 23 and the first door roller
supporting member 21. Also, the swingable connection member 29 and the door leading
end-side swing member 23 are rotatably connected coaxially with the axle 33b via which
the second door roller 25 is rotatably supported to the door leading end-side swing
member 23.
[0060] As described above, the door trailing end-side swing member 22 is rotatably connected
to the first door roller supporting member 21, the swingable connection member 29
is rotatably connected to the door trailing end-side swing member 22, the door leading
end-side swing member 23 is rotatably connected to the swingable connection member
29, and the first door roller supporting member 21 is rotatably connected to the door
leading end-side swing member 23. Thus, the door roller mechanism 14a includes the
first door roller supporting member 21, the door trailing end-side swing member 22,
the swingable connection member 29, and the door leading end-side swing member 23,
which are provided as four links, and these links constitute a quadrangular link mechanism.
[0061] Next, an operation of the door apparatus 2 and the door hanging apparatus 1 described
above will now be described. As described above, with the door apparatus 2, the door
roller mechanisms (14a, 14b) are moved in directions in which they move away from
each other by the open-close drive mechanism 12 operating in the state shown in FIG.
1, and thereby, the doors (11a, 11b) respectively suspended to the door roller mechanisms
(14a, 14b) are opened as shown in FIG. 2. On the other hand, the door roller mechanisms
(14a, 14b) are moved in directions in which they approach each other by the drive
motor of the open-close drive mechanism 12 rotating in a direction opposite to the
aforementioned opening operation in the state shown in FIG. 2, and thereby the doors
(11a, 11b) are closed as shown in FIG. 1.
[0062] Further, with the door hanging apparatus 1, the door roller mechanism 14a and the
door roller mechanism 14b respectively cause the door 11a and the door 11b to slidably
move in the opening and closing direction along the lengthwise direction of the rail
13 via operation of the open-close drive mechanism 12. Note that the door roller mechanism
14a and the door roller mechanism 14b operate in the same manner in states line-symmetric
about the intermediate position of the two doors 11, and therefore, only the operation
of the door roller mechanism 14a will be described in the following.
[0063] FIG. 7 is a front view schematically showing the door roller mechanism 14a, together
with part of the upper and lower rails (13a, 13b) and the door 11a, and schematically
shows the first door roller supporting member 21, the door trailing end-side swing
member 22, the swingable connection member 29, and the door leading end-side swing
member 23 by the dashed line. In a state in which the open-close drive mechanism 12
is not operated and the door 11a is stationary with respect to the structure, the
relative position between the second door rollers (24, 25) and the drive connection
portion 26 is maintained in a predetermined positional state, with the biasing forces
of the pair of spring members (30a, 30b) being balanced.
[0064] When the acceleration/deceleration operation (the operation performed before or after
the constant velocity operation, and the duration is shorter than the duration of
the constant velocity operation) of the door roller mechanism 14a via operation of
the open-close drive mechanism 12 is performed in the above-described state, the relative
positional state of the swingable connection member 29 and the swing members (22,
23) with respect to the door 11a is slightly changed by elastic deformation of the
pair of spring members (30a, 30b), resulting in a change in the contact pressure exerted
on the upper rail 13a from the second door rollers (24, 25). Similarly, in the case
where a load is exerted from the door 11a, including, for example, cases where a foreign
object has collided with or has been caught at the end of the door 11a in the opening
and closing direction, the relative positional state of the swingable connection member
29 and the swing members (22, 23) with respect to the door 11a is changed by elastic
deformation of the pair of spring members (30a, 30b). Note that, when the operation
of the door roller mechanism 14a has been switched from the acceleration operation
to the constant velocity operation, the deformation of the pair of spring members
(30a, 30b) ceases, their relative positional state of the swingable connection member
29 and the swing members (22, 23) with respect to the door 11a returns to the initial
state, and the contact pressure exerted on the upper rail 13a from the second door
rollers (24, 25) returns to the initial state, as a result of which the running resistance
is substantially eliminated.
[0065] The directions of several forces acting on the door roller mechanism 14a when a foreign
object has collided with the end of the door 11a on the door leading end side during
the closing operation of the door 11a are indicated by the arrows (K1 to 6) in FIG.
7. Note that forces in the same directions as the directions indicated by the arrows
in FIG. 7 act on the door roller mechanism 14a during the acceleration operation,
and therefore, the description thereof has been omitted. Also, forces in directions
opposite to the directions indicated by the arrows shown in FIG. 7 act on the door
roller mechanism 14a during the deceleration operation, and the forces simply act
in states line-symmetric with the door roller mechanism 14a during the acceleration
operation. Therefore, the description thereof has been omitted.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 7, during the closing operation of the door 11a, a driving force
in the direction toward the door leading end side is exerted on the drive connection
portion 26 from the belt 17 of the open-close drive mechanism 12 as indicated by the
arrow K1. When a foreign object has collided with the end of the door 11a on the door
leading end side in this state, a load is exerted on the door 11a in the direction
toward the door trailing end side as indicated by the arrow K2. When a load has been
exerted on the door 11a in this way, this load is exerted on the door trailing end-side
swing member 22 and the door trailing end-side second door roller 24 via the hanger
28 and the first door roller supporting member 21 in the door roller mechanism 14a.
Thereby, the door trailing end-side swing member 22 is displaced so as to swing in
a direction (the direction indicated by the arrow K3 in the drawing) in which it swings
upward, with the door trailing end-side first door roller 19a as the center. Furthermore,
the door trailing end-side second door roller 24 is displaced upward (in the direction
indicated by the arrow K4 in the drawing) and thus comes into contact with the upper
rail 13a, which results in an increase in the contact pressure between the upper rail
13a and the second door roller 24.
[0067] Then, as described above, the door trailing end-side second door roller 24 is displaced,
and at the same time, the swingable connection member 29 is relatively displaced toward
the door leading end side with respect to the drive connection portion 26 by elastic
deformation of the pair of springs (30a, 30b). Thereby, the door leading end-side
swing member 23 is displaced so as to swing in a direction (the direction indicated
by the arrow K5 in the drawing) in which it swings downward, with the door leading
end-side first door roller 19b as the center. Furthermore, the door leading end-side
second door roller 25 is displaced downward (in the direction indicated by the arrow
K6 in the drawing) and thus is moved away from the upper rail 13b. At this time, the
pair of spring members (30a, 30b) elastically deform such that they deform in opposite
directions to each other.
[0068] Even if a load is exerted from the door 11a as the result of a foreign object having
collided with the end of the door 11a on the door leading end side during the closing
operation in this way, the four links (21, 22, 29, 23) are relatively displaced with
respect to the door 11a by elastic deformation of the pair of spring members (30a,
30b). Thereby, the positions of the second door rollers (24, 25) with respect to the
upper rail 13a are positioned in suitable positions according to the above-described
load. Note that the amounts of displacement of the four links (21, 22, 29, 23) and
the first and second door rollers (19, 20) described above are within a range that
is allowable in the space between the upper and lower rails (13a, 13b).
[0069] With the door hanging apparatus 1 and the door apparatus 2 described thus far, the
first door rollers (19, 20) supported to the first door roller supporting member 21
that suspends the doors 11 (11a, 11b) run on the lower rail 13b, and the second door
rollers (24, 25) supported to the swing members (22, 23) that are swingably connected
to the first door roller supporting member 21 are disposed so as to be capable of
coming into contact with the upper rail 13a. Accordingly, the first door rollers (19,
20) and the second door rollers (24, 25) that are disposed between the upper and lower
rails (13a, 13b) and run thereon constitute a derailing prevention mechanism, and
therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the derailing of the door rollers (19,
20, 24, 25) and the tilting of the doors 11 (11a, 11b) when the doors 11 (11a, 11b)
are opened and closed.
[0070] Furthermore, with the door hanging apparatus 1 and the door apparatus 2, the elastic
connection mechanism 27 that connects the drive connection portion 26 for connecting
the doors 11 (11a, 11b) to the open-close drive mechanism 12 and the swing members
(22, 23) includes the pair of spring members (30a, 30b) serving as an elastic portion,
and the elastic connection mechanism 27 is provided so as to be capable of changing
the relative position between the second door rollers (24, 25) and the drive connection
portion 26 by elastic deformation. Accordingly, at the time of acceleration when the
doors 11 (11a, 11b) are driven to be opened and closed, the swingable connection member
29 and the swing members (22, 23) are relatively displaced with respect to the doors
11 (11a, 11b) by the elastic deformation of the pair of spring members (30a, 30b),
and the contact pressure exerted on the upper rail 13a from the second door rollers
(24, 25) is temporarily increased. However, the elastic deformation of the pair of
spring members (30a, 30b) is immediately restored when the velocity is constant, and
consequently, the distance relationship between the upper rail 13a and the second
door rollers (24, 25) is brought back to the original state. Further, even if a load
is exerted from the doors 11 (11a, 11b) as the result of a foreign object having collided
with or having been caught at the end of the doors 11 (11a, 11b) in the opening and
closing direction, the swingable connection member 29 and the swing members (22, 23)
are relatively displaced with respect to the doors 11 (11a, 11b) by elastic deformation
of the pair of spring members (30a, 30b), and the positions of the second door rollers
(24, 25) with respect to the upper rail 13a are positioned in suitable positions according
to the above-described load.
[0071] Accordingly, with the door hanging apparatus 1 and the door apparatus 2, the second
door rollers (24, 25) are disposed in light contact with the upper rail 13a or disposed
so as to provide a gap within a predetermined range that can secure a riding width
between the upper rail 13a and the second door rollers (24, 25), and thereby, it is
possible to set a state in which little running resistance is generated in a derailing
prevention mechanism when the door rollers (19, 20, 24, 25) are running on the rail
13. Also, at the time of acceleration/deceleration of the doors 11 (11a, 11b) or the
collision with a foreign object, the door rollers (19, 20, 24, 25) can be positioned
in suitable positions according to the load, and the derailing of the door rollers
(19, 20, 24, 25) and the tilting of the doors 11 (11a, 11b) can be reliably prevented.
Further, the positional adjustment of the second door rollers (24, 25), namely, the
degree to which the second door rollers (24, 25) is in contact with the upper rail
13a or the amount of the gap provided within a predetermined range, has little impact
on the above-described derailing prevention performance. Accordingly, the positional
adjustment requires little time and effort at the time of installing the door hanging
apparatus 1, and the installation operation can be performed easily.
[0072] Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a door hanging
apparatus 1 and a door apparatus 2 that can reliably prevent the derailing of door
rollers (19, 20, 24, 25) and the tilting of doors 11 (11a, 11b) when the doors 11
(11a, 11b) are opened and closed, while having little running resistance caused by
a derailing prevention mechanism.
[0073] With the door hanging apparatus 1 and the door apparatus 2, the second door rollers
(24, 25) are provided on both the door leading end side and the door trailing end
side with respect to the elastic connection mechanism 27. Accordingly, both during
the opening driving and the closing driving of the doors 11 (11a, 11b), the positions
of the second door rollers (24, 25) with respect to the upper rail 13a can be positioned
in suitable positions via operation of the elastic connection mechanism 27 at the
time of the acceleration/deceleration or when a foreign object has collided with the
end of the doors. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve a door hanging apparatus
1 and a door apparatus 2 that can reliably prevent the derailing of the door rollers
(19, 20, 24, 25) and the tilting of the doors 11 (11a, 11b), while having little running
resistance caused by a derailing prevention mechanism, both during the opening driving
and the closing driving of the doors 11 (11a, 11b).
[0074] With the door hanging apparatus 1 and the door apparatus 2, the door leading end-side
and door trailing end-side swing members (22, 23) are respectively connected to opposite
sides of the first door roller supporting member 21 that supports the first door rollers
(19, 20), and the swingable connection member 29 of the elastic connection mechanism
27 is further connected thereto so as to connect the two swing members (22, 23), thus
constituting a quadrangular link mechanism having fours links. Accordingly, it is
possible to construct, with a quadrangular link mechanism, a structure with a simple
configuration that can position the positions of the second door rollers (24, 25)
with respect to the upper rail 13a in suitable positions via operation of the elastic
connection mechanism 27 in response to the acceleration/deceleration of the doors
11 (11a, 11b) and the collision with a foreign object.
[0075] With the door hanging apparatus 1 and the door apparatus 2, for the door trailing
end-side swing member 22 that supports the door trailing end-side second door roller
24, the connection position with the swingable connection member 29 is disposed on
the side of the door trailing end-side second door roller 24 with respect to the connection
position with the first door roller supporting member 21. Accordingly, when the connection
position with the swingable connection member 29 is disposed in a position closer
to the connection position with the first door roller supporting member 21, the response
performance of the door trailing end-side second door roller 24 via the door trailing
end-side swing member 22 via operation of the elastic connection mechanism 27 can
be set to be faster, which makes it possible to more quickly position the door trailing
end-side second door roller 24 in a suitable position. Meanwhile, when the connection
position with the swingable connection member 29 is disposed in a position farther
away from the connection position with the first door roller supporting member 21,
a greater force can be easily secured as the force exerted on the upper rail 13a from
the door trailing end-side second door roller 24 via the door trailing end-side swing
member 22 via operation of the elastic connection mechanism 27. Consequently, by simply
changing the connection position with the swingable connection member 29 with respect
to the connection position with the first door roller supporting member 21 for the
door trailing end-side swing member 22, it is possible to easily adjust the setting
of the response performance of the door trailing end-side second door roller 24 via
operation of the elastic connection mechanism 27 and the setting of the force exerted
on the upper rail 13a from the door trailing end-side second door roller 24.
[0076] With the door hanging apparatus 1 and the door apparatus 2, the swingable connection
member 29 and the door trailing end-side swing member 22 are rotatably connected coaxially
with the axle 33a of the door trailing end-side second door roller 24, and therefore,
the same shaft can be used as the axle 33a of the door trailing end-side second door
roller 24 and the rotational shaft of the swingable connection member 29 and the door
trailing end-side swing member 22. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number
of members, which makes is possible to further increase the compactness of the structure.
[0077] With the door hanging apparatus 1 and the door apparatus 2, for the door leading
end-side swing member 23 that supports the door leading end-side second door roller
25, the connection position with the swingable connection member 29 is disposed on
the side of the door leading end-side second door roller 25 with respect to the connection
position with the first door roller supporting member 21. Accordingly, when the connection
position with the swingable connection member 29 is disposed in a position closer
to the connection position with the first door roller supporting member 21, the response
performance of the door leading end-side second door roller 25 via the door leading
end-side swing member 23 via operation of the elastic connection mechanism 27 can
be set to be faster, which makes it possible to more quickly position the door leading
end-side second door roller 25 in a suitable position. Meanwhile, when the connection
position with the swingable connection member 29 is disposed in a position farther
away from the connection position with the first door roller supporting member 21,
a greater force can be easily secured as the force exerted on the upper rail 13a from
the door leading end-side second door roller 25 via the door leading end-side swing
member 23 via operation of the elastic connection mechanism 27. Consequently, by simply
changing the connection position with the swingable connection member 29 with respect
to the connection position with the first door roller supporting member 21 for the
door leading end-side swing member 23, it is possible to easily adjust the setting
of the response performance of the door leading end-side second door roller 25 via
operation of the elastic connection mechanism 27 and the setting of the force exerted
on the upper rail 13a from the door leading end-side second door roller 25.
[0078] With the door hanging apparatus 1 and the door apparatus 2, the swingable connection
member 29 and the door leading end-side swing member 23 are rotatably connected coaxially
with the axle 33b of the door leading end-side second door roller 25, and therefore,
the same shaft can be used as the axle 33b of the door leading end-side second door
roller 25 and the rotational shaft of the swingable connection member 29 and the door
leading end-side swing member 23. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number
of members, which makes is possible to further increase the compactness of the structure.
[0079] With the door hanging apparatus 1 and the door apparatus 2, the respective ends of
the pair of spring members (30a, 30b) are supported to the swingable connection member
29 and the drive connection portion 26 is biased by the pair of spring members (30a,
30b) in opposite directions, and thereby the elastic connection mechanism 27 can be
easily constructed with a simple structure.
[0080] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described thus far, the
present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications
may be made within the scope recited in the claims. For example, a single door 11
may be provided, and the following variations may also be made.
- (1) Although this embodiment has been described, taking, as an example, a case where
the link mechanism formed by the first door roller supporting member, the swing members,
and the swingable connection member is a quadrangular link mechanism constituted by
four links, this need not be the case. That is, the link mechanism formed by the first
door roller supporting member, the swing members, and the swingable connection member
may be a link mechanism constituted by five or more links.
- (2) Although this embodiment has been described, taking, as an example, a door roller
mechanism in which the first door roller supporting member is disposed passing through
the drive connection portion, this need not be the case. It is possible to adopt a
configuration in which the first door roller supporting member is disposed in the
state of being completely separated from the drive connection portion, without being
connected thereto.
- (3) The number of the first door rollers and the second door rollers provided in the
door roller mechanism is not limited to those illustrated in this embodiment, and
various modifications may be made. Although this embodiment has been described, taking,
as an example, a configuration in which a second door roller is rotatably connected
each of the swing members, this need not be the case. That is, it is sufficient to
provide a second door roller that is rotatably supported to at least one of a plurality
of swing members.
- (4) Although this embodiment has been described, taking, as an example, a coil spring
as the elastic portion, this need not be the case. Various modifications may be made
for the member constituting the elastic portion. For example, it is possible to use
an elastic member having any of various configurations, including, for example, sponge
rubber formed in a cylindrical shape.
- (5) Although this embodiment has been described, taking, as an example, a configuration
in which the swingable connection member and the door trailing end-side swing member
are connected coaxially with the axle of the door trailing end-side second door roller
and the swingable connection member and the door leading end-side swing member are
connected coaxially with the axle of the door leading end-side second door roller,
this need not be the case. FIGS. 8 are schematic diagrams illustrating modifications
in which the swingable connection member and the door trailing end-side swing member
are connected at a position offset from the axle of the door trailing end-side second
door roller, and schematically show part of the first door roller supporting member
21 and the swingable connection member 29, the door trailing end-side swing member
22, the door trailing end-side first door rollers (19a, 19b), and the door trailing
end-side second door roller 24. Note that although only modifications of the connection
position between the swingable connection member and the door trailing end-side swing
member will be described based on FIGS. 8, the swingable connection member and the
door leading end-side swing member are also connected in a position offset from the
axle of the door leading end-side second door roller.
In the modification shown in FIG. 8(a), the position of a rotational shaft 34 that
rotatably connects the swingable connection member 29 to the door trailing end-side
swing member 22, or in other words, the connection position between the swingable
connection member 29 and the door trailing end-side swing member 22 is provided in
a position between the connection position between the door trailing end-side swing
member 22 and the first door roller supporting member 21 and the position of the axle
33a of the door trailing end-side second door roller 24. In this case, the response
performance of the door trailing end-side second door roller 24 can be set to be faster,
compared to the case where the connection position between the swingable connection
member 29 and the door trailing end-side swing member 22 is provided coaxially with
the axle 33a.
In the modification shown in FIG. 8(b), the position of a rotational shaft 35 that
rotatably connects the swingable connection member 29 to the door trailing end-side
swing member 22, or in other words, the connection position between the swingable
connection member 29 and the door trailing end-side swing member 22 is provided in
a position farther away from the axle 33a of the door trailing end-side second door
roller 24 toward the door trailing end side with respect to the connection position
between the door trailing end-side swing member 22 and the first door roller supporting
member 21. That is, the axle 33a of the door trailing end-side second door roller
24 is provided in a position between the connection position between the door trailing
end-side swing member 22 and the first door roller supporting member 21 and the connection
position between the swingable connection member 29 and the door trailing end-side
swing member 22. In this case, a greater force can be easily secured as the force
exerted on the upper rail 13a from the door trailing end-side second door roller 24,
compared to the case where the connection position between the swingable connection
member 29 and the door trailing end-side swing member 22 is provided coaxially with
the axle 33a.
- (6) Although this embodiment has been described, taking, as an example, a door apparatus
in which the open-close drive mechanism includes the drive motor, the drive pulley,
the driven pulley, and the belt, this need not be the case; various modifications
may be made as long as the open-close drive mechanism is a mechanism that can be provided
in a structure and is capable of driving a door to be opened and closed. FIGS. 9 to
11 are front views respectively showing a door apparatus 3, a door apparatus 4, and
a door apparatus 5 according to modifications in which open-close drive mechanisms
different from that of this embodiment are provided, and the drawings correspond to
FIG. 1 of this embodiment. Note that the description of those elements of the door
apparatuses (3, 4, 5) shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 that are configured in the same manner
as the door apparatus 2 of this embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals
in the drawings, and the description thereof has been omitted.
[0081] In the door apparatus 3 shown in FIG. 9, an open-close drive mechanism 40 includes
a drive motor (not shown), a pinion 41, an upper rack 42, a lower rack 43, and so
forth. The pinion 41 is connected to the drive motor, and is rotationally driven with
rotation of the drive motor. Also, the pinion 41 is disposed so as to be meshed with
the upper rack 42 that is disposed thereabove so as to extend horizontally and the
lower rack 43 that is disposed therebelow so as to extend horizontally. The upper
rack 42 and the lower rack 43 are supported to the structure so as to be slidably
moved, parallel to the lengthwise direction of a rail 13. The upper rack 42 and the
lower rack 43 are configured to be slidably moved in opposite directions to each other
by rotation of the pinion 41. Further, the upper rack 42 is connected to a door roller
mechanism 14b that supports a door 11b in a suspended state, and the lower rack 43
is connected to a door roller mechanism 14a that supports a door 11a in a suspended
state. Accordingly, rotations of the pinion 41 with a forward operation and a reverse
operation of the drive motor cause the doors 11 (11a, 11b) to be driven to be moved
in the opening direction and the closing direction.
[0082] In the door apparatus 4 shown in FIG. 10, an open-close drive mechanism 50 includes
a drive motor 51, a screw shaft 52, a rotation receiving portion 53, nut members (54a,
54b), and so forth. The screw shaft 52 is connected to the drive motor 51 at its one
end, and is rotatably supported by the rotation receiving portion 53 at the other
end. Accordingly, the screw shaft 52 is rotationally driven with rotation of the drive
motor 51. Further, in the screw shaft 52, an externally threaded portion 52a formed
from the center portion to one end and an externally threaded portion 52b formed from
the center portion to the other end are formed as threaded portions in reverse directions.
The nut members (54a, 54b) are provided as members that are threadedly engaged with
the screw shaft 52 and are connected to the door hanging apparatus 1. Note that the
nut member 54a is threadedly engaged with one of the externally threaded portions
of the screw shaft 52, namely the externally threaded portion 52a, and is connected
to a door roller mechanism 14a that supports a door 11a in a suspended state. The
nut member 54b is threadedly engaged with the other externally threaded portion of
the screw shaft 52, namely the externally threaded portion 52b, and is connected to
a door roller mechanism 14b that supports a door 11b in a suspended state. Thereby,
rotations of the screw shaft 52 with a forward operation and a reverse operation of
the drive motor 51 cause the doors 11 (11a, 11b) to be driven to be moved in the opening
direction and the closing direction.
[0083] In the door apparatus 5 shown in FIG. 11, an open-close drive mechanism 60 includes
a drive motor 61, screw shafts (62a, 62b), rotation receiving portions (63a, 63b,
63c), gear portions (64a, 64b), nut members (65a, 65b), and so forth. The screw shaft
62a is connected to the drive motor 61 at its one end, and is rotatably supported
by the rotation receiving portion 63a at the other end. Accordingly, the screw shaft
62a is rotationally driven with rotation of the drive motor 61. Meanwhile, the screw
shaft 62b has a threaded portion formed therein in the same direction as that of the
screw shaft 62a, and is rotatably supported by the rotation receiving portions (63b,
63c) at opposite ends. Also, the gear portion 64a having teeth of a spur gear formed
on its outer circumference is fixed coaxially to the screw shaft 62a. The gear portion
64b having teeth of a spur gear formed on its outer circumference and meshing with
the gear portion 64a is fixed coaxially to the screw shaft 62b. Thereby, upon rotation
of the screw shaft 62a via operation of the drive motor 61, the screw shaft 62b rotates
in a direction opposite to that of the screw shaft 62a via meshing between the gear
portion 64a and the gear portion 64b. The nut member 65a is provided as a member that
is threadedly engaged with the screw shaft 62b and is connected to a door roller mechanism
14a that supports a door 11a in a suspended state. Meanwhile, the nut member 65b is
provided as a member that is threadedly engaged with the screw shaft 62a and is connected
to a door roller mechanism 14b that supports a door 11b in a suspended state. Thereby,
rotations of the screw shaft 62a with a forward operation and a reverse operation
of the drive motor 61 cause the doors 11 (11a, 11b) to be driven to be moved in the
opening direction and the closing direction.
Industrial Applicability
[0084] The present invention is widely applicable as a door hanging apparatus that supports
a door provided in a structure and driven to be opened and closed by an open-close
drive mechanism, in a state in which the door is suspended to the structure so as
to be slidably moved, and that is connected to the open-close drive mechanism, and
a door apparatus provided with the door hanging apparatus.
Descriptions of Reference Numerals
[0085]
- 1
- Door hanging apparatus
- 11, 11a, 11b
- Door
- 12
- Open-close drive mechanism
- 13
- Rail
- 13a
- Upper rail
- 13b
- Lower rail
- 18a, 18b
- Running surface
- 19, 19a, 19b
- Door trailing end-side first door roller (first door roller)
- 20, 20a, 20b
- Door leading end side-first door roller (first door roller)
- 21
- First door roller supporting member
- 22
- Door trailing end-side swing member (swing member)
- 23
- Door leading end-side swing member (swing member)
- 24
- Door trailing end-side second door roller (second door roller)
- 25
- Door leading end-side second door roller (second door roller)
- 26
- Drive connection portion
- 27
- Elastic connection mechanism
- 30a, 30b
- Pair of spring members (elastic portion)
1. Türaufhängevorrichtung (1) zum Stützen einer Tür (11), die in einer Struktur angeordnet
ist und durch einen Öffnungs-und-Schließ-Antriebsmechanismus(12) zum Öffnen und Schließen
angetrieben wird, während die Tür (11) an der Türaufhängevorrichtung (1) aufgehängt
ist, um mit Bezug auf die Struktur gleitfähig bewegt werden zu können, und während
des Gebrauchs mit dem Öffnungs-und-Schließ-Antriebsmechanismus (12) verbunden ist,
wobei die Vorrichtung (1) Folgendes umfasst:
eine Schiene (13), die eine obere Schiene (13a) und eine untere Schiene (13b) umfassen,
die während des Gebrauchs an der Struktur befestigt sind und mit jeweiligen Laufflächen
(18a, 18b) versehen sind, die einander in der vertikalen Richtung gegenüberliegen;
eine erste Türrolle (19, 20), die in Kontakt mit der Lauffläche (18b) der unteren
Schiene (13b) läuft;
ein Erste-Türrolle-Stützelement (21), an dem während des Gebrauchs die Tür (11) aufgehängt
ist und die erste Türrolle (19, 20) drehbar stützt;
mehrere Schwenkelemente (22, 23), die schwenkbar mit der Erste-Türrolle-Stützelement
(21) verbunden sind;
eine zweite Türrolle (24, 25), die drehbar an mindestens einem der Schwenkelemente
(22, 23) gestützt wird und so ausgebildet ist, dass sie in Kontakt mit der Lauffläche
(18a) der oberen Schiene (13a) kommen kann;
einen Antriebsverbindungsabschnitt (26), der während des Gebrauchs mit dem Öffnungs-und-Schließ-Antriebsmechanismus
(12) verbunden ist; und
einen elastischen Verbindungsmechanismus (27), der einen elastischen Abschnitt (30a,
30b) enthält, der eine relative Position zwischen der zweiten Türrolle (24, 25) und
dem Antriebsverbindungsabschnitt (26) durch elastische Verformung ändern kann und
die Schwenkelemente (22, 23) mit dem Antriebsverbindungsabschnitt (26) verbindet,
wobei die Schwenkelemente (22, 23) dafür ausgelegt sind, verschoben zu werden, so
dass sie durch elastische Verformung des elastischen Abschnitts (30a, 30b) schwenken,
wodurch die Schwenkelemente (22, 23) dafür geeignet sind, die zweite Türrolle (24,
25) zu verschieben.
2. Türaufhängevorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 1,
wobei die zweite Türrolle (24, 25) sowohl an einer Türvorderendseite, welche die Seite
ist, auf der sich das Ende der Tür (11) in einer Schließrichtung befindet, als auch
auf einer Türhinterendseite, welche die Seite ist, auf der sich das Ende der Tür (11)
in einer Öffnungsrichtung befindet, mit Bezug auf den elastischen Verbindungsmechanismus
(27) angeordnet ist.
3. Türaufhängevorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei ein türvorderendseitiges
Schwenkelement (23), das mit dem Erste-Türrolle-Stützelement (21) auf der Türvorderendseite
verbunden ist, und ein türhinterendseitiges Schwenkelement (22), das mit dem Erste-Türrolle-Stützelement
(21) auf der Türhinterendseite verbunden ist, als die Schwenkelemente (22, 23) bereitgestellt
sind,
der elastische Verbindungsmechanismus (27) ein schwenkbares Verbindungselement (29)
umfasst, das mit dem Antriebsverbindungsabschnitt (26) über den elastischen Abschnitt
(30a, 30b) so verbunden ist, dass seine relative Position mit Bezug auf den Antriebsverbindungsabschnitt
(26) werden geändert kann, und an dem das türvorderendseitige Schwenkelement (23)
und das türhinterendseitige Schwenkelement (22) jeweils an gegenüberliegenden Enden
drehbar verbunden sind, und
das Erste-Türrolle-Stützelement (21), das türvorderendseitige Schwenkelement (23),
das schwenkbare Verbindungselement (29) und das türhinterendseitige Schwenkelement
(22), die als vier Verbindungsglieder bereitgestellt sind, einen viereckigen Gestängemechanismus
bilden.
4. Türaufhängevorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 3, wobei
die zweite Türrolle (25) drehbar an dem türvorderendseitigen Schwenkelement (23) gestützt
wird, und
eine Verbindungsposition zwischen dem schwenkbaren Verbindungselement (29) und dem
türvorderendseitigen Schwenkelement (23) auf einer Seite der zweiten Türrolle (25)
mit Bezug auf eine Verbindungsposition zwischen dem türvorderendseitigen Schwenkelement
(23) und dem Erste-Türrolle-Stützelement (21) angeordnet ist.
5. Türaufhängevorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 4, wobei
das schwenkbare Verbindungselement (29) und das türvorderendseitige Schwenkelement
(23) koaxial mit einer Achse verbunden sind, über die die zweite Türrolle (25) drehbar
an dem türvorderendseitigen Schwenkelement (23) gestützt wird.
6. Türaufhängevorrichtung (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 5, wobei
die zweite Türrolle (24) drehbar an dem türhinterendseitigen Schwenkelement (22) gestützt
wird, und
eine Verbindungsposition zwischen dem schwenkbaren Verbindungselement (29) und dem
türhinterendseitigen Schwenkelement (22) auf einer Seite der zweiten Türrolle (24)
mit Bezug auf eine Verbindungsposition zwischen dem türhinterendseitigen Schwenkelement
(22) und dem Erste-Türrolle-Stützelement (21) angeordnet ist.
7. Türaufhängevorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 6, wobei
das schwenkbare Verbindungselement (29) und das türhinterendseitige Schwenkelement
(22) koaxial mit einer Achse verbunden sind, über die die zweite Türrolle (24) drehbar
an dem türhinterendseitigen Schwenkelement (22) gestützt wird.
8. Türaufhängevorrichtung (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 7, wobei
das schwenkbare Verbindungselement (29) so angeordnet ist, dass es durch den Antriebsverbindungsabschnitt
(26) hindurch verläuft,
der elastische Abschnitt (30a, 30b) als ein Paar Federelemente (30a, 30b) vorhanden
ist, die so angeordnet sind, dass der Antriebsverbindungsabschnitt (26) von gegenüberliegenden
Seiten aus in entgegengesetzte Richtungen in einer Durchgangsrichtung, in der das
schwenkbare Verbindungselement (29) durch den Antriebsverbindungsabschnitt (26) verläuft,
vorgespannt wird, und die jeweiligen Enden des Paares Federelemente (30a, 30b), die
sich gegenüber ihren Enden befinden, die den Antriebsverbindungsabschnitt (26) vorspannen,
an dem schwenkbaren Verbindungselement (29) gestützt werden.
9. Türvorrichtung (2, 3, 4, 5), die Folgendes umfasst:
die Türaufhängevorrichtung (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8;
eine Tür (11), die in einer Struktur angeordnet ist und durch die Türaufhängevorrichtung
(1) gestützt wird, während sie an der Struktur aufgehängt ist, so dass sie gleitfähig
bewegt werden kann; und
einen Öffnungs-und-Schließ-Antriebsmechanismus (12, 40, 50, 60), der mit der Türaufhängevorrichtung
(1) verbunden ist und die Tür (11) zum Öffnen und Schließen antreibt.