Folding mechanism and communication equipment

Abstract

The present application provides a folding mechanism, including a U-shaped outer cover, a left support frame, a right support frame, a foldable and unfoldable support plate, and a connecting rod assembly. The left support plate is supported on the left support frame and can slide along the guide groove thereon; the right support plate is supported on the right support frame and can slide along the guide groove thereon. The connecting rod assembly has a first connecting end and a second connecting end, the first connecting end is rotatably connected to the U-shaped outer cover, and the second connecting end is rotatably connected to the left support frame or the right support frame. When the folding mechanism is folded or unfolded, the second connecting end of the connecting rod assembly moves in a direction away from or close to the first connecting end, driving the left support frame and the right support frame to move in a direction away from or close to the U-shaped outer cover, thereby compensating for the change in the length of the outer arc of the flexible display screen during the folding process, and avoiding damage to the flexible display screen due to extrusion during the folding process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication electronic technology, and in particular to a folding mechanism and communication equipment. Background Art

[0002] With the rise of foldable electronic technology, foldable mobile phones have become a new research hotspot. What needs to be solved now is how to support the flexible display screen and form a space to accommodate the bent part of the flexible display screen during the folding process. At the same time, when the flexible display screen is folded, the inner side will be slightly shortened and the outer side will be slightly extended. At this time, the folding mechanism must keep changing synchronously, otherwise the flexible display screen will be damaged due to squeezing. Summary of the invention

[0003] On one hand, the present application provides a folding mechanism, including a U-shaped outer cover, a left support frame, a right support frame, a foldable and unfoldable support plate, and a connecting rod assembly, wherein:

[0004] The support plate includes a main support plate, and a left support plate and a right support plate which are arranged on the left and right sides of the main support plate and are respectively rotatably connected to the main support plate, and the main support plate is fixed on the U-shaped outer cover;

[0005] The left support frame and the right support frame are both provided with guide grooves, and the left support plate and the right support plate are both provided with pin shafts, the left support plate is supported on the left support frame, and the pin shaft on the left support plate is inserted into the guide groove of the left support frame and can slide along the guide groove; the right support plate is supported on the right support frame, and the pin shaft on the right support plate is inserted into the guide groove of the right support frame and can slide along the guide groove;

[0006] The connecting rod assembly is arranged on the left and right sides of the U-shaped outer cover, and the connecting rod assembly has a first connecting end and a second connecting end, the first connecting end is rotatably connected to the U-shaped outer cover, and the second connecting end is rotatably connected to the left support frame or the right support frame, when the folding mechanism is folded, the second connecting end moves in a direction away from the first connecting end, and drives the left support frame and the right support frame to move in a direction away from the U-shaped outer cover; when the folding mechanism is unfolded, the second connecting end moves in a direction close to the first connecting end, and drives the left support frame and the right support frame to move in a direction close to the U-shaped outer cover.

[0007] Optionally, the folding mechanism further includes a rotating mechanism, a left connecting arm, and a right connecting arm;

[0008] The rotating mechanism comprises at least one pair of rotating shafts, each of which is provided with a gear, the gear being fixed on the rotating shaft, and the plurality of rotating shafts are geared to each other through the gear engagement thereon;

[0009] The main support plate and the U-shaped outer cover are enclosed to form an accommodating space, and the rotating mechanism is arranged in the accommodating space; the side plates at both ends of the main support plate are provided with through holes connected to the accommodating space, one end of the pair of rotating shafts extends outward through the through holes and is respectively fixedly connected to the inner ends of the left connecting arm and the right connecting arm, and the other ends of the pair of rotating shafts are suspended in the accommodating space;

[0010] The outer end of the left connecting arm is slidably connected to the left supporting frame;

[0011] The outer end of the right connecting arm is slidably connected to the right supporting frame.

[0012] Optionally, the connecting rod assembly includes a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod, one end of the first connecting rod is hinged to one end of the second connecting rod, the other end of the first connecting rod is the first connecting end of the connecting rod assembly, and the other end of the second connecting rod is the second connecting end of the connecting rod assembly.

[0013] Optionally, a first groove is provided on one side of the left connecting arm and the right connecting arm facing the support plate, and the first connecting rod is arranged in the first groove and can rotate in the first groove;

[0014] A second groove is provided on one side of the left connecting arm and the right connecting arm facing away from the support plate, the second connecting rod is arranged in the second groove, the projection surfaces of the first groove and the second groove at least partially overlap, and a first slide groove is provided in the overlapping portion, the first slide groove connects the first groove and the second groove;

[0015] One end of the first connecting rod and one end of the second connecting rod are both provided with through holes, and a pin passes through the first sliding groove and is respectively inserted into the through holes of the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod for fixing;

[0016] The other end of the second connecting rod extends outward toward one side of the support plate to form a pin shaft, and the bottom surface of the second groove is provided with a second slide groove, and the pin shaft on the second connecting rod is inserted into the second slide groove and can slide in the second slide groove;

[0017] The shapes of the first groove, the second groove, the first slide groove and the second slide groove are adapted to the rotation trajectory of the connecting rod assembly.

[0018] Optionally, a limiting hole is provided on a side of the left connecting arm and the right connecting arm facing away from the support plate, and a limiting member is provided on the left supporting frame and the right supporting frame. The limiting member is arranged in the limiting hole and can slide along the limiting hole.

[0019] Optionally, the rotating mechanism includes a pair of first rotating shafts, and a gear, a rotating shaft support, a rotating control member, a spring, a gasket, and a nut sequentially sleeved on the pair of first rotating shafts, the rotating shaft support member is fixed in the accommodating space, one end of the rotating control member abuts against the rotating shaft support member, and the other end thereof abuts against one end of the spring, the other end of the spring abuts against the gasket, the gasket abuts against the nut, and the nut is locked on the end of the first rotating shaft;

[0020] When the folding mechanism is folded, the rotation control member can slide along the direction of the rotation axis to compress the spring.

[0021] Optionally, the rotation control member includes a pair of cams and a concave wheel matching the cams, the cams are fixed on the first rotating shaft and can rotate with the first rotating shaft, the concave wheel is provided with a pair of through holes, the concave wheel is sleeved on the pair of first rotating shafts through the through holes and is rotatably connected to the pair of first rotating shafts, and the matching surfaces of the cam and the concave wheel are toothed structures.

[0022] Optionally, an arc-shaped cutout is provided at one end of the cam away from the concave wheel, and a limiting portion matching the arc-shaped cutout is provided on the rotating shaft support.

[0023] Optionally, the rotating mechanism further includes a pair of second rotating shafts, and the pair of second rotating shafts are arranged between the pair of first rotating shafts.

[0024] Optionally, a cable routing hole is provided between the main support plate and the left support plate and / or the right support plate.

[0025] On the other hand, the present application provides a communication device, including a flexible display screen and the above-mentioned folding mechanism.

[0026] The present application provides a folding mechanism, comprising a U-shaped outer cover, a left support frame, a right support frame, a foldable and unfoldable support plate, and a connecting rod assembly. The connecting rod assembly has a first connecting end and a second connecting end, the first connecting end is rotatably connected to the U-shaped outer cover, and the second connecting end is rotatably connected to the left support frame or the right support frame. When the folding mechanism is folded or unfolded, the second connecting end of the connecting rod assembly moves in a direction away from or close to the first connecting end, and drives the left support frame and the right support frame to move in a direction away from or close to the U-shaped outer cover, thereby compensating for the change in the length of the outer arc of the flexible display screen during the folding process, and preventing the flexible display screen from being damaged due to extrusion during the folding process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0028] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a folding mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the folding mechanism of an embodiment of the present application in a folded state;

[0030] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the folding mechanism of an embodiment of the present application;

[0031] Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of some components in the folding mechanism of an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a main support plate in a folding mechanism of an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] Figure 6 It is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a connecting arm in a folding mechanism of an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] Figure 7 It is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a rotating mechanism in a folding mechanism of an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] Figure 8 It is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a rotating shaft support member in the folding mechanism of an embodiment of the present application.

[0036] Reference numerals:

[0037] U-shaped outer cover 10, body 11, baffle plate 12, accommodating space 13, left support frame 210, first support plate 211, first connecting plate 212, guide member 213, guide groove 214, right support frame 220, second support plate 221, second connecting plate 222, support plate 30, main support plate 310, first axis hole 311, first mounting hole 312, side plate 313, fifth pin 3131, sixth pin 3132, second mounting hole 3133, sub-support plate 314, wiring hole 315, left support plate 320, second axis hole 321, third pin 322, right support plate 330, third axis hole 331, fourth pin 332, first pin 340, second pin 350, left connecting rod assembly 410, left first connecting rod 411, left first connecting end 4111, left second connecting rod 412, left second connecting end 4121, seventh pin 4122, right first connecting rod 421, right second connecting rod 422, left connecting arm 610, right connecting arm 620, first groove 630, second groove 640, first slide groove 650, eighth pin 651, second slide groove 660, limiting hole 670, rotating mechanism 50, first rotating shaft 510, gear 511, rotating shaft support 512, first through hole 5121, second through hole 5122, mounting hole 5123, limiting part 5124, rotating control part 513, spring 514, gasket 515, nut 516, cam 530, first protrusion 5301, arc-shaped incision 5303, concave wheel 540, second protrusion 5401, second rotating shaft 520, flexible screen 70. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0039] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside" and the like indicate positions or positional relationships based on the positions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, which are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present invention, the meaning of "multiple" is two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0040] In this application, the word "exemplary" is used to mean "serving as an example, illustration, or illustration." Any embodiment described in this application as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as being preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The following description is given to enable any person skilled in the art to implement and use the invention. In the following description, details are listed for the purpose of explanation. It should be understood that a person of ordinary skill in the art can recognize that the invention can be implemented without using these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and processes are not elaborated in detail to avoid obscuring the description of the invention with unnecessary details. Therefore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is consistent with the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed in this application.

[0041] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the embodiment of the present application provides a folding mechanism that can be used for folding a flexible display screen 70. The folding mechanism in the present application can be applied to electronic devices with a flexible display screen 70, such as mobile phones, computers, electronic watches, etc. The folding mechanism includes a U-shaped outer cover 10, a left support frame 210, a right support frame 220, a foldable and unfoldable support plate 30, and a connecting rod assembly 410.

[0042] The support plate 30 includes a main support plate 310, and a left support plate 320 and a right support plate 330 which are arranged on the left and right sides of the main support plate 310 and are rotatably connected to the main support plate 310 respectively. The support plate 30 provides support for the flexible display screen 70 when in the unfolded state, and forms a storage space (not shown in the figure) for storing the bent part of the flexible display screen 70 when in the folded state. When the folding mechanism is folded, the flexible display screen 70 supported on the support plate 30 is bent accordingly. Since the flexible display screen 70 has a certain thickness, the length of its outer arc surface will become longer during the folding process, while the length of the inner arc surface will be compressed and shortened. Although the change in the length of the inner and outer arcs of the flexible display screen 70 is small during the folding process, the folding mechanism must adapt to the change in the length of the inner and outer arcs of the flexible display screen 70, otherwise it will be squeezed and damaged by the flexible display screen 70.

[0043] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, for the convenience of production and assembly, the left support frame 210 and the right support frame 220, the left support plate 320 and the right support plate 330, and the left connecting rod assembly 410 and the right connecting rod assembly (not shown in the figure) are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the main supporting plate 310 within the error range. Of course, in other embodiments of the invention, the structure may not be symmetrical.

[0044] In some embodiments of the present invention, a hinge structure may be provided between the main support plate 310 and the left support plate 320 or the right support plate 330. One feasible way is to provide a first shaft hole 311 on both sides of the main support plate 310, and a second shaft hole 321 on the inner side of the left support plate 320 (i.e., the side close to the main support plate 310). The first pin 340 simultaneously passes through the first shaft hole 311 on the left side of the main support plate 310 and the second shaft hole 321 on the left support plate 320, so that the left support plate 320 can rotate around the first pin 340, thereby realizing the rotational connection between the left support plate 320 and the main support plate 310. Similarly, a third shaft hole 331 is provided at the inner side end of the right support plate 330 (i.e., the side close to the main support plate 310), and the second pin 350 simultaneously passes through the first shaft hole 311 on the right side of the main support plate 310 and the third shaft hole 331 on the right support plate 330, so that the right support plate 330 can rotate around the second pin 350.

[0045] Specifically, see Figure 1 and Figure 5The main support plate 310 includes a sub-support plate 314 and a pair of side plates 313 that are bent and extended from both ends of the sub-support plate 314 toward the U-shaped outer cover 10. Two first shaft holes 311 are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the sub-support plate 314, and the two first shaft holes 311 on the same side are arranged close to the two ends of the sub-support plate 314. Four second shaft holes 321 are arranged on the inner side of the left support plate 320, and two second shaft holes 321 are arranged at each end. At the same end, the first shaft hole 311 on the left end of the sub-support plate 314 is arranged between the two second shaft holes 322 on the left support plate 320, and the first pin 340 passes through the two second shaft holes 321 and the one first shaft hole 311 at the same time to fix and form a hinge. A hinge is provided at each end of the sub-support plate 314 and the left support plate 320, so that the left support plate 320 can be more stable during rotation; at the same time, a cable hole 315 for the cable to pass through is formed between the two hinges of the sub-support plate 314 and the left support plate 320, so that the structure of the folding mechanism can be more compact. The connection method of the right support plate 330 and the sub-support plate 314 is the same, and will not be repeated here.

[0046] See also Figure 3 In this embodiment, the U-shaped outer cover 10 includes a body 11 and a baffle plate 12 disposed at both ends of the body 11. The bottom surface of the body 11 extends upward near the two ends to form a cylindrical platform 111. The cylindrical platform 111 is provided with a threaded hole along its top surface toward the bottom surface of the body 11. A first mounting hole 312 is provided at the corresponding position at both ends of the main support plate 310. A pair of bolts pass through the first mounting hole 312 and the threaded holes on the cylindrical platform 111 to fix the main support plate 310 on the U-shaped outer cover 10. The side plate 313 is disposed above the baffle plate 12 or on the side of the baffle plate 12 away from the cylindrical platform 111. The main support plate 310 and the U-shaped outer cover 10 enclose a receiving space 13, which can be used to accommodate components such as cables and shafts, so that the structure of the folding mechanism can be more compact and smaller in size.

[0047] The left support plate 320 is provided with an "L"-shaped cutout at both ends of the side away from the main support plate 310, and a third pin shaft 322 is formed by extending from the bottom surface of the "L"-shaped cutout along the length direction of the left support plate 320, and a guide groove matched with the third pin shaft 322 is provided on the left support frame 210. Specifically, the left support frame 210 includes a first support plate 211 arranged along the length direction of the support plate, two guide members 213, and a pair of first connecting plates 212 bent and extended from both ends of the first support plate 211 toward the main support plate 310, and the two guide members 213 are fixed at both ends of the first support plate 211 and correspond to the positions of the "L"-shaped cutout on the left support plate 320. The guide member 213 has a guide groove 214, and the third pin shaft 322 is arranged in the guide groove 214. During the folding process of the folding mechanism, the guide member 213 follows the left support frame 210 , and the third pin shaft 322 slides along the side wall of the guide groove 214 , and drives the left support plate 320 to rotate around the first pin shaft 340 .

[0048] Similarly, the right support plate 330 is provided with an "L"-shaped cutout at both ends of the side away from the main support plate 310, and a fourth pin 332 is formed extending from the bottom surface of the "L"-shaped cutout along the length direction of the right support plate 320, and a guide groove matched with the fourth pin 332 is provided on the right support frame 220. Specifically, the right support frame 220 includes a second support plate 221 arranged along the length direction of the support plate, a guide member 213, and a second connecting plate 222 extending from both ends of the second support plate 221 toward the main support plate 310, and the guide member 213 is fixed to both ends of the second support plate 221. The guide member 213 has a guide groove 214, and the fourth pin 332 is arranged in the guide groove 214. During the folding process of the folding mechanism, the guide member 213 follows the right support frame 220, and the third pin 332 slides along the side wall of the guide groove 214, and drives the right support plate 330 to rotate around the second pin 350.

[0049] In this embodiment, each connecting rod assembly has a first connecting end and a second connecting end, the first connecting end is rotatably connected to the U-shaped outer cover 10, and the second connecting end is rotatably connected to the left support frame 210 or the right support frame 220.

[0050] Specifically, two pairs of connecting rod assemblies are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the U-shaped outer cover 10. The pair of connecting rod assemblies 410 on the left side are respectively arranged at the two ends of the left support plate 320, and the pair of connecting rod assemblies on the right side are respectively arranged at the two ends of the right support plate 330. Each connecting rod assembly includes a first connecting rod (411; 421) and a second connecting rod (412; 422). One end of the left first connecting rod 411 and one end of the left second connecting rod 412 are both provided with through holes, and a pin is inserted into the through holes on the left first connecting rod 411 and the left second connecting rod 412 at the same time to form a hinge structure. The other end of the left first connecting rod 411 is the first connecting end 4111 of the left connecting rod assembly 410, and the other end of the left second connecting rod 412 is the second connecting end 4121 of the left connecting rod assembly 410. The right connecting rod assembly has the same structure as the left connecting rod assembly 410, and will not be repeated here.

[0051] See also Figures 3 to 5 The left end of the side plate 313 at both ends of the main support plate (the end close to the left support frame 210) extends toward the side away from the accommodating space 13 to form a pair of fifth pins 3131, and the right end of the side plate 313 (the end close to the right support frame 220) extends toward the side away from the accommodating space 13 to form a pair of sixth pins 3132. The other end (i.e., the left first connecting end 4111) of the pair of left connecting rod assemblies 410 is provided with a mounting hole matched with the fifth pin 3131, and the first connecting rod 411 can be rotated around the fifth pin 3131 by inserting the fifth pin 3131 into the mounting hole of the first connecting rod 411. One end of the right first connecting rod 421 of the pair of right connecting rod assemblies is provided with a mounting hole matched with the sixth pin 121, and the right first connecting rod 421 can be rotated around the sixth pin 3132 by inserting the sixth pin 121 into the mounting hole at one end of the right first connecting rod 421.

[0052] A pair of first connecting plates 212 on the left support frame 210 are respectively provided with mounting holes, and the other end of the left second connecting rod 412 in the pair of left connecting rod assemblies 410 extends toward one side of the left support frame 210 to form a seventh pin 4122, and the seventh pin 4122 is inserted into the mounting hole (not shown) of the first connecting plate 212 and fixed, so that the left second connecting rod 412 can rotate around the seventh pin 4122. In this embodiment, each left connecting rod assembly 410 includes a left first connecting rod 411 and a left second connecting rod 412, one end of the left first connecting rod 411 and one end of the left second connecting rod 412 are hinged, the other end of the left first connecting rod 411 is rotatably connected to the fifth pin 3131 on the U-shaped outer cover, and the other end of the left second connecting rod 412 is rotatably connected to the connecting plate 212 on the left support frame 210, so that the left first connecting rod 411, the left second connecting rod 412 and the left support frame 210 form a left crank slider mechanism. When the folding mechanism is folded, one end of the second connecting rod 412 (i.e., the left first connecting end 4111) drives the left support frame 210 to move away from the U-shaped outer cover 10 during the rotation process, thereby compensating for the change in the length of the outer arc of the flexible display screen 70 during the folding process, and preventing the flexible display screen 70 from being squeezed and damaged during the folding process. The arrangement of the pair of right connecting rod assemblies is the same as that of the left side, and will not be repeated here.

[0053] During the folding process of the folding mechanism, the first support plate 211 of the left support frame 210 and the second support plate 221 of the right support frame 220 approach each other during the folding process, and drive the left and right connecting rod assemblies to rotate, and one end of the second connecting rod (412; 422), that is, the second connecting end of the connecting rod assembly moves toward one end (that is, the first connecting end of the connecting rod assembly) away from the first connecting rod (411; 421), thereby driving the left support frame 210 and the right support frame 220 to move in a direction away from the U-shaped outer cover 10, thereby compensating for the change in the outer arc length of the flexible display screen 70 during the folding process. At the same time, the first support plate 211 and the second support plate 221 drive the guide member 213 thereon to rotate, and the guide member 213 drives the third pin shaft 322 and the fourth pin shaft 332 to slide along the side wall of the guide groove 214, and drives the left support plate 320 and the right support plate 330 to rotate, so as to realize the folding of the support plate 30.

[0054] See also Figure 3 and Figure 7, the folding mechanism further includes a rotating mechanism 50, a left connecting arm 610, and a right connecting arm 620. The rotating mechanism 50 includes a pair of first rotating shafts 510 and a pair of second rotating shafts 520, and the first rotating shafts 510 and the second rotating shafts 520 are both provided with mutually meshing gears 511, and the gears 511 are fixedly connected to the first rotating shafts 510 and the second rotating shafts 520. Specifically, the folding mechanism includes a pair of rotating mechanisms 50. The pair of second rotating shafts 520 of each rotating mechanism 50 is arranged between the pair of first rotating shafts 510, and the pair of second rotating shafts 520 are provided with a pair of mutually meshing gears 511, and the pair of gears 511 on the pair of first rotating shafts 510 are respectively meshed with the gears 511 on the second rotating shafts 520 on the same side, and the pair of first rotating shafts 510 and the pair of second rotating shafts 520 are synchronously rotated through the two pairs of gears 511, thereby realizing the synchronous rotation of the left and right sides of the main support plate 310. Providing a pair of second rotating shafts 520 between a pair of first rotating shafts 510 can effectively increase the stability of the rotating mechanism 50, while increasing the distance between the pair of first rotating shafts 510, so that the storage space of the curved portion of the flexible display screen 70 formed after the folding mechanism is folded is larger.

[0055] In some other embodiments of the present invention, the rotating mechanism 50 may also only include a pair of first rotating shafts 510 , and a pair of gears 511 on the pair of first rotating shafts 510 mesh with each other to achieve synchronous rotation of the pair of first rotating shafts 510 .

[0056] In this embodiment, the main support plate 310 and the U-shaped outer cover 10 enclose a receiving space 13, and the rotating mechanism 50 is arranged in the receiving space 13; the side plates 313 at both ends of the main support plate 310 are provided with second mounting holes 3133 communicating with the receiving space 13, one end of the pair of first rotating shafts 510 passes through the pair of second mounting holes 3133 to extend outward and are respectively fixedly connected to the inner ends (one end close to the U-shaped outer cover) of the left connecting arm 610 and the right connecting arm 620, and the other ends of the pair of first rotating shafts 510 are suspended in the receiving space 13. In this embodiment, the rotating mechanism 50 is arranged in the receiving space 13, which can reduce the interference of external conditions on the rotating mechanism 50 and improve the stability of the folding mechanism.

[0057] A pair of first rotating shafts 510 of the rotating mechanism 50 are sleeved with gears 511, rotating shaft support members 512, rotating control members 513, springs 514, washers 515, and nuts 516 in sequence. The rotating shaft support member 512 is fixed to the side of the main supporting plate 310 away from the flexible screen, one end of the rotating control member 513 abuts against the rotating shaft support member 512, and the other end thereof abuts against one end of the spring 514, the other end of the spring 514 abuts against the washers 515, and the washers 515 abut against the nuts 516, a threaded structure is provided at the suspended end of the first rotating shaft 510, and the pair of nuts 516 are locked to the end of the pair of first rotating shafts 510 suspended at one end of the accommodating space 13. The folding mechanism needs to be folded and unfolded repeatedly during use, and the number of folding times needs to reach thousands of times. Therefore, the stability requirements for the rotating mechanism 50 are relatively high. In this embodiment, the nut 516 is used in conjunction with the thread on the first rotating shaft 510 to provide a stable and lasting locking force, thereby providing a stable and lasting holding force to the gasket 515, which can effectively improve the stability of the rotating mechanism 50.

[0058] Specifically, the top surface of the shaft support 512 is provided with a mounting hole 5123, and a bolt passes through the mounting hole 5123 to fix the shaft support 512 to the bottom surface of the U-shaped housing 10. The side surface of the shaft support 512 is provided with a pair of first through holes 5121 and a pair of second through holes 5122, and the pair of first shafts 510 pass through the pair of first through holes 5121 and can rotate in the first through holes 5121. The pair of second shafts 520 pass through the pair of second through holes 5122 and can rotate in the second through holes 5122.

[0059] The rotation control member 513 includes a pair of cams 530 and a cam wheel 540 matched with the cam 530. The cam 530 is fixed on the first rotating shaft 510 and rotates with the first rotating shaft 510. The cam wheel 540 is provided with a pair of through holes (not shown in the figure). The cam wheel 540 is sleeved on the pair of first rotating shafts 510 through the through holes. The matching surfaces of the cam 530 and the cam wheel 540 are tooth-shaped structures. When the folding mechanism is folded, the cam wheel 540 can slide along the first rotating shaft 510 to squeeze the spring 514.

[0060] Specifically, the cam 530 extends outwardly on one side facing the concave wheel 540 to form a plurality of first protrusions 5301, and a plurality of first recessed portions (not shown in the figure) are formed between two adjacent first protrusions 5301. The concave wheel 540 is provided with a second recessed portion (not shown in the figure) matched with the first protrusion 5301 and a second protrusion 5401 matched with the first recessed portion on one side facing the cam 530. The first protrusion, the second protrusion, the first recessed portion and the side surfaces of the second recessed portion are all smooth inclined surfaces. When the folding mechanism is in the unfolded or folded state, the first protrusion 5301 and the first recessed portion on the concave wheel 540 are respectively meshed with the second recessed portion and the second protrusion 5401 on the cam 530, so that the folding mechanism is maintained in the unfolded or folded state. When the folding mechanism starts to fold, the cam 530 rotates with the first rotating shaft 510, that is, the first protruding piece 5301 rotates with the first rotating shaft 510, and the first protruding piece 5301 slides along the side wall of the second recessed portion during the rotation process and squeezes the concave wheel 540, and the concave wheel 540 slides along the first rotating shaft 510 and squeezes the spring 514 to deform the spring, and when the first protruding piece 5301 passes over the adjacent second protruding piece 5401 and enters the adjacent second recessed portion, a prompt feeling or sound of folding in place is generated, and the first protruding piece 5301 is stuck in the second recessed portion under the restoring force of the spring 514, and the spring 514 returns to the initial state. The number of the first protruding pieces 5301, the number of the second protruding pieces 5401, and the torque when the folding mechanism is folded can be set according to specific needs.

[0061] See also Figure 7 and Figure 8 In this embodiment, an arc-shaped cutout 5303 is provided at one end of the cam 530 away from the concave wheel 540, and a stopper 5124 for limiting the rotation direction and maximum rotation range of the first rotating shaft 510 is provided at a position corresponding to the arc-shaped cutout 5303 of the rotating shaft support member 512. For example, when the folding mechanism is folded outward in the unfolded state or when the folding mechanism has been rotated to a preset maximum rotation angle, the stopper 5121 abuts against the side wall of the arc-shaped cutout 5303 to prevent the pair of first rotating shafts 510 from rotating relative to each other.

[0062] See also Figure 1 and Figure 6In this embodiment, the left connecting arm 610 and the right connecting arm 620 are respectively provided with a first groove 630 on one side facing the support plate 30, and the first connecting rod (411; 421) is arranged in the first groove 630 and can rotate in the first groove 630. The left connecting arm 610 and the right connecting arm 620 are respectively provided with a second groove 640 on one side facing away from the support plate 30, and the second connecting rod (412; 422) is arranged in the second groove 640 and can rotate in the second groove 640. The projection surfaces of the first groove 630 and the second groove 640 at least partially overlap, and a first slide groove 650 is arranged in the overlapping portion, and the first slide groove 650 connects the first groove 630 and the second groove 640. One end of the first connecting rod (411; 421) and one end of the second connecting rod (412; 422) are both provided with through holes, and an eighth pin 651 passes through the first slide groove 650 and is respectively inserted into the through holes of the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod for fixing, so that the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod can rotate around the eighth pin 651. The bottom surface of the second groove 640 is provided with a second slide groove 660, and the seventh pin 4122 on the second connecting rod passes through the second slide groove 660 and is inserted into the mounting hole of the first connecting plate 212 for fixing, and the seventh pin 4122 can slide along the second slide groove 660. The first groove 630 is adapted to the motion track of the first connecting rod, the second groove 640 is adapted to the motion track of the second connecting rod, the first slide groove 650 is adapted to the rotation track of the eighth pin 651, and the second slide groove 660 is adapted to the rotation track of the seventh pin 4122.

[0063] The folding mechanism provided in the embodiment of the present application is introduced in detail above. The principle and implementation mode of the present invention are explained in detail by using specific examples herein. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method of the present invention and its core idea. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, according to the idea of ​​the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation mode and the scope of application. In summary, the content of this specification should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

Claims

1. A folding mechanism, characterized in that: The folding mechanism includes a U-shaped outer cover, a left support frame, a right support frame, a foldable and unfoldable support plate, and a connecting rod assembly, wherein: The support plate includes a main support plate, and a left support plate and a right support plate which are arranged on the left and right sides of the main support plate and are respectively rotatably connected to the main support plate, and the main support plate is fixed on the U-shaped outer cover; The left support frame and the right support frame are both provided with guide grooves, and the left support plate and the right support plate are both provided with pin shafts, the left support plate is supported on the left support frame, and the pin shaft on the left support plate is inserted into the guide groove of the left support frame and can slide along the guide groove; the right support plate is supported on the right support frame, and the pin shaft on the right support plate is inserted into the guide groove of the right support frame and can slide along the guide groove; The connecting rod assembly is arranged on the left and right sides of the U-shaped outer cover, and the connecting rod assembly has a first connecting end and a second connecting end, the first connecting end is rotatably connected to the U-shaped outer cover, and the second connecting end is rotatably connected to the left support frame or the right support frame, when the folding mechanism is folded, the second connecting end moves in a direction away from the first connecting end, and drives the left support frame and the right support frame to move in a direction away from the U-shaped outer cover; when the folding mechanism is unfolded, the second connecting end moves in a direction close to the first connecting end, and drives the left support frame and the right support frame to move in a direction close to the U-shaped outer cover.

2. The folding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The folding mechanism also includes a rotating mechanism, a left connecting arm, and a right connecting arm; The rotating mechanism comprises at least one pair of rotating shafts, each of which is provided with a gear, the gear being fixed on the rotating shaft, and the plurality of rotating shafts are geared to each other through the gear engagement thereon; The main support plate and the U-shaped outer cover are enclosed to form an accommodating space, and the rotating mechanism is arranged in the accommodating space; the side plates at both ends of the main support plate are provided with through holes connected to the accommodating space, one end of the pair of rotating shafts extends outward through the through holes and is respectively fixedly connected to the inner ends of the left connecting arm and the right connecting arm, and the other ends of the pair of rotating shafts are suspended in the accommodating space; The outer end of the left connecting arm is slidably connected to the left supporting frame; The outer end of the right connecting arm is slidably connected to the right supporting frame.

3. The folding mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: The connecting rod assembly includes a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod, one end of the first connecting rod is hinged to one end of the second connecting rod, the other end of the first connecting rod is the first connecting end of the connecting rod assembly, and the other end of the second connecting rod is the second connecting end of the connecting rod assembly.

4. The folding mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that: A first groove is provided on one side of the left connecting arm and the right connecting arm facing the supporting plate, and the first connecting rod is arranged in the first groove and can rotate in the first groove; A second groove is provided on one side of the left connecting arm and the right connecting arm facing away from the support plate, the second connecting rod is arranged in the second groove, the projection surfaces of the first groove and the second groove at least partially overlap, and a first slide groove is provided in the overlapping portion, the first slide groove connects the first groove and the second groove; One end of the first connecting rod and one end of the second connecting rod are both provided with through holes, and a pin passes through the first sliding groove and is respectively inserted into the through holes of the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod for fixing; The other end of the second connecting rod extends outward toward one side of the support plate to form a pin shaft, and the bottom surface of the second groove is provided with a second slide groove, and the pin shaft on the second connecting rod is inserted into the second slide groove and can slide in the second slide groove; The shapes of the first groove, the second groove, the first slide groove and the second slide groove are adapted to the rotation trajectory of the connecting rod assembly.

5. The folding mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: The left connecting arm and the right connecting arm are provided with limiting holes on one side away from the supporting plate, and the left supporting frame and the right supporting frame are provided with limiting members, which are arranged in the limiting holes and can slide along the limiting holes.

6. The folding mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: The rotating mechanism comprises a pair of first rotating shafts, and gears, a rotating shaft support, a rotating control member, a spring, a gasket, and a nut which are sequentially sleeved on the pair of first rotating shafts, the rotating shaft support member is fixed in the accommodating space, one end of the rotating control member abuts against the rotating shaft support member, and the other end thereof abuts against one end of the spring, the other end of the spring abuts against the gasket, the gasket abuts against the nut, and the nut is locked at the end of the first rotating shaft; When the folding mechanism is folded, the rotation control member can slide along the direction of the rotation axis to compress the spring.

7. The folding mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that: The rotation control member includes a pair of cams and a concave wheel matched with the cams. The cams are fixed on the first rotating shaft and can rotate with the first rotating shaft. The concave wheel is provided with a pair of through holes. The concave wheel is sleeved on the pair of first rotating shafts through the through holes and is rotatably connected with the pair of first rotating shafts. The matching surfaces of the cam and the concave wheel are toothed structures.

8. The folding mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that: An arc-shaped cutout is arranged at one end of the cam away from the concave wheel, and a limiting portion matching with the arc-shaped cutout is arranged on the rotating shaft support.

9. The folding mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that: The rotating mechanism further includes a pair of second rotating shafts, and the pair of second rotating shafts are arranged between the pair of first rotating shafts.

10. The folding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: A cable routing hole is provided between the main support plate and the left support plate and / or the right support plate.

11. A communication device, characterized in that: It comprises a flexible display screen and the folding mechanism described in any one of claims 1-10.

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