TURNTABLE

Abstract

The torque of a rotary device at the time of starting is improved. A rotary device (100) includes an output shaft (16, 23), a one-way clutch (31), a motor (40) which is coupled directly or indirectly to the output shaft (16, 23) via the one-way clutch (31), and a control device (50), wherein the motor (40) is rotatable in a first direction (R1) and a second direction (R2), the one-way clutch (31) transmits the rotation of the motor (40) in the first direction (R1), the control device (50) outputs a first signal (Sa) and, after outputting the first signal (Sa), outputs a second signal (Sb), the motor (40) rotates in the second direction (R2) after receiving the input of the first signal (Sa), and the motor (40) rotates in the first direction (R1) after receiving the input of the second signal (Sb).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The revelation refers to a rotary device. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] A rotary device is known from the prior art. In this rotary device, the rotational force of a motor is transmitted to a shaft via a gear and a one-way coupling. Examples of such a rotary device include a motor drive unit of a bicycle with an electric auxiliary drive. For example, patent document 1 discloses a bicycle with an electric auxiliary drive including a control unit that regulates a driving force by a motor according to a pedal force, while maintaining a motor voltage at least at a voltage that achieves a motor speed corresponding to a vehicle speed. LITERATURE LIST Patent literature

[0003] Patent Document 1: JP 2000-062681 A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Problem

[0004] With this type of rotary device, it is sometimes desirable to obtain maximum torque when starting under high load. However, since the torque of a motor varies depending on the size of the difference between the rotor's rotation angle and the rotor's rotation angle detected by a sensor, a suitable torque is not always obtained, depending on the rotor's position at the time of starting.

[0005] An example of the tasks of the present invention is to improve the torque of a rotary device at the time of starting. Solution to the problem

[0006] A rotary device according to the present invention includes: an output shaft; a one-way clutch; a motor which is coupled directly or indirectly to the output shaft via the one-way clutch; and a control device, wherein the motor is rotatable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, the one-way clutch transmits the rotation of the motor in the first direction, the control device outputs a first signal and, after outputting the first signal, outputs a second signal, the motor rotates in the second direction after receiving the input of the first signal, and the motor rotates in the first direction after receiving the input of the second signal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic view of a rotary device according to an embodiment as an example of the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a motor drive control device and a motor of the rotary device according to the embodiment as an example of the present invention. Fig. Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the control flow through the motor drive control device of the rotary device according to the embodiment as an example of the present invention. Fig. Figure 4 is a curve diagram showing an example of the relationship between the rotation angle (electrical angle) of a rotor and the torque of the motor (ratio to maximum torque) within a range where the rotation angle of the rotor, as detected by sensors, is constant. Fig. Figure 5 is a schematic view of a rotary device according to a modification example of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF EXECUTION FORMS

[0007] In the description of the embodiment of the present invention, for illustrative purposes, an arrow direction a (direction from a motor 40 to a first gear 11) along an axis X is shown. Fig. One side is defined as the other. An arrow direction b (direction from the first gear 11 to the motor 40) along the axis X is defined as the other side. Here, the arrow directions a and b are referred to as an axial direction.

[0008] A first embodiment, which is an example of the present invention, is described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic view of a rotary device 100 according to the present embodiment. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the rotary device 100 includes a reduction gear set 10, which further includes gears (a first gear 11, a second gear 12, a third gear 13, a fourth gear 14 and a fifth gear 15) and an output gear 16, which forms part of an output shaft, a first shaft 21, a second shaft 22, a third shaft 23, which forms another part of the output shaft, a first one-way clutch 31, a second one-way clutch 32, a third one-way clutch 33, a motor 40, a motor drive control device 50 as a control device and a housing 60.

[0009] In Fig. Figure 1 shows the first gear 11, the second gear 12, the third gear 13, the fourth gear 14, the fifth gear 15, the output gear 16, the first one-way coupling 31, the second one-way coupling 32, and the third one-way coupling 33 as schematic cross-sectional views for the sake of simplicity, although this does not necessarily mean that all cross-sections are in the same plane. Fig. The teeth of the first gear 11, which is attached to a shaft S of the motor 40, the second gear 12, the third gear 13, the fourth gear 14, the fifth gear 15 and the output gear 16 have been omitted.

[0010] The motor 40 is rotatable about the axis X in a first direction R1 and a second direction R2, which is opposite to the first direction R1. In the present embodiment, if the output shaft (shaft S) of the motor 40 is viewed axially from one side (arrow direction a) to the other side (arrow direction b), a clockwise direction of rotation is defined as the first direction R1 and a counterclockwise direction of rotation is defined as the second direction R2.

[0011] The first gear 11 is a gear that is directly coupled to the output shaft (shaft S) of the motor 40 and has an overall substantially cylindrical shape. Near the first gear 11, the first shaft 21, which is cylindrical or substantially cylindrical, extends parallel to the axis X of the motor 40. The first shaft 21 is rotatably mounted in the housing 60 by means of a bearing (not shown) or the like.

[0012] The second gear 12 and the third gear 13 are arranged coaxially on the first shaft 21 in this order of proximity to the motor 40 (in order from the other side (arrow direction b) to one side (arrow direction a) in the axial direction). The second gear 12 and the third gear 13 can be arranged in any order, and the third gear 13 and the second gear 12 can be arranged in this order of proximity to the motor 40. The second gear 12 is a gear that essentially has a ring shape overall and is attached to the first shaft 21 via the first one-way coupling 31. The second gear 12 is meshed with the first gear 11.An inner circumferential surface of the second gear 12 (a circumferential surface on a side closer to the first shaft 21) is attached to an outer circumferential surface of the first one-way coupling 31 (a circumferential surface on a side farther from the first shaft 21). An inner circumferential surface of the first one-way coupling 31 (a circumferential surface on a side closer to the first shaft 21) is attached to an outer circumferential surface of the first shaft 21.

[0013] The first one-way coupling 31 is configured to transmit the rotation of the motor 40 in the first direction R1 to the first shaft 21 and not to transmit the rotation of the motor 40 in the second direction R2 to the first shaft 21. When the motor 40 rotates in the first direction R1, the first gear 11 also rotates in the first direction R1. Then the second gear 12, which is meshed with the first gear 11, rotates in the opposite direction to the first direction R1, that is, in the second direction R2. The first one-way coupling 31 transmits the rotation of the second gear 12 in the second direction R2 to the first shaft 21 and thereby transmits the rotation of the motor 40 in the first direction R1 to the first shaft 21. Furthermore, the first one-way coupling 31 does not transmit the rotation of the second gear 12 in the first direction R1 to the first shaft 21 and thus does not transmit the rotation of the motor 40 in the second direction R2 to the first shaft 21.

[0014] The third gear 13 is essentially a disc-shaped gear and is directly attached to the first shaft 21. An inner circumferential surface of the third gear 13 (a circumferential surface on the side closer to the first shaft 21) is press-fitted or bonded to an outer circumferential surface of the first shaft 21. Therefore, the third gear 13 rotates together with the first shaft 21. The third gear 13 and the first shaft 21 can be formed as a single piece.

[0015] Near the first shaft 21, the second shaft 22, which is cylindrical or substantially cylindrical in shape, extends parallel to the axis X of the motor 40 and the first shaft 21. The second shaft 22 is rotatably mounted in the housing 60 via a bearing or the like (not shown).

[0016] The fifth gear 15 and the fourth gear 14 are arranged coaxially on the second shaft 22 in this order of proximity to the motor 40 (in order from the other side (arrow direction b) to one side (arrow direction a) in the axial direction). The fourth gear 14 and the fifth gear 15 can be arranged in any order, and the fourth gear 14 and the fifth gear 15 can be arranged in this order of proximity to the motor 40. The fourth gear 14 is a gear that essentially has a ring shape overall and is attached to the second shaft 22 via the second one-way coupling 32. The fourth gear 14 is meshed with the third gear 13.An inner circumferential surface of the fourth gear 14 (a circumferential surface on a side closer to the second shaft 22) is attached to an outer circumferential surface of the second one-way coupling 32 (a circumferential surface on a side farther from the second shaft 22). An inner circumferential surface of the second one-way coupling 32 (a circumferential surface on a side closer to the second shaft 22) is attached to an outer circumferential surface of the second shaft 22.

[0017] The second one-way coupling 32 is configured to transmit the rotation of the motor 40 in the first direction R1 to the second shaft 22 and not to transmit the rotation of the motor 40 in the second direction R2 to the second shaft 22. When the motor 40 rotates in the first direction R1, the third gear 13 rotates in the second direction R2. Then the fourth gear 14, which is meshed with the third gear 13, rotates in the opposite direction to the second direction R2, that is, in the first direction R1. The second one-way coupling 32 transmits the rotation of the fourth gear 14 in the first direction R1 to the second shaft 22 and thereby transmits the rotation of the motor 40 in the first direction R1 to the second shaft 22. Furthermore, the second one-way coupling 32 does not transmit the rotation of the fourth gear 14 in the second direction R2 to the second shaft 22 and thus does not transmit the rotation of the motor 40 in the second direction R2 to the second shaft 22.

[0018] The fifth gear 15 is essentially a disc-shaped gear and is directly attached to the second shaft 22. An inner circumferential surface of the fifth gear 15 (a circumferential surface on the side closer to the second shaft 22) is press-fitted or bonded to an outer circumferential surface of the second shaft 22. Therefore, the fifth gear 15 rotates together with the second shaft 22. The fifth gear 15 and the second shaft 22 can be formed as a single piece.

[0019] Near the second shaft 22, the third shaft 23, which is cylindrical or substantially cylindrical in shape, extends parallel to the axis X of the motor 40, the first shaft 21, and the second shaft 22. The third shaft 23 includes an end section 23a on one end and an end section 23b on the other. The third shaft 23 is rotatably mounted in the housing 60 by means of a bearing or the like (not shown). The third shaft 23 penetrates the housing 60 in the axial direction. The end section 23a of the third shaft 23 projects on one side (direction of arrow a) of the housing 60. The end section 23b of the third shaft 23 projects on the other side (direction of arrow b) of the housing 60. If the rotating device 100 is a motor drive unit of a bicycle with an electric auxiliary drive, the third shaft 23 is a crankshaft.

[0020] The output gear 16, which forms part of the output shaft, is located near the end section 23b of the third shaft 23 on the opposite side in the axial direction. The output gear 16 includes a substantially annular gear section 16a and a substantially cylindrical projection section 16b, which is provided coaxially with the gear section 16a and projects from the gear section 16a in the axial direction to the opposite side (direction of arrow b). The projection section 16b can have a gear-shaped or a helical section, depending on requirements. The gear section 16a of the output gear 16 is located inside the housing 60, and the projection section 16b of the output gear 16, together with the end section 23b of the third shaft 23, projects through the housing 60 in the axial direction (direction of arrow b) to the opposite side.

[0021] The toothed portion 16a of the output gear 16 is attached to the third shaft 23 via the third one-way coupling 33. The output gear 16 is meshed with the fifth gear 15. An inner circumferential surface of the toothed portion 16a of the output gear 16 (a circumferential surface on a side closer to the third shaft 23) is attached to an outer circumferential surface of the third one-way coupling 33 (a circumferential surface on a side farther from the third shaft 23). An inner circumferential surface of the third one-way coupling 33 (a circumferential surface on a side closer to the third shaft 23) is attached to an outer circumferential surface of the third shaft 23.

[0022] The third one-way coupling 33 is configured to transmit the rotation of the third shaft 23 relative to the output gear 16 in one direction and not transmit the rotation in the other direction. For example, if the rotating device 100 is a motor drive unit of a bicycle with an electric auxiliary drive and the crankshaft (third shaft 23) is rotated backwards by pedaling backwards, the third shaft 23 rotates in the first direction R1 relative to the output gear 16, but at this time the rotation of the third shaft 23 is not transmitted to the output gear 16.Conversely, when the pedal is pressed to rotate the crankshaft (third shaft 23) forward, and the third shaft 23 rotates in the second direction R2 relative to the output gear 16 to propel the electrically assisted bicycle forward, the rotation of the third shaft 23 is transmitted to the output gear 16. A chainring (not shown) is attached to the projection 16b of the output gear 16 via a hub or the like (not shown), and the driving force is transmitted to the rear wheel via a roller chain or the like wound around the chainring. At this point, the rotational force of the motor 40 in the first direction R1 assists the rotation of the output gear 16 in the second direction R2, thereby reducing the force required to pedal.

[0023] As described above, the motor 40 is coupled to the first gear 11, the second gear 12, the first one-way clutch 31, the first shaft 21, the third gear 13, the fourth gear 14, the second one-way clutch 32, the second shaft 22, the fifth gear 15, and the output gear 16 in that order, and the motor 40 is further coupled to the third shaft 23 via the third one-way clutch 33. Therefore, the motor 40 is coupled directly or indirectly, via the first one-way clutch 31, to the output gear 16, which forms part of the output shaft, and to the third shaft 23, which forms another part of the output shaft.

[0024] Fig. Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the motor drive control device 50 and the motor 40 of the rotary device 100. The motor drive control device 50 includes, for example, a control circuit 51 and a drive circuit 52. The components of the in Fig. The two illustrated motor drive control devices 50 are part of the whole, and the motor drive control device 50 can be used in addition to those shown in Fig. The two illustrated components may include further components.

[0025] For example, motor 40 is a brushless DC motor with coils Lu, Lv, and Lw, corresponding to three phases (U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase). Motor 40 includes sensors (sensors 41u, 41v, and 41w) for detecting the rotation angle of a rotor (not shown) (the rotation angle of the motor). Sensors 41u, 41v, and 41w are located at positions corresponding to coils Lu, Lv, and Lw, respectively. A rotation angle lies within the range of rotation angle of motor 40 that can be detected by sensors 41u, 41v, and 41w. At this rotation angle, the torque of motor 40 reaches its maximum value, or local maximum value.

[0026] In the present embodiment, the sensors 41u, 41v, and 41w are Hall-effect ICs and output signals corresponding to the rotation angles of the rotor. The sensors 41u, 41v, and 41w are arranged, for example, at equal angular intervals from one another (e.g., at intervals of 120 degrees for adjacent sensors) around the rotor of the motor 40. The sensors 41u, 41v, and 41w detect the magnetic poles of the rotor and output signals whose voltage changes according to the rotation of the rotor, as rotation angle detection signals Hu, Hv, and Hw. The rotation angle detection signals Hu, Hv, and Hw are input into the control circuit 51 of the motor drive control device 50.

[0027] The sensors 41u, 41v, and 41w are, for example, positioned at locations where at least one of the rotation angle detection signals Hu, Hv, and Hw is switched when the rotation angle (e.g., 30°) is detected. At this rotation angle, the torque of the motor 40 reaches its maximum value, or its local maximum value. However, the arrangement of sensors 41u, 41v, and 41w is not limited to this configuration.

[0028] The control circuit 51 is a program processing device (e.g., a microcontroller) with a configuration. In this configuration, for example, a processor such as a CPU, various memory devices such as RAM and ROM, and peripheral circuits such as a counter (timer), an A / D conversion circuit, a D / A conversion circuit, a clock generation circuit, and an input / output interface circuit are interconnected via a bus or a dedicated line.

[0029] The control circuit 51 generates a drive control signal Sd for driving the motor 40 based, for example, on an externally input drive command signal Sc, which specifies the desired operating state of the motor 40, and controls the drive of the motor 40. If the rotary device 100 is, for example, a motor drive unit of a bicycle with an electric auxiliary drive, the drive command signal Sc can be a signal that is output as a result of a torque sensor detecting a pedal force exerted on a pedal.The control circuit 51 monitors the rotational state of the motor 40 by receiving information such as the rotation angle, rotational speed, or similar parameters of the motor 40's rotor based on the rotation angle detection signals Hu, Hv, and Hw from the sensors 41u, 41v, and 41w. It also generates the drive control signal Sd and provides the drive command signal Sd to the drive circuit 52 to move the motor 40 into a predefined operating state. The drive control signal Sd is, for example, a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal.

[0030] The drive circuit 52 drives the motor 40 by energizing the coils Lu, Lv, and Lw based on the drive control signal Sd. The drive circuit 52 can, for example, include an inverter circuit for driving the coils Lu, Lv, and Lw of the respective phases, a pre-drive circuit for driving the inverter circuit according to the drive control signal Sd, a current sensing circuit for detecting a current flowing through the coils Lu, Lv, and Lw of the respective phases, and the like.

[0031] The motor drive control device 50 can be configured such that part or all of the control circuit 51 and part or all of the drive circuit 52 are packaged as a single integrated circuit (IC), or can be configured such that the control circuit 51 and the drive circuit 52 are each packaged as separate integrated circuits.

[0032] Next, the control flow of the rotary device 100 according to the present embodiment by the motor drive control device 50 is described. Fig. Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the control flow through the motor drive control device 50.

[0033] First, the control circuit 51 waits for the input of the drive command signal Sc (step S1). When the drive command signal Sc is input to the control circuit 51, the control circuit 51 acquires the rotation angle detection signals Hu, Hv, and Hw from the sensors 41u, 41v, and 41w (step S2). The drive command signal Sc can be input to the control circuit 51 as a variety of signals. Next, the control circuit 51 provides the drive control signal Sd to the drive circuit 52 to rotate the motor 40 in the second direction R2 (to rotate the motor 40 backwards). The drive circuit 52 outputs an excitation pattern (first signal Sa) to the motor 40, causing the motor 40 to rotate in the second direction R2 (to rotate backwards) (step S3).

[0034] The first signal Sa exhibits an excitation pattern in which the excitation phase does not switch between the U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase of motor 40. That is, while the first signal Sa is input, the magnetic field generated by the excited coils Lu, Lv, and Lw remains constant. Therefore, the rotor of motor 40 rotates slightly in the second direction R2 (rotating backwards) and then stops due to the magnetic force between the coils Lu, Lv, and Lw, acting as the stator and rotor. As described above, the first one-way coupling 31 is configured to prevent the rotation of motor 40 in the second direction R2 from being transmitted to the first shaft 21.Therefore, the reverse rotation (rotation in the second direction R2) of the motor 40 caused by the first signal Sa is not transmitted to the first shaft 21 and the following coupled elements (that is, the first shaft 21, the third gear 13, the fourth gear 14, the second one-way clutch 32, the second shaft 22, the fifth gear 15, the output gear 16, the third one-way clutch 33 and the third shaft 23).

[0035] The rotation angle of the motor 40, by which it rotates in the second direction after receiving the input of the first signal Sa before being stopped, is less than 360°. The rotation angle of the motor 40, by which it rotates in the second direction after receiving the input of the first signal Sa before being stopped, can be 180° or less, 120° or less, or 60° or less. The position at which the reverse rotation of the motor 40 is stopped varies according to the number of slots in the stator, the number of magnetic poles in the rotor, and the like. In the present embodiment, the motor 40 is configured such that the torque at the position where the reverse rotation is stopped has its maximum value or its local maximum value, or a value close to its maximum value or its local maximum value.

[0036] The control circuit 51 then accesses the rotation angle detection signals Hu, Hv, and Hw from the sensors 41u, 41v, and 41w and determines whether the rotor is at a predetermined rotation angle (in the present embodiment, a rotation angle at which the torque of the motor 40 has its maximum value or local maximum value, or a rotation angle at which the torque has a value close to its maximum value or local maximum value) (step S4). The fact that the rotor is at the predetermined rotation angle can be recognized, for example, by the fact that at least one of the rotation angle detection signals Hu, Hv, and Hw has switched. If the rotor is not at the predetermined rotation angle, steps S3 and S4 are repeated until it is confirmed that the rotor is at the predetermined rotation angle (the rotor position has changed).

[0037] After confirming that the rotor is at the specified angle of rotation, the control circuit 51 provides the drive control signal Sd to the drive circuit 52 to rotate the motor 40 in the first direction R1 (to rotate the motor 40 forward). The drive circuit 52 outputs an excitation pattern (second signal Sb) to the motor 40, causing the motor 40 to rotate in the first direction R1 (to rotate forward) (step S5).

[0038] The control circuit 51 accesses the rotation angle detection signals Hu, Hv and Hw from the sensors 41u, 41v and 41w and determines whether the motor 40 has started rotating in the first direction R1 or not (step S6). If the motor 40 has not started rotating in the first direction R1, steps S5 and S6 are repeated until it is confirmed that the motor 40 has started rotating in the first direction R1.

[0039] After it has been confirmed that the motor 40 has started rotating in the first direction R1, the motor drive control device 50 continues to output the second signal Sb according to the drive command signal Sc and the rotation angle detection signals Hu, Hv and Hw from the sensors 41u, 41v and 41w and continues the rotation of the motor 40 in the first direction R1 (step S7).

[0040] The motor 40 of the rotary device 100 according to the present embodiment includes three Hall-effect ICs (sensors 41u, 41v, and 41w). In such a motor with three Hall-effect ICs, the resolution for detecting the rotor's angle of rotation is typically 60°. This is because the Hall-effect IC output signals switch every 60°, and the rotor's rotation is detected by sensing this switch. Therefore, if each Hall-effect IC is arranged such that the rotor's angle of rotation (electrical angle) and the rotor's angle of rotation detected by sensors 41u, 41v, and 41w coincide at the time the Hall-effect IC output signals switch, an error of 0° to 60° occurs between the rotor's angle of rotation detected by sensors 41u, 41v, and 41w and the actual rotor's angle of rotation in the motor 40. Hereinafter, such an arrangement of the individual Hall-effect ICs is referred to as Arrangement B.

[0041] Fig. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between the actual rotation angle of the rotor of motor 40 and the motor's torque (ratio to maximum torque) within a range where the rotor rotation angle detected by sensors 41u, 41v, and 41w is constant (within a range where the rotation angle detection signals Hu, Hv, and Hw are constant). As shown in Figure 4, the relationship between the actual rotation angle angle of motor 40 and the motor's torque (ratio to maximum torque) is constant. Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, the rotation of the rotor in arrangement B causes the motor torque to fluctuate significantly, for example, between 50% and 100%. Such fluctuations in the motor torque cause torque ripple. To reduce torque ripple, it is known to arrange three Hall ICs offset by 30° relative to arrangement B. In the following, such an arrangement of Hall ICs will be referred to as arrangement A. In arrangement A, the error between the rotor rotation angle detected by sensors 41u, 41v, and 41w and the actual rotor rotation angle in motor 40 lies in the range of -30° to 30°. As shown in Figure 4, the rotation angle of the rotor in motor 40 is 30°. Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, the torque fluctuation in the case of arrangement A, for example, is in the range of about 87% to 100% and is significantly suppressed compared to the case of arrangement B.

[0042] However, even in configuration A, the motor's torque decreases, depending on the rotor's angle of rotation, by a maximum of approximately 13%. Therefore, if the motor is used, for example, in a motor drive unit of an electric-assist bicycle, there is a concern that the riding comfort of the electric-assist bicycle could be reduced due to a situation where the torque is insufficient because of an overcurrent protection function, if excessive current flows through the circuit to deliver a predetermined torque when starting under high load (for example, at the beginning of pedaling), or due to a situation where rapid torque fluctuations occur because the control response decreases due to the excessive current, depending on the rotor's angle of rotation.

[0043] However, in the rotary device 100 according to the present embodiment, the motor 40 performs a reverse rotation in the second direction R2 at the start-up time before starting with a forward rotation in the first direction R1. Accordingly, the rotor's angle of rotation can be adjusted to an angle at which the torque of the motor 40 is at its maximum value or local maximum value (or a value close to the maximum or local maximum value). At this point, the load during the reverse rotation of the motor 40 is minimized by the action of the first one-way clutch 31, and the reverse rotation of the motor 40 does not affect the third shaft 23 (crankshaft). Therefore, according to the rotary device 100 of the present embodiment, the torque can be improved during high-load start-up while minimizing the effect on other components.

[0044] In the rotary device 100 according to the present embodiment, the rotation angle of the motor 40 in the second direction R2 after it receives the first signal Sa as input is less than 360°. Therefore, the time required for reverse rotation can be reduced, and even if the rotary device 100 is, for example, part of a motor drive unit of an electric-assist bicycle, the rider can be prevented from experiencing discomfort due to a time delay at the start of pedaling. The rotation angle of the motor 40, which rotates in the second direction after receiving the input of the first signal Sa and is then stopped, can be 180° or less, 120° or less, or 60° or less, depending on the configuration of the motor 40 (for example, the number of slots in the stator, the number of magnetic poles in the rotor, or the like).The time required for the reverse rotation can be shorter because the rotation angle of the motor, which rotated in the second direction after receiving the input of the first signal Sa and then stopped, is 40 smaller.

[0045] Although the rotary device according to the present invention has been described above with reference to a preferred embodiment, the rotary device according to the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the embodiment described above. For example, in the embodiment described above, the rotary device 100 comprises six gears, namely the first gear 11, the second gear 12, the third gear 13, the fourth gear 14, the fifth gear 15, and the output gear 16. However, in the rotary device of the present invention, the number of gears is not limited and can be one, two, three, four, five, seven, or more.

[0046] In the embodiment above, the rotary device 100 includes three shafts, namely the first shaft 21, the second shaft 22 and the third shaft 23. However, in the rotary device of the present invention, the number of shafts is not limited and can be one, two, four or more.

[0047] In the embodiment above, the rotary device 100 includes three one-way couplings, namely the first one-way coupling 31, the second one-way coupling 32, and the third one-way coupling 33. However, in the rotary device of the present invention, the number of one-way couplings is not limited and can be one, two, four, or more. In the rotary device of the present invention, the one-way coupling is not necessarily attached to the inner circumferential surface of the gear.

[0048] In the embodiment above, the rotation when the direction of rotation of the motor 40 is the first direction R1 is defined as forward rotation, and the rotation when the direction of rotation of the motor 40 is the second direction R2 is defined as reverse rotation. However, depending on the application, the direction when the direction of rotation of the motor 40 is the first direction R1 can be defined as reverse rotation, and the rotation when the direction of rotation of the motor 40 is the second direction R2 can be defined as forward rotation.

[0049] In Fig. In the present invention, the motor drive control device 50 is housed in the casing 60. However, in the rotary device of the present invention, part or all of the motor drive control device can be arranged outside the casing. The rotary device of the present invention does not necessarily include the casing.

[0050] In the embodiment described above, the motor 40 incorporates three Hall-effect ICs (sensors 41u, 41v, and 41w). However, the number of Hall-effect ICs is not limited to three. Furthermore, the individual Hall-effect ICs are not necessarily arranged at equal angular intervals from one another. The rotary device of the present invention can incorporate a sensor other than the Hall-effect ICs. The rotary device of the present invention does not necessarily incorporate a sensor.

[0051] If the rotary device of the present invention comprises several Hall-effect ICs as sensors, each Hall-effect IC can be arranged such that the rotor's angle of rotation corresponds to the rotor's angle of rotation detected by the sensor at the time the Hall-effect IC's output signal switches, can be arranged such that the rotor's angle of rotation corresponds to the time at which the rotor's angle of rotation is 30° (or -30°), or can be arranged such that the rotor's angle of rotation corresponds to the time at which the rotor's angle of rotation assumes another angle. The method for determining whether the rotor is at the predetermined angle of rotation can be changed in step S4 to any method depending on the presence or absence of a sensor or the sensor's arrangement.

[0052] In the embodiment described above, the rotary device 100 is used in a motor drive unit of a bicycle with an electric auxiliary drive. However, the rotary device of the present invention can also be used for other applications.

[0053] Fig. Figure 5 illustrates a rotary device 200 as a modified example of the embodiment described above. For the sake of simplicity, each component of the rotary device 200 will be described below using the same designation and reference numeral as each corresponding component of the rotary device 100. Descriptions such as "first" and "third" in the component's name are intended to clarify the relationship with the component of the rotary device 100 and do not necessarily indicate that the rotary device 200 has a specific number of components.

[0054] The rotary device 200 includes an output gear 16, which forms part of an output shaft, a third shaft 23, which forms another part of the output shaft, a first one-way clutch 31, a third one-way clutch 33, a motor 40, a motor drive control device 50 as a control device, and a housing 60. The motor 40 includes a cylindrical shaft S. The third shaft 23 is arranged inside the shaft S of the motor 40. The shaft S and the third shaft 23 can rotate relative to each other about the direction of extension. Outside the housing 60, a chain ring 70 is attached to the output gear 16. A description overlapping with the above embodiment is omitted.

[0055] In the rotary device 200 according to the modified example, the motor 40 is coupled to the third shaft 23, which forms the output shaft, via the first one-way coupling 31 or the third one-way coupling 33. More precisely, the output gear 16 is attached to the shaft S of the motor 40 within the housing 60 via the first one-way coupling 31. An inner circumferential surface of the output gear 16 (a circumferential surface on a side closer to the shaft S of the motor 40) is attached to an outer circumferential surface of the first one-way coupling 31 (a circumferential surface on a side farther from the shaft S of the motor 40). An inner circumferential surface of the first one-way coupling 31 (a circumferential surface on a side closer to the shaft S of the motor 40) is attached to an outer circumferential surface of the shaft S of the motor 40.

[0056] Within the housing 60, the output gear 16 is attached to the third shaft 23 via the third one-way coupling 33. An inner circumferential surface of the output gear 16 (a circumferential surface on a side closer to the third shaft 23) is attached to an outer circumferential surface of the third one-way coupling 33 (a circumferential surface on a side farther from the third shaft 23). As described above, the rotary device of the present invention can be configured such that the motor is directly coupled to the output shaft via the one-way coupling.

[0057] In addition, the rotary device according to the present invention can be suitably modified, and a person skilled in the art can modify the shapes, dimensions, and combinations of the various components based on their knowledge. These modifications are naturally included within the scope of the present invention, as long as they still encompass the configurations of the present invention. List of reference symbols

[0058] 12: Gear (second gear), 16: Output gear (output shaft), 23: Shaft (third shaft (output shaft)), 31: One-way clutch (first one-way clutch), 40: Motor, 41u, 41v, 41w: Sensor, 50: Control device (motor drive control device), 100: Rotary device, R1: First direction, R2: Second direction, Sa: First signal, Sb: Second signal QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2000-062681 A

[0003]

Claims

[1] Rotary device comprising: an output shaft; a one-way coupling; a motor that is coupled directly or indirectly to the output shaft via the one-way clutch; and a control device wherein: the motor is rotatable in a first direction and a second direction that is opposite to the first direction; The one-way clutch transmits the rotation of the motor in the first direction; the control device outputs a first signal and, after outputting the first signal, outputs a second signal; the motor that received the first signal rotates in the second direction; and The motor that received the second signal as input rotates in the first direction. [2] Rotary device according to claim 1, comprising: a shaft as the output shaft; and a gearbox, whereby the motor is coupled to the output shaft via the gearbox. [3] Rotating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotation angle of the motor rotated in the second direction, the motor receiving the input of the first signal, is less than 360°. [4] Rotating device according to one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a sensor, whereby the sensor detects a rotation angle of the motor. [5] Rotating device according to claim 4, wherein an angle of rotation at which the torque of the motor has a local maximum value lies in a range of the angle of rotation of the motor which can be detected by the sensor.

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