Joint module constructing rotating arm

Abstract

To eliminate the hassle of adjusting and fixing with screws in a rotating arm that rotates a display screen or chair back to any angle and stops and holds it in that position, and build a lightweight, easily operable multi-joint rotating arm that meets the desired specifications simply by connecting the arm to the joint module.SOLUTION: A rotating arm is constructed by connecting an arm of an appropriate length to a joint module that has connecting ends at both ends that rotate on the X and Y axes and is equipped with locking means that locks these connecting ends and maintains the rotation angle at any desired angle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a joint module that can easily be constructed to create a variable angle holding arm that can freely hold the reclining angle of a chair or bed, or a rotating arm that can hold a television display screen or a tool in any position (hereinafter, variable angle arms will also be referred to as a rotating arm). [Background technology]

[0002] Figure 1 shows a typical example of a conventional rotating arm that can hold a display surface or the like in any position. However, the arm is connected by tightening screws, so it is made to be sturdy, and its overall weight is heavier than the display it is holding, making it what is known as an overhead position.

[0003] Furthermore, when positioning the object to be held, the angle had to be adjusted by repeatedly loosening and tightening the screws between the multiple joints, which was time-consuming and inconvenient.

[0004] Patent Document 1, for example, describes a method of using a ratchet mechanism to hold the back of a chair or the reclining angle of a bed at a desired position, but the forward and backward adjustment of the desired position is irreversible, and in order to change the held position, it is necessary to return it to the reset position and release the ratchet lock.In order to obtain the optimal position, it is necessary to hold the position and reset it several times, which is inconvenient.

[0005] Other methods use friction rather than fixing with screws. For example, in Patent Document 2, a friction member is placed inside the joint, and this is pressed down by a pressing mechanism to hold the position. However, the friction force decreases over time, which can lead to performance degradation.

[0006] Patent Document 3 describes a device that uses a magnet or spring to press the end of an arm against a spherical fixing part, using friction to hold the device in place, but the locking force is weak and there are limitations on the size of the object that can be held. Patent Document 4 also describes a device that secures a mobile device to the body and holds it in any position, but the joints have limited flexibility, making it difficult to hold the device in the optimal display position.

[0007] Furthermore, conventionally, there has been the inconvenience of having to design and manufacture each time according to the desired specifications and applications. [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2003-336790 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 10-279298 [Patent Document 3] Patent application 2003-197485 [Patent Document 4] Patent application 2013-24994 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] This eliminates the weight increase caused by the increase in parts due to the use of screws or spring friction to fix the arms together. When changing the angle of a chair, etc., it is no longer necessary to return it to the reset position, allowing for flexible fine adjustments.

[0009] Also, the joint angles between the joints can be adjusted the minimum number of times in the shortest time.

[0010] Furthermore, the inefficiency of designing and manufacturing for each specification is eliminated, and a rotating arm suited to the intended use can be completed simply by selecting and assembling the optimal joint module and arm. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] This is a joint module that has connecting ends at both ends and has a means for locking both connecting ends at any angle. A next-stage arm is connected to this front connecting end and multiple front-stage arms are connected to the rear connecting end to construct a connected pivot arm that can maintain the arm connecting angle at any angle.

[0012] Modules in which only the front connecting end rotates on the X or Y axis and the rear connecting end does not rotate and is fixed to the housing (hereinafter referred to as single-axis rotating joint modules) are used as variable-angle holding arms that hold chairs or the like at any angle, while modules in which both connecting ends are arranged orthogonally and rotate on the X and Y axes (hereinafter referred to as two-axis rotating joint modules) are used as three-dimensional position-maintaining rotating arms for holding displays, etc.

[0013] When the rotating arm has rotated and reached the target angle, the rotation support shaft at the connecting end is locked with a locking means to prevent the joint module from rotating, thereby maintaining that angle. To rotate again, the locking means is disabled to release the non-rotating state, and the connecting end becomes free to rotate, so the rotation angle can be changed as many times as desired and the rotating arm can be rotated freely repeatedly.

[0014] This locking means is achieved by separately engaging rotatable locking bodies on the outer circumferential surfaces on both sides of the turning shaft. To lock with a greater locking force, the outer circumferential surface of the turning shaft is made into a gear and a locking pawl is engaged with this.

[0015] The locking means is a three-position operating rod that engages both locking bodies with the outer circumferential surface of the turning support shaft as follows:

[0016] First position: Non-operating Locking bodies engage with both sides of the turning shaft, locking it in both forward and reverse turning, and the connected end cannot turn. Second position: One-way operation A locking body engages with only one side peripheral surface of the turning shaft, locking reverse turning, but not forward turning, allowing turning only in the forward direction. Third position: operate in other direction The locking body engages only with the other peripheral surface of the turning shaft, locking forward turning, but not reverse turning, allowing turning only in the reverse direction. By selecting one of the above three positions, the connecting end can be made to non-rotating, forward rotating, or reverse rotating, which makes it possible to rotate and stop the arm connected to the joint module as desired.

[0017] Incidentally, in the fourth position, if the operating rod is pulled and both wedge bodies and both side peripheral surfaces are disengaged, the turning support shaft is not locked and the coupled end is free to turn, but in this embodiment, the non-turning feature of the coupled end is not utilized.

[0018] In a single-axis rotating joint module, only one connecting end rotates and the other does not, so it is used in chairs etc. where the other end is fixed to the seat and one end is connected to the backrest.

[0019] In a two-axis rotating joint module, one joint rotates on the X-axis and the other on the Y-axis, making it possible to use it as a three-dimensional joint, for example as a rotating arm that can freely change and fix the display surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] This eliminates the inefficiency of designing and manufacturing each time for each required specification, and makes it possible to easily complete a rotating arm suited to the intended use. In other words, it is possible to construct a freely rotating arm simply by selecting the appropriate joint module and connecting and assembling an arm of the optimal length.

[0021] This eliminates the inconvenience of repeatedly tightening screws to adjust the connection angle between the arms, and allows the arm to be quickly held in the desired position. For example, by using an extension rod or the like to operate the operating rod from the tip of the next-stage arm, it becomes possible to quickly rotate the arm. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] Conventional rotating arm [Figure 2] Perspective view of a single-axis rotation joint [Figure 3A] The control stick is in the first position (not in operation) [Figure 3B] The control stick is in the second position (downward operation) [Figure 3C] The control stick is in the third position (upward operation) [Figure 4] Side perspective view of two-axis rotation joint [Figure 5] The locking means is a gear and a locking claw. [Figure 6] The locking means is locked by a second pivot shaft perpendicular to the pivot shaft. [Figure 7] Diagram of rotation operation at the tip using an extension rod [Figure 8] A chair with a seat attached to the rear end of a single-axis pivot joint and a backrest attached to the front end [Figure 9] Multiple arms are connected to both ends of the two-axis rotation joint to hold the display. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] An embodiment in which a cylindrical wedge body 400 is rotatably held by a locking arm 300 of the locking means and is engaged to perform locking will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0024] In the single-axis rotation joint module, a rotation support shaft 200 having a front connection end 250 extending in the connection direction is rotatably supported on the housing 100, and is freely rotatable about the X-axis. When the next-stage arm 700 is connected to this, the angle of this arm 700 can be freely changed about the X-axis. The opposite end of the front connection end 250 has a rear connection end 255 fixed to the housing 100, and this is fixed to a fixing base using a fixture or the like.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 3A, when not in operation, operating rod 300 is held in a middle position by operating spring 305, and both upper locking arm 310 and lower locking arm 320 are kept horizontal. Cylindrical wedge body 400, which is rotatably held by this, is pressed against both sides of turning support shaft 200 by locking spring 350, and the two come into close contact and mesh with each other, so that turning support shaft 200 is locked and cannot be turned, and the angle of front connecting end 250 cannot be changed.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3B, when the operating rod 300 is operated in the downward direction (D), the upper locking arm 310 is pulled, and the engagement between the cylindrical wedge body 400 and the upper peripheral surface of the turning support shaft 200 is released, and the lower locking arm 320 is pushed in, and the close contact between the cylindrical wedge body 400 and the lower peripheral surface of the turning support shaft 200 continues, and the turning support shaft 200 can only turn in the normal direction, so that the angle of the front connecting end 250 can only be changed in the R direction.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3C, when the operating rod 300 is operated in the upward direction (U), the upper locking arm 310 is pushed in, maintaining close contact with the upper peripheral surface of the turning support shaft 200, and the lower locking arm 320 is pulled, releasing the close contact between the cylindrical wedge body 400 and the upper and lower peripheral surfaces of the turning support shaft 200. As a result, the turning support shaft 200 can only turn in the reverse direction, and the angle of the front connecting end 250 can only be changed in the L direction.

[0028] Since the front connecting end 250 rotates in only one direction, it does not rotate in a direction other than the intended direction, so when the weight of the held object is heavy or when multiple arms are connected, it is not affected by the holding angle of the previous or previous stages, making it a rotating arm with good operability.

[0029] FIG. 4 relates to claim 2 and is a two-axis rotating joint module that can rotate freely on the X and Y axes, having a front connecting end 250 and a rear connecting end 255 that rotates perpendicular to it. By connecting the next-stage arm 700 to the front connecting end 250 and the front-stage arm 700 to the rear connecting end 255, a rotating arm is formed in which the angle of both can be freely changed on the X and Y axes, and by connecting multiple units, a multi-stage rotating arm can be constructed.

[0030] The locking means of the rear connecting end 255 is the same as that described for the front connecting end 250.

[0031] FIG. 5 relates to claim 3, which is intended to increase the meshing area between the wedge body and the turning support shaft to further strengthen the locking force, thereby enabling use in heavy machinery, for example.

[0032] For this reason, the second turning shaft 500, which has a larger diameter than the turning shaft 200, is supported in the direction of the connecting axis by an axial bearing 550, and both side surfaces of this shaft are locked by larger locking bodies similar to the locking means described above, and this locking force is transmitted to the turning shaft 200 which is rotationally connected by an orthogonal gear 600.

[0033] As a result, the large turning load acting on the turning support shaft 200 can be stopped by the second turning support shaft 500, making it possible to construct a heavy, long turning arm.

[0034] 5 relates to claim 4, in which the locking means is engaged with a locking claw. The gear turning shaft 220, whose outer circumferential surface is a gear, is engaged with a movable locking claw 410 at the tip of the locking arms 330, 340 to perform locking.

[0035] 6 shows that the operation of the operating rods 300 and 305 is performed by a remote front-stage operating rod 380 and a remote rear-stage operating rod 385 via an extension operating rod 390. This allows operation from a position close to the held object, improving operability.

[0036] 6 and 7 show examples of how the present invention can be used, which are superior to similar conventional devices in terms of freedom of rotation, operability, and light weight. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 100 cabinets 200 Rotating spindle 220 Rotating gear support shaft 250 Front connecting end 255 Posterior joint end 300 Front control rod 305 Rear control rod 310 Upper locking arm 320 Lower locking arm 330 Left locking arm 340 Right locking arm 350 Locking spring 380 Remote front control stick 385 Remote rear control stick 390 Extension operating rod 400 Cylindrical Wedge 405 Locking claw 500 Second turning shaft 550 axial bearing 600 Orthogonal Gear 700 binding arms

Claims

1. The front coupling end, which is freely rotatable by a turning shaft journalled to the housing, has a rotation locking body engaged with only one peripheral surface of the turning shaft to prohibit forward turning, a rotation locking body engaged with only the other peripheral surface to prohibit reverse turning, and a rotation locking body engaged with both peripheral surfaces to prohibit turning, and a locking means for disengaging the rotation locking bodies on both sides to allow free turning, so that the front coupling end can turn in only one direction of choice and the rear coupling end cannot turn.

2. The front connecting end, which is rotatable by a turning shaft journalled to the housing, has a rotation locking body engaged with only one circumferential surface of the turning shaft to prohibit forward turning, a rotation locking body engaged with only the other circumferential surface to prohibit reverse turning, and a rotation locking body engaged with both circumferential surfaces to prohibit turning, and a locking means that does not engage the rotation locking bodies on both sides to allow free turning, so that the front connecting end can turn in only one arbitrary direction, and the rear connecting end is perpendicular to the front connecting end, and by having a similar locking means, the front connecting end can turn in only one arbitrary direction, and the rear connecting end can turn in the XY axis.

3. 3. A joint module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking means acts on the side peripheral surface of the second turning shaft journaled in the direction of the coupling end by the orthogonal gear of the turning shaft.

4. The joint module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the turning shaft is a gear and the locking body is a locking pawl.

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